Author Note: This will be a series of shorts about Riley and Lucas at different points in their relationship.

The song used in this fic is I Saw by Matt Nathanson.

I saw

Lucas hadn't climbed up this fire escape in what felt like forever. He wasn't exactly sure what made him feel the need to do it tonight, why this couldn't wait until the morning. But he knew it couldn't. He just hoped he didn't lose another shoe; his father was going to kill him if he lost another one.

Her light was still on, and he could hear some music playing. It was a sad love song. Just as it ended another one started.

He tapped on her window, not sure what reaction he was going to get.

The curtain pushed away, and her eyes grew wide when she saw him, cracking the mud mask she was wearing as she tried not to smile.

She unlocked the window, pushing it up; the cold February air came in.

"What are you doing here?" She was sure this wasn't real; it had to be a fantasy or better yet a dream.

"We need to talk Riley; we can't keep avoiding each other."

And it's amazing
When the look in your eyes
Like you could save me
But you won't even try
And then you tell me again
How everything will be alright

Riley excused herself to go wash her mask off in the bathroom. Lucas was in her room. Her father would flip more than he had ever flipped before if he knew. She glanced towards the kitchen; he was grading papers while her mother was doing her own work. All she had to do was go in and say goodnight to them, they wouldn't check on her for a while.

She hadn't realized her hands were shaking until she splashed the water on her face and picked up the towel to dry off.

What did he want?

Why was he here?

She counted to ten, keeping her hands together as she went to say goodnight.

Her stomach was in knots, she wasn't sure she could talk to him, but he was right they had to stop avoiding each other, and that's what they'd been doing since Farkle made his big announcement.

And if I told you
That I'm sorry
Would you tell me that you were wrong
Or would you hold me done forever
If I came to you for answers

She closed the door, thought about locking it but that would just tip her parents off if they came to check on her.

"They should be distracted for a while. I think Dad is trying to figure out Farkle's paper." She told him, if she let herself she would admit how good it felt to see him sitting at the bay window.

He smiled as she kept her hand on the doorknob to keep herself from melting from his look.

"So what did you want to talk about, I think I have notes if you need them for English." She kept her distance, afraid to get close to him. She knew this wasn't about homework.

"Texas, Charlie, New Year's Eve, what Farkle said." He listed everything he could think of, everything they should've talked about weeks ago, months ago.

She counted to ten before she turned to him. "Okay, let's talk."

And I saw
Pictures in my hea
And I swear I saw you opening up, again

"Was Farkle right with what he said on New Year's?" He watched as she moved around the room, doing everything she could to not look at him.

She slowly twirled around to face him, but she still looked down, "Yes."

He could feel his heart racing with relief, "If you feel that way, why did you tell me you love me like a brother in Texas?"

She twisted her fingers together nervously, "I realized that Maya has feelings for you, and she deserves to be happy, and you two seem to make more sense as a couple, so I stepped back."

"It's very sweet of you to do that, but doesn't that just hurt me and you, and Maya?"

"Why would it?" Riley sat a few feet away from him, afraid to look into those clear green eyes of his.

"Come on Riles, you don't see it do you?"

"See what? What you and Maya are this perfect couple, that's what everyone thinks right?"

He moved in front of her, taking her face in his hands, forcing their eyes to connect, the smile spreading across his lips, "Maya is like a sister to me. I've never had a romantic notion about her."

"You did this to her." She stated.

"No, I was stopping her from getting in my face." He pushed the stray of hair away from her eyes, "Riles, I could never kiss Maya, for a moment I thought she was going to kiss me. I was terrified, because the only girl I want to kiss . . . is you."

And I'm surrounded
You spill
All alive and Brand new
And I'll forget about you long enough
To forget why I need to

Riley was frozen in place, her heart was racing. This couldn't be real; Lucas Friar was not sitting here at her bay window telling her the sweet things she'd always wanted to hear.

"So, this is what I know so far Riley; that you stepped back from us, so that Maya could have a chance with me. You don't love me like a brother, you love me a different way, right?"

She nodded feeling his fingers starting to comb her hairline. This couldn't be real, it had to a dream, a beautifully honest dream and any moment her alarm was going to go off, and Lucas wouldn't be here, in front of her, touching her.

"Riley, why did you go out with Charlie?"

She reached up, her hands covering his. God he felt real, this all felt real, it couldn't be. "I had to move on so that I could step back, and no one would question it. Except Farkle, he knew. He figured it out the night I went out on my first date with Charlie. That's what we were talking about when I dragged him out after you told me you couldn't be my brother."

"You're shaking." He removed his hands from her head, taking hers in his. "Riley, I wish I understood how this got so messed up. Is it because I didn't ask you to the semi-formal?"

