For further reference, the texts are as follows: Josh is bold, Maya is in italics, and Riley is underlined. Enjoy!
Monday morning rolled around and Riley had to say something to Charlie. They had some time before class and Riley spotted him across the hall and he grinned at her like Charlie Gardener does. She walked fast and pulled him aside, not too private, close enough that people could see them but far enough that people couldn't hear them.
"Hey Charlie, can you like stop talking about Friday? Our business is our business. Not that I'm ashamed of you or anything I just don't want people to talk about me." Riley said it in her most sophisticated way.
"Of course, I'm sorry Riley." His smile faltered
"No problem." Riley smiled cordially and walked back to Maya, thankfully Maya didn't ask any questions.
Riley and Maya had their class together and their teacher Mr. Rollins received a call during class.
"Riley Matthews, your uncle is here to pick you up."
Riley was confused and a little worried and was it Eric or Josh, why would they be here considering she hasn't talked to Cory since family day at the hospital? Maya looked over to Riley also confused and Riley shrugged her shoulders like she didn't know why he was here. Riley picked up her stuff and went anyways.
She headed for the office and there he was, Max. He stopped her in her tracks, the women in the office noticed so Max noticed.
"A little surprised to see your Uncle Josh for a change?" Max filled in for her.
"Hey Josh," she hugged him.
"Your mom was working so I'm here to take you to the dentist." Max smiled but struggled not to laugh.
"Okay, are we good to go then?" Riley asked
The woman from the office looked a little skeptical but they didn't pay those women enough to care. "Yes, will you be coming back after your appointment?"
Max looked to Riley, she answered this time, "no."
Once they left the office, she gave him a real hug. "I am so unbelievably happy to see you."
"Ditto, Matthews" He hugged her back hard just short of hurting her.
"Let's go, we're going to be late for my dentist appointment." He smiled, she missed it so much. Seeing him with colors reflecting off of him and his new facial hair. It drove her crazy again, she thought the feeling from being drunk compared to seeing him but it didn't.
They rounded the corner to the last stretch of hallway before the exit. Maya.
"Where are you going? Who is this?" Maya was puzzled but angry.
Max recognized Maya from family day, he looked around to see if anyone else was in the hall. There was no one so he wouldn't lie and say Josh. "Hi, I'm Max." He tried his best to be charming but Maya was like Riley's protector and his name wasn't even close to being good enough for her to let Riley go. She glared and barely acknowledged him.
"We're going to hang out, Maya. I'll be fine, you told me you trust me and I'm not going to break that trust."
"I trust you, I don't trust him." Maya spat.
Riley started to get defensive, "You don't even know him."
Max faced Riley and grabbed her shoulder "I don't want to cause a problem, if you don't want to go, that's okay." Riley noticed Max's fake smile again like when she told him she was getting out, she wasn't going to do this to him again.
She looked into his big blue eyes, "No, I want to go with you, wherever." She then redirected her attention to Maya, "Trust me enough to know that I will make the right decision."
Maya blurted out, "I don't trust you!"
Riley paused, "Well then there will be no consequence for leaving." Riley took Max's hand and started to walk past Maya.
"Riley, I'll call your dad."
"Good! Let him know I don't fucking care about him."
And the doors swung open for both of them. Daylight gave the false sense that Riley was full of light, she was darker than ever until Max came.
"I knew it was a long shot trying to find you by the name of the high school on those sweats you wore three times but it was all I had and if you want this to be a short lived hospital fling and that's all then I will take you home but I hope you–"
Riley stopped his blubbering by smashing her lips onto his, she needed him. His soft lips against the grain of his beard, it was even better than she had remembered.
"I got us a car, Matthews. I was hoping we could hit up a coffee shop, grab some caffeine and walk through central park. Fresh air is something I'm not used to again yet, nothing smells like a hospital here and I love it. But if you don't want that, I'll follow you anywhere."
"Sounds lovely, Sinclair" Riley said ecstatically.
"Also I am not being presumptuous but I got a hotel room for later, I'm having a party with a few friends tonight if you'd like to come."
"I'd love to." Riley blushed.
Maya had resorted to texting Josh, he lived in New York now that he went to NYU.
Josh, can I trust you not to tell your brother something?
Yeah, I think so unless someone's in real danger. Why, what's up?
Josh you have to promise, I don't want Riley to hate me.
OK, fine I promise. Now will you tell me what it is?
Riley just left school with some random kid who posed as you, saying Topanga had her go for an appointment and I tried to ask her not to go and she still went and I'm scared. He looked older than us, well dressed, attractive guy but she has never told me anything about him.
And then it dawned on Maya; it was the boy from the psych ward, the boy that Riley had a moment with in Belleview Hospital.
The situation now seemed direr now that she knew.
OMG, she's with a guy from Belleview, JOSH WE HAVE TO FIND HER
Maya what are you talking about, what's Belleview?
