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❛ ʟᴇᴀᴛʜᴇʀ & ʟᴀᴄᴇ​​​​​​​​​​. ❜ ° . ༄
- ͙۪۪˚   ▎❛ 𝐍𝐈𝐍𝐄  ❜   ▎˚ ͙۪۪̥◌
»»————- ꒰ ᴏʟᴅ ғʀɪᴇɴᴅs, ɴᴇᴡ
ᴘᴀᴛʜs ꒱


❝ I'LL JUST BE A
PLACEHOLDER UNTIL
YOU MEET THE WOMAN
OF YOUR DREAMS ❞

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"And that's how I ended up in a love triangle with my best friend and the first boy I ever liked romantically," Riley finished with a sigh, having spent nearly the last hour recounting her drama with Maya and Lucas to Evan. He'd noticed her sitting at the bay window by herself and joined her, offering her a hot chocolate.

At first she'd tried to keep her distance but it wasn't in her nature to be unfriendly. Soon, they got to talking— and it was really easy to talk to him. He was a good listener, too, having stayed quiet but attentive the whole time she spoke. It felt good to talk to a third, unbiased person about her dilemma. Evan thought about what she'd shared, then asked, "well, what about this? If you were on a desert island, who would you rather have: Maya or Lucas?"

Riley blinked, surprised by his response. "How is that supposed to help me decide?"

"Just think about it," he encouraged her.

Riley tilted her head at him, brow furrowed. "That's still such a weird question," she remarked, wrapping her hands around the warm mug. "But. . . I guess Maya would probably go native. She'd figure out how to weave palm leaves into a hammock and make a spear out of a stick. And Lucas. . ." She gave a half-smile, shaking her head. "Lucas would be prepared. He probably wouldn't even let us get stuck on the island because he'd somehow brought a SAT phone with him. So technically, we wouldn't be there very long at all. But I don't see how that's supposed to help me make up my mind about who I want to be with."

Evan didn't argue right away. He took a thoughtful sip of his drink before replying, "it's not just your answer, Riley. It's how you said it. When you talked about Maya, you sounded. . . fond, yeah. But also kind of exasperated. Maybe even stressed. Like you love her, but she wears you out sometimes." He let that hang for a moment before he added, "but when you mentioned Lucas. . . there was this warmth in your voice. Like you were comforted just by imagining him being there with you."

Riley flushed. "That doesn't prove anything. I love them both: Maya and Lucas. They're both so important to me."

"I believe that," Evan allowed easily. "But think about this: of the two, who have you imagined more scenarios with? I'm talking about little things: going on dates, walking home from school, going to prom. Maybe even picturing your wedding someday, if you're that kind of girl."

The name leapt out of her mouth before she could stop it. "Lucas." Her eyes widened as soon as she spoke it aloud, and she rushed to explain, "but that's only because I didn't know Maya liked me like that. Not until way later."

Evan tilted his head, studying her expression carefully. "And how long was that?"

Riley glanced down at her light brown surface of her drink as she admitted, "about a year and a half ago. Maybe a little more."

"So in all that time— over six months since you've known how Maya feels— you've never once pictured doing any of those things with her?" Evan queried. "Not a date, not prom, not even a daydream about holding her hand in that way?"

Riley opened her mouth to argue but the words stuck in her throat. Because it was true. She never had. Not in the way she had with Lucas. She wanted to deny it, to tell him that Maya was always there, already such a constant in her life that it didn't even need imagining. But as soon as she started forming that excuse, she realized what it really meant.

Her voice dropped, quiet and uncertain. "Maybe. . . maybe it's because I didn't even know if I like girls like that. I mean, I've never thought about it before Maya told me she had feelings for me."

Evan met her eyes steadily, understanding reflected in them. "And that's okay. But you do know you like boys like that. You've known since Lucas. That's not nothing."

The brunette slumped back against the window frame, clutching her mug. "So what you're saying is, based on my daydreams and the way I talk about them, I've basically already chosen Lucas without realizing it."

