A/N: Fourth chapter.

The Game

Chapter 4: Of Texas and New York

"How are you and Maya?" Zay asked bluntly as he stopped in front of her. Riley raised her eyebrows before passing him a tray. They were at the lunch queue right now. Maya was sitting with Farkle and Lucas. The trio were busy in their own conversation to pay any attention to the two of them.

"Rocky," Riley replied as she grabbed a bowl or mac and cheese.

"Don't you," Zay started as he grabbed a bag of chips that Riley passed on. Riley cut him off.

"Don't. Maya is my best friend in the whole world," Riley said and it wasn't the first time Zay heard the brunette say this but it was different than all the others. Riley passed him an apple before grabbing one for herself, "But ever since Charlie things have been different. I'm trying so hard to move past this and let her in but I can't and that makes me a horrible person."

Riley looked at Zay pleading for him to understand. Zay sighed; he did understand where Riley was coming from but he also understood where Maya was at.

"I think you could talk to me because I wasn't a factor back then," Zay said he could see that Riley was going to interrupt him but he kept going, "I didn't exist back then. Sometimes talking to someone who isn't so close to the situation is so much easier. Let me ask you something do you still want that relationship with her?"

They stood there at the food line for a moment looking at one another, ignoring the lunch queue and other students. Zay was asking her the one thing that no one did. And Riley she was looking at him.

"Yes," Riley said her voice was quiet but firm. No hesitation, no bluff, just pure honesty.

"Then be honest."

Riley gave him a smile, grabbing three cookies before going to the payout zone. After giving the cashier his money he turned to find Riley still there waiting for him. She said no words but shifted her eyes to the door of the cafeteria. She's going to eat outside Zay thought. But instead of going straight pass it, he watched her in amazement as she walked pass Missy, pass the cheerleaders, pass Sara and her friends whom she sometimes had lunch with and straight to Maya's table. The trio were stunned as she sat beside Maya and started eating.

Zay decided this was probably the best time to join in.

"Yo guys, they got spaghetti and chips today, awesome," Zay sang the last word out as he sat across from Riley and Maya.

"Yeah," Farkle said as he snapped out of it but watching discreetly at the two girls, "They have brownies and cookies too."

"They do?" Maya said distractedly. Her emotions were in a bit of a whirlwind now.

"What you didn't notice the plate of cookies that they had?" Lucas ask.

"The lunch lady probably put it after you left, knowing your addiction and all," Zay teased.

"It's okay I got three for you," Riley said as she pushed the plate of cookies to Maya's tray and continued eating. She was unaware that Maya looked stunned for a moment. That while she was adding ketchup to her mac and cheese Maya's eyes had a glimmer of hope; something that was missing for months. The cookies were like a peace treaty or a sign for all ceasefire between Riley and Maya. It was a gesture that showed what Riley wasn't ready to say yet.

Maya broke into a small smile before following her lead and digging into her own mac and cheese. Zay's heart roared and did and internal victory dance. He knew that the two girls won't be talking about it now but they were heading into that direction. And he knew that it was going to be sooner than later.

"You're changing the game," Riley said to him as he opened his locker. She was leaning at his neighbours locker as he was putting his books in.

"How so?" Zay asked trading his history book for his chemistry book. It had been a few days since the cookie treaty as Zay liked to call it.

"I thought I knew how it's going to end," Riley stated before admitting, "I'm not so sure anymore. I'm trying to figure it out."

"Is that good?" Zay questioned. Closing his locker before heading towards the library where his and Riley's study room class was held.

"I don't know. I thought I don't ever want to change the ending but maybe I will," Riley said as she sat down next to him. They smiled at each other before Riley stood up again and walked to the shelves of the bookcase. Zay would have gone with her if it were not for the fact that he had a quiz for chemistry later and he did not realise it until Farkle mention about it this morning. Chemistry was not his forte and he needs all the help he can get.

Moments later when he was drowning in confusion at all the notes he dribbled at the side margin of his book, Riley appeared holding a key.

"Key 4 to changes boy meets girl. Girl meets boy," Riley whispered, "Zay I'm glad I met you."

"I'm glad I met you to Riley,"Zay gave her a smile and whispered, he paused before giving her a pleading look, "But I really need your help or I'm gonna fail chemistry."

