so that's your dads me?

If anyone were to ask Maya what she believed other people thought of her as, her response would be how she’s a nobody. How she was irrelevant to them, a ghost, someone who can be easily forgotten without even trying, a tiny speck among the other people within the world, and just overall is a person who doesn’t have that much significance within it in general. She—Maya Hart—was a nobody, and you know what? She was completely fine with that because she already knew she wasn’t meant for big things and that’s okay. Besides, there were only a handful of people within Maya’s life who’s opinions actually mattered, and it’s their opinion alone is what she actually cares about the most. 

Grew up in a tiny apartment with her mom, and is still currently living in that tiny apartment with her mom. It’s been just the two of them for most of Maya's life as her dad has been out of her life since she was five-years-old. Back when she was younger, she use to believe that her mom was the reason for why her dad wasn’t around anymore and would even blame her for him being gone. It also didn’t help that her mom didn’t want to break Maya’s perception of her dad, wanting her daughter to still think that he cared for her even though the reality was that he had left both Maya and her mom behind. Yep. He didn’t care for either of them, and had just up and abandoned them to start a whole other life with a whole new family. May doesn’t think about him anymore as he means nothing to her now. 

Although her mom is the main parental figure within her life, Maya’s relationship was a strained one but still a loving one. For years, she had gotten so use to the thought that her mom was too busy for her and that she actually didn’t care much for her because of how little effort her mom puts in some of the important moments within Maya’s life. If it was her birthday, she never expected for her mom to remember much less have a gift or even a cake ready for her. If she achieved something in school and was rewarded for it, chances are her mom wouldn’t have been there to see her daughter receive that reward. If it was parent day at school, think her mom would be there with all the other parents? Her mom was just way too busy for Maya, and she grew to accept that. But it wasn’t because her mom didn’t care or didn’t want to be a part of her daughters life— oh, her mom cared so deeply for Maya! It was just that the reason she’s always so busy was because her mom did wanted the best for her daughter in life and she was trying to work hard to help her daughter achieve it. Maya couldn’t understand this at first as to her, she had half a mom, but after realizing exactly how much she’s done for her, she did realize that her mom actually cared. Even if all Maya ever wanted was to know that she did have a parent who wanted and loved her. And lucky for her, her mom does.

There is one person who is a ray of sunshine within the dark clouds of Maya’s life, and that is her best friend, Riley Mathews. Best friends and neighbors since they were teeny-tiny ants, the two girls were as complete opposites as one can be, and yet they were as thick as thieves. Where Riley was all sunshines, butterflies, and rainbows, and was someone who has one of the most hopeful and positive out looks when it comes to life, Maya was cloudy days, bee stings, rainstorms, and was someone who isn’t as hopeful or positive with life and is living it just to get by. Riley was purple and Maya was green— they were two separate halves of a single coin, and yet there wasn’t a single person in this world who she wouldn’t call her best friend other than Riley. They grew up together and has been through so much with one another, all the fights, all the sad times, and definitely the fun moments too. And though there are many times where Maya could never grasp everything that happens inside that sparkly head of Riley’s, she also appreciates the kind of person her best friend was because without her, everything else would’ve been meaningless for Maya. Riley was the one person one she would do just about anything for, and was the one who she would fight anyone if they ever tried to hurt her. Riley wasn't only just her best friend, but she was her special person too. She was Maya’s and she wasn’t planning on letting go of her sunshine no time soon. 

Speaking of her best friend, Riley’s family is the definition of a perfect family to Maya. The hardworking and loving lawyer of a mom, the goofy yet reliable teacher of a dad, the annoying but caring prodigy of a little brother— her best friend had it all. She had the family that Maya wished she could have, and because of that, she visited the Mathews household every chance she could get which was every single day. What can she say? It was one of the most loving households she’s ever been in, and though she wasn’t a Mathews herself, Maya liked to pretend she was whenever she visited. Luckily, because of all the years she’s known the family, her best friends parents had practically taken her in as one of their own and it’s safe to say that Maya was an honorary Mathews with how much she’s always around them. 

She likes to come off as a “bad girl” around other people. She’s sarcastic, makes dark humor, tends to not care about things, has gotten into trouble way more times than she could count, and is generally a restless tiny human being. Maya practically has a reputation she needs to uphold, but despite that, Maya has a lot of heart to her and cares, especially for those who are very important to her. 

Though she didn’t mind going to school, and was even told she was a smart girl whenever she put her mind to it, Maya didn’t end up going to college. Yep, that’s right! Once, high school had came to an end, she claimed that she was officially dropping out of school and wasn’t doing the whole college thing, and to this day has no plans of ever trying.

Due to having no actual dad in her life, the person who has been Maya’s step in father figure for so long was Riley’s own dad. And for as much as she appreciate and loves the man for all he has done for her, there was still a part of Maya who desired having a father figure of her own. One she didn’t have to share with her best friend. It’s like how she can also appreciate all Riley’s mom has done for her even when she does already have a mom of her own. Her own mom may not be the best mother in the world, but Maya is grateful for all the effort she’s put in and would never want to exchange her mom for anyone else, not even Riley’s. And the thing is, there is someone who she feels could fit the role of a father figure she can call her own, and who that person is? The best friend of her own best friend’s dad— Shawn Hunter. He was so much like Maya, it wasn’t difficult for her to relate to him when they first met, and it was much less harder for her to become attached to him right afterwards. But just because she wants Shawn as a father figure doesn’t mean it’ll happen or that things would be as easy and smooth sailing between them. Still, it wouldn’t hurt to try.

Has the habit of collecting things that she finds and ends up liking even if it may belong to other people. She especially likes things that brings her one step closer to feeling like she has a perfect family like Riley does, like owning a heart locket necklace that had a picture of a happy family inside of it. Maya had given it back to it’s original owners at the time, but if it didn’t belong to anyone one and she liked it, then it was her’s to keep.

Her vision is blurry but she refuses to wear glasses and doesn’t own contacts so it’s a good thing she’s short and barely trips over things.

The majority of her clothes she owns has been thrifted and repurposed to her liking. She tends to wear a lot of old band tees of bands she hasn’t even heard of or know about but just got because she liked the design of. 

Maya is an artist through and through. She’s been doodling and painting all her life, and though she never thought of turning her hobby into an actual career, her middle school art teacher believed that she was talented enough to become an artist. Even her friends believed she has what it takes to become big, and while she may have her doubts about that ever happening at times, she has never let go of that passion and love for art. And though she didn't go to college nor majored in the arts, Maya makes sure not to let her artistic talents go to waste. In fact, she takes up many freelancing art gigs whenever she has the time, which the best of many worlds for her. She can still draw and paint for other people, work on her own time, and can get some cash on the side while she’s at it.

Still owns her half of the friendship rings Riley had gifted her on her fourteenth birthday. It’s one of Maya’s most treasured items that she owns, and she wouldn’t dare to ever lose it. In fact, she carries that ring with her every single day, be it by wearing it on her ring, having it on the chain of her necklace, or simply by carrying it inside her pocket. That ring is always with her no matter what. 

Would tease the hell out of her friends and loved ones, but if there is one thing about Maya that anyone would know about her is how fiercely loyal she is. Once she sticks herself to someone, they’re stuck with her for life.