"I'm saying your heart might have made a choice before your brain even caught up," Evan observed. "But that doesn't mean your friendship with Maya isn't just as important. It's just important in a different way— the same way it always was before you knew about her feelings for you."

Riley set her mug down on the windowsill and drew her knees up to her chest, hugging them for reassurance. "But what if I hurt her? What if I lose her? Maya's been with me through everything. What if choosing Lucas means I'm choosing to push her away?"

"That's not what it means at all," Evan corrected her kindly. "It means you're being honest with yourself. And the thing about best friends? If the friendship is real— and from what I've heard, yours very much is— they'll stick, even if things are messy for a while. No matter who you're talking about, I think anyone would rather have the truth than be left wondering."

Riley bit her lip, chewing on that. "I don't know if I'm that brave."

Evan smiled faintly, his voice warm but steady. "You are. You just told me the hardest parts of yourself for almost an hour straight and you didn't sugarcoat it. That's bravery, Riley. You're just scared of the fallout. But if you never take the risk, you'll keep spinning in circles— hurting yourself, and maybe both of them, even worse."

"Why are you so good at this?" she breathed out, awed.

He chuckled. "I like guiding people to places they never thought they'd reach. An outsider's view can sometimes help them get there."

Riley gave a little laugh, shaking her head. "Well. . . thanks. You've definitely given me a lot to think about."

And she did. She mulled Evan's words around in her mind for the rest of the night, even when they moved onto other topics (namely her telling him more antics her friends took part in.) Riley got so lost in the ease of their conversation that she hardly noticed the passing of time, marked only by how often he refilled her hot chocolate. Evan was just telling her about his dream of being a Sherpa when chirping outside the window made her stiffen with alarm.

"What's that?"

He glanced out the window to watch as the darkness receded, giving way to golden sunlight. "That's morning."

"What are you talking about? It's the middle of the. . ." Riley whipped around to stare at the new dawn with panic. "Are you crazy? Get back down! Shut your chirp hole!" She turned back to Evan, her eyes wide. "Have we been talking all night?"

"I had a wonderful time," he told her. "Can we do it again?"

"No! No!" she yelped. "We can't even do it the first time. My parents are going to kill me. They can never know."

Evan looked over at the couch and called out, "you can never know."

Cory and Topanga stood from where they'd been hiding out. The curly-haired man arched a brow at his daughter. "You've been up all night!"

"She gets this from you," Topanga huffed.

"How long have you guys been there?" Riley queried.

"We stayed up all night talking, too," her mom informed her. "We wanted to see what the big deal was."

"Was it a big deal?"

Topanga smiled at Evan. "Yeah. I like him now."

"What about you, Riley?" Cory inquired. "Is it a big deal?"

Riley brushed off her dad's interrogation and stood, limping over to the stairs to make a hasty retreat to what should've been her room. Before she fled entirely, she made sure to tell Evan, "it was really great talking to you, Evan, but I have to get upstairs right now before. . ."

"Good morning, Riles!" Miya chirped, cutting the brunette off as she turned to see the Asian girl and Lucas on the stairwell.

The Texan pointed at Evan. "Who's that?"

"What's this?" Miya chimed in, giving her friend a once-over. "Those clothes look awfully familiar."

"Who's that?" Lucas demanded again.

Miya tapped her chin as if deep in thought. "Where have I seen those clothes before?"

Lucas kept up his own line of questioning, insisting, "yeah, that one there, who is that?"

Riley gazed at her parents with wide, pleading eyes. "Ma! Dad!"

Cory held up his hands helplessly. "You got caught, kid."

"You know what helps though?" Topanga began, pretending like she was about to offer advice to her daughter.

She and Cory exchanged a look before the latter announced flatly, "nothing."

"Yeah," her mom agreed.

"Okay, this is ridiculous," Riley declared. "Are you really going to make me explain myself?"

"No, of course—" Miya started, sympathetic towards her friend's situation despite her joking.

"Yes," Lucas cut her off bluntly.

