Riley sat on the bed in Zay's guest room tugging on her cowboy boots feeling an odd sense of deja vu. She looked at herself in the mirror and smoothed out her white tank top before putting on her red polo shirt over it.
She tightened her pigtails and sighed looking at herself. She was dreading going to the rodeo but everyone insisted she go since it was the second to last day she was in no way going to miss it. "Riley move your cute butt we are so late." Patty shouts knocking on the door.
Riley looks towards the door thinking that was the deja vu from when she first ran into Lucas but it wasn't. She still felt it and she didn't know what it was yet. She grabbed her phone slipping it into her back pocket and walked out the door heading for the living room.
"Oh my god!" Zay says clapping his hand over his mouth when he sees her. "What?" Riley asks looking at her outfit and then at him. "It's nothing it's just your outfit and hair." He gestures scratching his head. "It's just you look like the last time we were here and Lucas rode the bull."
Riley widen her eyes and looked down shaking her head and turning back to her room. "Stop!" Dylan and Patty shout. "Your outfit is fine maybe things will turn out differently this time around." Patty tells her looping her arm through hers.
They all share a nervous look as they leave they all knew the story of what happened last time and they were really hoping things would turn out better. "So I'm totally going to hit up the cotton candy stand. They have different flavors this year." Asher cheers walking that way.
Riley shakes her head as she follows with Patty. "He must not remember his little incident from the carnival then huh?" Riley joked making her laugh. They leave Zay and Dylan who told them they were going to find Lucas.
Lucas leaned against the tree watching the little kids attempting to ride sheeps. He chuckles to himself as he watches and glares lightly at Judy the sheep who much older and bigger now was still a sore subject for him.
"Okay this is completely crazy!" Zay shouts when he walks towards him with Dylan eating a deep fried pickle. Lucas looks at him with a confused expression and Zay points at his outfit. "What?" Lucas asked tilting his black cowboy hat up more and wiping his forehead.
"Dude you aren't feeling a little deja vu right now?" Zay asks noticing he wasn't getting it. Lucas shakes his head watching as Dylan eats his pickle even though it was only eleven in the morning and tells them he was going for another and a plate of ribs.
Zay shakes his head and looks back at Lucas. "Dude just look at your outfit?" He looks at his outfit and shrugs. He thought he looked okay with his choice of clothing yeah maybe he could have clean his boots better but still.
Zay groans pulling up his messages and shows him the picture Patty took of Riley and Asher holding a cotton candy bigger than their heads combine. "Look at cotton candy face?" Zay tells him pointing at her and zooming in. Lucas looked and internally groan holding Zay's phone in his hand.
He noticed she had on those cowboy boots again like the first time they had sex and it was bringing up some memories he knew would cause some problems with his little friend below.
"Zay I'm not seeing what you're seeing." Lucas tells him handing him back his phone trying to think of other things then Riley's legs wrapped around him. "Okay fine don't see it. Let's go get some food." Zay tells him wondering if he was pretending not to see it or if he really didn't.
Riley and Patty tried not to laugh as Asher decided he was going to save his cotton candy and eat a chicken dinner on a stick. It was funny and gross watching him as he devoured it like a snake being fed it dinner.
Riley laughed as she sees Zay coming towards them with Lucas right next to him. He sees her and gives her a little smile before turning back to Zay who was talking to him. She bit her lip as she looked at him as he talked to Zay and Dylan.
Why did he have to look so hot today? Riley thought to herself. She was so lost in thought she didn't hear them come up to them. "Hey." Lucas tells her smiling at her. "Hi." She gives him a small smile and little wave trying not to look at him for to long.
"So did you guys know Chelsea entered into a pie eating contest?" Patty asked noticing Riley and Lucas glancing at each other. They make their way to where the pie eating contest was happening and Lucas noticed Pappy Joe off to the side.
"Hey Pappy Joe I didn't think I see you right now?" Lucas asked standing next to him. He smiles and gestures at the stage where Riley was talking to Chelsea as she tied up her hair. "Someone said something bout a tiny girl entering so I had to see it for myself."
Lucas nods staring at Riley as she laughs at something Chelsea tells her. Pappy Joe notices and shakes his head at him. "Tell her you love her this time." Lucas looks at him and he smiles. "Don't let her brother zone you again." Lucas chuckles and pappy Joe goes on. "Since y'all are recreating that day."
