As promised, here is chapter 3. Thank you for the positive reviews and follows. This is another one dedicated to onceuponatime2011, I can only hope my stories inspire half the joy that hers do. I have the next few chapters written as well, and if I see interest it will motivate me to edit and post them faster, no pressure though :)

If you are worried about your ship, never forget that "Pluto is believing in something out there no matter what anybody says, especially you." -Riley

Ch. 3

"Simple. I am taking myself out of the equation." Riley answered.

"Um, Riley? What does that even mean?" Maya asked. Lucas looked at Riley with just as much confusion.

Riley had hoped to just drop the bomb and finish this uncomfortable conversation, but of course she didn't do a good enough job explaining. How she wished she had Maya's talent for art so she could illustrate what she meant, or Lucas' oratorical skills in debate so she could make them see what she saw. But she was just good old Riley Matthews. Her only talent was her devotion and willingness to walk through fire for her friends. She was certainly doing that now, but she hoped they didn't realize it. If they even suspected how much she was breaking her own heart for them they would never go along with it.

"All I am saying is that I have thought about it, and I think Lucas and I are better as friends. The memories of our time together are so special and will always be with me, but I just can't keep this unofficial thing going on forever, and I am not comfortable moving on to something more serious while I have these worries about you and Maya." Riley hoped that would seal the deal. She knew they would do what she wanted in the end; she just had to make them see it was what she really wanted, even if she didn't actually feel that way.

"But Riley we told you nothing is going on. Why are you doing this?" Lucas finally voiced the question that screamed in his mind since the start of this crazy interaction.

"Lucas, I told you I believe you. And I also told you why I am doing this. I can't stay in this state of confusion about us. No matter how I feel about you, I can't stop worrying how you feel about Maya" Riley answered.

Lucas responded in a frustrated tone, "Riley you know how I feel about Maya."

Riley stood as she challenged, "Do you really know how you feel about her? Like I said your whole relationship together has been with me there. The loss of the art program and your reaction to it showed me that there could be more. Zay even said you referred to Maya as the 'Blonde Beauty'. Those aren't the kind of words someone uses to describe someone he doesn't view like that." Tension seeped through her words. Riley paused and took a deep breath to calm down.

"Sorry, I didn't mean to sound upset there... Like I said I get it. You may not know how you feel so I am giving you the chance to find out" Riley concluded.

Lucas sat there stunned. He knew as soon as Zay opened his big mouth and said what he did about Maya and Riley that it had to hurt her. He thought she had taken it well once they all decided they needed to win back the arts program. He thought she saw what was really behind the words. When he described the girls to Zay, of course he commented on Maya's appearance. He's a guy. Maya was and is very beautiful. Zay coined the term 'Blonde Beauty' and Lucas just kind of…went with it. But Riley was so much more. He called her pretty, because she is, but what he loved about her was her spirit, devotion, and who she was as a person. Was Riley too focused on the 'beauty vs. pretty' comparison to hear the rest of what Zay said? How could he possibly make her see the truth now, when she was so determined to push him and Maya together? How could he reassure her when his own words added to her insecurities?

Maya was a statue between them as they exchanged words. How odd to watch in person while two people argue about how one of them feels about you. She wished she could just sink into the bay window cushions and disappear, but she was frozen in awkwardness. All she could do was watch.

Lucas stood and placed himself directly in front of Riley. He clasped his hands with hers and stared into her eyes, trying desperately to convey his regret and his feelings. "You know how I feel about YOU, Riley. Isn't that enough?"

Riley again had to struggle to maintain her composure when he was so focused on her. His eyes began their dance of hypnosis and she wished so badly that his words were enough. She glanced away from his quicksand gaze and took a deep breath, "A few months ago it might have been enough, but now it's just not. I will always wonder what is between you, and I think deep down, you both would wonder too."