A/N: So I lied, I'm not good at calculating when I'll be done with stuff. Anyways thank you for the reviews and I'm glad that people are enjoying this. I don't own girl meets world. Sorry for any errors I missed.

Riley was shameless in asking, all confidence and sparkly eyes that messed Maya insides. Maya didn't even know how to respond back, she hadn't expected Riley to be so forthcoming. Was she like this with all her friends? Maya looked down at their connected hands and tried to recall if Riley was as touchy-touchy with Farkle as she was with her.

"So?" Riley prompted, Maya had yet to give her an answer.

Maya blinked out of her memory lane, "So..."

"Will you come home with me? My mom wants to meet you," Riley begged and Maya noticed many ears were listening in.

Maya glared at them and they blushed, turning away and pretending they hadn't been listening. Riley was not helping the rumors, how many people has Maya told that they're just good friends?

"Isn't it a little too soon?" Maya asked hesitantly.

Parents didn't like her and just because Mr. Matthews liked Maya didn't mean his wife would. Maya knew enough about Riley to understand that Riley adored her parents, what if Riley stopped hanging out with Maya if her mom orders her to? Maya jumped when she felt Riley cup her face and force her to look into caring brown eyes. Maya was not blushing.

"What's wrong honey?"

"I...what if your mom don't like me?"

"Why wouldn't she? You're amazing, caring, strong-willed, and fun. She's going to love you almost as much as I do," Riley said it like it was the most obvious thing in the world and if Maya was rosy in the face, it was because they were outside by the pool and there was a lot of sun.

"Wow...I just got here and wasn't expecting this level of ga-" without looking or moving from her spot, Maya threw a rubber duck at Zay.

The duck hit his face and Zay fell into the pool, he was wearing his uniform. Lucas laughed and Farkle came back from the bar with sprite.

"What I miss?" Farkle asked and then he saw Riley holding Maya's face. "Ah, okay, nothing out of the usual."

Riley laughed, "Farkle, Maya doesn't want to come home with me. How do I get her to come?"

"How did you ask?"

"Bluntly," Lucas saw the whole thing. "Her exact words were come home with me."

Zay whistled, "dang Riley, that's not how you pick up chicks. And why are you asking Farkle for advice?"

Riley let go of Maya's burning face.

"He's a genius. How do I get Maya to sleepover my place?"

"Have I taught you nothing," Farkle sighed. "I have plenty of game and formulas you can use."

"Oh this should be good," Lucas said as he floated in the water.

"Etiquette," Farkle nodded.

"I was not expecting that answer. Explain yourself," Riley took her sprite from Farkle's tray and gave Maya hers.

"Riley, people like you and me can't just swagger up to a girl and ask her to come home. We'll either get laughed at, repulsed, or slapped."

"Why not? You did that to me when we first met."

Maya choked on her sprite. She threw the can at Farkle who yelped and barely ducked in time.

"Stop jumping to conclusions Maya!" Farkle yelled as Maya chased him. "We were like 9! It was literally a sleep over!"

Maya halted, "Oh," she went back to where she was sharing a white lounger with Riley. "Carry on."

"Like I was saying before I almost got mauled. You have to be more suave."

Riley nodded, her expression serious. She grabbed Maya's hands and peered into blue eyes. "Maya, I know we haven't known each other for very long, a few months really, but I feel like I could trust you to come to my house and be part of the family."

"Riley moves fast," Zay hugged Lucas's floating whale.

Farkle rubbed his face. "I don't think you understand what I mean."

"Can we come Riley?" Lucas asked and Maya's face became stormy.

"No!" Maya answered for Riley, clenching her hands. "It's a girls night. No boys."

Riley grinned. "So you're coming!"

"Sure."

Riley's face went from bright to unsure smile. "Wait. You didn't already have plans with your parents or old friends, did you? Because we can jus-" Maya gripped Riley's hands harder.

"No, no! It's perfectly fine. I just have to call my parents so they don't screw me over."

"I like your mom."

Maya laughed, "you like everybody Riley, and that's fine as long as I'm your favorite."

"No worries there," Riley assured her, adding a hug to her last word, and Maya smirked.