Riley groaned. "Okay, then fine. I have this boot on." She gestured to her injured foot. "I am hobbled. As a person who is hobbled, all I can do is talk. I can't run. . ." She did a limping jog in place to prove her point. "I can't hike!" She threw her arms in the air, exasperated. "And you know what? This boot is fantastic." Trying to avoid criticism, Riley pulled Miya closer and wrapped her arms around her in a sideways hug. "What do you want to do today, Mimi?"

"It's not about today," Lucas cut in. "It's about last night."

Riley relinquished her hold on Miya. "All we did was talk!"

The Texan's terse expression didn't change. "Okay."

"Lucas, I'm not allowed to talk?" she challenged him.

"Sure you can," he conceded in a tone that sounded like he meant the exact opposite. "You can talk to whoever you want, Riley."

Riley's brows furrowed and she swallowed, feeling her throat tighten at the thought of Lucas being angry with her. "Mimi?"

Miya put a reassuring hand on her friend's arm. "Don't worry, Riles. I'll go sort it out."

The Asian girl went over to where Lucas was sitting on the stone bench in front of the fireplace. After a brief pause, she quipped, "so, I know you're into brunettes; am I gonna be at risk of making this thing a quadrilateral if I sit down?"

"You can take your chances," Lucas teased her back. Then he shook his head. "But seriously, you're with Farkle and I would never try to take another guy's girl. Plus he kind of scares me." He froze. "Don't tell him I said that."

She stared at him as she joined him on the bench. "Farkle scares you?"

"Well, yeah. Have you ever seen how crazy he gets when some he cares about is in trouble?" Lucas pointed out.

Miya thought about how Farkle reacted to the news of her being bullied. "Okay, that's fair. I wouldn't want to be on his bad side, either. But you know who shouldn't be on your bad side? Riley. All she did was talk. You know that, right?"

"I know. I saw."

"I mean," she continued, "you ever hurt your ankle and have to wear a big, clunky boot? It's terrible to fall asleep in. She was probably better off staying up all night."

Lucas looked at her, surprised. "You've had to wear a boot before?"

"No," Miya relented. "But that's how I imagine it would be. That's not the important thing, though. The reason you're bothered about the fact that she talked to another guy is because you have feelings for her. Why haven't you told her how you feel?"

"I know you weren't there when I first met Riley and Maya," Lucas stated instead of answering her, "but they told you the story, right?" When she nodded, he carried on: "and then I came to their school and Riley and I tried to be boyfriend and girlfriend, but we weren't ready for that. Then Maya saw her chance and swooped in. They're the best friends I've ever seen. If I believed in soulmates, I'd say that they're the definition of that. Who am I to get in the way of their bond? I care about both of them so much that I would prioritize their relationship over my own feelings."

Miya considered him thoughtfully. "That's. . . noble, I guess. But also kinda dumb."

Lucas frowned. "Dumb?"

"Yeah," she confirmed matter-of-factly. "I know you've got the mindset of being this Western hero, so you're villainizing yourself for liking Riley. I can see that now, especially since you just told me you'd never take another guy's— or girl's— girl. But the thing is, you're not stealing her from Maya, Lucas. They're not even really together like that. You're not the bad guy here. You're just a guy who has feelings and last time I checked, having feelings isn't a crime."

Lucas stared into the fire, jaw tightening. "You don't get it. If I say something and it ruins what they have—"

Miya actually laughed at that, causing him to scowl at her slightly. "Sorry. I just think it's funny that you think some guy— no offense— can get in the way of their friendship. I've watched Riley and Maya long enough to know nothing can break them. Not you, not me, not anything in the whole world. Because you're right about one thing: they are soulmates. Platonic or otherwise remains to be seen. That's just who they are."

Lucas's expression relaxed. "You really think so?"

The brunette studied him with warm, brown eyes. "I know so. Trust me, Lucas, if you told Riley how you felt, Maya wouldn't suddenly combust. She might tease you to death, but that's just her way. What you're really afraid of is Riley's answer."

