Maya looks over at her friends, who seem to be dragging themselves along the same way she is. Riley is the only person she knows who could ever convince them to wake up at 6 in the morning to be at school. Especially when it was to watch what she knows is going to be another cheerleading tryout disaster. Unlike her friends though, rising at the crack of dawn isn't the only reason she's struggling. It had been almost a week since she'd gone to the lab and she still hasn't heard anything from them yet. She's been on edge all week but if anything can take her mind off of it, watching Riley attempt to try out for the cheerleading team is it.
"Is it just me or does this feel like Deja Vu," Zay asks, as the group files into the gym.
"Isn't that kind of the point," she asks, falling into step with him. "Repeating something but having it turn out differently?"
"Yeah well let's hope this turns out differently," he says, nodding up ahead to Riley who is stretching along with the other cheerleader hopefuls.
"Yeah let's hope," she mutters, not even a little convinced that this will end well. Although Riley has gained a lot more control over her long lanky limbs, she is still very much a Super Klutz. Sure, she has tons of spirit but she definitely doesn't have the skills she needs to be a cheerleader. Maya doesn't understand why Riley even wants to do this when she already "made" the cheerleading team in middle school. Still she came to support her best friend and that's exactly what she plans to do.
Her and Zay lead the group past Riley, all of them giving her encouraging looks as they make their way up the bleachers. Zay, her and Lucas take a seat on the second row while Farkle and Smackle sit in the row in front of them.
"How do you think this is gonna go," Lucas asks, leaning over to her.
"Honestly I'm worried." She keeps her eyes on Riley, who eagerly listens as the coach gives all of them directions. "But no matter what we have to support her."
"No matter what?"
Lucas doesn't seem so sure about that but the tryouts are about to begin and Farkle turns around to shush them.
The first part of tryouts is the gymnastics portion. The girls who go before Riley seem like pros; their cartwheels, round offs, and back flips perfect. When it's Riley's turn, she looks into the bleachers, uncertainty washing over her face.
"You got this Riles," she yells to reassure her, the rest of the group joining her.
"You can do this," Farkle shouts, clapping loudly. That seems to be the push she needs because she turns back to the mat with renewed confidence. Unfortunately, her confidence doesn't make up for her lack of skill. Riley attempts what Maya thinks to be a cartwheel; throwing her body across the mat and falling flat on her face. The group along with the rest of the gym share in a groan and Maya's eyes automatically squeeze shut.
"Is she okay," she asks, grabbing Lucas' arm.
"Uh, I wouldn't open my eyes if I were you."
Despite Lucas' warning she opens her eyes to see Riley crumpled on the mat, her limbs folded underneath her.
"You okay Honey?"
Riley gives her a thumbs up, slowly picking herself up from the ground and dusting herself off. Maya gets to her feet, ready to go down and drag Riley out of here. She's trying to be supportive but what good does it do if it gets her best friend hurt. She starts to cross over Lucas to get to Riley but feels him place his hand on her arm to stop her.
"Supportive no matter what, remember?"
"That was before I saw that," she says, pointing down to where Riley now stands. "She's gonna get hurt."
"She'll be okay," he reassures her, guiding her back to her seat. "We have to let her make her own mistakes."
She sighs, reluctantly taking her seat.
"Yeah, yeah," she says. She's trying to take Lucas' advice but staying in her seat isn't easy. He's right though. They have to let her do this.
The rest of the tryouts are brutal and by the end of it she has no idea how Riley is still in one piece. When the gym starts to clear out, the group makes their way to the floor where Riley sits crossed legged on the mat.
"How'd I do," she asks, looking up at them defeated.
"You did your best and that's all that matters," Farkle says, holding a hand out to her. She stares at it for a while before taking it, letting Farkle help her up.
"Yeah maybe," Riley says.
"And hey at least you're still alive," Zay says, patting her on the back. Riley glares at him obviously not amused but then she smiled.
"So do you think I have a shot?"
The group all look at each other.
"Uh sure you do," they all start saying.
"Anything's possible."
"I don't see why not."
Nobody has the heart to tell her the truth.
"Not a chance," Smackle cuts in, without hesitation causing Riley's small glimmer of hope to fade into a frown.
"Smackle," Farkle says, turning to her; the rest of them turning to her as well.
"What," she asks, looking confused. "I thought we were supposed to be honest with each other?"
Farkle's face softens at that.
"You're right, Smackle. We should."
The rest of the group can't deny that but Riley's frown remains on her face. Maya goes over and throws her arm around her.
"Like Farkle said, you gave it your best shot Riles. That's all you can do."
Riley nods seeming to accept this.
"I hope my best was enough to make the team."
"Maybe it was and maybe it wasn't," she says. "What matters is if it was enough for you."
Riley smiles at that.
"How'd you get so smart Maya?"
"I learned from the best," she says, smiling back and leading them out of the gym.
The rest of the day drags on slower than usual after Riley finds out that she didn't make the cheerleading team. She has been pretty bummed all day and by the time they make it to History class, Riley is practically inconsolable.
