Life was full of new discoveries. Though many of them could be forseen, Riley never expected to find herself in love with her best friend. Her parents had always concerned themselves with boys and how they would affect her as she grew up. It didn't seem as if they'd ever considered the possibility that their daughter would fall in love with a girl, and they certainly hadn't imagined that girl would be Maya. Television, movies, books, media in general, it was all littered with stories about boys and girls falling in love. Seldom did the romances deviate from that format. The possibility of being gay, bisexual, or anything other than strictly heterosexual, never seemed real. Nonetheless, it was, and she was dwelling in it.

Riley took a deep breath as she stepped through the door of apartment twenty-six. Her mother immediately greeted her with a bear hug.

"Mom," Riley whined, "I've only been gone for a few hours!"

Topanga eyed her daughter sternly. "And you'll never be gone again, right? You'll stay like this forever?"

"I'm growing up," Riley protested. "I have to make the world mine. Dates are going to happen. They have to. They just won't be with Lucas."

Placing her hands on Riley's shoulders and beginning to shake her violently, Topanga screeched, "Why? What did that boy do to you?"

"Nothing! Please stop shaking me," Riley cried out as her mother's grip released. "He was actually really sweet. I just found out that some people are better off as friends. Maybe others won't be."

"Oh," Topanga said, uttering a sigh of relief and not catching the hint. "Well, it's been a long day. Maybe you should get ready for bed."

Riley nodded, dizzily stumbled to her bedroom, and went inside.

Cory leapt off the couch and high-fived his wife. "No boys! Oh happy day! Oh happy day!"

Her head in a swirl, Riley flipped on her bedroom light. She noticed a blonde-haired girl sitting on the window seat, a sketch pad in her lap and her head turned to watch the stars. And as Riley's vision cleared up, she processed who it was.

"It didn't go well?" Maya asked rhetorically, having eavesdropped on the earlier family conversation.

"He kissed me," Riley said bashfully. "He kissed me. It was supposed to be this big, huge moment, but all I could think about was you."

"Me?" Maya replied, turning to face Riley.

"You," Riley confirmed, feeling she had her opportunity. "I thought about the way your eyes sparkle, and how you look with your makeup off, when I can see the cute little freckles on your cheeks." She sounded flustered. "And I realized that I wanted to be kissing you instead."

"Good," Maya spoke gently. She stood and walked toward her best friend. Her hand touched Riley's face, exploring it as a blind person might, memorizing how its every detail felt against her fingers. "You shouldn't be kissing him. You should be kissing me." She leaned in and kissed Riley passionately, tasting her strawberry lips. Maya's aggressiveness was startling, but soon Riley began to return the kiss, her friend's lips intoxicating her like a heady wine.

"Maya," Riley whispered, her heart ablaze and her breath coming in short gasps. She had felt the fireworks go off. They both had.

Maya stared into her best friend's eyes. "I crawled in your window tonight because I'm in love with you, Riles. I'm in love with you, and now I have the courage to say it." She wrapped her arms around Riley. "I know we're young and have a long way to go, but you and I belong together. I've always been able to talk to you, to make you laugh, and I have always wanted to take care of you."

Riley took a deep breath. "I love you too." Her cheeks reddened. "I don't want anybody else. Please be my girlfriend."

The best friends, now lovers, kissed again with fervency. And when their lips separated, Riley took Maya's hand. It felt like a yes. It felt perfect.

"You weren't my first kiss," Riley said, "but you're the first one that mattered."

Maya kissed her beloved's forehead. "And I always will be." She separated her hand from Riley's and headed toward the window. "The world's going to be different now. Are you ready for it?"

"With you, I'm ready for anything," Riley affirmed. "I'll see you at seven o'clock?" she asked.

Maya blew a kiss. "Always, darling. Always."