Lucas looked at him weirdly and he gestures at his outfit and then Riley. Still not seeing it pappy Joe just tells him. "You guys are dressed just like that day." Lucas looked at his outfit and then at Riley going wide eye. That's what Zay was getting at. Lucas thought to himself.
Lucas rubbed the back of his neck and told Pappy Joe he was going to get a drink. He looked back at Riley who glanced his way and smiled before looking back at Chelsea. Pappy Joe smiles and Zay comes up to him watching Lucas shake his head as he walks away.
"So did he figure it out?" Zay asked hoping his plan to bring Riley and Lucas together again was working. Pappy Joe looks at him and chuckles nodding his head. "You sure messing with em is the right thing?" He asks looking at Zay. He nods smiling knowing his plan was coming together.
"Yeah. They're good apart but they are better together." He looks around and sees Lucas coming back towards them. "Did our special guests make it?" Pappy Joe looks at Lucas and nods. He shakes hands with Zay hoping Riley or Lucas don't kill him for what he was doing.
"Why are you guys shaking hands?" Lucas asked drinking his water. They look at each other and then Lucas. "I was betting Isaiah here that that girlie up there would give them fellas a run for their money." Zay nods smiling as Lucas looks at him suspiciously. "O..Kay lets go get seats."
They find seats and Zay notices Lucas holding an extra water in his hand. "Dude you're the best you brought me a water?" Lucas looks at him and shakes his head just as Riley along with Dylan sit down next to him.
"Here you go Riley thought you might want one." Lucas tells her turning her way and holding it out for her. She smiles grabbing and feels Lucas hold onto her fingers as they stare at each other. "Thanks." She tells him holding onto his fingers just as tightly.
They let go when the announcer comes on letting them know the pie eating contest was about to begin. Zay grinned when he sees throughout the whole contest Riley and Lucas would exchange glances with each other. He checked his phone sending a quick text hoping everything was going according to his plan.
Riley couldn't help laughing watching Chelsea who's face was dripping with cherry pie as the announcer held her hand in the air declaring her the winner. "I did not think she could do." Zay chuckles as they all stood clapping for her.
"Well I guess when you put your mind to something you just don't give up." Lucas says clapping his hands and looking at Riley. She turns looking at him and gives him a small smile. "Yeah I guess you don't." She whispers loud enough for only him to hear.
He starts to lean her way when she turns back to the stage where Chelsea was dangling her trophy in the other contestants faces. "Ha! Don't ever say a girl can't do something you sexist pig!" She shouts hopping off the stage.
They all walk towards her laughing as she gives the brunette haired cowboy on the stage the finger as he shakes his head walking past her. "Chelsea that was oddly sexy." Zay tells her pulling a cherry out her hair. She smiles and grabs Riley's hand pulling her to the side.
"So what's new where have you been?" Riley tilted her head looking at Chelsea weirdly but smiled when she glances her eyes to the side. Riley looks quickly seeing that same brunette haired cowboy smiling at Chelsea.
She shook her head and mouthed he was coming towards them as Chelsea smooths out her hair. "Well I guess we all underestimate you huh?" He tells Chelsea smirking at her. She smiles and holds her trophy a little higher making him lightly chuckle. "Guess you did."
"Well can this sexist pig buy you a drink?" He asks taking off his hat. She chuckles and holds out her arm. "No. But I'll buy you a drink." She winks at Riley as they walk away making her laugh.
Riley walked back to Lucas and the guys when Zay tells her Patty said they were playing live music and did she want to dance. They make their way down and Zay starts grinning when he hears the Maddie and Tae song from last time and asks Riley to dance knowing Lucas would eventually cut in.
"So cotton candy face you having fun?" Zay asks twirling her as he sees Lucas watching from his spot with Patty and Asher. "Yeah I thought things would be awkward with Luke and I but they haven't."
Zay starts grinning and Riley looks at him shaking her head. "Zay what are you up to?" He fake gasps twirling her again. "Riley I am completely shocked you think I am planning something. Can't I enjoy a dance with one of my best friends?"
