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Disclaimer: I don't own GMW but I do love me some good old angst.

Thanks to Maya's consolation all night, Riley was able to get through the presentation with Charlie alright, but she kept her gaze decidedly away from him. And they didn't interact during class at all. It wasn't that she was angry at him. She just felt so awkward around him and talking to him. Riley was fully prepared to ignore him for the rest of school year too, but as the bell rang and they got up to leave class, Charlie stopped her out in the hallway.

"Riley, can we talk? I feel like we left yesterday on a seriously bad note."

"What's there to talk about? I like you and I confessed and got rejected." She couldn't look him in the eye. "The irony is that when you wanted to be with me, I turned you down. It's my just desserts, isn't it?"

He frowned, displeased. "Hey, that's not cool. No one deserves heartbreak just because they turned someone down years ago."

Riley wanted to be mad at Charlie about anything, but he was so dang nice. Even now, although she'd made things awkward, he was still friendly and going out of his way to make sure she was okay.

"I didn't realise you thought that something between us was happening, and I'm sorry. You're a great friend. And I believe in you. And I'll always think you deserve the best, Riley. But I didn't mean with me," Charlie said genuinely. "I just wanted to clear everything up since you looked pretty hurt yesterday."

Riley nodded, though she was feeling the urge to cry again. "Can we… Can we at least stay friends then? Even though I made things awkward?"

Charlie chuckled. "Yeah. Who else will listen to my terrible guitar playing? Plus Alicia really wants to discuss books with you."

"Okay." Riley smiled an itty bitty one. "Plus we were supposed to go to jazz night tomorrow."

"Exactly. So friends?" he asked hopefully, holding a hand out.

"Yeah." She grasped his hand and shook it. She hated the fact that she still felt the electricity run up her arm when their skin touched. "We're friends."

"Alright. See you around, Riley."

Charlie left the area, going towards his locker to head home for the day. Once she was sure he couldn't see her anymore, she let the smile slip off her face.

The tables had turned. Now she was reduced to pining after him and backing off even though she had feelings for him. She was the one with the unrequited feelings for someone who had feelings for another person. It was such a crappy feeling. The worst part was that she kept wondering what would have happened if she had given Charlie a chance way back when.

She trudged her way to her locker, her heart feeling tight in her chest once again. Lucas was over there getting some stuff out for the weekend. When she stopped by, he gave her an apologetic smile.

"You okay? Maya told me what happened with Charlie."

"I don't want to think about it. Anyway, I'm spending the weekend with Maya otherwise I'll be an emotional wreck." Riley sighed, leaning her back against the lockers. "Who knew that one decision we made could wreck so many chances… We're a couple of idiots, huh?"

"We're not idiots for the choices we made when we were younger. There was no way we could have known what was going to happen. And if anything, we had to make those choices to figure out what we actually wanted, right?" Lucas said gently. "Things happen. Don't beat yourself up about it."

"It just sucks that now we can't have who we really want. It hurts bad to be rejected, Lucas."

"I know…" he said, patting her shoulder consolingly. "But it's not the end of the world. I'm biding my time with Maya. I feel hopeful that she'll come around one day. And you're a nice person, Riley. There are other fish in the sea. Maybe ones you overlooked, you know? You just have to go fishing. You'll be alright."

"Thanks. You know where Farkle is? I don't want to be by myself while Maya has practice."

"He's at the library. I'll see you later."

He shut his locker, going off to his practice while Riley stood there, kind of wishing she could go back in time. But that would never happen and there was nothing she could do.

Talk about a missed opportunity.