"You haven't been sleeping well, are you?" Topanga pointed out and Cory turns looking at her face.
"How do you know?" she said before she shoves a spoonful of cereal in her mouth.
"It's a mother's instinct," she says proudly. "And also from observation because you have dark circles now." She adds.
"Really?" Maya groans and looks at her reflection through the spoon she's eating with.
"Why haven't you been sleeping well?" Cory asks.
Maya puts down her spoon and explains to them, "I have a painting to finish and I've spent my nights in these past few days, finishing it."
"That explains why you seem excited about school today," Topanga pointed out. "It's Monday and you hate Mondays."
"I've been working so hard on it and I can't wait to show my art teacher my work. I hope my lack of sleep pays off well." She sighs. "Matthews, can I ask you a favor?" She looks at Cory innocently.
He laughs, "Maya's asking me a favor, nicely" continue laughing and face Topanga. "She's asking me a favor." He stopped when he realize that everyone is not laughing. "What?" he turns at Maya.
"I wanted to get this painting to school," she shows him the painting. "And I can't take it with me on the subway because I'm afraid that it might be ruined. So, can you bring it to school with you today?" she gives him, her puppy dog face.
"Fine," Cory smiles.
"Can I see it?"Auggie asks cheerfully
Maya nods, "Sure," she held the painting up for him to see.
"Woah, that's cool." He said and turned to his mommy. "Mommy, can I ever paint like that?"
"Of course, you can." She assures him.
"Riles hurry up or we are late for school!" Maya shouted from the kitchen, eating her breakfast with Mr. and Mrs. Matthews and Auggie.
"Hold on! I'm coming, I'm coming!" she laughs and takes a good look in the mirror before dashing into the dining room.
"Finally! I thought I've could've driven to china and still mad it back with plenty of time to wait for you!" She joked.
"Well, sorry that I actually care about what I look in the morning, "she rolled her eyes as she nudged her.
"I do too! But do I take hours to get ready? NO!" Maya laughs. She got up and walked to the door and she spots Riley sitting at the table finishing the bowl of cereal that Maya left, "Are we going to school or what? Oh wait, you're waiting for an invitation." she said humorously.
Riley got up and runs towards her. "Ha ha no, I'm waiting for your slow butt to start walking!" she laughs shoving Maya out of the door and Maya laughs.
Cory told Maya that when he reaches school, he'll put her painting in her art class. So, when it's time for class; the painting was there at her place.
"Maya Hart!" Her name is called out. "How's are you doing? Did you get out from the block you're having?" he asks.
Maya nods, "I did and it took me some time but luckily I did just in time for me to finish the painting."
"Well, I'm excited! Shall we see it?"
"Yes," she said and her art teacher walked on her side to look at the painting. Maya turned to face her art teacher to see his expression regarding the painting.
He looks amazed. "Maya," he said her name like in a whisper and she was getting to get sick because she's afraid that it might not be as good as she thought it would be.
"This is beautiful," he said and smile. "A good job, well done."
"Thank you, that means a lot."
"This is amazing, what inspired you," Maya smiles.
"The place and these two people in the painting— inspired me." She points it out. "I'm glad that I met them." She smiles.
"It's good to know."
The bell rings and Maya packed her stuff and head to the door when her art teacher stopped her. "Maya," he called her and Maya turns around. "Can I talk to you for a second?" he asks.
Maya nods, "sure," and walks to his table. "What is it?"
"The school asks me to pick top 20 best artworks for the school art exhibition next week and well-," he paused and put both his hands together and lean forward to his desk. "Yours are definitely top 20. So, are you okay if your art got featured at the art exhibition?"
"Are you serious?!" Maya exclaimed and he nods. "I mean—yeah of course—definitely."
"Great then." He said. "See you, next class. Keep up the good work."
Maya walked out the class happily; she was so overwhelmed that she could not stop smiling. She can't believe that her painting would be good enough to be in the school's art exhibition. Maya excitedly made it to her locker where she promised to meet Riley.
Maya sees Riley at her locker, she runs towards her. Riley sees her and smiles, "Peaches! Finally, I haven't seen you all day long." Riley put her arms around her.
"I know, it sucks we didn't get any classes together." Maya pout.
"It's fine; we have all the time after school."
"About that-," Maya tried to explain but she stopped when she realizes that Riley is looking at someone behind her, blushing. Maya assumed it was Lucas, so she turned around and it he was not there. The only person walking is Farkle and bunch of other boys.
"Sorry, what are you saying?" Riley asked and Maya just looked at her with her eyebrows furrowed.
"Who are you blushing at?" Maya questioned.
"What blushing? No, that's ridiculous," she tries to deny.
Maya points a finger at her, with a questioning look, "Riles, I can tell when you're blushing. So, tell me who and I know it's not Lucas."
"Maya, it's no one. Just some random guy passed by and he smiles at me and I just don't know how to respond and I blush. It's nothing." She mumbles.
Maya can't tell if she was a lying or not because the explanation is believable, Riley would blush in that certain kind of awkward situation but little she did know, that Riley is blushing over someone that she kissed.
"So, what are you gonna say just now?" Riley continued.
"Oh, I wanted to say that I can't hang out after school because I promised Charlie that I'm gonna meet him after school."
