Riley smiles, snuggling into her bed. "Hang on, my bed?!" Riley bolts upright and looks around her room. "Impossible! I am almost sure I fell asleep on the bay window waiting for... Maya..." Riley connects the two together and smiles. She gets up from her bed and looks around her room.
"Maya?" she calls out.
No answer.
Riley shrugs and continues to look around. She wasn't under the bed. Maya wasn't in her closet, either. Riley didn't know where to look for Maya. She sighs and walks over to her bay window. "Now how did she escape? Didn't she just pull up on this window?" Riley thinks and lifts up the window.
She smiles in victory. The cool morning air flows into Riley's room, making her shiver. Riley pops her head out of the bay window and looks out at the view of the rest of New York City. She smiles and almost pulls her head back into the room. Riley gasps and hits her head on the bay window frame.
"Ow..." she groans.
Maya was sleeping on the fire escape, and the weather didn't seem to be bothering her. Riley climbs out the window and shivers. She hugs herself and looks at the sleeping form.
"Maya, wake up..." Riley says.
Maya stretches and groans. She opens her eyes slowly and sees Riley. She smirks and turns towards her.
"Morning, Sleeping Beauty," Maya says teasingly.
Riley pouts, "Why didn't you come into my room last night? I know you moved me to my bed so... Why didn't you just sleep in my room. It's dangerous out here, you know."
Maya sighs, "Riley, you saw the receptionist. She thinks I'm dangerous, and I wouldn't blame her. New York City isn't all sunshine and happiness. Bad things happen here. I'm one of those people with the reputation of being dangerous and untrustworthy. I didn't want to make your family uncomfortable with me being there."
Riley shakes her head, "That's ridiculous! I think you're an amazing person! You are talented and caring. I mean, you are so cool!"
Maya giggles at the excited Riley, "Thanks, Riley. Sorry for running off yesterday..."
The brunette girl climbs out of the bay window and sits next to Maya. She grabs Maya's hand and looks into her eyes.
"You want to talk about it?" Riley asks.
Maya bites her lip, "I... I guess... I can try, but I don't want your sympathy or pity, okay?"
Riley nods, and Maya takes a deep breath. She squeezes Riley's hand and looks out to the rising sun.
"My mom and dad aren't together... My mom drove my dad off when I was, like, eight. She always does..." Maya laughs, "I mean, look at me! I run away from all my problems! She is away at work when I wake up, and she almost always at work or asleep when I go to bed... I live with my grandma, at least, but you know, it still hurts, knowing my dad left me without another thought just because of my mom..."
Riley blinks at the sadness in Maya's voice. She grabs both of Maya's hands and squeezes them. Maya looks up at her, her eyes filled with hurt and sadness. Riley smiles sadly at her and slowly wraps her arms around her. Maya immediately snuggles into Riley and starts to sob. Riley puts her head on Maya's shaking form.
Maya wraps her arms around Riley tightly. "Why did I tell her my past? I mean, I've never told anyone before... but... it felt so good to talk to Riley." Her sobs still wrack her body, but slowly, they lessen. She buries her head in Riley's shoulder, just wanting comfort. Riley places her head on her small form.
"Hey, it's okay... After all that, I just realize how much stronger you are," Riley says comfortingly.
Maya looks up from Riley's shoulder into the brunette's eyes, "You don't think of me differently?"
Riley shakes her head. Maya gives Riley a watery smile and wipes her tears on her jacket. She notices Riley shivering and immediately takes off her army jacket. She silently wraps it around Riley.
"Hey... What about you?" Riley asks.
Maya shrugs, "I'm use to the weather, but a little plant like you needs to stay warm."
Riley looks at Maya jokingly, "I'm your little plant?"
Maya smirks at her, "Well, yeah. I mean, you need to be protected, but someday you will bloom into something... something amazing..."
The brunette smiles at Maya, "Thank you."
Maya shrugs and gets up from the fire escape. She grabs Riley's hand and helps her up. Riley snuggles deeper into Maya's jacket as Maya leads her to the bay window. She lets Riley climb through first and slips in behind her. Maya shuts the bay window behind her and sits on the cushioned area around the window. Riley smiles at her, still snuggled in her jacket.
"Want something to eat? My mom makes pancakes on weekends!" Riley says happily.
Maya grins, "Sure. Why not?"
