Chapter 9 - Let Me Explain


The shock from Lucas' secret being revealed caused Riley's jaw to drop. She remembered the day Lucas walked through the door with Kylie around his arms and assuming the worst that she was his girlfriend. Her heart broke when she saw Lucas with another girl. Although, Lucas never really referred to Kylie as his "girlfriend". He would just always be vague about it. Still, the mere sight of them being together hurt Riley. Now that she found out she was his cousin, she didn't know how to feel. She was angry, ecstatic, betrayed, yet relieved.

"Riles, you alright?" Maya spoke waving her hand in front of the brunette. There was still no response. "Riley?"

Farkle's lips drew into a line and narrowed his eyes, "I think she's broken."

"Look a bunny!" Maya pointed outside the window excitedly but still no response. "Okay if that didn't work, I don't know what will."

As if by cue, Lucas comes in through the bay window in which Riley snaps out of her trance and punches him in the arm, earning a groan from Lucas.

"She's your cousin?!" Riley yelled.

"Yeah about that," Lucas began. "I need to talk to you. Alone." He shifted his gaze towards Maya and Farkle.

Maya shook her head, "I'm not going anywhere."

"Yes you are," Farkle rises from his seat, picks up Maya and throws her over her shoulder. "You're coming with me."

The two head out the door with Maya screaming, "Oh once you put me down I am going to kick your..." And the door slams close leaving Lucas and Riley alone.

"So about Kylie," Lucas began.

"She's your cousin." Riley stated blankly, staring into the distance.

"Yes."

"But I thought she was your new girlfriend."

"See about that,"

Before Lucas could finish his thoughts, Mr. Matthews barges in through the door. "You're alone. In my daughter's room. This cannot be. GET OUT." He moves to attack Lucas but Riley swiftly moves between the both of them to stop her father from chasing Lucas out of her room again.

"Daddy, Lucas and I are just talking."

"No talking. No!"

"Mom!" Riley yells. "Dad is being weird again."

Topanga responds from the kitchen, "Cory leave them alone."

Mr. Matthews narrows his eyes towards Lucas, "I'm still watching you Friar. I'll be right out here."

Riley walks back towards Lucas and sits down, "Go on."

"I need to be honest with you. I know you're probably going to hate me. I know you're probably going to say I'm stupid but trust me when I say I already know I am. I got tangled in this tiny ball of mess and I need to get out for you."

Riley, confused, asked, "For me?"

"Yes," Lucas nods. "Riley, I still..."

Riley's phone rings, "I'm sorry I have to get this." Yes, sure of course. No problem. I'll see you soon.

"Was that Logan?" Lucas tensed up.

"Yes," Riley responded without any emotion. "I'm sorry but I have to leave in a few minutes. But do go on. Please explain why you made everyone think Kylie was your girlfriend." She was angry at this point now. She didn't mean to but the mere thought of Lucas lying to her and playing with her made her see red. It was unusual. She rarely got angry.

"I can't just tell you everything in a few minutes."

"I'm really upset at you Lucas," Riley stared at his eyes sternly.

"I know and I'm sorry."

Riley scoffed, "You think sorry is going to make up for it? Lucas, you lied to us! You lied to me. You made me believe you had a girlfriend. I thought we were friends?"

"Yeah friends. And we are Riley! If you'd just let me explain you'll understand," Lucas sighs.

"How am I supposed to know you won't lie to me again?"

Lucas tries to place a hand on top of hers but she pulled back quickly, "Because you know who I am. You know me better than anyone."

"Yeah? I'm not so sure about that anymore."

Lucas could feel his heart drop to his stomach. "Give me a chance to explain. Please Riley," he pleads, tears forming in his eyes. This was what he was afraid of-Riley slowly pushing him away because of some stupid mistake.

"Okay fine," she looks to the side then back at him again. "Topanga's after the movies."

"Okay," he nods and looks down at his hands. "I better get going. I'll see you later." He moves to go out the window but Riley stops him. He turns around and asks, "Yeah?"

