I'm hearing a collective response to this one. It's actually kind of funny to me because it's something I didn't even think twice about. Just goes to show how we all interpret things differently!

I know Lucas and Smackle are different, but I find myself loving their encounters. They are the ultimate cliché, are they not? Besides GMW writers have me shipping everyone. I literally do ship everyone and I honestly don't care who ends up with who at the end, besides Josh and Maya, because they would all work in their own strange way. It's why I don't mind throwing around ships in my stories. The only solid ship in every one of my drabbles is Josh and Maya. Every other ship is fair game for me to write about however, whenever I want. The only ship I'd be ok with dethroning Joshaya would be Rilaya, because let's face it that ship is so cute. It is true, if Maya or Riley were a guy people would ship the hell out of it. I don't know how I got into this rant lol sorry!

I honestly am changing quite a bit to make the movie fit these characters, so where there were similarities in the prior chapter there was nothing there to give it away. Although, one of you had me freaking out for a minute. I thought you actually had an idea of where I was taking it and I couldn't believe it, but then I finished reading what you wrote. In your defense nothing drastic happened in the first chapter of this story, as it did in both the movie and the book. You definitely won't be able to tell what this is based off of on this chapter. But, happy guessing!

On another note, I've been gone for quite a while. I'm so sorry. There really is no excuse. Just like most of the fandom I was pretty devastated by the cancellation of GMW. I had to get over the slump of disappointment and realize that now the show exists through fanfiction writers. This will be updated again by the end of the month I swear! Thank you to everyone who continues to read my work and supports my writing. I love you guys! As always I own nothing. Happy reading :)

"Honey."

"Not now Peaches," she stated grimly attempting to end the conversation before it even began. I cocked my head to the side and tucked my hair behind my ears.

"Listen here Lollipop you tell me what's wrong and you tell me what's wrong right now!" I pulled on her elbow and made her turn to face me. Her eyes narrowed at me before finally she gave a sigh.

"I'm grounded," she muttered while shoving her history book into her locker.

I fought back a smile as I slightly turned to let my back rest on the wall of lockers. I kicked a leg up, allowing one of my feet to also rest on the wall of lockers behind me. My left hand found a chunk of my hair and slowly began to twirl it.

"Did you now," I glanced up fighting the smile forming on my face, "I wonder what ever for?"

I feigned a face of discovery and stood up abruptly.

"Oh, no! Riles!" I slapped both hands over my heart in dramatization.

"Could it have been that you were out past curfew last night and they had to send Uncle Boing to retrieve you?" I smiled sweetly at Riley whose typical smiley face was one of amused annoyance.

"It's not funny Maya." Her long, delicate arms folded in front of her chest as she chastised me.

I nodded my head in understanding.

"I agree Riles. How ever could they ground their daughter for staying out past curfew when she was with her boyfriend? "

Riley let out a laugh as she lightly hit me on the shoulder.

"I wasn't just with Farkle!"

She rolled her eyes before she hooked her arm through mine.

"Let's go before the Chesire Cat realizes you stole his smile."

I happily walked along side her all the while making mock kissy faces at her.

High school.

Everyone forgot to mention to me that in high school Riley and I wouldn't have every class together.

Second period English was one of those classes.

I found myself lightly sketching in complete disregard as to what was going on in class. The motions came naturally to me, as did the concentration that entailed me to be drawing.

"Maya? Earth to Maya."

"Hey Short Stack, that's a pretty good portrait." I finally allowed my gaze to travel up as the duo began to hover over me.

I lightly glared at the couple.

"You sure know how to ruin a girl's concentration you know that guys?"

Smackle inched herself closer to me to get a better look at my drawing.

"Negative. I assure you Maya, you have Dreamboat down to a T." I paused at the comment and began to nod a thanks in utter confusion.

"Smackle-" Lucas warned.

I watched as Smackle looked up from my drawing and cocked her neck to the side while making eye contact with Ranger Rick. A small smile tugged at her lips as she awkwardly waved at him.

"Well look at him," she began.

If they weren't so endearing I think I would have laughed at Ranger Rick's reaction. His eyes narrowed into slits, his head tilt a little to the side and his right eyebrow cocked up in response. His hand found hers as he turned towards her desk. His fingers caressed hers, before sliding his fingers through hers and holding her hand entirely. Smackle's eyes had followed Lucas' actions. She was still unsure of how to be in a relationship, but that was never a problem for him. She finally brought herself back and looked at her boyfriend. The enamor in her eyes perplexed me. She took her free hand and covered his hand that was holding hers.

"Look at you." She smiled rubbing from their hands, to his arm.

"No Smackle, look at us."

I could've vomited. I suddenly felt like I was intruding when they were the ones who began to invade on me and my space. I finally took a look at what I had been working on for the past hour. I sat back in my chair and let my pencil fall on my desk.

Dreamboat, indeed.

Joshua Matthews was not staring at me, he was looking down, smiling, with an almost coy look to him.

I bit my lip as I recalled the exact moment this was.

I'm in it for the long game.

