Maya's POV

It figures that the music room would be fresh out of instruments the day before the talent show. All of them had been checked out already, which meant that I had to go home to get my guitar. Luckily, it was still early and I knew my mom wouldn't be home yet.

I picked up my guitar and sat on my bed. This is the guitar that Riley gave me. She inherited it from her great grandmother, Rosie McGhee. Rosie was given this guitar by my great grandmother May Clutterbucket. They crossed paths in a cafe here, in Greenwich Village, back in 1961. The universe is a pretty wild place.

I started strumming some chords. It was easy for me to start writing. It was probably the easiest songwriting session I've ever had, because I had plenty of feelings to express. Riley was right, this is exactly what I needed. I was really engrossed in my songwriting and completely unaware of how much time was passing.

The sound of tapping at my window snapped me back to reality. I looked over and saw Riley waving and smiling at me. I opened the window.

"Peaches, I thought you might be here," she said. "It's almost time for dinner."

"Oh, it's that late already?" I said.

Riley nodded. She tried to climb in through the window, but tripped on the window ledge and fell on top of me. We both hit the floor with a collective "Ow!"

"Riley Superclutz strikes again," she said.

"Are you falling for me, Matthews?" I asked playfully.

Her eyes met mine and she blushed. She leaned down and kissed me, harder than usual. I ran my hands down her back and slid them into her back pockets. My songwriting session turned into a make out session on the floor, and I was not complaining.

Riley's POV

Maya sliding her hands into my back pockets pretty much confirmed what I suspected: her mom must not be home. I was going to take full advantage of this opportunity to be alone with her. I kissed my way down her neck with urgency. She gasped. She was wearing a plaid button down shirt. I unclasped the top button. She squeezed my butt. I took that as encouragement to continue. I planted a trail of kisses down to her collar bone and then back up to her neck. I could hear her breathing grow heavier. I wanted to make her feel the way she made me feel when she kissed my neck in the bay window.

Maya's POV

I don't know what's gotten into Riley, but I like it. Her lips against my neck were soft but dangerous. She was driving me crazy in the best way, but when she started sucking on my neck, I had to stop her.

"Riley don't," I objected.

She pulled away. We both sat up, she straddled my lap.

"What's wrong?" she asked.

"As enjoyable as that was, I can't go onstage tomorrow night with a hickey," she said.

"So, what you're saying is, I can give you a hickey after the talent show?" Riley asked seductively.

"You can do whatever you want with me honey, I'm yours." I answered sincerely.

That made her smile even bigger than usual. I kissed one of her dimples.

I looked down and noticed blood on the floor. I surveyed Riley for any sign of injury, and spotted a cut on her elbow.

"Oh, honey you're bleeding," I said.

"I am?" she looked at her elbow. "I must have cut it when I fell."

"See? This is why you need to leave the climbing through windows stuff to me," I lectured.

"Well, bay windows are a lot more climber friendly," she said in her defense.

We stood up and I took her by the hand to the kitchen. I turned on the faucet and placed her elbow underneath it. I grabbed some first aid supplies from the medicine cabinet in the bathroom and quickly returned.

"This might sting a little," I warned her as I cleaned the cut with antibacterial soap. I patted it dry, put some ointment on it, and covered it with a square band aid.

"Thanks Peaches," she said.

I planted a kiss on her arm near the band aid.

"Aww, you kissed my boo boo," Riley said with a smile.

"Does it hurt?" I asked.

"Only a little. I'm fine," She answered.

Riley's POV

Just then, the front door opened. Maya's mom was home.

"Maya?," she said surprised. "You're home." She looked at me "Hi Riley."

"Hi, Ms. Hart." I greeted her.

"I just came to get my guitar," Maya responded coldly.

"How are you?" I asked Ms. Hart.

"I'm glad to see you both," she answered. "Are you okay?" she noticed the first aid supplies and my band aid.

"Oh, you know me, clumsy as always. Maya just patched me up," I explained.

"Will you be staying for dinner, Riley?" Maya's mom asked.

"No, Mom. We already told Riley's parents we would be having dinner over there," Maya answered for me.

"But why don't you join us Ms. Hart?" I added. Maya glared at me.

"What are you doing?" Maya questioned me.

I looked at Maya, then I looked at her mom, and then I looked back at Maya. "I don't want to come between you and your mom."

Maya squeezed my hand. "You're not, Riles. This is our stuff. It's not your fault."

"So then I can invite her to join us for dinner?" I asked.

"No, Riley. I know you can't help yourself, but trust me. You can't fix this." Maya went in her room briefly to grab her guitar and her backpack and then she headed for the door. "You coming?" she asked.

I looked at Ms. Hart, and then back at Maya. "In a minute, I'll catch up with you." She shrugged and headed out the door.

"Thanks for inviting me, Riley," Maya's mom said.

"Ms. Hart-" I started

"Riley, you can call me Katie," she interrupted.

I smiled. "Katie," I started "Do you remember when I invited you to Maya's art show and you didn't show up?" I asked.

"Yes, Riley. I remember," Katie said.

"There's a talent show tomorrow night at school, and Maya is performing a song. I think it would mean a lot to her if you were there. Will you come?" I asked, hopefully.

"Riley, I don't think Maya would want me there," she answered.

"It may not be what she wants, but it's what she needs." I insisted. "Please, come."

"Why would you even try again when you know that I just disappointed you last time?" She asked.

"Because I'm Riley Matthews. I have an uncontrollable need to fix people's lives and unwavering hope that people can redeem themselves if given the chance to. That's just who I am."

Katie came over to me and gave me a hug. "I can see why my daughter is so fond of you."

I smiled and headed for the door. I looked back at her. "I'll see you tomorrow night, Katie."