"Anyone care to update me on your assignments," Mr. Matthews asks scanning the classroom. Everyone remains silent, no one wanting to speak up.
"No takers, huh?" He walks between the rows of desks. "Riley, what about you?"
Riley has her head on her desk and she groans in response.
"I didn't quite get that honey. Could you speak up?" Matthews leans down to Riley's desk.
"I'm a failure," she mumbles, not bothering to lift her head.
Matthews still doesn't hear her so Farkle leans over and stage whispers, "She didn't make the cheerleading team again."
Matthews nods, slowly backing away from Riley's desk.
"Okay, so Riley didn't make the cheerleading team, anyone else experience something similar? Maya, what about you?"
Maya glances at her classmates, not really feeling up to sharing. No offense to Riley but she has a lot more going on than not making the cheerleading team. Just when she decided to have hope and believe in her father, he let her down again. Giving her father a second chance to be in her life still hangs over her head but she just doesn't know if she can or if she even should.
"Umm… I'm a failure too," she says, looking down at her desk.
"And what did you fail at Maya," Matthews asks gently.
"I don't know. I tried to let my father back into my life and it didn't work," she says. It comes out matter of fact but her voice is small. Riley raises her head from her desk and turns to look at her, giving her an understanding look.
"And why do you think you failed?"
"Because I let myself hope for something that was never going to happen."
"Maya you can never fail when it comes to hope. Now I can't say this for everything but in anything worth having, never lose hope. And if I'm being honest, I expected most of you to fail at going out and changing your history."
"Then why have us even try," Farkle asks.
"Because sometimes it takes more than one try to change your history. Sometimes it takes two or three or even 100 times, because anything worth having isn't always easy to get. You have to fight for it."
"But how will we know what's worth fighting for and what's not," Lucas asks. For some reason, she feels like his question is directed at her and when she turns around his eyes are on her. As soon as their eyes met he quickly turns his attention back to Mr. Matthews.
"That's something you have to figure out for yourselves," Matthews says. "Because you're the only ones who can say whether what you're fighting for is worth it or not."
Class ends and Maya heads straight for the exit. Before she can get out, Riley catches up with her and stops her.
"You wanna come over and hang out," Riley asks. "We can stop at Paco's Tacos."
Maya thinks it over. Spending some time with Riley is tempting but she knows that going over to the Matthews' means seeing Josh. He had been hanging out there for the past few days, moping around like some lost puppy. The last time he spent that much time there was when he had just started college and was trying to adjust. Something's definitely going on with him but she isn't in the mood to figure out what. Space from Josh seems like the best thing for her right now.
"Sorry Riles but I think I'm just gonna head home." She can see the disappointment wash over Riley's face.
"It's because of Josh isn't it," Riley asks, not really looking for an answer. "You've been avoiding my place all week."
"Things are still very awkward," she says, sighing. "I can't deal with that right now."
Riley nods.
"I know you have a lot going on." Riley pauses. "Have you ever thought about telling Josh what's been going on with you lately?"
"Sure I've thought about it," she says.
"Do you think you ever will?"
"I'd have to talk to him first," she says, shrugging. "Honestly, I'm not sure he'd even care if I did."
Riley stares at her, her brown eyes turning sad.
"I know things haven't been great between you two," Riley says. "But he'd care Maya. I know he would."
She nods but she isn't convinced. She has always been insecure about her relationship with Josh but now everything seems all mixed up. She isn't certain of her own feelings and she sure doesn't know how he feels.
"Okay Riles, I'll think about telling him."
After that her and Riley go their separates ways. When she gets home she is surprised to see that her mom and Shawn are waiting for her.
"Hey kiddo," Shawn says, pulling her into a hug when she walks through the door. Shawn had been gone for the past week on a trip, taking photos for a new up and coming band. It was the last assignment he got before leaving his job at the magazine. Her mom had insisted that he didn't have to quit but he said that he was done traveling. He wants to be home with them.
"How was your trip," she asks, returning his hug.
"Long. I'm not as young as I used to be," he says, smiling. "It's good to be home."
Her mom comes up and wraps her arms around him.
"We're glad you're home too," she says, giving him a quick peck on the lips. Maya makes a face but really she doesn't mind. Seeing how much Shawn and her mom love each other is the best thing in the world.
"We actually have some news," her mom says, suddenly turning serious. "We heard from the lab today and you are a match for Sophie."
Maya breathes out a sigh of relief. This is what she's been waiting for all week and to finally hear it feels like a weight has lifted off her shoulders.
"Okay so what now," she asks, looking from her mom to Shawn.
"Saturday we'll head upstate to the hospital. Sophie's doctor wants to run a couple more tests to make sure you're the best match for her. And then Monday, they'll do the procedure," her mom says.
"We can stay in my cabin for the weekend," Shawn says. "It'll be fun; like a family camping trip. Hey you can even invite some of your friends if you want."
Maya smiles at Shawn's attempt to lighten the mood.
"Sure," she says. "Sounds like fun."
Or as fun as a trip like this could be. She really hopes that her friends will be able to make it because she needs them to get through this weekend. She needs all the help she can get.
