It was strange. She could sit for hours on end sketching, making drafts, or adding intricate details to whatever painting she was working on, and yet, she could barely sit still for five minutes to do the first of the many equations she had due next week for class. After the third attempt, Maya let out a haggard sigh and dropped her pencil. She needed help - Farkle's help - and the easiest way to get that would be to wait until this afternoon when he would be at Topanga's with the rest of the gang. However, she hadn't set foot in that place since that dreadful night with Lucas, and while thus far she had been able to temper the feelings of loneliness that arose whenever she thought of all of them there together without her while she worked on strengthening her bonds with Liam and Shane among others, right about now, it was clear that she needed Farkle, needed them, and not just for help.

Maya still didn't know if Matthews had blatantly or otherwise let the idea slip to Riley, but, halfway through seventh grade they had started to work on homework and assignments together. It had been a gradual shift. First Farkle would climb through Riley's window and help the brunette wrangle her into compliance (even if that compliance meant her just copying Riley's work) but soon enough Lucas joined in, and eventually the rest of them. And so, by the time high school had started, it became routine for them to work on homework together, and even when they had started branching out into clubs, Maya now realised that at least one person ensured that they were with her. She wasn't sure if that was a deliberate arrangement on their part, but she appreciated and sorely missed it now. And, while she knew she could easily just text or call Farkle and he would help her through the block she was facing, she knew that, at this point, it was more than that.

She missed them and the crazy antics they inevitably got themselves into. The conversations about everything and nothing and the glasses of juice during the warmer days and hot chocolate in the cooler ones alongside pastries and sandwiches and the fond amusement on her mom or Topanga's face as they watched over them. It wasn't until now that she allowed herself to accept that that was what the slight pang she felt anytime she passed them all together in the corridor while she walked with Shane or Emily was, and she wasn't sure she wanted to continue to feel that way.

The only solution to that would be to talk to Lucas, just as he wanted, and see if somehow they could come to an agreement. She was wary of that though...wary of him, and the things he had said to her the night before. What did he truly want from her? Did he want to reconcile, or did he just want one final conversation to put the matter to rest? After all, while he had made his wishes abundantly clear that night, there had been no definite closure. Instead she had just gone out of her way to stay away from him, and he had been frostily polite whenever he was forced to acknowledge her presence. Right about now she wasn't even certain what option it was that she wanted. She bit at her lip, forcing herself to think objectively. Now wasn't the time to worry about how any final conversation between the two of them would affect the rest of the group. This was her and Lucas' issue, and she knew that if anything were to be resolved, at the end of the day, the choices would have to be based on what the two of them wanted. At this point she had no idea what it was that Lucas expected to gain from their conversation, and so she focussed on herself and her desires.

Except, her mind whispered to her, what would happen if the outcome of their conversation was terrible? She had felt this uncertainty before, right as she handed over that stupid red envelope to be mailed. And now she was right back here, with the promise of an interaction that would definitely shake things up for her once more, and, she wasn't sure if she was ready for it. Sighing, she glanced at her bed, staring at the tiara perched on her pillow. Yes, as stupid as it probably sounded, she had slept it beside her. It had been the last thing she had seen falling asleep, and the first thing her eyes had settled upon that morning. She couldn't help but feel like there had been some meaning behind the Texan native's actions. He could have just handed her the crown to put on, and yet he had settled it carefully on her head. His expression in that moment had been...fond at the very least? Or, at least, she amended, he certainly had not been mad at her at that time. But could she trust in what her eyes had told her? She didn't know, and that uncertainty was tearing at her. She ran a hand over her face tiredly, before lifting her head slightly as, distantly, she heard her mother let out a loud peal of laughter intermixed with Shawn's deeper tone.

Despite herself, she smiled, shoving aside her jumble of thoughts to relish the moment that was happening outside of her bedroom. Her mother was home. Shawn was home. Legal technicalities aside, she had a family a little distance away revelling in some undoubtedly ridiculous bit of merriment. That was something she had wanted for so long, had secretly desired while watching the antics of Matthews and Topanga over the course of the last few years. And now she had it right out there.

"So why am I in here worrying about that stupid cowboy?" she grumbled, as she bent over to snap her textbook shut and gather her papers together.

She didn't have any solutions for what to do about Lucas - just more problems and conflicted emotions - but she did know what she had right at this moment, two adults who loved her a few feet away. Their feelings for her were assured. Her mother loved her, as did Shawn. She had nothing to fear from them, and so, for now, she would forget about the shamble that her social life was threatening to become, and instead, getting up she left the room to join in the merriment.

