Maya Meets World

Maya Meets Decisions

Maya looked at Riley, her face holding a sad smile pulled to one side. "I just don't like sharing all of my dirty laundry with everyone..."

"I'm not everyone, Maya. I'm your sister, and you're mine."

Maya exhaled. "I know. And I love you for that. But if I only ever come to you with the bad stuff, that's all you'll think of him."

Riley's eyebrows pulled together, "You can come to me with the good stuff too, Maya..."

She hadn't thought about that, sharing the good stuff. Was there good stuff to share? Maya asked herself. "What do you do... what do you do when you and Lucas fight?" She asked Riley.

Riley shook her head slowly, "It's different, we've known each other since we were kids..."

Maya nodded knowingly, "You guys don't fight, do you?"

Riley shrugged, "We don't always agree with each other,"

"But he doesn't - -" Maya cut herself off. She had been stuck in her head for a while after the trip to Austin's parents' house. Her mind seemed to yo-yo between feeling hurt by Austin, and convincing herself that she loved him.

Riley was staring at Maya waiting for her to finish her thought, and when she didn't, Riley gave it a shot, "Make me feel bad?"

Maya looked up at her best friend.

"No, Maya. He doesn't."

Maya nodded again. She knew that. She knew Austin shouldn't. The difference between Maya and Riley was Maya didn't grow up with two parents who loved each other. And while she knew her father leaving was neither her's, nor her mother's fault, Maya had it in her that she was going to be different, that she could change things for herself. She was going to make her relationship work. She was going to do what her parents didn't do - - couldn't do. Maya was willing to put up the fight for her relationship and all but ignore thinking if it was worth it. This was a test of wills as far as she was concerned. And no one was more stubborn than Maya Hart.

"So what are the good things?" Riley asked.

Maya was pulled from her thoughts and held eye contact with the brunette, her teeth clenching. What are the good things? "I'm proud of him. He's working hard. I don't think he would ever cheat on me. He wants to take care of me..."

Riley nodded, listening.

Maya bit her bottom lip and finally told Riley the real reason she came over, "He wants to move in together."

"What?!" Riley asked shocked. "Maya, it's been five minutes."

"I know. It just... well, I hate him living with Tyler," Maya said with an eye roll. "It would save us some money. He talks like we're going to be together forever anyway, so why not?"

Riley swallowed hard. "Okay..."

"You don't think we should?" Maya asked.

"I'm not going to tell you that." Riley shook her head. "You know how I feel about it in my own relationship, but that doesn't mean you have to feel the same way about your relationship."

Maya nodded, staring forward now. Her mind was constantly running in what felt like circles. It was exhausting. Maybe living together would help? Surely their communication would get better, if nothing else, it would get more frequent. "Why are relationships so hard?" She asked finally looking at her best friend again, this time her eyebrows knitted tightly together, confusion and worry written across her face.

Riley laid her head on Maya's shoulder and quoted one of their favorite shows, "Because the only thing harder is being alone."

The truth of that statement hit Maya like a ton of bricks. Was she fighting for this relationship because she didn't want to be alone? Maya was strong and independent, she was fine being alone... or at least she thought she was.