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Riley didn’t know why Maya didn’t want to acknowledge it. She didn’t know why the scary blonde didn’t want to scream it from the rooftops but she had to accept it. She knew deep down one day Maya would acknowledge it; she just needed time like everyone else.
When Riley had turned 14 it was a whirlwind. She found out who her soulmate was and it was made clear immediately what the deal was. It hurt but…Riley had a soulmate. She had someone who was hers and Riley was understanding so she could give the blonde time.
So she gave it to her. They spared little conversations in their heads sometimes. Sometimes when Riley felt Maya was sad she would try to comfort her. The blonde could deny it all she wanted but once Riley started rambling to her in her head the big feeling would go away.
And if Riley ever felt sad…well Riley doesn’t know what would happen if she felt that big of a feeling but she hopes that it won’t be to bad.
And she has been sad before, don't get her wrong but they could only feel deep emotions. Truly deep and heartbreaking and wanting to cry and curl up in a ball of emotions for sadness and anger being so big and full of flames and happiness being so big and light you could feel it buzzing. It had to be gigantic something big.
Riley hated how often Maya felt sad. How often Riley felt that ache in her chest.
One night it had been late and she was studying. She felt the feeling slowly start in her chest and she froze. She felt it out, tried to listen to see if the girl would reach out. She didn’t, of course she didn’t.
“Did you know elephants see humans as puppies,” she blurted into her head. There was a pause, Riley grinned to herself in the dark.
“What?” Maya's voice came confused in her head.
“We’re puppies to elephants Maya. You know how we love puppies because they’re cute. Isn't that adorable?”
“You're so weird, where did you learn that fact sunshine?” Riley giggled falling back on her bed with a soft smile from the name.
“The internet.”
“Oh yea, because the internet is always right.” Riley rolled her eyes at that. Elephants were cute, why couldn’t they see them like that? Humans were just the weird little animals that came to say hello to them. “Riley?”
“Yes?”
There was a moment of silence. It made Riley a little worried, thinking what could have happened to stop Maya from replying to her. It’s not like it was texting it was in their heads after all.
“Can you tell me more dumb fake facts?”
“For your information, they are only fake if you don’t believe.”
“Wow,” Maya said and Riley could just hear her laugh. It made her heart flutter. “Well then, my mistake, let me just believe everything.”
“Good start.”
The next day at school, like every other time, that moment didn’t exist. It didn’t happen and Riley had to accept that and steal stolen glances.
To everyone else Maya looked the same. That bored face with a hint of annoyance to try and scare people off. All she had to do was raise an eyebrow at them and they would go running. But Riley saw underneath it all, she had a window to the inside.
She tried to ignore what she knew on those days. It made her sad and made her lack in school even the people around her would notice.
But she was fine. Riley was fine and she was living with it all.
They were seventeen now so she's had time to get used to it. They had a sort of schedule now. Riley did some of Maya's homework and she clung onto the small moments she actually had with the blonde.
It was hard some days not to reach out and hug her. To not blurt out how she felt or that she just cared about her. Because she couldn’t, she couldn’t if she wanted Maya to stay in some capacity so she stayed quiet.
Even when it was hard and Riley thought about kissing her and stolen touches she wanted so badly.
They have kissed before. That entire day Riley was a mess. Maya had gotten a lip ring. It was simple, they were 16 then so with parent permission Riley knew the girl could get piercings but she never thought about it.
Sure, Maya was the type. She played badgirl well but god, did Riley not expect that.
She was walking down the hallway and she stopped. Maya was at her locker and had turned and Riley froze. Her books fell to the floor and made a big thud as they all spread across the floor.
She blushed deeply when blue eyes met her own. She quickly bent down gathering everything and when she looked up Maya was gone.
But that didn’t stop her thoughts. God Riley’s thoughts were so bad she was so embarrassed and to make it worse she was nervous of accidentally saying them to Maya.
Because what if the girl heard her thoughts? What if she heard Riley thinking about kissing her and holding her and everything else swirling in her head? Riley was already having a breakdown but that would surly do it.
She stole glances. Whenever they passed Riley couldn’t take her eyes off her. She had tried to be discreet, tried to go unnoticed, but Maya noticed everything.
By fifth period she had found Riley, grabbed her by the wrist and pulled her into the nearest bathroom. The girls in the room had scattered quickly and Maya latched the door.
“W-What?” Riley asked, confused. Her heart pounded in her chest but she wasn’t afraid, she could never be afraid of Maya.
The girl didn’t speak. She took a step forward and Riley took a step back. A lump settled in her throat and her hands clung to the books in her arms.
“Do we have a problem?” Maya finally asked, tilting her head. Riley frantically shook her head no. “Then why the fuck do you keep looking at me?”
Riley’s eyes flickered to the piercing, then quickly back up. She fought the urge to break eye contact and just squeeze her eyes shut. The way Maya looked at her made her so nervous but so warm all at once.
She stepped forward again. Riley stepped back till her back hit the sinks. “You got something to say about what I do to my body?”
“N-No of course not-“
“Then what!” Riley jumped, dropping her books to the ground. The slam shot through her ears as her books and papers spread across the floor. She almost went to grab them but maya wasn’t faster, stepping closer to her kicking the things out of her way till she corner Riley against the sink. “What?” She asked again, her voice eerily calm.
“Nothing.”
Riley kept her eyes casted down. Maya's hands grabbed the sink behind her, keeping her where she was.
Maya was slow with her next movements. She gently grabbed Riley’s chin tilting her head up so they could look at eachother. The older girl held her there and Riley didn’t dare move. She forced her eyes to stay on Mayas and not look down. She would not look down.
Riley was good. She listened to the rules. She tried not to be bad so she could simply not look down at the piercing, at Mayas lips, at the lips she so badly wnated to kiss because she was a teenager and this was really starting to make her skin hotter then it should be.
Maya bit her lip.
Riley’s eyes went down to the movement watching her tongue lick her lips and an involuntary whine left her mouth.
“What was that?”
“N-Nothing!” Riley shouted. Maya tapped her finger against Riley’s face and Riley’s wide eyes looked at her.
And then realization hit Maya. Her mouth opened in an o shape and then she was laughing. It struck a cord in Riley’s heart making a pained ache.
“Don’t laugh at me,” she mumbled. She looked down, embarrassment filling her. This was worse then anything. Why couldn’t Riley just control herself? That’s all she had to do and now she was just being laughed at. “Can I go now?” She said trying to force the waver form her voice.
“Hey what’s wrong?” Maya stopped laughing and her hand moved from the sink to Riley’s arm rubbing gently.
“Can I go?” Riley repeated looking up.
“No, what’s wrong?” Maya persisted. Riley whined trying to look away but Maya kept her still. She tilted her head trying to find whatever it was written across Riley’s face. “I wasn’t laughing at you.”
“Maya it’s fine, can I go?”
“It’s not fine,” she let out, “it made you upset. I’m sorry, that’s not how I meant it.”