It would be a long while before she realised that her phone had lit up with a message just as she had been about to leave, but when she did, the silly smile on her face would fade away.

"Riley, how are you?"

Riley looked up from the magazine she was reading, a look of startled pleasure taking root on her face as Farkle climbed through her window and sat.

"What do you mean, Farkle?" she responded, setting aside the magazine. There was that slight double crease on Farkle's forehead. One crease meant that he was thinking deeply; two showed that he was worried, and, if the emotions flickering in his eyes were anything to go by, that worry was currently directed toward her. She sighed and reached up to rub at the back of her neck. "What did Maya tell you?"

"Maya didn't tell me anything," he replied. "And she didn't need to. I saw how you were at the end of the dance. Something was bothering you. I came to help."

"How could you even know? Lucas didn't notice."

"I know you," Farkle said simply, and there was really no way for her to contradict that fact.

"I was just being silly," she replied dismissively.

"Tell me."

Riley stared at him for a moment, considering if she should try to just divert him like she had done with Maya and Lucas the night before, but there was something in his gaze that stopped her from doing so. Farkle was concerned, genuinely and deeply concerned, and she knew that he wouldn't allow her to distract him. She was better off just coming clean, and so, she did. "Remember when Maya said she didn't know what her place was in the group was anymore? When she got in trouble?"

"I don't think I'll ever forget that," Farkle admitted, shuddering at the memory.

"I think I'm there now," Riley responded, looking away. "I feel like everyone is way ahead of me and I'll never catch up?"

"What do you mean?" Farkle asked, confused. "We're all right here Riley."

"Not in the same way," she said with a sigh. "I think high school's cursed us...cursed me. Look at how much things have changed. I used to be a straight A student. I used to be Maya's world, the most important person to her. I'm none of those things anymore."

"But we worked it out Riley," Farkle pointed out. "You're on track to get an A in Spanish by the time exams come around. As for the rest...when did you stop being Maya's number one?"

"At the lodge," Riley said plainly, "when she decided to walk away from me."

"But you fixed that," Farkle reminded her, a sense of urgency entering his tone. "You guys worked it out. Unless something else happened that I don't know about?"

"No, nothing's happened," she hurried to reassure him. "But that doesn't change the fact that something is happening. We're drifting apart Farkle. Maya's got this whole new life now, a life separate from me, and it's hard okay? She's leaving me behind, and I can't even be that upset about it because it's my fault she went to them in the first place."

"Riley-" Farkle breathed out.

"She's spending more and more time with those new friends of hers every day. I hardly had her at all last night. We're not Riley and Maya anymore Farkle, and I'm not sure I like that. There's never been a Riley without Maya."

"Riley stop being a dumb dumb," Farkle said suddenly, sternly, and, eyes widened, Riley stared at him.

"Farkle-"

"Listen to me Riley," Farkle said, speaking over her. "There will always be a Riley and Maya because there is too much history between the two of you for it to be otherwise. Even if something happened to get rid of the rest of us, the two of you would find a way to make it work. You guys love each other and there is nothing that will get in the way of that okay? And so what if you don't spend as much time together?. Riley, we're growing up, and things have and will keep changing. What happens when high school ends? What happens if you and Maya can't go to the same college? What if she doesn't want to do college?"

"I don't want to think about that," Riley protested.

"Fine," Farkle allowed. "Let's pretend that the two of you go to college together, what happens after? You're going to work together forever? Live together forever? Riley, what I'm trying to say is that things will change but you don't have to despair over that fact. Just a look at our parents shows that. They're different, and yet still friends. So yeah, Maya and you aren't together as much now. Maya has new friends, but did she stay with them, or did she come back to you?"

"Last night? She came to me in the end."

"And before?"

"Back to me."

"Exactly Riley," Farkle said, gentling his tone. "She will always come back to you, and you'll do the same. It doesn't matter what's in between, you guys will be fine."

"How can you be so sure of that?"

"I'm a genius remember," he said with a grin, and Riley chuckled ruefully at that.

"I'm being silly, aren't I?"

"Just a bit," he allowed. "But I get it. All of this is still new. But you said before that you feel as if you're left behind. It doesn't have to be that way, you know. Maybe you can find a hobby?"

"We've already established that I am painfully ordinary and have no talent Farkle."

