"Maya?" Riley asked, pulling her in through the window. "What's wrong? What happened? Please tell me why you're crying."
Even though she'd seen her cry before, especially when they were young, it always surprised Riley to see her so upset. Maya was her rock, and anytime there was a crack in her solid foundation it seemed to throw their whole world off balance. After all, if Maya couldn't be strong, how could anyone else be expected to? Riley watched as the small tears pooled in the corners of her red eyes, feeling her stomach twist in sympathy.
"I'm such an idiot, Riley. How many times do I have to say hope is for suckers before I actually know to believe it?" Maya's waved hair had turned to frizz and tangles. The eyeliner Riley had spent ages on was wiped down Maya's eyes and nearing her cheeks. She was a mess, maybe more of a mess than Riley had ever seen. Maya was tough. Maya was brave. Riley didn't know what to make of this girl breaking down in front of her.
"Why would I ever think I'd get a nice boy, huh?" Maya huffed, rubbing at her eyes again.
"Hey, Maya," Riley said softly, touching her arm lightly. "Please tell me what happened."
"Oh you know, the usual," Maya said, forcing a smile. "He took me to dinner at some too-fancy place, and we were talking and laughing and flirting…and then I just…I mentioned where I live, you know? Cause the funny thing was he thought when I said to meet here, he thought this was where I lived, not you."
Riley blinked slowly, watching Maya's fake-smile shift into a deep, scornful frown. "And when he realized where I actually live, and how it's just me and my mom…he even let me explain how my dad…" Maya choked. She paused, taking in a few breaths to help calm herself down, then looked Riley in the eyes.
"He said he had to go to the bathroom, but then uh…he just never came back. I waited there for ages like an idiot. And, you know, since we already ordered I was left with the check." Maya closed her eyes tight, and Riley felt her stomach drop. "I'd brought enough to pay for myself, you know? But I didn't have enough for both of us. He'd ordered something fancy and I just…He made such a fool out of me."
"Are you in trouble? I've got my credit card, we can go back," Riley said, standing to leave.
"No," Maya said, grabbing her arm. "It turns out they knew my mom, and said they'd take care of it. They weren't happy, but they understood. I'm not in trouble. I'm just sorry I ever went in the first place. I'm not the kind of girl for a boy like that."
"Maya, are you kidding? He's not the kind of boy for a girl like you. He was horrible. He was awful. And I even told him," Riley paused, realization suddenly flickering over her face.
Maya looked at Riley, seeing the way her eyes grew wide. "What?"
"I told him not to mess with my girl," she said, a small smile on her lips. "And now he's gotta know just how much I meant it." The glint in Riley's eye was something Maya didn't see very often, but when she did, she knew that her meddling mind was running at an all-time-high.
"Oh, no. Riley, please stay out of this. I'm fine." Maya said, trying to pull her back down to earth before it was too late.
"Maya, I love you, but have you seen yourself? You're not fine. I'm gonna teach that boy a lesson. I just have to figure out how." Riley's smile was now a full-blown smirk. Maya knew they were past the point of no return.
/
The next morning, the gang had assembled at Topanga's bright and early, after receiving a mysterious, and vaguely threatening, group text.
Zay sat slumped over a steaming cup of coffee, awake only in the technical sense. Next to him, Lucas was watching him nod off slowly, his nose always dangerously close to falling into the cup before he snapped awake again.
Shaking his head, he turned woefully to a bright-eyed Farkle and grumbled, "Whatever this is, it better be good. Some of us need our beauty sleep, okay?"
"Well I still think you're pretty, Zay," Lucas said, nudging him as Zay scowled.
"Me too!" Smackle added with a grin, quickly followed by a sigh from Farkle.
"Anyways," Farkle said, clearing his throat. "Does anyone actually know why we're here?"
Just then, the door opened with a thump and crazy shake of the bell. Riley stepped forward like a soldier with her arms behind her back, nodding tensely at the group sitting in front of her.
"Welcome, everybody," she called in her best general voice. "So glad you could make it."
"Riley, honey. You're adorable, but why am I awake right now?" Zay asked, looking weak.
Riley paced back and forth in front of the group. "I've called you all here today because our most prized soldier has come under fire." Riley turned to face them, paused for a moment, and then dropped her general act. "A boy humiliated Maya, you guys. And I'm not just gonna let him get away with it."
"Who was it?" Lucas asked already on his feet.
"Easy there, soldier," Zay said, tugging on his sleeve so he would sit back down. Even after all this time working with his temper, Lucas could never get rid of the instinct he felt to protect and fight for his friends. It was something that would always be a part of him.
"His name is Alex," Riley explained. "Now, the reason I brought all of you here is because I believe I need all of you for a real plan to work. This isn't just about petty revenge, it's about teaching this boy a real lesson. For him to hurt Maya like this, something must have really hurt him, right?"
Riley's eyes were soft and kind. It reminded Farkle of when he'd had a bully of his own. Even after Riley had saved him, she knew she had to save the bully as well. She hadn't changed, always looking out for the best in everyone.
"So we talk it out first," Farkle offered. "You always attempt to negotiate before you go to war."
"And if that plan fails?" Smackle asked.
"Then we strike with no regrets," Farkle replied with a shrug.
The gang all exchanged glances, the room suddenly silent as they realized what they were really getting themselves into here. This was high school, and the stakes were much higher than they'd been before. When one of them was hurting, they were all going to have to raise their level to protect them. They needed to stay strong and stay together, no matter what.
Riley looked between them, nodding. "So it looks like I'm on the frontlines then, huh?" She looked out the window of Topanga's, watching people pass by while the sun was still rising. "Well then, I hope Alex is ready for me."
It was a new day. One they would all remember. And if Riley could help it, she was going to make a real difference.