Part 14

"Wait a minute." Maya thought sitting up in Riley's bed. "What if Farkle comes in here again? I can't let him see me naked in Riley's bed...he already knows too much. Ugh."

Maya got out of Riley's bed and put her clothes on. She went out the window and headed for her own apartment. It was late, but not late enough that her mother would be home yet, so Maya walked right in the front door. She washed Riley's stuff and started to wonder what things would be like now that Riley knew how she felt, and especially now that she knew Riley felt the same way. She also wondered what this made them. They would stay best friends of course. That was above everything. But, were they unofficially together? Maya loved thinking about these things. She couldn't wait for Riley to come home.

She took a shower and slept in her own bed that night. She woke up early so she could return Riley's things before anyone woke up.
When she climbed in the window, Auggie was sitting on Riley's bed looking straight at her as if he had been waiting for her.

"Hey, Auggie." Maya said smiling trying to act innocent.

"Hello, Maya. What are you doing here so early in the morning? You know Riley isn't here." Auggie said clearly suspicious.

"I came to clean up the room, and maybe hang a welcome home sign for Riley." Maya lied.

"Right. That's an interesting back pack." Auggie said crossing his arms. "It seems...familiar to me."
"Auggie it's just my back pack okay..." Maya racked her brain for something to say while Auggie smiled his devious smile at her. She had been caught. Auggie may not have known exactly what Maya had been doing, but he knew that she had been sneaking into Riley's room while she was gone and he knew it had to do with underwear.

"Auggie, you're a big boy, right?" Maya asked in hopes of getting Auggie's attention.

"Of course I am. I've been married for fifty years!" Auggie explained.

"Okay, good, because I need you to keep a big boy secret. You can't tell Riley about this, Okay?" Maya asked hoping it would work.

"Why not?" Auggie asked.

"Because..." Maya fished for and excuse. "It has to do with my surprise present for Riley's birthday." she lied.

"The surprise is a Jacket and underwear? I think you need to get a better surprise." Auggie said.

"Hah, you're right, Auggie. I'll start looking for something else instead." Maya said relieved.

"Good, you have plenty of time, her birthday isn't for seven more months." Auggie explained.

Maya laughed. "I like to plan ahead."

"Okay, I'm gonna go wake up mommy and daddy so we can go see Riley!" Auggie said excitedly.

"Auggie, remember, big boys keep secrets." Maya said as Auggie began to run off.

"My lips are sealed." Auggie told her before running out of the room.

"Thank goodness..." Maya thought. She quickly took Riley's underwear out of her back pack and put it in the drawer.

She put her back pack outside on the fire escape to get it later. Then she went down to the kitchen. After a few minutes Topanga, Corey, and Auggie all came down.

"Maya, things with you and Riley seem to be going really well... all of the sudden." Topanga remarked. Corey was confused.

"They're Riley and Maya...it always goes well for them...at least in the end anyway." Corey thought.

"What do you mean, Mrs. Matthews?" Maya asked acting cool, calm, and innocent.

"You and Riley have been looking at each other differently lately." Topanga explained.

"Well, Riley doesn't like Lucas anymore, and the truth is, I don't like him either. So now we're just enjoying having our friendship back the way it used be before boys complicated it." Maya explained.

Topanga wasn't sure whether or not to believe it, so she decided to let it go for now.

(At the hospital)

Riley got out of her bed and walked toward the window. She picked up the yellow flowers Maya had brought and sniffed them. They were wilting, but they had certainly brightened up the room. Riley was glad she would be going home.

Topanga soon arrived to take Riley home. She brought Riley a change of clothes so she could get out of her hospital gown.

"Where are dad, Auggie, and Maya?" Riley asked as they got into the car.

"They want to set up a little welcome home party for you." Topanga said smiling at her daughter.

"How nice of them. We should have one for Lucas when he goes home too." Riley suggested.

Topanga smiled. She was as you might say...a 'Rucas' shipper. She liked Lucas. He was a sweet polite boy that she knew truly cared for her daughter. She was always hoping Riley and Lucas would end up together.

"Well that's a very sweet idea, Riley. I'm sure that would mean a lot to Lucas; and his mother too." Topanga assured.

They arrived at the Matthews apartment, and upon opening the door Riley saw that it really was a party. Everyone was there. Auggie, Corey, Maya, Farkle, Zay, Shawn, Katy, Grandma, Grandpa, Aunt Morgan, Uncle Eric, Uncle Josh...

Riley was happy to see so many people who cared about her, but after all that had happened, she felt uncomfortable around people; especially so many people rushing to hug her and smother her and ask her so many questions she felt uncomfortable answering. But she knew they all cared about her and went through the trouble of coming here to see that she was okay so she did her best to act happy and comfortable. Eventually Topanga realized Riley might be overwhelmed so she spoke up.

"Alright, alright. Riley's been through a lot, let's all give her some space, relax and enjoy the party." Topanga said to everyone.

Maya had been sitting quietly in the background allowing all of Riley's family to see her. When they all spread out to enjoy the party, Maya looked for Riley and didn't see her. Maya went up to Riley's room and,oddly, found the door to be locked. Luckily, Maya was no stranger to another way in.

Riley was in her room sitting on her bed, just breathing slowly. She just needed a break from all the excitement. She didn't really feel comfortable around anyone besides Maya.

Maya stood outside of Riley's window and just looked at Riley sitting on her bed facing away from the window.

"She's so beautiful." Maya thought. Maya pulled her phone out of her pocket and took a picture of Riley's back. Then she slipped her phone back into her pocket and came in the window. Riley turned to her and smiled.

"You know," Maya said walking toward her best friend, "You still owe me."

Riley laughed. "Yeah, yeah. Whatever you say, peaches." Maya sat down beside her.

"Are you feeling okay?" Maya asked.

"Yeah, I'm alright. I just don't feel like being around a lot of people. But I definitely feel better about it with you by my side." Riley said and leaned her head on Maya's shoulder, just like old times.

Maya smiled and put her arm around Riley. "Well, what do you say we go enjoy the rest of the party together then?"

"I have one thing I want to talk about first. Maya, my Uncle Josh is down there..."

"Heh, yeah. I never really liked him to be honest." Maya admitted. Riley gave a look of confusion.

"Your uncle Josh is a really nice guy. He's always reminded me of you. I see so much of you in him that I sort of figured, I'll probably never have you, and he's the closest thing I could ever get..." Maya explained. "Plus, I have to admit, most of the time I was flirting with him I was hoping to make you jealous..." Maya blushed.

Riley burst out laughing.

"What?" Maya asked slightly embarrassed. "I really like you and I would have done anything to see you jealous for me."

"It's funny because I was jealous." Riley explained. "I always thought, why does she like him and not me?"

Maya laughed as well. "I guess we really should have told each other earlier."

"Yeah. Maya?" Riley said looking up at Maya.

"Yeah?"

"Starting now, lets really tell each other everything. Really Everything." Riley suggested.

Maya looked at Riley for a moment thinking of all the things she didn't want Riley to know. Before she had a chance to answer, Topanga knocked on the door.

"Riley, come on out, the party out here is for you!" Topanga called.

"Okay, mom. I'm coming." Riley answered. "Let's go" she said linking arms with Maya and standing up.

"Oh, by the way," Riley said stopping half-way to the door. She turned and kissed Maya's cheek. "I owe you nothing." she said smiling.

Maya smiled and nodded her head in sarcastic disapproval. Then the two rejoined the party.