Author's Note: Thank you to those who have already favorited, followed, and reviewed! Please don't forget to REVIEW, and enjoy! (Edited by Chereche!)

So, I want to be honest with everyone right now. I haven't been feeling very inspired lately, and while I have no intention of stopping this story, it's not going to be as good as I want it to be. I'm going to try to re-write my pre-written chapters, but it means it will be time consuming and posts will be farther apart then you may want... I don't know how well this will work, BUT I really hope you still enjoy them, and stick with the story until it comes to a satisfying conclusion, and then maybe when I'm feeling creative again, I'll go back and work on this story. I SO appreciate all the reviews and follows, and I never thought I'd get so many...that's why I wanted to make sure that my story was absolutely perfect, but well, that's not realistic. ;)

Another factor in all of this is my life has been ridiculously crazy, and I've taken on way too much. I'm currently doing a singing thing, and a play, and obviously there's school, babysitting, etc. (I know you don't want to read my excuses, lol) But, again, I will try to make this a priority, and hopefully this chapter gets posted soon because I have to re-write it...(It's currently the 4th of January. I have NO idea when this will actually get published, haha.) Thank you for understanding!

Chapters 1-21 are all re-edited and up! It's all done, hallelujah! :P

Disclaimer: I don't own Girl Meets World, just the story!


Chapter Twenty-Nine: Interrogations Across the Country

"Look, Maya!" Hope pointed at the vast city below them.

"Yes, very cool."

This time the little girl didn't answer and continued to press her button nose against the cool glass. Maya laughed at her antics; she was not impressed with the city. It was basically just another New York, nothing special. They had been flying for about 5 hours now, and Maya was getting fed up with it all, the constant talking, the tension... Yes, she loved her little sister, but she needed a break.

Turning to Joy, she let out a heavy breath, and the older woman laughed.

"Why don't you go the restroom for a little while, sweetheart," she winked.

"Thanks," Maya smiled genuinely, and unbuckling, headed up the aisle.

To be honest, she didn't mind flying all that much, but that was probably because it was still pretty new to her. Her mom had never been able to afford to take them on vacation, let alone to somewhere that required plane tickets, so this was only the second time she had been in an airplane. The first time had been when she was 3, and they had gone to her aunt's funeral in Arizona.

Maya finally reached the doors, and wobbled ungracefully into the compartment. That part she didn't like; everything felt so unstable up here. If you thought about it, a gigantic metal container wasn't all that safe—especially if it was soaring through the air.

The blonde turned to the tiny mirror, and dug through the small makeup bag she had brought with her. Applying a fresh layer of lip gloss, she reminded herself to be light. No more heavy, dark makeup for her—Riley had been very insistent on that. But what was wrong with her trying different styles, huh? Apparently everything...they told her who she was supposed to be, how she should dress, and Maya did it to make sure they would be happy. Hopefully she would start to see those results soon, because right now she was getting nothing. One thing she didn't know though was who Maya really was, and what she actually wanted.

The mystery girl in the mirror pursed her pink lips, and scrunched up her blonde hair. She looked better today...every day seemed to be a little more encouraging in that respect. Maya was definitely losing some of her insecurity; or at least that's what her head perceived. Her heart was still holding on for dear life, but she had chosen to ignore it. No matter how much she might want to scream, she wasn't going to budge…not an inch. It was just like how her broken mask wouldn't come off. Whatever that episode in her room had been, it was merely a setback. Yes, she had been left to pick up the broken pieces of her mask; but she had glued it back together and slipped it back on. It was so simple.

Maya finished her makeup, took a deep breath, then headed back to her seat. Joy looked up with a small smile, and Hope beamed, tugging her down to look out the window again.

"See that?" Her green eyes widened. "That's the ocean."

"You know we have one back home, right?" the blonde teased.

"Yes! But it's far away, and this one's prettier."

She leaned over, and peered out the tiny window.

"Yah, that's true," Maya admitted.

"And we get to go swimming in it! Are you excited?"

"Very."

Joy chuckled, and turned the page in her magazine.