Riley tried pushing against her arm but Maya was stronger then she seemed and her grip on Riley’s arm tightened. Not enough to hurt her but just enough to make her stay.
“Why? What do you want from me? I’m sorry ok if that-“
“Do you want to kiss me?” She abruptly cut her off.
Riley’s eyes bugged out of her head and god, of course she did. Riley did really badly but Maya just laughed at her and the pained rhythm was still playing in her heart from the cord that was plucked.
“I just find it…kind of funny goody two shoes Riley Matthews got all hot and bothered today from my lip piercing.” Maya smirked and Riley wanted to curl up in a ball and cry. “You thought about it all day today didn’t you? Did I distract you honey?”
“I-I was fine.” It was a lie. Such a blatant lie they could both see through it. Maya's hand was cupping her cheek now and Riley didn’t know what to do except lean into the soft touch.
“Sure, and that’s why you kept looking at me huh? Cause you wanted to kiss me?” She leaned closer and Riley inhaled. There nodes were brushing together. “Be a bad girl with me, won’t you?”
“W-What does that even mean?” Riley squeaked confused. Maya chuckled, breathy and hot against her awaiting lips.
“Kiss me. If you really want to, just be careful with the piercing, ok?”
“I’ve never-“
“I know,” Maya said softly. “That’s ok, don’t worry. Just softly.”
Riley shut her eyes. She pushed her nerves away and slowly raised her hands to place one on the back of Mayas neck and the other on Mayas arm. Maya smiled grabbing Riley’s hand and moving her arms around her waist pushing them closer together.
“That’s ok right?” Maya asked.
“Ya…ya,” Riley breathed. She shifted her hand against Mayas jacket feeling the leather and her nails scratch against it.
She leaned down a little brushing there lips softly feeling metal on her lip. Maya moved next kissing you and Riley could have groaned. Her hand held onto Maya's neck tighter but remembered Mayas words of softly not to hurt her.
“Fuck,” Maya mumbled as she pulled back for a moment.
Riley should have wanted to scold her. She should have wanted to tell her not to curse but instead she felt the word in an embarrassing way and chose to hold Maya tighter.
Maya guided her with her hand on her face and her lips. Riley followed easy, fumbling at moments trying to keep the slow pace Maya was setting.
Riley would say that was one of the best days of her life. It pushed them closer together. They took a step forward in some direction.
Some days Riley wasn’t sure exactly what direction it was but it became hard to complain when Maya pulled her around to rooms and hiding places to kiss.
Because how could she say no? She couldn’t. Maya was so beautiful and sometimes all Riley could do was think about kissing her and touching her and it only got worse as it went on.
Riley didn’t ask. Maya asked. Maya was the bad girl so it made sense for her to ask. But how could Riley ask? How could Riley make that step? How could she say “hey Maya can we makeout?” As easily as Maya did it?
She couldn’t. She wasn’t Maya. She wasn’t confident and so sure of herself. She still thought she was bad at kissing even if Maya reassured her she was really good. Riley was insecure if anything.
Maya had made it seem so simple. The blonde was amazing at glances and gestures that said words and whole paragraphs of everything she wanted. Sure, she wasn’t discrete most of the times. Sometimes she would simply ask and it boggled Riley.
She could do that, right? She had a connection in her head, it was a simple question.
Around this time it had been a few months since they first kissed. They were in Maya's room as Riley did Maya’s homework on her bed.
And she wanted to ask. It was almost embarrassing how badly she just wanted to ask. But it was weird, straight out asking. The words and everything was on the tip of her tongue. It made the work she was supposed to be doing blurry because all she wanted was one simple thing.
Maybe it was a simple thing, but Riley wanted it.
In times like these she thought about how could they be soulmates. They were so different from one another. Here Riley was sulking about wanting to makeout with her like some gross horny teenager not being able to just ask. If it was Maya she would have already had Riley in her lap by now or even laying down on the bed.
Riley’s face flushed at that image. She bit the end of her pencil keeping her eyes on the blurry words of the page. Just the way Maya would hold her, the way Maya would touch her, so sure of herself. She was always so sure of every action she took and how she did it. She knew how to make Riley’s mind go blank in an instant, something Riley did have to tell her for her to know.
It was dumb. This was all dumb. Riley should have been working. She shouldn’t be so caught up in her head about things like this.
But she was and no matter how hard she tried the words on the page weren’t clear and the only clear in her head was Maya.
She looked up finally, looking over at Maya. Her hair was in a messy ponytail and it made Riley smile. She had paint that stained her skin from when she painted earlier but now her fingertips were stained from the pencil. It only got worse from there because maya wasn’t wearing one of her band t-shirts that she had cut into a crop top because she needed “more clothes when it’s hot as fuck” Mayas words not hers.
And it only got worse because when Maya was focused she would suck on the loop lip piercing she had on her lip. She pulled it into her mouth letting it go a second later with a sigh.
“I can feel you staring at me.” The voice in her head made Riley jump. Maya laughed looking up at her smirking leaning back on her hand.
“Don’t do that!” Riley shouted.
“I didn’t mean to scare you,” Maya spoke aloud. Riley glared at her shutting the textbook harshly. “Come on,” Maya drew out. She reached over for Riley’s arm and even though Riley craved the touch she pulled back.
“Nope. I should get going anyway. I’m not making any progress.” She wnated to stay but Maya in front of her just made it worse.
“No, come on, don’t be a party pooper.” Riley’s nose scrunched up. “Don’t tell anyone I said that.”
“Sure peaches. But I should go and-“ as soon as Riley tried to move Maya grabbed her wrist stopping her. “Maya.”
“Riley.” She sent her a pointed look and Riley wasn’t sure what it meant. The blonde huffed, annoyed. She moved all there books away to a corner scooting closer to Riley till her knees touched Riley’s own.
“What?” Riley finally asked. Maya stared at her with a head tilt that was way too cute. She watched Maya let go of her wrist and undo her ponytail shaking her hair out letting it fall down into its messy waves.
“You know,” Maya starts in a bored tone. She looked down at her nails starting to pick at them furrowing her eyebrows. “It’s becoming a common occurrence of you staring at me and not voicing your thoughts.”
“No I-I don’t-“
“Yes you do,” she cut her off sharply. Riley clamped her mouth shut not even trying to argue.
Maya decided to stretch then. Riley didn’t know why and she didn’t really think on the why, more focused as Mayas arms stretched up into the air and the cropped shirt moving up her stomach.
“And like, it’s cute, don’t get me wrong. But if we’re gonna keep you know,” Maya gestured between them, “then I think you gotta voice yourself at some point. Because like, if we have sex-“
“Sex?” Riley squeaked out.
“If we get there and you can’t voice anything then how is that supposed to work? It doesn’t really, does it? And I mean, like, with you clearly being a bottom-“
“Bottom?”
“I just think we should work on you expressing your thoughts.”
“I express my thoughts,” Riley said in a voice that was too high and crackly from her own. Maya looked at her raising an eyebrow. “I do!”
