The Diner hadn't heard us. The restroom doors are nearly sound-proof. Thank God. Right now, me and Riley are exiting the Diner, thanking Denise for the visit. "Yer welcum ya'll! Best come back to Billeh Jay's!" Denise says to us on our way out. Me & Riley exit the building, hand-in-hand.

"So…you really think I can get Lucas to like me!?" I say to Maya, hoping for an honest answer. We're walking towards our apartment. I'm going to tell my dad that Maya is going to remain my best friend, no matter what He, or his "World" says about it. Maya continues to walk, and then sighs. She holds her arm out, and stops me from walking any further. "Riles…we need to keep what happened in there…a secret. You need to save that experience…for when you and Lucas deserve it. You got it?" Maya says to me. I understand what she's saying. That DID feel like a special moment. One that should ONLY remain special. "I got it Sir. I mean, Ma'am! I mean…oh!" I say, as Maya takes my hand again. "And, uh…don't worry! We'll teach you how to flirt perfectly…eventually." Maya says. I look at her with a cheesy grin, and she responds with a sly smile.

We arrive in front of my Apartment door, and butterflies line my stomach. I'm about to confront my dad, once and for all. "So…what are you going to tell your dad?" Maya asks, stunned and frightened. I look at her, and give her a wink of my own. "I'm telling him that it's MY world I want to live in. I'm telling him that I might still be in His world for a while, but in the end, I want my OWN world. And most of all, I'm telling him that You will be a part of My world." I say to Maya. She smiles, and wraps me in a large embrace.

It felt so good to hug her again. Because, she is My Best Friend Forever. She will get us into trouble…and I will get us out of it.

We pull away from our everlasting hug, and turn to face the door. Time to face my fears.

"Ready?"
"Ready."
Me and Maya barge into the Apartment, full blast and on the alert. "Where is he!?" I ask sharply. My mother and my baby brother point towards the kitchen. Standing there, looking dumbfounded, is my father.