Girl Meets She Does Like Me

Chapter 7

"Room for one more single girl in here?" You poke your head through the open Bay Window and wait for Riley's answer. Disappointment hits you when you find the room empty.

You walk downstairs and as you come to the living room you hear Riley's voice.

"I messed up, Mom. I really messed up."

You see Riley curled up in Mrs. Matthews lap. She is stroking her daughters hair, trying to sooth her.

"It's too late. I wish I could take it back! I've lost everything!"

You feel your hear shatter all over again. She wants to take her breakup with Lucas back. Chai had you convinced Riley wanted to be with you, and here she is crying over her ex boyfriend.

"Why don't you just talk to Maya, sweetie?"

"She doesn't want to talk about this."

You can talk to me about anything, Riles. You know that.

You walk around to the front of the couch silently, waiting for someone to notice you. Mrs. Matthews looked up and made eye contact with you, smiling. She nudges Riley, who looks up and turns around to see you.

"Maya?"

"Hi," your voice was smaller than you intended.

"Bay Window. Bay Window right now," she grabs your hand and leads you up the stairs to her room.

-

"So... you have regrets?"

"I do."

"I'm sure Lucas would take you back," you look to your lap and anxiously play with your hands.

"What?" She sounded confused.

"You regret breaking up with him. It's ok. I heard you and your mom talking."

"You may have been listening to what I said, but you didn't hear me. I wasn't talking about Lucas."

"You weren't?" You look up at her, a flicker of hope in your eyes.

She shakes her head. "It doesn't matter though."

"Why not?"

"I... realized something, but it was too late."

Your mind is spinning. Could Chai have been right about this? Does Riley want you? "What was too late?"

She swallows and averts her eyes. "I realized I have feelings for you too." Oh my god. "But you're with Chai now... because I told you to find someone. I'm too late."

"Riles, Chai and I broke up."

Her eyes go wide and her head snaps to face you.

"Really?"

"This afternoon. That's why she had to meet me. It's over."

"I... I'm sorry, Peaches."

"I'm not. She knew I had feelings for someone else, and she told me to go to her. She put this crazy idea in my head that my feelings may be returned you see... and..."

She pulls you in close by your chin, as she always has. Her hand moves up on your face, and she is tracing your lips with her thumb. Your breathing deepens under her touch and your eyes flutter close. Riley's hand leaves your lips and you whimper at the lack of contact. You don't have the chance to open your eyes before you feel her at your lips again, but this time it isn't her fingers. It's her lips. She's kissing you.

Tears pool behind your eyelids as thousands of emotions whirl around inside your chest. The girl you've loved for as long as you can remember is kissing you, and its even more perfect than you imagined.

When she finally pulls away you refuse to open your eyes. If you open your eyes she won't be there, this will have been a dream. As long as you keep your eyes closed you can live this a little longer.

"Maya? Look at me."

She's asking you to look at her. You can't ignore her. You say an internal prayer for her to still be there when your eyes open. Slowly you lift your eyelids until the light of the room pierces your eyes and after your sight adjusts all you can see is her. Sitting in front of you, smiling.

"But, I thought you were..."

She gives you a weak smile. "I did too. I saw you with her, and something snapped. I guess I was trying to ignore it before, but I want to be with you too." Her hand gently cups your cheek. "I'm sorry I didn't realize it sooner."

"Riles, I... I love you."

"I love you too, Peaches."

"I meant - "

She cuts you off, "I know how you meant it, Maya. I meant it the same way."