The Ride of Your Life
Summary: The day Maya first met Riley, she saw the rest of her life. She had met her best friend. What will they experience together? Friendship fluff with the gang, and Mr. Matthews. Join her on her journey to find hope. **Twitter One-Shot Challenge**
Maya's POV
Life is about the journey, not the destination. This is my journey. The journey of how I met my best friend, and found my family.
It all started in first grade. The playground, actually, was where my life changed forever.
That's where I met Riley Gabriella Matthews.
Her dark topaz brown hair bounced as she ran over to where I sat on the swing alone; dressed in jeans and a thick, dark green jacket to brace the New York cold. Her smile was wide, revealing a set of straight, white teeth.
If I automatically didn't like her, I probably would have hated her for being so perky.
"Hi, I'm Riley!" She yelled in a friendly tone. "Wanna pway with me?"
I spoke before I had even thought; surprising myself with my answer. "Sure."
"What's your name?"
"Maya. What's your name?"
"Riley Matthews."
She had a kickball, and despite her nonexistent athletic ability, she babbled about how she was gonna make the cheerleading team between missed kicks of the kickball.
"Just you wait," she warned me in a serious voice, "I'm gonna be the best cheerleader ever!"
I felt like everything she said deserved an exclamation point at the end. She was that type of person. And her enthusiasm made me believe that maybe she could do whatever she wanted.
Was that what hope was like? I had lost that long ago, but Riley seemed to be my own personal hope.
––—–
She did in fact try out for the cheerleading team.
We were in fifth grade. She was still no more in control of her gangly, awkward limbs than she was or will ever be.
But she went out there with more enthusiasm than anyone else. She did every cheer as best as she could muster, every move with such effort. Even as the coach yelled and screamed at her, she kept a wide smile on her face.
And somehow she still didn't make the cheerleading team.
"You'll wow 'em next time, Riles," I tried to console her, but she just smiled tiredly at me.
"How about we just go and get some ice-cream?" She suggested.
"Sounds perfect," I responded whole-heartedly.
––—–
Not only was Riley Matthews the friend I never thought I deserved, but Mr. Matthews was the dad is never thought I'd have.
It was months after the whole Texas love triangle scandal, and Lucas had picked Riley. I had become okay with that. I realized I wanted a figment of Lucas, but not really Lucas himself. I wanted a guy who treated me like Lucas treated Riley, a guy that treats his wife like Mr. Matthews does. Someone so-not-like my own father.
"Maya, there's a new boy in our class...," Mr. Matthews trailed off suggestively, grinning.
"Stop!" I groaned. But my curiosity was grabbed by his statement.
"He's really into art, too. He's even in your art class," Mr. Matthews continued.
"Dad!" The tone was chastising, but the word slipped out without thought. I almost wanted to take it back, but I waited anxiously at his reaction.
"Just give it a try, Maya," Mr. Matthews smiled. For him, I did talk to the new boy, but by time Jonathan and I went out, it was for me and my future.
My journey of finding hope in the smallest of places. Letting go.
A/n: If you wanna be part of the challenge, PM Sand1128! :)
Do it for Johnny y'all,
- Alee XxX
