The Age Of Seventeen

Chapter 23

M A Y A

Tuesday, December 15

I stuff my books and notebooks into my locker in a rush, trying to escape this hell as soon as possible whilst avoiding the tremendous crowd of kids as well.

"Hey, Peaches!" Riley beams, making her way over to me. I smile back at her as I shut my locker.

"Hey, Riles!" I greet, then envelop my best friend in a warm hug.

"You are super warm!" Riley realizes, not letting go off me.

"I know, it's supposed to be because of the baby and the extra blood flow in my body." I explain, and she hugs me tighter.

"You smell like a mother too!" She whisper yells. I look around to see if anyone was around, and luckily there was no one around yet.

"Thanks..?" I chuckle. "That's a first."

"So, I came over to you to invite you over to Topanga's with the group. What do you say?"

"I'm up for it." I nod, adding a small smile. Riley intertwines our elbows and as soon as she does so the bell rings.

"RUN!" Riley yells.

....

"Hello, lovely earthlings!" Riley announces to our group of friends as we both walk in.

They remain quiet, just fixing their eyes upon Smackle and Farkle. Both of them are sitting quietly, Smackle's arms are crossed in front of her and Farkle is sitting there looking incredibly tense.

"Oh, come on people!" Riley groans. "Get it together!"

She sprints over to Lucas, shakes him out of his trance, then moves on to Zay doing the same thing. "You two! Quit. Looking."

She proceeds to sprint over to Smackle and Farkle, snapping her fingers in front of them. "You two! Look alive!"

"Riles," I walk over to her placing my hands on her shoulders. "Relax."

"No! I can't! They are all being so awkward!" Riley whines.

"Let's take a seat, honey." I persuade, adding soft gentle massages on her shoulders, guiding her over to the next opened seats.

"Yes, Maya! Work those hands on these shoulders!" Riley cheers on loudly.

"This just got more awkward," Zay says to no one in particular.

"Riley does have a point," Lucas speaks up. "We can't keep being awkward over the ...situation.."

Riley nods. "Guys, we have all been friends for so long! The fact that Maya and Farkle are becoming parents can't break our friendship!"

"Smackle? Farkle?" Riley looks over to them. "Don't you agree?"

"Yes," Farkle says softly.

We all look over to Smackle who is quiet.

"Smackle?" Lucas calls. "Please talk."

"I just don't know what to say," she quietly answers, fiddling with the hem of one of her many knit sweatshirts.

"Tell us what's in your mind," I say.

"I feel hurt." She jumbles. "I wished Farkle and I would get back together. Now we can't."

At first we are all quiet. Then Zay decides to say something.

"I'm also hurt I guess." We all turn our heads over to him. "I was developing feelings for Maya."

My eyes widen in shock, and my breath hitches. I'm in total shock, since Zay and I had never really had been super close. Outside of the hang outs we shared with the group, we never really had time with each other alone.

"W-what?" I question, walking over to him.

"Yes," he stands up. "I was beginning to develop feelings, which I'm sure I have for you."

"Is that why you told Smackle about me and Farkle?" I quiz, a sudden wave of realization coming over me.

He nods. I sigh, bringing my hands up to my face in frustration. "I felt angry. I let the anger get to me, and told Smackle."

My hands drop to my sides. "Zay, we wanted to tell Smackle ourselves."

I turn to Smackle, stepping forward. "You deserve an explanation."

"That night...We were both drunk, and feeling alone." I begin, feeling little needle stings in the back of my neck, the feeling is normal considering I'm opening up to a group of people, which for me it's really hard to open up at times. "As of now, I don't regret any of it. Just the fact that I got pregnant at such a young age. Smackle, if I hurt you in any way I'm deeply sorry."

"Maya," she begins, standing from her seat. "What you and Farkle did is between you two. I was no longer Farkle's girlfriend at the time. However, I am hurt; it's my ex, my boyfriend of   some four years, and a close friend, and I'm the last to know."

"Actually— you are not." Farkle blurts. "My dad doesn't know ...yet."

"Why haven't you told your dad?" A frown forms on Lucas's face as he asks Farkle this.

"Because I'm afraid," Farkle replies, whilst looking away. "I'm afraid to disappoint for the first time."

"Farkle, Stuart is your dad. I'm pretty sure he will understand," Riley comments, rushing over to him, hugging his arm. "Just give it a try."

"It's not that easy Riley," Farkle insists. "He still thinks I'm with Smackle, and he's not going to like that I'm planning to put a semester of college off in order to be there for Maya and our child. If I do that I can lose my scholarship to Princeton!"

"But being there for Maya is what you truly want, isn't it?" Riley questions, her eyebrow raising.

"Yes," He answers, and an exhale I'd been holding in escapes my slightly parted lips.

"So, tell your dad that you're no longer with Smackle, then go on to explain the situation you and Maya are facing." Zay suggests. "There's no way around it."

"Zay is right," Smackle chips in. "Just be frank; tell your dad what's really happened. Don't put up an act."

Farkle takes a deep breath. "I'll tell him soon."

"How soon?" I ask.

"Maya, it took you a month to tell me, and then it took you four to tell your parents." Farkle argues, and I immediately feel targeted. He's saying this like it was so simple to tell my mom who was a teen mom also, and tell my best friend and most importantly tell him.

"I know that," I say angrily. "Just remember that I'm the one carrying the evidence. Not you."

With that said I pick up my jacket, and march out of Topanga's, anger boiling deep inside of me.

.....

Hi, again my loves!

So glad to be updating for you all today! I started this chapter while I was procrastinating on my Chem study for a test😂. I hope you all like this chapter, let me know what you all think of the story so far!

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