"That's not fair. Are you sure he's not your boyfriend because it seems like it is and I feel like I have to share you." She whined.
Maya laughs. "But you love sharing," she joked.
"This is different Maya, this is you. It's not normal sharing you." Riley put her arms around hers.
"Well, get used to that. Unless you want to hang out with me and Charlie because that would fine if you want to." She offered.
Riley shakes her head immediately, "No, I don't think it's a good idea me and him hanging out. Because a particular person would not be happy if he finds out," Riley pointed.
Maya laughs, "I totally understand." She said. "So, is it okay, that I hang out with Charlie after school today?"
Riley pout again, "yeah, fine." She said, "But promises me that you'll come to my place after that and we can watch a movie." She held out her pinkie finger.
"I can't prom-". Riley started frowning. "Okay, promise." Maya reaches her pinkie finger and locks it.
Maya texted Charlie before she went to class. She texted him to meet her at the pizza place that they've thought about trying near the park.
"So how are you doing?"
"I'm fine." She replied and took a bite of her pizza.
"Are you sure?" he asks.
Maya nods and gives him a weird look, "yeah, I'm pretty sure I'm fine."
"Oh okay. I understand that breakups are not that easy."
"It's not. I'm still sad about it, but I need to be strong you know but I can't let those feelings control me."
Charlie smiles, "You're right." He took a bite of his pizza.
"After all, that happen, you know what I've decided?"
He looks at her curiously. "What?"
"I've decided that I'm never having a boyfriend ever again or be in a relationship." She states and something in Charlie churned and makes him sick and hurt at the same time. "I mean, maybe in 10 years' time, I'll consider. But now, I just don't want to fall for anyone. I've decided I'm gonna shut my feelings for any romance."
Charlie just stared at her. "What? Why are you looking at me like that?" she laughs.
"Nothing, it's just—why? I know you just had a breakup but why you want to shut your feelings."
"You know what I spent my Saturday night doing?" she asks. "I watched '500 Days of Summer'. And Summer said this one line that hit me." She clears her throat. "I don't actually feel comfortable being anyone's anything, you know. Relationships are messy and people's feelings get hurt." She imitates the character proudly.
"You're taking life lessons from movies now?" he asks sarcastically. "Everything in a movie is utter bullshit." He laughs.
"Well, this movie is not. Have you watched it? It's realistic and I love the movie. It makes me realize things." She shrugs.
Charlie was about to said something to Maya but suddenly he hears someone said his name.
"Charlie?" A girl called up his name and they both looked up. It's a girl in a white tank top and jeans shorts that fit nicely on her. Maya can't help but notice how beautiful she is, she has golden brown hair with green eyes. She also has freckles on her cheeks which makes her really cute.
"Emily," Charlie said her name in surprise and smiles at her. "Hey."
"What are you doing here," she asked. "What a stupid question, obviously you're here for pizza because you're eating one right now." She mumbles as she blushed. "Who is this?" she asked and she smiles at Maya and her dimples appeared.
"Oh, this is Maya. She's my friend from middle school. "
"Nice to meet you, Maya," she smiles at her. "Emily." she introduces herself.
"Nice to meet you too, Emily."
"Oh okay," she turned to Charlie. "Nice meeting you here, I don't want to interrupt your date."
"It's not a date," Maya said and she turns to Maya. "We're not on a date. I'm just a friend." Maya adds.
"Oh," she said in a realization tone. "Okay then, see you in tomorrow Charlie." She smiles sweetly. "Bye Maya."
"Bye," Maya waved her goodbye and watched her walked away.
She turned to Charlie with her eyes widen. "What was that?" she asks excitedly.
"What?" Charlie laughs a little.
"That girl is so pretty and I'm pretty sure she has a huge crush on you!" she exclaimed.
"Really?" Charlie asks and shook his head. "No. I don't think so. Girls like that don't go for guys like me?"
"Girls like what? Like, hot and cute at the same time?" Maya questioned in disbelieve. "And what's wrong with guys like you. You're one of the nicest guys I know; we just got to know each other and you have made my life easier and what kind of girl wouldn't fall for a guy like that?" she assures him.
'You' Charlie said in his head but what comes out is, "what do you think I should do?"
"I think you should ask her out," Maya suggests.
Charlie shrugs. "I don't know—"
"Are you afraid that she'll reject you?" she asks in concern. "If you are afraid of what happened last year with you and you know who. I think this time will be different. Did you notice just now, she's practically blushing talking to you which mean she will say 'yes'."
"You said you want to tell me something," he tries to change the topic. "What is it?"
Maya rolled her eyes because how he changed the topic so quickly. "Oh about that," she smiles widely. "You know the painting I told you I was working on, I hand in the painting today and-" she paused and smiles wider. "My art teacher told me that he wants my painting to be featured in the school's art exhibition next week!" she said it excitedly.
"Oh my god Maya!" he said happily. "That's great! I know how hard you worked on it."
"Yeah, I'm really glad that it paid off." She said. "And I want you to come."
"Are you sure?" he asks for confirmation.
"I'm sure. I want you to come because I want you to see the painting." She grins.
"Why?" he asks.
"It's a surprise." she smirks.