“Then what are your thoughts honey?”
Riley couldn’t say anything. She really, really wanted to but she couldn’t get the words out.
“Why are you embarrassed, come on?” Maya asked scooting forward and taking both of Riley’s hands. “It’s me. Just say it.”
“How?” Riley pleaded. “I-I don’t understand how you just say things. You don’t think about the consequences or anything you just- do it? And I can’t, I can’t just do things Maya.”
“This isn’t anything,” Maya huffed. “It’s me, it’s only me and if I can voice my thoughts with you then you can voice your own with me.”
“But you're you!” Riley yelled. “You have confidence and I don’t.”
“What are you even afraid of?” Maya asked. Riley opened her mouth but Maya cut her off, “it’s not like I’m going to laugh at you or make fun of you. There isn’t anything to be afraid of with saying what you want especially to me.”
Riley looked down. She looked at Maya and her hands and sighed. Maya was right, there wasn’t anything to be afraid of. By now she trusted Maya, I mean the girl was her soulmate even if they had a weird relationship right now.
“I um,” Riley tried to start. She shifted in her spot on the bed. It was easy, all she had to do was say it, Maya wanted her to say it.
“You don’t have to be confident to ask for what you want.”
Riley gulped nodding. Maya made everything sound so simple and maybe it was. Maybe Riley was making it all a much bigger problem then it actually was.
“I-I wanna um kiss you?”
“That all?” Maya asked. Riley whined leaning forward before rocking back. “Come on Riley, tell me.”
“I want…to makeout with you. Like r-really bad, right now.” Riley looked up even though everything was telling her not to and her face was burning red. Maya was smiling at her, grinning with a devilish glint in her eye.
“Good girl.” Riley didn’t have time to react to the feeling that gave her before Maya was in her lap and the girl's hands were in her hair after placing Riley’s own hands on her lips. “Now kiss me.”
Riley couldn’t say no to that.
And now Riley was seventeen so that had been going for awhile. She still sucked at asking for what she wanted. She was nervous and fiddly but whenever she got the words out Maya always seemed so proud of her it made up for the trouble she had.
She was in her fathers class now but all she could think about was Maya. She wished they talked about how they were soulmates more. She loved the little moments and time she got with Maya but she felt like the soulmates thing was skirted around.
And maybe, it wasn’t a big deal. Riley gave Maya time like she wanted and Maya set the pace of what she wanted. Which was mostly making out and Riley doing her homework, which was fine, but Riley wanted more.
She’s never gone on a date with Maya. She thought that was pretty sad. She could imagine them watching movies cuddled in her bed together or out eating ice cream or at some dumb restaurant or diner, Riley didn’t care.
She just wanted Maya to be her girlfriend. Which seemed dumb in retrospect because Maya was her soulmate so they were foreve, a type of forever, but they weren’t technically that.
They just needed a talk and Riley wasn’t good at that. Sure, she was just getting used to being able to ask to makeout but that and asking Maya to be her girlfriend and fully realize what being soulmates means was a lot. Way more then Maya wanted to realize.
Because with how confident and sure of herself the blonde was, wouldn't she have done it already? If that’s what Maya wanted, wouldn't she have told Riley?
It made a sad weight in her chest, what if Maya didn’t want her? What if that’s why Maya didn’t say anything? What if kissing was all Maya did was because Maya didn’t think she was good enough for anything else?
That made her sad, so unbelievably sad to the point where she tried forcing her thoughts on something else because what if Maya felt this feeling? It was big, it felt big and Riley didn’t like it and it would be even worse if Maya felt her being sad because that had never happened before.
“Riley!” Riley jumped on her seat, turning around from the voice in her head. Maya gave her a harsh look gesturing her hand forward. Riley slowly turned around meeting her dad's unimpressed face.
“Sorry daddy, what was it?” She asked, sinking in her seat.
Her father sighed, “I asked if you were paying attention.” Riley sunk even lower in her seat, embarrassment flushing her cheeks.
“Sorry, I will.” He nodded at her turning to the board, continuing on with the lesson and she quickly realized she hadn’t heard a word he said all period. Everything written on the board made her head spin. Great, she thought, she would definitely be getting this lecture at home.
“Are you ok?” Maya asked in her head. It was a lot softer than earlier.
“I’m good.” Riley knew it was sort of a lie but Maya didn’t need to know that. Riley picked her pencil up trying to copy down whatever was on the board for later.
“He called you a couple times,” Maya continued. Riley bit her lip trying to focus. “What were you thinking about?”
“Nothing, just got distracted, you know me. Now focus.”
“That’s your job.”
Riley rolled her eyes. She quickly wrote, her letters smudging together and she’s sure when she got home it would take her awhile to even figure out what she had said but she tried to get everything down.
The bell rang and Riley was still scribbling away. Lunch was her next period so she didn’t mind being a minute late to get everything down.
“So,” Maya started coming up next to her. Riley didn’t glance at her looking from the board to her notebook. “What was it?”
“I told you I was just distracted.” Riley looked down with a sigh. She shut her notebook and stood up as most students had left by now.
Maya leaned against the next next to hers. “Sure, yeah, I totally believe you.”
“Can we please not?” Riley asked, turning to her. She couldn’t voice that the problem that had her mind was the girl in front of her. She didn’t want to scare Maya off or even hurt her in the process.
“I’m just trying to make sure you're ok,” Maya said crossing her arms. “Why are you being so defensive?”
“I’m not being defensive I’m being honest. Look, I’m sorry ok and I’m sorry you had to get my attention.” Riley turned away from her, grabbing her bag from her chair, unzipping it and putting her notebook away.
“I don’t care that I had to get your attention,” Maya said softly. Riley almost didn’t hear it over the noise in the hallway. “Ok…if that’s what you say then alright. But you know you can tell me if something is wrong, right?”
“Yes.” Riley turned around forcing a smile on her face. “I do, now go get lunch or whatever you do.” Maya snorted.
“Yeah, I’ll do that.” Riley watched her leave, the blonde gave her father a nod before she left the room.
“Trouble in paradise?” Her dad asked.
“Low blow dad, low blow,” Riley mumbled.
He grimaced, “sorry. How are things going on the Maya front?” He asked.
“As best as it has been since the progress we made when we were 16,” Riley said, shrugging.
It was known between her family and friends that they were soulmates. Of course Riley wasn’t sure if Maya wanted them to know but it was hard keeping it a secret.
Sure, her parents didn’t know what the progress they made was. Riley would rather die than tell them she counted them making out on occasions and doing Maya's homework progress.
“And are you ok?” He asked, leaning against his desk. Riley pulled her bag over her shoulder.
“I’m fine, I promise. I was just a little lost but I know you’ll give me the rundown at home.”
“That I will.”
She smiled, “thank you. I’ll see you at home.”
“Bye Riley.”
She left the room and her shoulders deflated. She had a feeling that not even lunch would fix the hole working it’s way in her heart.
