Chapter 2
Picking up my notebook, I retitled the top of the sheet 'My Future'. I could still see the previous titles behind the new text. They read 'Farkle Nation', 'When I Become Dictator' and 'The World is Mine!'. These titles were now jumbled together in faded, erased print behind the fresh new title. I started to think about what I could write. I glanced over to Maya's paper, her drawing now had more colour. The package of coloured pencils Mr. Matthews had given her lay open beside her. Most of the colours were worn down. I turned back to my notebook and started to write.
A few minutes later, Maya shifted her position and for a brief moment, I felt her shoulder brush against mine. We turned to look at each other for a second before looking back down at our work. I was now on the second verse of the poem, still deep in thought about what I wanted my future to be like.
There was another knock at the window. I looked up. Riley. Maya was going to get mad at me. I don't care, though. She's cute when she's mad. I got up and went over to let Riley in.
"Hey, what're you doing here?" she asked.
"Working on homework," I told her, casually, stepping back to let her in. Maya looked up, a blank expression on her face.
"Oh, just the two of you?" Riley asked.
"Yeah," I told her. Riley smirked.
"So, it's just the two of you," she stated, still with the same devilish smirk.
"Riles...?" Maya asked, a little cautious but still cool about it. "What are you thinking?"
"I'm thinking that the two of you are secretly dating," Riley said.
"We're not, Riley, Farkle just came over to give me a few notes. He was just about to leave actually," she lied, impling I had to leave. I picked up my notebook from the bed and went over to crawl back out the window. As I closed the window behind me I saw Riley sit down beside Maya who set down her sketchbook so the two of them could talk. With that I headed back down the fire escape on my way back to the subway station. I saw Lucas walking toward the building.
"Don't bother, Riley just went in there for 'girl talk', I was kicked out," I told him.
"Oh," he said. "I was just going to make sure Riley was ready to go out tonight."
"Oh," i replied.
"Well, maybe you and Maya could come along on a double date again like you did that time in grade 7," Lucas suggested.
"I like that idea," I told him. "Let's go suggest it to the girls!" I went back up the fire escape, Lucas following close behind. I peered in the window. Riley looked over.
"He's back," I heard her say, pointing toward me. Lucas came up and looked in the window as well. "Ooohh, Lucas!" Riley came over to the window and opened it, I saw Maya roll her eyes.
"Hi," Lucas said to Riley, flirtatiously.
"Hi," she replied.
"Are you ready to go out?" he asked.
"Sure," she said. Then they just stayed there staring into each other's eyes.
"Maya," I said.
"No," she said.
"Double date?" I offered.
"No," she said again.
"Come on, it'll be fun," Riley said.
"Fine," Maya scowled, and that's how I got my second (not legitimate) date with Maya.