This is a companion piece to "No One Really Likes Change", so I recommend checking that out after you read this one. I'm setting up a whole series.
Maya recognized the look on Zay's face the moment he walked through the door. He was trying to seem cool and collected but his eyes had just landed on Lucas Friar, and Lucas wasn't happy to see him.
Maya couldn't imagine how devastating that must be. To see your best friend for the first time in a long time, to see the person you cared about more than anything else, and to have them look back at you with distrust.
Over the next few days, they got used to the new normal with Zay. He was a good guy, underneath the big mouth that he used as a self-defense technique. Riley quickly became euphoric that she had a new friend to dote on and Lucas eventually became more comfortable having his old friend back. Farkle didn't necessarily love change but he got used to it, and Maya… Maya felt a kinship with Zay because she could tell exactly how he felt just by looking at him. And, to be honest, she'd felt the same way for a while.
They were at Topanga's, alone. The others would be there in a bit, but they had a group project they had to work on, so Maya seized her chance.
"Hey, Zay. I want to ask you something."
Zay turned his smile towards her. It was a charming smile and one that Maya could see right through. It was the kind of smile that always managed to hide any inner turmoil that might be lurking just behind the surface. It was a smile that didn't always reach the eyes.
"Always happy to talk to you, Ms. Hart."
"Okay, separate from what I want to talk about, why do you always call me that?"
"Because I think it's nice. It's a nice name. You don't wear your heart on your sleeve but you don't have a choice but to wear it in your name."
"You, on the other hand, do wear your heart on your sleeve," Maya said, feeling emboldened now.
"What do you mean?" Zay's smile wavered and she knew she was on to him.
She spoke in a low voice, "I know you like Lucas."
"Of course I do," Zay said, "he's my best friend."
"I know you have a crush on Lucas," Maya amended, "it's okay, I'm not judging."
"Why do you think that?" Zay asked, keeping his voice calm. He really was a smooth talker.
"Because I'm kind of the expert on people who like Lucas Friar," Maya said.
"Oh yeah? And what makes you an expert, Ms. Hart?"
"Because my best friend is in love with him and so am I. And so are you."
"So were I. Er, was I. I'm not in love with him anymore. I was when I got here but then the welcome was a little less than warm and… It's a whole story, and it's not really my place to tell that story, Maya."
"I understand."
"But what about you?"
"What about me?"
"If you like him so much why haven't you gone for it? You miss 100% of the shots you don't take."
"Okay, wise guy, consider this. Riley, my best friend, my Lucas, has feelings for him too."
A look of realization lit up on Zay's face.
"And you like her too."
"I love her. In a choice between her and my own feelings, I'll choose her every time."
"Yeah. That's how I feel about Lucas. He's protected me for so long, the one thing I can do for him is leave any feelings I had for him in Texas behind."
Maya was quiet for a minute.
"It sucks for us, huh?"
"Ah, not so much. We still get to have the people we love in our lives. We're pretty lucky, if you think about it, to have best friends that mean that much to us."
"Yeah, you're right."
"But I know what you mean, I think. Sometimes I just want to talk about it. I want people to accept that part of me."
"Well, you can always talk to me. And I know our friends would accept you."
"Yeah, I think so too. I've been thinking about telling them I'm bisexual for a while now. Maybe when they get here, I will."
"Well, I'll have your back."
"Thanks, Maya. Maybe don't tell them what you know about me?"
"I don't know anything about you," Maya said with a raised eyebrow.
"Damn, you're a good actor."
"Yeah, people like us usually are."