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Riley's POV

The next day at school, Maya seemed distant. Not physically, she was by my side as always, but she wasn't her usual self. Her eyes are like mood rings. When she's happy they're a vibrant tint of blue. When she's sad they're a tone of bluish-grey. Today I couldn't even find a spec of blue, like an overcast of clouds eclipsing the sky. There was only one other time in the history of our friendship that I've ever seen her eyes this grey, and that was when her father left.

She still hadn't told me what happened between her and her mom when she came out. She just asked if she could stay at my house for awhile because she wasn't ready to go home yet. She already had one parent disown her. I certainly hope I'm not the reason she loses her relationship with parent who stayed.

We were at our lockers when Lucas and Farkle came over to us.

"Hey Maya, I'm looking forward to seeing you tomorrow night," Lucas said.

What did he just say? They're not still seeing each other, are they? I looked at Maya, she looked confused.

"I don't remember us having any plans, Huckleberry," she said.

"I meant at the talent show. I'm looking forward to your performance," Lucas clarified.

"What? There's a talent show? I didn't even sign up." Maya replied.

"Actually, it was me," Farkle admitted. "I signed you up for the talent show, Maya."

"Really, why didn't you tell me?" Maya asked Farkle.

Farkle explained, "Well, I noticed the sign up sheet on that day you were absent, and I figured if you had been here to see it, that you probably would have been interested, so I wrote down your name. I was going to tell you that night, in the bay window, but then I forgot about it because that thing happened-"

"Okay! I get it now," Maya cut him off.

"What thing happened?" Lucas asked.

"Nothing!" Both Maya and I answered unintentionally at the same time. We looked at each other. Well, that wasn't conspicuous at all. I quickly changed the subject.

"Farkle! What a great idea! Signing Maya up for the talent show was so thoughtful of you," I said.

"Uh, I don't know you guys," Maya said in uncertainty.

"C'mon Maya, you're a great singer. You should do it," Lucas encouraged her.

"But it's tomorrow night, that doesn't give me much time to prepare," Maya countered.

"But it would be a great opportunity to showcase one of your songs," Farkle pointed out.

"What do you think, Riles?" she looked at me.

"I think you're the best there is," I said. "And I think a songwriting session is exactly what you need right now." Maya smiled. She finally smiled! First time she's done that all day.

"Okay, then I'm in," Maya said.

I watched her eyes transform with her mood as if they were kaleidoscopes being turned. There they were: the specs of blue fighting their way back through the grey. I was mesmerized.

"Riles, why you looking at me all dopey like that?" she asked.

I sighed. "I was just watching the blue come back into your eyes." Did I really just say that out loud? She grinned and gave me a quick hug.

"I'm gonna go to the music room and see if I can come up with something. I'll see you guys later," Maya said.

I turned to see Farkle and Lucas looking at me like I was crazy. Time to change the subject again. I put my hand on Farkle's shoulder. "I'm really glad you signed Maya up for the talent show, Farkle. You're a great friend."

Farkle did his signature bow. "Thank you! I am Farkle!"