"The dragonfly is a pretty fierce predator," Farkle says, leading the group up the trail. "Like this one, the Eastern Pondhawk, it can swoop down on its prey with agility like a hawk, hence the name."

"That's pretty amazing Farkle," Riley says, smiling at him, her head tilting to the side the way it sometimes does. Riley isn't the biggest fan of bugs but seeing Farkle talk about something he's so passionate about has a way of making her light up. Zay and Lucas on the other hand, barely have it in them to pretend to be interested, mumbling out a half-hearted "cool" in response. Farkle doesn't seem to care, as long as Riley is listening, and continues on about some other insect that has caught his eye.

Maya is no more interested in Farkle's impromptu science lesson than Zay and Lucas are but she doesn't mind it. It's a welcomed distraction. She trails behind the group, taking in the way the sunlight trickles through the leaves and how the birds' singsong chirping floats down to her from the trees. It's a lot warmer than a usual day in March but it's perfect for a day at the lake. Riley even packed the group some sandwiches and a few snacks in her backpack. Maya feels a twinge of guilt when she thinks of how Josh had watched them getting ready for their hike. Even though he was an unexpected addition to this trip he still deserves to enjoy it. She hates that they left him behind and promises herself that next time she'll try to make him feel like a part of the group.

When they finally reach the lake, Riley runs ahead to get a closer look at a flock of ducks that are coming in for a landing while Farkle and Zay walk along the edge skipping stones. Maya hangs back, in awe of how the mountains reflect perfectly on the water's surface. She makes a mental note to come back with her sketchbook.

"Beautiful isn't it?"

She looks over at Lucas, expecting him to be taking in the view but instead he's looking at her. His eyes stay on her a second before both of them turn back to the lake.

"It really is," she breathes out. She isn't sure if it's the view or the comfort of him standing beside her but it's the most relaxed she's felt all day. She sinks down to a nearby rock, scooting over so that he can join her. They have to sit close so they can both fit and they naturally lean into each other.

"So, I wanted to ask you earlier," he says, "But did everything go okay at the hospital? You were a little quiet when you got here."

She thinks about it for a moment.

"Besides having to see my father with his new family and the whole my sister having cancer thing I'd say it went okay," she says. It's a bad attempt at lightening the mood and Lucas' worried expression tells her that her joke is a poor one.

"Maya, are you okay?"

She turns away from him, turning her attention to their friends instead. She's been asked that question a lot lately but she doesn't have the right answer. She hates saying yes because really she isn't okay. She hates saying no even more because what right does she have to feel this way when Sophie is the one laying in a hospital bed.

"Looks like Riley's feeding our sandwiches to the ducks."

"Maya…"

"Those were turkey sandwiches and now those poor ducks are cannibals."

"Maya," he says a little firmer and she sighs.

"What Lucas? What do you want me to say? That I'm not okay? Well I'm not. I feel like everyone's counting on me and there's a good chance that I could let them all down."

A lot of thoughts have crossed her mind over the past two weeks but this one is a constant. It's always there but especially today, especially after her visit to the hospital.

"Maya you're not gonna let anybody down," he says. "You can't put that kind of pressure on yourself."

"The pressure's already there. At the hospital, everybody was looking at me like by just being there I was saving Sophie's life. What if I do this and she still dies?"

She turns to him, seriously asking how she's supposed to live with something like that. He shifts even closer to her, positioning himself so that he faces her completely.

"You have no control over that," he says, taking her by the shoulders. "So whatever happens, no matter what happens, you can't blame yourself, okay? Promise me?"

Again, her first instinct is to crack a joke but the way he's looking at her stops her. It's a look that says it's okay to be vulnerable, that it's okay for her to break down if she needs to.

"Okay," she says finally. "I promise I'll try."

He lets his hands slide from her shoulders, smiling for the first time since they sat down.

"Good, that's all I want."

He stands up and holds his hand out to her.

"Now how about we go stop Riley before those ducks end up in therapy."

"Therapy?"

He shrugs, his smiling growing wider.

"Okay maybe I just want a sandwich before they're all gone. So, you with me or what?"

"Sure Huckleberry," she says, taking his hand. "I'm with you."

They rejoin the group and enjoy the rest of their time at the lake together; sitting on a lone dock, finishing off the remaining sandwiches and snacks that Riley had packed. Everyone lays on the dock, cloud watching and talking about things they hadn't talked about in what feels like forever. It's like old times and that surprises Maya because it isn't until now that she realizes that her and Lucas' relationship isn't the only thing that changed during Riley and Lucas' time as a couple. Everyone is still friends but somehow the whole group had become a little distant without even noticing. Slowly though they are coming back together. Things feel normal again and normal never felt so good.

At some point Riley decides that it will be fun if they wade into the shallow end of the lake. The guys aren't up for it and so stripping off her shoes and rolling up her jeans she follows Riley into the water.

