People Change People

RILEY

”No. Absolutely not. I forbid it.” I answered, you could hear by the tone of my voice that I was not changing my mind.
“Riley, I’m an adult, I’m in charge of what I do with my life, not you.” My uncle Josh yelled back at me in his defence.
“I don’t care Josh! You are not coming to England!” I screamed at him. In 3 weeks, I would be flying to England with my best friends, and the love of my life, to see my best friend/love of my life. When Maya moved England, we were both destroyed. But what wrecked Maya more was my stupid fucking uncle dumping her before leaving for England. I didn’t care for Josh’s side of the story, he could have no reasonable explanation to do what he did. I hadn’t spoken to him since he did that, until now. when he came over to inform me he would be coming with us to England. To see Maya. I was furious.

“Riley I need a chance to make things right!” He sounded exasperated, like he was pleading.
“And yet again I don’t give a shit!” I argued, “She loved you, Josh. Since she was 12 years old, she loved you, there was not a day that she stopped, until that day when you did that awful, vile fucking thing. And now she doesn’t love you anymore!”
“You don’t know that!” He yelled back.
“Oh yeah?! Then why is she going out with a new guy in England?” I sighed when I said it, knowing this wasn’t the time to tell him, but I needed him to not have a reason to go to England with us.
“What?” He asked, his slightly watering, his voice no longer angry, but now shaky.
“Josh, I-“ before i could explain he was talking again.
“Oh, oh, well now I’m definitely coming to England, and there’s nothing you can do to stop me.” He said with such determination it was almost scary.
“Fine.” I sighed “Fine, but you’re gonna tell her.”
“What?”
“You’re gonna pick up the phone, you’re gonna call Maya, and you’re gonna tell her you’re coming to England. You’re gonna do it or else I am. Now get the fuck out of my room.”

MAYA

Three days ago Harry and I went on our first date. Harry was wonderful. Being with him was being swept up by a cloud of sugar and colours, with him it seemed as if nothing else in this universe was real, like the sky could rip apart and reveal the stars and I still wouldn’t care, I would still continue to admire him. And honestly, I think he felt the same about me. After theee days of flirtatious text messages, amusing snapchats, and playful winks from our windows, he would be coming over tonight. My mom and Shawn’s anniversary was coming up, so they were heading up to London for the next few days, so I asked Harry if he could keep me company, he agreed instantly. I was in my room, panting a small section of my room, the wall right next to the bay window, when I heard the knock on the door. Damnit, he’s early. I looked down at myself, sweatpants, crop top, covered in paint, pretty much a mess. I ran downstairs to find Harry had already let himself in and was browsing through the kitchen pantry.
“Uh,” I cleared my throat, “How did you get into my house.”
“Your door was unlocked.” He turned to face me smiling.
“And that’s an invitation into my home?” I mocked with fake shock.
He walked over to me and planted a small but firm kiss on my lips, pulling away staring into my eyes, hands on my cheeks, smiling.
“Hello, Penelope.” He whispered before kissing me again.
“Hello, Harold.” I answered after pulling away from him. He looked down at my attire and chuckled.
“I know,” I sighed rolling my eyes at him, “I was painting my room.”
“What were you painting?” He inquired, moving his hands comfortably around my waist while mine rested on his shoulders.
“Do you want to see?” I offered. He offered me a small mhm in return.
We walked up the stairs hand in hand until we reached my room, I led him to the bay window, and showed him the first painting I had started on the wall. It was an abstract mess of paint when you looked closely, but if you stepped back you could see a distinct purple cat amongst the mess. I stood with my back to Harry, he wrapped his arms around my waist and rested his head on my shoulder, letting out a content sigh.
“It’s beautiful Maya. I knew you painted, but I didn’t know you were this good.” He said.
“Oh please, you’re just saying this to get into my pants. This is nothing.” I responded, gripping his forearms.
“Do I want into your pants? Yes. But I mean it Maya, you’re seriously talented.” He whispered placing a soft kiss on my cheek.
“So what does it mean?” He asked.
”Its kind of a dual meaning.” I explained as we sat on the bay window, “See Riley, she took every art class with me, even though she didn’t get it, and she wasn’t very good, she still did it, for me. And no matter what the assignment, she would always paint a purple cat.”
“So it’s for Riley?”
“Yes and no. It’s also because, well, a few years ago, Riley fell in love with a boy. And I guess I was scared, because she was my Riley. And it wasn’t even because I was scared of losing her, I know I never could, and I want her to be happy. But I wanted to protect her, I needed to know that he was right for her. So I became her, so I would like him the way she did, so that he would like me the way he liked her. I lost myself. I sold my house in Mayaville and moved into Riley town.” I explained with a sigh, and kind of wet eyes. “It’s a reminder, to stay me, no matter what happens.”
“And what happened in the end, with Riley and the boy?” He asked, genuinely wanting to know. I loved how he cares, how he wanted to know.
“He had to make a choice, me or her, but I realised that I didn’t want him, and he didn’t really want me. Him and Riley tried for about a year. But she wasn’t in love with him.” I answered.
“She was in love with someone else.” He finished for me.
“How did you know?” I chuckled.
“Seems to be a running theme in this story.” He shrugged.
”Whatever.” I rolled my eyes, “To Lucas, the boy, Riley was his first girlfriend, a pure and genuine girl he could love. But to Farkle, to Farkle Riley was everything. His stars and his sun, the greatest love of his life, and it didn’t take Riley long to figure it out. There were no rough feelings between anyone when it happened, and we’re all still best friends.” I sighed. “Sorry, I’m rambling when all you asked about was a stupid painting.”
“Maya, I could listen to you talk for eternity.” He smiled and kissed me. This kiss was rougher, more tongue, showing me he truly meant it.
“Now, take a shower, get cosy, I’m gonna order some food and set up some movies.” He said and I smiled at him.
“I could live like this.” I beamed at him.
“Careful, Penelope, I might have to take you up on that.” He winked before heading downstairs.

