Maya and Riley walked into the Topanga's and Riley made her way to one of the cushion chairs and took a seat. Maya was only there to send Riley to her mom's café which is where she will meet their friends; Lucas, Farkle, Zay, and Smackle.
"Where are you going?" Riley asked when she noticed that Maya was about to leave.
"I'm going to the park." She answered.
"You can't go; aren't we waiting for our friends; so we can hang out, like always?"
"I'm sorry Riles, I need to do my art homework and I can't do it here."
Riley sighs, "But we haven't talked about what happened yesterday."
"Nothing happen, I told you I had a tummy ache and I have tons of homework and I'm really trying to well this year. So can I go now?" she asked.
"Sure," her smile fainted. "Call me if you need me, and I'll come right away. Or you can come to my place when you're finished."
Maya nods. "Sure do, Riles."
Maya was wearing a Persian blue fit and flare floral short dress, just above her knee. She was walking in the park, with her backpack on the right side of her shoulder while holding her sketchbook, hoping that today would be a great day. She loves Friday because tomorrow is Saturday which means no school. Friday would be one of her favorite days because she doesn't have to worry about finishing her homework last minute.
Maya was walking cheerfully to her favorite spot, which is her favorite bench under the big oak tree. She was hoping that no one sits there because she really needed that spot today.
From afar Maya can see someone sitting on the bench reading a book. Maya could not see who it was but she was so disappointed. She groans slowly and walked anyway to the bench, hoping that when she sits there; the person would be done with his reading.
When she got closer that she was surprised when realizes that it wasn't a stranger at all.
"Charlie!" Maya exclaimed she was genuinely excited to see him. She never thought that she would see him again at the exact same spot after their last encounter.
Charlie looked up as he smiles widely, "Maya!"
Maya noticed that he was wearing black rimmed glasses, making him more adorable in a geeky way "What are you doing here?" Maya asked.
He closed his book with a bookmark and held up his book, "Reading." he chuckles. "We're switching places now."
"I see," Maya gave him a smirk. "Can I join you?"
"Absolutely." he pats at the empty seat next to him. "Sketching?"
"Sketching," Maya nods. Are you here with Sophia?" Maya asks.
"Oh no, I'm here alone. I need fresh air, to clear my mind," he said. "A great friend of mine told me that this is the best spot to do so," he smirks.
"The very best," Maya chuckles.
Maya placed her bag next to her, not in between her and Charlie because then it would be weird for them to sit far apart.
"How long you've sat here?" she questioned as she tugs her hair behind her ears.
"Just about fifteen minutes ago."
"Oh," Maya's eyes are now on the book he's holding. "What are you reading anyway?"
He showed her the cover of the book. "Five People You Meet in Heaven by Mitch Albom."
"Is it good?" She asks curiously. "I never get reading but I've always wanted to its just-"
"It's just?" He asked.
"Okay, I have a secret. Can you keep a secret Charlie?" she whispered.
"Of course," he whispered.
Maya motion him towards her; he scoots closer until his knees touched hers.
"You know why I don't like reading?" she whispers.
He whispers back, "Why?"
"I never told anyone this but I have trouble reading and I need glasses but I never got one." She murmurs. "I think I look ugly with glasses."
He laughs. "Why are we whispering?"
"It's classified information. All this people-," Maya gestured the people in the park. "They would use this information against me."
"Okay," he whispers. "I'll tell you a secret back." He leans right in and Maya can feel his hot breath on her ear. "Me too."
Maya replied in his ear, inhaling his peppermint smell. "me too, what?"
"Need glasses."
Maya hit him on the arm and speak out loud; "that's not a secret! Because you're wearing it right now."
"Oh yeah," he says grinning. "I forgot."
"You think you're adorable aren't you?" Maya pointed out.
Charlie never thinks he is adorable but he tries to be because he thought that girls like adorable guys. So, sometimes he can't help to try being adorable around girls that he likes hoping that he might get his chance, one day.
He can't believe Maya pointed it out because he's embarrassed by the question and wasn't sure to respond to that; so he changed the topic.
"You weren't here yesterday," Charlie says.
"Oh yeah, I went to the movies with Riley and I don't go here every day. Only when I need space," then Maya paused in realization, "Wait, you were here yesterday?" he nods.
Maya was surprised that he was here, and she can't help but think that is he looking for her. She doesn't want to ask him if he was looking for her because that would be assuming that he is and if he's not, it would be embarrassing.
"So, what are you doing here yesterday?" she asks trying not to be obvious.
"I was taking Sophia here, obviously," he lied.
