Wow thanks for all the reviews I hope chapter 2 holds up to the first one. Enjoy. Let me know what you think.
Riley and Maya both laugh when they see Zay running in slow motion towards them. They both smile giving him a hug and share a look when they see Josh and Lucas walking towards them.
Both girls only really happy to see two out of the three of them. Maya was only happy to see Zay and Lucas who she hugs and gives a nod to Josh. The story with them was like all girl likes boy stories.
Except in Maya's story said boy kept making excuses not to pursue something other than friendship. Even though he told her when she was older maybe then. But she was well into her twenties and tired of waiting for him.
You can only wait so long for someone before it gets ridiculous. She thought. Which is why that was one of the reasons she wanted to leave New York.
Riley on the other hand was only happy to see her uncle Josh and Zay. Lucas not so much. Ever since she met him he annoyed her to no end. Maya always told her it was because he liked her but Riley didn't believe that.
Lucas only seeing her as Josh's little niece until visiting New York with Josh. He started seeing her in another light even sharing a moment where they almost kissed.
He would have asked her out but he loved annoying her more and seeing how flustered she got. Plus he respected the Matthews and Josh to much to try anything with her.
"What are the two prettiest girls in New York doing in sunny California?" Zay asked putting his arms around them. The girls laugh shaking their heads telling them along with the geniuses they were there for the festival.
"Well as strangers to the west coast I'll be your tour guide and treat you to some fine dining." Riley smiles but sees the hesitation on Maya's face and the not so subtle glances Josh was giving her.
"Appreciate the offer Zay but peaches and I are going to try this other place around the corner." Zay pouts causing Riley and Maya to have a telepathic conversation with each other. The guys watched as they just stared at each other not moving a muscle except their eyes.
Riley gives Maya one more raised eyebrow and Maya smiles nodding her head. She wasn't going to let Josh ruin her good time with her friends. "Okay let's go inside looks like it's going to rain." Lucas shivers looking up.
"Actually that's just Karl the fog." Riley tells him smiling up at the sky like she was saying hello to an old friend. She looks back at the guys and Maya as they all look at her with confused expressions. "It's called research." She tells them holding up her phone.
"That's my girl always googling things." Lucas tells her pinching her cheek and tossing his arm around her shoulder. Maya smirked mouthing his girl to Riley who shoved him rolling her eyes grabbing Zay and Maya's arm going inside.
"So round of drinks?" Zay asked getting up when he sees some girl waving at him. They all laugh knowing they probably not going to see him the rest of the night. They look down at their menus as a waitress brings over the drinks Zay ordered for them.
"Lucas knock it off!" Riley says through gritted teeth taking his straw from his hand so he stop blowing air at her. "Don't pretend you don't like the feel of my breath on your neck." He tells her taking his straw back smirking at her.
"Your an idiot." She tells him flicking her straw wrapper at him. "Aw brownie you know you love me." He tells her holding onto her hand. Maya chokes on her drink while Riley kicks her under the table knowing what she was thinking.
Lucas yells ow pulling his hand back rubbing the spot on his wrist where Riley pinched him. She smiles smugly as they begin to argue with each other much to the amusement of Maya who knew they belonged together but were to deep in denial to admit it.
She glances at Josh who was across from her all quiet and noticed him staring at her. She tried not to let him get under her skin. She was moving on whether he wanted her to or not. "So huckleberry how did Zay get you away from all those hoedowns and cattle pageants?" She asks in her country accent clapping her hands together.
Riley giggles as Lucas shakes his head at her turning to Maya. "Funny pancake. I thought well we.." He gestures at Josh and him. "Thought a change of scenery would do us some good." Maya and Riley share a look trying to suppress their giggles but one look at Lucas confused face sends them over the edge.
"Grandma and grandpa must be so proud you two made it official uncle Josh." Riley says between laughs making Maya spit out her drink as they both lean on each other laughing. "I need a drink." Josh stands walking towards the bar with Lucas following him.
"Dude I don't think your parents actually think we're together." Lucas tells him jokingly as Josh glares at him. Josh orders a beer chugging it down as he orders another looking back at their table. Lucas looks over seeing what had his attention and nods his head chuckling.
"Just tell her how you feel already man." He nudges him ordering a beer for himself. Josh ignores him looking away from the table. "I don't like her." He didn't want to get into the fight they had with him.
Lucas grabs his beer patting him on the back. "Whatever you say man." He walks back sitting down with the girls.
Josh sighs looking back at the table seeing Maya glance his way but just as quickly turn her head and talk with Riley. He knew he was only to blame in why she was freezing him out because he didn't want to be honest with her.
He chugs his beer and heads back to the table to hear Riley and Lucas arguing once again with each other.
"Riles do you realize you and Ranger Rick acted just like a married couple at dinner?" Maya tells her as Riley shakes her head frowning buttoning her pajama top. Maya smiles nodding her head at her knowing it was true.
When the waitress took their order they both ordered something the other wanted. So when she brought their food they subconsciously took food off each other's plate all the while still arguing with each other.
"Peaches that is not true." Maya laughs watching the pink appear on Riley's cheeks as she got in bed. "What about the whole dessert thing? Huh brownie." Maya laughs as Riley gasps throwing a pillow at her.
Lucas had ordered the Alabama brownie cake getting two forks and smiling at Riley telling her how could he pass up the chance to eat a brownie with his brownie.
