Falling Apart (sequel to Taking On The World)

:2: Sentimental Value

:2: Sentimental Value

Riley's POV

Dad quickly looked up at the door. The expression of worry on his face immediately turned into a look of utter happiness.

"SHAWN!" he screamed, running to the door and giving him a huge hug.

Mom bounced Sunny up and down, trying to get her to calm down, because she had woken up and started crying when Dad screamed.

"Shawn!" she grinned, hurrying over to give him a hug too. I quickly followed suit.

He gave Mom and I a hug, before turning to Dad and yelling back at him. "CORY!"

They hugged each other again. Mom sighed. "Stop it. You're boys!"

Uncle Shawn smiled at her. "It's been more than 10 years since I've last heard that," he laughed.

By then, Sunny had stopped crying and had turning her gaze to Uncle Shawn. "Hi, Annie," he said. She babbled incoherently.

"Did you say you'd take Riley out to look for Maya?" Mom asked him.

He looked at me. "Yeah, why not?"

I beamed at him.

Auggie ran into the lounge room at top speed, still in his pyjamas. Did I hear Uncle Shawn?!"

"Auggie!" Uncle Shawn cried, picking him up and spinning him around.

"Do you want to come play with me?" Auggie asked him, laughing.

Uncle Shawn gave him an apologetic look. "Sorry, kiddo, but I have to take Riley out to look for Maya."

Auggie had a confused expression on his face. Of course, he didn't know yet. So Mom, Dad, Uncle Shawn and I had to spend 5 minutes explaining what we knew to him.

By the end, he looked upset, but at least he wasn't crying like I had been. "I want to come look for her," he decided.

"Is that okay with you?" Uncle Shawn asked Mom and Dad.

"Of course, if its fine with you," Dad told him.

"Are you sure you want to go look for Maya?" Mom asked, bending down so her face was level with his. Sunny waved her fist in the air in front of him, almost managing to punch him in the face.

"Yes. Maya's my favourite pirate," he told her.

---

Maya's POV

Despite what I'd told Riley, we hadn't left New York City yet. Lucas and I were wandering around, hopelessly lost but still enjoying the sights.

I loved this place. It would hurt to leave. But I couldn't get sentimental, because that was the reason I was leaving in the first place.

"Are you ready to leave now?" Lucas asked gently, prodding my shoulder. We were sitting on a bench in a park, watching the kids run around. It reminded me of when I was young, without any worries at all.

"I guess..." I whispered. I had planned on that sentence coming out a lot stronger, but I was distracted by what I saw in front of me. Two adults, presumably husband and wife, were walking along yelling at each other, while their daughter traipsed along behind them.

She looked so... broken. That wasn't a look you should see on children. And what's more, she had blonde hair. I felt like I had been slapped in the face.

Lucas was looking at her too. We sat, side-by-side, holding hands, and thinking about this kid we had never even met before. Because we both knew how her story would turn out. Well, I did anyway.

~Flashback~

I lay on the floor, sobbing. My Mom and Dad were yelling at each other again. I was 7 years old, and my parent's relationship was falling apart.

"Why can't you treat your daughter better?" Mom yelled.

"I never wanted her in the first place," Dad screamed back. "I'm 24 years old. That's too young to be married with a 7 year old daughter."

Then, Mom yelled those fateful words. "Why don't you just leave?"

~Flashback over~

I haven't seen my father since that night. It's been 9 years. I don't miss him too much. It's hard to miss someone who never loved you, who always thought you were a burden on their life.

I knew how the story of the little girl from my memories ended. I was there, of course. I was her. She would go into school on Monday with bloodshot eyes, then spend most of the day crying over a man who didn't love her, while her best friend struggled to understand.

"Okay," I finally said. "I'm ready to go."

We stood up, then crossed the street to the bus stop on the other side.

------

Ah, another piece of Maya's past. Poor kid.

A lot of you thought it would be Josh at the door. It was Shawn, but Josh'll be here veeeery shortly.

And there was a Boy Meets World reference!! Did you spot it?

Also, are two month olds capable of babbling? 'Cause I've got no idea, and I'm too lazy to Google it. So let's just go with this.

Question time!

1. Does the whole Annie/Sunny thing confuse you?
And
2. Where do you think Lucas and Maya are going?

Xoxo, stay fabulous!
-Holli