RoomHates-1
"Is it really D-day?" Riley asked her best friend Maya with a pout.
"Yes, honey." Maya said barely over a whisper while she held her suitcase in her hand. It was the same small brown leather suitcase she brought in here years ago.
Today was the day, Maya, was supposed to move out their apartment. The apartment, that they have shared together for the last six years. She was a traitor in Riley's eyes right now.
Yes, definitely a traitor.
Maya was the one that told Riley, she was never getting married. Marriage was for suckers. Those were her exact words. Now here she is, 6 years later with a diamond engagement ring on her finger about to marry the other traitor Riley's Uncle Josh in less than two months.
"I thought we had more time." Riley asked her while walking around the kitchen counter to hug her best friend.
"I wish." Maya said softly.
"I still don't have a roommate chosen." Riley said with a sigh.
If it was up to her she would never have another one, it would just be Maya. Unfortunately, she could not do that living in New York. She couldn't afford this place on her own. If she picked a one bedroom apartment or studio in New York on her budget, it wouldn't be bigger than her current closet right now.
Her only other option would be to move back home. She wasn't going to do that. Her parents finally have the place to themselves since Auggie started his first year in NYU. They are loving every minute of it. She needed a roommate and fast. She could afford one month without one, possibly two, but three months no way.
"You will find one. One not as awesome as me, but a close second." Maya said with a laugh blinking back the tears. She holds her head up to prevent any tears from falling before continuing with what she is saying. "But I had a few calls for possible new roommates."
Maya had helped Riley, set up a roommate request on a few online sites. She put her number and email as the call back. She wanted to filter out the weirdos and help Riley make her decision on a new roommate.
"Thank you." Riley said while hugging her one more time.
"You know someone else is looking for a roommate." Maya said with a smirk.
Riley glares at Maya for just mentioning that. This just makes Maya laugh harder. Riley knew who she was hinting at. Maya had been doing these subtle hints the last few months. Riley would never, ever live with Lucas Friar. Period.
"I'm mad you even thought that was a possibility." Riley said while folding her arms against her chest and leaning against the counter.
"What isn't he your bro?" Maya asked her with a smirk and she hits her on the arm just like she used to do to Lucas in the 8th grade and all their years through school. Riley winces. "He's your best friend buddy. Why would it be bad if he stayed here with you. He does need a roommate. Farkle is putting him out too so that he and Smackle can move in together"
"I can think of so many reasons." Riley said while rubbing her arm. Her face was turning red just thinking about the possibility of Lucas staying here.
Maya wasn't hiding the fact that she was making fun of the idea of them being best friends and brother and sister. Riley had redefined their relationship after they left Texas in the 8th grade. She had changed that relationship for Maya since she thought Maya had feelings for Lucas. She wanted to give her an opportunity to explore that relationship since she thought Maya and Lucas had feelings for one another. The time she gave them all they did was go on two dates that they didn't even talk on and it never amounted to anything.
If it never amounted to anything, then why are we still in the brother and sister friend zone? Lucas decided he didn't want to hurt either us so he never pursued a relationship with either one of us. So instead he pursued other relationship in high school. So Riley kept up the same excuse so she would never get hurt or lose him as a friend.
"Give me one reason." Maya shot back at Riley.
One reason. Riley shrugs her shoulders and sighs. The many reasons were hard to put into words. Riley knew whatever reason she gave Maya would counter her. She didn't want her to counter her with the one argument Maya always countered her with. That she still had feelings for Lucas Friar.
How could a boy put an effect on her heart for 12 years? She thought it would loosen by now. That the lie she said so many years ago, would become a reality. Every time she saw him those old feelings would resurface.
"Why do we have to rehash the reasons." Riley countered. "I just want to be sad that my best friend, sister, roomie is leaving me."
"Fine, Riles." Maya said while shaking her head. She didn't want to argue with her best friend today either. This day was taking a toll on her too.
"Bay window." Riley said softly while staring at her best friend. This was another reason they had to get this apartment. It came with a bay window like her childhood apartment. Maya simply nodded her head. She lets go of her suitcase and takes Riley's hand before walking over to the bay window together.
"This is real." Maya said softly while putting her head on Riley's shoulder. Her voice trembled a little with the gravity of that this moment was real. It was really happening, not just a dream. She was leaving her second home with her oldest dearest friend she had. She was starting a new chapter in her life.
"Yeah Peaches it is real." Riley said while squeezing her.
They hear a soft knock at the door and both look at the door. Josh hesitantly walks into the apartment.