I shook the memory out of my head. I hadn't thought about my middle school Josh appreciation years in well, years. What glorious times those were indeed. I chuckled at the memory of my younger self having no self control when he was around. I found myself tracing his smile with my fingers while remembering the previous night. I hadn't seen Josh in over a year. I'd be lying if I said I hadn't been thrilled to see him, even if for a fraction of a moment.

"Hey, Maya." My eyes looked over at Lucas and Smackle, who were now standing by the classroom door, hand in hand. Smackle's eyes were focused on Lucas and a small smile hovered over her lips. She slowly began to hug his arm and proceeded with placing her chin on his shoulder as he finished addressing me.

"You coming?" I glanced down at my drawing one last time before closing my sketchbook. I smiled brightly at the couple in response and shoved my sketchbook into my backpack.

"Wouldn't miss it."

I rode with Ranger Rick and Resident Einstein to one-of-many elementary schools in NYC. Today was the day Auggie and Ava had their beginning of the year play. It was a must-go event in the Matthews and Hunter household and you know how that goes, wherever Riley is Maya is too, and wherever Riley and Maya are the rest of the gang are there too. I was more than excited to go to this grade school play just to hang out with Riley. It turns out when her parents grounded her, they also meant grounding her from me. We would only see each other at school and when I'd walk her home after school.

"Maya! If you could wait for the truck to stop moving before jumping out of it, it would be greatly appreciated." Lucas deadpanned. I smirked at the sight of Ranger Rick as he jogged up to Smackle's door and opened it for her.

"Well, it's not my fault you are too slow Cowboy. Besides Riley's in there and I am starting to have Riley withdrawals." I shrugged moving my feet towards the school with the lovebirds following.

When we found them Farkle was right by her side, but not even he stood a chance.

"Riles!" I grinned as I ran towards her in full stride.

She discontinued her conversation with Farkle and averted her stare to the direction of my voice.

A lazy smiled graced her face. She opened up her arms just in time, as I hit her with a hug full force.

"Hey Peaches." Her giggle resonated in my ears as I gripped on to her petite frame.

"Do you really have to have a boyfriend to break curfew with? I don't think I enjoy you being grounded." I spoke into her hair.

"Hey!" Farkle gaped at us as he heard every word I said.

Riley laughed as she let me go.

"Hi, Riley. I couldn't stop her or even slow her down." She smiled over at Lucas and Smackle while she extended her arms to them.

They, one-by-one, greeted Riley.

"Where's Zay ?" She asked noticing his absence.

"He apologizes for being unable to attend, Riley." Smackle responded with a curt smile at the end.

Riley nodded her head and looked around at all of us with a small smile.

"Let's grab a seat then, huh?" She slid her arm through mine and lightly laid her head against my shoulder. We walked to the auditorium in silence, Farkle walking with Lucas and Smackle. I peeked a glance at Riley and noticed she was walking with her eyes closed.

"Riles?"

"Hmm?" She responded with her eyes still closed.

"Are you ok?" I abruptly stopped in front of the auditorium doors. Riley's head lifted from my shoulders. I glanced at the rest of the group silently asking them to enter without us. Farkle hesitated for a minute while at the door, and took one look back at us before heading in.

She watched Farkle, in what seemed like confusion before she took another look at me. She forced a smile and a chuckle right before she grabbed my hand and pulled me through the doors.

"I'm just tired Peaches."

We sat down front and center of the stage. Riley next to Farkle, and I next to Riley. I watched her as she yawned and rested her head now against Farkle's shoulder. I watched as Farkle smiled at the action and I also watched when his eyes met mine in one of concern. The same questions ringing through my head I'm sure have been ringing through his.

Why would Riley be this tired? She only goes to school and back home. Before she would go to school, come out, and she would be fine. What wasn't she telling us?

"Hey, is this seat taken?" I swallowed at the recognition of the interruption of my thoughts.

Joshua Matthews and his smile that illuminated his slender face. At a loss for words, I shook my head slowly.

He sat down at my response and I suddenly reverted back into that 12 year old girl who couldn't think logically around him. I forced myself to look forward and not at him. I swallowed nervously, and began to rub my hands against my jeans.

"So, it's- it's been a while?" I snuck a look at him from the corner of my eye and smiled slightly. He was running his fingers through his hair.

I looked down at my hands and smiled.

"Sure has." I smiled over at him to find him already smiling at me. It really had been quite a while since we've actually interacted. We stayed that way for a while. Him looking at me, me looking at him until finally the MC of the production began to address the crowd and the lights began to dim. I smiled one last time at him before giving my attention to Auggie's school production.

If you asked me that night what the play was about I wouldn't be able to tell you because the entire night I feigned interest. I was solely focused on how every few minutes I could feel his eyes on me and how alive that made me feel.

If you asked me about that night I wouldn't be able to recall to you my worries leading up to the play. My worries over Riley. If there was one thing Joshua Matthews was good at it was turning me into putty and making my brain and heart alike do all sorts of back-flips, front-flips, you name it. Josh had a way of making me forget, when maybe forgetting was the last thing I should be doing.