Chapter 6 - What am I doing?
Maya hugged her best friend as she cried. Many things began to make sense, especially the countless times she saw Cory all alone having dinner in the couch. Many questions began to form in her mind, ¿Could he be so naive to not wonder why his wife was coming so late at night?
-Riley…
-Maya… please don't tell anything to Shawn…
-W… what? Why?
-Please… I want… need… to keep my family together…
-Riley… you need to understand that
-PLEASE! I beg you…
Maya remained silent, not knowing if she should actually do what her best friend was demanding. But things were turning to the worse, despite Maya warning her of the dangers of keeping her friendship with Richard, he was the one who actually managed to to make her forget about the pain she was feeling. Unfortunately that way was alcohol. Everytime she went out with him she ended up drunk and laughing uncontrollably. How did she managed to keep Cory from finding out (Topanga kept arriving home late) Maya didn't know. But she noticed the shades and and how asleepy she was on the classroom. Even to the point of changing her front seat to one in the back where she would doze off during class. The minute the bell rang Maya ran to her best friend.
-Riley, love
-What Maya? What now?
-Why do you keep seeing Richard?
-I… I like him Maya
-Are you listening to yourself? How can you like someone who only likes you for
-Don't you dare say it.
-You know I'm not lying. Please, listen to me, he's dangerous.
-You're only jealous, yes Maya, jealous.
Maya's eyes opened wide.
-Jealous of guy who only wants me to be his se
-SHUT UP MAYA!
-NO! I HAD IT WITH YOU YELLING AT ME!
Lucas arrived upon hearing them yell at each other.
-What's going on here?
-Nothing, I was leaving, you can have Maya for yourself. - Riley said turning around.
Maya wanted to follow her but Lucas restrained her.
-What are you doing?
-Let her go for now Maya…
-You know where she's going… I need to do something.
-We will, I promise you.
As they spoke Riley arrived to the alley behind the school where she promptly sat on a trash container, Richard was quick to give her a bottle of alcohol, the teenager drank a few sips.
-Say, we're planning a party for tomorrow after school, wanna come?
-yeah… why not… - Riley replied
What she missed was the looks on Richard's friends as she accepted the invitation. That day Maya was again staying the night at Shawn's apartment as Dr. Mack demanded to see how her ankle was. It was 2am when Shawn went to the kitchen for a late night snack and realized Maya was sound asleep on the couch with the tv on. Smiling he turned the tv off and carried her on his arms to his room where he placed the teenager on the bed and covered her with a blanket, as he was covering her he realized she had her cellphone on her hand, as he took it he couldn't help noticing she was texting Riley, the conversation shocked him more than upset him:
Maya: Please, let me tell Shawn about this. He can help us.
Riley: NO! I already told you, I need my family together, if he knows he'll tell dad and everything will fall apart.
Maya: Please trust me. That won't happen.
Riley: No. We can't let him know. Please stop asking.
Maya: Riley, love please, I promise we will find a way out.
Riley: Maya stop it. If you tell Shawn my mom is having an affair he'll come and tell Dad and my family will fall apart! I can't have that on my conscience!
Maya:
It was evident that Maya had fallen asleep before typing the next message, in shock the man walked to the living room and sat on the couch, the words he had read on Maya's cell phone hammering his head time and time again. The following morning Maya woke up in Shawn's bed, curious she went to the living room and saw him sound asleep on the couch, knowing that she had to hurry for school she bathed, dressed and ran out, not realizing that Shawn was now aware of what was happening to her best friend. At school Riley was waiting for Maya in front of her locker.
-Hi love, h
-Did you tell Shawn? - Riley said coldly
-no… but
-OK. I have to go.
-Riley wait, please, he can help us. I know it.
-Maya, he's my Dad's brother, what do you think will happen?
-Look, I know how important your family is and
-Then don't tell him!
Maya stood there, not knowing what to say or do. Meanwhile Shawn was walking on the street, the images of what he read on Maya's phone the previous night appearing on his mind time and time again. He finally reached a decision and signaled for a taxi.
-To the building of Stewart, Truscott and Russo please.
Meanwhile Riley was with Richard and his friends in the same park as the previous time, as usual she was offered alcohol, she noticed that she was the only one drinking from the bottle she was given while Richard and his friends were drinking from another bottle, suddenly she began to feel dizzy and suddenly she fell to the grass, big smiles appeared on Richard and his friend's faces.
-Wow it work faster than I expected - Richard said
-So, who goes first? - said one of his friends
In the meantime Shawn arrived at Topanga's office.
-Oh hi Shawn! What a nice surprise, what are you doing here?
-Is it true?
-Excuse me? Is it true what?
-Are you having an affair?
To be continued...