Maya didn't recall when exactly they had shifted to lying horizontally across her bed, feet dangling off it, but she didn't care in the least. They had stopped talking, but the silence between them was in no way awkward. Indeed, she had lain there with an idle smile on her face as she felt Riley shifting ever so often beside her, her loose hair moving lightly over the skin on her arm. She liked that, that simple link that established a connection between them that reminded her that yeah, she wasn't alone anymore, and that, perhaps, she had been wrong for wanting that. This felt right on so many levels, and so, she turned her head to shoot her best friend a fond look.

As if feeling her gaze on her, Riley's eyes opened and she gave her a gentle smile. "Hey Peaches," she greeted, her voice a bit drowsy.

"Hey honey. You okay?" she asked, trying to gauge her mood after their conversation.

"You're asking that?" Riley asked with a hint of amusement. "I'm not the one who spent an entire week by herself you know."

"I wasn't entirely alone," Maya allowed, as she rolled over onto her stomach, pulling her hair so that it fell over one shoulder.

Riley frowned slightly at that, but didn't comment. Instead, she sat up and scooted backwards until she could rest her back against the wall. Maya took advantage of that and wriggled her way upwards until she could use Riley's thigh as a pillow. Riley made a pleased sound at that, and her fingers immediately started to twirl bits of her hair.

"What's on your mind?" she asked a minute later as she noted the contemplative expression on Riley's face.

Riley blinked slowly as if forcing herself out of her thoughts before focusing on her. "We're not going to get your classes switched back, are we?"

Maya's chest heaved as she took a deep breath at the unexpected question. Slowly she released it. She was grateful that Riley had at least posed it as a question, rather than an outright demand. She really was making an attempt to try, Maya acknowledged gratefully. "We're not," she answered. "I really don't think that they'll let me switch it back after the fuss they gave me to alter it in the first place. It'll be like this for the year." Maya felt slightly bad for using their school's administration as a cop-out excuse, but, for all that Riley was trying to understand, Maya highly doubted that she would take kindly to her out-rightly saying that she just didn't want to be in a classroom with her or Lucas anymore. She preferred to not stir back up feelings that had only just settled.

"You don't seem that sad about it," Riley pointed out, tugging lightly on the hair in her grip.

"I'm not."

Riley sighed, and released her hair entirely. "I don't understand Maya," she admitted. "If we're good now why doesn't this bother you? Unless we aren't good?"

"We are," she confirmed seriously. "Riles, we are."

"But you still don't want to be around me."

There was not anything accusatory in her tone, something that Maya would have preferred to the deeply rooted sadness she was hearing in her voice. It hadn't occurred to her until now how much this week had affected Riley. She had just convinced herself that she would be fine. After all, she had had her new boyfriend, their friends, and her family to help her deal with everything. But, hearing the melancholy edge to Riley's tone, even as she tried to acclimatise herself to the changes Maya was forcibly imposing was disheartening. She recalled the frustration in Riley's voice the day before. How could she have thought that Riley would be fine? She knew how much Riley hated secrets being kept from her. For her to have dealt with her unexplained absence, her anger at the fact that her dad had more than likely refused to tell her why, and finally, their fight from the day before… It was no wonder that Riley had shown up here in her state.

"I just want to be around you less," she said, before wincing at how blunt that came out. "I don't mean all the time," she tacked on quickly, "and it's not like you're never going to see me again. We're still going to have loads of time together. I'll be there bright and early Monday morning to get you, I swear."

"And lunch times?" Riley pressed. "After school? Weekends? Is that all we're going to be left with?"

"Honey, that is a lot of time," Maya pointed out, sitting up and turning so that she could look at her. "We talked about this when we first got our schedules remember? We thought that we would die only having three classes together after sharing everything most of our lives. But we dealt with it fine didn't we?"

"Our hallway reunions were quite epic," Riley acknowledged, a bit of humour shining through.

"The stuff stories will be written about in years to come," Maya agreed before growing more serious. "It made us treasure the times we did have together even more, Riley. This is just more of the same."

