Chapter 4
Maya hasn't talked to me in three days. Ever since she kissed me, it's been awkward between us. Riley keeps asking me what happened. She's worried, I can tell. I don't want to tell her anything that might hurt her friendship with Maya. She keeps asking why Maya ran off and why I was unconcious on the bench. I keep changing the subject. That's the thing with Riley. You can change the subject and she won't even notice. I don't know how long I can keep this up. Lucas has kept quiet about the whole thing and, even though Riley's been constantly interrogating, he seems to be trying to think of a theory on his own. Knowing Lucas, he'll probably get it. I know he won't get it by just the basic facts. But, at the rate Riley's asking me questions, he'll probably know in about two days. I knew I could tell Riley these things because she's too oblivious to even link any of the obvious facts together. It's Lucas I'm worried about.
Today's the day we present our poems. I hope Maya likes it. I'm pretty sure she will based on the reaction she had the last time she read part of it. It was magical. Her lips felt so soft against mine.
"Farkle," Riley said, nudging me.
"Huh?" I asked.
"Time for class," Riley said.
"Oh, okay," I replied, and followed her to Mr. Matthews' class. Maya was already seated, looking down at her drawing. I looked like it was almost completely done. That was, except for the man's hair. It still had no colour. I took my seat behind Riley. Mr. Matthews stood up from behind his desk. On the board, he had written; How We Want to be Remembered in History.
"Today we're going to be reading our poems," he began. "We are going to see how everyone would like to be remembered in history." He walked out in front of his desk. "Who wants to go first?" I could tell he was expecting me to jump up and wave my hand in the air. I just sat there. He kept looking at me, waiting. "Nobody? Okay, Mr. Friar." Lucas walked up to the front of the room and began reciting his poem about becoming a world-renowned veterinarian. I think everyone was expecting Maya to say something like 'Ooh a famous horse doctor, hahurr!' or something like that, but she stayed silent, slumped in her chair, twirling a pencil between her fingers. I sat, waiting for my turn. I didn't want to go first and seem...desperate. But after Riley had gone, and Darby and Sarah and Yogi, I couldn't take it anymore.
"Can I go now?" I asked.
"Finally, Farkle!" Mr. Matthews said. "Come up and read us what you got!" I walked up to the front of the room and began.
"Being a dictator might be fun, but when I think future, there's only one. I don't care if I'm remembered in history, I just want a girl that cares for me. Still being single really tears me apart when my future girl's Maya Penelope Hart." I said. Maya smiled, that was all I'd written the day she kissed me. I continued. "Riley with her cowboy and I with my queen, Riley with Lucas and Maya with me. I always said, loved you both equally, but now I can see there's just one girl for me. If Riley is happy with her current man, then we have a future, I see it, I can. If you think it will work I'll be happy as can be. So, let me know, Maya, will you go out with me?" Maya nodded, smiling. I saw her pick up a coloured pencil off the desk and finally colour the anonymous man's hair. It was my hair colour. Maya's future husband was me. I smiled back and went over a give Maya a hug.
"Awww," Riley said.
"Shut up, Riles," Maya said. She was blushing. It was cute. It was then, that I realized, Riley doesn't care if she's with me or not. I still love them equally, but in different ways. I care about Riley like a friend and more like a sister. Maya is more than that. A more romantic kind of love. That's when I knew, I cared that Riley was happy and if her and Lucas ever got into a fight, I'd be there for her. But I'd also make sure Maya never got hurt and we'd be together for the rest of our lives.