"Honey, why don't you let Maya rest for a little bit?"

"But I want to talk to her," Hope pouted.

"Don't worry, you'll have plenty of time for that." Her mother reached over, and gave her little hand a squeeze.

"Fine." The little girl sighed, giving her the cutest eye roll she had ever seen.

After that, the rest of the flight—which ended up being a whopping 23 minutes—was pretty quiet. Maya took the time to try to sleep, even though the last 5 hours she hadn't been able to as she had always been a light sleeper. And unfortunately she couldn't sleep sitting up, so she was kind of at a dead end there. Then her thoughts ended up wandering; but she let them. After all, what damage could they possibly create in her already confused and messed up mind?


"Hey, guys." Farkle opened the door, and crossed immediately to their usual spot.

"Hey," Zay and Lucas chorused, both of them looking a little bored.

"Where's Riley?" the lanky boy asked curiously.

"Probably caught up in her daydreams of cotton candy animals dancing on rainbows." Zay threw up his hands sarcastically.

"Okay...sorry I asked."

"We're not completely sure," Lucas explained. "She texted that she might be late, but that was almost an hour ago."

"That's not like her," Farkle mused, sitting on the couch.

"Yah, well it's probably a good thing." Zay sighed.

"Um, how is this a good thing?"

"Because we need to discuss something with our Moral Compass, remember?" He answered through gritted teeth and looking pointedly at Farkle.

"That's really weird when you say it, man." The aforementioned boy raised an eyebrow.

"Actually, he's right though." Farkle looked at Lucas.

His grin faded. "What did I do?"

"Nothing...we just have a question for you."

"Where were you the night of October 31st, around 10:50 p.m.?" Zay narrowed his eyes.

"Uh—with you guys?"

"I told you we weren't doing an interrogation!" Farkle put his head in his hands.

"Interesting." Zay ignored him. "And do you happen to remember the certain event of climbing into Maya Hart's window?"

"Yes..." Lucas replied slowly. Where the heck were they going with this?

"You said she was home."

The tall boy rubbed the back of his neck awkwardly, and cleared his throat.

"Yah, so?"

"You lied!" Zay slammed his hands down on the table.

"Whoa!" Lucas raised his hands in defense. "Where did you guys get that idea?"

"You're not exactly the best liar, Mr. Freak-face." Farkle declared and folded his arms.

"Uh, well Riley believed me."

"Yes...because we're talking about Riley. The innocent little girl; truster of all." Zay reminded. "We're not so naive."

"You guys can't just assume that. Why don't you believe me?"

"Again, you're a terrible liar...and you had this really weird face on after you came down. Look, there's no question as to you lying, but I just want to know why."

"I wasn't lying...she was in her living room with her mom."

"Lucas, just stop. You're acting like Maya," Farkle pointed out.

Okay...now he had no choice but to be honest, right? Otherwise he was just a hypocrite, and after all the pleading he had done with her; he wasn't going to turn around and do the same thing.

"Fine, so what if I lied? Who cares?"

"We do!" Zay raised his hand. "Why did you do it?"

"Because I wanted to protect Riley."

"You wanted to protect Riley? Or did you want to protect Maya?" Farkle smirked, and watched his friend's face thoughtfully.

"Both," Lucas admitted.

"Okay, and how did lying about Maya help either of them? Do you even know where she actually was?"

"Yes," the Texan answered hesitantly.

"Really?" Zay's interest was peaked significantly. "Where?"

"Do you think that's any of your business?"

"Yes, she's our friend. Where was she, Lucas?" Farkle added.

"Look, she told me something in confidence, and I'm not about to break that trust." He shook his head.

"Come on, man," his friends complained.

"Look, all I can tell you is she was doing something she wasn't supposed to, and I fixed it...or I'm working on it."

"Fixed, or not fixed? That's an important detail in this equation," Farkle said.

"Working on it," Lucas sighed.

"Not fixed then," the genius concluded.

"You both are annoying." He glared at his nosy companions. "And let me remind you this whole thing was 3 months ago."

