Who I Once Was (Book Three in the 'Small Town Girl' Series)

Chapter Seven: Good Kid, Better Man

I bought the dress and then we went to Topanga's later on to get lunch. We ordered and then sat down in the area we always used to sit in in high school.

"This is crazy." I said. "I mean, this place hasn't changed a bit."

"Its classic," Riley said, "People love the consistency, which is kind of unheard of." I smiled.

"So, we ahve a ton to catch up on." Maya said. "Like, how was Stanford? Was it everything you dreamed it would be?"

"Why do we have to only talk about me? What about you guys?"

"Come on, we already know what's going on in our lives. We all stayed in New York." Riley said. "We don't know anything about you."

"And I don't know about you." I pointed out. "Like, Maya! Riley mentioned you've been selling your art to gallery's and stuff?"

"Yeah, I've sold a piece or two." She said. "I actually just had a showing last week."

"How did that go?" I questioned. She shrugged, looking down at her lap, looking dejected. "Oh come on...it can't have gone that bad."

"Well, I um...I got to the gallery with twenty-five pieces..." She trailed off, looking up at us. A smile formed on her face. "And I left with zero." My eyes widened.

"What?!" She laughed.

"I sold everything! I even sold three pieces to a guy who is like, a serious art collector, like his house is full of Monets and Picassos and Rembrants and he liked my art!"

"That's amazing, Maya! Before you know it, people will be bragging about their extensive Maya Hart collections!" 

"And eventually Maya Matthews." Riley pointed out.

"Maya Hart-Matthews." Maya corrected. "And my gosh, is Marriage all you think about?"

"No, of course not! I just love love." She said. Without meaning to, Maya and I shared a knowing look, both of us silently communicating that we both knew about the upcoming proposal.

"Hey Riles, can you go order for us?" Maya asked nonchalantly.  Riley nodded, jumping up and going to the counter. Maya quickly leaned over the table.

"So you know?"

"Yeah, Lucas came by last night." I told her.

"And its happening tonight?"

"At the very least, while we're all back in town. Could be tonight, I'm not really sure." I said. 

"Well, then its a good thing we have to reunion as an excuse to go get our nails done." She pointed out. "That's always been a given for Riley, but we can't say that in a way that will give it away."

"Ok, when she comes back I'll mention how awful my nails look, she'll probably insist we go to a salon because Destiny would want me looking my best." She nodded and we pulled away from each other just as Riley sat back down.

"What'd I miss?" She asked obliviously.

"Just me talking about how atrocious my nails are." I said. "I've been meaning to get them done, but considering I work at a coffee shop, I figured they'd just get ruined anyway." Riley gasped.

"We have to go get our nails done before the reunion! Destiny demands it!" I chuckled.

"Ok, fine. We'll do that after lunch." I said.

"So, has that been like, your work study job? Working at a coffee shop?" Maya asked. My eyes widened a bit as I realized my slip up, but I quickly composed myself.