"You really think so?" Riley asked softly.

"I know so, Riley."

Riley nodded after a moment, and to Maya, it seemed as if a weight had been lifted off her friend's shoulders. "Okay. We'll try it your way Maya."

"Thank you Riley," she said sincerely.

"I'm glad that's settled. It'll be nice having you back at the bakery; I have so much to tell you!"

"Wow," Maya bid, raising a stilling hand even as she felt her heartbeat pick up a bit. "Hang on Riles. I'm not going to be at the bakery."

"What?" Riley responded, dumbfounded. "You're not going to hang out with all of us?"

Maya winced internally; her haste to answer had now put her in a bit of an awkward situation. "I have stuff to do afterschool now," she hedged, "just like the rest of you. I'll try to make it there some afternoons, but I can't guarantee every day."

"Stuff?" Riley repeated, her forehead crinkling. "What stuff?"

"Club activities."

"You didn't even come to Nature Club today Maya."

"I wasn't talking about that club," she answered, tucking a strand of hair behind her ear. "I joined two clubs this week. I'm going to be pretty busy with them."

"What clubs?"

"Show choir and art," she revealed. "That's where I was going yesterday. I had an audition."

Riley gaped at that. "You got into glee?! That's great Maya. I heard they're really exclusive."

Maya nodded, recalling the list of expectations Dylan had listed out to her the day before. Emily made it seem as if the club was mostly fun and games, and while to a certain extent she supposed it was, it was also a lot of work. Joining the club had actually taken away one of her study hall periods, and she would be spending it in the school's gym developing her stamina. She hadn't even realised that she had had stamina issues. But, she supposed, walking around New York daily wasn't the same as being able to perform fast paced dance routines while simultaneously singing.

"I have a good voice apparently," Maya said with a shrug.

"A great voice," Riley corrected. "I'm so proud of you Maya. If I'd known-"

"You'd have found a way to be there," Maya finished.

Riley nodded, but said sadly, "You didn't have anyone to celebrate with."

"Mom made me double chocolate peanut butter pancakes with extra chocolate chips this morning," she said with a shrug, recalling the large stack of pancakes the two of them had devoured. "That's celebration enough."

Riley's mouth twisted in displeasure, but thankfully, she held her peace on that matter. Instead she said, "You don't have to stay in the nature club. You'll be busy enough and I know you didn't really want to join it originally."

"I owe you guys that much," Maya told her, "I'll stay."

"You're sure?" Riley asked.

"Yeah Riley, I'm sure."

Riley grinned at that before pulling her in for a hug that Maya willingly accepted. "We'll be okay," Riley said, and Maya nodded her agreement.

It would take some time and effort, but she knew that they would be.

As she walked down the crowded street, Maya tried to convince herself that she was being absolutely ridiculous. She had no reason to be nervous; she had been to this place hundreds of times since she had first met Riley. And yet, the closer she got to it, the more her steps faltered. She glared automatically at someone who bounced into her as they passed her, even though she had been asking for that by dawdling like this. Shaking her head, she pressed forward, trying to convince herself that this was nothing out of the ordinary. She was just going to hang out with her friends for a few hours like she did every Saturday afternoon. There was nothing more to it. She had absolutely nothing to be nervous about.

She couldn't get herself to fall for that lie though. She clenched her fists as she turned down the street, bracing herself. There was nothing to fear, she reminded herself yet again. What was the most that could happen? A few awkward stares and questions? Riley was already there; she would have told them to expect her, and, had probably answered as many of their questions as she could. Maya knew that she could do this. She would be fine. Mostly convinced, she squared her shoulders before walking down the stairs and finally, into the bakery.

She was a bit ashamed to admit that a wave of relief washed through her when she saw only three of them there: Riley, Farkle and Smackle. "Hey losers," she greeted, stuffing her hands into her pockets. Their heads raised in tandem, and, despite herself, she smiled as Farkle's face lit up. In seconds, he was in front of her, his arms wrapping around her. Laughing, she returned the hug, allowing her cheek to press against his shoulder as she relished the contact. She pulled back, smiling up at him. "I'm okay Farkle," she said softly.

