a/n: New chapter! sorry it took me a little bit to update, I hope you enjoy.

Disclaimer: I don't own the song lyrics italicized later in the chapter.

It was the first day back from winter break, Maya came and picked Riley up at seven to walk to school.

"How are you feeling about going back to school Maya?"

"Oh I can't wait to sit in this institution for seven hours and barely understand anything!" the blonde girl said sarcastically.

"Well I'm excited to have something to do. All break my dad made us do family bonding activities, it was pretty boring without my best friend."

"Sorry Riles, if it makes you feel better it was a boring break for me too."

"It doesn't, but I still love you so it's ok." Riley smiled.

Maya smiled back. She was happy that things were back to how they were before, she had the feeling that eventually she would have to tell Riley the truth but she didn't want to risk this.

They got to school and went to their lockers to grab their books. They had homeroom first thing in Mr. Mathews classroom. It's funny how he is still their social studies teacher after all these years.

They were the second people in the room besides-

"Laaaaaadies!"

"Farkle." The girls said in unison.

"Excited for the winter semi-formal on Friday?"

"I am." Riley knew she wouldn't have a date but getting dressed up to hang with her friends was still a good time.

"No." Maya rolled her eyes. She only went because Riley liked those kind of things.

"Maya, I bet you would be excited if you were being escorted by I, Farkle Minkus. Heh?"

"Dream on Farkle."

"I will."

They listened to the announcements and then headed their separate ways for first period.


Maya was setting out her dress from top shop to wear to the dance tomorrow. It was a hipster galaxy print dress that she was going to pair with black tights and some wedge sneakers.

Maya's phone buzzed. A text from Riley popped up.

Riley: MAYA I NEED HELP WITH OUTFIT FOR DANCE

Maya: I'll be over in 10

Riley: thanks:) be safe on the subway!

Maya smiled and headed out the door.

She arrived at the Mathew's apartment and went to Riley's fire escape window.

"Wow Riles, looks like you don't need my help after all." Maya saw Riley in a champagne dress that was beautifully embellished on the top and the bottom was made of tulle that made Riley look amazing.

"You like this one?" Riley looked up at Maya with a smile.

"Yeah it's gorgeous. You're gorgeous."

"Thanks Maya." Riley sat next to her friend on the window seat.

"I'm gonna be fighting the boys for your attention at this dance aren't I Riles?"

"No boys. I'm over all of them. This dance can be just you and me."

"What has the world done with my boy crazy best friend? Are you a robot?" Maya joked.

"I'm serious, I just want to spend a night having fun with my best friend."

"Sounds good to me." Maya smiled and leaned her head on Riley's shoulder.


The duo had their hair curled and dresses on ready to leave for the dance.

"Bye girls you look beautiful." Topanga waved as they left.

"Maya I'm trusting you to watch Riley and make sure no harm comes to my daughter." Cory lectured.

"Dad, she's not my date." Riley reminded him.

"I know." He took a deep breath.

"It's ok Mr. Mathews, you know I love when you freak out, but I'll have her home by midnight." Maya winked.

"ELEVEN!" Cory yelled as Maya and Riley walked out the door hand in hand.


They arrived at the dance, the gym looked so different. There was the photo booth, stage where the band would perform and where the DJ table was, the snack table, and the dance floor filled with highschoolers.

Riley and Maya danced to song after song. Together on the dance floor they were just them, Riley was her quirky self and Maya didn't care what anyone else thought just danced along with her best friend.

"Do you want some punch?" Maya yelled over the music.

"That'd be great."

The girls walked over to the snack table and got some punch.

"This is really fun Maya. Thanks for coming with me, I know your not too into this sort of thing." Riley drank her punch and leaned against the wall. Maya didn't get a drink she just had some chips.

"Whatever makes you happy Riles." Maya laughed.

"You make me happy."

"You make me happy too. You're really the only thing that makes me happy."

"What about your art?"

"I love art but I really only get inspired by you. You're my muse."

"I know Maya." Riley finished her drink and grabbed her hand to head back to the dance floor.

They were dancing and Riley was looking a little tipsy.

"Riley what are you doing?" Maya laughed at the brunettes weird dance moves.

