Double Life

20| January 7th | P.2

I wake up in my bed. I still feel tired and my eyes feel sore as soon as I open them not from light as it's dark but from crying.

I hear faint talking from the living room. I stand up. I peak through the semi-open door. My mum sits on the sofa next to topanga and Corey. I look for Shawn panicking only knowing he will calm me. I see him coming out from the kitchen carrying a tray of drinks. He spots me with my head out the doorway.

"Maya your awake." He says going and setting the tray on the coffee table. The others in the room turn to look at me small smiles on their faces.

"Hey Maya." Topanga says getting up and coming over. I pull the door open as she walks over. The long haired female pulls me and and hugs me tightly. I've missed her. I've missed this, her hugs. Her hugs have always been a safe place. Topanga pulls away and looks at me pushing some hair behind my ears. I get led over to the couch but I don't sit down with her there, instead I sit down on the arm chair and wrap myself in a throw blanket.

"We've missed you coming round Maya." Corey says picking up a mug of coffee.
I don't say anything I just pick at a lose thread on my jumper.

"Riley misses you." Topanga says.

"Then why won't she talk to me?" I ask finally looking over to the four adults.

"She's hurt but she still loves you."

"I miss her too."

"Why don't you come round for dinner tonight? Topangas cooking your favourite. Potato tots." Corey asks.

"They're your favourite." I say cracking a small smile.

" oh yeah. " he chuckles.

"What do you think Maya baby?" My Mum asks.

"Riley won't want me there." I say.

"Of course she does, don't be silly." Topanga says.

"If she wanted to be my friend she would talk to me."

"I think maybe you should make the first move." Topanga suggests. "You know she hasn't stoped staring at a picture of you two. She plays your music. Your very talented Maya I always knew that."

"Thanks. Why did you guys come?" I ask looking from each one of them.

"Shawn wanted to talk to us. He thought maybe we should try and help you and Riley so here we are."

I look over to Shawn and smile at him. He smiles back before saying, "Maya you and Riley are bestfriends. Your always gonna be. Your Corey and Shawn 2.0..."

"Saying they are 2.0 indicates they are better than us." Corey cuts them off.

"But you can't ever beat the original." I say looking over to my curly haired history teacher who nods at me smiling brightly. I can't help but let my mind wonder to riley. The both smile so big and their smiles can light up a room and make even the darkest of moments seem better.

"You two love each other and as you said this morning she's your other half just like you are hers. No matter what you will always find each other. Your gonna have tough spots, that happens, but what's most important is how you get through it.  Secrets always have a way of coming to light. Secrets always hurt. Secrets can tear away at relationships but the important ones stick but you have to work for it. You always knew having a double life would be hard. You knew each life would try and push its way into the other well now Maya it has but that doesn't matter. What matters now is what you do to sort out the problems it's caused." Shawn continues

The room falls silent. I replay the things he said in my head.

"Okay I'll go." I say.

•••
After getting dressed in some leggings and baggy Beatles tee. I leave with the Mathews.
The car ride consists of Corey and topanga asking me questions about Sabrina and what's it's like.
When the car stops and Corey pulls up into a parking space I begin to panic.
I shouldn't have come. This was a mistake, I'm just gonna make things worse between us.