That gave him pause. His brow furrowed, and for a long moment, the only sound was the crackle of the fire. "Yeah," he admitted. "Even if I put myself out on a limb, she's the one with all the power here. It might not matter what I say; she could still choose Maya in the end."

Miya shrugged. "Then she chooses Maya. And yeah, that might hurt. But at least you'll know and the creeping triangle of doom will be dead. You'll still be in her life. That's better than sitting here silently, letting jealousy eat you alive."

He gave a short laugh, though it was humorless. "You ever considered a career as a therapist?"

"Nah," Miya decided with a grin. "I've got enough work cut out for me here."

Lucas shook his head, but a reluctant smile broke through. "Well, we're lucky to have you."

🌎🌎🌎

Riley peered over the banister of the second floor hallway to watch Miya and Lucas below. Usually it was Maya who smoothed things over and talked things out for her; it felt weird to have someone else do it, but she had complete faith in Miya's abilities. In fact, she was touched that Miya had conceded to her request without protest or reluctance of any kind.

"You've got a good friend there," Josh commented, causing her to jump and glance over at him; she hadn't noticed her uncle sitting on the couch.

"Yeah, I do," she concurred, smiling warmly once more at Miya before sitting next to the older boy. "When do you start to understand your own feelings?"

"Well, we just need some road miles to begin to understand who we are," Josh replied.

"How do you know if you like-like girls, or if you just don't want to hurt your best friend?"

"Sexuality is fluid. Who or what you like when you're in high school can be different as you get older," Josh explained with a shrug. He adopted a faux-intellectual tone. "As a worldly college student, I've encountered quite the variety of people." He returned to his normal voice. "A lot of them are still trying to figure things out."

Riley pouted. "Great. So I'll still be wondering five years from now?"

Josh chuckled at her dramatics. "Maybe. But that's not a bad thing. The only timetable you're on is your own."

"When I was talking to Evan last night he made a good argument proving that I like Lucas like that and not Maya. And when we went to find Maya's voice again, she admitted that she wasn't sure if what she felt for me was anything more than. . . well, just love. Like best friend love. So if she doesn't even know, how am I supposed to?"

Josh leaned back into the couch thoughtfully. "Sounds to me like you both care about each other a lot, but maybe you're putting pressure on yourselves to make it something it isn't."

Riley's brows furrowed. "But what if it is? What if I mess it up by not seeing it?"

Her uncle gave her a patient smile. "Here's the thing: real feelings don't disappear just because you don't figure them out right away. If you and Maya ever had something more than friendship, you'd both know it deep down. It wouldn't feel like forcing a puzzle piece into the wrong spot."

She let his words sink in. "Evan said I sounded warmer when I talked about Lucas. That with Maya, it was more. . . stressed, like I was trying to carry something. I don't want that to be true, but I kind of know it is."

For a long moment, Riley sat without speaking, gazing back down at Miya and Lucas by the fire. Her chest felt heavy and light at the same time, like something inside her was shifting.

"Thanks, Josh," she murmured.

"Anytime, kid," he replied gently. Then, with a teasing grin: "my college advisor hours are between the normal people times of eight am and eight pm. Please don't wake me up at midnight and talk to me until the sun comes up. I'm not that kind of guy."

Riley giggled despite herself, though her mind was still racing. Maybe Evan and Josh were right. Maybe she did already know the what she wanted— she just had to be brave enough to face it. There was just one more person she had to talk to in order to be sure. But first. . .

🌎🌎🌎

"Okay, everyone! This is a game we're going to play," Evan announced to the teens that were gathered in the lodge's common area. He had a green book in his hands, which he waved around to get their attention. "We've had it behind the counter for years. Yeah, I'm going to read you some questions from this book. It's called The Official Guide to Who Belongs With Who."

Riley and Josh made their way downstairs while Maya, Farkle, Zay and Cory emerged from various doorways as if summoned. The Matthews girl gave the hardcover a curious once-over. "The book's gonna tell us?"