Maya sensed a problem, she sensed Riley was sad. She wanted to help Riley, but how did Riley tell her the problem was her? How did Riley tell her she wanted more? That she wanted reassurance?
It was dumb, Riley knew it. She should just keep working with what she has. She had something great, she had Maya in a way and it was amazing. Riley loved what she had, maybe her problem was just wanting too much.
She should just not want as much. She should just stop herself from craving more when more at the time wasn’t an option. She told Maya she would give her time so how could she just not give it to her?
Her head thought back to when Maya told her she could always be honest with her. Maya said she wouldn’t laugh at her and Riley shouldn’t be afraid but how was that possible when Riley risked not having whatever they had now? She didn’t want to taint them, she didn’t want to hurt Maya.
The cafeteria was loud as she entered. She didn’t try looking around to find her friends. She honestly just wanted a quiet moment. She will probably leave to go sit somewhere else then in the loud room.
Sadly, the group next to her was loud in the line. They were laughing and joking and saying some things that made Riley cringe but otherwise she tried not to pay attention.
That is until she heard a name.
“She’s full of herself,” one of them laughed. “You should have seen her at that party last weekend.”
“Hart? Please, I heard she doesn’t even have a soulmate. No wonder why she’s such a slut at parties.”
“Excuse me?” Riley found herself snapping. The group of three turned to her. “What did you just say about her?”
“What’s it matter to you?” One of them scoffed. Riley narrowed her eyes. “Were you one of the girls she fucked?”
“Whatever she does is none of your business and you shouldn’t talk about her like that,” Riley growled. The three laughed. Riley found herself clenching her fists.
“Sure, sure. Whatever she told you wasn’t true. Rumors have been going around about her since freshman year,” the other one laughed. “I’m sure you know how good she is.”
“They are rumors,” Riley bit out. She took a step forward and people started to notice. “Why don’t you mind your own business.”
The one standing in the middles face went cold. He stepped closer to Riley and she didn’t back down from him.
“Are you to dumb to understand what a rumor is?” She found herself asking.
“Why don’t you mind your own business. If your so fucking caught up with who she sleeps with why don’t you ask her yourself? Actually, you know what you probably can’t because she probably fucked you at a party along with two other people in the same night. That’s what you do when you're a freak without a soulmate.”
Riley saw red. She saw burning red at the image he put in her head and the words he was saying about Maya. And it continued. He laughed with his friends and more names came out of his mouth and she was breathing smoke.
She broke.
Riley punched him as hard as she possibly could, putting all her anger, every upset feeling she’s had that day into it.
The people around them gasped. The boy stumbled back into his friends clutching his face with a groan.
“What the hell!” One shouted. He pushed his friend away and Riley wasn’t fast enough to miss the punch to her face that had her stumbling.
“You don’t know her!” Riley cried out. Arms wrapped around her face as she tried to bolt to the boy. “Keep her name out of your fucking mouth!”
“Jesus Christ she punches like a fucking lunatic!” The boy, still holding his face cursed. Riley felt a throbbing on her cheek, starting to ache.
“You deserved it!” She shouted.
The boy who punched her tried to go for her again but someone grabbed him and Riley was kicking.
“Riley! No!” Lucas’s voice snapped her out for a moment. She turned, seeing he was the person who wrapped his arms around her waist.
And for that second Riley’s world froze. The weight that had been forming early came back and it was higher and her eyes became blurry.
Her hand and face started to hurt more and she whimpered before shoving her face into his chest. He hugged her tightly holding her body and Riley cried hard.
“Riley?” The voice in her head was frantic. It made it worse and her throat began to ache with each inhale she took piercing. “Riley what’s wrong? Are you ok?”
“What is going on here!” The shouted voice of a teacher made Riley curl into Lucas even more. “All of you! To the principals, now! Come on.”
“Riley, come on,” Lucas sighed. She didn’t want to. She should get away from all the people but she didn’t want to go to the office. “Come on Riley,” he tried again.
Riley pulled back, rubbing her face and wincing when she touched her sore cheek. The crowd around them looked wide eyed, some whispering and talking quickly. Riley ducked her head following the teacher with the other three boys and Lucas.
“What happened?” Lucas whispered to her.
“They…were saying things about Maya.”
“Rumors about Maya have been on for years,” Lucas said. Riley knew that. Of course she knew that but today she couldn’t handle it. She already had a thought that she wasn’t enough and Maya couldn’t do whatever she wanted. But the way they talked about her, the way they laughed about Maya drove her insane.
“They called her names, bad names and I-“ Riley saw red. So much red and her fist clenched again. Her hand aches and she looked down seeing how red her knuckles were. “We aren’t together, she can do what she wants, I-I get that. But the names they called her, he deserved it.”
“Well you really gave it to him,” Lucas laughed softly. She smiled, sniffling leaning into the arm he wrapped around her body. “Who knew you could punch so hard.”
“My mom taught me.”
“She did?” Lucas’s eyes became big with awe and she couldn’t help but laugh lightly. “Damn Topanga how could I doubt you.”
Riley nodded but her mind felt stuck. Her feet trudged against the ground and the only thing keeping her going at this point was Lucas’s arm around her waist. She leaned her head on his arm for some comfort.
“Riley?” Maya tried again. “What happened?”
Riley couldn’t say anything. She didn’t know what to say or how to say it. It hurt, everything hurt so bad and Riley wished the punch knocked her out for a second of peace.
“Riley, tell me what’s wrong,” it was hard and persistent. The franticness in Maya's voice made Riley hurt even worse. Maya felt her pain. Felt whatever Riley was feeling now. “Riley, where are you?”
“They said she didn’t have a soulmate,” Riley found herself saying. “She definitely does.” Riley tapped the side of her head.
“She’s talking to you?” He asked her. Riley sighed with a nod. “What are you saying to her?”
“Nothing.”
“Nothing?” Lucas asked a little too loudly. The teacher who was fuming walking them to the principal's office turned around sharply.
“No talking!” They scolded.
“You need to talk to her,” Lucas whispered. “She’s probably worried.”
“She is but…I-I can’t.” Riley looked down at the tile floor. How could she tell Maya what they said? She didn’t have the energy for any of this today.
“Riley please,” Maya begged in her head.
“It’s been so…hard,” she whispers to Lucas. “And they talked about her so rudely and so what if-if someone sleeps with people. Like yeah have fun I support and all but they called her mean names and-and said she doesn’t have a soulmate. When she does Lucas. She has me, she has me and I’m hers and she’s mine and they are just assholes and I wished I punched all of them.”
“Woah slow down there, let’s keep it at a low volume so they don’t hear,” Lucas chuckled nervously. He looked ahead of them at the group who were talking to themselves. “You know Riley it’s…ok if you're upset if she does sleep with people.”
“I’m not,” Riley rushed out. She went to say more but stopped herself. She didn’t know what to say or how to voice what she was feeling. Maya was her own person she could do what she wnated and as long as Maya wasn’t hurting anyone it was alright and those dumb boys shouldn’t say mean things about her.
