In Lost Moments, found in my rucas fanfics, I mention a conversation between Riley and Maya. Something about it spoke to me, and this came to be. It's been on my tumblr for a while, but I decided to post it on here as well. I hope you enjoy.

I had come home to visit for the holidays, Lucas was going to be down in a few days, so I decided I would use those days to spend as much time with Maya. Her life her in New York in art school had taken over her life, and my life with classes in California had taken over mine. I was sad to say, but Maya and I had drifted apart, but I never stopped considering her my best friend.

She didn't know I was in town. I wanted to surprise her, so as soon as my plane landed I went home to drop my bags off, say hi to my parents and Auggie, and I left to Maya's apartment.

I get to her front door, and I hesitate to knock. I don't know what to expect things to be like between the two of us. I take a deep breath before my knuckles touch her door.

"Riles," Maya's voice is ecstatic, "What are you doing here? I didn't know you were coming into town today! Come in," she grabs my arm yanking me inside embracing me into a warm hug.

I laugh, "I wanted to surprise you," I say pulling away. My eyes scan the apartment. This is the first time I've been here. You can definitely tell this is Maya's studio apartment; she made her mark.

The walls are completely covered in art, I can only tell they are white by the little spots that are open. She has a corner in her apartment that has an easel with a canvas rest on it. She has paints laying around.

I look at her and notice she is dressed up. "Where are you going?"

"One of my friends from school is having a party tonight, and I said I'd go for a little bit. You should come it'll be fun."

I sigh, "Okay, but is it a party where there is going to be a lot of drinking? You know I don't drink too much. Do I even look okay?"

Maya laughs, "And you look fine. Maybe tonight you'll let your hair loose." We both walk out. Even though we go time without seeing each other and sometimes we don't talk, right now it feels like we were never apart.

We tumble inside her apartment her apartment laughing. We are both a little tipsy, me more than her. We drank the same, but I'm a lightweight compared to her. Maya helps guide me to her couch, while she moves to the kitchen area to get me some water.

Thoughts are starting to circle my mind, things I've always wanted to say but always talked myself out of it. Maya returns with a glass and hands it to me. She makes sure I drink all of it. I take a deep breath that is followed by a hiccup.

"Lucas is going to propose," my words are slurred and rushed.

I look at Maya who is smiling at me. "How do you know?"

"He called me last weekend after he got home from a frat party. He was drunk, so I don't think he remembers he told me," I hiccup with a slight smile, "he has a ring. I never told you or anybody, but when he came out to California the summer right after high school he proposed."

Her eyes widen, "What?!"

"He proposed, but I said no. We were just trying to work everything out," my words run together, and I hope she understands. "But he's going to propose, and I'm going to say yes," a smile forms on my lips.

"I'm happy for you, Riles!" Maya exclaims taking a seat next to me placing an arm around me.

I sigh, "Are you?" I mumble.

She pulls away and looks at me confused, "What?"

"Are you really happy?" the words fall out. I have no control over what's going to come out next. "You aren't going to wait for me to walk down the aisle and say you have feelings for him?" The words just fall out. "When Lucas first came to New York you practically pushed the two of us together. I mean literally, you pushed me in the subway to him. Whenever something happened between Lucas and I, you listened to me swoon for hours at the window. Then suddenly you say you like him. I mean what the hell was that?!"

Maya is taken by surprise, "Riley, I thought we were moved past that."

I shake my head, "No, you moved past it," I slur. "That time still creeps up on me sometimes, and I know it does the same to him. When he thinks I'm sleeping, he'll run his fingers through my hair and apologize for ever hurting me. For making me believe that he was ever confused about his feelings."

"Riles, I di-"

I hold my finger out stopping her. "Yeah, I know you didn't mean to," my tone is sarcastic. I have no idea what's gotten into me; I guess this is what they can liquid courage. I hiccup, "You never even said sorry."

"Where is, all this coming from?" Maya asks confused.

I look at her, "It never went away. I couldn't fathom how my best friend couldn't see how much she was hurting me." I take a deep breath, "For god sakes, I basically changed personas because you and Lucas were voted best couple in eighth grade. Why did you think I'd be okay with you and Lucas actually trying to be a real couple?"

