A few months had passed by since Maya's birthday. Over the past few month, Maya began to drift away from Kimberly. She rode to school with Cory and Tommy everyday, instead of walking to school with Riley and Kimberly. During 5th period, Maya tricked Cory into letting her come into his room to do homework. She told him that she needed help with home and needed some tutoring in math and science. Then during 7th period, Maya graded all of Tommy's papers during the whole period everyday. As soon as the bell rang, Maya quickly went up to Cory's room to ride home with him and Tommy. Riley, Lucas, Farkle, and Maya only had two more months left of middle school. Then they'd be off to high school.

Maya really missed spending time with Kimberly. After school, she went up to Riley's room everyday. Kimberly stayed down in the shop with Tommy, Cory, Topanga, and Katy.

"Maya's been acting strange ever since her birthday," pointed out Kimberly. "Ever since her birthday, she's been making excuses to stay away from me. I wonder if I did something wrong. I was so disappointed when I had to cancel the day at spa and the day at the indoor water park. I wonder if she's mad over that."

"On your birthday, she spent time with you," reminded Tommy. "Remember you when shopping with her and Riley. They both bought you an outfit. Maya bought you a white spandex tracksuit. It has three pink horizontal stripes on each leg and it has three pink horizontal stripes on each sleeve. She also bought you a pink turtle neck to wear with it in the winter, and a pink tee shirt to wear with it in the spring and fall, and a pink sleeveless polo shirt to wear with it in the summer."

"I remember," stated Kimberly. "Riley and Maya said that they had the same outfit in their size. Riley said that she wanted all three of us to wear our outfits on the same day. All three of us bought a strawberry pink tee shirt to wear with it. And all three of us bought a pair of white tennis shoes with pink stripes and a pair strawberry pink socks to wear with our outfit."

"Riley saw a pale yellow and pale pink spandex tracksuit," added Tommy. "The jacket and pants were pale yellow. There were three pale pink horizontal stripes on each leg. The jacket had three pale pink horizontal stripes on each sleeve. She thought it would be prefect for the three of them. All of them bought the outfit and they got a pale pink shirt to wear with it."

"Kim, you forgot the outfit that only you and may purchased," reminded Tommy. "It was black, pale pink, and pale yellow. The pants was black with three yellow horizontal stripes on each leg. The jacket was pink and yellow. The top half was pink, and the bottom half was yellow. The sleeves had three black horizontal stripes. You bought a pink shirt to wear with yours and Maya bought a yellow shirt to wear with her outfit. Maya bought pale yellow shoes with pink stripes and you bought pale pink shoes with yellow stripes."

"Why didn't Riley get the outfit?" asked Topanga.

"Because she thought that outfit was prefect for Kim and Maya," explained Cory. "Riley says that Maya is a lot closer to Kim than she is. Riley talks about how much Maya loves Kim. She told Riley that she was excited about the summer. Maya told Riley that she'd be taking a trip with Kimberly this summer. And it was only going to be the two of them. Tommy isn't even going.

"How long are they going to be on this trip?" asked Topanga.

"Two weeks," answered Kimberly. "We're going on a Disney cruise for two weeks. Neither one of us will be bored. They've got pools, water slides, spas and salons, several dinning places, deck parties, movie theaters, and a fitness center on the ship. We're going to the Disney Castaway Cay. It's Disney Private Island only for people going a Disney Cruise. Maya won two tickets for the cruise at school. She entered an art show and won the overall show."

"I thought that she was going to ask Riley," stated Topanga.

"Riley felt that they weren't ready to go on trip by themselves yet," explained Tommy. "Katy couldn't go because she had to work in the shop. So, she asked Kim if she'd go on the trip. And she over joyed. Neither one of them have went on a trip together before."

"Why didn't you go?" asked Cory.

"To get an extra ticket was very expensive and there was no way I could afford it," replied Tommy. "I think this is going to be a great experience for both of them. It will give them some bonding time before school starts."

