A/N: Heeeeeyo! Sorry it took so long, I'm updating this as I finish the chapters, so I don't have a set schedule in place. School started for me on Monday so I have to take that into consideration with my writing time. Buuuut, I survived week one of the eighth grade!

Anyways, here ya go! Chapter II!

~~~ Chapter II ~~~

"How would you feel about becoming a big sister, Maya?"

The ice in my stomach suddenly grew colder, anger coursing through my tired mind, and yet I didn't even know who or what I was angry at. Was it my father, who not only left my mom and I but got together with some other chick and had two other daughters that he actually took care of? Or was it my mother, who wanted to take in said daughters because now he left them, too? Or, and looking back I think this was actually the case, was I mad at the daughters- my two little sisters- for simply existing in the first place? They had took my real father, Kermit, away from us when he should have been taking care of me and my family all these was the greatest stepfather I could ask for, but that didn't make up for what Kermit had done, not fully.

"You mean... you want to take them in?! Like, adopt them?!" I stammered once I finally got control of myself and found the words, forcing them to leave my mouth, which had suddenly turned dry.

"Well..." Mom flashed me a weak, sheepish smile. "Yeah. Honey, they'll go into Foster Care if we don't do this... Please?"

No, no way! A million times NO! I wanted to say, but I couldn't bring the words out of my mouth, I just couldn't, and my heart sank like a stone. I didn't want anything to do with those girls, but... that hopeful look in my mom's eyes was not one I got to see very often, and I couldn't bare to see it leave.

"... Fine," I mumbled very softly, pretending to seem interested in my bare feet. I knew that Mom could tell that I wasn't exactly thrilled, so when she gently kissed the top of my head, I knew she was being incredibly nice. Maybe she thought I just wasn't thrilled because I was tired, or maybe I was grieving for my lost father, but I'm not a mind reader, so I don't know.

"Go back to bed, sweetie," Shawn spoke up for the first time since I'd been given the news. I slowly stood up, trying hard to read the expression on his face, to figure out how he felt about all of this, but it was impossible, so I just went ahead and obeyed my mother, calling a quick 'I love you' and slowly slinking back into my room, and climbing wearily into my bed.

What, I wondered sleepily, letting my head sink back into my pillow as sleep began to return to me, did I just get myself into?

When I woke again, it was a little after six a.m.. The morning was dark, and wet, and gloomy, and the sun was barely even up. It was like the universe had changed to match my mood, which was dark and gloomy on account of the events of the early morning. It was bothering me like you wouldn't believe, and I couldn't sleep soundly for a million dollars. But if there's one thing I know about this crazy, wacked-up world I live in, it's that Riley would be there for me at any hour, if I really needed it.

Or at least, that's what I told myself as I climbed out of my window, sure to leave it unlocked to get back inside, because mom and Shawn had left earlier to go and do whatever it is you do when someone dies and you adopt their kids. I was still in my pajamas, but I didn't care, and quite frankly, Riley wouldn't, either.

Riley, of course, wasn't awake yet. What made me think she would be? It was barely six a.m on a Saturday! But I still gently tapped on the window. "Riles," I called softly. "Riley... RILEY!"

No response. But her window was unlocked, so I opened it just enough to be able to slide in, then closed it behind me and strode over to Riley's bed to shake her awake.

"Wha?" came the sleep-muffled mumble, a pair of brown eyes fluttering open reluctantly. She rolled over to face me, her eyes widening slightly. "Maya?" she yawned and sat up slowly, rubbing at her eyes. "What's wrong?" Sometimes, I swear that Riley has some sort of emotional antenna, like she can sense if someone is hurting from a mile away and automatically starts worrying about it. But then again, seeing me awake at this hour of the morning when we hadn't been pulling an all-nighter at a sleepover was definitely something Miss Riley Worry-Wart Matthews would immediately start worrying about.

"Well..." my voice trailed off as I realized that I didn't exactly know how to explain this to her. "I'm... going to be a big sister!"