Riley snorted and gave him a way to ruin a moment look but she spent the whole of study hall explaining to him concepts that were going to be tested. By the end of study hall, Zay knew of two things; Riley was an amazing friend to even try to attempt to teach him chemistry and two he left the key that Riley passed to him on the table in the library.

The next time they met they were both supposed to be in their last classes for the day. Supposed being the key word. Zay was all smiled until a phone call from Texas dragged him under. To a place in his mind that he refused to enter but he did and Riley all but dragged him to the gym before he started breaking.

He and Lucas were not that different when it came down to it. They became more aggressive and impulsive when their feelings took over. Zay liked to think that between him and Lucas, he was the one that simmered; never fully boiled in anger. But his feelings were all over the place. The rage and helplessness gave way. And he began delivering one blow after another on the punching bag as Riley watched on. There was no one else, the gym wasn't used in the last period.

Zay could feel his chest burn and beads of perspiration on his face. But he focused on hitting one, two. His movements felt mechanic and after a while he slowed. He was taking deep breathes, looking at nothing. He felt himself sink onto the floor. He sensed more that saw Riley sit down next to him and the punching bag.

"It's okay to cry," Riley said softly and those words gave way to the tears that he had not shed. He broke in front of the brunette, letting her see him at his most vulnerable. And she, she held him as he fell undone and apart. Zay didn't know when he stopped crying, when he started being numb but he moved from his place in her arms to look at her.

"Charlie passed away last year. There was an accident, I survived," Riley said quietly. He didn't. Those were the words she didn't need to say. She gave a deep sigh and said, "He never wanted to die."

"I'm sorry," Zay said sincerely.

"Don't be," Riley said. There were no weak smiles or declarations, they were past that. When it came down to the things that mattered, there was no room for anything but the truth for them. Whatever they spoke had a ring of honesty to it. If they didn't want to tell the truth, they will keep silent instead of tell a lie. Zay took a deep breathe and let Riley in.

"Vanessa's sick," Zay said.

"What?"

"She's been going to the hospital more lately to do test," Zay explained, "They will know her result soon."

Riley held his hand. The phone call was from Vanessa's best friend letting him know that Vanessa was admitted to the hospital today when she fainted in school. Zay made her promise to call him back once they find out any news of Vanessa.

"You need me to be there?" Riley asked.

"I would like that very much," Zay said. Riley gave him a small smile before leaning her head at the crook of his neck. Zay leaned in and rested his head on hers as they waited for something to happen.

He didn't know what Riley was doing to keep herself busy but he had taken to look at the ceilings of the wall. There was this odd patch slightly different from the rest like a water stain. And the shape if it reminded him of this pond back at Texas where he and his friends spent their summer day and nights. In the winter the pond froze a thick layer so that anyone could skate while some of the braver fishes watched them. Maybe he would go there again and invite all of his friends both from Texas and New York.

"Sometimes I think that when it gets too much there should be a pause button or a way out you know what I mean," Zay said after a while.

"Yeah I do," Riley replied before asking, "Where do you go when you need to get away?"

"It used to be this cliff area back in Texas," Zay said as he visualised the terrain that he used to go to clear his head. It was a place that he could scream as loud as he wants without bothering anyone. He traded the rocky ground for New York's green. Sure he didn't get to scream but the park had given him a place of solace, "Now it's Central park. What about you?"

Riley paused as she thought about it, "There was this studio of main avenue, not a lot of people go there. Its closed and run down but I went there for a while to think."

"That where you disappeared to for two days?" Zay asked. Riley didn't know how much he knew but she didn't even blink when the question was posted.

"Yeah. When Charlie passed away I thought I'll never be happy again," Riley replied, "Like it was over for me. Like I was over."

"And now?"

"I think I'm just beginning," Riley said. They sat there in the gym until the final bell rang indicating school was over and even then they stayed not counting the time that has passed. Slowly they untangled themselves and walked away.

"How'd you do it?" Farkle asked. Zay looked up to see the boy looking expectantly at him. It was a few days later and they were on their way to Topanga's to meet the girls. The boys were held back in school for who knows what, Zay wasn't really paying attention.

"Do what?" Zay asked slowly.

"Get Riley to open up," Farkle clarified as he side stepped to make room for a woman who was rushing to who knows where.

"I didn't," Zay denied.

"Face it Zay, you are the one she opens up to now," Farkle pressed.

"I don't know," Zay finally admitted.

"I do she sees something in you," Lucas said joining in the conversation.

