Zay had watched both Farkle and Maya for the next two weeks as they prepared for their talk to Riley. He could feel their panic as they approached Riley and himself at where Zay had promised they would be.
"Hey Riley" Maya said. If they had expected Riley to be anything less than civil they were wrong. Rile looked up at Maya
"Hey Maya, what can I do for you?" Maya stumbled at the emotionless voice of her best friend.
"We were wondering if we could talk to you" Riley looked to Zay who nodded. She then looked to a paling Farkle and Maya.
"My bay window will be open in precisely an hour, if you're not there I'll lock it and assume you don't want to talk" and then she grabbed her things and walked away.
Precisely an hour later Farkle and Maya were climbing through Riley's window, Riley offered them a drink and hung up their wet coats before sitting next to them on the bay window.
"Speak" she commanded. Farkle spoke before Maya
"We wanted to apologise, we should never have agreed with Lucas-"Riley stood up abruptly
"Don't apologise for that, I wouldn't condemn your opinion. That is unique to you and I'm not mad that you agreed, in fact I'm not mad at all" Maya looked at her sceptically. Farkle on the other hand smiled, why was she so forgiving.
"Why aren't you mad?" Maya asked. Riley looked down
"I'll admit I was but then I realised that what you had said was right to an extent, I had chosen to tutor Lucas's arch nemesis but you never bothered to understand my point of view that I never really had a choice"
Farkle went to interrupts but Riley held up her hand.
"That being said I do feel hurt and betrayed, firstly I know that there was something between you and Lucas Maya. I do not think that he cheated mind you, that is one thing that you would never do. Secondly after I got over the initial betrayal that you had not agreed I was okay with it. However what hurts even more is that it has taken you six months to apologise. I understand that at first I made it hard for you to do so but you stopped trying."
When she was done Maya had tears in her eyes.
"I… I am so sorry. I'd just like to say you are right, about everything. I know you know about Lucas and me and that shouldn't have happened and that we never cheated on you. I am so sorry it has taken Farkle and me this long, we were cowards…"
"Big cowards, especially me. I couldn't fathom that I wrong. I know I've been wrong about you before I mean New Year's is just a reminder of that but I just…" Farkle chocked up and Riley handed him a tissue.
As Riley looked at them she just felt tired, she was so tired all the time now and arguing didn't help. She sat next to them
"This is a mess" she said. The other two nodded
"Riley… can I ask why did you let Zay in?" Farkle asked. Riley smiled
"I told him because despite what people believe we have always been close in a weird way, especially after the ski lodge. He knew what the Riley committee was and was determined to see it through, I think he did well despite the circumstances" no one said anything after that.
The silence that settled upon the rumour was stifling, eventually Maya stood up.
"So how do we go forward?" she asked. Riley looked at her thoughtfully
"I'm not sure… I want to forgive you and I will but… I need time." Maya nodded
"I think that's fair… Urm I know I should be begging for forgiveness but I've got to go. I'm covering my mums shift at the diner" Riley nodded and Maya left the way she came.
"Farkle" Riley began
"Look Zay told me about you reading the whole I love you thing… before you ask I'm going to have to say I don't know. I… maybe one day I'd like to pursue a relationship with you but not now. I'm sorry" Farkle looked at her sadly.
"I understand" Riley pulled him into a hug before he left the same way as Maya.
It had been six months but Riley was starting to feel a little more awake.