He looked at her searchingly, his mouth twisting in concentration. "I'm sorry," he returned. "If I had been paying better attention I would have seen this happening."

"It's okay," she answered, reaching up to pat his cheek comfortingly. "Smackle's your priority now. You didn't do anything wrong."

"That's not true," he rebutted, causing Maya to arch a brow at him. "I love you and Riley equally. Nothing is ever going to change that," he told her fervently. "You are my priorities."

Maya considered his words for a moment, noting that, although he had said that to them numerous times over the years, and had texted her occasionally over the past week, it had only been one of them he had actively sort out and taken care of. "You're not being a good boyfriend to Smackle if you truly believe that," she told him softly. He blinked, taken aback by her words. She patted his chest once, before bypassing him.

"Here Peaches," Riley bid, patting the spot beside her excitedly.

Maya paused to offer her hand to Smackle, who took and squeezed it gently. "I'm back," she said simply.

"Good," Smackle replied pertly. "I've had about enough of that one's whining."

"Hey!" Riley protested even as Maya chuckled and nodded before claiming her seat.

"So, what are we doing guys?" she asked, looking at them expectantly.

She enjoyed the next half an hour or so of conversation between them. They talked about everything and nothing, the three of them filling Maya in on what she had missed while she returned the favour, albeit a bit more sparingly in terms of the details. She appreciated the fact that none of them made a big deal about her absence, glad for the attempt to immediately return them to normalcy. She went along with it, letting go of her reservations and actively allowing herself to just relax and have fun. She was actually laughing outright, her head tossed back in merriment as Smackle related an argument she and Zay had had the day before when she felt someone looking at her.

Straightening, her eyes immediately sought out the source. Her smile faded abruptly when she saw who it was. Lucas, with Zay beside him, were standing just within the bakery. Zay looked ecstatic, and even now was all but bouncing across the room to pull her up into a hug, one that she automatically returned. He was short enough that she could look over his shoulder while in the embrace and she swallowed, feeling all her nervousness returning in tenfold as Lucas' green eyes bore into hers. She clung just the slightest bit tighter to Zay at that, trying to draw courage for the conversation she knew they needed to have.

She felt the rest of the group's eyes on them when she finally pulled away from Zay, her hand instinctively curling around his wrist. To his credit, he didn't react beyond twisting his hand enough so that he could grasp and squeeze her fingers encouragingly.

"See Lucas," Riley said brightly, jumping up. "I told you everything was okay. See, Maya's here," she told him, coming to stand by her side and putting a hand on her shoulder. "Everything's normal again."

"Is it?" Lucas asked as he walked closer his eyes never leaving hers.

Maya swallowed again, noting that, despite Riley's enthusiasm, everyone else seemed just as tense as she was. This was the moment she had been dreading the most, facing Lucas again, and even now, she found it impossible to hold his gaze. She looked away, choosing instead to glance at Farkle whose leg was now jostling, signalling his discomfort. She bit her lip, reminding herself of all she had talked about to herself the night before after Riley had left. She could do this. She had to do this. It was the only way this could work once again, all of them being together without this awkward tension hanging around.

"Can we talk?" she asked, hating the way her voice shook slightly.

"You sure you're capable of that?" he shot back, and Maya endured his light mocking; she deserved that after the way she had soundly rebuffed him before.

"Lucas," Riley protested.

"No, it's okay Riley," Maya said quickly, as she gently shrugged her hand off her shoulder. "Outside," she said shortly, and suited her actions to words by walking around the couch and heading toward the bakery's exit.

She was glad that he didn't immediately follow her, and, as she put her hands onto the chair back, she breathed in deeply, briefly closing her eyes before she pulled the chair out and sat on it. The last time she had had a conversation out here had been when her father had shown up, and, for all intents and purposes, that had not gone well.

She could only hope that this would go a lot better.

