Another day, another life lesson from one of my best friend's fathers, who is also our history teacher. However, this was not what my focus was on. My fingers itched to touch the blond curls resting on my desk. Her scent intoxicating my senses. Every little thing that she does drives me insane. All of the banter and nicknames.

I didn't even have it in me to tell her that I wasn't in Texas very long. The stories I told to Riley about having 24 horses was a lie. I was at summer camp. The story about helping a mare foal was a lie. It was a video I came across online. All my friends thought I was at most fourteen years old. I'm actually sixteen. Being kicked out of so many schools was a pain. But, I couldn't get my father to pay attention to me when I was good so what was the point. He only ever cared about possible baseball scholarships.

Moving to New York, I thought I was going to have to repeat my behavior again. That was until this astounding blond girl swung around the pole on the subway. Her spiel about being in a relationship with me to prove a point to the shy brunet was courageous. I couldn't take my eyes off of her, wishing that we lasted more than thirty seconds, even though it seemed that she gave up any romantic situations in favor of her friend's happiness. She had a lot of heart, a statement that I would later learn was rather ironic. It was in that moment that I knew I would be who I really am. I wanted to stick around for a while.

Turns out that was the best decision I ever made. The longer I was around her the more it felt like my eyes were opening. I forgot about my father issues. More importantly I forgot about who I was before. I was enjoying being the real me. There was literally zero pressure to be someone who I wasn't.

I snapped out of my thoughts when Maya placed a piece of lined paper on my desk. I didn't catch her expression since she turned around to quickly for me to see. Instead I got hit in the face by her soft, wonderful scented locks. Looking at the paper I noticed that it was a rather detailed sketch of all of our friends. However, looking closer I realized that Maya was wearing a cowboy hat and was leaning into the sketch of himself a bit. She caught Riley in the middle of laughing at something that Farkle had said by his expression.

Is examined it closer. Then my eyes caught the smallest of details. Well, not smallest, but definitely over looked. In order from left to right it was Farkle, Riley, himself, than Maya. Drawing Lucas had his arm wrapped loosely around Riley's shoulders and with drawing Maya leaning so close, assumedly to tell Riley something, it was very hard to pick out. However, I did. Maya had drawn them holding hands. It made my face flush and then begged to question why. Why did she give this to me?

Another piece of paper fell on to my desk. This time it was a threat not to tell anyone about the picture. I gave a soft chuckle at the thought and began to write out my response.

I opened my bag once I made it to the Matthews' apartment. After telling the patriarch about not having anyone at home to help with homework they invited me over so often I practically lived there. I noticed that there was a loose piece of paper on top of my text books. It was folded neatly, so I know I didn't place it there and forget and Riley would just tell me straight out of she needed to tell me something private.

Unfolding it I realized that it was from Cowboy. He explained to me that we needed to talk, he wouldn't tell anyone about the drawing, and that he trusted her. So, I texted him to meet me at my window at ten. Quickly I finished my homework, as there really wasn't much and I copied most of it from Riley.

It was quarter 'till ten when I got home. I kissed Gammy on the cheek as I passed to my room. The light already on and a well-built teenage boy sitting on the pink, plush chair. Of course, Bucky McBoing Boing was too much of a gentleman to sit on the much comfier bed.

"I heard something once." He stated after I sat on my bed. His voice soothing my anxiety a bit.

"What's that, Ranger Rick?"

"She never looked nice. She looked like art, and art wasn't supposed to look nice, it was supposed to make you feel something." He smiled and I glared.

"What's that supposed to mean?"

"Hear me out okay? Than you can make up your mind about it." I gave him a nod, keeping my mouth shut. For now anyway. "Good. That statement isn't entirely true. Art can be so beautiful, so much so that it takes your breath away. You have always looked stunning, Maya, and you do remind me of art. Simply because you make me feel things I never thought I would. Never thought I could. The drawing you placed on my desk this morning showed me so much."

"What did it show you, Cowboy?"

"That even though everyone wants me to be with Riley, even you, you still want me for yourself. It was a small detail, us holding hands, but I saw it."

"I didn't draw that, it must have smudged." It was a lie and we both knew it.

"I also know that you see me getting in the middle of you and Riley. I know this would hurt her, but she would want you to be happy. You deserve that, Maya, happiness."

I couldn't say anything. He just placed a red rose on my lap before heading out the window. Next thing I know the flower was on the floor and I was grabbing the back of his jacket.

"Maya, would you like to go to the Museum of Art with me sometime?"

I could only smile up at him and give him a classic 'hur-hurr', to which he only chuckled and promised to pick me up that Friday an hour after school let out.

"There's a lot I want to share with you, Clutterbucket. I want to share my world with you." He whispered before leaving for real.

How was I going to explain to Riley that I had a date with her crush?