Maya is taken aback with Zoe's question, her neck is hurting, her back is killing her, she's getting a headache and Zoe is not help.
"Well, Maya? Answer me" Zoe is getting annoyed, Maya can tell.
A knock on the door breaks the silence and Maya is silently relieved.
Topanga pokes her head into the room
"Girls, sorry to interrupt but breakfast is ready and you don't want it to get cold"
"Thanks, we'll be right there" Maya takes Zoe's hand as Topanga closes the door shut again.
"Zoe, I care about you. A lot, I appreciate you wanting to be here with me, any other person would take any chance they have to walk away, but not you. I know I'm complicated and I probably should've been more open with you, and I can't take that back, all I can do is try harder"
Zoe's face softens "I'm sorry, Maya. I know this is not the time for me to go all psycho girlfriend on you, is just…"
"It's okay, Zoe. Let's just go have breakfast"
Zoe and Maya walk into the kitchen hand in hand, Riley can't help but notice it and looks rapidly away. Topanga, sitting next to Riley just nudges her shoulder lightly.
"Matthews, feed us" Maya and Zoe take a seat across from Riley and Topanga.
"Coming right up" Cory says in his goofy voice.
"So, Maya do you have class today? We'd like for you to miss as little school as possible" Topanga takes a bite from her plate waiting for the blonde's answer
"Not really, I already turned in the projects I had for this week"
"Wait, you turned in your projects early?" Cory says while placing Zoe's and Maya's in front of them
"Thank you" Zoe says in a little voice
"Believe it or not Matthews, I'm not the wild child I once was" Maya says proudly
"Hope she's not completely gone" Riley speaks for the first time, her hand still rubbing her stiff neck.
Maya looks at her, her stomach still doing that flip every time she hears her, every time she looks at her, at those bright eyes. A reaction Zoe has never provoked in her.
"Just give me some paint" Maya slowly reaches for her own neck. Riley smiles and she swears her heart skipped a beat.
Topanga notices the exchange and thanks the Gods Zoe was busy with her food to notice the sparks flying between the former best friends.
"Well then, Maya. If you are free, then maybe you should stop by the gallery this morning, Riley will go with you"
Zoe is not thrilled to hear Topanga's suggestion.
"So…" Zoe cuts in before Maya can speak "If you don't want Maya to miss school, what about Riley? Don't you go to school 5 hours away?"
Riley passes her food before speaking up "I do, but most of my courses are online I just have to attend lecture once a month, and thankfully that is not this week. Plus, just like Maya, I'm ahead in my projects so I can afford to be away for a while"
"Isn't that great?" Zoe says with enough sweetness for her sarcasm to be ignored.
The Matthews, Maya and Zoe finish the rest of their food, Topanga and Riley help with the clean up while Cory gets ready to leave and Maya says goodbye to Zoe by the door.
"Please look for your phone"
"I will, Zoe. I promise"
"I'll see you later, okay?"
Zoe goes for a hug, deciding it'd be better than a kiss, but while hugging Maya, Zoe could see Riley looking at them, which didn't sit well with Zoe.
Zoe pulls away from Maya just to reach for her face and pull her in for a kiss, an open mouthed, passionate kiss. Zoe grasping for Maya's shirt on her back, always making sure Riley was a witness.
They finally come apart and Zoe opens the door with a swift motion, leaving Maya hanging and disappearing on the other side, closing the door behind her.
Riley's blood is boiling, her face is red and her eyes are wet. Her feet take a life of their own and without knowing, Riley is marching towards Maya, reaching her, pushing her back against the door, grabbing her face and placing her open lips against the blonde's.
The kiss is wet and heavy, Maya is grabbing Riley's face with one hand while the other one is pulling her closer by the waist. Riley's right hand is against the door trying to keep her from falling, her left is caressing Maya's cheek.
Slowly, both girls come up for air, Maya looks into Riley's eyes, Riley just smiles not believing what she has done.
"Riley" Maya's breathless voice bring Riley out of her gaze
"Riley!?" This time is not Maya, but Topanga "Riley" her mother's voice says a little louder this time.
Riley blinks, seeing Zoe still kissing Maya, she turns to her mother.
Topanga puts her hand on Riley's shoulder, whispering to her ear "You should go get ready"
Riley turns to leave towards Maya's room.
Zoe finally lets Maya go, making sure Riley saw their little kiss show.
"Bye, Maya"
Maya opens the door for Zoe and heads to her own room once she is gone and realizes none of the Matthews are on sight.
Maya enters her room without knocking, catching Riley mid-shirt change.
"Oh, sorry, I didn't…"
"It's okay" Riley finishes pulling her shirt down "I was done. Here" Riley hands Maya a bottle of pills "I'm guessing your neck and back are killing you"
"They are, thank you"
"Everything okay with Zoe?"
"Yeah, yeah. She is just a bit overwhelmed by all this new information"
"Information that shouldn't be new"
"Am I wrong, Riley? I mean, I get it, I do. I know I should've said some things, explain some aspects of my life to her because is not like I'm ashamed, and is not like I'm the only one that who has a step father"
"Maya, you told me that you didn't feel like explaining your life to her and I guess that is valid, but why didn't you feel like it?"
Maya thinks for a second on her answer.
"It didn't feel important anymore. When my father left it broke me in a way I thought I could never put myself together again and you were there, you saw me go through everything. Every up and down. And I'm done going through that because of Kermit, if he is not here is not my fault"
"Maya?"
"Yes?"
"Did you ever talk to Zoe about me? About us?"
Maya keeps quiet, the question burning her brain. Riley knows Maya doesn't talk about her, with anyone. Farkle has told her that Maya doesn't ask about Riley, Shawn never brings up Maya when he is around her. Riley knows Maya dodged Cory every time he was in New York City.
"Why, Maya?" The wetness in Riley's eyes is back "I get why you shut down Zoe, but why me? I've been there for you, you don't have to explain anything to me, I've seen you through everything, why then you just erase me like that? Am I not important anymore?"
Maya takes the pills Riley gave her trying to buy a little time, but the knot in her throat is making hard to swallow.
"These past 5 years have been hell without my best friend, people getting uncomfortable around me every time I ask about you and giving me the most generic answer, and I wanna know why. So tell me, Maya. Am I not important anymore?"
Maya hopes the pills work because the pounding in her head just got stronger.
"Riley, is not like that"
"Then how is it?" Riley's voice is loud, strong but breaking.
"It hurts less, okay?" Maya was now trying to stop her tears from falling down her eyes. She didn't think she could cry anymore.
"How is pushing me out of your life easier, Maya?"
"Riley, can we please not talk right now? My head is spinning and I need to go see Shawn and the gallery, I… I just can't do this right now"
Maya exits her room, carrying some clothes to change into and enters the restroom. Riley is left to fight her own tears.