[Author's note: Thank you so much for reading my story this far, and thank you to everyone who has left reviews. I really appreciate the reviews! When I started this story, I was posting a new chapter everyday, but now, I'm starting classes again, so I won't be able to work on it everyday. I might only be able to post one chapter every week now, but I am still very committed to continuing this story though. Thanks again!]

Chapter 16

Riley's POV

We woke up together again on Sunday morning. I'm not complaining, but I worried that the longer Maya waited to mend things with her mother, the harder it would be. As much as I love it when she sleeps in my bed, I want her to feel like she can go back to her own.

We got out of bed and got dressed.

"Maya, why won't you tell me what your mom said to you?" I asked. She looked at me with an expression of dread. "I can't do that, Riles." she responded.

"Peaches-"

"No, Riley."

She started making my bed. She never makes my bed. She wants out of this conversation that badly?

"Maya, It's Sunday morning, just go home and talk to your mom. You can't avoid her forever," I insisted.

"Sure, I can," she replied, dryly.

"I bet that's what your dad said too."

She dropped my blanket and spun around to face me. The look on her face confirmed that I had definitely gone too far with that comment.

"What did you just say to me?" she asked. Her voice was fighting to hide how hurt she was. Her eyes resented me.

"You're his daughter, like it or not, you are half him," I explained.

"I am nothing like him." She said each word slowly, but emphatically, as if she were trying to contain herself from exploding at me.

"Then don't walk out on your mom, Maya" I made my point, and I think she understood. Her tense body language relaxed. She let out a sigh. The resentment fell from her eyes, now she looked at me with clarity.

She nodded slightly. "Yeah, okay," she agreed. Her voice was calm and resolute. She grabbed her backpack, gave me a quick goodbye kiss, and headed out the bay window.

Maya's POV

I opened the door to my apartment and walked in.

"Whoa!" I exclaimed.

I was startled by the sight of Shawn in his boxers and tube socks, making a pot of coffee, in my kitchen. He turned around, and looked embarrassed.

"Maya, hey! I thought you were going to be at Riley's all weekend."

"Yeah, so did I," I said, looking at the floor.

"I'm gonna go put on some clothes," he said, awkwardly.

"Good idea," I agreed.

I went to my room and unpacked the clothes out of my backpack. Are Shawn and my mom sleeping together now? I guess that's good news. Ugh, stop thinking about it. Ew. Ewww.

I heard Shawn and my mom talking in the kitchen. I went back into the kitchen to join them. Fortunately, they were both fully clothed this time.

Shawn was pouring two cups of coffee from the pot.

"Maya, you want coffee?" he offered.

"Yes, please". I couldn't help but smile. I liked seeing him here, in my kitchen, in the morning, making coffee. It felt right.

My mom felt the need to explain the situation. "Shawn was in town working on a story and we met up last night. I offered to let him stay here while he's in town."

"Oh, how long are you in town?" I asked Shawn.

"Uh, I'm not sure. It's an ongoing piece, I don't have a set deadline right now," he said.

"Maya, are you staying or are you going back to Riley's?" My mom asked.

"Riley wants me to work things out with you. And I want to do that too. I just don't know how," I answered, honestly. Shawn's eyes shifted between my mom and me.

"I'll just leave you two alone," he said.

"No, stay," I insisted. "Maybe you can help us."

"It's not fair to put Shawn in the middle of this," My mom argued.

"Well, Riley isn't here to play mediator. And we don't communicate so well by ourselves." I defended my stance.

"What's going on?" Shawn asked. My mom looked uncomfortable.

"Remember how I told you about that kiss with Riley?" I started to explain.

"Yeah, how did Riley feel about it?" he asked.

I smiled. "She asked me to be her girlfriend."

"See! I told ya!" He gave me a high five.

"Hold on," my mom interrupted. "You talked to Shawn about Riley?" she asked, surprised.

"I just needed someone to talk to, mom," I answered.

She turned to Shawn, "And you encouraged her?"

"Yeah, she had already kissed Riley at that point, so I thought she should see it through. I encouraged her to tell Riley how she feels about her," Shawn explained.

"You encouraged my teenage daughter to be gay?" she asked in an accusatory tone.

"I encouraged her to face her fears, and be honest with Riley about her feelings. I encouraged her to be herself," he continued.

"She is only fourteen, do you really think these feelings are appropriate at her age?" my mother questioned Shawn.

"Yeah, don't all fourteen year olds have crushes and feelings? I did at that age, didn't you?" he questioned her back.

"Sure. But were the feelings you had at your age for Cory?" my mom asked.

"No Katie, but if they were, they wouldn't be any less appropriate. Sometimes best friends develop feelings for each other. And sometimes people who are dating realize they are better off being best friends. Just because a relationship starts in one form, doesn't mean it can't evolve into something else." Wow, Shawn gets it. Why can't my mom get it too?

"Are you saying that you support this relationship?" my mom asked him.

"Are you telling me that you don't support Maya and Riley?" He turned the question back on her. Oh no. I just wrecked the Katie and Shawn ship didn't I?

"Okay stop. You both like each other, and you're fighting over me. I won't allow that," somehow I have become the mediator. "You each have the right to feel how you feel," I looked at Shawn. "You have right to support me." I looked at my mom "And you have the right to be disappointed."

"What?!" Shawn yelled. "No! You don't have a right to be disappointed in her for being happy with Riley."

"I'm not!" My mom exclaimed. Wait, what?

"You're not?" I asked her.

"I'm not disappointed in you, Maya. Your performance at the talent show was amazing. Your art and your music is beautiful. Your devotion to Riley is beautiful. You're so beautiful, Maya. I love you, baby girl. Please don't think I'm ashamed of you in any way." Tears started to well up in her eyes. I could feel a lump of my own tears forming in my throat. Could I have completely misunderstood everything?

"But I thought you didn't want me to date Riley. I thought you didn't want me to turn out to be a lesbian fine arts major," I said.

"A mother will always want what's best for her child." she started. "The reason I don't want that for you is because I don't want your life to be any harder than it already is. You have been through so much. Too much. And it's not fair. I want your life to get easier, not harder. Being an artist and making a living is really tough. Add being in a same sex relationship to that, and your life is going to be one hell of a struggle. I don't want you to struggle to get by. I don't want you to struggle against discrimination. I don't want you to struggle at all, Maya."

Well that certainly opened the floodgates. Both of us had tears running down our faces. Shawn handed each of us a tissue.

"You really want what's best for me?" I asked her.

"Always, baby girl," she answered.

"You and I both know, that Riley has always been the best thing that's ever happened to me. She brings out the best in me. I wouldn't be who I am without her," I explained.

"I know, Maya," she agreed.

"I love Riley, and I love art and if it's a struggle, then Riley and I will get through it together, because she will always be worth it to me," I declared.

"I know," she said again.

"Mom, it's okay if you don't support our relationship right away, because I understand your point of view now, but do you think can you try to see it from my point of view someday?"

She nodded. "Just give me time. I'm sure I'll get there someday," she said. She opened her arms, and I hugged her. Shawn wrapped his arms around both of us, joining in on the hug. Look at us, me, my mom and Shawn, acting like a family. I'm glad Riley convinced me to come home.