The night of the game had finally arrived. Riley arrived with her friends to the school and headed off to the football field. They found seats high enough to be able to see everything. Riley had never been to these games before. She had always told her parents no when they asked her to go. It looked like the whole school was there supporting the team she could see her parents and Auggie sitting below them. Her parents were wrapped together in a blanket together, Riley smiled at how cute they looked.
"I'm glad you decided to finally come to a game Riles" Farkle comments as they wait for the players to arrive.
"Yeah me too, this is actually pretty cool" Riley comments as she looks around at all the die hard football fans.
Soon the game began and all the players ran out onto the field. They had on their helmets so Riley couldn't tell who was who, the only one she knew was that Josh was 23. The crowd was pretty loud and hyper the entire time, Soon half time came and the both teams were tied. Riley watched as the team came over to the bench, they took off her helmets, Riley quickly found her brother talking to another teammate. Riley couldn't tell who it was but as soon as they took their helmet off Riley immediately recognized him, it was Lucas, even though he was covered in sweat Riley still thought he looked amazing.
"Don't forget to blink Riley" Maya teases
"Shut up" Riley says embarrassed
Riley noticed Lucas look up and searched the stands and when his eyes met Riley he immediately smiled and waved.
Riley blushed as she returned it with a shy wave.
"He is so in love with you" Maya says
"Shut up, no he's not" Riley says trying to hide her blush.
"You can deny it all you want but it doesn't change the fact that he does like you"
"You think so?" she asks
"I know so" Maya reassures
Half time ended soon and the players went soon. The next half seemed to end quicker and they won the game. The stands went crazy with joy as they cheered and yelled.
The friends make their way down to the bleacher where they find Riley's family was already there waiting for Josh.
After he and his teammates finished congratulating each other Josh ran up to his family.
"Congrats son that was a good game" Mr. Matthews congratulated his son
"Thanks dad" Josh smiles at his father
"Well it's getting late and it's cold, so i think well head out but you guys have fun at the party, and be safe" Topanga tells them
The teens nod and say bye to the adults as they leave.
"So, i'll head and take a quick shower and then we'll head out to the party" Josh tells them
"Okay we'll be here waiting" Riley tells him. He leaves to the locker room with the other players
The 4 teens take a seat on the bleacher as they wait for Josh.
Josh came out 10 minutes later and they headed for his car and headed for the party.
They arrive at the party and see that most of the team is already there as well as the cheerleaders and some other classmates. It was a bigger crowd than expected.
"Dudes got a nice house" Maya comments as she looks around the big house
"Yeah, his parents work for some big company, something to do with computers I'm not really sure" Josh explains
Josh is soon whisked away by a couple of footballers leaving Riley and her friends by themselves.
"Let's get something to drink" Smackle says as she pulls Farkle with her to the kitchen.
Riley and Maya are standing by themselves when Lucas notices them and walks up to them
"Hey" he says smiling at the girls
"Hi" Riley says
Maya looks between the two then says "I'll be in the kitchen with Farkle and Smackle" she walks away leaving them by themselves
"You have a nice house" Riley compliments
"Thanks my mom decorated it herself" Lucas comments
"She has nice taste"
"Yeah I guess , so im glad you came" Lucas says smiling at her
"Me too" Riley confesses shyly
"Yo, Lucas come on they want a group photo" One of his teammates shouts for him to come
"I'll be right back" He tells her as she nods
Lucas goes to join his teammates leaving Riley by herself. She felt uncomfortable surrounded by all these people.
Sure they went to her school but they never had spoken to her. To them she was probably Josh's little sister.
She went to go find her friends who were hanging out by the kitchen.
"Hey where's Lucas?" Maya asks
"With his friends" Riley tells him
She watches him with his friends and sees Missy approach him. Once again reminding her how different they were.
He was popular
She was not
He was outgoing
She was painfully shy
Why did she even consider she could compete with girls like Missy
Maybe coming here was a big mistake
"You okay Riles?" Maya asks
"Yeah I'm fine" Riley says smiling weakly
The party continued and she hadn't seen Lucas for a while. He seemed to be busy with his friends.
She had excused herself from her friends to use the restroom.
She was making her way back downstairs, as she was walking she looked at the pictures most of them were of Lucas growing up. She smiled as she looked at an old Halloween picture.
"Hey"
She turns to see Lucas
"Hi"
He gets closer and sees the picture she is looking at
"I kind of hate that picture" he chuckles
"I think it's cute" she says shyly
'Thanks" he says smiling at her
They stay there silent for a moment
"I'm sorry we haven't gotten a chance to hangout tonight" he says kind of disappointed the night hadn't gone the way he wanted. He had hoped to get some alone time with her.
"It's okay, you've been busy" Riley smiles assuring him
"So are you having fun" he asks
"Yeah, it's okay" Riley tries to say convincingly.
"I honestly didn't expect this many people" Lucas chuckles
"Well you are quite popular" she teases
"I guess" Lucas shrugs like it's no big deal, "I hope the game wasn't too boring for you" he adds
"It wasn't as bad as I thought is was going to be, it was kind of fun" she admits
"Im glad" he says smiling at her
"So what are you doing up here instead of entertaining your guests?" she asks curiously
"I was looking for you, I asked Maya where you were and she told me you came up here" he explains
"You were looking for me?" she asks trying to hide her smile
"Yeah, you feel like getting some fresh air?, we can go outside" he offers
"Sure" she says
They make their way down stairs and make their way to the back door to avoid getting caught
"Hey, where's Riley?" Josh asks as he approaches the blonde
"I'm not sure she said she was using the bathroom" Maya informs her
Josh nods "So what are you doing here, all by yourself?" he asks
"Riley's MIA and I didn't want to be a third wheel" she explains motioning to Farkle and Smackle who had started a conversation with another couple.
Josh chuckles "Yeah sucks when you are hanging out with just couples"
Maya nods agreeing "Yeah"
The 2 stand there in silence till Maya breaks it
"Good game by the way"
"Thanks, and I was surprised to see you there, you usually don't come" he comments
"Riley asked me to so I decided to" she explains
"And I was MORE surprised to see her there" he says
"She felt like coming to a game" Maya shr
"And it has nothing to do with Lucas inviting her?" he asks
"I don't know what you are talking about" she says trying to play dumb
"Oh come on Maya, I'm not blind she totally likes the guy"
"Would that be bad?" Maya asks carefully
"It's kind of weird to think about it but Lucas is a good guy" he answers
"That's good to know, but if he ever hurts Riley, the dudes toast" Maya threatens
"Hey that's my job" Josh laughs
'Okay, you can help" Maya teases
Josh continues to laugh as looks at the blonde. He had grown up with Maya and had always seen her as her little sisters best friend. But he's realizing there's another side of her he never noticed,
She was smart, funny, artistic and very pretty.
How had he not noticed this before?
He tried to shake the thoughts out of his head, he had never thought of Maya in that way before and he shouldn't, she's like a sister to him.
His thoughts are interrupted by the blonde standing in front of him
"Well it's getting late, I should get home" she tells him
"Okay, do you want a ride?" he offers
"No, it's okay, I don't want to make you leave, I'll just take a cab" she says
"I really don't mind Maya" he assures her
Maya smiles "Okay, I'll go get Riley" she says before walking upstairs to try and find Riley
Josh is left watching her walk away