"Yes, and it's long overdue for a discussion. So, how long is it going to take to crack you?"

"Yah, man. I know we can get you to tell us what she did," Zay smirked.

"No, you can't," Lucas refused uneasily. "This is between Maya and I."

"Oh, yah. That reminds me..." His friend grinned.

"You guys have been spending a lot of time together," Farkle said, though without the enthusiasm the other boy had.

"She is my friend."

"And so are we...but you guys are always hanging out and talking about stuff we don't know about," he said slowly. "So, my guess is you finally did it."

"Did what?" Lucas was completely lost now.

"Told Maya you like her!" Zay threw up his hands in exasperation.

"What? No, I don't like her like that, and in fact it's better if we don't even discuss things like this anymore."

"Why is that?" he looked incredibly smug.

"Because of the triangle!"

"Which has long since been dissolved," Farkle reminded. "And Lucas, we're not oblivious. We can tell what's going on with you. We're your friends...have been for a while."

"So, what did she say?" The darker skinned boy leaned forward eagerly.

Just then, Riley Matthews skipped through the door, a great big grin stretched across her features. The two other boys groaned, and slumped in their respective chairs, while she plopped onto the seat next to Lucas.

"What?" Riley asked as she looked at their faces.

"You're my best friend right now." Lucas let out a huge sigh of relief, and let his body relax.

"Okay, what did I miss?" The brunette raised an eyebrow.


"Will you come play in the water with me now?" Hope pleaded.

"Um..." Maya bit her lip, and glanced over at Joy anxiously.

"Would you mind, sweetheart?" The older woman smiled. "I'm a little tired, and she'd love to have your company."

"I'm not much of a swimmer."

"Don't worry about that, Hope is too little to swim in the ocean anyway. She'll just splash around near the shore." Joy said and waved her comment off.

"Please?" the little girl thrust out her bottom lip as she looked up at her.

"Okay," Maya relented, and made herself get out of the comfortable chair.

"Yay!" Hope beamed, and started running across the hot sand to the ocean.

The blonde followed the little girl reluctantly, eyeing the waves cautiously. Why did they fill her with dread?

They reached the waterline, and Hope carefully made her way into the water, giggling as the water lapped across her ankles. Maya gingerly stepped onto the damp sand, and gasped as the freezing cold water brushed over her feet.

"This is so fun!" Hope shrieked, bouncing a little.

Freezing cold water. Consuming her. Trapping her in the darkness. No—there was no way she was afraid of water. But, the pond...the coldness...drowning.

Maya stepped back, her little sister oblivious to her hesitation. Pressure, her lungs crying for air, and then—Lucas. She let out a breath she hadn't realized she had been holding. Think of Lucas...he had saved her. Everything was okay. There was a safe, calm presence that came with him - with even the thought of him.

"Do you want to go deeper?" Hope's voice broke through her daze.

No.

"Sure, princess," she said instead.

The young girl giggled, and grabbed her older sister's hand.

"Does that make me Ariel?"

"M-hmm," the blonde nodded.

Lucas. The water was touching her ankles. Huckleberry. Cold surrounded her legs. Ranger Rick. She was cold and wet. Why did it have to be him of all people? Why did he fill her with calm, and an odd feeling of exhilaration?

She opened her eyes. Good news? She wasn't afraid of the ocean anymore; in fact, it was beautiful. Bad news? It was all because of Lucas.

Maya looked up at the brilliant blue sky even though the bright sunlight momentarily blinded her. She needed to be temporarily blinded because she couldn't be distracted by outside things right now. Maya Penelope Hart was going to think. Lazily brushing the water with her fingertips, she bit her lip and let her mind take hold of the concept of Lucas Friar. He scared her. She was afraid of letting him in, of him leaving, of MAKING him leave...that was the truth wasn't it? The truth that had come out because of him, the one that wouldn't come out for anyone else including herself.