"No!" her father gasped, his eyes wide and horrified. He pointed at it as if it had personally offended him. "I remember that book. That book is evil. The first question is, 'if you could change your mate into one animal, what would it be?' And the only answer is the falcon."

Maya arched a brow at him. "How do you know that?"

"Because I am the falcon!"

"Of course, you are," Riley agreed with a hint of condescension in her voice.

"Let's play!" Maya cheered.

"Let's find out who belongs with who," Riley concurred.

"Don't do it," her father warned them. "Nobody do it."

The group shifted so that everyone could have a seat around the coffee table. Josh, Lucas and Evan took one couch (the very same couch, in fact, that Cory, Topanga and Lauren sat on so many years ago.) Maya and Riley took seats opposite them while Miya scooted over on the stone bench to let Farkle and Zay have enough room to sit next to her. Cory sighed morosely. "No one ever listens to the falcon. You all deserve what you get."

After the curly-haired man left them to it, Evan began. "Question number one."

"If you could change your mate into one animal—" Riley started, thinking that she already knew it thanks to her father's rant.

"It's not even the same question," Evan interjected.

Maya frowned. "Why not?"

"Because this is Who Belongs With Who: The Next Generation," he told them. Miya narrowed her eyes at him, noticing how he didn't open the book as he asked the first question. "The most important part of any meaningful relationship is, A, romance. . ."

"Yes, romance!" Riley exclaimed brightly. "Isn't that the whole point of a relationship?"

"It says any relationship," Farkle pointed out. "It doesn't just mean you and Lucas or Maya."

"Yeah, it also means relationships with your friends," Josh agreed.

"So if the answer isn't romance, then what else you got?" Riley demanded.

Evan still didn't open the book as he went on to the next option, "B, adventure."

"Yes, adventure!" Maya chimed in. "Break the rules."

"You don't have to break the rules to have an adventure," Lucas argued.

"What do you have against breaking the rules, Ranger Rick?" Maya challenged him.

"That's who he used to be, Maya. Cost him a year of his life," Zay reminded her. "I think maybe he's learned something."

"Read the other choice," Miya requested.

Evan eyed her curiously. "How do you know there is one?"

Because you're making it up, she wanted to say, but didn't want to ruin whatever experiment he was doing. Instead, she reasoned, "you just gave options that screamed 'Riley' and 'Maya.' There has to be a third, middle ground to balance out the extremes."

"Not the most scientific response," Farkle grumbled, "but you're right. That's how the structure of these kinds of tests usually works. I don't think we've heard the right answer yet, so I know the most meaningful part of any relationship is C."

"Can we please hear what C is?" Lucas queried.

Evan obliged. "C, conversation."

Miya lifted a finger triumphantly. "Ding!"

Farkle, proud of her for guessing the outcome before everyone else (in what he would call a moment of genius), grinned before he leaned over and kissed her on the cheek. She blinked, startled by the sudden gesture. Hugging in front of everyone was one thing, but kissing her? She felt herself flush from the boldness of his action.

"Well, would you look at that," Maya commented with a smirk. "Someone has gotten awfully comfortable with the PDA lately."

Farkle straightened, only a bit bothered by teasing. "That's because Miya and I have had so many good conversations that I have enough trust in our relationship to do things I normally wouldn't." He glanced over at Miya, his tone softening in a way that quieted the group for a moment. "When you know you're understood, you stop worrying so much about appearances."

Miya gazed up at him, her own expression full of affection. As the 'third wheel' on the bench, Zay couldn't help but quip, "hey, do I get a kiss on the cheek, too? From either one of you; I don't care."

Farkle gave him such a disparaging look that the brunet shifted to face the rest of their friends again. "No love for Zay. Got it."

Riley chuckled at his disgruntled rejection, knowing it was meant lightheartedly, as she returned to the topic at hand. "So the most meaningful part of a relationship is talking to each other?"

"And with the right person, sometimes you can talk all night," Evan replied.

"Yup, maybe so," Lucas snarked. He pushed himself off the couch. "Well, if y'all will excuse me, I'm gonna go over there and maybe, I don't know, kick a tree."