Riley laughs as they continue dancing knowing he was up to something but not quite sure what yet. "May I cut in?" Zay dips her and she can see it was Lucas smiling at her. "Sure she's stepping on my toes anyway." Zay jokes laughing as Riley trips him as he walks away.
Riley and Lucas stare at each other before Lucas smiles and bows in front of her. "May I have this dance?" She smiles moving closer to him trying to ignore the tingles she feels from having her hand in his.
He looks at her giving her hand a squeeze as she tried to avoid his eye. "Penny for your thoughts?" He asks spinning her out and back into his chest. "Sorry I charge a dollar for my thoughts." Lucas chuckles as they move together ignoring everyone else.
The song changes to the same one they danced to last time Riley told him she wanted him in her life as a brother. "You want to sit it out?" He asks hoping she say yes. She smiles already doing the dance. "Oh come on you forget the steps already?"
He rubs his neck and mutters under his breath. "No trying to forget what we talked about." She looks at him and he turns red. "Heard that huh?" She nods taking his hat off his head putting it on her own. "Zay seems to think we are recreating that day."
"So you gonna call me your brother again?" He asks wishing he could take it back after the way she flinch. "We seen each other naked and done a lot to each other that brother and sister don't do." He smirks as she lightly hits him in the chest.
"So what am I to you then?" Lucas knew he was pushing it but he missed her and wanted to be with her. She bit her lip as they moved with the music trying not to look at him. "What are you to me?" He nods stopping in the middle of the dance floor with her. "Your Lucas." She says with a little laugh trying to look anywhere else but at him.
"That's what I am to you?" He asks trying to read her. "So if we were with people you would introduce me as Lucas?" She looks at him weirdly and nods. "We both know the same people I wouldn't need to introduce you."
He knew she was trying to avoid what they needed to talk about and was trying to make a joke of it. "What if it's us having lunch or dinner somewhere and a waiter or couple at the next table happen to asks. What then?"
"Well I don't see why they would asks complete strangers something like that but if you want an answer I would say my friend Lucas Friar." He sighed knowing what he was about to say was pushing it. "What if that's not what I want us to be?"
Trying to ignore the deja vu of it all Riley shook her head. "Well that's what we are." Lucas shook his head knowing they were far passed from being near the word friends. "Riley are we friends?" Riley looked around wishing the song would end and she could walk away.
But much like Lucas and her it was on the same roller coaster ride with no end in sight. "Yes we are friends." She says after a minute of silence. "No we aren't." Lucas tells her watching her look at him. "If we aren't friends what are we?" She knew she shouldn't asks him. She seen the look in his eyes and it was one she was trying to ignore.
"I want to be more Riley. We both know we were never really good at being friends and." She cuts him off shaking her head. "We were when we were sleeping with each other." Lucas nodded moving closer to her. "You and I both know it was more than just sleeping together." She looked away biting her lip. This was all to much she couldn't and wouldn't have her heart be broken once again.
The song was finally coming to an end and she needed to walk away. "Lucas I told you we can't go back." He cups her cheeks making her look at him. "I don't want to go back. I want more with you." He lightly chuckles looking away and then back at her. "I love.." He gets cut off by everyone clapping and calling for an encore of the song.
Riley moves his hands from her face and walks away. Lucas rubbed his neck and mentally cursed himself. "At least she didn't call me her brother." He thought to himself as he walked the other way and away from her.
Zay watched from the shade under a tree as Riley and Lucas danced. He was giddy with excitement that his plan was coming together. Everything was going perfect until that damn song came on ruining his plans. He hoped it be like it was when they went to chubbies and ended up having sex in the bathroom.
Even though it was disgusting he was hoping for something. The group all could agree as much as it was unhealthy and just completely crazy. They rather them having sex every second of everyday then the awkward silence they have to endure when they were all together.
He kicked the tree when he seen Lucas cup Riley's face and then they went in opposite directions. "Damn it. Damn it!" He yells kicking at the tree. "Hey what that tree do to you?" Zay turned around and folded his arms across his chest. "Well well well you got a lot of nerve showing your face here Hart."
Maya looks at him folding her own arms across her chest. They stare at each other until Zay laughs walking up and hugging her. "I didn't think you would make it honey nugget?" He tells her as they sit at the little picnic table.