"And you were sitting here alone?" she asked trying to make the conversation going and she was a little bit of relieved that she did not ask the question that she has been dying to ask.
"Okay fine," he admitted. "I didn't come here with Sophia yesterday. I came here alone because I was looking for you and I was hoping that you would be here.
Maya smiled at the thought of him looking for her, it was very sweet of him.
"You were looking for me?" Maya questioned. "Why?" she laughs the question out.
"I hope you won't find me creepy or anything, it's just you owe me a story the other day," he blushed. "And I was assuming that we would meet the next day, so you could tell me. I'm sorry."
"No, no, don't apologize," she replied. "It's okay."
"I sound like someone who likes to busybody about other people's life which I'm not. It's just I'm here if you need someone to talk to-,"
Maya stopped him, "I know. I get it" she smiled. "It's a long story, I hope you wouldn't mind."
"Not a bit."
"Whoa okay," she took a deep breath, "last week we had to fill our profile page on the school's website, about ourselves. Well, Riley was having troubles filling in information about herself and while she was struggling with that; like usual she jokes about my life. Joking about how I'm gonna have five husbands and when I ask if Lucas was one of it, she says no."
"You want to marry Lucas?" he questioned.
"That's not the point." She tries to shrug it off when she realizes that she was being ridiculous for even being sensitive about that.
"Forget about that part, it was a joke that we do. So, about filling the information, Riley was worried that her new classmates won't like the real her, so she invents an online alter-ego named Jexica. It's my fault actually, I suggested the idea." she faced him.
Charlie stopped her, "Wait, Jexica?"
"Yeah, Jessica with and 'x'," she explained.
"Continue."
"So, for some reason, Jexica becomes famous in school and she has like tons of followers and obviously she was happy and I was really happy for her until Lucas, came and asked about Jexica and he thinks that she's cool and wanted her to be part of our group. Well, obviously I knew that Lucas knew it was her. I know Lucas. So, she started to ask him if he thinks Jexica is better than me."
"That's not Riley,"
"Exactly, that was I thought, it's like she's asking if Lucas likes her better than me," her heart ache at the thought of it. "It hurts actually, but I still try to remain chill about it because I know that she have insecurities problem and I totally get it." She paused.
"Then, people started sending her message telling her, how cool she is to be not afraid to express herself. I mean they send it to jexica. Later, I found out that Lucas sent a message to Jexica about our triangle. The dilemma." She groans.
"Then what happened?" he was into the story now.
"Then she said that it's a good thing that we let Jexica in the group and we can resolve the triangle if Lucas picks Jexica. Oh, my god, that was the stupidest idea I've heard." She stopped. "She's not stupid, the idea was stupid okay?"
"Okay," he chuckled.
"Riley is trying to say that Lucas likes her better. She's trying to prove that Lucas is interested in Jexica which is her and that Lucas is interested in her. The thing is, Lucas only message Jexica is because he knows that it's her." She explains. "It wasn't a big deal actually. It's just, she is only mean to me when she's trying to prove something about the triangle and I hate it."
Charlie did not say anything because he was trying to digest the story itself. He knows that Maya is hurt and mad and he doesn't know that exact moment; what is he supposed to do.
"I'm sorry for that, my problems sounds immature."
"No, no, don't be sorry for what you feel. Do you want my advice on it?" he asked; playing with the hair at the back of his head.
"Yeah, sure."
"I think that you should confront her. She's your best friend; she should know how you feel. You've been best friends for years and I think it's best to not keep all these feelings you're feeling right now from her. I think she didn't realize that the things she says hurt you and I think you should tell her. She's your friend and she would understand; trust me."
Maya realized that it was true, it was better for her to tell Riley how she feels rather than keep it all inside which making herself feels worst. Maya guessed that maybe she did not learn the lesson, because the last time she keeps her feelings hidden from her, it turned out bad.
"Thank you. I think I need that."
"No, biggie." He gave her a warm smile. "So.."
"So?" Maya repeats.
"You came here today, so you must need fresh air and to clear your mind. Do you have any more stories to tell?"
"Well, I do actually. It's about yesterday."
"Okay, cool. We got plenty of time. Let me get you an ice cream and we can talk about what happen yesterday over an ice cream. How about that?" he asked.
"That would be nice."
They got up and stroll through the park talking about what happen in the movies and what made her leave early. She just needs someone to talk to and it was nice that he was there.
Maya did not go to Riley's place, she went straight home, feeling better. She feels like all she needed is to talk to someone, for her to let go the petty things that she's being sensitive about lately. Maya did text Riley that she is all hers tomorrow and she'll try to make up for all the time she was not there.