Zay winced. "Will y'all excuse me? I'm going to go over there and maybe, I don't know, save a tree."

"Question number two," Evan continued as if they hadn't been interrupted. "How do you know if you love somebody?"

"You know what?" Riley interjected. "I think that's enough games for now. Maya, can I talk to you?"

The blonde smiled warmly at her. "Always."

They left the group and went over to the bay window, leaving just Miya, Farkle and Evan behind. The couple exchanged a look that communicated they both knew Evan had pulled one over on their friends. Then, Farkle leaned forward. "May I please see that book?"

"This book?" Evan inquired, holding up the green volume. Miya thought he sounded nervous. "Okay, what do you need to see this book for?"

"I like reading," the brunette deadpanned. Then, she lunged forward and snatched it out of his grasp.

As she opened it, she felt her boyfriend lean against her arm to peer at the pages with her, both of their eyes going to the first sentence that was marked number one. Farkle read aloud, "'if you could change your mate into one animal. . .' This the same book from when Mr. and Mrs. Matthews were here last!"

"I knew you were making up the questions!" Miya exclaimed. "You're terrible at faking it; you should've at least looked at the pages and pretended to read."

Farkle's brows furrowed as he tried to figure out Evan's motives. "Why would you do that?"

"Hi," Evan replied, putting on what could only be described as a 'tour guide' voice. "I'm Evan, your friendly mountain guide. And I want to help people find the way to places they never thought they could reach before."

"How do you know so much about us?" Farkle wanted to know.

"I was talking with Riley all night," the other boy explained. "You would think that for one second we could talk about her and me but. . . you guys were all she wanted to talk about."

🌎🌎🌎

"Now that you're yourself again, do you like-like me or was that just because you were trying to be me?" Riley asked Maya after they settled down on the bay window seat.

"I like-like you," Maya confirmed, making Riley's expression twist into one of guilt and regret— and Maya already knew who she'd chosen to be with. The blonde reached over and took Riley's hand in hers. "I realized that I felt that way even before I lost my voice. When I wasn't myself, I doubted my feelings for you. . . and that isn't the case anymore. But Riles, you don't have to worry about me. I'm not saying that to be brave or noble— I'm not Huckleberry, after all. I mean it sincerely. If Lucas is the one you've got those googly, heart-eyed feelings for, then that's okay. That doesn't change us."

"But I don't want you to feel like you're. . . not enough. Because you are. You've always been enough for me, Maya," Riley insisted firmly.

"Good enough for you, huh?" the blonde mused with mock thoughtfulness.

"The best," Riley confirmed. "You'll always be the best. No matter what happens with Lucas. You'll always be my person first."

Maya smirked. "Well. . . this we've always known."

That broke Riley into a watery giggle, which Maya joined, the tension between them easing into something lighter.

Riley bumped her shoulder against Maya's. "You really are the best of me, you know that?"

"And you, me," Maya countered warmly. Then she grew more serious. "But I also know you're allowed to want what you want, Riles. You don't have to protect me from your heart. It's big enough for both of us, just in different ways."

Riley exhaled shakily, the guilt that had been pressing on her chest loosening. She leaned her head against Maya's shoulder, and Maya let it rest there. For a moment, they just breathed together, the silence between them comfortable again.

Whatever came next— with Lucas, with feelings, with the future— they both knew one thing was certain: nothing would ever break this.

🌎🌎🌎

Maya knew that Lucas would never tell Riley how he felt if it meant that hers and Riley's friendship would be affected. Miya had told her that she'd encouraged Lucas to just come out and say it, but Maya also knew that Lucas would need her blessing to do so— or, better yet, a kick in the pants. So, she went outside to track him down from where he hadn't actually been beating up nature, but rather pacing back and forth in front of Zay. She grabbed the front of his shirt without preamble and dragged him back to the lodge.

"Okay, Huckleberry, little golden sunshine-head is right," she stated as they marched through the entryway. "This triangle needs to be put out of its misery and there's only one way to do it."