He had tears in his eyes, she hadn't expected to see that, ever. "I mean Lucas, if you liked me why didn't you ask me?"

"Because I assumed we were going, and when I tried to talk to you about it Charlie had already asked." He looked at her hands in his, his thumb tracing over her fingernails.

She pulled away, rising from the bay window pacing.

And I saw
Pictures in my head
Ad I swear I saw you opening up again
Cause I would be heavenly if
Baby you'd just rescue me now

Riley locked her door; she needed to know her father wouldn't burst in. If this was real, and not a dream, she needed this to be as honest as possible. "The yearbook was already out, you and Maya were best couple even though you and I had an unofficial thing. Then when you didn't ask me to the semi-formal, I started to really wonder if maybe you didn't want to hurt me, didn't want to tell me that you liked Maya instead."

Lucas listened; he could see so much pain. "Maya was never an option for me, she still isn't."

"Then why did you go on dates with her, why did you play the couple game with her? Why did you eat your card?"

"That trying to move on thing, it's a two-way street. If I went out with Maya, I wasn't supposed to be mad or jealous that you were with Charlie. I thought you didn't like me anymore, so I tried to distract myself, and all I ever really got were awkward silences and a few smoothies over my head." He sighed looking up from the floor, watching her, "When Charlie brought out the couples game, I felt challenged and since I couldn't play it with you, Maya was the best option. But at that moment I didn't know that you still had feelings for me and I didn't want to hurt her. I might have a fiery side Riley, but I am a library guy all day long, any day of the week."

These days are
Drifting away from me
I still wake up
Burning through everything now

Riley picked at her nail polish she had applied only an hour or two ago, "Do you hate me?"

"God no, Riley, I was angry at you and at Farkle for a while, I was hurt because you pushed me away, and I missed you Riles. I missed you a lot." He'd gotten up and he took her hands in his and tilted her chin up so she had to look in his eyes.

The tears were there, again—still she didn't know. "I missed you to, I just didn't want to lose you and I thought I was doing the right thing, but I realize now it wasn't."

"Please don't cry Riley."

"Well, if I'm crying it's cause you are." She bit he lower lip, each second passing she got lost in his graceful green eyes. "I don't know what we're supposed to do right now."

Lucas leaned down to whisper in her ear, "Riley, I love you. I want us to become official, and take it one day at a time."

A shiver shot through her body when she felt his breath on her ear, his words curling her toes. "You do?"

"Would I risk coming up to your bedroom this late at night, in my last pair of shoes if I didn't?" He ran his hand down the side of her face.

"I love you to Lucas." She smiled, a part of her still believing this was a dream.

"Thank God, I was starting to worry Farkle exaggerated that part." He smiled, "One more thing, will you be my girlfriend?"

"Yes." She threw her arms around him, "A thousand times yes Lucas."

He held her as he lifted her off the ground, his lips met hers in a slow kiss of months of confusion and feelings were finally released. It was different then their subway kiss—not in a bad or good way, just different, more powerful.

"I should go; I'll pick you up in the morning before school." He went to the window, "Goodnight Princess Dancing Sunshine."

"Hey Mad Dog." Riley watched as he climbed out the window, "Your moment was amazing."

He smiled and blew her a kiss before leaving.

She closed the window and the curtains. This was real, it had to be, she could still feel his lips on hers.

And I saw
Pictures in my head
And I swear I saw you opening up again
I would heavenly if
Baby you'd just rescue me now
Pictures in my head
I saw you opening up again
Cause I would be heavenly if
Baby you'd just rescue me now

Lucas had arrived to walk with Riley to school, thankfully after Cory had already left for the day. It wasn't until they were actually standing outside the school that Riley got nervous, "Are you sure you want this."

"Yes, I'm positive." He brought her hand to his lips kissing it. "We don't have to tell anyone, this can be our secret for a while if you want."

"I mean my Dad might chase you out of class."

"Then let's not say anything to anyone."

Riley took a deep breath, "Let's do this."

Neither said anything to anyone, but they held each other's hand as they walked up the steps, into the hall and as they dropped stuff at their lockers.

Farkle knew as soon as he saw them, but stayed quiet. It was when they walked into history class that they even realized they'd been holding hands this entire time. Zay noticed and a smile crept over his face, proud of his friend for finally talking to the girl. Maya felt a sadness wash over her, but also a relief she didn't understand as she watched Riley sit down in her seat before she stole a look at Lucas.

When Cory walked into the room he froze, "What's going on? Something is different?"

"Nothing is going on sir." Farkle looked at his teacher, "Or are you just looking for an excuse to not teach us about Belgium 1831?"

Cory sighed, "Okay, okay let's get started."