Maya POV
This can't be happening… how could I have failed her… again. First when she was being bullied I never realized it and she created Rileytown… now… this is much worse… and whose fault is it… ours… all of us… pushing and pushing her… telling her she needed to be perfect… she needed to number one… and… we… we never stopped and asked her if she wanted to… we all drafted her life for her… we all pushed her into being what WE wanted… and there she was… trying… forcing her to be that… I'm so sorry little plant… I… no… no no no no
-HELP! GET A DOCTOR! MRS MATHEWS! RILEY PLEASE!
Four months earlier…
Maya POV
-Wake up little p…
I couldn't finish, Riley wasn't in her bed, she was sound asleep in her desk all over her books and homework, I walked to her and shook her gently.
-Wake up little plant
-Maya? What time is it?
-Early enough for you to go take a bath.
I saw her glare at the papers in her desk.
-I have to finish the report for history class…
Then I noticed a cup under one of her books
-whoa… since when do you drink coffee?
She just glared at me… if I could just have read her eyes… but then, just then, the Riley I used to know popped up and ran to the bathroom, while she showered I helped her pack her stuff and even picked some clothes for her. The smell of breakfast coming from the kitchen filled the room and I couldn't help but follow it.
-Hi there Maya - Topanga said
-Mrs Mathews.
As Riley arrived she hugged her.
-How's my "A+" baby today?
-Fine mom, thank you.
After breakfast and saying our goodbyes we walked to the subway, as we passed a Starbucks, Riley pulled me in.
-Whoa…
-One black coffee, one sugar, please.
I just glared at her as we walked out, she glared at me as she had the first sip.
-What?
-Nothing… let's hurry up, it's getting late. - I replied
I almost forgot about all that by midday until our math teacher assigned us a lot of homework and then our philosophy teacher gave us a very complex project, I saw it then and I didn't realize it, Riley was terrified, I knew she had always been a good student and a very smart one, but highschool is not middle school… and to top it off our spanish teacher gave us more homework and as a project, reading a classic spanish book.
Riley POV
This has to be a joke… how can they think it's humanly possible to do all this homework… and read a book in spanish? I… I can barely read the textbook as it is… but I can do it… everyone expects me to be the best…
Later that night
-All ready baby? You going to bed? - Topanga asked
I nodded… just moving my head up and down was better than lying openly… as I entered my room I sat on my desk and pulled my books, papers and everything I needed… plus one thing not even Maya knew about, a thermo with coffee that I secretly filled at Topanga's, I knew it wasn't the right thing to do but they all expected me to be "A+ Riley" so let's do it… no matter what… no matter if… I have to go all night without sleep… for the fourth time this week…
Five hours later.
I can't believe I managed to finish most of the stuff, maybe I can get some sleep… yeah… sure… I laid in my bed for two seconds and there she was, Maya coming through the window… thank God I put the thermo away so she doesn't start asking questions…
Maya POV
It's been a month already… I'm trying to figure out if something is wrong with Riley but so far I can't… and with our crossed schedules it is more complicated because we only share a couple of classes… God why didn't I noticed…
Riley POV
Some people said that with desperation come stupid decisions… everybody wanted me to be "A+ Riley" and to get that scholarship, I know because with the money Dad makes in school and what mom gets paid in the law firm they would never afford to pay my tuition… and it all started when I decided to take a nap in the worst place of all, the cheerleaders locker room, technically they were not supposed to show before lunch but things are what they are and the worst of them showed up.
-Awww, look at this - Nikki said
-I say we wake her up… in style - replied Francesca
Do I need to say that my scream was probably heard all over New York when I got bathed in icy cold water? Guess not.
-Why… why.. d...d...did… you… d… do… t… th… tha… that… for…
-What exactly gave you the idea that OUR locker room was a hotel room? - Francesca asked
-s… sorry… I… I… didn… didn't… s… sleep… last… night…
-AWWW, highschool getting to tough for you? - Nikki asked
I nodded and began to cry, if I knew that my next question was going to open the door to the endless hell I'm into I probably wouldn't have asked it…
-h… how… do… yo… you… do it?
The looked at each other and smirked
-You really want to know? - asked Francesca
I nodded, God why did I did it… I saw her open her locker and produce a bottle with white pills in it, Francesca took my hand and placed three in it.
-Now, take one tonight, and you'll see. OK?
I glared at them, where they the solution I was looking for? Was this the way to keep being "A+ Riley" and get the scholarship my parents so desperately hoped I got? I couldn't think more as Nikki threw a towel at me.
-Dry yourself and get out. We need to change and we don't need you looking at us. - she ordered
I walked out, put the pills in my pocket and closed my eyes...
To be continued