"He was just trying to get under my skin. I hate when he calls me brownie." Riley always thought he called her that to tease her but Maya knew there was more to the nickname than that. Especially with how Lucas smiled at her when he calls her it.
Maya tosses the pillow back at her turning off the lights and snuggling under the blankets facing the wall. She had just closed her eyes when she hears Riley whisper her name. "I'm sorry my uncle Josh is here."
Maya smiles turning to face her seeing she was already looking her way. "Riles it's not your fault he is here. The universe just hates me but I'm not going to let him or the universe get to me. I'm going to enjoy my time with you and the horny geniuses."
She sees Riley make a face and they both laugh and were grateful the house was big and that their room wasn't near theirs. Maya tells her goodnight turning back around. "Peaches?" Maya hums in response to her.
"For what it's worth I don't think the universe has it out for you maybe it's doing you a favor." She stays silent not saying anything as Riley tells her that's what she thought anyway and says goodnight.
Maya turned on her back glancing at Riley before staring up at the ceiling. No! She shouts to herself. You will not let Joshua Matthews back in your heart after doing all that work pushing him out. You said you were done you told him you were done.
Maya rolls her eyes tossing her hands up in the air. Having a silent inner thought argument was something she didn't do. She gets out of bed grabbing her bag and slipping on her slippers heading for the living room.
She smiles as she hunker down in the living room bay window. Riley and her hugged Farkle till he squeaked thanking him for finding a house with one in it. She crosses her legs opening her bag pulling out her sketch pad and a pencil.
Art. The one thing in her life that she could depend on besides her best friend. "The best way to get out of your head is to lose yourself in your work." She traces over the quote Riley made up for her when she was having her Josh problem.
Maya grabs her pencil giving her wrist a flick which Riley told her all the great artist do. Even though Maya was sure that wasn't really true but indulge her anyway. She smiles as she begins to lose herself in her art.
"Peaches wakey wakey." She groans swatting at the air trying to stop Riley's jumping. "Maya get up I have coffee." Riley tells her jumping off her bed. Maya groans looking at the time seeing it was seven. She wraps herself in her blanket walking slowly to the living room.
"Here you go Maya one cup of coffee plus a muffin." Maya takes it looking at her weirdly as she sits down watching her move around the kitchen slightly bouncing. "What's going on with her?" She asks Farkle and Smackle who were watching her too.
"It's the coffee she all hopped up on it." Smackle tells her as Maya takes a sip widening her eyes. She looks at the cup seeing it said peets coffee on it. "Don't worry the nice people at the coffee shop said there is nothing bad in it and I'm just in a good mood."
They all look at her and go off to get dressed with their coffees. "This is actually pretty good." Maya tells her as Riley nods tying her shoes. "Told ya. Oh here." She jumps up holding two tickets out to Maya. "SFMOMA?" Maya asked tilting her head confused.
Riley shook her head tapping her head with the tickets. "Silly Peaches it's the San Francisco museum of modern art." Maya laughs asking what about the festival and the geniuses.
"Well the festival is delayed for some reason and Smackle and Farkle are going to the planetarium and some other stuff I wish I didn't know." Maya looks at her and Riley shakes her head shivering saying not to asks making her laugh as they walk out the door.
"Dude get up let's go." Lucas yells tossing Josh his shirt and holding out a coffee to him. Josh groans rubbing his eyes sipping the coffee Lucas bought him. He perks up and widens his eyes at Lucas who was nodding.
"A lot different from Starbucks huh?" Lucas laughs as Josh nods drinking it. "So we going to the festival now?" He asks as Lucas shakes his head holding up two tickets. Josh nods in approval taking one as they head out the door.
They get on muni as Lucas stares at Josh until he kicks his leg. "Dude why are you looking at me?" Lucas chuckles as he folds his arms across his chest. "So when are you going to tell me the truth?"
Josh looks at him weirdly as Lucas mouths Maya to him. Josh rolls his eyes turning away from him making Lucas laugh. He knew what he was talking about and he didn't want to get into it.
He was still trying to get him to admit he liked Maya which he wasn't sure if he did or not. Who was he kidding he did but he couldn't tell her that since he was an idiot and he knew it.
"Thanks for this Riles." Maya tells her as they look through the artwork. "Your welcome I thought you might enjoy it. They have different artists here I think you'll like too." Maya smiles as Riley laughs as they head to that part of the museum.
Riley smiled as she left Maya who was in another world as she looked at all the artwork. She had to pee and also wanted to see the photography section of the museum. "Brownie!" She freezes closing her eyes trying to shield her eyes as she passes them.
"Riley are you pretending not to see us?" Josh asked as Lucas tossed his arm over her shoulder. "No I didn't see you. So what's going on?" She elbows Lucas moving away from him. "What are you doing here?"
Josh and Lucas look at her weirdly as she looks around hoping Maya didn't see them. "Are you alone?" Josh asked noticing her looking around. She nods but he knew that wasn't the truth. "Well I got to go lots of artwork to see and not a lot of time."
Lucas shakes his head grabbing her hand. "Brownie brownie the photography section is this way let's go." He pulls her with him as he winks at Josh who shakes his head but heads towards where he knew Maya would be.
He finds her staring at a Jackson Pollock with a look he knew all to well. When it came to art he knew she was always in another world that few were let in. He makes his way towards her when he sees someone walk up to her.