A/N OKAY OKAY DONT KILL ME LOL! Sorry for the late upload lolll I Really have been busy with a lot of stuff, I'm actually procrastinating my essay so I could finish up and upload this. I hope you like this chapter, it gives a glimpse as to why Lucas went to Maya...Don't worry, Lucas wouldn't JUST have skipped from Riley to Maya, there are always reasons. Keep reviewing and keep favoriting! I really love the reviews, and if you don't have anything to say about this chapter-which I highly doubt (I think you'll LOVEEEE ITTTT)- then talk to me about Texas.

Lucas climbed down from the fire escape with his heart pounding in his ears. She didn't view him as a brother, she gave their relationship up so Maya and him could have their 'fire', Riley gave him up for her best friend but Maya didn't beg her to break it off with Lucas...so what she gave him up for her bestfriend?! Did she ask him whether he had feelings for her? NO. She just assumed that he wanted to be ½ of the fire, that he believed summer rain was boring.

"They should be together!" Riley smiled looking at Farkle. She had noticed Lucas standing in the far corner listening to the conversation, she had also noticed a happy Maya sitting beside him and listening in as well.

"What about you and Lucas?" Lucas's ears perked up, 'say it Riley, defend us.' he thought, wishing she would say anything-anything at all to stop the rumors but instead she shook her head rapidly,

"He's like my brother."

Lucas's heart fell, she rejected him. She pulled the brother card out on him. Maybe he didn't project his love for her like she did for him but that didn't mean it wasn't there. Lucas's head got heated, his eyes saw red and in a minute's worth of time he turned to Maya and asked her out.

If Lucas would have talked to Riley, or even waited until he calmed down he wouldn't be in this mess. He wouldn't be with Maya and he wouldn't have driven Riley straight into Charlie's arms. He did love Maya, but not in the way he loved Riley, Maya would always be his friend and Riley would always be more. How do you break up with a friend but keep the friendship? He and Riley had no experience in that considering it was awkward as hell between them and they didn't even date. He stood on the sidewalk, looking at the light of her bedroom window. What did it even matter? She had Charlie, why was he thinking about breaking up with Maya when the girl he wanted was with someone other than him?

The next day the only thing on Maya and Riley's mind was shopping. Now that they both had their dates they had to face the hard part-deciding on a dress.

"Knock knock" Maya spoke coming in from the bedroom window. Riley was expecting her with a smile on her face and some coffee in her hand.

"Coffee?"

"Don't mind if I do."

Maya sipped the cup and grimaced,

"Decaffeinated?"

Riley nodded, she was almost 18 and her parent still didn't want her drinking caffeinated coffee...with reason, I mean the last time she drank coffee she was bouncing off the walls-but then again she was 12.

"No thanks." Maya shook her head, handing her friend the light blue mug back.

"So let's go? If we want to catch the subway to-"

"Um actually...Josh volunteered to take us. Mom told me about this beautiful store in Philli that she went to to buy her dress for her formal. She did some free work for them and they said that if she ever needs anything, she should just call. She could probably get us some free dresses from there!"

"Josh?"

"Come on Maya… beautiful dresses for free."

"That's a 3 hour drive Riles."

"Well we've always wanted to go on a road trip without the family"

"Yeah, but you have your uncle going."

"He'll be quiet, you won't even know he's there."

"Girls, all set?" Josh appeared through the door in a leather jacket, a beanie and black jeans. His signature beanie was always the factor the made Maya weak in the knees-or was it his hair? Or his eyes?-you know what? nevermind. Josh in general made Maya weak in the knees.

Maya glanced over at Riley who looked at her with pleading eyes. Maya knew Riley wanted to be more like her mother, she wanted to be graceful, bold and beautiful-not that there was anything wrong with her father...he was just goofy. Maya understood her pain and nodded at Josh's question.

"I guess so."

Josh led the girls to his small, silver hybrid when Riley remembered that she forgot her purse in her room.

"I'll be right back!" She explained to Maya, darting back up the steps of her apartment building.

Maya stood awkwardly in front of Josh, shifting her weight from her left leg to her right, internally cursing her best friend for leaving her in such an awkward position. Josh thought on his feet and swiftly opened the door to the shotgun seat, gesturing Maya to sit inside.

"I thought I would sit in the back...more leg room."

"There's actually more leg room in the front." He argued, walking around the front of the car to sit in the driver's seat. Maya hesitantly sat down in the passenger seat which, as he said, had more leg room even though it was uncomfortably closer to the driver's side.

"So how's school?" Josh asked once Maya was situated in the seat. She winced as soon as he spoke, she wished that he would have just been quiet and not made conversation, that way it would be easier to fight off these second thoughts she was having.

"good." she piped up. The less words she used the better, maybe he would get the hint.

"Yeah? You pick a college yet?" Maya felt his eyes on her, he craned his neck to see past her long blond locks that were covering the left side of her face, literally forcing her to make eye contact.

"Riley's making me apply to a few." she sighed, looking at him now.

"Which ones?" He prodded on, his puppy-like eyes looked hopeful and almost melted her heart. Key word: almost. Both of their bodies were inches away, and she could feel the electricity between them-maybe it was just the cold...yeah it was the cold.

"St Johns university, NYU…."

"NYU?" His eyes widened, though it didn't look like he was mad or irritated by it...more like excited? But why would he be excited because Maya was applying to NYU?

"Yeah, I mean Riley really wants me to go so we can do what her dad and Shawn did, you know go to college together and be best friends and all… but i don't know if I'm even going to college."

"Why not?"

"I mean come on, college is extremely expensive and I'm just a waitress's daughter."

"Scholarships and financial aid are there for a reason."

"I don't know.."

"Maya, NYU has an amazing art program and really develops art majors like you. I mean that painting you made displaying social hierarchy was complete genius and they'd be lucky to have you."

"You remembered."

"What?"

"you remembered about my art...I didn't think you were even listening."

"I listen to everything you say Maya." He touched her hand softly sending a jolt through her being, and traced soft circles on the surface. Her feet felt like jelly, everything around her seemed to mesh into each other and create a melted perception of reality-almost as if she was looking at an abstract painting. The only thing she could see clearly was Josh. Her heart was pounding rapidly inside her chest as her oceanic eyes stared into his chocolate puddles of hope. She inched further attempting to close the gap between them, both hesitant to make the first move. Josh's eyes flickered down to her slightly puckered lips lustfully and took the lead, attacking her lips with his. She reciprocated quickly, running her hand through his brown locks, eliciting a deeper kiss from him than she had prepared for. All the built up years of tension spewing out between them through a passionate kiss.

"Ok guys I'm-" Riley's voice sounded from beside them, they pulled apart instantly, both staring at the young girl looking on in awe. She couldn't believe what she was seeing, Maya and Josh, her best friend and her uncle. Maya and Josh, Lucas's girlfriend and not Lucas. Riley didn't know how to feel at this point. Was she supposed to be happy because her best friend finally got the guy she liked from the beginning? Or grossed out because that guy was her uncle? Or disappointed because Maya cheated on a great guy? Or angry because that guy was Lucas? Or was she supposed to be happy...because that guy was Lucas. To be honest, she was feeling every single one of those emotions, plus more. Riley whipped open the passenger side door and pulled Maya out,
"Bay window. Bay window right now." She glanced over at Josh who looked confused and frustrated,

"Riley-" he tried to explain. She squinted at him and dared him to speak up, she was not in the mood to be talked to.

"I will deal with you in an hour."