"Be careful. Those rocks are slippery," Zay calls out to them and he's right because just as they take their first steps, Riley's foot slips against the lake's smooth rock bottom and she struggles to stay upright. Maya tries to stop her from falling but it's too late. Riley falls, thrashing dramatically in the two feet of water.

"Stand up Riles. All you have to do is stand up."

Of course, Riley doesn't listen to her and before she knows it Farkle is jumping into the water and helping Riley get to her feet.

"It's okay Riley. I got you," he says, leading her onto the shore. Riley throws her arms around him gratefully.

"Thank you Farkle," she says, squeezing him tighter. "I can't believe it. You saved my life again."

Maya struggles not to roll her eyes, just happy that Riley is okay.

"You people are ridiculous," Zay says, shaking his head. Lucas laughs. They stay a little longer, giving Riley enough time to dry off; her hair the only thing still damp as they make their way back to the cabin. Farkle leads the way back with Riley closely in tow. Maya walks along with Zay and Lucas telling them the story of how Farkle saved Riley's life in the second grade. As the sun starts to set, a chill settles over them and she wraps her arms around herself, wishing that she had brought her jacket after all. She continues telling her story, trying to keep herself from trembling with no such luck.

"Here take this." Lucas strips off his sweatshirt and holds it out to her.

"I'm fine Huckleberry."

"Maya don't be silly. You're shaking, just take it."

"Yeah cause if you don't I will," Zay says, also hugging himself to stay warm. She smiles, ready to tell Lucas to give the sweatshirt to Zay but before she can he wraps it around her shoulders. It's warm and smells like him and she imagines that this is what it would feel like to have Lucas' arms wrapped around her. Wait what? She shakes the thought from her head quickly.

"Now was that so hard," Lucas asks, smiling smugly.

"Oh whatever…but thanks."

She can feel Zay watching her so before he has a chance to read her mind, she walks ahead of them and catches up with Riley and Farkle. She spends the rest of the walk back trying to figure out where that thought had come from.

When they reach the cabin, her first thought is to return the sweatshirt but as she starts to take it off, Lucas stops her.

"Keep it," he says. "I can get it back later."

She hesitates, the sweatshirt hanging off her shoulders before pulling it back on and wrapping it around her. There's no use fighting it. He won't let her give it back even if she wants to.

"Thank you," she says. It comes out more genuine than the first time; her thank you not just for the sweatshirt but also for their talk. She gives him a small smile before she turns and heads for the porch.

"So you and the Cowboy, huh?"

Josh sits on the porch steps, watching her as she comes up the path. She turns around to see where Lucas is but he must've gone to the tent because he's no longer behind her.

"Me and the Cowboy are just friends," she says, walking past him and up the steps. "Beside why do you care?"

Josh holds up his hands.

"I'm not saying that I do," he says. "Just making an observation. It seems like you like him."

She's about to go inside but his words catch her off guard.

"Wait, I thought you said that the only reason I liked Lucas was to protect Riley?"

He shrugs.

"Maybe I was wrong about that," he says. "I've been wrong about a lot of things lately." He looks at her for a long time after that and only breaks his stare when Zay walks out of the cabin.

"What do we have here," Zay asks, looking from her to Josh.

"Nothing," she says quickly, taking Zay by the arm. "Let's go over here." She leads them over to the hammock and plops down in it causing it to swing back and forth.

"And what was that about? Was I was interrupting something?"

She rolls her eyes.

"No, Josh thinks that I like Lucas. Crazy, right?"

Instead of answering Zay looks off into the distance.

"Zay?"

"Um…Well…" he stammers, looking everywhere but at her.

"Spit it out Babineux."

He sighs, plopping down next to her in the hammock.

"Honestly, it doesn't seem so crazy to me."

"But me and Lucas are just friends," she says, repeating what she had just told Josh. Zay raises an eyebrow at her.

"You sure? Because if you ask me, there's something else going on there."

She pauses for a second, trying to think of a witty comeback but her mind comes up blank.

"Well who asked you anyway," she finally gets out.

"You did Blondie and what's so wrong with that?"

Because every bit of progress her and Lucas have made in the name of being friends would go right out the window. It would ruin everything. But she doesn't tell he that, she can't.

"Nothing," she says, instead. "It's just not true."

Zay nods, but she can see that he isn't exactly buying it. If she's being honest neither is she.

"Okay if you say so," he says, his "I'm Zay and I know everything" smile plastered on his face. "You might want to work on your poker face though, if you want that to be more believable." Maya elbows him in the arm.

"Oh shut up," she says, rocking them a little. "I don't like Lucas like that." It comes out soft and unsure and she doesn't dare chance a look at Zay after she says it. Her and Lucas have come a long way to being friends again and she isn't going to let anything get in the way of that. She has to admit though that lately something feels different between them. But what does she know? Absolutely nothing is what.