He laughed at that. "Well then join a new club or two of your own, meet new people, make new friends. Half of this is probably because without Maya you have too much free time on your hands."

"I suppose," she admitted, mulling on the truth of his words. "I do have the time for a next club."

"Then join one," he suggested. "I'm sure if you asked Maya she'd even help you choose."

"She would," Riley agreed, perking up a bit. "I'll think about what you've said Farkle, but...thank you. I see things a lot more clearly now."

"Good," he replied simply, and reached out to cluck her gently under the chin. "I'll always take care of my woman."

Riley chuckled in amusement at that, briefly drawn back to an image of seventh grade Farkle. Looking back she couldn't understand how she could be so indifferent towards the boy, but she was more than glad that her current self was a lot wiser and could see Farkle for the treasure that he truly was. He was still Canada, but more and more she could see the true value in him, and she would not let him be ignored.

"Stay for lunch?" she requested, a smile tugging at her lips even as she knew before he even voiced it, that he would say yes.

She wasn't sure if there was actually a nip in the air, of if this was just her own emotions affecting how she was perceiving things. Because right about now, she was just about ready to shove her hand into her pockets in search of a bit of warmth. Lucas was already there waiting for her, seated at one of the shabby cafe tables in the subway. She had never been with him here before, and perhaps it was why she had settled upon here of all places. At least here would not be ruined for her as a place if things truly went south.

Lucas didn't notice her at first. He seemed lost in his thoughts as he propped up his chin on one of his hands, two cups in front of him. She studied his face, but there wasn't much she could decipher from it. That bothered her; usually she always had an idea of what was going on in that head of his. She swallowed, and for a moment, seriously considered making a run for it. A next train would be there within the minute; she could be in it before he even noticed her. But no, she decided, reminding herself of her thoughts from that morning. She needed for this to be done. And so, squaring her shoulders, and grateful for the small boost in confidence her heeled boots gave her, she strutted to where he was.

He looked up as she neared him, undoubtedly drawn by the clack of her boots. "Maya," he said instantly, rising. He moved to pull out the chair across from him for her, and she sank into it. Okay, she thought. Her actual name plus a gentlemanly act; he certainly could not be mad at her.

"Hey," she said softly by way of greeting. "That for me?"

"Yeah," he confirmed, pushing the cup to her side of the table before reclaiming his seat. "Thanks for coming. I know Mr. Hunter is home for the weekend so I won't keep you too long."

"It's fine," she said, curling her hands around the cup. "They decided to go on a date tonight, so there's no rush."

"Oh."

They were silent for a moment, and, to break the awkwardness of it, Maya took a sip of the beverage, noting that it was her favourite. She glanced over the rim of the cup, and was surprised to find him observing her curiously. She ducked her head down, and held the cup a bit closer to her chest defensively.

"You still can't look at me," Lucas said suddenly, a definite edge of sadness to his tone. "Even after last night you still can't."

Maya glanced up at him at that before shrugging. "I don't know what you're talking about."

"You're doing it now, Maya," Lucas pointed out. "You can't even look at me."

Maya didn't know how to respond to that, and so she stayed silent. He was right; she couldn't look at him because she was afraid. Gone were the days when she watched Lucas' face and saw amusement, concern, or exasperation at whatever it was she was doing to him. Now she feared that perusing his face would only reveal his level of disdain towards her.

"Let me tell you a story okay?" Lucas said then gently, cajolingly. She nodded before she even fully registered the action. It took him a moment to begin, and when he did, he let out a long sigh first. "I don't know if you've ever regretted doing something Maya, but I definitely have. It took me a while to realise it, but I caused my family so much pain when I got expelled from school. I had thought what I did was justified, and Zay would agree because what I did saved him but the school administrators didn't, and so did my parents. That was the first time I had ever felt like I had failed them Maya, and even though I really hadn't cared about school too much back then, it still hurt to be kicked out.

"My parents didn't know what to do with me. Home school? Online school? Nowhere else in the city would take me and I think they were just about ready to take up Pappy Joe's advise to just let me work on the farm permanently when my dad got the job offer to relocate here. It gave me a chance to start over, and we all jumped at that. And by then I really wanted that chance Maya. I love helping out on the farm, but I couldn't really see myself doing that for the rest of my life. Plus I wanted to make it up to my parents, to show them that I really was sorry for the pain I caused. I think they realised that, because once we got to New York they took me off restriction and I swore they wouldn't regret the trust they put in me.

