Mr. and Mrs. Matthews
"No, Auggie, you cannot have any more cookies -" Riley's mom is saying as Riley and Maya head back out to the guests. "Well, there you are, Riley - your father and I thought we lost you."
Riley sees her eyes land on Maya, then slide slowly back over to Riley.
She realizes their hands are still intertwined and blushes a little bit again, which is really all the hint her mother needs.
"Riley Eleanor Matthews!" She chastises, but there's a humongous grin on her face, and she's not really yelling so much as becoming the human embodiment of happiness.
Riley peeks out of the corner of her eye at Maya, who's biting her lip in what Riley can only imagine is an attempt not to grin.
"And who might this be," her mother asks, even though she clearly already knows the answer. "This is - "
" - Maya. Maya Hart."
"I knew I recognized you from somewhere. Your mother is so terrific,"
Riley is studiously avoiding her mother's gaze while she chats with Maya, because somehow, Riley has evaded Maya for all these years. Not only does Maya's mother work at Topanga's; she's the acting manager; and in addition to all that, Maya also went to John Quincy Adams Middle School; and she currently goes to the same high school as Riley.
Riley can't help but feel a little terrible.
She tunes back in right as Maya is nodding and saying, "Yes, Mrs. Matthews, she seems terrific." and her mother is saying, "Oh, I should go get your father. I wouldn't want to miss his face."
As soon as she disappears to find Riley's dad, Maya looks up at Riley, a little bit of nervousness clear in her eyes. "What does she mean, she wouldn't want to miss his face?"
"Oh, just, my dad's gonna flip."
Maya is closing in on herself, and Riley squeezes her hand. "Hey, hey - come back to me, peaches."
"If I was any less nervous I'd probably be asking why peaches, but you're lucky I'm out of it." Maya murmurs, and Riley chuckles. "Oh, I'll come up with an explanation."
"I'm sure you will." Maya seems to remember why she's nervous, speaking up again with, "Why's he gonna flip?"
"Because I found you, and he didn't." Riley says matter-of-factly, and Maya brightens. "O - oh." She lets a lopsided grin drop across her face. "And are you happy to have found me first?" Maya looks up at her from under her eyelashes, and Riley wants to play this game, she really does, but her parents are coming back any minute now, so she has to settle with, "Of course I am, peaches."
"We're really stickin' with peaches, huh?"
"Definitely. Suits you." Riley teases, no further explanation needed in her book, bending down a few inches to kiss Maya on the cheek. And there's the only move Riley can use, because here come her parents. She tightens her grip on Maya, daring a glance in her direction.
Maya is pink in the cheeks, eyes cast to the floor, and Riley is grinning because she only had one move but damn did it work.
"You know, Riley, your mother says I just have to meet someone." Her dad says, turning the corner with an overdramatic sigh.
"Is that so?" Riley asks, "I couldn't imagine why it would be so important."
"You know, I don't know. She wouldn't tell me."
"Bummer."
Maya's eyes are back up now, staring straight at Riley's parents, and her mouth curves into a tiny smile. "While I do love this banter," Maya pipes up, "I have to confess that Mrs. Matthews dragged you back here for me." Riley shrugs innocently as her father tries to size her up, gage her reaction. "Hm. Is that it?" Riley asks aloud, and her mother grins. "Could be." She adds, and Riley's dad holds up his hands in mock surrender.
"I admit it, your mother outsmarted me. There, do I win now?"
Riley shakes her head.
"I'm sorry, defeat was not what we were looking for."
Her dad shrugs. "Worth a shot." He tells Maya, and Maya nods thoughtfully. "It had strong potential as an option," she agrees.
"I like her." Riley's dad says, and Riley grins. "That's good."
"Yeah, I'd be sorry if you didn't." Riley's mother admits.
"Is she sticking around a while? Should I know you?"
"I was in your class in middle school."
"Oh! Maya Hart, that's right. How's your mother?"
"She's doing good, thanks." Maya nods, and Riley groans and falls atop Maya - well, really, she's falling atop Maya's head, because of the height difference, but the effect is the same - with a huff. "How come everyone knew my soulmate before I did?" She mutters into Maya's hair, and Maya chuckles. "Sorry, honey. Them's the brakes." Riley's mother laughs quietly and her dad's ears perk up at the word soulmate because of course they do.
"Soulmate?" For a minute, his eyebrows furrow in confusion, and Riley's got to give her mom credit, she really has the patience to wait this through. "Soulmate!" He finally yells. "Soulmates - you two -"
"Mom, tell the man what he's won."
Riley's mom laughs. "Well, it looks like we've won a lifetime supply of Miss Maya Hart." She says, holding back giggles.
"Well, if you'll have me." Maya says, and Riley squeezes her hand tightly. "You're staying, alright?"
Maya smiles.
"Well, if you're going to be so bossy about it..."