"Hey." He said softly. He puts his hands in his pockets and looks between the two women. He was nervous to say anything else but that for now.
"You two better get out of here before the waterworks start for me." Riley admitted while holding her friend close. She finally let's go and stands up from the bay window.
"We will still be in the city." Josh reminded her.
"The other side of town." Riley added.
"It's only a 10 minute subway ride." Josh defended.
"Only." Riley exclaimed. Josh had to laugh at this niece overreacting. She glares at him so he stops.
"Monday, I will set up a time where you can meet with some potential roommates." Maya told Riley before hugging her one more time. She interlocks her hands with Josh and smiles up at him. He smiles back before kissing her on the lips. Riley envied what they had. She wanted that. She was so glad that her best friend and sister found a love like this. A love she didn't think was possible because of what happened between her mother and father.
"Okay." Riley said sadly.
"Bye, honey." Maya said while letting go of Josh's hand to give Riley one more hug. She turns and reaches for Josh's hand before walking out the door hand and hand with him. Riley sinks down on the couch. She pulls her legs to her chest and stares straight forward. This place wouldn't be the same without her.
"I believe I should have another month to find a place." Lucas said while pouring himself a glass of orange juice.
"A month. You have been warned for six months." Farkle yelled from his room.
"I don't recall this." Lucas said. He puts the orange juice back in the fridge before taking a sip from his glass.
"Oh, you recall this." Farkle said with a raised voice while entering the living room now. "You just tried to ignore it, but not this time Lucas."
"Three's Company." Lucas countered with a smile.
"That smile isn't going to work with me. Plus that is gross." Farkle said with a shrug of his shoulders. "Isadora is moving in two weeks from now."
"Two weeks." Lucas complained.
"Again you knew this." Farkle stated while taking a seat at the kitchen counter.
"I'm happy for you guys but this sucks." Lucas grumbled.
Farkle was right he had been more than fair and warned him way in advance. The writing had been on the wall for the last two years. His relationship with Smackle was more serious. They have been together for over 10 years. It was that time in their relationship to either decide to make it official or decide to go their separate ways. If you ask Lucas, Farkle wasn't going to find a better partner.
Lucas just hated that this decision made him move out of this place. He loved his apartment with Farkle. He still remembers the day when Farkle asked him if he wanted to move in with him. This was one of Farkle's father's apartment buildings he owned in the city. Of course Farkle and Lucas got the best apartment since it was his father's building. This was a major upgrade from the dorm rooms at NYU.
Now he was stuck trying to find a new place like this on a student budget was damn near impossible. He had two more years of veterinary school. Must of his money went to school.
"I know someone that is looking for a roommate." Farkle interjected. Lucas gives him that knowing look this isn't the first time Farkle has tried suggesting this. Lucas didn't even want to hear him say her name. He knew that they couldn't room together.
The group of six friends still talked and interacted. Lucas never spent much one on one time alone with Riley. They only hung out if it was only the six of them going together. So he didn't get why Farkle always wanted to mention Riley as a possibility as his roommate. If they can't be alone when they do a group hangout how could they live together.
Riley made it clear in the 8th grade that their relationship would only be a brother and sister relationship. Even though he had tried to tell her more than once that he didn't want that. Riley had let him know every time that was the only relationship he would get from her. So in order to keep her in his life he complied. They were just friends. Since they were just friends. He moved on started to date other girls since that is what she wanted.
If he was forced to share living quarters with Riley. He didn't know if they could remain friends. It could tear them apart.
"Stop suggesting that." Lucas replied grumbly.
"What?" Farkle asked while holding up his hands trying to feign innocent.
"Don't what me. You know that won't work out. We can barely sit in a room together alone." Lucas sighed and takes a seat on the couch. He turns the tv on to ESPN. This was his Saturday morning ritual. Get up early and then watch college football until the afternoon. He'd hit the gym and then meet up with Farkle and Zay to hang out for a boys night.
Those nights were coming to and far between. Zay was head over heels for Vanessa again. She had moved in the city and was in the law program at NYU when she reached out to him again. Ever since then they have been inseparable.
Farkle and Smackle spent pretty much every Friday and Saturday night out. Smackle practically lived here now. She was here every weekend and her stuff was slowly starting to migrate in. For some reason her stuff had to expand into Lucas' space now.
"Why can't you guys stay in the same apartment or room together?" Farkle asked while taking a seat next to Lucas. Lucas just stares at him. Ever the scientist, more like detective if you asked Lucas. He always had questions he always had to pry.
"Cause we're not really friends." Lucas grumbled under his breath. He knew Farkle heard it from the brief look of shock he flashed him but choose to ignore it. Farkle continued to stare at him waiting for an answer.
