A couple of weeks had passed since Maya's first appointment. She'd made a routine of taking prenatal vitamins every day, but her morning sickness was not forgiving. Maya had been telling everyone she had a stomach bug, but that would only be believable for so long. Her frequent bathroom trips were bound to be noticed soon.

The school year was about to come to a close, ending Maya's junior year. Finals were starting; everyone was ready for the summer.

Maya is most definitely ready for the year to end. She's beginning to run out of excuses to avoid Lucas.

She was putting off telling him about the baby for as long as she could. She has no intention of facing him anytime soon. Luckily for Maya, the two only shared one class this year. As long as she didn't run out of English to vomit, he didn't suspect anything was wrong with her.

Riley, on the other hand, was beginning to think something was up with Maya. She'd noticed Maya getting sick on multiple occasions, which was very unusual for the girl. Of all the years they'd known each other, Maya had only been sick a handful of times; she was a generally healthy person. Riley's full of concern.

"What's going on with you, Maya? You never get sick, and now you've been sick for weeks!" Riley says, holding the girl's hair back as she empties her stomach.

Maya sighed, leaning her head against the toilet. She almost made it the entire day without getting sick. As they were leaving the school, she had caught a whiff of the boys' locker room, immediately sending her stomach into a frenzy.

"It's just a stomach bug, Riles. I'm fine." Maya lies. But Maya knew Riley wasn't stupid.

"Stomach bugs last a few days, not a few weeks!" Riley says, frustrated. "I'm worried about you, Peaches." Riley slides down to the ground, sitting next to Maya.

Riley pulls Maya against her, holding her close. Maya reaches into her pocket, pulling out a peppermint. She unwraps it, sticking the candy in her mouth. Few things remedied Maya's nausea, but peppermints seem to help.

Maya stands up slowly, taking her time. "I'm all good." She exits the stall, cleaning herself up. Riley trails behind her.

Neither girl speaks. Maya refuses to meet her eyes, but she can practically feel Riley worrying.

The two girls leave the bathroom, exiting the school. They're about to head towards the Matthews' apartment when someone starts yelling at them.

"Maya! Riley!

Fuck. Maya panics. It's Lucas, fuck.

Maya wants to run, but Riley's already turned around and he's coming towards them.

"Hey, what's up?" Lucas says as he meets up with the girls.

"We were heading to Riley's, Ranger Rick. What about you?" Maya says, attempting to stay cool. She couldn't act uncomfortable; they would assume something.

"Oh, well, did you all want to meet up tonight? School is kicking my ass! I need a break." Lucas rants.

Before Riley could say a word, Maya answers, "I really need Riley to help me study for the Bio final, right, Riley?" Maya quickly gave the girl a look, urging her to go along with her.

"Sorry, Lucas! Maybe we can meet up this weekend?" Riley adds.

Lucas didn't seem to buy it, but he didn't mention it either. "It's alright, guys."

Maya was desperate to end the awkward conversation. "Riley and I really gotta go, we'll see you soon, Huckleberry." She all but dragged Riley away, leaving Lucas.

Neither say anything until they are at the subway station. Maya practically ran, Riley could barely keep up. The two jump into their appropriate train, taking seats.

"Maya, what happened back there?" Riley asks, concerned.

Maya sighs deeply, "I need to tell you something."

Maya managed to avoid telling Riley her news their entire commute home. She just acted like she couldn't hear Riley, making dramatic hand motions until they returned to the city's streets.

They enter Riley's bedroom, taking their seats in the bay window. Riley crosses her arms and spoke, "Spill it, Maya. What aren't you telling me?"

Maya suddenly has trouble forming words. She knew what she needed to say, but she didn't want to say it.

"I've, uh, been sick lately, y'know?" Maya says.

Riley nods, urging the girl to go on.

"Then, I realized something." Maya continued, dragging out the story. She really doesn't want to tell her, but if she doesn't do it now, she never will.

"Seriously, Maya. Get to the point." Riley said, getting annoyed with her rambling.

"I was, well, late." Maya grabs her bag. She starts digging for what she needed.

"Maya? What are you talking about?"

Maya found what she was looking for, pulling it out of her bag. "I'm pregnant, Riley." She finally admits, handing Riley her ultrasound photo.

Riley didn't move. She takes the photo from Maya's hand, staring at it. "Who knows?" Riley questions, voice cracking.

"Uh, no one really. Just Farkle and your mom…" Maya confesses.

"My mom and my boyfriend! Seriously, Maya? They knew before me? We're best friends!" Riley says, exasperated.

"Topanga was the first person I told, Riley. She was with me when I found out." Maya tells her. "I was terrified. If it weren't for her, I wouldn't have taken a test. She helped me so much. Your mom even made the doctor's appointment for me. The only reason Farkle knows is because she wouldn't let me go to the appointment alone."

"She would say that." Riley admits.