But then, if Riley was honest, she had been feeling like she wasn’t enough. Like she could lose Maya and maybe she was so afraid of that, it bubbled up and that’s one of the reasons she punched them so hard.
“I want…to be enough for her.” She held back her tears. She sniffled, wiping the snot from her nose. “I want…to feel like if I voice I want to have more with her she won’t be upset.”
“Why do you think she’ll be upset?”
“Because I-I promised her time. I told her when we were 14 I’d give her time and now we are whatever now is and-“
“It’s not enough?” He asked her.
“It should be.”
“Should it?” He questioned. “Riley, your 17 shes 18 hasnt it been long enough to have a real conversation about your feelings? Your soulmates, what could go wrong?”
“Everything.” And the prospect of everything, the idea of everything, struck every cord in her heart. Riley almost felt lightheaded from the very pain of Maya running away from her.
“Riley,” Maya's voice pressed in her head. “Honey,” she tried. “Do you want to talk about something? We can talk about anything, puppies, bunnies, anything?”
Riley whimpered, moving her head into Lucas, closing her eyes. Maya was hurting, she was hurting Maya and that’s not what she wanted.
“What’s wrong?” Maya tried again in her head.
“Not now,” Riley finally said. She hoped it was enough. She hoped Maya got the hint and would be quiet because knowing she pained Maya just made Riley’s pain even worse.
They arrived at the office and when they came in the office lady frowned at Riley. Being a teachers daughter in this situation wasn’t good for her, she could see the disappointment written across her face.
“You three, come with me. You two, sit,” the teacher ordered. Lucas guided Riley to the chairs while the three were guided back to the principals office.
“I’m gonna get you an ice pack,” Lucas said once she was seated. She watched him get up and go to the nurses office before closing her eyes and leaning her head back.
She’s never been punched before. Now that she has she thinks it hurts a lot less than she thought it would. She’s never had to punch someone either and moving her fingers around her knuckles felt sore and made her fingers feel stiff.
She ran her fingers over her cheek biting her lip to not wince from the pain. She would do it again for her. Riley didn’t care how much it hurt after, she would punch someone again if they said words to hurt Maya.
“Riley I’m calling your father,” the front desk lady said. Riley only had enough energy to stop herself from groaning.
“Alright I have one for your hand and face,” Lucas said as he came back. She opened her eyes, sitting up straighter, taking an ice pack from him. He sat down in the chair next to her gently picking up her hand. She winced when he put the ice to it. “It’ll be alright, it’s not bad. You punch good and I don’t think you broke anything.”
“Got experience?” Riley teased. She winced again from the cold she pressed into her cheek. The ice pack was both soothing but painful to feel.
“Oh you know me,” he chuckled, “punched a few in my day.”
“I’m sure you have, back in Texas and everything with the yeehaws.”
“Picked up a few taunts I see,” he said, smiling up at her. Riley hummed thinking about the few interactions Lucas had with Maya. “Do you really think she would leave you?”
“No…I-I don’t know.” Riley shut her eyes again. She believed they were forever, that one day they would be more. “I don’t want to seem pushy.”
“You’re soulmates.”
“But she’s Maya Hart, Lucas. She's so confident and whatever I just think…if that’s what she wanted maybe she would have done it already.”
“Maybe, she’s not all that,” he said. Riley snapped her head to him with a glare. “Woah, calm down there, you already punched one person today. What I'm saying is maybe she’s not as confident as she seems. She’s still human, Riley, some things she fears.”
“I know that.”
“Then maybe that’s it? She just doesn’t know how to say it.”
“You think after all this she’ll still want me?” She asked. And Lucas laughed, throwing his head back and she didn’t understand why. The lady at the desk shushed him and he struggled for a moment to compose himself.
“Oh Riley,” he continued chuckling, “I think when she finds out she’s going to go on a full rampage because someone hurt you. She cares about you, obviously, and honestly I’m kind of afraid of what’ll happen when this gets to her.”
Riley’s heart dropped. This couldn’t get to Maya, right? Her eyes frantically went to the office door half expecting her to run into the room fuming but they stayed shut.
“She…wouldn’t,” Riley said slowly. She had to be hopeful but with the look Lucas had and her knowing Maya, he was right. He was so right and that terrified her. “Oh god.”
The doors opened and Riley jumped. She turned, expecting Maya but relief washed over her for a quick second seeing her father, then she realized it was her father.
“You were gone for not even five minutes, five minuets Riley and you get into your first fight ever?” He asks as the door shut behind him. He put his hands on his hips, giving her the disappointed father look. “I asked if you were ok and you go and punch someone?”
“Daddy they were saying mean things about Maya,” Riley said sheepishly. “I-I couldn’t…control it. They wouldn’t be quiet and- it hurt.”
“You did it for her?” He asked, stepping forward more. Riley nodded quickly. “Riley, violence isn’t the answer.”
“You didn’t hear what they said,” she fought. If he heard them he would have done something, right? “If it was mom you would have done the same. I punched them just how she taught me and I know it could have gone better but…it was about Maya.”
“Honey,” he sighed and she could tell he was at a loss for words. “Lucas?”
“Sorry sir, I only came after the first punch,” Lucas said. Her dad nodded, looking around the room. He walked over, sitting next to Riley on her other side.
“I get it, being angry, wanting to protect the person you care about and your right I probably would. But fighting and punching isn’t the answer. Your mother taught you that to protect yourself, not for violence.”
“I know. Are you mad?”
He took her free hand, squeezing it. “It was for Maya,” he said and she smiled. He was disappointed, she knew that but he understood and him understanding was all she needed from this. “Here let me see your face.” Riley pulled the ice pack back and her father made a face.
“Is…is it bad?” She asked fearfully. Him and Lucas shared a look together before both looking at her face. “Dad? Is it bad?”
“No it’s just- your cheek is bruised. How bad does it hurt?” He asked, bringing his hand up to gently poke at her skin.
“Not that bad. It’s fine.” He nodded still pressing. “Well it hurts when you press it, like a normal painful injury would,” she let out pulling back.
“Sorry. So who’s telling your mother?”
“Not it,” Riley immediately said. “Unless she can get me out of trouble that's on you.”
“And who’s telling Maya?” Lucas asked.
“Not it,” her and her dad said at the same time. They both turned to Lucas.
“Why are you looking at me? It’s your family,” he scoffed. He crossed his arms and they looked back at each other. Riley pleaded with her eyes begging her dad would do it for her.
“Your soulmate,” he said.
“Come on!” She yelled. She pulled away from him, putting the ice pack back on her face. “Maybe she won’t notice?”
“She already knew you were upset Riley,” Lucas says.
Riley groaned, closing her eyes. Maya would notice. She felt it and there was apparently a clear bruise on her face.
They sat there for what felt like forever. The ice packs both melted and were left sitting in the chair next to Lucas. Riley spent time looking down at her hand trying to keep her mind away from what happened.
Her knuckles were still red but other than that they were fine. Every few minutes she stretched her hand.
