Riley POV
I was just about done with my homework for my dad's class when I heard a tap on the bay window. It was Maya. I waved her in and
she sat on the bay window seat. I plopped over next to her, and we started to talk.
"Farkle said I was just a second choice to him, Riley." I took a sharp breath in, shocked.
"I highly doubt he said that or meant that, Maya. Farkle's not the type of guy to do that." She sighed.
"Well, he did. I heard him, he was talking to Lucas. He only sees me as his second option, nothing else. That's all I'll ever be, I guess. That's how it was with my dad too. Me and my mom were just a second choice to him, he choice his new life instead of us." I thought I heard a sob escape her, but dismissed the thought. I had never seen Maya cry in her entire life. Not even when Bart Robins and Todd Clark had pushed her down on the playground. It was only when I saw the tears dripping down her face that I realized she was crying, and hard too.
"Maya, it'll be okay. You're dad didn't...he didn't mean to-"
"Yes he did!" she's screaming hysterically now, and I'm glad for now that my parents aren't home to hear it. She's in a rage, and she climbs out the window before I can stop her. She stops out on the fire escape, and is leaning over the edge.
I realize what she's about to do, but too late. She leans, and gravity starts to pull her to the ground. I scream and cover my eyes, but I don't hear her scream or a thud of her body on the pavement below. I look over to see my uncle Josh, his strong arms around Maya, calming her. And then I recognize the emotion on Maya's face. It's no longer fear or anger. It's calm and relaxed. He's rocking her gently, back and forth, and I'm mesmerized by the sight of my caring uncle.
I hear Maya sigh, then I walk over to them.
"Josh, what are you doing here? I thought you were supposed to be at NYU?" He chuckled. "I was, but we go the weekend off, and I wanted to come surprise you guys. I was just out here about to go into your room when Maya here tried to jump off the fire escape." I wanted to say something about how we shouldn't talk about Maya while she's right there, but I heard gently snoring and realized Maya had fallen asleep. Her rage had probably exhausted her. Josh carried her in through my window, and I saw that her arms were wrapped around his neck. Josh set her down on my bed, and I ran over to him, hugging him tightly.
"I missed you Joshie." I said it pretty loudly, and he shushed me, pointing to Maya. I pulled him to the door and we walked out into the kitchen. "My parents aren't home right now, but they said they should be here in a few minutes." Just then the door opened and my parents walked in. My mom looked shocked, but my dad immediately shouted,
"My brotha!" and then Josh, "My brotha!" "What are you doing here Josh? I thought you were supposed to be at college!" my mom talked to Josh in a firm, motherly tone. Josh grimaced. "I wanted to tell you when we were all together. I dropped out of NYU." My mouth dropped open in shock. "Josh! You told me you got a break! This is not okay! We need to fix this right now. Just then, I noticed that Maya had walked into the room. Her face was cleared, and she still looked sleepy, but now she started to cry again. I ran out of the room to comfort Maya, and Josh just stood there, a guilty look on his face.