It was a bright day outside, and that usually meant Riley was happy. She wasn't. The only thing bright was the sun. Her eyes had gone dull. "hold me..."

xxx

Maya was worried about her. What had happened to her smiley Riley? She had gotten a text from her that only said, "Help. I need you." It was very unlike her to be that blunt and straight forward. Maya rushed over to her apartment and came in through the bay window only to find her best friend crying. "R-Riley? What's wrong?"

Riley looked up, not even noticing she was in the room with her before that. "Maya... you came..."

Maya came forward and gently cupped her face in her hands. "Of course I did... Are you okay?"

"Do I look okay?!"

Maya was thrown off guard by the harsh response. "Hey..."

"Hold me."

"What?"

"Hold me. Don't let me go or I'll break. Please..."

Maya quickly let go of Riley's face and pulled her into a tight hug.

Riley rested her chin on her shoulder and practically clung onto her best friend.

Maya, not wanting to loosen her grip at the slightest, kissed her shoulder sympathetically.

Riley's breath hitched.

"Riles... I'm here for you..." Riley only cried harder, leaving Maya feeling hopeless. She didn't know what to do. All she could do was do what Riley asked her to do: hold her.

xxx

They stood there silently for about five minutes. Riley had stopped crying by then but she had not loosened her grip.

Maya finally just turned her head and dotted a few soft kisses to Riley's cheek, wanting to let her know that she would always be there for her.

Finally letting go, Riley stepped out of the embrace with a shudder.

Maya observed her, worried. What had happened that made her act like this? She decided that the best thing to do was to give Riley some much needed affection. Walking a little closer, Maya nuzzled into her neck, one hand resting on Riley's shoulder as she made small circles on the fabric of her shirt.

Riley didn't move; didn't even react.

Maya slowly leaned out of her neck and gave her a sympathetic look.

Riley eventually make eye contact and spoke. "I'm sorry..."

"No no, don't be."

"I'm just a waste of your time..."

"You," Maya started, teasingly poking her cheek, "are not a waste of time."

Riley looked away again. "I just don't get it."

"Get what?"

"... Why you always put up with me..."

Maya bit her lip. "Riley... I really care about you... and I love you... you don't bother me at all." She pecked her on the forehead. "I want to help you feel better... Please, let me help you."

"I... I want to let you... I'm just scared..."

"Scared of what?"

"Losing you."

Maya's heart began to hurt. Her poor little plant was scared of loosing... her. "Riles..."

"Please... don't let me break..."

"I won't, I promise." Tears streamed down Riley's face again as Maya came forward and hugged her with such force they ended up on the bed.

"I... I love you, Peaches."

Maya started crying too when she heard her hurting friend say that. "I love you too, Riles," she whispered in her ear.