When the three boys finally came back out Riley felt pride flare up through her. The one boy she hit had a rather nasty bruise on his face that was already purple. Her father elbowed her lightly and she straightened her face.
“Matthews,” the principal started. He looked towards her father and he stood.
“Sir, I’m so sorry for this,” he dad started.
“Teenagers and there hormones,” the principal waved him off. “Do you have something to say to Miss Matthews?” He asked the three boys. They turned to Riley and she could see the anger behind there eyes.
“We’re sorry,” they all forced out.
“Is she not in trouble?” One of them asked. “Teachers privileges?”
“No, Riley is in trouble,” the principal started. “I just thought after what you said you better apologize. We don’t take violence lightly here at Abigail adams high and Miss Matthews will be serving detention for a few weeks.”
“Weeks?” Riley gasped.
“Riley it’s better then suspension,” her father told her.
Riley couldn’t believe that. She would rather have been suspended and stay home than have weeks of detention. She was in no room to fight though with the looks on both her fathers and the principal's face.
“What about the boys? Especially the one who hit my daughter.”
“She threw the first punch!” The boy yelled.
“Riley!” Her dad shouted. Riley covered herself with her arm trying to hide. She’s learned enough from her mom to never throw the first punch. “Again, I’m so sorry,” he apologized to the principal.
“I will not tolerate another instance of this. Your daughter is one of our best students but this can’t happen again.”
“I understand.”
Riley should have just guessed it was going to get worse from here. She should have assumed something else would pop up but no, she hadn’t.
The doors to the office opened and Riley felt the breath leave her.
Maya.
“Someone hit you?!” She shouted. The room went silent and everyone turned to the blonde where the door shut loudly behind her. When Maya's eyes met Riley they filled with more rage. Riley tried to cover the bruise on her face but it was too late.
“Maya-“ Riley started.
“Did you hit her?” Maya seethed, turning to the one boy in the room with a bruised face.
“Everyone let’s calm down-“ the principal tried to start.
Maya was already running.
“Maya no!” Riley shouted. Lucas was faster then her shooting up from his seat wrapping her arms around her waist.
“Get the fuck off me! He fucking hit her! Let me at him! I felt that! Do you know how sad you made her! How dare you!” Maya yelled. Lucas struggled to keep the thrashing girl in his arms. Maya's nails pushed against his skin and she reached out trying to grab the boy.
“Maya! God how are you both so strong! You don’t even play sports!” Lucas groaned. He tried grabbing a hold of her wrists.
“Peaches please,” Riley let out rushing to get up. She blocked Maya's sight from the boy. “Stop, please stop, I’m ok.”
“You’re ok?” Maya scoffed. She stopped but Lucas still kept a tight hold on her. “Your face is bruised! He hit you he deserves-“
“I hit him first!” Riley shouted, cutting her off.
Maya leaned back into Lucas surprised. Her head tilted to look behind Riley then back at her. “You…hit him first?” She asked slowly. Riley bit her lip nodding. “Ok,” Maya said calmly.
Riley took a small step forward reaching for the girls hands. Maya gently took Rileys, being careful of her hand that was red.
“Ok?” Riley asked gently. “I’m ok, you don’t have to do anything.”
“I’m still mad,” Maya grumbled.
“I know,” Riley said. She couldn’t help but smile at the protectiveness and Maya's need to keep her safe. “Can Lucas let you go now? You won’t hurt anyone?”
“Depends.”
“Maya,” Riley scolded.
“No. You can let me go huckleberry.”
Lucas looked around the room first before slowly letting go of Maya. As soon as she was free she sprung forward wrapping her arms around Riley’s neck. Riley hugged her tightly, relaxing into her arms.
“I wanna kill him,” Maya said in her head. Riley hummed, rubbing the girls back. When they both pulled back Maya didn’t let them stay apart for long. She leaned up, connecting there lips in a quick and gentle kiss.
“What was that for?” Riley asked, confused blushing. Maya had never kissed her infront do everyone before.
“Calm me down.” Riley rolled her eyes trying to pull away but Maya didn’t allow it. “And because I think we both needed it.”
“Nice answer,” Lucas laughed.
“Can you shut up?” Maya asks, turning to glare at the boy. He quickly put his hands up and Maya turned back around with the softest look on her face. It had Riley melting in her hands but she remembered everything else. All her other worries and problems and it hurt.
And Maya felt it. She could tell by the look in her eyes and how the softeners changed to worry. “What’s wrong?”
“Miss Hart,” the principal cleared his throat. Maya broke eye contact with a death glare. “Suspension.”
“Alright.”
“That’s it? Really?” Maya sighed, letting go of Riley reluctantly. Riley wrapped her arms around herself taking a step back.
“I expected much. We’re leaving, by the way.”
“Excuse me?” The principal sputtered.
“He hit her, she’s sad, we’re leaving.”
“Maya you can’t just-“ Riley’s father started.
“Excuse me!” She shouted, shutting both adults up. “I am one word away from punching someone, you should be grateful I am leaving this school or we’re gonna be back here with more bruised faces.”
“I-I think…maybe that would be good to calm everyone down,” Riley’s dad said. He looked at the principal and the man seemed to be fighting in his head.
“Fine. But your suspension is for four days! I don’t want to see you!” He shouted as Maya had already started pulling Riley to the door.
“I never want to see you!” Maya yelled back to him. “You think I purposely end up here?” She asked as she held the door open for Riley.
“Just get out of here,” the man sighed.
“I hate him,” Maya mumbled.
It was silent as they left and went outside. The air was cold, still warming up from the new year. They walked down the steps together and Riley let Maya lead her to wherever they were going.
She didn’t know what to say. She didn’t know how to say anything or even how to word it. Maya didn’t push her, she stayed silent and held Riley’s hand.
Riley didn’t know where they were going and she didn’t need to. She just needed everything to stop for a moment. Walking out of the school, being on the streets of New York filled her head up with noises that weren’t her thoughts and she was grateful for that.
She stretched her hand again trying to rid the feeling her knuckles gave her. Maya noticed the action but didn’t say anything.
Riley was surprised they let Maya go bri she feared what would happen if they didn’t. She knew the rage that could boil in her soulmate. When she said people would have bruises Maya meant it. It’s amazing that Maya didn’t beat that boy up anway for hurting her.
“You won’t…still hurt him right?” Riley asks when the thought came up.
“Thinking about it.” Riley gulped looking down at the dirty sidewalk. “You wanna tell me what he said?”
“Why do you assume he said something?”
“Because you punched him first Riley. So what did he say?”
Riley bit her tongue. Maya didn’t say anything else and they walked in silence once again. This silence was different than before and Riley hated it. It was loud in her ears and screamed everything inside her head.
Maya led them to a park. She walked them through the path down the middle away from the street and all the cars.
She found a tree away from people and sat down pulling Riley with her. Riley didn’t say anything, letting Maya take her hurt hand in her own. Maya gently ran her fingers over it.
