Riley Matthews was tired.
She was tired of always coming second place to everyone in her life. Especially to Maya. Yes, she was supposed to be her best friend, but lately she felt as though she was taking over her life. No, that just sounds stupid out loud. But that's the truth isn't it? Here she was sitting in her room on her birthday crying her eyes out. Let's review what happened so far.
(This part is going to be first person in Riley's POV)
I woke up this morning with a smile on my face. It was my birthday! I was so excited. I danced out the door still in my pajamas and to the kitchen. Usually on my birthday there is a big steaming tray of chocolate chip pancakes waiting for me. Along with my family singing me happy birthday. But when I got to the kitchen it was empty. All I saw was a bowl of cheerios with a note beside of it. 'Riley, had a big case this morning. Dad had to leave to go to a meeting for work this morning and took Auggie to drop him off at Dewey's. Make sure you get to school on time. Say hi to Maya for me!
-Mom' and then at the very bottom she managed to squeeze in a happy birthday. I sighed and went to get the milk out from the fridge. Just another drop in a sea of disappointment. I got a text from Josh while eating my cereal. 'Hey Kiddie, sorry I can't make it to the party tonight. But I'll make it up to you I promise! Happy Birthday! ? ﾟﾎﾊ? ' I smiled and continued to eat. After I finished my bowl of cereal, I went to my room to get dressed for school. I picked out a simple ringer shirt, with a black button up skirt and my gray converse. I curled my hair and shook out the curls to make them looser. I put on a little amount of make up as usual and grabbed my bag, and my phone. I checked the time and ran out the door. I slid through the doors of the subway just in time. I couldn't find any seats so I stood up. The train stated to move and I turned to see Maya who was sitting in someone's lap. I couldn't see his face, because some sweaty Statue of Liberty guy is in the way. Maya stayed on the guy's lap however and she was giggling. After the next stop the Statue of Liberty guy stole a seat. Once he moved I saw whose lap Maya was sitting on and I almost threw up. It was Lucas. She was sitting there giggling away. Neither of them saw me and I intended to keep it that way. I scooted over to the back of the train as far away from them as possible. I was able to sit down after a man got off. I sat down next to an older man. A tear fell down my cheek and I wiped it away. "Are you okay?" I looked up and saw a girl about my age with turquoise hair. She was wearing skinny jeans and a guns n' roses shirt. "My name's Cali. I just, saw you crying and thought I should see if you were okay." I smiled and nodded. "Yeah, thanks. It's just, my birthday's not really going so great." The train lurched to a stop. "Oh, Happy Birthday. Well this is my stop." She smiled at me then exited the train. I sighed and stood up. It was my stop next. I wanted to get out before Maya and Lucas saw me. As soon as the doors opened I sprinted out and ran off into the bathroom. I wanted to make sure they were passed me. After about ten minutes (they were like turtles) I ran to the school. I was a few blocks from the school when it started to rain. More like pour. Anyways I was getting soaked and I didn't have an umbrella of course. By the time I got to the school I was dripping wet and ten minutes late. I got a pass from the office. The ladies handed me a towel to dry off with and I took it with me to class. I opened the door and all eyes went to me. I handed my dad the note and walked to my seat. "Riley, you were supposed to be here ten minutes ago." I turned to look at my dad. "I know, I had some technical difficulties." I said gesturing to my wet appearance. "Just have a seat and don't let it happen again." I turned and sat in my seat. I still had my towel wrapped around me and since I was sitting under the vent, it was even colder. And it wasn't like the towel was made of wool. I was shivering for a while. "Here Riles, you're freezing take my jacket." I turned around to Lucas who already had his jacket off and was handing it to me. I gave him a small smile, took it, and slid it on. "You know I'm pretty cold too Lucas." I sighed and just looked straight at the board. Of course Maya had to chime in. "Sorry Maya, I don't have another jacket..." "why'd you give it to her then?" "Because she is soaked and freezing Maya." He sounded a little impatient. She quietly huffed and turned back around in her seat. I had to restrain myself from rolling my eyes.
