A few days after Christmas, Maya sat at her own kitchen table with her mom, Shawn, and Riley. She smiled to herself, recognizing the change in people and scenery. On a usual day she was at Riley's with her parents and now it was the other way around.
As they ate breakfast, which was just boring cereal but the kind of boring cereal that Maya liked, she waited for Riley to ask her about a certain gift for a certain someone.
"Maya?" Riley asked, turning to her friend.
"Here it comes!" Maya dramatically turned her body towards Riley in anticipation for the coming question.
"What did you get Lucas for uh…" She trailed off.
"You can say it." Maya nodded.
"Secret Santa- ouch?!" Riley was surprised by the sudden pain in her arm.
"I said you could say it, not that it wouldn't result in a small pinch." Maya smiled.
"Okay, well I know you got Lucas's name because it was the last one left so, what did you get him?" Riley's expression was vey curious. Maya could tell she was dying to know the answer.
"Nothing!" She admitted, with a grin.
"Maya!" Riley looked shocked, "That is not how Ecret Anta works. You have to get him a gift for this year's exchange to be complete."
Maya shrugged, pretending to be clueless. It was fun to tease her best friend a bit. Still, she didn't want to actually upset her so she decided to unveil her plan.
"Shawn?" Maya turned her head towards her new…father. It wasn't yet natural to think of him that way.
"Yes, Maya?" Shawn joined in her dramatic questioning with a similar mix of expression. Their grins showed they knew something but their eyes pleaded innocence, something that confused Riley very much.
"You got the goods or what?" She changed tones suddenly, feeling a dramatic exchange would most benefit her friend.
"You mean this?" Shawn pulled an envelope out of his pocket and held it up for everyone to see.
"Oh my, I am mighty curious about what could be in that envelope!" Katy joined in the conversation with her usual flair.
Riley stared at the envelope and then at Maya and then back at the envelope and back at Maya. Maya kept smiling. Was this really a gift for Lucas or one for Riley? Maybe it was a gift to herself. Nothing made her happier than Riley's happiness.
"Should we open it?" She asked.
Riley nodded.
"Do you really think so?" She dragged on the suspense a bit more.
"YES!" Riley shouted.
"Okay, Shawn, let her see it." Maya smiled. She just couldn't stop smiling.
Shawn slowly opened the envelope while Riley leaned in closer and closer. Her eyes were wide, her smile strained. Shawn began to crack a real smile that spread over his whole face, matching those of his new wife and daughter.
And then the mystery was revealed- "A plane ticket?!"
Riley grabbed the ticket out of Shawn's hand, stood up and ran toward Maya's room. Then she turned around and ran back to sit at the table again, still holding the ticket but now with a sly, slightly confused look on her face.
"How is this a gift for Lucas?" Riley asked, "He'll already be returning after the holiday so you got him something he already had?"
"Look at the ticket." Maya told her.
Riley read it and then looked back to her friend, still confused.
"It's for you to go to Texas and visit him." Maya explained, "I already asked your parents- your dad freaked out a little but I convinced him."
"Isn't this more a gift to me than him?" Riley asked the question that Maya had been struggling with since she drew Lucas's name.
"I'm giving him the gift of your undivided attention." She nodded as she spoke, "Lucas might have left for the holiday in a way that I cannot approve of, but I know he wanted to spend time with you and honestly if he had stayed that might not have happened."
"What do you mean?" Riley frowned.
"I think what she means," Shawn interjected, "Is that sometimes you spread yourself too thin worrying about everyone."
"It's an amazing quality, Riley, don't get us wrong." Katy said gently.
"But between fixing my Christmas crazy, giving Farkle his gift, spending time with your own family and with me and our group in general," Maya explained, "When would you have time to just be with Lucas?"
"Oh." Riley realized that what her friend was saying was true.
"So we drive you to the airport today." Shawn said.
And that is what they did. Topanga had packed Riley's bag and dropped it off. The Friar family had been warned of her arrival to ensure they would actually be there when she got off the plane. Maya gave her best friend one last hug before sending her off.
Lucas was heading toward his room after a day out with some of his old friends. He had had a good time but was pretty tired now. And at the back of his mind he was worried about missing a call from Riley. She still hadn't said anything to him about the gift. He really hoped it hadn't gotten lost in the mail.
When he opened the door, he was shocked by what he saw. There was Riley, sitting on his bed and wearing the mask that he had sent her for Christmas. She had matched it with a beautiful blue sweater and jeans. She looked up at him while he stood in the doorway.
"Riley," Lucas said eventually, after getting over the surprise, "How did you get here?"
Riley stood up and walked over to him. She handed him a red envelope. Lucas opened it to find a card with a snowman on the front wishing him "Merry Christmas Ranger Rick". Ah, so Maya had drawn his name then.
"I can't imagine a more perfect gift." Lucas smiled.
He couldn't quite read Riley's expression because of the lion mask but he sensed she had something to say. He took her hands in his and gazed down at her lovingly, patiently waiting for her to speak.
"Lucas," Riley said finally, "I've been thinking about this gift the whole way here. At first I was really confused so I started using the journal to get out all my thoughts and ideas, which immediately made me realize what that part of the gift was for."
"I'm glad it proved useful." Lucas said, "Did you figure out the meaning behind the mask?"
"I think so." She replied, as she pulled the mask off her face and gently placed it behind her on the bed. Lucas gently pulled Riley closer. Riley took his hands again and gave him a small smile.
"I never want to wear a mask with you." Riley said, "I want you to know who I am and how I feel."
"Riley, I want that too," Lucas gave his girlfriend a hug, "I'm so glad you're here."
Looking at her now, Lucas can see a look of joy on Riley's face. This is more than the happy face she wears for the benefit of others; he thinks to himself. Her smile is one of the best Christmas gifts that he has ever received. The emotion of the moment almost overwhelms them both.
"I love you, Riley."