And that was when she made the decision. Glancing over at the playful Hope and relaxed Joy, Maya closed her eyes and nodded. It was time to talk to Lucas. For real this time. She was tired of all of this, tired of the games, and the hurt even if it was justified. It was time to set things straight, and just go back to normal with her friends...even if she herself wasn't the same.


Hope and Maya played in the water for a while, and then made their way back to Joy who decided to call it quits for the day, at least for the beach. After they went back to the house and cleaned up, they headed out for dinner and had a wonderful evening together. No water involved whatsoever thankfully, and no father problems either. Maya almost hated to admit it, but she was enjoying herself, and was glad she had been convinced to come.

Then they took them to the Golden Gate Bridge, and the landscape was so incredibly gorgeous, it took Maya's breath away. The sun was setting, and the sky was a beautiful combination of oranges and pinks, all giving the shiny metal of the bridge an illuminating appearance. She had never wanted to paint something so much. Except she couldn't; she hadn't been able to paint for the last couple of months...but maybe she could try?

"Wow." She let the words escape her lips.

"It's amazing, isn't it?" Joy leaned on the railing next to her.

"No kidding...I'd love to paint this."

"You're into art?"

She smiled sadly. "A little."

"Well, tell you what, we can come back tomorrow if you like."

"Really?"

Joy was about to answer, but her husband's voice cut her off.

"Actually, you can't do that...you have reservations for that mother-daughter thing with Hope, honey."

"Oh. I completely forgot," Joy looked sympathetically at Maya. "Sorry, sweetheart."

"It's okay...I understand." The blonde shrugged, hiding her disappointment well. She wasn't going to be able to do it anyway, right?

"Hang on, that doesn't mean you can't go at all." Her father smiled. "I can take you while they're hanging out. Otherwise, we'll just be stuck at the house."

"No, it's okay...it's not that big of a deal."

"It's okay, Maya. I'd like to come with you," Kermit reassured her.

She looked back out at the beautiful scene in front of her, and she ran a hand through her wild curls. The blonde wondered if she was in for a lot of frustration, or more hope...probably the former, but she was going to try - just this once.

"Okay. Thanks." Maya sighed reluctantly.

"Great! How does around 5:30 sound? That way you can paint the sunset again, and then we can catch our flight at 11."

Wonderful.


"...and I was thinking about it, when I realized you're hiding something," Farkle continued, looking at his friend pointedly.

"What could I possibly be hiding?"

"How you feel."

"I feel fine! I'm always fine...I don't even get sick very often!" Riley announced proudly.

"That's not what we're talking about, and you know it." He drummed his fingers on his leg.

Her smile faded. "I know."

"So...are you going to tell us, then?" Farkle inquired.

"Tell you what?" She sighed.

"What you think about the whole Maya-Lucas thing," Zay spoke up.

"Oh, that? I don't know...I think they'd be good for each other, but I mean guys, we're only in 9th grade...how much do we really know about dating?"

"Nice dodge, but I'm putting the conversation back on track now."

"Speaking of which, where is Lucas?" Riley looked around. "He was here when I came."

"He had to go home because of some "mystery sickness" his mom has...not his best work." Zay shook his head, and took another bite of his cookie.

"Well, it's another trait you all share!" the young genius groaned; talking mainly to Riley.

"I'm lost." The brunette bounced her leg up and down anxiously.

"You, Lucas, and Maya all just love to avoid conversations you don't want to have—"

"Which makes perfect sense," Riley interrupted.

"—even if it's one you need to have." Farkle finished.

"Isn't that a matter of opinion?"

"Perhaps. But look, Lucas and Maya aren't here, so why don't you just admit it that you're not comfortable with them as a couple?"

"Because I don't...I don't like Lucas." Riley's defenses were much less equipped than Maya's, and so everyone could read her easily—no one was buying any of this.

"You do."

"Then why do I support them, huh? Why do I want to help them get together?" She was starting to get scared and wary of the way they were prodding her for information.

"Because you're you, Riley." Zay spoke up. "You'd do anything for your friends, even to the extent that you'd hide your feelings. You've picked that up from Maya unfortunately, but that still doesn't make it okay. I mean, do you remember what happened the last time you did this? Disaster is what happened."