Oh no, they never told Josh about Riley's trip to the hospital and Maya just blew it but she needed to talk to someone about it and she trusted Josh over Lucas in this situation. He was Riley's uncle and he loved her.
Can you just meet me please? I wouldn't ask if I didn't think it were important.
Okay, how about I meet you on campus after my class, I get out in twenty minutes?
Sounds good, thanks Josh
So Maya left school and took the subway to NYU and met Josh.
"Maya!" Josh yelled across campus and he jogged to her. "What's happening to Riley?"
"Riley was in a hospital, she was depressed and she was hurting herself. When we went to visit her on family day I caught her and this kid smiling at each other, he was a patient too. She never said anything about him when she got out but he came to school and said he was her uncle and that she had an appointment and they left. I tried to get her to stay because I didn't remember him at first he was dressed different and he has facial hair now but Josh I'm scared for her. She's self destructive."
"Riley was in the hospital? Why didn't you call my brother?"
"We caught her cutting herself and Cory didn't want to talk to her, he blamed her for being selfish and he doesn't live with them now. Josh I've tried calling her once, can you please? I think I've outdone myself. I told her I didn't trust her in hopes that she wouldn't leave with him but she did."
"Okay, I'll text her because she's supposed to be in school and she might catch on that I know."
Hey Riley, I was wondering if you wanted to hang out today, it's the only day I have free before finals start and I miss my niece.
Hey Josh, I'm in school right now and I'm going to Maya's tonight, can we meet up after your finals though?
"So she answered, she lied but still seems okay. Maya, what happened to her, why did she hurt herself?"
Josh looked hopeless, Maya had only ever seen him happy just like Riley, they had the same smile. A smile Maya would kill to see on either of them right now.
"I wish I knew, I would do anything for her to be happy again but she isn't and that hospital stint only made her stop cutting her wrists."
"Does this have anything to do with this Lucas kid, I'll fucking kill him." Josh got angry just thinking about it.
Maya realized Josh didn't know that Maya and Lucas were a thing.
"Me and Lucas date now, I don't think that's it…"
Josh was furious now. "You really don't? She was crazy for him and then you two date and all of the sudden she's upset and no one notices until she starts cutting herself. Just go back to school Maya, I'll figure this out."
"She told me she was okay with it –"
"Of course she did, she'd do anything to make you happy. I wish you did the same." Josh walked away from Maya.
Maya started to regret everything: the campfire, their first kiss, telling Riley about everything, and the worst part, the fact that she had lost her virginity to him on Saturday. Maya was alone and started to cry. She loved Lucas but she loved Riley more and Riley's life was something that was in jeopardy now, not by that boy's hands but by her own hands. Maya went back to school to not worry anybody, she just got up and left lying about going to the bathroom, she'd get detention but it was best to go back.
Riley had expected this outing with Max to get awkward after a while but it didn't it was like they picked up right where they left off.
"So you're out, how'd you do it?" Riley asked.
Max smiled and said "I told you, you changed me. I'm calmer they noticed and they saw me fit to leave. I feel better about it all. Maybe being off those pills you gave me helped too. Did you start taking yours?"
"No, still the same Matthews, didn't try to overdose though. Thought about it a lot, Maya's a fucking pain in my ass and I know it's because she loves me but I just want to push her away in the gentlest way possible. She's still my peaches."
"I get it, I hope I can help blow off some steam." Max took her hand to stop her from walking and faced her towards him, he took her face in his hands. "I'm here for you, always. You know that right?" Riley nodded, he kissed her softly and took her hand as they walked the rest of the way.
"Max?"
"What's up?"
"I love that you're being all adorable but all I can think about is that hotel room."
"Then that's where we're going."
Josh went to one of his tech savvy friends at school to try and get him to track down Riley's phone.
"Dan, can you do me a huge favor?"
"Depends what it is" Dan was reluctant but intrigued.
"My niece has gone off the rails a little bit and is sort of missing, can you track her phone if I give you the number? I'm worried for her." Josh was very concerned, he thought they might have some suicide pact together.
"Oh yeah, that's no problem just give me her number."
Josh complied and it took Dan all of five minutes to figure out where she was, these computer science majors.
"She is at the Waldorf, not too far away."
"Thank you man, I owe you."
Riley walked into the suite Max had gotten for them, it was huge. The two shed their winter clothes. She was wearing a big sweater and a skirt while Max was wearing a plaid button up and jeans. Rose petals led up to the bedroom where there was champagne and chocolate covered strawberries waiting for them.
"Max, this is so cheesy."
"I know it is, I told you it would be you're lucky though. I had so much more in mind like hiring a mariachi band and a private chef to cook whatever you wanted."
Riley laughed and sat down on the bed, Max sat next to her. He put his arm around her waist and pulled her closer and she winced slightly. He noticed.
"So you haven't stopped have you?" Max was slightly upset.
"No…" Riley said as if she was disappointed in herself for making Max sad.