I hopped out out of the shower and threw on some shorts and a big budweiser t shirt. I put my hair in two braids and skipped downstairs, smelling the chinese, with pure bliss in my heart. Harry was downstairs, thanking the delivery man and struggling to manage all the food in his arms. I chuckled before helping him carry it all to the kitchen. We opened up the boxes claiming our food, stealing bites of each other’s with chopsticks and giggling.
“Mmm,” He started, slurping up some chow mein,”Your phone rang while you were in the shower.”
“Oh. Who was it?” I asked picking out some carrots and eating them.
“It just said Uncle Boing.” He responded simply.
I gulped down the lump in my throat, hearing his name, not even his real name. Just hearing the mention of Josh made me sick to my stomach. I picked up the phone while Harry was eating idly, scrolling through my laptop trying to find good music. I saw that Josh had left a voicemail, what could he possibly want from me now? After everything he did, why now? I pressed play and held the phone up to my ear,
“Uh, hey, Maya. It’s Josh, I don’t know if you still have my phone number, or if you have me blocked, God you definitely have a right to have me blocked. Look, anyway, I don’t know if you’re ever gonna listen to this, but if you are, I just- I just- I guess I just want you to know that I miss you, Maya. I miss you so much and I fucked up so terribly and I-I need to make it right. I’m coming to England with Riley and everyone. I can’t wait to see you. I gotta go, but if you get this, I can’t wait to see you Maya. Call me back.” The message was over. And the tears were streaming from my face. Harry looked up and an instant look of worry washed over him.
“Maya, what’s wrong?” He was immediately getting up to be by my side.
“I think I’m going to be sick.” I got up and pushed past him and ran outside, into the dark. I let my tears flow, and I let them flow. I sobbed and choked, falling to my knees, I sobbed. I was struggling to catch my breath. I felt like I was dying.
“Maya!” a voice pulled me out of my crying. It was Harry, he was by side, and this was that time, where the sky was ripping apart, revealing itself, and there was Harry, except this time he couldn’t distract me, he couldn’t drown out the sound of my world tearing in two. He wrapped his warm arms around me as I continued to sob.
“Harry, I feel like Im dying. I can’t stop shaking, or sobbing, or thinking and I can’t do it I can’t have him back he can’t be here, Harry I can’t, I can’t, I can’t.” Before I could continue I felt Harry’s lips crash into mine. This wasn’t like any kiss I’ve had from Harry before, we’ve shared everything from raw passion to happy and simple, but never this. This was urgent, this was something we both needed, he clung to me like I was his source of life, and I clung back. This was a nothing can take me away kind of kiss. He pulled back and looked me in the eyes, both of us slightly panting.
“What-what was that for?” I questioned, realising I’d stopped crying and shaking.
“You were having a panic attack, and I read somewhere that holding your breath can stop a panic attack,” He whispered, “When I kissed you, you held your breath.”
I smiled and blinked out a final tear before kissing him again, with the same urgency as before.
“You ready to go inside, maybe tell me what happened?” He asked sweetly.
I nodded and followed him inside, wiping my face on my arm, at least I wasn’t wearing any makeup.
Now here’s the real kick, how the hell am I gonna tell Harry that Josh would be in England, in my home, in a matter of weeks?

Notes

hi guys!! sorry for being MIA lately I’ve had a really busy summer! Anyway, what do you guys think of the small Riley POV part? Would you guys like to see more of riley/ maya’s friends POV? let me know

xoxo