A.n. I decided to update a day early, but you guys don't mind do you. Before you start reading you should go and read sand1128's stuff. She is amazing. Like don't read my story yet, go read shattered princess and Girl Meets World 2.0 and review, like right now. Also this chapter is dedicated to her, just because I can. Enjoy the chapter. Italics are Journal entries.
What did he do? Farkle mindlessly picking at the grass that laid at his feet. He pictured the conversation ending so differently. Instead he was a coward. He should have grabbed her by the face and kissed her, maybe by then she would have gotten the point. Instead she started to drill him with questions and Farkle dug himself deeper and deeper into his lie. It didn't take long and he ended up agreeing to tell Riley his feelings so she could choose between Lucas and him. He decided he would do anything for Maya Hart, but look what that got him into. He resolved the tension that Maya had for Riley. Maya agreed to talk with Riley, and Farkle assured that was as good of start as any.
Maya and him parted with Maya telling him that she had to take care of some things and rushing off. Farkle decided with the image of Maya and Josh ingrained in her mind, he felt ill enough to not return to work so he found himself his safe spot. It allowed him to think about life out here. He wished desperately to be able to get over the blonde, but somehow she always managed to linger back to his mind.
Lucas had just become decent after bathing when there was loud banging on his from door.
"What in the"- He wandered down the steps and opened the door to see a pissed off Maya Hart.
"You have no right to tug her heart around like that." She pushed past him into his home, Lucas felt like he was having Déjà vu from the first time Maya visited him.
"Excuse me?" He replied defensively.
"You almost kissed her and then next day you acted as if she wronged you in multiple ways. I might be mad at her, but no one treats her like that, not even you." She used her finger to poke his chest. Lucas's temper flared, how dare she come into his house and talk to him in such a way especially since he wasn't in the wrong.
"I don't have to hear this, especially from you." He opened the door for her to leave.
"Fine, let the Charlie Gardeners of the world have her, but you must know what she'll never be happy." Maya stood in the doorway the blue orbs meeting with his meadow ones.
"Because she was the happiest that I've ever seen her when she was with you." She turned and started to walk away, Lucas followed her.
"That's not how I saw it," he grabbed Maya's wrist and forced her to face him.
"Every time I get close; she pushes me away."
"Because she's scared."
"Of what?" He shouted.
"Of how much she likes you!" Maya shouted then realized she inadvertently betrayed her best friend's feelings. Lucas's body relaxed as both of their voices had all the passion ripped out.
"What?" He stood dumbfounded looking at the blonde girl.
"But at the field,"-
"It wasn't that she wanted me not to see you, but to see you there."
Maya started explaining the significance of the field to him and with the passing minutes everything was becoming clearer for him. He should have trusted her; she was only trying to keep the pack that was already made. He ran his fingers through his hair trying to figure out now he could make it up to her.
"You know," Maya had on her scheming smile.
"I believe there was an invitation for you to join us for dinner tonight." Lucas half smiled.
"Are you sure that she'll want me there," Maya bit her lip unsure of exactly how to respond. But right now, all she knew was Riley and Lucas needed to sort this out.
"Of course Huckleberry." Maya reassured him.
Charlie straightened up as he stood up and offered his hand out to Mr. Matthews.
"Thank you for meeting with me again Sir." Mr. Matthews shook his hand with a smile.
"You're welcome Charlie. You give me a lot to think about."
"I just want her happy Sir." Cory nodded politely as he started to show the young master out. Charlie's eyes searched the outside for Riley.
"Has Riley gone to town for the day?" He asked hoping that he might catch a glimpse of the brunette beauty. Cory's lips pressed together in a thin line.
"You know Riley; she likes to go all over the place. She should be around somewhere." Charlie nodded towards him accepting his answer. He wished him a good day and headed towards where he left his horse. He slowed his pace as the wind picked up Riley's voice. He followed the sound as it grew louder and louder and he could process what she was saying.
"Try again," She urged.
"I don't know Miss Riley. I'm too old to learn how."
"Vanessa, you started to learn how to write last week, now how are you going to be able to read letters when you get them."
"Who would want to send me letters?"
"I would, I won't be here my whole life." She placed her hands on her knees glancing up at the sky completely unaware of the set of eyes watching them.
"You'll be with Mr. Lucas." Vanessa teased towards Riley as her eyes quickly fell. She was getting ahead of her daydreams. Lucas clearly did not want to even be near her, why encourage those daydreams.
"I don't know." She answered and put on her best fake smile.
"Come on, try again," She repeated. Charlie couldn't handle the sight any longer and removed himself from them unnoticed.
His brows furrowed as he tried to process what he just witnessed. Surely his Riley wouldn't be teaching a slave how to read and write, and if she was, it must not have been her idea. Teaching them those skills could be dangerous because then they could get falsehoods of where they belonged.
