Pluto chpt. 5
AN: Thanks to all that reviewed and followed! Especially to the guest reviewer I enjoyed reading what you thought of this story but I couldn't tell you that since you know, no account.
Disclaimer: Clearly I don't own GMW. I would do horrible things with a kids show.
Summery: Pluto isn't a planet anymore and all it took for Riley to realize is a late night encounter.
GMW
A lie is just a great story ruined by the truth. - Barney Stinson
GMW
Maya had wanted to shake her best friend out of whatever mood she was in but comfort was never really her thing, it was Riley's world. Maya was cool, calm, and collective.
She was daring, willing to speak her mind in any situation. Whenever the girl needed a hand to guide her, to give her courage, Maya was there. This was different though, this uncertain almost confused vulnerable look on her other half was clinching at her gut. She didn't have a clue what to do.
Well, she knew she couldn't let it go on.
Breakfast came and went. The Matthews all showing their concern and confusion in different ways. Cory and Topanga gave Maya and Riley searching looks but thankfully kept silent. They seemed to sense that whatever their daughter was going through, she wasn't ready to talk about just yet. Auggie as usual was his amazing little self. With wisdom and knowledge beyond his years the young boy had given his sister a comforting hug as she left for school.
Maya for her part had given Riley her space. Traveling with Riley over their train ride in discomforting silence. As usual the two girls were but inches apart holding the same metal beam for support but the blonde couldn't have felt further away.
It was just the way the other girl was acting. She refused eye contact. When the train would rustle, their arms touching just a moment and Riley would flinch as if burnt.
It hurt the proud girl more than she liked to admit. You see, Maya had a reputation of being a rebel of sorts. Others believed she was untouchable, a girl that needed no one or anything and that was the way she liked it. You couldn't get hurt that way.
Riley was different. It was a frequent thought that often came into the blonde's mind. The brunette wasn't just a close friend like Farkle or Lucas were, Riley was her whole world. Her rock, the one person that saw through her shell, seeing the hurt broken girl beanth. And once more, Riley actually liked her despite knowing all her faults.
It was hard to be so open and vulnerable with anyone but as she had thought so many times, Riley was different. This kind sweet little crazy person made things seem a little less difficult. It suddenly didn't seem so hard, the edge not as rough where Riley was involved.
So to see this girl that she loved so much act this way, it was like a blow to her chest.
Maya had waited as long as she could bear.
Walking into John Quincy adams school, the two walking side by side, Maya spared her partner several glances. Head down, chin tucked firmly against her chest. Arms wrapped protectively around her frame.
It broke her. To have to stand there, helpless, unable to ease her pain. It hurt even more knowing that Riley wouldn't even tell her. The insecure part of her felt betrayed that her friend couldn't trust her with what was wrong. She pushed that feeling down, hard.
Reaching out she caught Riley by the wrist stopping her. "Riley wait." With wide eyes the taller girl ripped her hand away.
Maya stood there frozen in shock. She couldn't hide the hurt that flashed across. Eyes despartly searching out Riley's.
The other girl instantly recoiled at the look. Riley even reached forward, her hand moving to take her's but halted, then thinking better of it moved to hide a lock of brown hair behind her ear. "Sorry."
"Sorry?" Maya repeated. Even to herself she sounded so very un-Maya Hartish. The image of her best friend recoiling at her touch playing over and over in her head. The blonde felt her pain seep through her tough exterior.
"I didn't mean to act that way." She said.
"How are you acting?" Maya accused. "You can barely look at me. Will you just talk to me already?"
"I-I can't."
"Can't or won't?" The blonde fired.
"You don't understand." Riley whispered. She looked so lost Maya ached.
"Then help me! Let me in. I'm your best friend Riley. What ever it is I can help you."
The brunette shook her head. "Not this time." Turning away, Riley walked into the threshold of her fathers class.
Maya blinked before trailing after her. This wasn't over, she refused to let this die.
The classroom was a sea of activity. Allowing his kids far more freedom then most teachers dared, History class with Mr. Matthews was always an interesting endeavor. It was a class that hardly ever broached the actually topic of history, instead focusing on life. Bringing with it more lessons and knowledge Maya had ever learned in a class.
While normally a blessing, right now Maya was cursing her luck. Students were scattered around before the final bell rang all conversing, effectively blocking the blonde from her target.
Trying to squeeze her way through the mob of students a familiar turtle neck came into view. Farkle.
"Well hello there, Maya." The boy spoke putting an accent at the end of her name, the action causing the blonde to roll her eyes.
With an exuberant movement Farkle Menkis slide into view, literally. Sliding across the no doubt freshly buffed floor, the boy whipped his hair back smiling. Maya gave him a withering look.
Of all days . . .
"What can I do for you my love?"