It took almost another minute for Lucas to join her, but she supposed that had to do with the fact that the rest of the group had probably been speaking to him, probably even coaching him about what he should say. She wasn't certain, but frankly, a part of her also didn't care as it gave her the chance to try to collect her thoughts and emotions. She hadn't been stupid enough to think that she would have gotten away with not having to speak to him entirely, and so, she had a few general ideas as to how she could handle the conversation without revealing things that had to remain secret. But, plans could easily change, and as much as she wanted things to, she couldn't hope for their talk to go her way. Her absent-minded drumming stopped as he passed her, his chair scrapping against the floor as he pulled it out and sat.

She watched him, taking in his stiff posture, and the way he had one hand pressed to his chin. He was closed off from her, worse than she had ever experienced before, and, unnerved, she looked away, acknowledging that this would not be easy.

"Well?" he said expectantly. "You wanted to talk to me, didn't you? So, do it. Talk."

A small part of her bristled at the curt tone he was using toward her, but, she fought from letting that take hold. She couldn't let her temper take over. It would only make things even more difficult to resolve. "I owe you an apology," she began, a bit woodenly. "I was rude to you Thursday, rude in a way you didn't deserve. I hope that you can forgive me for it."

He didn't respond immediately, and Maya gathered her courage and looked up at him again. His frame was still stiff, but not so much as before, and, meeting his gaze, she could see that his guard was dropping.

"I'm sorry Lucas," she said softly, allowing emotion to bleed into her voice, "I really mean it."

His expression flickered before he sighed deeply and dropped his hand onto the table. "What caused it Maya?" he asked, and his tone was much closer to how it usually was when he spoke to her.

"What caused what?"

"Why were you so rude to me?" he elaborated. "Riley told me what you guys talked about, and I sort of get it. But that doesn't tell me why you copped that much of an attitude with me Maya. I didn't have anything to do with that. You were trying to hurt me; I knew you were."

Maya couldn't deny that, but neither could she figure out how she could explain herself without outing her feelings to him. She sighed and leaned back, running a hand through her hair. "Do we have to talk about this?" she asked, wondering if she could bargain for a reprieve.

"I think we do," he said. "I want to understand Maya."

"What is there to understand?" she half-demanded. "Riley and I fought. I was rude to you. We're fine now and I've apologised to you. Can't we just move back now to me insulting you for that disgusting shirt you're wearing? I mean, really? Where did you find a shirt with lassos on it? Your shoes got spurs?"

"Not this pair," he returned, one corner of his mouth quirking in amusement. "But I won't let you distract me Maya. You walked away from us with nothing but a letter and that will never be okay. Tell me what's bothering you."

"I know it wasn't okay," she told him, features drawing, "but, I didn't know what else to do." She hated the edge of vulnerability that her voice took on. "I just needed it to stop."

"Needed what to stop Maya?" he asked softly, and, glancing at him, she saw concern in his eyes. She bent her head again; she almost preferred his earlier expression. At least then the compulsion to be honest with him would have been considerably weaker.

"Everything," she replied, wringing her hands together on top of the table. "I-I couldn't deal with it anymore. It was just too much and I needed it to stop. I'm sorry I hurt you Lucas. It was the only way to stop it, but that's no excuse. I'm sorry."

She jumped when a warmth settled over her hands. She blinked in confusion when she saw his larger palms over hers. She marvelled at how well they fit over hers, and briefly she allowed herself to imagine how his calloused fingers would feel when laced with hers.

"It's okay Maya," he responded softly, leaning in closer towards her. The gentleness in his voice caused her to lift her gaze from their hands. "You did what you thought was necessary to protect yourself. I can't fault you for that."

"It's no excuse."

"It's okay," he reaffirmed. "I dealt with it; I can deal with you. Or are you still going to deny that?"

Maya huffed at that, something that amused him if his expression was anything to go by. "You still mad at me?" she asked.

"I was never mad at you Maya," he revealed. "Frustrated? Yeah. Worried? Definitely. But never mad. Well, maybe the tiniest bit mad," he amended when she shot him a disbelieving look. "It faded quickly."