"How?" he wondered, stumbling after her.

She stopped in front of the fireplace bench and they sat down together. "Well, I know who Riley picked and it's the best choice she could've made."

"You do?" Lucas inquired. "Shouldn't it be Riley who tells me? Us?"

"She didn't even need to say anything; I figured it out," Maya revealed smugly. "She likes both of us, but we also know there's only one of us that makes her little cotton candy heart go skippity-skip."

He let out a pent-up breath. "Okay. Who is it?"

"It's me," Maya declared confidently.

Lucas slumped visibly, his gaze falling into his lap. "Uh. . . that's-that's great."

"It's me and her forever. It always has been, it always will be," the blonde informed him.

"Um. . ."

"Also, I want you to stop talking to her," Maya ordered. "She's mine now."

". . .Okay," he sighed, defeated.

Maya smiled, but it wasn't to gloat— it was because her point had been proven. "You can't hurt me, can you?"

"I can never hurt you. I could never hurt either of you."

"This is why you're such a nice guy. This is why I really wish I had a smoothie right now," she lamented. Then she became serious again. "Lucas, I'm just messing with you. Riley didn't choose me. She chose you."

He froze. "Wait, what?"

She nodded. "Yeah. When she talked about me liking her it wasn't the same as when she talked about you liking her."

"You're just. . . giving up?" Lucas inquired. "That's not like you."

"Riley made her choice and I love her so much that I'll support whatever decision she makes," Maya declared, her voice full of conviction.

"That's like you," he conceded.

"And that's why you have to do what Miya said: you have to tell her that you love her," Maya encouraged him

The Texan coughed, startled by the L-word. "Love her?"

"Just say it. We like it."

They didn't always see eye-to-eye (though mostly that was because his niceness grated on Maya's nerves), but they came to an understanding in that moment. He leaned forward and hugged her— the first time he had ever done so in Maya's memory. "Thank you."

"What are friends for?"

"That was a real adult thing you just did," Zay commented after Lucas had gotten up to go talk to Riley.

Maya turned, surprised to see him standing nearby; she hadn't noticed that he'd followed them back inside. "I just want her to be happy."

Zay took Lucas' unoccupied seat. "What about you?"

"What do you mean?"

"I mean, how do you feel? Is this a brave front you're putting on or. . .?" he trailed off.

"I'm fine," Maya promised. At his disbelieving expression, she insisted, "really. I'm not just saying that to hide my feelings or whatever. Riley's happiness is the only thing I care about, so as long as Lucas treats her right— and I know he will— that's what matters. Why?"

He shrugged and leaned back against the stone wall that surrounded the fireplace. "You and Miya were the first people to reach out to me when I first moved here. When I felt like an outsider, you sat down next to me and talked to me. That's something I'll never forget."

Maya's tone was careless as she reasoned, "yeah, well, you're Lucas' friend. You would've ended up in our group eventually."

"That's probably true," he admitted. "But you helped make the transition easier."

She brushed off the compliment like it was nothing. "That's what we do. Riley collects people, and I. . . make sure they don't trip over themselves on the way in."

He hesitated, then began carefully, "look. . . I respect the fact that you like girls. Really, I do. But have you ever even considered going out with a guy?"

That made her blink. "What?"

"I'm not asking you out," he clarified quickly.

Maya narrowed her eyes at him. "I didn't think you were. And, to be honest, I haven't. Riley's always been the only one for me. Why?"

Zay exhaled, shifting his weight as he tried to find the right words. "Lucas and Riley are gonna be going out on dates and holding hands and being all scared to death, and Lucas isn't gonna think anything about ditching one of his best friends. Nor would Riley. But I don't want you to miss out while they get to have all their firsts."

Her brow furrowed, curiosity overtaking surprise. "What are you saying?"

"There's a lot that's probably gonna happen to us," he reasoned slowly, "and I'll probably be stupid. But. . . what's not stupid is you and her. And I never want you to feel like a third wheel when Lucas and Riley are gazing into each other's stupid, stupid eyes. Or worse like a fifth wheel when it's Farkle and Miya, too. Which, let's be honest, they're weird. Cute, but weird."