Max said nothing, stood in front of her and took the hem of her sweater, she didn't move her arms to let him take it off but eventually she lifted her arms over her head. He stared at her cuts, there were so many of them, they lined her ribs, he saw her protruding hipbones. He didn't think it was ugly, it just looked painful. He wanted to take her pain away but Max was still silent, he set her sweater down on the nearby chair and sat down next to her again. Riley was silent too.
"I'm sorry, Riley."
Riley looked to Max, puzzled. "What do you have to be sorry about? I did this to myself."
He looked at the floor. "I'm sorry that you feel this way and I'm sorry that you have so much pain that I can't figure how to take away. I'm sorry I don't fully understand what's wrong. I'm just really genuinely sorry."
"You don't get it, do you? You being here helps me, you not trying to change me helps me. You looking at me like I mean something helps me. You, knowing about me being broken but still going out of your way to be here for me, means the world to me. I wish you'd believe it."
Max picked his head up and smiled. He gave her a chaste kiss on the lips. Riley smiled back at him. He moved back and laid down on the California king bed and Riley climbed over him and sat on his hips, he rested his hands on her hips. Being with Max gave Riley a new found confidence, that they could just sit like that and not have it be awkward, it was just comfortable. But Riley missed him in more than one way so she put her hands on each side of his head and kissed him powerfully, unbuttoning his shirt while doing so. His hands found her bra and unclasped it and then up her skirt. They had all the time they wanted to, they could be as loud as they wanted to be. There were no nurses to worry about, no parents.
Max was gentle with Riley, taking his time, drinking everything in. Riley caught on that this wasn't going to be animalistic by any means. This time, they didn't fuck but they had passionate sex.
Riley fell asleep after but Max was a little antsy so he left a note for her that he was going for a quick walk, he left his number just in case. Riley woke up and saw the note, she texted her mother that she was with Maya and asked if it was okay to sleep over. Her mother said it was okay. Riley felt an obligation to tell Maya that she was okay.
Hi, I just want to let you know I'm okay. I can't be inside my own head right now and he helps me in a way that you can't. I love you peaches.
Please let me know if you aren't okay, I'll come get you wherever. I love you pumpkin, see you at school tomorrow?
Yes you will.
Riley decided to open the champagne and then looked at the clock: 4:57.
Maya met up with Lucas, she thought she had to let him in on everything.
"Riley is falling apart, I don't know why she is, but I have a feeling it was set off by us."
"So, do you want for both of us to talk to her?" Lucas answered.
"No, Lucas…I think we should break up."
"No, Maya, no. Please don't do this, what is you being sad going to do for her?" Lucas said sadly.
"You know that her happiness goes before mine, she's my best friend." Maya said sincerely.
Lucas was pleading now "Is this about Saturday, we don't have to do it again. Please, don't do this, I love you."
"Lucas, I'm sorry." Maya walked away as she was crying, she loved Lucas but Riley needed her right now.
"Maya, wait!" She didn't turn around.
Josh took a cab to the Waldorf, so this kid she was with had money. He was finding the good where he could, at least they weren't slumming it in some alley or something. Josh sat in the lobby, stopping every good looking, well-dressed man with any facial hair and asking them if they knew this girl. With no avail, Josh was starting to give up until he asked some kid who fit the profile, he'd guess he was 20 or so. "Have you seen this girl?" The man across from him hesitated.
"Nah man, sorry." The man went to the front desk and then the elevator.
Josh went up to the desk after him, "Can you tell me that man's name by any chance?"
The woman at the desk said "Sorry I can't, we have a privacy policy."
"That's okay thank you," so Josh sat and waited to see if Riley would come down with the mystery man. In the meantime he texted Maya:
I'm sorry about what I said before, she obviously has a problem and you not being with Lucas wouldn't fix anything. I found out that she's at the Waldorf hotel. I'm sitting in the lobby waiting to see if she will come down. Saw some kid in a blueish plaid shirt who seemed like he knew her but said he didn't.
Maya answered:
Broke up with Lucas, a little too late Josh. Riley texted me saying she was okay. The kid was wearing a blue plaid shirt underneath a fancy pea coat. I'd come keep you company but I don't think I can right now.
Josh felt terrible that they broke up because he said that.
I'm sorry Maya, you should talk to Lucas and blame me.
You were right, this could be hurting her. Let me know if you see her.
Will do.
"Riley I don't want to worry you but there's some young dude in the lobby looking for you."
"How do you know that?"
"He came up to me and asked if I knew this girl and held up a picture of you. I lied but you might want to go see whoever it is."
"I texted my mom that I was staying over Maya's house so she isn't suspicious and I texted Maya saying I was okay. I guess I'll go look around, is there anything I can disguise myself in?"
Max laughed and handed over his scarf and sunglasses.
Riley put them on and in her best British accent said "I shall be back."
Riley looked around the lobby and spotted him, Uncle Josh?
So it wasn't a wonderfully written chapter but suggestions/ reviews welcome! Also telling me about my grammatical errors is really helpful too because I feel like I made a few but can't find them lol