She brought her hand up to her lips kissing her knuckles. Riley let out a shaky breath trying not to cry.
“Does it hurt?” Maya asked worriedly.
“No.”
“Then why are you crying honey?” She asked so softly Riley could have broken there. She didn’t, she couldn’t. Riley looked away out at all the adults walking around or little kids playing in the grass. “Please Riley, talk to me.”
“I-I don’t know how,” she choked out.
Maya began kissing her hand again so softly and delicately not to hurt her. Once she was done with Riley’s hands her fingers gently grabbed her face and tilted her towards her. The blonde leaned up kissing her bruised cheek.
“Did he make fun of you? Did they say something to you? About you?” Maya began to question.
“No.”
“Did they some something idiotic?”
“You could say that.”
“What was it? Please I-I can’t sit here and watch you be sad, Riles.” Riley locked eyes with her and wanted to scream. Maya was pleading with her, begging with her to speak but she couldn’t. After all this time, after trying so hard to speak her mind Riley still couldn’t do it.
“It…I-I can’t…get it out.”
“Ok,” Maya whispered. “Do you want me to ask questions and you can nod?” Riley didn’t think that was the best way but they had to have this conversation. It would push her, she thought. It would make her have to explain it.
“Ok.”
“Boys are idiotic about eveything. Did they say unicorns aren't real? I bet that’s what it was.” Riley smiled a little and it made Maya grin. “Oh yeah, that’s it, wow fuck them.”
“Yeah,” Riley whispered. She leaned into Maya, closing her eyes.
“Did they…say something about huckleberry? Maybe that he can’t ride a bull, I bet that really pissed you off. Oh! Or did they say something about basketball?”
“No.”
“Did they diss macaroni and ketchup? Even though personally when you first did that I wanted to slam your head into it.”
“No and it’s good.”
“Sure whatever, pumpkin.”
“Were they mean about Farkle? Making fun of his name?” Riley shook her head. “Was it…” Maya paused for a moment too long. Riley didn’t breath waiting to hear the answer. She felt Maya tense. “Me?”
Riley pulled away from her. She couldn’t be attached to Maya when she asked that. She couldn’t look at Maya knowing the truth.
“You punched someone for me?” She didn’t say anything. Maya tried to get her to look her in the eyes but Riley just scooted out of her reach. “Why-why?”
“It’s not important.”
“You punched someone for me. Of course it’s important, Riley.” Riley could have flinched at the tone. “What did they say?”
“They just,” Riley groaned, rubbing at her head. “They were saying how you slept with people and-“
“I haven’t!” Maya rushed out so quickly it caught Riley off guard. She looked up at the girl who looked panicked. “I’ve never- I’ve kissed people before you but I…I’ve never done that.”
“It’s…ok if you have,” Riley whispered. Maya took her hand shaking her head. “It is Maya. You are your own person and I-I get it. They just- he called you a bad name and it pushed me off then he said you didn’t…have a soulmate.”
As she said it, Riley was afraid of it causing backlash. But Maya didn’t pull away, she didn’t reject the idea and instead kept holding Riley’s hand.
“I just saw red, from everything, and I was already feeling…not so good. So I just let it out and-and I punched him.”
“How did that make you feel?”
“Good,” Riley said reluctantly. “For a minute I-I felt so good. Seeing him like that after what he said. Then his friend hit me.”
“It was the fucking friend! God dammit! I was going after the wrong one?”
“Maya,” Riley mumbled looking up at her. Quickly her features softened.
“Sorry honey, continue.”
“And then…it kind of felt like everything collapsed. I-I had one moment, one second where I felt good. Like I let it all out and then it was just so consuming.”
Maya scooted closer to her wrapping her arm around the girls waist. Riley blinked the tears from her eyes trying to get the blurriness away. “And-And then you were in my head worried because you felt it and it just was too much.”
“I’m sorry,” Maya whispered. Riley shook her head, Maya shouldn’t feel sorry. It was all Riley and her mess of emotions.
“Not your fault.”
“So…why were you feeling bad today?” Maya asked gently.
Riley sucked in a breath. She still couldn’t say it. It was part of the reason why she punched that boy. Maybe if she hadn’t already been feeling bad it wouldn’t have happened.
“I know there are rumors about me,” Maya started, “but I don’t…have sex with people.”
“You can do whatever you want peaches,” Riley mumbled. “I wouldn’t judge someone for that, you know.”
“Ok but I haven't and if that’s why-“
“It’s not,” she rushed out.
She thought for a moment about what Lucas said. That Riley had a right to have feelings if she was upset about Maya having sex. But was she? They weren’t anything but a promise of forever and Riley couldn’t be mad at her soulmate for exploring. She trusted Maya didn’t but if she did it wasn’t Riley’s business.
But maybe what the problem was is that Riley didn’t know what they were and she so badly wanted Maya. She wanted Maya to be hers, fully hers. She was so consumed with herself and feeling like she wasn’t enough that she let simple rumors she knew were rumors mess with her.
“I know we can talk in each other's heads but I don’t know what you're thinking unless you tell me.”
“I know,” she whispered. She just had to say it. Just like that first time she struggled asking Maya to makeout with her. She just had to voice what she was thinking.
Because that’s what it was and Maya told her she didn’t have to be afraid with her. Riley should never be afraid with her. She was a forever, and Riley had to hold onto that. Forevers couldn’t be broken, right?
Riley turned so her body fully faced Mayas. She grabbed the girls hands in her own and didn’t dare look up, that would make this way too hard.
She just had to say it. Just get it out and let it be out there or it would just become worse.
“I-I promised you…when we were 14 I’d give you time,” Riley started. Her voice was unsteady and she felt like her hands were shaking. The only thing that kept her sitting there was Maya's hand in her own. “And you know I have trouble asking what I want. But you don’t. Your confident and out there and fully yourself and-and I’m 17 now and it’s been so long, I-I can’t help but wonder if maybe why you don’t ask for more or establish what we are or fully say we’re soulmates is because I’m not enough.
That I’m not- I don’t know, what you wanted? That all I might be good for is kissing you and that’s it and it hurts and I just want to be enough for you and date you and be your girlfriend and It’s dumb.
It’s so dumb because I don’t want to hurt you. I-I don’t want to lose you or make you run and I promised. I promised Maya and I’m sorry and I’ve tried really hard to let it go but today it just built up and then that fucking boy talked about you having sex and I got jealous and he called you names and then he said you didn’t have a soulmate.
Which is a lie. Because you do and you’re mine. You’re mine and I wanted to scream it from the rooftops like I have wanted to since I was 14. I wnated to just punch it right in his stupid face. And then when I punched him, and that boy punched me, it all hit me about everything and it hurt and I just- I want you. I want you now and I want more and I want to be enough.”
You know that moment when you finally start talking and can’t stop. It maybe started as a small crack in a dam with water trickling out out down its walls but then it bursts open. That was Riley, she started and then she couldn’t stop. It was all coming out of her faster than anything she wasn’t even thinking about what she was saying and then it was all in front of her.