"Well I have unfinished business and I wanted to see huckleberry ride the bull since I didn't really last time." Zay nods and was glad Maya was in shorts and not dressed like she was back then.
"So from what I seen right now your little plan isn't working?" He nods his head it was working but Riley and Lucas were letting their stubborn side take over for them. "Well I think I can help. Where is Riley?"
Zay looked around and smiled shaking his head at where she was currently sitting. He points and Maya lets out a little laugh getting up and walking towards her. She stops and looks back at Zay. "I never thanked you for being a great.." Zay fake coughs and says best making Maya lightly laugh.
"Okay best friend these last couple of years." Zay waves her off smiling at her. "No thanks need Hart." Maya smiled as she walked away Zay had called her up and they talked about everything and then he told her of his plan to get Riley and Lucas back together.
As she made her way over to where she seen Riley at but stopped turning to the food booths.
"You're going to get sick if you eat that before you go ride a bull." Lucas turned around mid bite on his corn. Maya laughs as Lucas looks around like he was trying to find the nearest exit. "Calm down Bucky McBoing boing." He puts his corn down looking at her.
"This time things are going to be different." She tells him with a smile on her face. Lucas looks at her and then behind her nodding his head smiling. "Very different." He says gesturing behind her. She turns smiling letting out a little giggle as she turns back around to Lucas.
"Like I told you ranger Rick different. I'll let you two talk." Lucas widens his eyes making Maya throw her head back and laugh. "Seriously your scared?" Lucas rubs his neck glaring at the tiny blond in front of him. "Well I am in love with his niece and his..."
He pauses and Maya smiles at him nodding as he smiles at her. "I'm happy for ya short stack." Maya glares at him as Josh puts his arm around her shoulder tipping his cowboy hat up his head. "Paws off my girl Friar or are we going to have to duel at midnight?"
Maya shook her head as Lucas looked at him weirdly. "Ignore him. He was watching old westerns preparing to come out here." Lucas laughs and should have known since he had on a long sleeved plaid flannel tucked into his blue jeans with shiny boots on getting covered in dirt.
Maya smiles telling them she needed to go talk with Riley and left Josh and Lucas together. "Play nice boys." She kissed Josh and punch Lucas lightly in the arm as she walked away. Lucas chuckles and watches as Josh watched her walk away from them until she disappeared in the crowd.
"So I take it things between you two are good?" Lucas asks Josh as they start walking. "Yeah I pulled my head out of my ass." Lucas looked at him weirdly and Josh laughs. "That's what Maya told me. I needed to pull my head out of my ass and see it was me all along she loved and not you."
Lucas looked at Josh and nudged him. "Well I'm happy for you guys. Last time I heard from Maya you guys were still on the rocks." Josh nods taking off his hat and wiping his forehead. "Yeah I guess you could say I was an insecure western hero."
Lucas looked at him confused and Josh gestures at his outfit making both of them laugh. They stop at a fence overlooking the horses watching them run around. "I knew I was partly to blame for her seeking you out." Josh tells him after a few minutes of silence.
"We had got together and I got this opportunity to travel for a bit and I wanted her to come with but she was in her artist groove so I didn't want to mess that up. The day before I left..." he trails off and looks at Lucas. "Well you know what happened after."
Lucas nods smiling as he looks at the horses again. "So." Josh smiles leaning on the fence as Lucas looks at him. "Heard you got a little thing for my niece." Lucas smiles rubbing his neck. "Yeah a big thing for her. I love her."
Josh smiled patting him in the back. "Have you told her yet?" Lucas frowned shaking his head. Josh punches him in the arm shaking his own head and throwing his hands up making Lucas chuckle again. "It's not like I haven't tried."
Lucas tells him rubbing his neck. "Well I tried but all this stuff with Maya and a jerk we both knew." He sighs leaning on the fence. "She's being very stubborn." Lucas tells him looking at him with a smile. "From what I hear you both can be very stubborn. But don't worry cowboy I'm sure things will turn around for ya."
He pats Lucas on the back again winking at him. Lucas looks at him weirdly as he just smiles and looks away. Before he could ask him he sees Pappy Joe waving them over to him.
