'Holy…' Maya thinks to herself when she sees her best friend step off the green and blue bus, bags hanging off her arms. Apparently people can change a lot in two months, two weeks, three days, and 13 hours. That's how long she's been gone. Maya wasn't counting or anything. It was a summer Riley had to spend without a phone; the only contact between the two was through handwritten letters where Riley would tell her every detail of every day and wish Maya was there with her. Maya would write how boring summer was without her and how as much as she loves Farkle, Lucas, and Zay, she missed Rileytown. She missed her girl.
Maya never understood the appeal of summer camp. Especially because they were sophomores now and they needed to start taking their summers seriously. Luckily for them, they had two weeks of summer bliss left before school started.
Maya immediately tackled Riley into a hug, pushing her up against the bus. Riley dropped her bags and wrapped her arms around her friend. She decided she was never leaving Maya for the summer ever again. Or any time for that matter.
"Peaches!" Riley says into Maya's hair. She's got a death grip on Maya and it's starting to affect the girl's breathing. Riley realizes this so instead she takes Maya's hand and picks up her bags with the other. She notices that Maya is still a little out of breath. She remembers not to squeeze so hard next time.
Riley drags Maya to where her parents are parked while waiting for her and starts talking about the rest of their summer plans.
"Bon fires!" She exclaims loudly as they settle into the back seat of Topanga's car. "With s'mores!"
"As long as we get Reece's cups instead of Hershey's squares," Maya negotiates.
"AND WE CAN PULL OUT THE TENT!" Riley squealed.
"What." Maya deadpanned. Why the hell for? Camping time is over.
"I'm going to get you to like camping so you can come with me next year!" Riley says, squeezing Maya's hand as they ride along in the back seat.
Riley decided she was never leaving Maya; which is why she intends to take her with everywhere she goes. Camping, college, retirement home, etc.
"Oh, no, no, no, no, Riley. No." Maya said, shaking her head.
"Why not? We can move my bed and set it up in my room! We don't even have to sleep outside."
She knew that was a huge reason Maya didn't like camping. As much as she loved the stars in the sky, she didn't trust the nature on the ground. Poison ivy, bugs, bears probably. Who knows. Not Maya.
"So you want to move your comfy bed to sleep on the floor?"
Riley nodded while giving Maya a bright smile.
"Camping doesn't make any sense," Maya stated.
"I didn't hear a 'no'!" Riley beamed.
"You did. Like 30 seconds ago."
"I didn't hear another 'no'," she said, grinning at Maya.
Maya rolled her eyes and looked out her window as they entered the city again. She looked back at Riley who was still smiling like a goofball. How could she say no to this girl?
"Fine," she breathed out.
"YAAAAAY!" Riley let out, bouncing a little in her seat.
"This better be worth it, Matthews. Not only do I want Reece's cups, but I want ice cream, and your comfiest pillow."
"You got it, Peaches," Riley said, scooting even closer to Maya in the back seat. She rested her head on her shoulder and fell asleep for the last fifteen minutes it took them to get home.