Riley's face brightened, as if she were suddenly wide awake. "Your mom's pregnant?" I shook my head and her face fell, the gears in her head turning. "Then how...?"

"Shhhh," I pressed my index finger to her lips to silence her, sinking into the bed with a sigh. "Riles, listen... my father and stepmother died last night." I tried to say it flatly, because there was no beating around the bush with Riley. But why did my voice sort of crack as I spoke?

Riley's eyes grew as round as saucers. "What?! Oh, Maya, I'm so sorr-"

"I'm okay, really, Riles," I gently reassured her before she could start planning to throw me a pity party. "They had two kids, and... we're kind of adopting them..."

I explained everything I knew, which admittedly wasn't much. Riley, being, well, Riley, listened patiently the whole time I spoke, but as soon as I was done she practically exploded;

"Maya, I can't believe it! You're going to be a big sister! This is amazing!"

"No, it's not," I snapped, my words coming out much harsher than I had meant them to. Riley's face fell, and she stared at me like I'd grown a second head or something.

"Why not?" she asked softly, her brown eyes round, like she was a kicked puppy.

I drew in a deep breath, guilty about snapping at her. I just wasn't fully in control of my emotions right now... she understood that, right? Of course she did, she was Riley afterall. But I still felt bad. "I'm sorry, Riles," I apologized to clear my conscience. "It's just... you don't understand.."

"And I won't ever understand, not if you don't try to explain," Riley wrapped an arm around my shoulder. I took a shaky breath.

"Fine... they-they stole my father from me, Riley... All these years, when birthdays and Christmas's would come around, I kept hoping and praying that he'd remember me and at least acknowledge my existence, when he was spending birthdays and Christmas with them, and now... now I'll never even get to see him because now it's too late!"

I closed my eyes tightly, feeling tears well up in my eyes. But I didn't want to cry. I was nearly fifteen, and fifteen-year-olds don't cry, right? At least, Maya Penelope Hart didn't. I was never a crier, but I guess this was an exception, because as soon as I felt Riley's hand find mine and squeeze it tightly, I could feel myself begin to lose it.

"Shhh," the brunette whispered softly, stroking my back soothingly with her free hand. "Don't worry, Maya. I mean, I know it hurts, but go ahead and cry... It's going to be alright, you'll be okay. I just know you will. You're the strongest person I know..."

And so, despite my efforts not to, I cried. The torrent of tears just started pouring from my eyes and their was nothing I could do besides let myself be enveloped in Riley's comforting embrace and sob. We didn't say anything. There wasn't anything to say. My 'Little Plant's' presence was more than enough, and when I ran out of tears to cry, my hair was damp, and so were her pajamas, but neither of us cared.

"I don't want to be a big sister, Riles," I told her as I pulled away, wiping at my tears. I hate crying; it always makes me feel like a baby. "I-I know I sound like a brat, but... but I don't want anything to do with them..."

Riley smiled weakly, placing her hand on my shoulder. "I didn't want anything to do with Auggie when he was born, remember? And now look at us; sure, we argue and fight all the time, but I still love him to death. Maybe it'll be the same with you!"

I breathed a soft sigh, shaking my head tiredly. "That's different, Riley. Very different."

But was it really? I didn't know. I decided to tell myself that Riley just didn't fully understand what I was going through. It was through no fault of her own, but she just... wasn't as grown up as me, and I wanted to keep her that way. She didn't need to understand, because if she did it would take away a lot of what made Riley Riley, and I needed my Riley if I was going to get through this.

We talked for a few more minutes, dancing around the subject of how I felt about my sisters. I told her not to tell her parents, because if and when they needed to know, they could hear it from me or my mom or Shawn. I was sure Shawn had already called Mr. Matthews anyways.

"Do you want to stay for breakfast?" Riley asked gently as it became apparent that I was about to leave. I shook my head, my stomach lurching at the thought of eating anything right now.

"Thanks, but no thanks," I managed not to puke up the contents of last night's dinner as I spoke, starting to climb out the window. "I'd probably throw up anything I ate, anyways."

"Are you sure?"

I nodded. "Yeah. I'll see you later, okay?"

