Undesired Rainbows

Chapter 3

Riley was finally coming to terms with the fact that she was gay, or bisexual when school began preparations for LGBTQ month and Riley was surprisingly cool with that. Smackle on the other hand was a nervous wreck, she was forever concerned with Riley's problem and as sweet as Riley thought that was it wasn't helping in the long run. It was due to this she told Farkle to keep Smackle occupied. She was happy to say that Farkle was so far, on the other hand if Smackle was here Maya wouldn't be and as such the entire awkward conversation wouldn't have taken place.

Riley had been staring at Lucas, who had been flirting with some girl when Maya walked over.
"You know you could stop them flirting, you say the word and he would drop her for you" she said, flinging her arm around Riley. Riley felt her tummy fill with the annoying butterflies that she once associated with Lucas.
"Why would I do that?" Riley asked. Maya laughed
"I think it's obvious you still like him, why else would you be staring at him?"
"Maybe I'm just happy he's moved on" Riley suggested. Maya frowned, she knew what she was going to say was harsh, but she felt that Riley needed to hear it.
"Well if you were actually around you'd know that he can't move on" Riley looked down, she was being selfish, she knew that Maya had a point.
"Not now Maya" Riley whispered. Maya frowned
"Then when Riley? No one has seen you in weeks, you aren't yourself and we never know where you are. Shawn thinks you're on drugs or something and with the way you are I'm inclined to believe him" Maya whispered back.
"Tonight, Topanga's" was Riley's answer before she walked away.

After school Riley sat in her usual seat at the shop as she waited for her friends. When they got there they sat down, silently. The silence that followed was deafening, Zay coughed

"well... this is awkward" riley chuckled at Zay but nobody else did.

"you're right Zay, look I know that I haven't been myself and I have no excuse for that, there is a reason, but I can't explain right now." Maya frowned

"why not?" Riley sighed. She wanted to tell them, but she just couldn't, how can she tell them she was in love with Maya? So, she chooses to say nothing. Maya glared at her best friend
"Riley! We love you and we know you're not okay so please tell us what's wrong?" Maya pleaded. Riley frowned
"I can't... not yet... please Maya just give me some time" Maya hung her head, Riley stood up
"I'll be back soon... just give me some time please" and then the girl turned on her heel and left.

The next couple of days Riley spent her days with Smackle, they rarely talked, and Riley liked it like that. It meant she had time to think about her situation. It was obvious that the adults in he life were worried, her mother watched her like a hawk and her father had talked about bullying in class. Riley felt amused by their attempts to find out her issues, but the teen wouldn't tell. Instead she smiled to her face and told them she was fine. Since her talk with Maya the two hadn't talked much but Riley thought it was better that way. She knew it was selfish but the thought of being close too her tested Riley's self-restraint. That being said, she did check up on her best friend more than she would like to admit. As it was she was currently looking through her Facebook feed and was hit with a post she should've expected but didn't. There was a picture of Josh and Maya kissing with the caption

Playing the long game, Guess who won? 😉

Riley felt like she had been sucker punched in the heart. She knew of course that her uncle and best friend were dating but she had been blissfully ignorant of their relationship. She was staring at the picture when her phone rang. She looked down to see Evans number pop up on her screen.
"Hello?" she answered. She heard some movement before the boy answered.
"Hey... I saw Maya's Facebook picture... are you okay?" Riley scoffed
"Wow, straight to the point" Riley comment. She heard him laugh lightly
"Yeah, I guess... are you okay though?" Riley frowned.
"I guess? I mean it hurts but it's not like she knows, hell even I'm not sure Evan..."
"Riley... it's okay if you want to figure it out.... It's okay if you're not okay about Maya and your uncle. It's okay" he reassured her.
Riley smiled through the phone
"It's not..."
"Have you thought about telling your family that you might not be straight?" he asked. Riley had thought about it, but something always held her back.
"Just look at her Evan... she looks happy and I don't want to destroy that. I mean I might just be confused I don't know..." She heard some shouting on the other end of the line and she heard Evan yell that he was coming. Riley was concerned for a moment before the boy spoke to her.
"Hey Riley? I'm really sorry but I've got to go it's past my curfew"
"Alright, sleep tight and thank you"
"No problem" and then the line disconnected.

Riley spent the rest lying in bed, thought ran around her head as fast as lightning McQueen and she felt herself sadden. She knew she shouldn't, but she missed Maya, the girl has been there for her through thick and thin and Maya was the only one that could help her through figuring out who she was. If only said girl wasn't the object of Riley's heart. Riley was so wrapped up in her thoughts that she didn't hear the knock at her window straight away. At first, she ignored it but eventually caved in and looked to see who was knocking on her window so late. Her heart stopped when she saw Maya, it looked like her best friend missed her as well.