"Lucas I don't think," Zay began but he got cut off by Farkle.

"I'm a man of science," Farkle began, "I don't do well with reading people but Riley was always the easiest because she never felt the need to hide anything from me until she did."

"New Year was a bust," Lucas said automatically.

"Sorry about that," Farkle winced. Zay was curious what happened during New Year.

"Stop apologising for that," Lucas said to Farkle before turning to Zay, "You're him."

"Him?"

"The one that can make her happy again," Lucas said. The way Lucas said it made him think that he had given a lot of thought into it. Zay didn't know what to make of this development. So he kept quiet all the way until the three reached Topanga's.

They entered Topanga's to see Maya and Riley sitting beside one another laughing with theirs arms wrapped around one another.

"Hey," Riley greeted. The girls removed their hands from one another but the distance or the lack thereof made Zay smile. They made up.

"So I'm gonna go check on our order," Maya said as she stood up.

"Kay peaches," Riley said as she turned her attention towards Farkle. Riley didn't notice the soft smile Maya had, but Zay did. In fact he was certain that the two girls didn't really take note of the fact that they sat close to one another, or when they took bites from each other snacks or a sip from each others drinks. He never saw this from the time he arrived to New York, but their actions held a bit of normalcy and familiarity that he could not explain. It felt good.

A while later Farkle had to go off to meet Smackle. Riley gave him a hug before saying, "I should probably go off to, my mom wants me home a little bit earlier today."

"I'll walk you home," Lucas offered.

"Kay,' Riley said before giving Zay a hug. She did the same for Maya before going out the door with Farkle and Lucas. Zay knew that Lucas and her were probably going to talk on the way home. Just because Riley and Maya were okay didn't mean that Lucas and Riley were. Hopefully Lucas walking Riley home will open a conversation. With Lucas, Riley and Farkle gone that left him and the blonde alone in the cafe. It wasn't as bad as he thought it would be.

"I'm glad you guys made up," Zay offered.

Maya gave him a smile, a genuine one that he had not seen directed to him, "Me too," she paused before saying, "I feel like I need to apologise to you. I haven't been the most friendliest."

"It's okay," Zay cut her off

"No. No it's not," Maya insisted, "It's always been me and Riley. Sometimes Farkle but me and Riley always. When Lucas moved I didn't know what to make of it because I thought I was going to lose her but she was still there even when everyone started to feel things."

"When Charlie became a contender she was still there but I wasn't paying attention," Maya continued to explain, "I didn't notice her slipping away. And I hated myself for it. When Charlie was gone she finally broke and she didn't hide it anymore. I couldn't pick her up or make her smile. I couldn't tell her everything was going to be okay."

"Then you moved and you don't even realise what you're doing. She's happier," Maya finished. Zay processed her words. It made sense why she was treated him more on the cooler side of things. He did just walk in and become something that Riley was immediately attached to. At least that how it looks like it to Maya. He could try to tell her that Riley would never replace her. But he didn't need to, Maya knows that now.

The last part of what Maya said made him think back to what Lucas has said to him on the way to Topanga's.

"Lucas said I was the one that could make her happy," Zay said.

He was surprised to hear Maya snort, letting out a little laugh, "That's huckleberry for ya. She doesn't need you for that. She can make her own happiness. She needed you to show her that there is always something more even if she doesn't know it yet."

Maya dug into her pockets and produced something, "I think you left this at the library the other day."

In his hands was the key that he left in the library. He sighed with relief, he went back after but could not find any traces of it. He didn't want to tell Riley, felt as if that was a careless move on his part. The keys were something of value to her and it turn it was valuable to him. He felt touched that Maya would give it back to him.

"I sometimes forget Riley perceives more than she lets on," Maya said, "I think she slipped it in my bag because she knew that I will pass it to you."

Things were getting better for the five of them, he just knew it.

Okay chapter done. This is by far the longest chapter I wrote which is actually not saying much. So more things are revealed and I'm really happy with how this chapter turned out. I have about two more chapters and an epilogue in mind before I think I will finally conclude this story. I'm sort of thinking of writing a prequel to this story; it will be way longer than 7 chapters I'm certain because I already have all these ideas stuck in my head but I don't think I'll be able to start until I end this story which would about sometime next year. The next three chapters of this story will take a little bit longer to be updated because holidays and right now I'm slightly on the busy side. Hopefully I will be able to finish posting by January. So until then have a good holiday :)