Maya sighs and her eyes drop to the ground, "You're kind of drunk right now. Why don't we talk about this in the morning?" Pause. "If you'll be able to remember," she mumbles under her breath.

I scoff, "Fine in the morning." Maya stands up and walks behind the room divider to her bed. Usually, her and I would sleep in the same bed when we have a sleepover, but tonight I don't think it's a good idea. I grab the blanket is hanging over the back, kick over my boots, and wrap myself in the blanket falling asleep.

When I wake up, there are two aspirin and a bottled water on the side table for me. I have a slit headache and wait a second before sitting up, placing the pills in my mouth, and chasing them down with water. Maya was hoping that the night would wash our conversation from my mind, but everything is still fresh.

I hear rustling from behind me, and I turn my head to see Maya walking out from the restroom.

"Goodmorning," my voice is a little groggy.

She jumps slightly, "Goodmorning. I wasn't expecting you up. How are you feeling?"

I stand up slowly, "I'm okay. A little headache, but the aspirin should help with that." I watch as her eyes scan over my face, trying to figure out if I remember last night. I clear my throat, "I'm going to use the restroom," she nods her head, and I walk past her.

I close the door behind me. I grab the listerine bottle that sits on the side of the sick and gargle a mouth full for a minute before spitting it out. I take the hair tie from my wrist and put my hair up in a messy bun. I catch a glimpse of myself in the mirror and let out a long breath, so there are two ways this can go. One, I can act like I never said anything since I'm guessing she's hoping I forgot based on her comment last night, or two, I continue our conversation from last night.

I turn on my heels and reach for the door. I walk out to see Maya placing the blanket back where it belongs, and then taking a seat on the couch.

"I could have done that," I say taking a seat next to her.

She lets out a deep sigh, "Riley, we need to talk about last night," I look at her, "You need to finish what you were saying." I don't say anything. "Do you not remember?"

I shake my head, "I remember. I just hadn't decided if I was going to."

"You need to say what you've kept bottled up for so long."

Silence surrounds us. I don't know where to start. I've always wondered how this moment would go if I ever decided to say anything to her. I guess it's now or never, right? I inhale and exhale before I open my mouth.

"I-I, you know it's not important. I-"

"Riles," Maya cuts me off, "tell my exactly how you felt. I can handle it, no sugar coating it."

I take a deep breath, "Honestly, I thought you were a horrible best friend to me," I watch her head drop and the silence returns.

She clears her throat, "don't stop."

I sigh, "I was angry. I mean how could you not see how upset I was. You saw me turn into Morticia M Black, and then hid what you thought I felt. You didn't even bother talking about it with me. I wanted to set you straight, and maybe that was my mistake for not doing that. And then there was the semi formal. You were still convinced that I saw him as a brother. I watched you dance with him at the dance and it hurt. I bet you didn't know I cried that night." I take a deep breath, "Then there was Texas, and you let me step back from him when you should have known as my best friend how hard that was for me."

"You ignored my tear stained cheeks. You ignored my fake smiles and fake laughs. You put the three of us, you, me, and Lucas, through so much. Lucas and I stopped talking the way we use to because we both thought, well I thought it wasn't fair to you. And by not talking to him, I felt like I was missing this part of me." Exhale.

"The night of New Year's when Farkle announced I still had feelings, you never talked to me about how I hid my feelings. I bet you didn't know how he snuck into my room that night, and we just sat in silence. He was mad, and he had every reason to be; I lied and it led to this mess. That was my fault. He use to come to my room some night, and we'd just enjoy each other's presence," I start to fidget with my hands, "I asked him to stop because I knew he would have to even it out with you, and the thought of you being alone with him killed me inside."

"When he finally picked me, I was on cloud nine, every minute I spend with him I'm on cloud nine. But when he picked me, I still felt like I couldn't be happy because of you." I look at Maya who is looking at the ground. "I don't mean to make you feel bad. I just, sometimes these feelings eat me alive. You're my best friend, and Lucas is the man I want to spend the rest of my life with and I don't want to have to worry about anything in the future."

Maya gets up, and I see her walk to her corner where all her art things at. She shuffles through a couple of things before returning with a few pieces of paper in her hands. She hands me the first one, and it's a picture of me and Lucas from the ski lodge but from the outside. The two of us are staring at each other in the drawing smiles on both of our faces.