Lucas knew that Farkle knew why Riley and him were never really be friends. It sounds harsh but it's true. Riley knows it is true too. Even though Riley always tried to define their relationship as just friends and keep it as that. She couldn't stop feelings from changing or growing no matter how hard she tried. No matter how scared she felt from those feelings. If Riley wanted to keep insisting their relationship was just friends, brother and sister like Lucas just stopped fighting her on it.
Lucas also couldn't sit around and never experience life either because of that. Lucas dated his fair share of girls since Riley insisted on friend zoning him.
"You know why?" Lucas grunts and turns his attention back to the game.
Not the answer Farkle was looking for both times, but he knew with time he would get it.
"Well I'm just saying she needs a roommate." Farkle said with a smile.
"I'm just saying no chance in hell." Lucas grumbled again while turning up the volume on the TV. Farkle laughs since that was always Lucas way to show he is done with the conversation.
"Their apartment is great and more in your price range." Farkle added. Still deciding to press.
"You know the rules. Texas A&M is on." Lucas all but hissed. Making Farkle laugh. A commercial break comes up and so this makes Farkle's smirk grown wider. Lucas just rolls his eyes. Rules state that they can talk during commercial break. He prepared himself for the argument that was about to happen. "We can't be roommates." Lucas groaned.
"I'm just saying you should give it a try." Farkle simple said.
Lucas grumbles and takes a long swig of his orange juice. If Farkle kept this talk about orange juice will no longer do. He would need something much harder. It was way too early in the morning to start that.
Give it a try. If they were roommates it wouldn't work. Even though he has been friend zoned by her more than he is willing to admit to any of his other friends. That lingering feeling of something more always resurfaced at one point for the both of them. Then it would become too real and he was immediately friend zoned. Lucas had learned how things were always going to turn out so he stopped pushing and started pursuing other relationships.
"Why try when it won't work?" Lucas questioned Farkle. He stands up from the couch to get a refill of his OJ.
"You never know unless you try." Farkle countered.
"I know." Lucas quipped. Oh he knew indeed how this would end. The same way it always ended. In the friends zone.
"Have you meet with potential roomies?" Farkle asked.
"Yeah." Lucas mumbled while rummaging through the fridge for something to eat. Farkle could tell by the way he said it. He was lying.
"I'm serious about the two weeks." Farkle added. Since he knew Lucas was lying. Lucas rolls his eyes and mimics Farkle before he closes the fridge.
Farkle laughs and heads to his room. Before he could close his door. He could see Maya was already calling. He closes his door and answers the phone.
"Hey." Farkle said softly into the phone.
"This is the worse day ever." Maya pouted into the phone. Farkle tries to keep the smile off his face. He doesn't know who is taking this separation worse between the two of them. He has already gotten two text from Riley asking him what he is doing tonight. She obviously didn't want to be alone and wasn't used to it.
"More like best." Farkle reminded her.
Maya looks over at Josh and smiles, "Yeah you're right but it was so hard leaving her like that."
"You guys can't stay together forever." I remind her.
"Uh I know." Maya sighs. "Did you ask Huckleberry again?" Maya asked while repositioning her phone against her ear. She ignores Josh's looks of concern since he knows she is meddling. She turns to look out of the window while he continued to drive.
"I did. He's still not budging." Farkle whispered. He knows Lucas isn't one to eavesdrop but he still found himself doing this every time he talked to Maya about them potentially being roommates.
"Make him budge." Maya said impatiently.
"I can't make him do anything." Farkle exclaimed. He lowers his tone when he continues. "Except stick to my guns about the move out date."
"Don't cave this time." Maya chastised him.
"You're one to talk." Farkle remarked. Maya has been telling her friends for over a year now she was going to move in with Josh. Not until the last 3 months did it become real. Especially since the wedding date was approaching.
"I set up a profile for Riley on roommates sites. I have weeded out all the good ones. I'm going to have a few of the bads and some of my old classmates from art school come as potential roomies." Maya said with a smirk. Josh just starts shaking his head. "What?"
"Stay out of this Maya." Josh warned her.
"They won't unfriend zone each other so we have to do it for them." Maya proclaimed.
"Making them be roomies won't do that." Josh told her.
"How do you know it won't work? I'm working with a genius here and he thinks it is a great idea." Maya remarked while folding her arms against her chest and leaning back in her seat.
"The genius and scientist should tell you things aren't always that simple with matters of that heart." Josh said with a laugh while turning his attention back to the road.
