Chapter 2 - I have to keep my family together
Riley didn't cared who saw her running out of the elevator, nor did she cared, what she saw in her mother's office was enough to break her heart in a million pieces: her mother, the woman she admired over anyone else, her role model, the person she always talked about and looked forward to, was right there, without a care in the world, having sex with a man who was not her father, the image of her mother almost nude with the man on top of her was driving her crazy, how long did she ran she didn't knew, she stopped when she found herself in the middle of a park, crying she fell on her knees, holding the grass as if her life depended on it.
-no… please… please wake me up… this has to be nightmare… mom…
After a few minutes she just sat in the grass, looking at the sky, the sound of her cell phone brought her out of her gaze. It was Maya, it was then when something hit her. She knew something she wasn't supposed to know and that could destroy her whole family. She knew how her father idolized her mother, and how such a revelation could not only destroy him but also cause an unfixable division in her family. A flood of thoughts began to fill her mind, ¿what if they divorced? ¿will she be asked to choose either of them to live with? ¿could she adapt to a life where either of them would find someone else? And what about Augie? Could she take on her conscience the pain and burden her little brother would have to endure? The barrage of thoughts brought tears back to her already puffy eyes.
-no… I can't tell anyone… I need to keep my family together…
Trying to regain her composure she answered.
-H… hey Maya
-So, how is it going? - the blond asked on the other end of the line
-J… just fine, but… I… I need to ask you a favor… don't… don't mention it OK?
-What? Why?
-Please Maya…
-OK, I'll leave you to it but I'll need the details later.
As she hanged up the brunette girl just dropped the device and began to cry openly until her body found the grass and she fell asleep. Her slumber was cut by the voice of a police officer.
-Miss? Are you all right? Have you been assaulted?
-no… I'm fine…
-Do you want me to call someone? - the officer asked
-No… I'll just go home…
-Miss it's almost 9pm, I'll ask you to come with me, I'll drive you.
Riley nod and got in the patrol Car, the officer, a woman named Jesse, glared at the 15 year old on the passenger side of her patrol car, although she refused to talk, it was obvious that something had happened to her, her eyes were red and puffy, her make up was smeared all over her face. Yet she refrained herself from asking any more questions as she saw the pain reflected on the girl's face. As they arrived to the building where the Matthew's apartment was Riley just walked in silently, she didn't care about the hour, she knew that in a normal day, at 9pm her mother would be there waiting, that night though, she knew exactly where her mother was. She took her keys and opened the door, at the table a served plate and a note were waiting for her.
-"Riley just warm your dinner on the microwave, I know you were with Maya, Dad."
Riley closed her eyes as her hand crushed the note. She wished she could just go into the room and tell her dad where her mother was and what she was doing, but she knew that it was now her responsibility, a responsibility she didn't ask for, to keep her family united. The brunette walked to her room and just laid on her bed where she fell asleep. The following morning she bathed, dressed and as she was going out she met the last person she wanted to see on the kitchen making breakfast.
-Morning baby, I'm making
-Sorry… not hungry… I… I'll go find Maya…
-Riley Margueritte stop right there.
Releasing the doorknob she turned. She knew that if she saw her directly in the eyes she was going to feel the urge to yell at her so she tried to avoid her.
-You know you can't leave without breakfast, so come back to the table exactly this second.
Knowing there was no way out of it she sat, every bite tasted like sand for her, specially when her father asked her mother about the time she came home the previous night.
-...we worked until late on the Tipton case, sorry I came in so late - Topanga said
-...yeah… sure - Riley said
-Excuse me? - Topanga glared at her
-Nothing… I'm sorry… can I be excused please?
Riley got up on the table and left, as she was walking out Maya was on her way to the apartment.
-Wow, someone is up early today.
-Can we just go?
-But I wanted
-Please Maya, let's just go OK?
The way to Abigail Adams was silent, Maya was baffled by the fact that Riley barely said a word during all the way when normally she talked more than she could breath. But if that was surprising what happened in the classroom during history class baffled not just her but the entire class and her own father.
-So, who can tell me what triggered the Vietnam war? - he asked
-who cares… many people got hurt… some died and never came back… big deal…
-Pardón me? - Cory asked
-It was a war wasn't it? Soldiers were sent to a war that wasn't theirs, some got badly hurt, some died, many people got hurt.
Maya was frozen in her seat. Riley had never answered any teacher in that way.
-Riley
-What Maya!? All wars are like that! People die and get hurt! It's pain and more pain! - Riley yelled slamming her desk with her hands
Closing her eyes but knowing that he needed to set an example and keep the composure of his class Cory spoke.
-Miss Mathews I want you to go to the detention classroom and stay there for two periods and think about the right way to behave in class.
Maya expected her to plead and complain but instead the brunette girl only slammed close her history book and got up.
-Fine.
She was about to get up when Cory spoke again.
-Miss Hart sit down. I'm punishing Miss Matthews not you.
-But
-Miss Hart you know that you'll get suspended if you get detention one more time. Sit down.
Meanwhile Riley arrived to the detention classroom, there she saw a selection of individuals who were mostly trouble makers, even a couple was making out in the farthest corner.. She decided to sit on the back, she just glared at the infinity of drawings made by others who had preceded her while at the same time continued thinking about the burden imposed on her.
-why… why did you do it?... what did dad ever do to you…
What she didn't realize was that a certain boy was looking at her from two seats away.
The bell rang and some of the students left, Riley knew she had to stay there so she closed her eyes and leaned back. She was awaken when the bell rang once more and she walked out in silence. Maya was waiting for her outside.
-OK, what was all that? You acted like someone different, like… I don't know
-People change Maya…
-From one day to the next?
-Yes. I'm going to lunch, I'm hungry.
-Great, there's macaroni and cheese and bur
-Outside. I can't be here now.
-Wait, this is going far than I could even take it, you know it's not allowed to leave the school duri
-Fine, I'll go on my own, thank you.
Maya stood up before her best friend and tried to stop her using her hands, unfortunately for her, she didn't realized where she was putting them.
-Maya please take your hands off my boobs and get out of my way.
Blushed the blond girl moved aside.
-Riley what got into you…
To be continued…