Her lips twitched upward. "Okay, so what exactly did you have in mind?"

"So here's my offer," Zay continued, straightening a bit. "Whenever Lucas and Riley do their thing, I want you to know I'll sit next to you. At the movies, at the pizza place, at whatever bizarre double date Farkle plans that ends in a science lecture. I'll be there. Not because you need me, but because I don't ever want you to feel like the odd one out."

For a second, she didn't say anything. Then, quietly, "that's actually. . . really nice, Zay. I appreciate it," she went on. "And I accept. But just so we're clear, as far as I know, I only like girls romantically."

"That's fine," he allowed easily. "I'll just be a placeholder until you meet the woman of your dreams. Unless I'm awesome enough that it makes you change your mind about guys." He winked at her.

She laughed at that. "You're ridiculous."

🌎🌎🌎

While Zay was talking to Maya, Lucas took a seat next to Riley on the bay window. "My favorite thing in this world is when you talk to me."

She brightened. "It is?"

"It's okay for you to talk to whoever you want, Riley," he reassured her. "You know why? Because I am a secure Western hero."

The brunette chuckled. "Yes. Yes, you are."

More hesitantly, he added, "but the important talks. . . the ones that we're going to think about and always remember. Can those just be between you and me?"

Her expression softened. "Well, I've been thinking about that, too. And if we were. . . together a little more, we could talk to each other a whole lot. And if there was some dance or something. . . we could go together?"

He reached over and gently took her hand in his. "Yeah. I'd. . . love that."

Riley glanced down at their joined hands. "I guess Maya told you who I picked, then?" At his confirmation, her eyes flicked over to the fireplace where her best friend sat. "Will she be okay? I don't want her to be hurt."

"She's the one who sent me to you," he shared.

Lucas' words hung in the air, and Riley's eyes shimmered with a mixture of relief and anticipation. For so long, the uncertainty had weighed on her, but now, sitting close together in the warm glow of the bay window, it felt like the world had finally tilted into place.

She let out a small breath, then whispered, "I choose you, and I really want you to choose me." Her voice trembled slightly, but her gaze stayed steady on his.

Lucas leaned closer, his expression both tender and unwavering. "I do. I always did."

Riley's heart swelled, and a hopeful smile tugged at her lips. "I have something for you," she remembered.

"You do?"

She nodded and slowly reached into her pocket, pulling out a bright orange leaf, its edges curled slightly but its color still bold and radiant. She held it between them, the leaf catching the light of the sun through the window. "We have this one little life and for a lot of it, we just blow around in the wind. We don't know where we'll end up or who we'll meet. But if we're lucky and we believe that life knows what it's doing, sometimes we land on the right someone to talk to."

She handed the leaf over to him and he took it, accepting it as carefully as if it were the most precious thing he'd ever been given. Her eyes softened as she searched his. "I'm glad I fell into your lap."

His chest tightened at the sincerity in her words. "So am I," he confessed, holding her gaze, his thumb brushing lightly over the delicate stem of the leaf.

For a moment, silence wrapped around them, comfortable and full. The fire crackled across the room, Zay's voice still drifting in and out as he chatted with Maya, but neither Riley nor Lucas paid attention. All that mattered was this— this moment, this choice and this fragile, beautiful beginning.

A/n: there is only one worthwhile part in all of Girl Meets Bear, which is the Zay and Maya scene. I'll be skipping that episode, but I wanted to still make sure I included that one part since, eventually, I plan to have Zay and Maya become a "thing."

And this chapter marks the halfway point of this act! It also concludes the section of what I consider the "boring" chapters (or, at least, the not-as-interesting ones) as the next few are ones that I've been looking forward to/planning for a long time: Jack and Katy's wedding, the diversity episode, Girl Meets World of Terror 3 (the only worthwhile World of Terror episode) and several chapters of Shawn/Juliet stuff!!