"Peaches?" Riley's voice echoed through my phone as I fumbled with my keys in an attempt to get into my apartment.
"What's up, Riles?" I asked, trying not to sound exhausted as I cradled the phone between my ear and my shoulder, still struggling with the lock.
"Are you okay?" I heard the lock click and I pushed the door open, grabbing the phone with my hand again and hitting speaker.
I walked into the apartment, pushing the door shut behind me and set the phone on the counter.
"I'm fine, why?" I dumped my bag and keys on the counter as well and began to piece through the mail I'd gotten on my way up.
"Uh, my friendship senses told me," I stopped looking at the mail as I tried to process what she'd said. Then it clicked.
I dropped the mail on the counter and picked up the phone, turning speaker off.
"What did Lucas say?" I asked, again, trying to hide the tiredness and frustration in my voice.
"Lucas?"
"Yes, Riley, Lucas. I am twenty-six and fully aware that your friendship senses tell you nothing and Lucas was the one who made you call,"
Silence. I pinched the bridge of my nose. It's Riley, you can't be mad at Riley, she's just doing the right thing. She's Lucas' friend, friends help one another out.
"Is he there?" I asked, closing my eyes.
"He stopped by earlier,"
I sighed into the phone.
"Maya, he's worried about you. He said you were all spacey this morning and you weren't focusing."
"So I had an off morning, I'm fine. Nothing to worry about."
"Maya-,"
"I'm fine!" I said, louder than I intended. The exasperation in my voice and the silence on the other end of the line were very apparent.
"I'm sorry," I said quietly.
"I just want to make sure you're okay," Riley's voice was calm.
The pit returned in my stomach. "I am, no need to worry about me."
"Riley?" I asked. We were sitting in that same cafe as Lucas and I had been two days earlier. I was supposed to be working; that's what Riley and I came here to do. She was tapping away at her laptop keyboard, likely sending an important email as she looked incredibly focused and determined.
"Hmm?" She replied, still focused on her computer screen.
"Riley,"
She stopped typing, scanned her eyes across the screen and hit the trackpad with one final tap. She looked up and shut her laptop, resting her hands on top.
As she looked at me, her brow furrowed.
"Maya, what's wrong?" She leaned forward, grabbing hold of my hand. I inched away and she grew more concerned.
"I'm leaving."