"Riley you need to tone it down. I can literally see Maya's ego inflating," Farkle chuckled.

Maya lied down on the lounge, opening her legs for Riley to settle in-between. Riley rested on Maya and opened up a romance novel. Maya could see Zay grinning at them, waggling his eyebrows. Boys and there imagination, honestly Maya just liked platonically holding onto Riley, no harm in that. Every one of their touches were innocent and Maya had no ulterior motive. Zay smirked and Maya mentally thought fuck you Zay.

Zay has been pestering her for the last few months about her and Riley's relationship. The lgbt, art, fashion, and drama clubs were also another pain in Maya's side, there was some kind of ship war happening with them. The school's adults threw a fit if she and Riley so much as glanced at each other. Maya had to be thankful that Riley was oblivious to everything cruel, and thought that every time the teachers snapped at them it was because they thought she wasn't paying attention to the lesson. Maya wanted to protect Riley from all this awful stuff that Riley didn't need in her life.

"Hey Riley," Maya whispered. "Aren't you excited? Look, Lucas is half naked!" She didn't want to share Riley's attention with Lucas, but sacrifices had to be made. Riley getting a boyfriend would help dissuade rumors. Maya frowned when Riley didn't respond. "Riley?" Maya poked her friend. Riley was sleeping on Maya's chest. Okay. Maya grabbed their towel and draped it over Riley, she didn't want cinnamon roll to get burned.

"Hey Maya! Look!" Lucas did a cannon ball, a loud splash, and Maya was hit by some of the water. Lovely.

A few whispers from the people around the pool, "Ahhh look at him trying to impress his girlfriend."

Maya gave a long tortured sigh. Some days she wanted to feed everyone that annoyed her poison, Lucas and Zay were in that list of people.

Maya had to call her mom when they came back to their room. It was Thursday and Maya wanted to do it later, but Riley insisted Maya do it now. Maya relented, she texted her mom's assistant. She got a response later that her mom would face time her soon to talk. Meanwhile Maya had Riley tell her stories of her parents. Maya was puzzled on how two people can meet at a young age and immediately connect, the string that linked them lasting them for decades.

"Wouldn't it be funny if that's how you and Farkle end up?" Maya snickered.

"Maya, I love Farkle. He's family and that would be like incest."

"Ewww, Riles."

"Besides, him and Smackle look really good together. If only I can get them to open up to their feelings," Riley sighs. "I do love that trope though, childhood friends that become more. Who better to stay with than someone you know and trust."

"Good point but wouldn't that be boring?"

"No way. I would make sure to tell him how much I love him and do small cute things for him every day."

"You're too much for me. You're such a darling, the guy you end up with is going to be the luckiest boy in the world," Maya tried to put a face to the man that would wake every morning to Riley's smiling face. She didn't like it.

"You look like the type to deny being in love and has to have the truth dragged out," Riley chuckled. They were on Maya's bed, looking up at the ceiling and Riley turned her head so she could see Maya's face.

"I do not like Lucas!" She growled out.

Riley froze, "I never said you did."

Maya became still, an awful feeling tumbling inside her and she felt like she had messed up.

"I don't like Lucas," Maya whispered with all honesty.

"Okay," Riley nodded, her expression somber.

"Riley...I have a uhm," Maya licked her lips. "I have a boyfriend."

Riley whipped her head to Maya, getting up and leaning over her. Maya's heart was going way too fast and Riley needed to back up.

"What! Since when? Who is he?" Riley couldn't hide her surprise at the sudden news.

Maya tried not to squirm, they really needed to establish boundaries. Maya couldn't let herself look into Riley's eyes so she looked past her shoulder.

"He's a guy I've known since middle school. We've been dating since last year and uhm you don't know him. His name is Chad."

Riley blinked, "Chad..." Riley pondered for a moment, hovering over a nervous Maya. "Wait. Didn't Zay say his name?"

"They met briefly."

"When?"

Maya was not going to tell Riley about the party. Riley had a difficult time lying and she didn't want to face a disapproving Riley.

"We have a class together remember. My boyfriend called and Zay took my phone as a joke."

"Oh."

Maya nods and Riley finally gets off of her. She sits cross legged and Maya sits up.

"So what's it like?"

