Chapter 1

"Thanks for meeting me here this morning. I'm sorry I couldn't come get you at your house," Lucas said as he hugged Riley. They were at the subway station waiting for the train on their way to school.

"That's okay. I think I can make it a few blocks to the subway station on my own without any trouble. Were you just running late this morning?" Riley asked him.

"Well, I was talking to my parents about something," he said. The train arrived at the station and they quickly filed in and found two seats.

"So what were they talking to you about?" Riley asked slowly.

"Well, they want to take a road trip to visit my grandparents this weekend since we don't have school on Monday," Lucas said.

"A road trip to Texas?" Riley asked

"Yeah and I was wondering if you wanted to come with us?" Lucas asked looking at Riley.

"Wait, me come with you and your family to Texas?" Riley asked with a concerned look on her face.

"Yeah. I thought it would be kind of fun to bring you, Maya and Farkle to see my home," Lucas said.

"That does sound like fun. All of us friends going together," Riley said relieved.

"Did you think I was going to take you by yourself?" Lucas asked grinning at Riley.

"Yes. That would've been just a little too intimidating if it was just me," Riley said sheepishly.

"Riley, my family is going to love you. You have nothing to worry about," Lucas said.

When they arrived at school, Maya and Farkle were chatting by their lockers. Riley and Lucas walked over to to join them.

"So we get to see the farm where Ranger Rick grew up?" Maya said as she punched Lucas' arm.

"You asked them first?" Riley asked astonished at Lucas.

"Well, I wanted to make sure you would say yes. So I figured if I wasn't convincing enough, maybe a little peer pressure would help," he said smiling at Riley.

"Sure.." Riley said slowly as her eyes narrowed at Lucas.

"Aren't you excited you get to Farkle on a farm?" Maya asked Riley.

"Yeah I guess that does have kind of a ring to it," Riley replied as the group laughed.

The bell rang.

"Walk me to class?" Riley asked looking at Maya.

"Always, my dear," Maya said smiling at Riley. The two girls linked arms and walked into their history class.

"You should try to look a little more excited about getting to meet Huckleberry's family," Maya whispered as they both sat down.

"Does this look unexcited to you?" Riley said as she flashed an over exaggerated smile at Maya.

"You know what I mean. If you don't want to go, then don't go," Maya whispered back.

"It's not that I don't want to go..." Riley whispered.

"Then what is it?" Maya asked

"I'm just nervous about the whole thing," Riley replied.

"Nervous about what? Farkle and I are going to be there," Maya asked. The second bell rang. Riley looked around the class to see that the class had filled up in the short amount of time that her and Maya were talking. She looked over at Lucas who was looking back at her with a concerned look on his face. Riley smiled at him and turned around to face the front of the room. Mr. Matthews began the lesson for the day.