Maya's POV

I pulled away from Riley and headed towards the door.

"Maya?" Riley called after me.

"I have to do something. This is my fault." I said.

I headed out the door after Mr. Matthews. Riley caught up to me.

"Maya, this is not your fault. You wanted to tell him that day in my room after the Stonewall lesson," Riley said. "But you didn't because I was crying. You were protecting me. And now you're taking all the heat for it. It's not fair."

"Riles, it's okay. Let him be mad at me. I'd rather he take it out on me than you. And I'm not about to let him take it out on Shawn either."

"What are you going to do?" Riley asked.

"I don't know, but I'm not going to let your dad and Shawn fight because of me." I replied.

I knew Shawn would probably be at Topanga's because my mom was there working. I hurried toward the bakery.

Too late. I walked in and Mr. Matthews was already having what looked like a confrontation with Shawn. My mom seemed to be trying to intervene.

"You were the first adult to know about this. How could you not tell me?" Mr. Matthews demanded an answer.

"Cory, it wasn't my place." Shawn answered.

"You're my best friend Shawn! How is it not your place?" Mr. Matthews countered.

"I didn't even tell Katy, and I'm dating her!" Shawn defended himself.

My mom explained, "I found some of Maya's drawings of Riley and I had my suspicions so I asked her about them. That's when she told me, and we had an argument."

"So you knew how your daughter felt about my daughter, and you let her sleepover in my daughter's room?" He questioned my mother.

"She didn't let me. I just left." I interrupted.

My mother looked at me and continued, "I said something that hurt Maya's feelings, and she walked out. I don't know if I ever apologized for that, baby girl. But I am sorry that I hurt you in that moment."

I walked over and gave my mom a hug. "It's okay, mom" I said. She smiled.

"You know, Katy, as a parent, I really would have appreciated some kind of a heads up. Your daughter was staying in my house, for goodness sake." Mr. Matthews said.

"I understand that, Cory, but can you try to understand the situation I was in?" My mom replied.

Shawn joined in. "Maya trusted me with something very personal. And even after she told Katy as well, we couldn't possibly talk to you about it without outing your daughter to you, and that wouldn't be right."

Riley walked over to her dad. "Yeah, Dad. You're getting mad at all the wrong people. They were all keeping my secret because I asked them not to tell you. Because I wasn't ready." Mr. Matthews seemed to be avoiding making eye contact with Riley.

"Dad, please look at me," Rliey pleaded.

Mr. Matthews reluctantly met Riley's eyes with his own. He looked disappointed.

"Cory," my mother started. "Don't make the same mistake I did. Don't say something you can't take back," she advised.

He seemed to be choosing his next words carefully. "I asked you both if there was anything you wanted to tell me." He looked at both Riley and me.

"I know Dad, but I was still figuring things out. I wasn't ready to explain my feelings to anyone yet, even if Maya was." Riley answered.

He sighed and shook his head. "Well, Riley, right now, I'm not ready to explain my feelings to you either." He looked away.

Riley nodded. She looked slighted by his remark. "I guess I deserve that," she said.

"Maya, go home tonight," he affirmed.

"Okay." I agreed.

"But Dad!-" Riley started but he held up his hand and cut her off.

"And please take Riley with you." Mr. Matthews said.

Wait. What did he just say?

"Cory-" Shawn started. But Mr. Matthews already turned to leave.

"Dad?" Riley called after him as he walked out the door.

Riley stood frozen in place, staring at the door. She looked like she was in shock. Shawn put his hand on her shoulder. "You know what? I'm gonna go talk to him, and I'll get your mom to talk to him too." He looked back at my mom and she nodded with approval. Shawn hurried out the door. Riley remained motionless.

I walked over to Riley and stood between her and the door. I took her face in my hands.

"Honey?" I attempted to bring her back.

She finally broke her solemn stare and looked down at me.

"Maya," she said. Her eyes were filling with tears.

"I'm here, sweetie." I answered.

"What just happened?" She asked. A tear cascaded down her cheek and landed on my hand. I gently wiped it way with my thumb. I didn't know how to answer her.

"Did he just kick me out?" She asked.

I wish I could tell her otherwise. I wish I could make this all okay somehow.

"Remember a half hour ago when I was just grounded? Could I just go back to being grounded?"

I dropped my hands from her face and wrapped my arms around her.

"Just give him a few days. I'm sure you guys will work everything out. He probably just feels overwhelmed right now."

She nodded. She couldn't hold back the tears anymore. She buried her face in my neck and sobbed. I held her close and stroked her hair. "Riles, I got you. It's gonna be okay."

"I hope so," She said as she lifted her head and wiped her tears away. I looked at her and waited for her eyes to find mine. When our eyes met, I leaned in and kissed her softly. I took her by the hand and headed out of the bakery. I looked back at my mom. She waved and went back to work.

"Do you want to take the train?" I asked Riley. She shook her head. "Let's walk. I need to clear my head anyway," she said. We walked through the village hand in hand. Riley took a deep breath and let out a sigh.

"It's a good thing we didn't both tell our parents at the same time," Riley commented.

"Yeah, we'd be sleeping on the subway tonight if we did," I said.

"How am I supposed to face him in class tomorrow?" Riley worried.

"The same way you always do. And I'll be right there next to you." I squeezed her hand. She smiled.