"I don't want to hurt her," Riley admitted softly. "And besides we all agreed to get rid of this triangle thing last year."

"And yet Maya still seems to like Lucas, right?" Farkle pointed out cautiously.

"Look, I do like Charlie, really...I'll get over it."

"Do you really like him, Riley?

She hesitated, honestly considering it. "Yes, I do. And I'm going to help Maya and Lucas realize their feelings for each other. I'm going to be just fine. Don't worry about me."

"You're my friend just as much as them." Farkle stood up, and walked over to her. "And I do believe you, but I know there's something else going on too."

"Maybe it's just because Maya and I are fighting." Riley leaned into her friend's open arms. "And I'm feeling a little vulnerable, you know? Sometimes when that happens, feelings come up...and I can't help it. So, I just need to fix things with Maya, and everything can go back to normal."

"Wait," Zay hopped off of the stool, and crossed over to the pair. "Didn't you guys make up on New Years?"

"Yah, we did." Riley looked down at her sparkly flats.

"Then..." He trailed off, obviously puzzled.

"But it's not the same as before. There's like some kind of tension or something, and I can't place it, or figure out how to fix it."

"It's probably just because Maya is trying to get better, and her emotions are all over the place right now," Farkle consoled.

"You're right," the tall girl nodded, ever the optimist. "It'll be fine."

"You just need to wait."

"I know...we all need to time.

"Right," Farkle agreed but was cut off—Riley wasn't done yet.

She looked at him seriously.

"We need time—to process more than one thing."


It didn't work. Why should it? Maya had tried, really she had, but she just couldn't do it...this is what hope did to people; and like an idiot she had fallen for its charm. Instead, she was now leafing through one of the last notebooks that hadn't gotten destroyed; looking for some inspiration or a reason why she couldn't paint. Why had she brought this sketchbook anyway? Stupid hope—stupid head.

"Actually, this is perfect." Kermit watched his daughter, his hands in his pockets and a pleased expression on his face.

"What is?" Maya asked, trying to distract herself from her failure.

"This." He gestured to them. "I wanted to have a conversation with you, and this just happens to be a great opportunity."

"Oh."

"So, I guess I should start by saying I had a nice weekend."

She didn't answer; instead turning the page to reveal a hastily drawn river...it was still good though, right?

"And I'm really glad you came with us," her father continued awkwardly.

"Yah, it's been real nice." Maya said with only a hint of sarcasm.

"Good. I guess what I really wanted to say, was that I'm happy you and I are getting along."

The blonde fingered the corner of the page, and turned the page again. This time it was an amazing charcoal drawing of majestic mountains, big clouds covering their peaks.

"...also of course with Joy and Hope. It's nice that you're bonding with them."

"Yah, well they're great people."

"They are." Kermit looked down at her. "And they're family, including me."

She finally stopped her reminiscing, and whirled around to reveal her dark and hurt eyes.

"You are not family." The blonde's cracked blue eyes misted over.

"Maya, I—"

"No, I don't want to hear it," She snapped, standing up as if to scare him off. "I can stand hanging around you, and I even contacted you last year because I needed to forgive you, but I will NOT call you family."

He was silent now, realizing the error of the eagerness of his words. All he could do was watch the hurt girl in front of him yell and cry, while he stood there like an idiot.

"I only came to support Joy and Hope because I care about them," she continued, spitting the words out at him. "But you? I don't know."

That hurt.

Maya took a deep breath, and suddenly realized the effect of her words, although she had to admit to her slight callousness towards her father's feelings. "I mean, I care, I just—"

"It's okay, Maya." Kermit held up a hand, speaking softly. "I understand, really. You're struggling with this, which is perfectly understandable, and you need to get words out. I get it. It doesn't mean I'll give up on you, though."

Maya swallowed, a small prick of guiltiness filling her heart, though she tried her best to extingush it.

"And if nothing else," he said, turning his face towards the sunset. "This trip helped us to understand eachother better at least."

Maya wasn't sure how she felt about that.