"What's what like?" Riley needed to be more clear.

"Having a boyfriend like."

"Oh, its tiring I guess," Maya shrugged, her nose scrunching.

Riley tilts her head a little bit and Maya wants to smush her adorable face. She hated when Riley did that face because it did all sorts of funky stuff to her. Stuff that she's not comfortable feeling for her friend. Riley expects a relationship to be fun and sappy all the time. Relationships are exhausting, and more work than maintaining a friendship. Maya had the luck not to have a deep relationship with her boyfriend, he wanted to have fun, not have anything full of meaning, they wanted the same thing and nobody got hurt. Riley was going to be a lot of work for anyone who tries to date her just to pass the time or for fun.

"Not all relationships are like that, but not everybody are like your parents. High school sweethearts rarely stick together," Maya didn't want to disillusion Riley.

"I hope yours does. You deserve to be loved with all the love in the universe. So much love that it'll overflow that tiny body of yours," Riley smiled sincerely and Maya wasn't blushing or grinning like an idiot. She wasn't!

"You're so gross!" Maya pretended to be irked. "Y no soy chiquita!"

"I understood chiquita and you're small. Its cute."

Riley grinned and fell on top of Maya. They laughed and that's when her phone rang. Maya grabbed it and saw the caller was her mom. Riley quickly fixed Maya's hair and Maya tried to swat her hands away. Boundaries.

"Mom, hey."

"Hi honey. What is it you wanted?"

"I wanted to go sleepover at Riley's this weekend."

"Riley is alive! Oh thank God," Katy gasped.

"I'm capable of many things, murder is not one of them," Maya huffed and Riley tried to lean closer to hear what the hell they were talking about that involved murder.

"You and Riley are getting along?" Katy hadn't expected that.

"Yes, I really like her mom."

"Huh, is she with you right now?"

"...yeah," why did she ask?

"Pass me to her," Maya blinked, unsure, and handed Riley the phone.

"Hello."

"Hi Riley, remember me?"

Riley grinned, adjusting her phone, "of course Katy, how could I forget."

"Is it true what Maya said?"

"Yeah, I really want her to come home with me so she doesn't have to be alone here."

"I see. You guys will only be staying home?"

"Yup."

"Okay, I trust you."

After the call ended Katy Hart had her assistant bring up Maya's Hellhole page, the new Myspace and Facebook. She was suspicious about Maya's new behavior, she hasn't been getting any calls from the school lately about Maya not attending class or disrespecting teachers. Maya wasn't very open about her friends and she was a very private person. Katy wasn't expecting all the photos of her and Riley together. Them on bed, in class, by the pool, cuddling, and their arms wrapped around one another. It almost looked like...

Maya packed her stuff, she couldn't stop smiling and Riley wouldn't stop bouncing around. Mr. Matthews was going to drive them all the way home and sent Katy his number, his email, and his twitter account. Riley went on the back with Maya and they passed the time playing jenga, twice as hard while riding in a moving car. Soon they were in the city and parked in front of an apartment. Riley took Maya's bag of clothes, and intertwined their hands, leading Maya to her place. Maya let herself be led, trying to qualm any of her unease, she didn't want to make herself look bad in front of Riley's mom. Riley's mom sounded like a strong woman.

"Mom! We're back! And I brought back a cute, blond, puppy," Riley pushed the door open and Maya snorted.

Maya scanned the spacious living room, the windows, and the kitchen. A brunette wearing a suit came down the short stairs and her smile was as big as Riley's. Riley let go of Maya's hand and leaped into her mothers arms, Maya felt a twinge of longing, patiently waiting for the hug to end. She knew how much Riley missed home, Maya had pangs of home sickness too but Riley's presence always made her feel better and like she was wanted.

Riley let go and reached for Maya's hand, pulling Maya to her side so her mom can size up her new friend. Maya kept her face neutral, feeling secure with Riley's hand in hers. Topanga gave her a friendly smile.

"More puppies! We already have a blond human puppy that Auggie brought! Whatever, the more the merrier."

"Mom, this is Maya."

Topanga nodded, "I know, you haven't stopped talking about her."

Maya blushed, she glanced at Riley who was trying to suppress a smile. "Hi, Riley has told me about you too." Maya held out her free hand and Topanga shook it.