Riley pumps her fist in the air in victory. Maya giggles at the small celebration. Riley runs out of the room into the main area of the apartment with the jacket flapping behind her like a cape. Maya giggles and walks out behind Riley.
Topanga cooks busily in the kitchen, "Morning sweetie! Is that your new friend, Maya?"
Riley grins, "Morning mom! Maya meet my mom. Mom meet Maya!"
Topanga grins at Maya, "Hello, Maya! I heard so much about you during dinner last night. Riley wouldn't stop talking about how amazing you are."
"Mom, stop!" Riley complains, a blush apparent on her cheeks.
Maya giggles, "Thank you, Mrs. Matthews," she grins teasingly, "Riley, did you miss me during dinner?"
The poor brunette blushes, "So mom when will the pancakes be ready?"
Topanga laughs at their antics, "Pretty soon. Give me five more minutes. Oh yeah, Cor- I mean dad said that he would give you your subway pass when he gets home. He went out early today to get it."
Riley grins, "Thank you, mom! I can ride the subway now with Lucas!"
Maya smirks, "Riles, I ride the subway, too. Is Lucas tall with short, brown hair and blue eyes?"
Riley nods, "Yeah, how did you know?"
"I saw him yesterday on the subway when I was going to school."
"Wait, I can ride the subway with Lucas and you?! That's awesome!"
Maya giggles at Riley's excitement and looks over at Topanga. The smell of pancakes was getting stronger the longer they stood there. Riley sniffs the air, sighing at the smell.
"Pancakes are ready!" Topanga finally announces.
The two friends leap up to the table that Topanga set the pancakes on. Their stomachs grumble, and Riley and Maya quickly put pancakes on their plates. They gobble them down, and Maya sighs in satisfaction.
"That's one of the best meals I've ever had, Mrs. Matthews. Thank you," Maya says.
Topanga grins and grabs their dishes. Riley grabs Maya's hand and leads her back to her room. She closes the door and leads Maya to the bay window.
"We should do something today! How about... I call my friends Lucas and Farkle, and they can get to know you! Or... We could go to the mall... Or... Or..." Riley says excitedly.
Maya puts a hand on Riley's mouth, "Riles, I gotta go. My grandma needs help back at the house. I'll come back later, I promise."
Riley pouts but nods at her to leave. The blonde grabs her backpack and sketchbook before sitting back down on the window seat. Maya gives the girl a hug before opening the bay window and going down the fire escape. Riley smiles at Maya as she walks out of the alley. Maya turns around before she leaves Riley's sight and gives her a wave goodbye. Riley grins and waves back.
She sits back on her bay window, already missing her new friend. Riley grins as she sees the army jacket still on her shoulders. She wraps it around her even more tightly.
"Riles, huh? I like it," Riley grins at the nickname.
Maya walks out of the subway platform to the bustling streets above. She stuffs her hands in her jean pockets, her jacket still at Riley's. Maya shrugs, she didn't really care if Riley had her jacket. Well, she is glad Riley has her jacket. Maya doesn't want her little plant to get cold. Maya grins at the nickname she had given Riley.
"Somebody has to protect that girl. If it's going to be anyone, it'll be me. No one will hurt you, Riles. Not as long as I am around, I promise." Maya stops in front of a worn down brick building. She walks in, and the receptionist nods at her. Maya shrugs and continues up the staircase wordlessly. The apartment building didn't have an elevator; they were to expensive.
Maya climbs up to the eighth floor and adjusts her backpack. She graps her apartment key out of her bag and walks down the hallway filled with doors. The girl finally stops in front of one marked "8J." She unlocks the door and walks into the small apartment. She stuffs her apartment keys back into her bag and shuts the door.
The apartment had a main living space with a shaggy carpet and a pull out couch her mom had decided to sleep on. The kitchen, which was part of the room, had a stove, toaster, mini fridge, and microwave. A small table with wooden chairs was next to the kitchen.
There were three other rooms connected to the living space. One was her grandma's room which was filled with antiques and was extremely tidy. Her grandma loved keeping things neat. The second one was the bathroom which had all the necessities and nothing more: a shower, a sink, and a mirror. The other room was Maya's.