"Keep your eyes on the road." She remarked. Josh just laughs since he is already doing it. "I hope you didn't hear all that pessimism." Maya said while rolling her eyes. This just makes Josh laugh harder while he keeps his eyes on the road.
"Nope totally zoned him out." Farkle confirmed.
"Good." Maya said while sticking her tongue out at Josh. He reaches out and grabs her hand and laces their hands together. She smiles at him and forgets the anger she felt a second ago since they weren't arguing with each other.
"Can you arrange where a few meet with Lucas? We have to get them both to see they don't want anybody to be their roommate."
"Uh hmm." Maya mumbles while still looking at Josh and her hands interwined. He just pulled into their parking spot to their new loft. All she could think about was kissing him.
"Focus Maya." Farkle ordered on the other end of the phone. He could tell by the uh hmm she mumbled she wasn't listening.
"I'm focused." She snapped back while pulling her hand away from Josh and turning to open her door to get out of the car.
"So then you have some people that Lucas can meet?" Farkled asked her.
Before she knew it. Josh was encompassing her space. He was already out of the car and on her side. He put his hands on both sides of her. She her body was pressed against the door. His body was against hers so there was no space between them.
"Stop playing dirty." She mouthed to him. He kisses her hard on the lips. She nips his bottom lip and he groans against her mouth.
"Maya you two are seriously grossing me out and I can't even see you." Farkle complained while laying back on his bed. Since he heard Josh's groan. They were so far in the honeymoon stage and they hadn't even gotten married. "I'm going to hang up."
"Don't hang up." Maya warned while pushing away from Josh. She breathes to collect her thoughts. "I have the perfect old classmate to scare Lucas off. I'm setting up all Riley's fake appointments on Monday afternoon. I can have him go back to his place to stage as a possible roomie from hell for Lucas."
"How about we plan for 5pm? I know he gets out of class by 330pm. I can have him over there by then."
"Ok I will tell him." Maya all but squealed.
"Alright I have to go." Farkle told her while hanging up the phone.
She turns to face Josh now. He gives a disapproving look before pulling her hard against his body.
"Don't give me that look." Maya warned him. She gives him a quick peck and waits for him to say something.
"I think this is a bad idea." Josh told her again. He has told her that every time it has come up since he found out Farkle and her were planning this.
"Why?" She asked him while kissing him again softly.
"Kissing me won't change my mind." He said in a low tone that made her knees feel weak. He kisses her again before pulling away to answer her. "As I said before you shouldn't meddle in others romantic relationships."
"She did it for us." Maya said while placing her hand on his heart. His heart beat quickened just thinking about that faithful night in college. He had came to visit Riley and Maya in their dorm room. It was Corey's orders of course. When he got their they were all dressed up and ready to go to a fart party. He remembered how beautiful she looked. His fists clinched just thinking about some frat guys or horny freshmen trying to take advantage of her that night.
He protested about them going out. Maybe he protested a little too much and about her outfit choice. Riley got up from her bed and slammed the door behind and locked them in. She said she wasn't going to let them out until they admitted whatever was going on between them. For that day on the rest was history.
"That could have backfired." Josh told her.
"But it didn't." Maya said with a smile.
"I'm glad it didn't." Josh said while taking her hand and tugging her towards the door. So they could enter into their apartment building. "But it could have."
"Again, it didn't. Huckleberry and Peaches have been doing this dance since 8th grade. We're just friends but give each other longing glances every second we can."
"Overdramatic much." Josh teased while holding the door for her.
"No realistic. You just don't want to hear that your niece has had it bad for someone this long. Why else do you think every relationship she has is never serious. Nor are his."
"He'll sleep with anyone that has legs." Josh scuffed.
"I wouldn't go that far Josh." Maya disagreed. Ranger Rick has been with more women this last year. He was nowhere near the manwhore Josh tries to make him out to be. "He will sleep with any hot model Riley wannabe." Maya said with a laugh. Josh frowns and scrunches up his nose at this remark. Lucas has a type. Hot brunettes. He never stays in a committed relationship though. Another sign to Maya that this is so right.
"Just be careful." Josh warned. "I don't want anyone playing games with my niece's heart."
"I'm her best friend, and sister. I would never hurt Riley. Ever." Maya emphasized while squeezing his hand. He knew she would never do that intentionally. He just wants her to see even the unintentional hurts can do irreparable damage to a relationship. "I'm fixing a mess that should have been long fixed. Some of that is my fault." She said while looking down at her hands. " I have to help her push past her fears and have the love she deserves."
"Just be careful." Josh warned again.