"Riley, she doesn't look like a puppy. She looks like a fierce woman."

Maya smiled more confidently now and Chloe bite her shoe. Riley snatched Chloe and the puppy tried to lick her face.

"Nice to see you to."

"Hi Chloe," Maya let Chloe chew on her finger, have her teeth become sharper?

"Riley!" A curly haired boy screamed and ran into her sister. Maya knew he was Riley's sweet brother Auggie. Chloe growled and Auggie went to hug his dad. "Oh, I forgot, hi Maya. Its nice to finally meet you."

"Likewise," Maya chuckled feeling more at ease.

"I'm going to get Maya set up in my room," Riley told them, and pulled Maya to her room.

Riley's room was surprisingly void of cute stuffed animals. The floor was wooden, the walls made of brick, the bay window gave the room a serene look and Riley seemed to favor the colors white, purple, and brown. The rooms decorations and art gave it more life and Maya had to smile at how much it felt like Riley. Riley placed her bags on the queen sized bed, then led her to the bay window and had her sit down. The light hit Riley directly making her shine like gold and the sight made Maya's lungs forget how to function.

"The bay window is my favorite spot in my whole house. All the important talks and discoveries happen here."

"Do they," Maya grinned, eye brow up in disbelief.

"Its magical like going to Disney world as a kid; unlike Disney, the magic doesn't go away as you get older."

"Neat."

"And," Riley sat closer, "I want to share that magic with you too. Good things are going to come your way now."

Maya was touched by this, Riley really did share and give every good thing about her to others. She was the most selfless person Maya has ever had the pleasure of meeting.

"That's funny, you came my way months ago, making my days brighter. So am I now double blessed now?"

"Yup! Your life is going to be infinitely better now that I'm in it plus the magic of the bay window," Riley prophesized and lied down on Maya lap.

Maya laughed, her hand grazing Riley's hair, "I believe you. I can feel the universe changing already."

Maya loved Riley's family! They were everything she ever wanted, and she wished the sun would move slowly across the sky. Dinner was the fun, they didn't tell embarrassing stories about Riley but really cute ones and they talked about all her quirks. Topanga eyed her more intensely when Maya let it slip that she has noticed some of Riley's more hidden quirks. Auggie brought his girlfriend later, a blondie that grabbed life by its reigns, Ava. She found herself weirdly reflected with the younger blond.

When they were getting ready for bed Mr. Matthews brought a box full of Riley's toddler pictures. She was so cute! Maya had a fun time looking over them.

"I'll be right back," Riley go up and left to use the bathroom.

Maya poked around some more and a particular picture grabbed her attention. It was Riley as a kid at a park, another girl at her side. Maya recognized that skirt. She glanced at the bay window and a memory hit her. A young girl running away from her angry parents, hearing a girl singing, an open opportunity, a nice, safe, peaceful room. Two girls becoming friends and Maya coming over all the time. For a short period the girls were attached to the hips and they were both very happy. Maya's parents hitting a gold mine and their luck taking a change. A park with a bench, a game of spies and superheroes, a kiss as a reward, their first kiss. A very upset father that caught them, and eventually moving to a better, richer, neighborhood. Maya sat on her butt as she recalled all those events, dumbstruck. Riley. Riley was there. Riley really did change everything. Maya put the picture at the bottom of the pile and tried not to drown in the memories. She had been so sad when they moved, memories fading as she grew up and now they were back with Riley. Riley was back in her life. What now?

"Hey! I brought back popcorn! Want to see good will hunting?" Riley plopped down next to her and Maya's heart almost leaped out of her ribcage.

"Uh, sure," Maya stared at the floor.

Riley brought her hand up to Maya's face and gently made Maya face her. Riley searched her face. "Are you okay?"

"Yeah," Maya lied, her face burning where Riley was touching her. "I was just thinking about my parents."

Riley smiled, "just watch. Things are going to change now so I expect the next sleepover to be at your place."

Maya didn't respond. She didn't want Riley to meet her dad again, last time there had been shouting and Riley had cried. God, Riley had cried and Maya never wanted to see that beautiful, precious girl cry for the rest of her life.