-Cory, you must be joking… you can't take Riley and Augie from me and you know it.
Her husband lowered his head as he spoke.
-Do you think they want to be with you? Specially Riley?
Topanga couldn't answer, she had just had her own daughter reject her, she threw the papers on the table.
-This is not happening, I'm not divorcing you and I'm not losing my kids, there has to be another solution.
-Topanga
-Forget it, Cornelius, this is not what we envisioned since we were teenagers, since we
-When we "envisioned" our lives together we never talked about you cheating on me. - Cory said in a sad tone of voice.
-IT WAS AN AFFAIR! EVERYONE HAS THEM!
Cory's eyes opened wide
-It's cheating… we both made vows when we married… you broke them…
-Look, we… we could go to therapy or something, this is simply too extreme…
-All I ask is that you don't make this harder than it already is on everyone. - Cory said, voice breaking
Topanga, with teary eyes sat before her husband.
-Don't you think this is also hard for me?
-You have lost control of your daughter for a start…
-Don't bring Riley into this…
-I don't want to… but it's the reality of things…
He stood up.
-I'm sorry Topanga… I made my decision…
The woman glared as he walked out. In the hall, Cory slid against the wall and began to sob. Meanwhile Riley was finishing to get ready.
-So… what are you going to do? - Maya asked
-I can't stay here… I can't go back home… I don't know…
Maya sighed.
-You can stay with me, come on.
Before she could move Riley was crying and hugging her. Later that day they were talking on Maya's room.
-Riley…
-What peaches?
-Have you thought… what will you do if… if your parents...
-Don't even say it… there has to be a way to fix this…
-Riley… this is not a highschool break up… this serious adult stuff…
-It can't happen Maya… they're meant for each other…
Maya gently used her finger to pull up the chin of her best friend so she could look at her eye-to-eye
-Riley… I know you always want to fix everything and you believe you can, but love, it's time you learn that sometimes… there are things that can't be fixed, and all we can do is accept them and move on.
-Maya… I… I don't… I don't want… I don't want to make a choice… I want my parents together…
-Love, I don't want you to do it either… but you have to be prepared…
Riley glared at her best friend.
-Maya why are you asking me this? Did my Dad talked to you?
-no… I'm sixteen like you.. why would he talk to me about something like that?
Maya felt her heart break, the one thing she always promised to never do was lie to her best friend, but she couldn't be the one telling her what her father had decided.
Meanwhile Cory was at Shawn's cabin, he had a bottle of whisky and a glass before him.
-You do remember you have class tomorrow right? - Shawn said taking the bottle away.
-who cares…
The following morning Maya and Riley walked into their classroom. To their surprise at the desk was Harper Burgess, their literature teacher.
-Wait, we don't have literature in the first period, where's my dad? - she asked in surprise
-Mr. Matthews reported himself sick today and I'm substituting now please take your seat.
-NO! I want to go find out what happened to my Dad! - Riley shouted back
-Riley do I have to remind you that you're a step again from another suspension?
Maya placed her hand on Riley's mouth before she could reply again.
-Love, I'll go with you and we'll find out what happened after class, I promise, please, please don't do this.
Upset Riley removed her best friend's hand from her mouth.
-DON'T YOU EVER DO THAT! And I don't care, I'm going to go find my Dad!
-Riley please, if you cross that door you won't be able to enter this classroom for three weeks… look, I can not let it pass, please do as Maya says.
Lucas got up and tried to get some sense into the teenager.
-Riley, this kind of suspension will go to your permanent record and will make it difficult for you to get in college, let alone get a scholarship, I know what I'm talking about. - he said
Riley glared at both Maya and Lucas as well as Harper who was standing up beside the teacher's desk.
-I don't care, I want to go find out what happened to my Dad
-Riley, RILEY! - Maya screamed as she walked out of the classroom.
Inside Lucas tried to plead with Harper
-She's has been and is through a lot, please give her a chance.
-Lucas… you know there's a hall monitor, if he sees her out of class she'll report her, and if I don't, then it is me the one in trouble… you need to learn there is rules to be respected…
In front of the school Riley had gotten her phone out of her pocket and dialed Shawn's number.
-Uncle Shawn where's my dad?
-He… he's here…
-Why didn't he come to school?
-Uh… he… umm… he wasn't feeling OK…
-Uncle Shawn what happened to my dad?
-Look Riley, I think you better go to class, don't worry, he'll be fine believe me.
Before she could say anything else he hung up. Decided to find out Riley called for an Uber to get her to Shawn's cabin. It is an understatement to say how surprised Shawn was to see her.
-Riley, I…
-Where's my Dad?
-Look, why don't you come back later, maybe you
-Hey, who is it?
Riley's eyes opened wide as she saw the figure before her.
To be continued...