It was a small room with bricks painted red except for the side her bed was on. Those bricks were painted white. On the side of the room with the door was a small closet filled with Maya's clothes. There was a small carpet and a small, cushioned chair in the corner. A part of the wall at the front of her bed had a small white indent taped with red and black stars. A pull out lamp was attached to the indent, and a bookshelf sat in front of the white indent.
Under her bed were her suitcases and other belongings. In the back of the room was a small table filled with art supplies and workbooks. Lastly, there was a small window which Maya used when she needed to have time to herself during the night. It had a fire escape under it which made an easy escape from her apartment.
Maya placed her bag on the red chair and grabbed a pair of ripped jeans and a purple and black flannel. She goes to the bathroom and quickly takes a shower. After her shower, she changes into the jeans and flannel. Maya brushes her hair and teeth before putting on her tennis shoes. She walks out of the bathroom and over to her grandma's room.
"Grandma? You need any help?" Maya asks the aging woman.
Her grandma smiles, "Only one thing and then you can go out into the world. Will you please take out the trash?"
Maya nods and grabs her apartment keys and subway pass from her bag. She also takes out her old flip phone and stuffs them in her pocket. The girl takes the trash bag out of the trash can and replaces the now empty trash can with a new trash bag.
"Bye grandma! I'm throwing out the trash, and I probably won't be home until later tonight or tomorrow morning. Okay?" Maya calls before leaving the apartment.
"That's fine! Be safe and try not to get into any fights!" her grandma calls.
Maya shuts the door and slings the bag over her shoulder. She whistles as she walks down the stairs to the dumpster. Maya walks out of the apartment building and walks over to the dumpster, throwing in the trash bag. She stuffs her hands in her pockets as she continues on her way. She looks up at an electric sign which tells the time. Currently 3:38, Maya continues to the subway. After getting on the subway to Riley's apartment, Maya smiles. She actually had a friend who wanted her to visit. "I guess new things happen every day, huh."
Maya looks up at Riley's apartment building. She shrugs and walks into the alley way. Maya climbs up the ladder leading to Riley's room. She looks inside and sees Riley. She had changed clothes and now was wearing a yellow tee with jeans. Surprising to Maya, Riley had her jacket over the yellow tee. Maya grins and notices Riley was enwrapped in a book with headphones on.
Quietly, Maya opens the window and slips inside. She closes the window and creeps up behind Riley. Riley still hadn't noticed and was nodding her head to the beat of the song. Maya grins mischieviously and hugs Riley from behind her.
Riley falls over in surprise, "BWAH!"
Maya lets go and falls to the ground. She laughs uncontrollably, her sides hurting. Riley blushes in embarassment, but soon enough, she is laughing along with Maya.
"You scared me!" Riley giggles.
Maya laughs, "You should have seen your face!"
Riley smiles, and their laughter dies down slowly. Their smiles still stay on their faces. Maya sighs and sits next to Riley.
"So what were you listening to?" Maya asks.
Riley grins, "Take on the world..."
Maya nods, "I've heard that song before, pretty catchy."
"I got my subway pass!" Riley blurts out.
Maya hugs her, "That's great, Riles!"
Riley smiles, "Could we go on the subway?"
Maya shrugs, "Sure, why not?"
Riley hugs her back, "Yay! You're the best, Maya!"
"I know," Maya smirks playfully.
Riley sticks her tongue out at her, and Maya sticks her tongue out, too. They giggle, and Maya opens the bay window. Riley goes out onto the fire escape and goes down the ladder. Maya climbs out and closes the window. She follows behind Riley to the subway. "What is going to even happen when our worlds collide?" Maya thinks as she grabs Riley's hand to make sure they don't lose each other.
A/N: Welp another chapter done! Woop! :D There is so much snow (still snowing!) on the ground right now where I live XD Anyways :3 I should probably answer le reviews :P Make sure you check out that poll on my profile :)
Blue Elephant 18: Thank you for le review :P The updates will depend on my schedule (this week was my winter break *sigh* last day D:) I can tell you that I update as soon as I finish the chapter so you guys have that XD
Guest: Will do :D
pepper401: Thank you, and just vote what pairing you want (advertising? what... no... maybe XD) :P
HotXbun: They will :P
Thank you guys for the support! Anywho, I hope you guys enjoy my story :P Leave your support by hitting that review box with a taco :P and make sure to follow/favorite! Stay awesome! Bye!
~rsbaird :P