xxx

Maya nervously broke her glare with Shawn and unnoticeably frowned, shaking her head for a second and purposely pushing back herself chair with anger. She was annoyed that Shawn wouldn't tell the three kids the entire story, and was unintentionally making Maya feel like it was her fault.

Shawn raised his eyebrows, surprised with Maya's anxiousness as she pulled back and quickly stood away from the tiny booth. She bit her lower lip, feeling bewildered and slightly angry. "I'm going to the bathroom," Maya grumbled under her breath, turning around swiftly to keep from catching anyone's reaction.

ooo

As she stomped her way towards the women's bathroom, Riley blinked blankly, leaning her head back to examine Maya's strong emotions.

Riley stared at Shawn for a few moments, realizing that he appeared worried, confused, and disappointed, absent-mindlessly watching Maya storm further from the table, as well.

Riley lifted one eyebrow and gritted her teeth, then sat up politely and bunched her fingers together nervously. "What's wrong, Uncle Shawn?" she wondered, struggling to use the most casual tone she could form. Hearing his own name, Shawn unawarely jerked his head towards Riley, calmly shrugging his shoulders in response.

"I don't know," Shawn obviously lied to her, looking over at Auggie to check if he was alright, "Hart seems pretty upset. You might when to check on her."

Riley tilted her head backwards for the second time, trying to figure out if Maya had made it to the restroom, or was still sadly trudging away from the booth. When she noticed that Maya wasn't in sight any longer, she quietly stood up half-way, before weakly saying, "May I please be excused?"

Shawn simply shot her another brief nod, while she bolted upwards and practically sprang away from the table. Him and August were both equally as silent, as Riley sprinted towards the girl's bathroom, concerned about her best friend.

Riley was strongly aware that Maya could get depressed easily, and at the simplest actions as well. She always kept in mind that Maya had a rough past, and struggled with the guilt of her father leaving her family, along with her careless, broke mother, Katy. Riley never seemed to feel even the slightest bit annoyed by Maya's often mood swings, knowing that they barely ever concerned her.

Riley gently pushed open the heavy bathroom door, immediately beginning to glance around eagerly, looking around desperately for Maya. "Maya!" she called out, at first yelling loudly, but then cautiously repeating her name quietly, "Maya?"

Maya, who was leaning forward against the bathroom sink, staring blankly ahead of herself, unintentionally catching Riley's inattentive eye and she tilted herself to the side. She slightly stepped forward and turned towards Riley, inhaling heavily and responding, "Riley, what's up?" in a shaky, but casual tone of voice.

xxx

Maya stared straight at Riley, examining her reaction as she walked over to the sink where she was standing. A heavy, flat aching pit formed in Maya's stomach as she clenched her fists worriedly, wondering why Riley had followed her into the restroom.
Riley elevated herself, raising up onto her heels, then sinking back down repetitively. Maya gulped lightly and gazed at Riley with wide, droopy blue eyes. "Maya," Riley began speaking quietly, placing her hand on top of the damp counter and biting the skin of her lower lip, "Did you hear what Uncle Shawn said?"

Regardless of Riley's polite and caring tone of voice, Maya still grew upset with what she had questioned her, feeling completely guilty over all of her best friend's family issues. The way Shawn was staring at Maya while he was lecturing Riley...it said something. Something so important, that it gave Maya the sudden urge that she was the reason Cory and Topanga were fighting, and that she would be hurt if she discovered the reason why.
Maya had felt that Riley noticed Shawn's previous hinting expression and nervous tone, but was actually oblivious to the sincere reason Riley anxiously followed her into the women's bathroom.
"Yes, of course I heard what Hunter said, I was right there," Maya replied in a sappy tone, as her cheeks flushed a deep red with evident shame.
Much to Maya's surprise, the second she spoke her response, Riley began pacing back and forth across the bathroom walk way, whimpering mindless words to herself as she mentally planned what to say next.
Fortunately unaware of Maya's nasty way of replying, Riley took a deep, quivering breath and nervously exclaimed, "It's all my fault, Maya, I'm the reason my parents have been fighting!"
Maya shockingly jerked her head upwards at Riley and her mouth fell slightly open, "Riley, are you crazy? You're the perfect child!"
She folded her arms across her chest stubbornly and stepped away from the sink counter, defensively determined to convince Riley that she was not the reason for Cory and Topanga's troubles. Though, at the same time, Maya's mind was completely blank; she could not imagine up any reason that she would be the fault for the arguing.
She was almost positive that she was the problem, and she wouldn't have thought that way if Shawn Hunter hadn't made it clear to her with the emphasis he talked to them with, clearly, unintentionally directing his words towards Maya.
Maya slumped her shoulders stressfully, when Riley opened her mouth to continue debating. It had gone from a casual Monday, with an average day at school, and a usual morning at home, to a nerve-wracking and secretive afternoon, and Maya was tired of suddenly feeling hopeless and guilty.
Riley exhaled deeply and frowned widely, tilting her head at Maya and simply muttering, "Who's fault would it be, then?"
Maya loosened the tension within her shoulders and shook her head slowly, dwelling on Riley's current question. "Mine," hermind chanted repetitively, her empty, blue eyes giving away her internal emotions.
Maya hesitated on deciding whether or not to admit her personal accusation to Riley, or to keep how she felt to herself. As she carefully examined Riley's deprived and lost expression, followed by her quick, heavy breathing, and innocent tone of voice, Maya felt sensitive towards Riley's already anxious emotions, and blankly figured that defensively ranting to her, would only devastate the poor girl even more.
"I'm not sure, but it's not your fault," Maya mumbled doubtfully, swiveling away from Riley Matthews and beginning to swiftly stepping through the restroom doorway.
At first motion, Riley was confused, feeling that Maya had just gotten into the bathroom, and was leaving so soon. As she silently followed her out of the large bathroom, Riley tilted her head to the side and questioned, "Why did you run away from the table, M-"
Maya rudely interrupted Riley in the middle of her statement, shoving away the awkward conversation between the two. "I just needed a second to think," she grumbled under her breath, regret tingly making her way over to the booth where Shawn and Auggie were patiently waiting.