"And then on my first day I met you guys. Riley believed in the me I hoped to be. Farkle was the weird little genius who was suspicious of me but still was willing to give me a chance. And then there was you. You were the hardest to figure out Maya, because I felt like you saw right through me in a way that no one else could and that made me…curious. I wasn't sure if I should risk being around you, but I decided that there was no way that Riley and Farkle would truly be friends with anyone as rough and tumble as you seemed to be so I decided to give you a chance, hoping that I wasn't making a mistake by hanging around someone who could distract me from who I wanted to be."

"You make me sound like a hoodlum," Maya could help but grumble, but there wasn't any real heat in her voice. She had to admit she was more than a little interested in what Lucas was saying to take any real offence.

"None of you look me in the eyes," Lucas quoted, and, the corner of Maya's mouth quirked in acknowledgement of that. "Anyway Maya, I decided eventually that you were okay, more than okay, and I was glad that I'd given you the chance. I liked the way we interacted, the stuff we did together, the conversations we had, and, when I found out you liked me too, I was far from disappointed. But then things started changing Maya. You started being reckless in a way I've never seen before, and more than that, you started to rebuff any attempts I made to help you. It was only after the fact that I found out what was going on between you and Riley, and that explained so much, and I thought, okay, she was just dealing with stuff. That's what was causing it and everything would normalise. And it sort of did, until you exploded on me twice.

"That first time I understand; you weren't ready to talk and we had sort of forced that conversation on you, but that second time at Riley's house? There was no reasoning behind that Maya. You were just there acting so aggressively towards me, and I found my patience slipping, my temper rising, and that scared me Maya. I hadn't felt like that in so long, and it was like with every word you said to me I could feel that barrier I'd built up crack more and more. I didn't know what would happen if it broke, and I chose to cut you off instead of risking that. I didn't know if I could rein it back in if I let it out, didn't want to hurt you or to let Riley see that side of me. But what I ended up doing was way worse than that. I ended up hurting you anyway, and it's only in the last few days I've realised that.

"Maya, you don't know how much it hurts me to realise that I'm the one who caused you so much pain. That I ruined things so badly that you can't even look me in the eyes now. Maya, I was being so selfish that I let my feelings colour my perspective of you. I was stupid enough to think that you didn't care about me any longer, that you had moved on. I didn't realise the damage I was causing. Maya, I am so so sorry, and you have every right to say that you never want to speak to me again, and I'd deserve it because I was so self-centred that I didn't consider what I was doing to you."

"You broke your promise," Maya said softly, voice barely above a whisper as she finally set the cup she had been holding tightly down. She looked up at him, knowing and accepting that her eyes were probably wide and vulnerable. "You promised that nothing would change. You promised that we would stick together. You know how I feel Lucas," she continued, "hope is for suckers. But you guys made me believe in that promise, you made me believe in that, and you walked away from me two times."

"Maya-"

"No, it's my turn now," she interrupted. "I excused the first time. I think we all just got off on the wrong foot that first day of school, and I knew that Riley was being stupid with the whole hole thing. I just wasn't ready back then to call her out on it because that wasn't my role. My role was to do whatever it was that Riley wanted, even if it tore our friend group apart. So I forgave that even though it hurt so much. But you did it again Lucas. You left me. You wouldn't look at me. You wouldn't acknowledge me, and you're right, that hurt, hurt so much, and you're really telling me that you didn't think I would be affected by what you said?"

"I was stupid," he said simply, not trying to defend himself. "I didn't consider the past. I only considered what was happening in that moment. But you're right Maya," he continued, his voice morose, "I did leave you. And I don't know what I can say or do that would fix that."

"I thought you hated me," she said then, and even to her own ears, her tone sounded pitiful. "I was wrong," she admitted. "I shouldn't have pushed you like that, but I didn't think you would leave. I thought you could take it. But then again," she added with a self-depreciating laugh, "Matthews did say that I go too far. I suppose I did that night...it wasn't' what I was trying to do though."

"What were you trying to do then?"

"I-" she broke off, wondering exactly how honest she should be here. How was she supposed to say that she started to argue worse with him to cut off his questioning about the letter? That, oblivious though Riley could be at times, even she would find it strange that her boyfriend was so worked up about her being on a date with someone else. "I-"

"I brought up the letter," Lucas said then when she continued to falter. "Is that why?"