Maya walked slowly to where she sees Riley sitting. She smiled at the fact she was sitting in the exact spot she sat when Riley told her she knew how she felt for Lucas. She stops and takes a deep breath before standing in front of her. "Hey riles."
Riley looks up and gives her a small smile. Maya gestures to the spot next to her which Riley nods scooting over so she could sit. Maya sighed rubbing her hands on her shorts she was more nervous to talk to Riley than she was with Josh.
She didn't know how to start the conversation so she started with something simple. "I see you adapted to the country life. Should I start calling you ranger Jane?" Maya jokes nudging her. Riley just looks at her taking Lucas hat off and setting it down.
Maya looks away then back at Riley turning so she was facing her completely. "I'm sorry Riley. I should have been honest with you from the beginning about everything." Riley turns looking at her. "It's okay Maya I'm not mad if that's what you're worried about. If you and Lucas want to be together be my guest."
Maya looked at her and couldn't help but start laughing at her. Riley glares at her and starts to get up when Maya pulls her back down. "Look I'm sorry okay but I don't want date Lucas. I will never date Lucas." Riley turns looking at her with a confused expression. "So what is it about then?"
Maya smiles grabbing her hand and intertwined their fingers. "It's about us." They look at each other and Maya takes a deep breath. "So I guess I should start with back in high school when I got mad when you wanted to go to school out here."
Riley looks at her giving her hand a little squeeze making Maya smile as she tells her.
"Well it wasn't that I was mad at you for wanting to go to the best school to become a teacher it's just." She pauses letting out a sigh before she goes on. "I just felt like you wanted to get away from me. Like I was holding you back. Like if we went to school together I would keep you from becoming what you wanted."
Riley starts to shake her head and was going to speak when Maya continues. "I know what you will say but that's how I felt. You know me I always feel like everyone wants to leave me and go have a better life without me."
Maya smiles as Riley uses her other hand wiping the tears Maya didn't know were falling. "We worked through those issues for the most part. I would like to have more FaceTime time." Riley laughs along with Maya at her little joke.
"Now for the big cowboy in the room." Maya jokes as she feels Riley tense up. "The reason I got mad when I found out you guys slept together had nothing to do with any lingering feelings I may have had for him. It was more about Josh."
Riley looks at her with wide eyes she didn't know. "Josh what does he have to do with it?" Maya smiled slightly biting her lip thinking about him. "Everything." She whispers making Riley smile. "We started dating a month after I broke up with the last guy I was with you remember?"
Riley nods her head remembering the photo Maya had sent her of him. He always wore either a beret or a bow tie. "Josh and I started dating and it got real serious real fast. It was like all the feelings from before came back with new ones. It was exciting and terrifying altogether."
Maya takes a deep breath and runs her hand through her hair. "The night before well the same night you slept with huckleberry Josh and I went out to dinner. It was so romantic and just I felt like he was going to propose." Riley widen her eyes again looking at Maya's hands making her laugh.
"Don't worry I'm not going to be your aunt just yet. Well he took me to dinner and told me he loved me. I was so excited and happy I felt like I was floating. But in that same breath he told me he got offered a job to travel for a month and he wanted to take it."
Riley let her hand go and hugs her. "So he did. He didn't asks if I wanted to go he just left. Then when I found out about you and Lucas those feeling of being abandoned again came rising up and stayed. I ignored you and Josh and went seeking the comfort of ranger Rick."
Maya sticks her tongue out shivering making Riley smile. "That was a huge moment of I'm not even sure there is a word for it. I didn't know why I was even seeking him out? But I knew no matter if I did have feelings he wouldn't have returned them."
Maya turns looking Riley in the eyes so she could hear this. "He loves you Riley. Everytime we were together he would talk about you and watch that video of you on his phone." Riley's cheeks heat up and she smiles remembering when he took the video.
"Even back in school. He was coming to see me to tell me he chose you. And honestly I'm glad. No two people are more perfect for each other than you two. Well maybe with the exception of boing and I." Riley smiles letting out a little laugh. "Don't give up on love riles because if I would have let Josh I wouldn't be sitting here with you over the moon in love."
Riley smiles pulling Maya into a hug squeezing her. "I've missed you so much peaches." Maya lightly laughs hugging her just as tight. "I've missed you two riles."
Next chapter is the last chapter. Enjoy