Friar.
The slave had slipped his name, and there was no question that Lucas had affection towards Riley. He must have tricked her into this mindset of interacting with their kind was acceptable. He had to snap Riley out of this trance that she was put under around him.
Once Mr. Matthews considered what he offered everything within this situation would be fixed. He would take her away from this place and she reverted back to the Riley he knew.
His Riley.
One thing he knew for sure if he was ever to get letters addressed to Riley from Vanessa or Lucas Friar he was going to dispose of them properly.
Riley's ears perked up at the sound of familiar voices coming on property. She ended her lesson with Vanessa who in turn headed back to the kitchen to start preparing the food. Riley ran out to greet the two before remembering that they hadn't parted on the best of terms. She tried to stiffen up pretending that she was doing just fine for appearance sake.
"Riley."
"Peaches," Farkle shoved his shoulder into Maya moving her closer. The two eyes connected and they stood in front of each other not saying a word for a couple moments. Then without warning they latched onto each other in a hug.
"I'm sorry Peaches, I know I shouldn't have brought him there."
"It's my fault Riley, I didn't listen to your side." Farkle smiled at the sight of the two girls. Everything was right at that moment. They were Riley and Maya. Just how it should be. Maya grabbed Farkle into the hug, this one brief.
"I don't like it when we fight Peaches." Maya tucked a piece of hair behind Riley's ear.
"Me either."
"Promise me that we'll be open and honest with each other always." Maya nodded and threw a glance in Farkle's direction.
"Don't you agree Farkle?" She hinted to him. Farkle groaned internally, Maya was trying to play match maker right at this second? Everything had just gotten back to normal.
"It's beautiful out why don't you head down to the lake, and I'll catch up to you two later." Farkle was throwing Maya a look begging her not to. Riley agreed completely unaware of the silent conversation that was occurring between her two best friends.
"Aren't you joining us Maya?"
"Later, I have to see someone first."
"Don't take too long with my brother," Riley teased as Farkle stomach churned with the imagery. The two began walking towards the pond not noticing Maya slip off in the opposite direction of the house towards the barn and the path followed by Zay seconds later.
"Are you sure it's safe here?" Zay looked around cautiously almost expecting people to jump out from the trees.
"Would you quit worrying?" Maya let out a laugh as she grabbed Zay's hand for the sole purpose to drag him down the hill into the valley. The high that Zay was feeling was matched when she let go.
"How did you find this place?"
"Riley and I found it one day when were were out exploring. It's been our place ever since. It's our escape from the world." Maya leaned her head on Zay's shoulder. She didn't know why, but over the last couple time hiding and sneaking around she had become comfortable with him. She could trust him. And now that Riley had shown Lucas this place, why couldn't it be their safe haven too. When everything could be dropped and it could be just them.
"It's almost an escape isn't it?" Maya said quietly. Zay felt her breathing pattern against him and it was soothing almost to the point he believed her.
"But it's a lie." He replied Maya's head whipped up as her blue eyes bore into his brown ones.
"It's an escape, but at the end of the day you always have to go home." She looked at him as his words sunk in. It was almost as if this place became her new Santa Fe. But he was right, at the end of the day she would always have to return to a world when she wasn't understood.
While she pondered Zay was playing with the flowers, he orchestrated another flower crown like the previous one only made out of daisies. Once completed he gently placed is on top of her head.
"It's beautiful Zay." Their eyes connected again this time Maya's stomach was in knots. Her eyes flickered down to his lips for just a second. Her mind's curiosity took over. What it might feel like to have his lips kiss her? How would it feel in comparison to Josh's lips? She felt his face heat up as she scolded herself for letting her thought get that far. She cleared her throat as she tore her eyes away.
"We should probably get back; they'll be sending out a search party for me soon." She stood quickly to her feet avoiding eye contact. She took the daisy crown off her head and placed it on a tree branch.
"I can't take it back, they'll notice." Zay nodded understanding that she was trying to keep him safe. They walked back side by side away from their safe haven and headed back to a reality that stated that they couldn't be friends. Both secretly wishing that they could spend even ten minutes longer in their escape
The two started in the direction of the pond and Riley could tell that tension was high in the air around them, she couldn't understand why since they had just made up.
"Farkle?" He snapped back to reality when she said his name. He was thankful through, talking to her was better than the image of Josh kissing Maya on repeat.
"Are you ok?" She asked as Farkle smiled.
"Yes, just thinking." He replaced.
"I'm a great listener." She offered.
"It's about her." Riley's eyes grew wide but said nothing was he finally going to tell her who she was? Her curiosity ran away with her.
"What about her?"
"I want to tell her how I feel; but I think I might already be too late." Riley stopped in her tracks. Her inner romantic took over before she could stop it.
