I'll Be Okay

eight

"You're coming home early," Katy said through the phone. "Not that I mind but I thought you were having a good time over there in California."

"I was," Maya says as she puts her shirt in her bag. "But the people here are crazy."

"Yay! You found some people to talk to," Katy cheers.

"More like they found me," Maya mumbles.

"What was that, baby girl?"

"Nothing Mom. I was just ready to come home."

"And I can't wait for you to get here." Maya could practically hear her mom's smile through the phone.

Maya and Katy exchanged byes before Maya hangs up. The truth is Maya would stay longer but she's scared, scared of feeling. Riley and her friends may be the best group of people she's ever met but --going off the past experiences she's had-- it'll go to shit right when Maya feels comfortable with them.

And Maya can't take anymore heartache.

Maya slings her bag over her shoulder and leaves her hotel room. She called an Uber that would be there in 10 minutes to take her to the airport and she doesn't want to miss it.

When she's in the lobby, she stops by the candy counter to buy herself a few bars one last time.

"Ms. Hart?" It's the manager of the hotel. "Leaving so soon?"

"Yeah. I miss my Mama," Maya admits.

"Well, we enjoyed having you. And maybe you'll come back," he asks.

"We'll see," Maya says and with that she leaves the hotel.

***

"Yes. I'm boarding the plane right now Mom. Okay, I'll see you in a few hours. Love ya."

Maya shuffles through the airplane seats before she gets to her own. When she finally stuffs her bag in the compartment, she plops down in her plane seat and breathes out a long sigh. Just 8 hours until she's home and she'll just draw to pass time like she always does. Maya knows just what to draw too.

She begins drawing the outline of his frame. She imagines his sweet smile, his gentle eyes, his gentle touch. Just everything about Lucas was so gentle. Maya loved how he made sure he treated her with care. She sure will miss that, but this is why she has to leave, she doesn't want ruin it.

"Maya?"

Strangely enough she can still hear Riley's voice, maybe a little too clearly. Maya turns in her seat and her mouth drops open. Riley, Farkle, Zay, and Lucas are all on the same plane as Maya and she can't decide whether she should be happy or upset. She more confused than anything though.

"That is you," Riley cheers. She literally shoves Lucas out of the way -- who was too busy staring at Maya to pay attention to anything but her -- and rushes over to Maya's seat.

"Riley, what are you doing here?"

Riley puts her bag in the compartment and jumps into the seat next to Maya. "Well, we're going home. Lucas' birthday is over. We weren't gonna stay forever."

Maya thought it weird that they were leaving the exact day she was and knowing Riley she probably planned for this to happen. "Why are you on this plane, though? You live in New York too?"

"Yeah. How wild is that?"

"Small world," Maya mumbles. So much for her plan of total isolation from these dorks.

"What'cha drawin'," Riley asks when she sneaks a peek in Maya's sketchbook.

Maya slams the book closed and holds it close to her chest. "Nothing. Nothing at all."

"C'mon lemme see."

Riley and Maya wrestle for a bit until Riley finally snatches it out of Maya's hands.

"Riley please don't," Maya pleads.

"Why? These are really nice Maya." Riley continues to flip through pages admiring every drawing. "You're a great artist."

"I wouldn't say that," Maya says. "But I doodle from time to-- okay, that's enough turning."

"Why? What are you hiding from me Maya Hart?" Riley turns to the next page and squeals like an overly excited pig.

This page has little doodles, sketches, and drawings of none other than Lucas Friar. Some of the drawings were more detailed than others and sometimes she just wrote his name in cursive over and over.

"You drew Lucas!? You like to draw Lucas!? You like Lucas!?" Riley's voice is high and shrilling and she's practically jumping up and down in her seat with the biggest smile that Maya has ever seen spread across her face.

"Could you keep it down, Riley," Maya whispers embarrassed.

"Keep it? What!? How could 'keep it down' at a time like this?" Riley turns in her seat and looks behind at the boys.

"What do ya want, Riley," Lucas asks because he can tell she's about to burst.

"You won't believe it! Maya likes--"

Before she could finish, Maya slaps her hand over Riley's mouth and pulls her back into her seat and out of sight of the boys. There's loud shuffling and even a yelp from Riley before it's completely quiet in their row.

Maya pokes her head up and flashes a smile. "Just ignore us. We're fine. Just peachy." When she sinks back in her seat, she gives Riley an awful glare.

Maya used the bow in Riley's hair to gag her and used her sweater to tie her arms to the seat. Riley struggles to break free, but Maya tied her up pretty tight.

"Now you listen and you listen good, princess," Maya whispers harshly. "I am a lot of things, but I have never been scared. But you and Lucas and your entire group of friends scare the shit ot of me. So, if you say anything about this," Maya holds up the Lucas filled page of her sketchbook for Riley to see. "To Lucas or anyone else, I will kill you."

Riley whimpers and her eyes widen. Of course Maya doesn't mean it and Riley knows it but Maya seems very convincing as of now.

"Are we clear," Maya asks and Riley nods her head quickly.

And with that, the plane takes off.