Everything was spilled out and opened between the both of them and Riley couldn’t dare look at Maya. Not when she just did that, not when she just made an embarrassment and probably scared away her forever.
“I-I made you think you weren’t enough?” Maya's voice came out cracked and broken. As soon as Riley heard it she felt it. An ache in her chest that struck every cord and no, no, she did exactly what she didn’t want.
“No, I’m sorry, I’m so sorry,” Riley rushed out. She grabbed Maya's arms trying to pull her closer, searching the girl's face. “I’m ok! It’s ok no- you didn’t it’s ok!” She rushed out.
“Why are you lying?” Maya pushed back from her and the loss of contact struck Riley like a bullet. Maya looked up with tears, blue eyes that made it bleed more, salt in the wound. “Riley I don’t want you lying about your feelings to try and protect me.”
“But I-I hurt you.”
“And I’ve clearly been hurting you which is not what I want.” Maya slowly reached out for her and Riley instantly leaned into the touch. “God I’m so dumb.”
“Your not dumb,” she whispered.
“I am. I…your right. I should be confident enough to say something but you never did and I just don’t know. I didn’t think we needed to. Of course I wanted more but it’s always hard for me. When I told you that I was still healing from my dad but after all this time I should have thought about your feelings more Riley. You're right, it has been so long and I’m sorry we haven’t had a talk.”
“You're not…mad?” Maya shook her head instantly. She brought her hand up to cup the side of Riley’s face that wasn’t bruised.
“Could never be mad at you pumpkin. You are enough, you are more than enough and I’m the one who doesn’t deserve you.”
“Don’t say that,” Riley whispered. She held Maya's hand to her face, never wanting to let go. “You deserve me and god I want you forever.”
“I think we have a lot to talk about you and me, but we can work through it, yeah?” Riley nodded. She leaned forward and waited a second and Maya completed the gap. She kissed her lightly and softly and it was everything Riley needed in the moment. “Things take time to fix and work out, but I know with you we can work anything out.”
“I'm sorry I hurt you,” Riley found herself saying. Maya sighed when they pulled away from each other. Riley felt like apologizing a thousand times over till she couldn’t breathe anymore.
“I'm sorry too, we’ll work it out.” Riley nodded, because what else was she supposed to do? “Why don’t we go to your house. We can do whatever you want, talk about whatever you want. I do have one condition and that involves icing your bad girl wounds.”
Riley giggled a little at the name. Maya picked her hand up kissing her red knuckles. “I'm the bad one now? I did curse at him.”
“You did!” Maya gasped with delight. “That’s my girl. Come on, let’s get you home, your shivering.”
“I'm not shivering,” Riley protested. Maya stood up first and Riley allowed herself to be pulled up. “I think my body is still trying to calm down.”
“Well it’s still cold, here.” Maya took her jacket off and before Riley could protest she laid it across Riley’s shoulders and the blondes scent filled her nose. It was sweet and calming and as soon as Riley had it all protests left her mind. “Do you need anything else? I think I have gloves in my jacket pockets.”
“Just you?” Maya quickly wrapped her arm around Riley's waist and the two began walking down the sidewalk.
“This good?”
“Yes.” She had said all she needed to say and Maya was still here. Maya wanted to stay and Riley hadn’t scared her off. “This is more than ok,” she added on. She laid her head down on Maya's shoulder.
“I know it’s not…fixed, but for what it’s worth Riley, I love you.”
“You’ve made me feel so many emotions today,” Riley blurted out first. It wasn't even what she wanted to say and she knew the anxious look on Maya's face said it all. “I love you too, more than anything,” she paused, heart beating fast, “because you're my soulmate.”
And Maya smiled and the world didn’t crack or break. “And your mine.”
With that the two of them began walking down the sidewalk again. Riley was hopeful, more than hopeful for there further. They started the conversation they needed to have for years now.
That’s all she could ask for right now. They both were to hopped up on emotions to fully sift through everything but they would, when they were ready. Riley interlocked there free hands together bringing Maya's hand up to her lips to kiss.
“For what it’s worth, I’d punch someone any day for you,” Riley said.
“Oh I’m aware now, it’s kind of hot.” Riley giggled, tilting her head to try and hide in Mayas shoulder. “I’d do the same for you, obviously. Those boys better watch there asses.”
“Maya,” Riley whined. “Please don’t hurt them.”
“They talked shit about me and hit you?” She scoffed. “I think I have every right to punch them.”
Riley huffed. She didn’t have a come back for that. If she said violence wasn’t the answer the bruise on her face and her red hand said it all.
“Just…be safe alright? Don’t break your hand and try not to get caught. I can’t have you suspended for more days, or expelled.”
“I won’t get expelled, I’ll do it off campus.” Riley bit her lip, it was a horrible idea but she partly wanted them to be hit for what they said about Maya.
“Don’t get arrested,” she added gently and Maya laughed jostling Riley’s head a little. “Peaches, please?”
“I won’t get arrested. You stay out of trouble too, you hear?” Riley rolled her eyes at the Texas accent Maya had decided to do. “Cant have you getting suspended like me.”
“I thought I was a bad girl?” Riley said with a pout pulling back. Maya kissed it away quickly leaving a soft smile on her face.
“You are, but you're also a good girl and we can’t have that ruined.”
“Yeah whatever.” Riley blushed deeply looking away. “I’ll be stuck with all the bad kids in detention. I might pick up a few things.”
“Oh I’m sure you will. Since I’m suspended I’ll have plenty of time to keep you occupied.”
“Maya,” Riley groaned tilting her head back. “You can’t distract me during classes. That’s our rule but during detention we can talk. I’ll probably be grounded so-“
“Well lucky for you!” Maya cut her off, “I have a direct link to your head. Isn't that something?”
“Yes it is,” Riley smiled, “because you're my soulmate.”
“Don’t get all gooey on me.” Riley frowned. “No! Be gooey, I’m all for gooey. You're my soulmate and I love you and we will talk and fix all the owies.”
“Owies?” Riley mumbled.
“Don’t tell anyone I said that,” Maya growled with a pointed finger. “Now it’s go to Riley’s house and cuddle time.”
“Does cuddle time include hot chocolate?” She asked hopefully.
“Cuddle time includes whatever Riley wants. To make Riley feel better.”
“What about you? What makes Maya feel better?” Riley asked, tilting her head. Maya just smiled up at her gently tucking a hair behind her ear.
“You, always you, from the second I heard your voice in my head to every time you bombarded my brain with weird fake facts to now.”
“They are only fake if you don’t believe them.”
“Well,” Maya's eyes twinkled, “I’ll believe everything as long as you're right by my side. Which I know will be forever because I’m not letting you go, Matthews.”
“I’m…I’m enough?” Riley found herself asking. Maya's eyes flickered sad for a moment before the brightness was back.
“More than enough, I’ll say it till the day I die.”
Riley nodded, she was enough, Maya was staying, they would talk and everything would be ok. They would be forever, just like they were meant to be.