Maya's voice shakes as she speaks. "I understand if you hate me Riles. I fucked up big time."

Riley softened, "Oh, peaches. I could never, ever hate you!" Riley pulls Maya close, hugging her. "How long have you known?"

"A few weeks. I'm about eleven weeks along, almost twelve." Maya tells her, hiccuping from her cries. Riley held her tight, petting the girl's hair.

Riley looks at Maya's ultrasound photo, squinting. "This looks more like a peanut than a baby." Riley states. They both start laughing.

"Peanut. I like that, Riles. My little Peanut." Maya giggles, scrunching her nose. She takes the photo back, putting it back in her bag.

A few minutes pass, they're both quiet.

Suddenly, Riley stiffens. Maya pulls away, looking at her friend.

"Maya?"

"Yes?"

"Who is the father? You don't just get pregnant." Riley asked.

She laughs uncomfortably, "Funny story. There's, uh, there's definitely a father." Maya dances around the question.

"Maya."

"The father is Lucas! Okay? It's Lucas." Maya admits.

Riley immediately flips out, jumping up. "You slept with Lucas? And you didn't tell me?" Maya's face is heating up. "When did that happen?"

"Spring break. Missy's party."

"Oh, my god, Maya!" Riley yelps. "You haven't told him yet? You have to tell him. You have to."

Maya sighs. "You're right. And I will tell him. Just, not yet, okay?"

It's Riley's turn to sigh, "Maya, you've already kept it from him long enough. He'll be heartbroken once he finds out how long you've hid this."

Maya knows, "I'm just scared, Riley. I don't want to ruin his life."

"You aren't going to ruin his life, peaches." Riley assures her.

"I doubt that," Maya says, shrugging. "I guess, uh, I could tell Lucas this weekend."

Riley perks up, "Good, Maya. You need to tell him as soon as possible. He will want to be there for you."

"But how? I can't just call him and tell him I'm knocked up!" Maya asks. Riley's completely right, but she doesn't want to admit it.

"Give me your phone."

Maya is confused, "What?" Riley keeps her hand out, waiting for it. Maya gives it to her.

Riley unlocks the phone and starts typing away. Once she's done, she hands it back to Maya. "You're meeting him at his house at seven. You're welcome." Riley says, nonchalantly.

"Riley!" Maya yells.

"Maya, if you don't do it tonight, you'll never tell him! You'd give birth without telling him if you could." Riley tells her.

She freaks out, speaking rapidly, "What am I supposed to say to him?! Hi Lucas, I'm pregnant bye! That won't cut it!"

Riley takes Maya's hand, trying to calm her down. "Just tell him the same way you told me! Except, faster." Riley advises.

Maya groans, "Fine. But since you're forcing me, you get to feed me right now. Peanut and I are hungry." She rubs non-existent bump, guilting Riley.

Riley jumps up, "I'm only doing it because I love you, Peaches."

"I love you too, Riles. Now, I'd really enjoy a grilled cheese." Maya smiles, trailing after her friend.

Maya is nervous as she make makes her way to Lucas' apartment. Riley gave her words of encouragement before she left, but Maya had long forgotten them. Thoughts consumed her as she made the journey to his place.

What if he doesn't believe it's his?

What if he doesn't want anything to do with the baby?

What if my baby grows up like I did, fatherless?

Maya quickly pushes those thoughts away once she arrives at Lucas' building. She waves at the doorman. He remembered Maya, letting her in wordlessly.

She makes her way to the elevator. Maya presses the button for the fourth floor. Her palms are sweating as she finds the door to his apartment. She knocks rapidly, shaking.

Barely any time passes before the door opens it, Lucas greets her with a smile. "Hi, Maya. Come in." He looks comfortable, wearing sweats and a t-shirt.

"Hey," Maya says, her heart racing. "Where's your mom?"

"Working late tonight." He responds, sitting down. He gestures to the seat next to him, asking her to sit down.

Makes things easier for me, Maya thinks. No spying moms. "I know how that is," Maya says quietly.

They sat awkwardly, no one speaking. The only sound to be heard is the faint buzz of the city.

"So," Lucas starts, breaking the silence. "Why'd you want to see me? I thought you and Riley were studying..."

Maya shifts uncomfortably, holding her bag to her. "We got done early. But, um, I've been needing to talk to you." Maya stammers.

Lucas looks confused, but doesn't say anything.

"Well, do you, uh, do you remember Missy's party? The spring break one?" Maya questions.

"Yeah," he responds, face slightly heating up. "It's kind of a blur."

"How about what we did, Ranger Rick?" Maya says.

"I definitely couldn't forget that." Lucas reveals, rubbing the back of his neck.

Maya starts digging in her bag, looking for the picture of Peanut. She finds it, handing it over without a word.

Lucas takes the photo into his hand. He looks at it, quiet. "Maya? What is this? What is going on?" He asks, brow furrowed.

"I'm pregnant, Lucas."