"But you do forgive me?" she inquired. "For the way I acted?"

"Yes Maya," he said, even as his hands pressed down a bit firmer over hers. "We're good. I promise."

She breathed a sigh of relief at that. "Thank you."

"Yeah well, you know I can never resist when you actually use my name," he half-joked, sitting back, in doing so, releasing her hands. She pulled them down onto her lap, gently rubbing at them to try to keep the warmth in them for a bit longer.

"They're staring at us, aren't they?" Maya asked then as she noticed him glancing over her shoulder.

"Every last one of them," Lucas confirmed, pointedly waving. She rolled her eyes, but didn't bother to look. "They're probably just making sure that you don't tear my head off."

"It's a nice head," she responded, "I'll let you keep it."

"I'm glad," he responded, twitching his nose before growing a bit more serious. "Maya, about your letter…"

"I stand by my decision," she said quickly, trying to force herself to sound firm. She had hoped that he would not have brought the matter up again, but it seemed as if he could not be easily distracted. "Everything is okay now. I'm okay."

"But-"

"No," she interrupted. She could not let the conversation go in that direction. "I won't talk about it. Please accept that."

"The fact that you won't talk about it proves that you're not okay," he pointed out. She said nothing, and the silence lingered for one long moment before he sighed. "Answer me one thing Maya," he bargained. "One simple yes or no question and I'll leave it alone. I swear."

Maya eyed him suspiciously, trying to figure out what one question he could want answered that could encapsulate everything. Would it be detrimental if she answered it or should she grasp the opportunity presented to her to have an escape from this?

"Forever?" she asked, dubiously.

"For now," he retorted, his tone unyielding.

She frowned, knowing that she would get no better option that this. He would bring it up again someday, but, for now, she could at least hope that that day would be long off in the future. If she were really lucky, he would forget about the matter altogether.

"Ask your question," she bid, crossing her arms defensively over her chest, "but I have the option to refuse to answer it."

"Fine," he agreed. "I choose me so that he doesn't have to," he recited.

She swallowed, recalling just how much thought and work she had put into that sentence. "Your question?"

"Riley wasn't supposed to understand what that meant, was she?"

Now that, Maya realised, even as her eyes opened in shock, was the worst possible question he could have asked. She shook her head roughly. "I refuse," she declared, her voice shaky. "I won't answer that. I can't."

"Can't or won't?" he pressed, before raising a hand to stop her before she could respond. "You had the option to refuse Maya," he reminded her. "I'll respect that."

"Thank you."

He stood, and moved to the side of her chair, offering her his hand. Her eyes moved from his face to the appendage before she took it, allowing him to tug her to her feet.

"We should get back inside," she said. "Let them know that we're okay so that they can stop worrying."

"We should," he agreed, but then surprised her by hugging her.

It was her third hug of the day, but this one, this was felt the best, and Maya's eyes automatically shut as her head rested against his chest. Even through his ridiculous shirt she could feel how hard it was, how sturdy, a sure sign of strength that she appreciated. She breathed in the scent of his cologne, an earthy smell that he had at one time admitted reminded him of his original home. She relaxed completely against him, and for just one precious moment, allowed herself to forget everything that had happened recently and to relish in this. Her breath left her in one loud, shuddering sound when they finally parted, although her hands lingered on his arms.

He looked down at her, and his eyes had a sort of intensity to them that captivated her, frightened her, and so, she turned her head…only to see Riley standing in the doorway, staring at them, a clear frown on her face. Maya released him entirely then, and felt a chill run through her as she forcibly stamped down every last trace of feelings that the last few minutes had awakened in her. She truly was in a no win situation here she said to herself, even as Lucas started speaking to Riley who plastered a smile on her face and came over to them, slipping her hand into his.

This right here made it abundantly clear, Maya thought as she walked past them back into the bakery, allowing Zay to tumble her down beside him. She could have either one of them or none. There was no other way, and, if she could not walk away, then the choice was made for her.

She would always choose her best friend.