After class I hurried to get out of there. The tension was so thick you could cut it with a knife. I scurried to my locker and got my books out fast. I stopped by the bathroom on the way. I picked up my books and was walking to class when I was pulled into the janitor's closet. I was about to scream, but a hand was clamped over my mouth. I relaxed once I saw who it was. "Jeez Lucas! You scared the living daylights out of me!" "Sorry, I just wanted to talk in private." "About?" "Well, I wanted to give you your birthday present." "Well, you could've just given it to me at the party." "No I actually can't, well, I am. But I have two presents." I raised my eyebrows. He handed me a long, thin, velvet box. "Here you go. Happy Birthday Princess." I opened the box and gasped. It was a beautiful charm bracelet. "How did you know I've always wanted a charm bracelet?" "I may have heard you talking about it a few times." I looked at each charm. It held a princess crown, a basketball, a book, a subway car, a planet that looked like Pluto, a sun, a cat, a thunder bolt, a cowboy boot, and finally the Eiffel Tower. It was full with charms. "Yeah I had picked a lot more out, but they wouldn't fit. Do you like it, you probably hate it. Oh god, you hate it don't you?" I pulled him in for a hug. "I love it, thank you!" "Your Welcome. Happy Birthday Riles." I smiled and so did he. We were in kind of a trance. We were slowly inching closer when he warming bell rang. We both jumped out of the daze. "Well I better get to class." "I gotta go." We said at the same time. I reached for the door handle and pulled it open. I hurried off to my next class. I slid into my seat right when the bell rang.
Class was a blur and I was glad to go to lunch. I stopped by my locker to put my books away and get my money. I was about to put the box in the locker. Then I stopped and opened it. I stared at it and smile before taking it out and clipping it around my wrist. I shut my locker and went off to lunch. Maybe this day wouldn't be so bad after all. I started to think before I got into the lunch room and stopped in my tracks. Maya and Lucas were sitting at the table making out. And they weren't being shy about it. I got my lunch which consisted of Mac and cheese (with ketchup of course) an apple, chocolate milk, and a roll. I sat my tray down at the table next to Farkle and Zay. I smiled at them and started picking at my food and ignoring the tonsil war that was occurring on the other side of the table. Farkle pointed to my charm bracelet. "That's pretty, is it new?" Maya and Lucas had separated and I looked over to him. He shook his head slightly. "Um yeah, I got it from my parents for my birthday." "Oh yeah, Happy Birthday Riles." Everyone joined in with their happy birthday's. Maya however was too busy squinting at my charm bracelet. "Everything okay Maya?" She snapped out of her daze and looked at me. "Um yeah, you sure you got that from your parents?" "Well, it was next to my breakfast this morning with a note so yeah, I'd say it's a high probability." I chuckled a little. "It's just your mom didn't mention it-" "wait, you talked to my mom... when?" I said in disbelief. "She called me when she got out of her trial this morning. She wanted to check up to see if I got the letter about my art internship yet..." and just like that, the subject was all about Maya. As usual. After hearing all about how she struggled about what to write her essay about. I stood up. "Well I'm full." "You hardly touched your food." Farkle pointed out. I ignored his comment. "I'll see you guys next period." I grabbed my tray and rushed towards the door.
I didn't see them next period. I decided just to ditch. I needed to cool off before the party tonight. I sat in the bay window for a while staring at my charm bracelet. At about five I started to get ready. I didn't want to dress up super fancy. I put on a white, sleeveless dress with a trimmed waistband. I curled my hair with a big barreled iron and put some of it up if a bun like style. Then I slipped on my nude pumps. The usually amount of make up with a slight cat eye and pink tint to my lips. I looked in the mirror. I shook my charm bracelet down to my wrist from when it got stuck on my forearm. "Well as always. This is as good as it's gonna get." (Hahaha Princess Diaries quote; I love that movie) the doorbell rang and I went to go answer it. I opened it and there stood Lucas, he had a present wrapped in his hand and was staring at me. "Wow, Riles you look beautiful." I blushed and muttered a thanks. He brushed past me. I was about to shut the door when Maya slammed her hand against it to stop it. "Happy. Birthday!" "Thanks!" I held my arms out for a hug, but she brushed past me and walked over to Lucas. "Hey babe." She kissed him. He muttered a hey and glanced at me. Farkle and Isadora came through at that moment and I was never more grateful. Next Zay came. I asked my friends to come a little earlier so I could open their presents separately. I opened Farkle's first, it was certificate. "YOU GOT ME MY OWN STAR! AAAAHHH!" They all chuckled. "Yeah, you know you get to name it." "Five bucks it's gonna be." "Pluto" Zay whispered to Smackle. Who finished his sentence. "Well obviously there's only one real choice! Farkle!" "Why me?" "Because you gave it to me. But also so I can tell people that there's a star named Farkle." They all laughed. I opened the rest of the gifts one by one. I got a kaleidoscope and a book on feminism from Smackle, a coupon book for free hugs from Zay. Who laughed when I asked if I could return the gift. Then he gave me my real present which was a gift card to a spa, I also got a gift card to Demolition and tickets to go see Wicked (my favorite broadway musical) from Maya. I opened Lucas' gift last. When I opened it I found a book. 'To Kill A Mockingbird' this was one of my favorite books. But Lucas knew I already had this. "This was the book I was reading on the subway when we first met. I thought you might like to have it." I smiled and thanked him and then thanked all of them. Only a few minutes later there was a knock and people came piling into our apartment.
