Decisions; sometimes the hardest thing to do is to decide what's right. If you choose wrong, how will you know?

Riley sat silently combing the newspaper and circling different apartment ads. Lucas on the other hand was cooking breakfast for them. Since the night she was taken she'd avoided much conversation with him. Lucas though had tried hard to accommodate her, he helped change her dressings on her wounds, walked her to and from work the past couple days. It broke her heart to have to treat him so differently than she normally would, but she wanted to keep him safe.

"Hey, what are you doing there?" he set her plate of food down and sighed noticing "Not this again, you just moved in and you keep saying you just want to find your own place again. If it's because of Charlie-"

Riley folded the newspaper cutting him off "It's not Charlie. Could you sit down so we can talk?"

Lucas silently obeyed her unsure what to think, but was sure Charlie was behind it "Okay, let's talk over breakfast."

"Listen, I feel that the only reason we're doing this is not for love, but necessity. I think that we are projecting it as love to cover up that it's all for the baby. I want my own apartment and time to clear my head." She explained hoping she sounded convincing.

He stared at her in disbelief "You can't be serious. I have never felt for any girl the way I felt for you."

"Lucas, do you want me to say it. Please, don't make me." She felt like she shattered into pieces at his words on the inside, but she held back the urge to cry.

"Riley, what happened that night? You've changed and you're keeping something from me." He frowned, breakfast forgotten.

She looked at him deadpan "You're absolutely right. The truth is I don't love you, Lucas. I thought I did, but I was wrong. What I felt was empathy because we things similarly. I'm sorry."

Lucas's mouth dropped open and then he got up composing himself "I know you don't expect me to believe that. It's time to change your bandages, wait here."

She watched him leave the room holding everything in because she knew if she spoke, she'd cry. In seconds, he was back and he knelt on the floor before her. Neither said anything as he carefully removed each bandage and began applying ointment to the wounds. Riley could feel the tears forming in her eyes at his gentle, loving touch. Then as he quickly finished her arms and legs he checked the healing small wounds on her face. His hands gently caressing her face as his eyes lovingly searched her over broke her.

The tears rushed down her cheeks and Lucas froze searching her pained eyes. Suddenly, his lips met hers, but it took everything in her not to kiss him back. She pushed him away gently and he stared at her his own pain clear in his eyes.

She turned away from him and stood "Thank you for helping me so many times, but I can't do this. I can't love you, I'll only hurt you later on because I don't feel the same way."

"I don't and won't believe you. Charlie is making you do this somehow and I don't know what he has over you to get you to agree." Lucas said defiantly standing as well.

"I've got to go to work. I'll be back to pick up some clothes and I'll stay at Maya's for a short time." Riley wiped at her face "Enjoy your breakfast and get to school on time, okay."

He watched her go calling out "I'll be here when you get home. I'm not letting you go that easily."

Riley closed her eyes briefly as she walked out of the apartment trying to compose herself.

(Later At Topanga's)

Maya's jaw dropped like Lucas's as Riley explained that she needed to stay at her place a little while.

"Hold up, everyone knows you two are mad for each other. Why say you don't love him and try to leave?" Maya nearly fell out of her seat.

Riley grimaced at her best friend "It's true that I don't love him. It's the baby's influence that's all. It's got to be the reason."

Her best friend grabbed her by the arms "Riles, I love you, but you're being insane right now. I think Lucas is right, Charlie is playing puppeteer with you."

"I'm begging you to let me stay with you for a short time. I will get my own apartment, I'll give Lucas money to pay off me breaking my part of the lease. I just can't pretend to love him, it hurts both of us." Riley begged desperately trying to sound as honest as possible.

Maya removed her hands from Riley sliding them into her jacket pockets replying "Alright, we'll go over there in a bit, but let's get some food and talk some more.

Unbeknownst to Riley, Maya had started a group text on her phone in her pocket and was scheming something. Then she opened up the recording app on her phone and began normal conversation with Riley.

"So how have you been other than what's going on now?" Maya wondered.

Riley waved her bandaged arms "Well, I'm still healing for starters. My jobs are going great and classes are the same. What about you?"

Maya smirked as she sat back "The same old stuff, but I'm really concerned about you a lot lately."

"Peaches, I'm completely fine. You have nothing to worry about." Riley forced a smile.

"Riles, between you and me, what happened that night? You weren't the same when we found you. Please, confide in me at least." Her best friend plead with her.

Riley shook her head "I've already told you everything, right."

"Alright you made me do this, ring power!" Maya spoke defiantly and Riley's eyes went wide.

Riley muttered defeated "Curses, I can never go against ring power. It's a rule."

Maya smiled pleased as she waited for Riley to spill everything.