"I watched everything from the outside," Maya says, and I pull my gaze away from the drawing and look at her. "He looked at you with yearning in his eyes, the way he always has, I guess it was something I chose not to see, but in that moment I knew it was always you for him, Riley."

She hands me another one. Lucas and I are in an empty classroom. I'm sitting in a desk in the front with my head down scribbling in a notebook, and Lucas is sitting in the back with his eyes locked on me and a sad smile spread across his face.

"This was senior year during the time you two were broken up." She takes a deep breath and looks down at the drawing, "Lucas never stopped admiring you from afar. No matter what he was doing as soon as you came around him, his eyes immediately found you. I knew you two were going to work everything out. You two had to."

She hands me the last piece of paper she had in her hands. Lucas and I are embraced in each other's arms gazing into one another's eyes with the beach behind us. It's almost a cliché drawing, but this is one day I remember. I can't help the smile that plays on my lips.

I look up, and Maya is already looking at me. "You remember that day?" I nod. "Two summers ago, we all went to Farkle's family beach house for a week. You and Lucas were the first ones to change and run down to the beach. The rest of us eventually followed, but when we got down there he was chasing you around."

I start laughing and return my eyes back to the paper, "He was trying to pull me into the water, but I didn't want to. Of course, he did it anyways," I scoff.

Maya nods, "I thought you were going to be mad, which you were at first. You stormed off, and he chased after you. He whispered something in your ear, and a smile washed across your face and just like that you forgave him." I smile at the memory.

"These are beautiful Maya." Pause. "Why do you have them?"

She sighs, "I have some of Farkle and Smackle, your parents, my mom and Shawn stored away. I watched you all share these moments, and I wanted to have this great love I see in all of you guys. I never thought I'd find it."

"But you did," I smile.

"I did," she whispers. She clears her throat, "I'm so sorry Riles. I can't apologize enough for what I put you through and Lucas. I should have apologized sooner, and you never have to worry about anything like that happening again."

"Apology accepted, and I'm sorry for my outburst."

Maya shakes her head, "Don't be. You had every right."

My phone starts ringing, and I reach for it.

Hello?

Riley? Where are you? You didn't come home last night. My mom says from the other end.

I spent the night at Maya's last night. I'll be home in a bit.

Well, you have a surprise here.

I smile. Well, what is it?

You should come home and find out. My mom isn't going to say a word.

Lucas! I hear Auggie shout from the other end, and my heart starts racing. He wasn't supposed to be here yet. The two of them have gotten extremely close. Auggie almost gets as excited as me to see Lucas.

Auggie! You ruined the surprise! My mom scolds him. Hang on a second Riley.

Hey beautiful. Where are you? Lucas' voice fills my ears, and my heart begins to flutter.

Lucas! I exclaim. You're here! I thought you were going to be here for a few more days.

I wanted to surprise you. Plus, I had to come a little early to talk to your dad. Anyways, you should stay with Maya. You two haven't seen each other in a while.

There's a knock on her front door, and Maya moves to answer it. I watch a smile spread across her face as she opens the door and leaps into someone's arms.

I smile. I don't think I'm needed much here right now. Josh just got here, so I'll be on my way home.

I can't wait. I love you.

I love you too. I hang up the phone.

Josh walks in and closes the door behind him. I start to put on my boots and put on my jacket.

"Hey niece," Josh smiles at me.

"Hey, Uncle Josh." I walk over to give him a hug.

"What you're leaving?" Maya asks.

I nod, "Yeah. Lucas came early to surprise me."

Josh laughs, "That explains why your dad sounded so uneasy on the phone right now. Lucas still makes your dad a little tense."

"Yeah, that's because Lucas is the one Riley is going to marry," Maya chimes in. "I bet he's asking permission from Cory."

I give Maya a look and smile, "Well, you two have fun. I'm going home." I give them each a hug goodbye, but when I get to Maya, she holds on a little tighter and longer.

"Are we okay?" she whispers near my ear and I nod. "I love you, Riles."

"I love you too, peaches." I pull away, and she makes sure I promise to call her later. I walk out the door, and I feel like the weight has been lifted off my shoulders.

The whole way home I feel butterflies in my stomach. I'm about to see Lucas, and I'm ready for my ride on cloud nine.