The stillness of the library calmed Maya as she took a moment to herself within the school day. Sitting at an empty table with her notebook in front of her she took a deep breath and appreciated the quiet. With every passing day Aiden was learning more and more. Now he was walking and babbling more than ever, which made Maya happy but she sure did miss having quiet moments. "Mind if I join you?" Maya looked up and smiled as Missy stood in front of her.
Maya held out her hand and gestured to the empty chair across from her. "Take a seat Bradford."
Missy pulled out a chair and sat down, leaning her forearms on the table. "Hiding out?" she asked, her auburn hair framing her petite face.
"Not really," Maya answered as she scrunched her nose. Pushing a blonde hair behind her ear she continued, "Just appreciating the quiet. Doing a little bit of thinking."
Missy nodded and leaned back. "I've been thinking a lot too. You know graduation, Charlie, and Aaron have been heavily on my mind." Maya raised an eyebrow. "More than usual," Missy added.
"What do you mean? Is everything okay with you guys?"
Missy sighed and hugged herself. "Everything's fine. Charlie and I are finally in a good place and Aaron's healthy. I just feel guilty. I walk around here with the same bitchy attitude as before and no one knows how blessed I am." Maya leaned forward as Missy spoke. "No one knows about Charlie or Aaron and I feel awful about it. I know that Charlie doesn't feel like a secret but if I were him I would."
May shrugged her shoulders and reached out a comforting hand. "Then do something to change it. We're about to graduate and everyone and everything is going to change. You and I obviously know a lot about change but don't you want to leave this place being yourself? Instead of pretending to be the old you." Leaning back she said, "Continue. You were about to go into graduation."
Missy rolled her eyes. "You sound like Riley. Which isn't entirely a bad thing but still, that was very philosophical of you." Taking a deep breath she messed with her hair. "Charlie and I agreed that when the time came we'd both go to school here in New York but I secretly applied for this fellowship thing in Boston and I got accepted." She licked her lips and looked down at the table nervously. "And I really want to go." Groaning she exclaimed, "It's selfish I know! I just wanted to see if maybe I'd be accepted. And for some reason they did."
"Woah," Maya breathed. "Boston is-"
"Far from my boyfriend and my kid I know. I don't even know why I'm telling you this I'm not going to go anyways. I can't leave Aaron behind like that for a year. That would be just awful and now he's starting to remember things and I don't want him to think that I'm abandoning him just like how my parents abandoned me and-"
"Calm down Missy," Maya mused as she took her friend's hand. "You wouldn't be abandoning your son. Just talk to Charlie. You guys have worked so hard to be amazing co-parents and now you guys are really doing this together. He'd appreciate the conversation more than you'd know. I know Josh would."
Missy took a deep breath and sighed. "You're right. Thank you," she whispered.
Just as they finished Riley spotted the pair and walked over. "Care for company? Or is three a crowd?" she asked with her books in hand.
Maya shot Missy a look and urged her to speak. "You know what if I'm going to do what you said Maya I have to start somewhere right? Please sit down Riley."
Riley smiled and sat down in the open seat next to Missy. "So what are you guys talking about?"
Maya sighed and looked over at her best friend. "The future. It's terrifying and it looks like Missy may be going to Boston soon."
Missy gave Maya an aggravated look while Riley gave one of her signature smiles. "That's great news! Congratulations Missy."
Missy, deciding to truly embrace the changes she's made reached out and grabbed Riley's hand. "Thank you. What about you? What were you thinking for college?"
Riley sighed and looked nervously at Maya. "That's actually what I came to talk to Maya about. I've been accepted to UT in Texas. I signed my commitment papers this morning."
Riley quickly traced Maya's face for any speck of disappointment but instead all she found was joy. "Riles that's amazing! I'm so happy for you!" Maya said as she got up to hug her friend. "Wait. You were nervous to tell me I can tell! Did you think I'd be mad or something?"
Riley became flustered and started spitting out words. "No! I just didn't want to disappoint you or have you think I was leaving you behind. I just wanted you to know that I still love you besides being hundreds of miles away."
"I'm so proud of you. Lucas will be very lucky to have you on his side in Texas."
The two held their hug and shared a knowing smile and looked over at Missy beside them. Riley opened up the hug and smiled at Missy. "Come on. You're part of the gang now too. Get in here!"
The three laughed and squeezed each other tightly and smiled at each other. "Now this I could get used to," Missy admitted.
Breaking apart from their hug the three girls looked at each and smiled softly. "Look at us," Riley began. "Who would have ever thought this would happen?"
Maya sighed and looked at her two close friends. "So you two are really leaving me in New York all by myself? What a-"
"Hey," Missy warned. "I told you. I'm not going. Charlie and I made plans already."
"No. You're definitely going. There's no way Charlie is going to let you pass this up," Maya protested.
"Speaking of Charlie," Riley said as she butt in. "I am gonna need the story of how that happened. You know now that we're friends and all."
Missy gave Riley a pointed look as Maya held back a laugh, enjoying the new friendship the two girls were quickly forming.
With Aiden in hand, Maya walked through the door and bounced her son on her hip as she locked her apartment door behind her. "Hey Josh!" she called out as she entered their shared home. "Are you here?" Hearing nothing Maya frowned and walked into the kitchen setting Aiden down in a chair and taking out some soft foods for him to eat. "I bet you're starving," she said to him. "Because you're literally never not hungry."
She quickly fixed his food and sat across from him at the table as she watched him messily eat his food. Hearing the door unlock Maya looked up and saw her boyfriend enter the apartment. "Hey babe," she greeted as he walked into the kitchen. "I didn't know you were working late today," she mentioned as he sleepily kissed her head.
"Yeah. I'm just trying to get some more money in our pockets before I start school again in the fall." Opening up the fridge Josh pulled out a water and began to chug it. "You want me to bathe him?"
Maya shook her head as she took pity on her love. "No it's okay. I've got it tonight. You should go to bed."
"You're perfect," Josh breathed. Kissing her lips he said, "I love you."
"I love you too!" Maya called out as Josh walked out the kitchen and into their bedroom.
Josh entered their room and closed the door quietly behind him as he fished in his own pocket. Pulling out the tiny black box he gripped it tightly and took a peek inside. Satisfied with his work, Josh hid it in the room and actually did go to sleep. That night he could barely slept as the excitement was building in his body at an alarming rate. The day was coming closer and closer and he could not wait.