"Partly," she acknowledged. "Things were too weird that night," she said tiredly. "Me and Josh going out. You and Riley being upset about it."

"I will never not be upset about that," Lucas said plainly, "although I see you're dating Crawford now so that's at least better."

"I'm not dating anyone," she rebutted, resisting the urge to rub at her forehead. "It's too soon. Everything is just too soon."

"Too soon from what?"

She shot him a pointed look before rocking back in her chair. "Look Lucas," she said, "we all knew that it had to end this way okay? Whether or not I had written that stupid letter, we would have had to solve things. There was no way we could keep going around in that triangle. Polyamory's a thing but that's definitely not how it works," she finished, acknowledging wryly that she really was picking up things from Liam if that was the way she phrased it. "Riley was finally ready to talk things through so the time had come. I just pre-empted the decision making."

"Because of what I told you."

"What?" she said, shocked.

"Sarah and Darby told me last night," he explained, folding his arms on the table. "They were the driving force behind why we won, and I wanted to find out why. Imagine my confusion when they told me it was to right a wrong, and when I still didn't understand they told me the truth. Maya, is what I said to you really the reason all of this started? Did you misunderstand what I was trying to say?"

"I heard you loud and clear," she said gruffly. "And I really do not want to talk about this," she added, as she leaned back, ready to push out her chair and stand. But then, in a flash Lucas' hand was there around her wrist. She hadn't even realised he had moved so that he was now leaning across the table.

"Please don't," he said simply, and almost without realising it, she nodded and resumed her former position. It was only then that he too reclined in his chair, a look of relief crossing his face at her easy acceptance for his request.

"Tell me," he tried again.

Maya knew her expression was pensive, but then after a moment, she accepted that yes this was going to happen, and so, she half-mumbled, "You don't like me."

"Maya, what did I say exactly?" he pressed. "You said something about me liking you because we banter. What did I say? I know you remember."

"No, it's not Maya. I don't think that it is," she mumbled, giving into the urge to wring her hands.

"Exactly Maya. That's not what I like about you."

"I got it the first time," she muttered.

Lucas sighed. "Maya, I do not like you because we banter. I like you teasing me and I like teasing you back, but when it comes down to it, that is not what I like about you, or rather, it's not the only thing I like. That is what I meant Maya. If I had to write a list of things I like about you, us bantering would be near the bottom. There are far too many other things I rather associate with us than mere teasing."

Maya stared at him, dumbfounded as she scrambled to make sense of his words. That was what he had meant? Was that the truth or was he trying to spare her feelings? No, he had to be telling the truth, because looking at him now, she saw the same expression in his eyes as he had that day back in middle school when he had complimented her art and wished to see her progress. Lucas meant it, and since he truly did, that meant only one thing. In that moment, Maya felt as if someone had stuck a knife in her gut and started twisting it. She had misunderstood him, had taken what was meant to be a compliment as a sign of rejection, and rather than give him the chance to announce his decision, she had made a pre-emptive strike, one that she was starting to believe had not been necessary. She let out a sound halfway between a laugh and a sob and buried her face in her hands as she tried to take deep, shaky breaths.

"Maya?" Lucas said, concerned. She shook her head furiously, not needing to look to know that he was probably reaching out to touch her. No, that was the absolute last thing she needed right about now. Pulling in one last, shuddering breath, she pulled her hands away and squared her shoulders. She looked up at him, and tried to school her expression into one of calm indifference, but knew from the very start that she failed if the expression on his face was anything to go by.

"This changes nothing," she said, striving for firmness, because regardless of what his words implied, it truly didn't.

"It changes everything if what I said is what led you to write that letter," Lucas said, his tone conflicted.

She shook her head roughly. "No Huckleberry, it doesn't. Nothing changes."

"But Maya you wrote-"

"I know what I wrote," she snapped, and if it wasn't for the fact that it would draw unwanted attention towards them, she would have stood and started pacing about. Instead, deciding for one moment to lower her guard, she asked, "Your question, do you want the answer for it?"

"I do," he said simply.

"I choose me so you didn't have to," she paraphrased."I knew who you had chosen the minute I saw you when me and Riley came back from upstate. And just like then, I am telling you that it doesn't matter."

"Maya," he began.

