my best friend wedding Rucas

01

I blame Cory Matthews for how my life has turned out He had gotten me to care about school so I did He had taught me to believe in myself so I went to college He made me believe in my art So I got an art degree But nothing mattered I still ended up at the nighthawks diner My long blonde hair was up in a ponytail as I grabbed a burger and a patty melt I wore the basic blue uniform but added my own embellishments will ty black bracelets I took the food to the really nice truckers at table 8 Table 9 left leaving a pitiful $2 tip I'm not a very good waitress I probably wouldn't still have this job if my mother wasn't the manager Truth is I do this on autopilot When I graduated from college I had applied for every art and art adjacent job In New York But obviously I wasn't good enough Two years later I just serve the food and wait for it to be over

I came back to the apartment that mom and I still live in I tried to get my own place but there was no way even with five roommates I could afford it My phone rings it's a facebook message from Riley Matthews It actually took me a second to recognize who that is Then the pain came flooding back I put my phone down and stared at it I had never suspected Riley would contact me out of the blue like this Maybe I shouldn't open it That thought lasted for three seconds I opened the message

Hi Maya This is Riley Are you still in NYC I was wondering if wanted to have lunch this week

I could pretend to ignore the message but what if she knew it was read part of me wanted to ignore it part of me wanted to see Riley

Maya- I'm free on Tuesday

I sent the text despite how stupid that sounded my phone beeps again

Riley- Great Meet at Topanga's

Topanga's wow that's still open

Alright see you there

It was Tuesday And I had tried on six outfits what do you wear to see a person that has hated you for the last 10 years what was Riley expecting me to wear Jeans or a skirt I guess the jeans I walked into Topanga's for the first time in 10 years Flashbacks came to me That time we put together a time capsule I put a picture of me and Riley Because I thought our friendship would last forever It's actually painful when I think about those times Back when 25 seemed so far away Back when there was much to look forward to Back when there was hope I'm sure young me would want to punch current me in the face I had let that girl down

Maya

I turned around to see Mrs. Matthews smiling at me

Maya- Hi

Was all I could say

How are you

She said before hugging me

Good good

How is your mom

I was shocked but relieved that she asked about my mom Their friendship took a heard turn when mine and Riley blew up

Maya- She's good how's Mr. Matthews

Topanga- He's great

Then I saw Riley enter from the back She looked so different yet exactly the same

Hey