I know I'm going to get quite a bit of comments about this whole Rucas/ Lucaya thing and this is honestly where I stand.

I know this feeling. This hurt that Riley's going through (Yes, it's just a tv show) but I understand it. I've been Riley. This story is pretty much going to be about my situation with my best friend, and how I thought I could be okay with this, but I couldn't. This is going to be my story, but with Riley, Maya, and Lucas. It's set their Sophomore year of High School.

Enjoy guys and review, review, review.

Much love,

ReesesPieces2112


"You can't tell anybody." Her voice croaked. Moving for the door, she stopped and took a deep breath, closing her eyes. She meant to go inside and meet her date halfway so they could go. But his voice stopped her.

"I will unless you do." He warned, stepping in front of her.

"Why?"

"Because we are growing up." He explained. "And I don't know how to handle these feelings we're feeling. But I do know that we don't lie to each other."

She swallowed the lump in her throat as she fought back more of her tears.

"We don't lie to each other, Riley."


"Riley?" A familiar voice called, echoing her name. "Riley?"

"Huh?" Riley turned to find her mother smiling at her; she had been standing in front of the old bakery her parents had bought, fully intending on going inside and studying/ working, until… "Oh, sorry. I just got lost in thought."

"Ah." Topanga nodded and turned to the window, seeing what Riley was avoiding. "Honey-."

"I can't." She said quickly, tears welling up. "I just can't. I'm sorry, mom." Gripping the strap to her backpack tightly, she pivoted on her heel and ran up the stairs.

"Oh, Riley." Topanga frowned, "You can't run forever, sweetheart." She walked back into her restaurant and began wiping down tables and smiling at Auggie as he finished his homework.


"You're a dork." Maya tapped Lucas' head with her pencil and laughed; they had been sitting at Topanga's for about an hour now, studying and both hoping to catch a glimpse of their friend.

"I like 'Ranger Rick' better." Lucas ruffled her hair and she slapped his hands away.

Maya had draped her legs over Lucas' as they sat by the window. She smiled softly at the way he concentrated; they were polar opposites those two. He studied four hours a day, she couldn't really care less about school. He didn't understand much about art and art is everything she loved. But there are things that made them blend so well together; he'd do anything for his friends, she'd give her life for them. He'd be okay with her name-calling, she'd finally come around to his using her as an arm rest. They just worked.

"Anything else for you kids?" Topanga smiled warmly as she set down two muffins in front of them.

"No thanks, Mrs. Matthews." Maya returned the smile, twirling the pencil in her hand. "We're almost done and we'll be outta your hair."

"Oh, please." Topanga rolled her eyes and laughed. "I could never get tired of you two."

"No…Riley today?" Lucas asked hesitantly, the corners of his mouth dropping.

"Um, no." Topanga sighed heavily. "She got caught up at school."

"For the third time this week?" Maya dropped her gaze to the floor.

"Things are different now, Maya." Topanga sat next to her and hugged her close. "You guys are in high school. Riley's really branched out this year and I'm sure once cheerleading season is over, she'll come around."

"We've been hoping that for the last year." Maya leaned her head against Topanga's shoulder. "At first, I got it. Cheerleading was important to her. Now I'm just…I just want Riley back."

"Hey, guys." Farkle and Zay stepped up to their table.

"Check it out." Zay dropped his last test on the table. "See what that is? It's an 'A'!"

"All right." Lucas high-fived him. "Way to go, Zay."

"Cool, right?" Farkle beamed. "I helped Zay study and he totally aced the test."

"Hey, Mrs. Matthews," Zay caught her attention, "we just saw Riley leaving. She said to tell you she'd be at home."

Topanga cringed at having been caught in her own lie, though she knew Maya wouldn't call her out on it. "Thank you, Zay."


The knock on her door had her looking up from her textbook. "Come in."

"How yah doin'?" Topanga asked as she opened the door and sat on her daughter's bed.

"Fine." Riley tucked a piece of hair behind her ear. "Just finishing up some homework."

"Riley, sweetie," Topanga reached over and closed her notes, "About what happened today-."

"Mom, stop." Riley stood from her bed immediately. "I don't want to talk about it."

"Why not?" Topanga frowned up at her. "This isn't you, Riley, you don't bottle up your feelings."

"Maybe it's time I start." Riley gazed at the empty seat by her window. "Every time I think about, I feel more and more pathetic, mom."

"I'm just trying to understand why you would tell Lucas you liked him as a brother when you liked him as so much more."

"For Maya." She answered with no hesitation. "Because we're best friends, because she deserves to be happy."

Topanga nodded; one of the many things she loved about Riley was her drive to make everyone happy, but it was also the thing that concerned her the most. If Riley was so busy putting her friends first, who was making sure Riley was happy too?

"I know it hurts to see them now." Topanga stood from the bed. "But it'll get easier."

Riley stayed silent as her mother left her room. With the click of the door, she sat back on her bed and stared at her notebook. She brought her legs to her chest and buried her face in them, letting the tears flow for what seemed the millionth time since eighth grade.