I cried all the way home. Riley held my hand and dragged me to my apartment. I just sobbed as Riley led me to my bedroom. She pulled back my conformer and tucked me into bed. I laid down and Riley sat down on my bed next to me.

"You want to talk?" She sweetly asked.

I shifted on the bed. Yes, I wanted to talk, about a lot of things.

"The last time I saw her was Halloween."

"Oh, this...Halloween?"

I nodded, "Right after, the first time Chai and I kissed."

I looked to see if Riley's face had changed. But her expression was still rather neutral.

"She helped me a lot." I went on. "She is, well was gay. Like me."

Riley seemed to flinch but then nodded.

"I'm happy she was there for you…because I definitely wasn't."

I sat up.

"Do you still think I'm disgusting?"

God, I got chills even asking. I took a deep breath, preparing to start crying again.

Riley closed her eyes and lifted her legs to sit criss cross on my bed.

"I don't think you're disgusting," she said. "I'm so sorry I ever said that. I didn't mean it. Just...everything was changing. When I saw you kissing her I…" She stopped talking and checked her phone. "I should go."

I reached out and grabbed her arm, "Please don't."

Riley cleared her throat, "I got mad because I don't think you need me anymore."

"Why would you think that?"

"Because you have a new best friend," Riley said. "If you can have a girl that you can do girl stuff with AND also do boyfriend and girlfriend with, then...where do I fit in?"

I stared in the air to process the word salad. It made no sense, but I understand it. I was jealous of Lucas because I couldn't BE what HE is to her.

"Wait...so you're jealous of Chai?"

Riley huffed, "I guess so. I can't compete with her."

"Well, I can't compete with Lucas."

"But Lucas isn't a girl. The things I do with him are totally different than the things I do with you."

I pulled her toward me, "Rilies, it's still the same thing. Just because I have a girlfriend, doesn't mean I don't need a best friend."

Riley put her arm around me, "I'm so sorry, Maya."

%%%%

At night, I heard a tapping on my window. I woke up and turned to see Chai at my window.

I smiled and got up from my bed, opening my window.

"Somebody has been my bad influence on you," I smirked.

Chai climbed into my room and hugged me tightly, "I'm sorry about your friend."

I grabbed on to her and put my head on her shoulder.

"I wish I knew her," Chai said. "I saw her almost every day for three years. I feel bad I never talked to her."'

"It's not your fault," I whispered. "If I had never gotten detention, I wouldn't have known her either."

To think detention could change my life. I looked at her and thought about how many kids would like to have known the woman who used to make them lunch.

Chai and I sat down on my bed. I cleared my throat.

"Riley and I talked."

"About the lunch lady?"

"Yea… but we also talked about us. She apologized and…"

Chai got up but I pulled her back down to me, "And Riley is going to learn that you are my girlfriend now, and she has to adjust to that."

"And you believe that?"

I nodded, but the truth is that I wasn't sure if she could really accept that things had. I laid down on my bed and Chai laid down next to me.

%%%%

People were staring at us as Chai and I walked into school. I walked by Yogi and Sarah, feeling their unconformable stares. I look over at them. They quickly looked away.

Then Farkle ran up to us, he stopped catching his breath.

"Maya don't!" He screamed, still breathing heavily.

Chai and I looked at each other confused. I cocked an eyebrow and turned back to Farkle.

"Don't what?"

"You don't feel the urge to beat anyone up?" He shifted his eyes.

"Not any more than usual," I smirked.

"Oh...so you haven't seen it?"

"Seen what?"

Farkle shifted and began to step back. I walked up to him and pulled up by his T-shirt.

"Seen what?" I asked politely.

"The school site, there is...a picture."

I don't really do social media. Riley made me make an account on the Abigail Adams student social site, but I don't really get on there.

I let go of Farkle and pulled out my phone. I had like 20 messages. I clicked on a link. It was a picture of me, with an "L" written on my forehead.

With the words, "Maya is a Lesya".

I stood there, processing how I felt. I looked down at the comments.

Called it!

I guess she doesn't sausage.

Disgusting

Chai took the phone out of my hand.

"Who posted this?"

"I'm not sure," Farkle shrugged. "It's been shared so many times, who knows where it came from."

%%%%

I spend all morning looking at the tread of #MayaisaLesya. I couldn't help. It's like a bad car crash that you can't look away from. It only got worse. Now there were edits.

One person drew a..." boy thing" on my face.

One person found a picture of me sticking my tongue and drew a "V" on my chin.

I don't even know what that means, but it feels mean.