"So you're just going to give up? That doesn't sound like you."
" She's with a guy that could offer her far more than I could"
"You're supposed to fight for love Farkle. That's how it works. And if she doesn't realize how amazingly sweet you are then she doesn't deserve you." Farkle internally laughed at the irony of Riley talking about May in such a way. Riley's rant settled down as the two stood there.
"Do I know her?" She didn't take her eyes off of him.
"Yes." He honestly didn't know why he was telling her now of all times, Maya and Josh were set to wed in a couple months. What could possible come in between that? Riley stared guessing every maiden she knew that was the talk of the town. One by one Farkle's expression was stone cold.
"Well I'm running out of girls Farkle, our town isn't that big," she joked.
"The only other couple I know is Maya and Josh." Farkle's body betrayed him as he flinched. Riley's mouth dropped as her mind started swirling with questions.
"You like Maya? She's your mystery girl?" Farkle's lack of response was enough of an answer.
"How long?" She demanded.
"What?"
"How long have you liked Maya?"
"Since we found the field." He confessed.
"Three years? And you never told her? Farkle you need to tell her."
"Tell who what?" All conversation ceased as Maya and Josh strolled up arm in arm.
One would think that after all the time they spent together, he wouldn't get nervous, this time he knew he made a mistake not trusting her with the miscommunication that was had. He was just hoping that he wasn't too late to apologize. He knocked on the door and was let in by a servant they were going to check on the where about of Riley.
He smiled even though their interactions were little, he could tell Riley took after her mother.
"Those for Riley?" Topanga smiled at the gesture.
"Yes Mrs. Matthews." She accepted the flowers with intent of placing them in water.
"And who might you be?"
"Lucas Friar, Ma'am."
"Darling, have you seen my"- The third voice interrupted their conversation.
"Oh who is this?" He gestured towards Lucas.
"This is Lucas Friar, he brought Riley flowers."
"I see," Cory continued to descend down the stairwell till he hit the base floor. They shook hands as gentleman do.
"Riley forgot to inform me that you were joining us for dinner." Lucas lips grew dry when he was at a loss of what to say.
"Never the less, you're welcome in our home Mr. Friar." Lucas's body relaxed at his words.
"Now where is my daughter, she seemed to have run off again."
"Maya and Josh were sent to fetch her." Cory smiled towards his wife.
"What would I do without you?"
Farkle and Riley knew that they had to act fast Maya didn't need to find out Farkle's feelings that way.
"Tell you that you were taking too long." Riley replied lamely.
"Oh." May's eyes flipped between Riley and Farkle wondering if he had told her. When they arrived it looked like they were having an intense conversation.
"We were set to call you for dinner."
The four began their short journey back to the house. Maya was walking with Riley forcing Farkle to mingle with his love's fiancé. As they neared the house Riley saw her father talking with someone. As they approached closer Riley recognized the figure and her breath hitched.
"What is it?"
"It's him." The brown and green orbs collided.
"What is he doing here?" Maya failed to answer, but a smile played her lips.
"Hi." He said not taking his eyes off her.
"Hey." She smiled.
"Hi." His eyes sparkled. Cory smiled watching the exchange. He invited everyone inside to give the two some privacy. Not that the two were aware, they were in their own little world.
"You came, but I thought"-
"Riley, I'm sorry I should have trusted you." He handed her a flower that he had taken from the bouquet he brought earlier.
"I was hoping that there was still a spot left at the table for me. Your Dad mentioned you making some pies."
Why was this so easy to just pick up where she started with him. It was like yesterday was just a bad dream.
"Yeah, they're peach pies." Riley smiled at the memory of making them with Vanessa then it grew when her eyes darted back to the flower that he gave her. They jumped up as their eyes met once again.
"And you're welcome to join us." As the two walked back to the house there was nothing that could bring Lucas to tear his eyes away from Riley.
I don't know why I feel like I must apologize from the other day. My personal horse that I've grown attached to over the years passed away, and it affected me harder than I thought it would. I didn't come out of my room for two days. Once I did emerge everyone seemed to swarm to me when I still was not prepared to talk about it. I suddenly found little gifts left in my room while I found would bring a smile to my face each time I received them. Due to the nature of the gifts I know that it could not possibly be Robert. His gifts would be much more formal and flashy. He doesn't appreciate the little things in life. It seems that I have a secret admirer, now I just need to figure out who is making my soul smile.
A.N. How was it? Everything is real now. The cute Rucas scene at the end was added in but I like it. Just for fun review with who you want Maya to end up with? (Josh, Farkle, Zay). It will become clear over the next couple chapters who she ends up with. There is a huge plot twist coming up too. Review, Favorite, Follow. It warms my heart. For those of you who want my Instagram it is hiheyhowdyhi with periods in between each word. I give sneak peeks and do contests so you should follow me.