She frowned slightly, her eyebrows furrowing like they always did when she began to worry about something. I knew I had to get out of there, and fast, before I gave her gray hairs. "Okay... Bye.."

I sighed, climbing up the fire escape and pausing just below my window to turn and see the New York City skyline. The sun was just peeking up over the tops of buildings, painting the sky with different hues of blue and purple and orange and pink, and despite my dismal mood, I smiled. Inspiration had struck, and I could feel my easel beckoning me. I needed to paint this, while the image was still fresh in my mind.

I heaved myself into my bedroom and sat down at the easel, yanking the nearest clean paintbrush from its cup and beginning with a plain white canvas. I took a few quick glances out of the window, then let my hands take control, falling into sort of a trance. I temporarily forgot my dad and my sisters and everything that was bothering me and just... painted.

The brush danced across the canvas, leaving streaks of sky and outlines of buildings where just seconds before was plain white. I don't know how long it took for me to finish, but I do know that when I fell out omy trance, the sun was completely up and the sky completely blue, and I was exhausted. Serves me right for getting up at three in the morning.

Have you ever done something you're extremely proud of but then wonder how you pulled it, like you didn't think you were good enough at whatever it is to do it? That's how I felt as I took a step back and admired my painting. I don't mean to sound conceited, but was truly beautiful. It left me breathless and wondering how it had... come out of little old me. Maybe I'll never know.

I set the painting near my window to dry in the warmth of the sun. Though the early morning had been overcast, the few clouds in the sky now were a fluffy pure white. I breathed a soft, content sigh.

A few heartbeats later I heard a door open, and then muffled voices. "Maya!" called the tired-sounding voice of Shawn, and I wouldn't have been surprised if he'd fallen asleep on his feet. "Come down and help us, please!"

"Coming!" I sighed in annoyance, wondering how this day was going to go.

I slowly crept downstairs to find my mom and stepfather hauling a twin-sized bed through the door on its side, which I automatically assumed was for one of my new sisters (we already had a twin in their bedroom now). I vaguely wondered how old they were.

The rest of the day was pretty hectic, and that's an understatement. We spent the day rushing around like a chiken with its head cut off and getting the spare bedroom set up for the orphans that I didn't want. But I had no say in the matter- papers had already been signed and they were moving in tomorrow. They were officially part of the Hart-Hunter family now. Yay (note the sarcasm).

Well, I guess I did have some sort of a say in it, but I couldn't say how I really felt. She had asked me about twice an hour how I really felt about all of this, but what was I supposed to say? I couldn't just look into those hopeful brown eyes and tell her that I wanted nothing to do with those kids, could I? I could tell she really wanted me to be happy abouth this, and I couldn't bring myself to disappoint her, I just couldn't.

I just didn't want to adopt these girls. I didn't want to become the big sisters of the girls who had taken my father away from me. I know I was being a selfish brat about it, but it was like I told Riley; I wanted nothing to do with them.

"I didn't want anything to do with Auggie when he was born, remember?" Riley had said. "And now look at us; sure, we fight and argue all the time, but in the end I still love him to death. Maybe it'll be the same with you!"

But that was different. Very different.

...Right?

~~~ To Be Continued...~~~

A/N: Yeah... it's a little shorter than the first chapter, but I like the way it turned out. Things get a little more exciting once the girls come, though! So stay tuned for chapter III!

Speaking of the next update, I have no idea when that will be. Writer's block is killing me with the next chapter, and even if I can finish it in my notebook there's no telling when I'll be able to type it up and update. I live in Florida and Tropical Strorm Erica is supposed to hit this weekend, and if it stays on course it will be over here all week. It's only moving 50 mph and not supposed to get stronger, so luckily it's not expected to become a hurricane. It'll probably be the worst storm I've lived through, though, because Katrina narrowly missed us when I was little.

So wish me luck and I'll see you next time!

~Pebblemist