"It. Does. Not. Matter," she declared. "You're a good friend Lucas, a great friend, and trust me when I say that anyone would be lucky to have you. That is exactly why Riley deserves you." She paused at that, an edge of uncertainty lacing her tone as her mind flashed an image of Riley and Farkle together the night before on the dance floor. She firmly pushed that thought aside because what she thought did not matter in the face of the fact that Riley wanted was Lucas. "I would never take anything from Riley, and what she wants and what she has is you. This was the only way this could have ended anyway," she continued, her tone slowing as a dawning realisation occurred to her. "Remember New Years, when you said that you didn't want this to be the end of us? This is what had to happen to prevent that from happening. It's the only outcome Riley could accept, because she isn't used to losing, especially not at this. But I am which is why nothing's changed."

"Maya please," Lucas said, reaching out to take her hands into his. She pulled them away, cradling them to her chest, nearly knocking over the forgotten about cup in the process.

"Please don't touch me," she requested.

"Maya you deserve more than this," he said sadly.

"I am getting more," she said, a sad smile playing at her lips as she looked up at him. "I told Farkle that that was the last time, and this doesn't change that. It's why I surrendered leadership of the Riley Committee to him, why I'm doing my own thing now."

"But-"

"But nothing," she said. "I have so much now Lucas. I have Josh, and I have Shane. I know that doesn't make you very happy, but that doesn't matter. You need to stop being jealous Lucas. I understand it now, but you need to let that go."

"But what about what I want?"

"You want Riley," she said simply. "You said it yourself Lucas. I pushed you away by what I did, and you chose to let that push lead you to Riley. That was what started this triangle in the first place. You couldn't decide between us, so hasn't one of us backing away solved that?"

Lucas looked at her without response.

"Go to Riley, Lucas," she said, "and be the best boyfriend to her that you can be. Tell her you love her. Girls like that."

"I love her?" he half-squeaked.

"Just say it," she bid. "I will be okay, and you and Riley will be happy."

"Maya are you sure?" he said uncertainly.

"I am."

"Then where does that leave us?" he asked. "Friends?"

"Maybe?" she said honestly, bringing them back to the original matter at hand."I think we can both agree that we hurt each a lot recently."

"We can," he confirmed.

"I was trying to keep you where you belonged, and you were trying to save yourself from reverting, which, by the way I don't think is such a bad thing."

"How can you say that?"

"Look, I don't know what you did Lucas, and frankly, I'm not interested in it. But your past isn't just something you can shove away you know? It's a part of you, and it's helped to bring you to where you are now. I know that you have an anger problem, and let's be honest, I have daddy issues a mile long that's probably never going to fully go away, but at least your thing is fixable. Don't try to shove yourself into some candy-cutter mould Lucas. I know Riley reacted badly back then and that that probably scared you, but who you are now is not what you were then, so you don't need to pretend to be anything you don't want to be."

"But what if that I what I want?"

"Is it really what you want? To be Riley's knight in shining armour?" she pressed. "Because I remember a boy who wanted to have some fun in Mayaville."

Lucas huffed a laugh at that. "Maybe I need to work on Lucas Town."

"Huckleberry Lane," she corrected, and they both chuckled at that. "Anyway," she continued, bringing them back to his original question. "I don't know what we are Lucas. I know what I like. I like talking to you like this right now. I liked being with you last night, but the latter can't happen again, and as for us talking..." she paused, and took a moment to figure out her thoughts. "It's different Lucas. Even with all we've talked about...it's different."

"Because I left," he deduced.

"You broke your promise," she confirmed. "I know that I had a part to play in it Lucas, I don't deny it, but, it hurt. It hurt so bad Lucas," she admitted, her mind flashing back to the near hour she had spent in the bathroom with cold water cascading over her. "I don't know if I can go through that again."

"And you don't trust me to not hurt you again," he said sadly. "I sort of figured that in the way you acted with me at the meeting Wednesday and then again last night. You put your trust into me and I broke that. So now I have to get it back."

"I'm sorry," she offered.

"Will you give me a chance to though?" he asked gently. "A chance to make things right between us? So we can be...friends again?"

She took a second to contemplate it, before she decided that yes, this is really what she wanted, to try and have Lucas in her life again in some capacity. "Okay," she agreed. "We can try again."

He smiled, and after a second, rose out of his seat. He looked down at her for a second before offering her his hand. "Permission?"

"Granted," she replied as she took the offered hand and allowed him to pull her up into a hug. She sank into it, feeling the soothing caress of his hand as he rubbed it up and down her back. "To a new start," he murmured as they parted, and looking up at him Maya nodded, while hoping that the choice she had just made was truly for the best.