Warning: anti-maya
-riley-
The six of us were in our usual spot at my mother's cafe. We were supposed to be studying for our exams, but, of course, that was never going to happen. I sat beside my boyfriend as the group joked around about Maya humiliating herself in front of this senior that she ran into in the halls.
"What's the big deal? You always make a fool out of yourself anyway." Lucas jokes and I was about to give him a scolding but before I could, Maya jumped up and took his collar into her hand and pulled him closer to threaten him.
It was a gesture that we were all very familiar with, as Maya has done it with all of us at one point. But it seems like Lucas was always the victim and every time she did it to Lucas it's like Pandora's box gets filled up with something else that makes it heavier and heavier to carry. But this time the box opens up inside of me and I feel every single negative feeling I've ever felt in my life. The feelings that I kept aside and swore to never revisit again.
"Let go of him, Maya." I blurted out rather loudly, and everyone's eyes widened at me. I almost forgot that I've never actually been physically angry before. Even I almost widened my eyes at myself, surprised that the words actually escaped from my mouth.
Maya reluctantly let go of Lucas' shirt and laughed lightly to ease the mood, "Riley, honey, it's a joke. I do this to him all the time. No need to yell."
"Why?"
"Huh?"
"Why do you do it to him so much?"
"Are you okay, Riley? What's going on?" Lucas looks at me and I hadn't even noticed my eyes start to water and that my hands were shaking.
"I-I don't know. I can't help it. He's just so annoying." She tempted to joke around, but I couldn't even look at her.
"He's my boyfriend now, and you need to stop flirting with him like that." I breathed unsteadily and I could feel Lucas and everyone else's eyes boring into me, trying to figure out what was happening to me.
"Riley? What? What are you saying? I do that to everyone." Maya looked so worried and I felt terrible, but I couldn't stop my emotions from coming out. It's like my brain couldn't control my feelings anymore. I started packing up my things because I knew that if I stayed any longer I would be saying way worse things to my best friend.
"You do it most often with him and I just don't think it's right. We're not in the triangle anymore, Maya. You need to control yourself. That just isn't something you should be doing with your best friend's boyfriend. And if you were really my best friend, you'd know how much it's hurting me." I walked out of the bakery in tears and ran home. I heard everyone call after me in my wake, but I just need time to be alone.
-lucas-
"Riley! Riley, wait!" I try to run after her but in a second she had disappeared up the stairs. I went back into the bakery, defeated, and started packing up my things so I could follow her.
"What was that about?" Zay asked, while he was beside Maya, trying to console her.
"I'm not sure, but I'll go and talk to her. I need to see what's wrong."
"No, Lucas, let me. I need to talk to her." She stood up and I raised my arm to stop her.
"I don't think you should go right now. I just don't think it's the right time. Riley seems to be pretty upset with you." I tried to talk to her calmly, knowing it's hard to get her away from her best friend.