"I'm gettin down to the music dawg."

"Oh god Riley, someone must have spiked the punch. Your dad's gonna kill me."

"No he woooon't. We'll be fiiiine." Riley hung her arms around Maya's shoulders.

"We need to try and sober you up before we have to go home."

"But I wanna dance Maya pleeeeeaase."

"One more song that's it." She couldn't resist.

The DJ got on the sound system.

"How you diggin this John Quincy Adams Highschool?"

The crowd cheered.

"We're gonna slow this party down for all the love birds out there."

"Ok. We need to go." Maya stressed.

"Dance with me." Riley put Maya's hand on her hips and wrapped her arms around Maya's shoulders once again.

Maya couldn't help but relax a little when she was in Riley's embrace.

This Love by Taylor Swift started playing. Riley rested her head on Maya's shoulder.

Clear blue water, high tide came and brought you in
And I could go on and on, on and on, and I will
Skies grew darker, currents swept you out again
And you were just gone and gone, gone and gone

In silent screams,
in wildest dreams
I never dreamed of this

Riley looked up at Maya's blue eyes. They looked distant like she was thinking about something else.

This love is good, this love is bad
This love is alive back from the dead
These hands had to let it go free
And this love came back to me oh

Tossing, turning, struggled through the night with someone new
And I could go on and on, on and on
Lantern burning, flickered in my mind for only you
But you're still gone, gone, gone

Maya thought about telling Riley how she really felt but not now, not while she's tipsy. If she was going to tell her she would make sure it didn't seem like she was taking advantage of her.

Been losing grip,
oh, sinking ships
You showed up just in time

This love is good, this love is bad
This love is alive back from the dead
These hands had to let it go free
And this love came back to me

Riley and Maya swayed to the music. Riley thought about the red string of fate, how they say two people are connected by a red string are destined to be together, and no matter how tangled or stretched the string gets they're still connected and meant to be together. She thought Maya had the other end of her string. It made so much sense in her head. Maya wasn't her Shawn, she was her Topanga.

This love left a permanent mark
This love is glowing in the dark
These hands had to let it go free
And this love came back to me

This love, this love, this love, this love...

"Maya I have to tell you something." The way Riley was, she always told Maya how she felt so why would this be any different.

"What Riles?"

"I think we are soul mates."

"You do?" Maya smiled at her. Riley noticed her blue eyes light up with happiness.

"Yeah."

"Are you drunk Riley? You only had one drink." Maya laughed.

"I'm not drunk. I know what I'm saying and I mean it. I love you and you love me. We are more than friends and we kinda always have been. Isn't that true?"

"It is Riley. I think there's more to being a soul mate then that."

"We are more than that. I can't picture my life with anyone else but you."

"I feel the same way."

The girls swayed in comfortable silence. Although they weren't sure what exactly that meant, they were sure that everything was just as it should be.

Your kiss, my cheek, I watched you leave
Your smile, my ghost, I fell to my knees
When you're young you just run
But you come back to what you need

This love is good, this love is bad
This love is alive back from the dead
These hands had to let it go free
And this love came back to me

This love left a permanent mark
This love is glowing in the dark
These hands had to let it go free
And this love came back to me

This love, this love, this love, this love...

The song ended and they exited the dance floor. They stopped at a water fountain in the hallway to get Riley sobered up.

"It's only 10:15 and we don't have to be back to your apartment until eleven, do you want to go get some donuts?" Maya suggested.

Riley nodded enthusiastically.

"I want the happiness donut because I'm happy." Riley has different donuts she gets depending on her mood.

"So chocolate with sprinkles?"

"You know me so well."

"And you Maya will get maple because you are weird." Riley teased her.

"Who are you calling weird? We are sixteen and you still play with Barbies."

"But they're so fun Maya. You like them and it know it even if you won't admit it."

"I enjoy seeing your geeky little excitement when I give in and play with you."

"You love me." Riley smiled.

"I do."

"You love the Barbies."

"I refuse to give into you." The blonde scoffed.

"I love you too Maya."

They locked arms and headed into the donut shop and all was right with the world.

a/n: Hope you liked it! Review if you want me to continue