Maya Meets World

Maya Meets Twenty Four

The holidays came and went. Maya spent almost all of it with Austin's family. She missed the annual Matthews Christmas gathering that she'd been a part of since she was a teenager. She missed New Year's Eve with her best friend, which she had done with Riley for as long as she could remember. She hardly even saw her mom and Shawn during the holidays. She loved Austin and his family, but she couldn't help but feel like she had missed out on important days with the people she's loved longer... School was about to start back, and that meant one thing; Maya's birthday.

"Peaches..." Maya could have sworn she was dreaming, hearing Riley's voice while still asleep.

"Peaches..." it repeated. Maya peeled one eye open, looking up.

Nope. Not dreaming.

"Riles," She whined, immediately shutting her eyes again and rolling over, away from her best friend.

"Peaches," Riley smiled.

"Why?" Maya mumbled through her pillows.

Riley sat on the bed next to Maya's covered frame. "It's your birthday, best friend!"

"Ugh!" Maya groaned.

"Twenty four. Maya, can you believe it?! You'll be 25 next year, that's officially an adult. This is it, this is the last big year of schemes and adventure!" Riley's voice was full of pure joy.

Maya rolled over, her face scrunched together as she looked at her bubbly best friend. "My schemes have no end." She said bluntly then rolled back over.

"Ohhhhh, Maya," Riley laughed, pulling the covers off Maya continuing to try and wake her.

"Riley, whyyyy?" Maya pleaded again, grasping for her covers.

"Come on! We have a lot to do today!"

"No. We really don't."

Riley pulled her eyebrows together in confusion. "Do you have something to wear for tonight? Are your nails done? Is your hair done? Oh, no, you say? This is why. Get. Up." Riley insisted, grabbing Maya's hand, pulling her into a sitting position.

Maya pouted, keeping her eyes closed. "Why are we even doing anything tonight, Riles?"

"Because it's your birthday, and we love you! Speaking of, where's your boyfriend?" Riley asked looking around the empty room.

Maya finally opened her eyes and looked at Riley, she shrugged slightly, "I don't know..."

Riley's lips pulled to the side. "Hmm..." she hummed. "Oh well. He knows what time dinner is though, right?"

"Right." Maya nodded.

"Okay, so come on, get up, birthday girl! We've got places to go, things to do. Get your short butt out of bed!" Riley teased.

"My butt is not short!" Maya scolded her best friend.

"I wouldn't know, you won't get off of it,"

Maya stuck her tongue out at Riley playfully.

Riley smiled happily, she had succeeded. "Happy birthday, Maya," She said sweetly.

Maya threw her arms around Riley's neck. "Thanks Riles," she said and planted a kiss on her cheek.

Maya grabbed her phone as she got out of bed, getting her music geared up for the morning.

New Message
From: Josh Matthews
Happy birthday, kid! You're catching up to me -for the next six weeks at least ;)

Maya smiled to herself. Josh had remembered today was her birthday. He also remembered the six weeks that they were only two years apart. Her heart soared and crashed within milliseconds of each other. They hadn't seen each other since the Christmas party with their class, and they barely spoke over the break. Maya was ready for school to start back again, she missed her friendship with Josh. She missed seeing him every week. She missed talking to him.