Groaning Maya tried to simply push the boy aside, only to have him duck under her slender but surprisingly powerful limb. The boy flashed a victorious grin once again.
It was a game Farkle liked to play. He would tease both her and Riley, probing and prodding with flattery and border line harassment. It was all harmless, the real boy under all the pomp and glamour was a sweetheart who held genuine affection for his friends but he really did enjoy getting a rise out of them.
Right now though Maya didn't have much time to spare.
"Farkle, kinda in the middle of something here." She said peering around the kid trying to gain a glimpse of Riley. Unfortunately Farkle was persistent, moving along with her eye sight still staying in front of her. Seeing the mirth in the small boy's eyes Maya quickly shot him a glare. "And if you say a Farkle Riley sandwich I will kill you."
With a click, Farkle shut his trap, teeth smacking together. With a gesture he waved Maya by nervously.
Fully intending to march right over to her friend and force her to talk the blonde was once again foiled. This time it was the tardy bell and with it came a bright jovial voice.
"All right class, today we have a wonderful lesson on Belgium 1831."
Immediately darting to her desk she pointed her gaze at the girl taking the seat next to her.
"Why won't you talk to me?"
Maya didn't have any problem bringing her problems out in front of class. She didn't care what they thought about her, she only cared what Riley thought.
There was a slight groan from Farkle having once again being deprived from learning but Maya ignored it. Now wasn't the time, she couldn't wait.
Even Cory seemed a bit put off at the interruption but just like always he simply stepped back, giving Maya the floor. He looked curious if she wasn't mistaken.
Riley tensed, her lips pursed forming a firm line. "Let's talk about this later."
She shook her head. "No."
Riley still wouldn't look at her. "Maya," She tried again only for the blonde to cut across. "No!" This time she yelled rising from her desk. "Will you at least look at me?"
This time, she did look and there it was. All the pain, all the anguish, everything that had been behind the surface building and building was finally boiling over.
Tears riddled Riley's beautiful brown eyes as she bit her quivering lip trying to force herself from crying. "Please," She tried one last desperate bid.
"Maya." Lucas spoke up. "Maybe this should wait."
She fought the urge to growl at the boy. She knew he only had Riley's best interest at heart. He cared about her, a feeling Maya could relate but this wasn't about him.
"Not now Lucas." She waved him off. There was a brief moment of shock that gripped the class at Maya's words. Some even gasping in surprise. Maya wanted to roll her eyes. She knew Ranger Rick's name alright. She just chose to never use it.
It seemed petty and childish but when they first met Maya hadn't had the strongest opinion of the boy. Of course the two were close friends now but there had just always been a distance between them. Maya was self aware enough to know that distance had been Riley.
She was jealous. Maya didn't like the implication that implied. It made her out to be a petty awful friend that put her wants above Riley's. She had envied the connection Lucas shared with her. It was irrational but Riley had always taken her side, she had been HER friend. Not anyone's else's.
But Maya had tried to be better. Sweeping her jealousy and keeping most of her more cutting remarks to herself Maya had given him a chance. While the good 'Howdy pa' act was trying at times, she had found herself actually enjoying even liking said farm boy.
Hearing Maya actually use his name instead of her usual teasing seemed to break Lucas out of his famous protective streak. Taking a reluctant seat he stepped down or least allowed her to talk to her friend alone.
Maya could practically feel eyes of the of the other students peering their gaze on the two of them. The blonde didn't give the rest of them a second thought. To her, it was only Riley and Maya. It's our world, not their's, she thought.
Reaching forward, Maya didn't slow or falter when her hand slipped over Riley's the taller girl flinching at the contact. Maya only smiled in response.
"It's just me." She whispered so that only they could hear. "It's just me."
Riley whimpered just a little. It was so unusual that the blonde frowned. Even Cory looked worried, stepping forward as if to offer comfort but stopped short. Maya had this.
Tightening her fingers, the pair entwined. Then without thought her other hand cupped the pale skin of that beautiful face she longed to see smile again. This was her best friend, the one person she was willing to do anything for, she couldn't let her remain in pain.
"You don't want to know." Riley tried one last time. It was a desperate attempt to get her to leave it alone. Maya wouldn't, she couldn't. Riley's pain was her pain. This girl had never left her side and May wasn't going to leave her either.
"What ever it is," She started willing the truth in her words to be heard. "We'll face it together."
She had promised it with all her conviction her heart could uster but there was still just a touch of uncertainty. Whatever it was that Riley was keep from her was big. It was looming in its presence and the thought that Maya might not be ready was starting to rise.
"Okay." Riley said taking a breath. Closing her eyes for just a moment she opened them once again. Reaching out the girl's slender hand cupped Maya's cheek, the two holding one another. "Last night, when you came to my house. You-you kissed me . . . and I liked it..."