Next lesson is Geography. Maya, Farkle and Lucas have this class together, and I have it with Zay and Isadora. The class is mostly uneventful.
Afterwards we have history. The only class with my dad, and the only class with all 5 of my friends.
I find it difficult tooking at Maya, and it's much easier that she is sitting behind me.
When I am sat down, I feel a slight amount of tension. Marly is also in this class. Looking to my left, I see Farkle, who is staring in Maya's direction. When I glance at Maya, she is scowling at him back. I then turn to Lucus. Him and Zay are whispering extremely quietly. Smackle is writing in her book, seemingly unphased.
I turn to the front before Maya, or anyone else, notices me observing.
"Something's happened." Dad declares.
"Nothing. Nothing is happening, nothing happened, just teach us dad." I attempt to avoid the subject. The one person ai forgot to look at was Marly. I turn to the right. She is looking at me. When her eyes meet mine, I instantly avert my vision.
"Why are you so on edge, Riley? Tell me, what's going on." I hear a slight giggle escape Marly's mouth. "Do you know what it is, Miss Evans?"
She jumps back defensively. "What, me? No! How could I possibly be part of the story when it's only ever these six? No, I don't have a clue!" She dramaticizes.
At least she's not blurting out her opinions to the whole class... well not all the opinions.
But I can hear the whispers. I can sense that a lot of people already know. Above all, I hear Maya's whisper right behind my head.
Quiet at first. "shut up... shut up" and slow. Repeating "Shut Up..." then getting louder and quicker until she stands up "SHUT UP EVANS" All eyes are now on her.
She strides to Marly's desk and stands over her.
"Oh, the queer little pancake, what are you gonna do?" I gasp. So this was what Maya was freaking out about this morning.
Maya grabs her by the collar, but is interrupted my my dad. "Miss Hart. Don't do something you'll regret."
"Regret?" She lets go of Marly, and slowly strolls to the front of the class. "Regret?" She repeats, this time sounding as if the word is ridiculous.
Facing my dad, she is about four fifths of his height. She spreads her arms out.
"Tell me what I'm going to regret, Matthews. Will I regret justice? Will I regret pummeling a bully?"
She returns to Marly and shoves her shoulder, almost lightly.
"Maya-" my dad tries.
"No. I won't allow this to happen. She targeted Riley. She targeted my friendship. I won't take that lightly. Riley, I had to keep it from you. I'm sorry you found out the way you did."
"How do you...?"
"I told her." Farkle pipes up. "In geography, last lesson. I told her what happened in science."
Maya shoves Marly again, harder this time. The girl grabs on to the desk so she doesn't fall over.
"Maya, stop."