I was having some fun at the party, but mainly I was just doing damage control. Making sure nobody spiked the punch, or broke my mom's expensive Persian vase. About an hour into the party some girls from my class asked about my bracelet. I told them the same story I told my friends. They asked to look at the charms. I said sure, but then I spotted a few football players tossing around my dad's signed phillies ball. So I took it off and told them to just leave it there and I'd come back to get it. Maya kept standing by us eyeing the bracelet. I think she might be suspicious. Anyways about ten minutes later I came back and it was gone. I started to panic. I asked the girls who were looking at it and they said that they put it back when they were done. I thanked them and decided that maybe it got misplaced. I needed a moment to myself so I walked to my room. I was about to go in when i heard voices arguing inside. I recognized them immediately, they were Lucas and Maya. The door was open a crack so I peaked inside. I saw Maya dangling my charm bracelet in front of Lucas' face. "Look I don't get what the big deal is? So I gave her and bracelet and a book. So what?" That made Maya more mad. "So what?! You do realize that half of these charms represent romantic moments between you two?" He rolled his eyes and crossed his arms. "They were just moments, and the charms were just pretty. Can we go back to the party now?" She threw the charm bracelet on the bed. "Do you like her?" "Oh come on Maya!" "Just answer the question! Do you still like her?"!he hesitated for one second. "No Maya, I chose you. I like you." He sounded more like he was trying to convince himself. However Maya didn't pick up on that. "Say it again." She demanded. "I don't like Riley, I like you." She kissed him, he kissed her back. "Come on, let's go back. We can do this later." I stood back as the door swung open. He door stopped in front of me so they couldn't see me as they exited the room hand in hand. As it swung back I brushed a few tears away I didn't know had escaped. I went in my room and locked the door. I leaned my back up against the door and slid down the back. Burying my head in my knees, I sobbed. After a minute I decided that I needed to get out of here. I couldn't stand the fact that they were here, in my room, kissing. I grabbed my phone, fifty bucks, and a jacket. I hesitated as I saw the bracelet on the bed. I slowly reached and picked it up. I touched all the charms and tossed it back on the bed. I got to the window and looked back at the room. Then I crawled out.
I was wondering around aimlessly for about a half an hour. I didn't know where I wanted to go. I started to get cold, I wasn't that far from NYU, so I decided to go there. I got on the subway to go a few blocks because my feet were killing me. I went on twitter and saw pictures of my party. I was scrolling through random pictures when I stopped on one. It was a picture of Zay in a sombrero. But in the background Maya and Lucas were kissing. I locked my phone and set it down next to me before I pulled my knee to my chest and openly cried. There was only a few people on the subway anyways. It was about eleven o clock. I heard footstep approach I looked up to see the same girl from this morning. "Hey, you okay?" This time I looked at her and shook my head. "What's wrong?" I started to explain the entire story starting from this morning. "Wow, that's rough. So where you ?" "I'm going to go to my uncle's place. He goes to NYU." The subway skidded to a stop and I stood up. "Thanks." "Don't mention it, here, if you ever need to talk again. Give me a call." She scribbled her number down on a crumpled piece of paper and handed it to me. I have her a small smile and hopped off the train. I walked one block from there to NYU. I got to Josh's dorm and I knocked. He didn't answer. I slid down the door and decided to wait. It wasn't like I had any place to be. A tear slid down my cheek and I wiped it off. Then another came, they kept on coming and I couldn't stop them. Then I was sobbing on the floor. Letting everything out that has happened in the past three months. I didn't hear the clutter of footsteps approaching.
Did you like it? Did you like it? Did ya did ya did ya like it? To quote Alisha Marie. Comment your thoughts on what you think should happen next. I will be taking a short break until after Christmas, but I will try to update before New Years. Please write a review! I love seeing everyone'S point of view. Good or bad. Love you all! Merry Christmas!
Xoxoxo
Mal