It was confusing because as I walked down the halls, people acted so differently than they do online. Like, between 2nd and 3rd period, Sarah came up and hugged me. Yet I noticed a comment from SarahRocks2000, calling me a "dyke" this morning.

I walked into History class and bumped into Mr. Matthews.

"Maya," He placed a hand on my shoulder. "How are you holding up?"

"Not good," I shook my head. "I didn't think people could be so...mean."

"What are you talking about?" Mr. Matthews raised his eyebrows.

"What are you talking about?" I hit back.

"Geraldine. I was heartbroken when Riley told me."

I sat on top of my desk, "I just stopped crying. Until..."

Then Riley came out of nowhere and hugged me, "We're going to find who started this."

Riley pulled back, "We have to do something."

"Girls, what is happening?" Mr. Matthews asked.

Riley and I stared at each other. Reading Riley's mind I could tell this decision was up to me.

I looked over at Mr. Matthews.

"I...um...want to do something. For Mrs. Thompson. Some kind of tribute."

Mr, Matthews smiled, "That's a great idea...about I can reach out to her family and we can talk to them."

"Her family?" I smiled. "Yea, I would love to talk to them."

%%%%

Riley and I had lunch together for the first time in a month. I sat across from Riley and Lucas, picking at my food.

"So," Lucas started. "How was your thanksgiving?"

I shifted, I really didn't want to get into the whole story.

"Okay," I said before Farkle and Smackle ran in and sat down on either side of me.

"Maya, we have discovered the origin of your demise." Smackle said.

I turned to Farkle, "What she say?"

"We found out who started the posts." He replied.

"Who?" Riley and Lucas yelled at the same time.

Farkle into deep into my eyes, "Are sure you what do know?"

Farkle really is a great friend. I looked around at all of my friends. I guess we ALL needed to know. So I nodded.

"Her username is Princess Pucker Up," Smackle said. "But her real name is Missy Bradford."

Riley gasped dramatically.

I looked over at Missy's table. She innocently sat next Chai sharing a pile of fries.

I felt my body rising but before my feet hit the ground. Riley was stomping toward Missy. Lucas running after her. I quickly followed.

Riley slammed her hand on the table, "How dare you."

Missy turned to Riley, "What's your damage this week?"

"Maya is a lesbain." Riley said, "So what?"

"So what?" Lucas repeated, backing her up.

Wow, Riley actually said the word lesbain.

Riley leaned toward Missy, "The Patriot site, is supposed to be good and bring us together, but you used to bully my best friend."

I smiled. This is the Riley I love.

But then, I watched Chai's eyes drop.

"Missy, what is she talking about?"

Riley looked at my girlfriend, "It was your friend here, who started 'Maya is a Lesya'."

Chai dropped a fry and looked at Missy. Deep into her eyes.

"Is that true Mimi?"

Missy slid her teeth across her bottom lip.

"You did," Chai yelled.

Chai blinked looking at the ceiling. I recognized the feeling.

"It was a joke," Missy pleaded. "I didn't know it would people would repost it BreBre."

"But you did know how much I like Maya," Chai stood up. "And much I cry when people call me those names."

Chai stormed away from the table. But then she turned around and something I would never expect her to do.

She hugged Riley.

"Thanks," Chai said when she pulled back, "You're not as annoying as I thought you were."

Riley smiled big, "That is the nicest thing you have ever said to me."

%%%%

"Blinkly 1. Blinkly 2." Riley pointed out to me and Chai that she named the dots on the ceiling.

We were at Topanga's about to meet with Mrs. Thompson's family. I was actually nervous.

"Blinkly 3. And Tinklely 1."

Chai rolled her eyes. But at least all three of us were sitting together. So improvement.

It was weird enough to be at the bakery with Riley again. I look at her and...I don't really know how to feel.

I'm no longer in love with her. Really. But I also no longer hate her. I accept her apology, but... I'm not ready to totally forgive her.

The door opened and two women in black entered. Two women I knew.

I instantly recognized the younger woman, Ms. K, my middle school art teacher. She hugged me tightly. She had been crying but looked happy to see me.

The older woman took longer to process. Because I couldn't recognize her without a hat. Evelyn Rand wasn't wearing one of her usual crazy outfits. I looked over at Riley. She was just as surprised.

Evelyn looked at me. Her eyes started puffing up.

The words "I'm sorry" fell out of my mouth.

She placed her hands on my shoulders, "Jerry talked about you all the time."

Of course, Everlyn Rand is the only person crazy enough to talk to strangers on the subway.