#btig

“This is it! High school!”

“We’re gonna own this place!”

Riley and Maya had taken their first steps into the building where they would spend the next four years- Abigail Adams High School. 

After a brief look around at the, somewhat intimidating, surroundings, Maya held onto Riley- afraid to lose her in the crowd. “Riles? What if we don’t own this place?”

“Relax, Maya. We will! And besides, we have each other.” Riley laced her arm through Maya’s, and the two of them headed for homeroom. They were thrilled to see that their schedules matched almost perfectly, though they both were dreading 6th period- Maya would go to her elective art class, and Riley, to music appreciation. Riley had begged her father to speak to the high school staff and get her schedule changed, but Cory insisted, noting that her prior experience in art wouldn’t set her up for a good grade. Plus, some time away from Maya in school would be “healthy” and she could “make new friends.” Both girls groaned obnoxiously when this was said, but had also learned that making new friends had been a great thing for them so far. Lucas, Farkle, and Zay were a great addition to their group.

“The classrooms are right next door, so we can walk each other to class,”

“AND out of class!” riley added. She didn’t want to admit it, but she was nervous about leaving Maya. Not that the hour without her would really be unbearable, but that without Maya, she wasn’t as confident in herself. Maya felt the same, only she knew she wasn’t as good at focusing and understanding the content without Riley to help her. Art, though, was somewhere she felt comfortable. 

The bell sounded, marking the start of class. 

“Ok Riles, it’s just an hour! We can do this.” Maya said, encouragingly.

“Of course. See you soon, Peaches.” The girls smiled at each other, and held eyes. 

“...Riles? Honey?” 

“Yes?” Said Riley, in a full grin. 

“You’ve gotta let go of my hand.” 

“Oh, sorry. Bye.” Maya watched Riley disappear into the doorway of Music, and she stepped into Art class. 

At first glance, it already seemed so much more high-end than middle school. The supplies were more expensive, and there was so much of it! Tools and materials Maya had never even seen. There were a few older students who had brought their own in from home- she hoped her pencil would suffice for the first day. 

“Hello everyone! Welcome! Take your seats.” The teacher began. A girl took her seat next to Maya. She recognized the girl vaguely- she had been a year ahead of Riley and Maya when they were in seventh grade. The sight of a familiar face was comforting. 

The teacher went over the basics of what the class would cover, and Maya grew more excited with each listed assignment- something she had never felt in a class before. 

“This week, we’ll start with something simple- create a piece that captures you. Choose any medium you’d like. Your first piece of work should be something to help us all to get to know you. Show us who you are, and who you’d like to be from here on out.” The bell rang, and Maya jumped out of her desk, ready to tell Riley all about it. Just as they’d planned, they met in front of the lockers right between the doors. 

“How was it? I missed you!” Riley cheered, wrapping Maya into a hug, 

“I missed you too! It was cool actually. Our first assignment is to create something that represents who we are.”

“Oh, what are you going to make?” 

“I was hoping you could help me, actually.” 

“Really? You want my help with art?” Riley was shocked. 

“Not with that part. You just...know me better than I know myself. Maybe you can think of some ideas.” Maya thought of Riley the moment the assignment was announced. Her best friend, the person who made Maya who she as. How could she introduce herself to the world without also introducing Riley?

“Sounds like this calls for a Bay Window Brain Storm Session!” Riley announced. Other students in the hall looked at them with odd expressions. Ones that, had they been alone, would have reduced them to 2 inches tall. Together, they didn’t care who stared. They had each other.