Chapter 2: Why Can't I Have You?

Riley's POV:

Texas has been so amazing so far! The group and I been going horseback riding a lot, we've been relaxing at the campfires, going to the lake. Everything has just been amazing. Today, all five of us were going to go to the rodeo. "So is this where we get to see you ride a sheep?" I asked as we walked into the stadium. Lucas chuckled. "No, but this is where you get to see someone else ride a bull." He said. "That was a bad come back, huckleberry." Maya said. We sat down in our rows and waited for it to begin. "So, are we ever going to see you ride a bull?" I asked Lucas. "I don't know, maybe." He said. I knew I had to stop hiding my feelings for Lucas. I mean he knows I like him and I know he likes me. But I don't know what I should do anymore.

"You know I don't understand the rodeo at all. It's so dangerous." I said as I stuffed my face with food. "It takes a lot of practice, I practiced with a sheep." He said. "I would love to see that video." I said as I looked at him. "I know you would." He said with a smile. We looked at each other for a moment. Then I quickly looked away.

Josh's POV:

"That looks so painful." I said as I took a sip of my drink. "Would you do that?" Maya asked. "Did you not just hear me? It looks painful." I said. "I'll do it with you." she said. "Maya, when are you going to stop with this? I'm too old for you." I said. "Not that old. It's only three years, Josh. What's three years in the history of love?" she asked. I smirked. A small part of me was developing feelings for Maya but I wanted to stop myself. I couldn't like her. She's my niece's best friend. But maybe being with Maya wouldn't be such a bad thing. I've seen her matured into a fine young lady. I love this whole new look she has and I liked the way she looked before as well.

Farkle's POV:

I felt like a fifth wheel. Maya had Josh, Riley had Lucas and I have this bucket of kettle corn. Even though, I was the only one in a relationship, I still felt like I was a fifth wheel. I looked over at Lucas who was trying way too hard to impress Riley, then I looked at Maya who was surprisingly focusing on the bull rider instead of Josh. "So what do you think?" Riley asked. "Of the rodeo?" I asked. "Well, yes." She said. "It's pretty interesting. Do you think Smackle would kill me if I tried it?" I asked. "Yeah, I think she would." Riley said with a chuckle. "I still want to try it." I said as I put kettle corn in my mouth. "Farkle, I don't even think you would last eight seconds on there." Maya said. "Challenge accepted." I said as I stood up, "No. Sit down," Maya said. "Nope, I will accept this challenge and I will succeed." I said.

"Farkle, you have to sign papers and it is a long process, so no riding bulls for you today." Lucas said. "You guys are no fun." I said as I sat back down. We continued to watch the rodeo and afterwards, we went to Pete's Diner to eat.

Lucas's POV:

We walked into Pete's diner and all eyes were on us. Well, all eyes were on my friends. They were unfamiliar faces. "Lucas, you're back in Texas!" Pete said as he walked over to me. "How long have you been here?" he asked. "Just for a couple of days, sir." I said. "And who are they?" he asked. "These are my friends, were here for the summer. This is Farkle, Maya, Josh and Riley." I said. Pete smirked. "Is it the Riley?" he asked me. "Let me guess he talked about me non-stop to you?" Riley asked. "This boy talks about you like it's his job," he said. I gave him a look. "Sorry." He mouthed. "Anyways, are y'all going to sit or are you just going to stand there?" He said as he went behind his counter.

We all took a seat in one of the booths and started to look at the menu. "So what sounds good?" I asked. "What do you usually get?" Riley asked. "It varies. Sometimes it's the catch of the day." I said. "I'll just stick to a burger and fries." Riley said. "Oh, come on Riley. This is Texas. You have to try something new." I said. "Maybe another day." she said as she continued to look at the menu. "Oh come on Riley, you just have to try it. Eat something fried for a day." Maya said. "Okay, not everything in Texas is fried." Josh said. "Thank you, Josh." I said. Maya looked at Josh for a moment and then back at her menu.

Riley's POV:

It amazed me to see the affect that Josh had on Maya. But a small part of me still believed that there was something going on. Something that I have feared for a long time. But I know I needed to shake this paranoia off. "Riley, are you okay?" Lucas asked. "Yeah, I'm fine. Just a little tired." I said. "Oh, should we take the food to go? Because I don't want you to fall asleep on us." He said. "I'll be fine. I can fight it." I said. "Are you sure?" he asked. "Yeah, I'm sure.' I said. The waiter came over and took our orders and the waiting began. "So, what should we do tonight?" Josh asked. "How about a campfire?" Maya said. "Eh, not tonight." Lucas said. "We can do one tomorrow night," Farkle said. "Yeah, I'm kind of feeling overwhelmed." Lucas said. "You guys are no fun." Maya said. We all looked at her. "We've done campfires almost every night because you wanted to." Josh said. Maya bit her lip. "You have a point there" she said.

"Josh, can I talk to you outside?" I asked. "Yeah." he said. We both got up and walked out of the door. "What're you doing?" I asked. "What do you mean?" he asked. "I mean what're you doing to Maya? You're like shooting fire at her." I said. "No I'm not." He said. "Yes you are. Maya is my best friend and for some reason she has a huge crush on you. She likes you a lot and I know you don't want anything to happen because of the age difference. But stop being so hard on her." I said. "I haven't been hard on her. I'm purposely pushing her away so that she can get over me." he said. "You are an idiot. You're not pushing her away, the only thing you're doing is breaking her heart." I said. "I didn't mean for it to lead to that. I care about Maya a lot and that's the last thing I want to do." he said. "So talk to her. You told her that you were going to stop looking at her like an immature child. Keep your word." I said. "Will do." he said.

"Now enough about me and Maya. What about you and Lucas huh?" he asked. "What about me and him?" I asked. "You two have had this unofficial thing for so long now. You guys are juniors in high school. Something should've happened by now." he said. "I don't want to lose the friendship I have with him." I said. "So you two aren't going to do anything about the feelings you guys have for each other?
Josh asked. "I want to, I want to be with him. But I think hiding my feelings is what's best." I said. "Riley, hiding your feelings for Lucas is the worst thing you can do. What're you so afraid of?" he asked. "I'm afraid of getting hurt and I'm afraid of Lucas falling for someone else." I said. "And would that someone be Maya?" he asked. "Yes. She's my best friend and I know I shouldn't be thinking like this. But ever since the yearbooks came out, things have been weird." I said. "The eighth grade yearbooks?" Josh asked. "Yes." I said. "Riley, that was three years ago." He said.

"I know but she never told me what the secret was. I feel like she's protecting me from it besides letting me face it." I said. "Riley, it's been three years. You should've learned by now that you don't need Maya to tell you how you feel about Lucas." Josh said. "You do have a point there." I said. "Didn't your dad tell you that you had a lot to think about at semiformal?" he asked. "Yeah, he did." I said. "And?" Josh asked. "I'm still confused." I said. "Riley, it's like you have Lucas tied to you and you're just dragging him along until you figure out your feelings for him. Lucas is crazy about you and I don't know why he hasn't had his moment yet." he said. "Maybe he hasn't had his moment because he's starting to have feelings for someone else." I said.

The story is going to get interesting pretty soon and I'll give you one spoiler: Lucaya isn't happening so my fellow rucas shippers can relax. But there will be drama in upcoming chapters. Now the questions: Will Josh ever admit to himself and to Maya that he has feelings for her? Will Riley figure out her feelings for Lucas? What will happen to the Riley and Lucas story? Stay tuned xx