Riley took a deep breath and gives him a quick smile, "You are one of my best friends. And you know more than anyone that I always want to see the good in people. I want to believe you. I hope I believe you."

Lucas nods and climbs out the window. He turns around and squats on the ground to be able to see her, "Just please hear me out later."

"I'm reasonable Lucas so I will. I'll see you later." And with that, Lucas climbs down the fire escape and runs home with a heavy heart, ready to lock himself in his room and scream into a pillow.


Zay and Lucas are ducked under a window by the pet center where Riley and Logan are at.

"Are you sure this is the place?" Zay asked as he flattens himself against the wall not to be seen by anyone inside the building, looking back and forth at every direction. Knowing Zay, he was most likely pretending that he was a spy on a mission.

"Yes I'm sure," Lucas responded. "I creeped on Logan and this is the place."

Zay immediately turns to look at his friend, "You creeped on him?"

Lucas looks inside the building through the corner of a window. "Yeah, I checked his Facebook page."

"You creeped on him," Zay stated firmly.

Lucas turns around to face Zay, "What? I want to see this place. See if it's a good place to work at."

"You already have a good place to work at! You just want to spy on Riley and make sure Logan doesn't try anything."

"No!" They both peak through window. "Not at all!"

"Okay then let's leave!"

"No I need to watch them."

Zay points his finger at Lucas, "So you are spying."

"Apparently I am," Lucas throws his head back and slowly sits on the ground.

Zay moves to look through the window again, "Well there they are. Playing with puppies. All innocent and OH MY GOD."

This alarms Lucas so he quickly gets up to check out what Zay saw, "What Zay? What did he do?"

"There's this cute Pomeranian that keeps licking Riley's face!"

Lucas flicks his friend in the head, "Come on. Let's go behind that other window."


Inside the building, Riley and Logan are inside a cage playing with about a dozen puppies-each of them are jumping and running around the two.

Logan glances up and sees Lucas peeping through a window. He elbows Riley lightly to get her attention, "Uhm Riley?"

"Yeah?"

He nods towards the window across the room, "Isn't that Lucas peeping through that window over there?"

Riley looks up and see's the two but they boys retreat to hide, "Let me personally invite them in." She walks outside the building and sees the two hiding behind the wall with their eyes still inside the building. Zay double takes towards Riley and his eyes widened.

"Uh Lucas?" Zay keeps poking his friend to alert him.

"Where did she go? Do you see her?" Lucas asks, not knowing that Riley was already outside staring at him with eyebrows raised and arms across her chest, her right foot tapping on the ground.

"Lucas!" Zay screams a little louder.

"What?" Lucas whips his head towards Zay, who points towards Riley.

Shocked, Lucas clears his throat and stands. "Riley. Hello."

"Can I help you?" Riley asks coldly.

"Uh well this might look bad but..."

"It's bad," Zay corrects him.

"Thanks." Lucas throws him an angry look. "See the thing is..."

"Were you spying on us?"

"No! Psh! No not at all! No never!"

Riley raises her eyebrows at him. Lucas drops his shoulders down and sighs, "Okay maybe a little."

"Why?" She cocks her head to the right and drops her hands to her hips.

"I wanted to make sure you're okay. That were okay."

Riley puts her arms across her chest again, "I'm okay. However, we are not."

"Woah!" Zay exclaimed a little louder than he wanted.

"I'm going back inside. Stop creeping on me. I'll see you later." Riley turns on her heel and runs back inside the building.

Zay's eyes widened, "What did you do? I've never seen her mad like that before!"

"I'm so stupid."

"No kidding." Zay scoffed.

"She's never going to forgive me even after I explain to her."

"I have an idea," Zay suggested. "Come on, we need Farkle and Maya."

"You have an idea?"

"I have my moments. Now let's hurry."


Uh oh! Trouble in paradise for Ms. Matthews and Mr. Friar!

What do you think Zay's idea is? I mean he rarely has bright ideas. ;) Leave your thoughts with a review and I may possibly incorporate it in the story! Thanks for reading! :D Find out next chapter whether or not Riley forgives Lucas.