"I didn't think Maya was going to accept the tickets," admitted Katy. "She's scared of traveling on the water. Kim has gotten the opportunity to go on cruises before. But, she wouldn't go with anyone but Tommy. Every time she got a chance, Tommy had meetings at school or the dinosaur museum. He was the head of the science department at school and his was on board of directors at the museum. All the meetings were mandatory. So, Kimberly didn't take the opportunity to go on a cruise."

"Riley said that Maya was scared of sleeping on boat," added Cory. "And Kimberly is scared of sleeping, while she's traveling on water. Especially, since she's going not have Tommy laying next to her. Both of them really wanted to go on this cruise together. They had a choice between getting a room with an extra large bed or a room with two twin beds. Both of them agreed to get a room with an extra large bed."

"When ever I'm not home, Kim has trouble sleeping. It is due to her fear of Zedd ," explained Tommy. "After she told Maya invited Kim to come sleep in her room or she'd come sleep in our bedroom. They told me that they'd feel better if the were laying next to each other. One morning I walked into the Matthews apartment and Kim and Maya were laying on an air mattress. Maya's head was resting against Kim's chest. Kim's head was resting on top of Maya's and she was holding Maya. Both of them were sleeping peacefully."

"Is that how you got the picture of Kim, Maya, and Riley, sleeping on the bed together?" asked Katy.

"It is," answered Tommy. "It was the day that the girls stayed home with Kim, when she couldn't go to school. She didn't sleep good the night before and really needed sleep. Kim went back to bed and the girls laid on the bed with her and they dozed off. Cory and I walked in and saw them laying on the bed. And we took pictures of it."

"Wonder why she's been acting this way?" asked Katy.

"Riley has told me some things," admitted Cory. "She told me that Maya misses Kimberly terribly. Riley told me that Maya saw someone lurking around the building on the day Tommy canceled their day at the spa. She's back away from Kimberly to protect her."

Meanwhile Riley and Maya were up in Riley's room. They were reading a letter that Maya got in the mail from Kermit.

Maya,

I got your letter. You weren't at fault for me leaving. It was all me and I wasn't ready for you or anyone. I know that Katy's sister is helping her raise you. I met her years ago and she is really beautiful. Maya, I think Kim is the prefect girl for me and I want her. If you know what is best, you won't try to interfere. I know that you and Kimberly are inseparable. And I know you two are best friends. I would hate for Kim to loose you, especially after you two have a relationship now. I know you are doing Samurai training and I know all about it. I am a true Samurai master. I want to challenge you to a Samurai duel, in the future. I am going to give you a while to train. Maya, I'll be watching you. When I think that you are ready I'll contact you again. If Kimberly means anything to you, you will train hard and be ready to accept my challenge.

Kermit

"See why I backed away from me," sobbed Maya. "I knew this would happen. I can't prevent it."

"You can do something about it," reassured Riley.

"What can I do?" asked Maya.

"Kimberly told me that she misses you very much. She says it feels like she's lost her best friend," admitted Riley. "Both of you are more like sisters, than you are as aunt and niece. I know she wants you back. And you want her back."

"I don't want to loose her," sobbed Maya. "She's my best friend. Kermit tried to take her once before. He almost succeed. I don't want that to happen again. If he takes her, I'll never see her again."

"Maya, if you truly care about her and if she's really your best friend, you know what the right thing to do is. I know you do," said Riley. "You show this to Tommy."

"He'll be mad," Maya said tearfully.

"Sooner or later, Tommy is going to know," warned Riley. "I know you are missing Kim so much and you aren't going to be able to keep away from her much long."

"I just hope she takes me back," said Maya. "Right now, I'll do whatever it takes."

"Then you'll show us the letter," said a familiar voice.

The girl turned around and it was Tommy, Kimberly, and Cory.

"Maya, give us the letter," requested Cory.

Maya gave Cory the letter and he showed it to the Oliver's. Tommy and Kimberly read the letter.

"I understand why you backed away from me," gasped Kimberly.

"Maya, you both need each other now," informed Tommy. "Don't let this keep you two apart. We'll make sure you have Samurai training."

I've really missed you," admitted Maya.

She wrapped her arms around Kimberly's neck.

"I've missed you too," replied Kimberly.

She hugged Maya back and kissed her.