Just a quick note! I got a question about where Zay went to college so I just wanted to remind everyone of where they all go to school. Riley and Lucas both attend Yale. Smackle and Farkle both attend Harvard. Maya and Josh both attend NYU. Claire attends Fordham University. Zay attends Rutgers. Enjoy!

Disclaimer: I do not own Girl Meets World or any of the characters

Chapter 29

"Come sit with me," Claire waved her boyfriend over to where she was sitting on the edge of his bed. Zay was standing in the doorway and looking at her nervously. He eventually relented and went to sit next to her.

"So, you wanted to talk?" Zay asked, raising an eyebrow and wringing his hands together.

"I miss us," Claire admitted. She saw her boyfriend look over and could see in his eyes that he felt the exact same way. "I just feel like there is a part of us that is missing. I feel like we are having a really hard time communicating with each other and just being honest."

"I feel like it's all my fault," Zay said.

"What?" Claire widened her eyes and then shook her head. "It's not your fault."

"Everything changed when I failed that class," Zay disagreed. "I got so distant and frustrated. Then I realized that I was going to have to stay a semester longer and I started to push you away."

"Why did you do that?" Claire asked.

"I didn't want you to have to be tied to someone that is a failure," Zay sighed.

"Hey," Claire narrowed her eyes and fully turned to face her boyfriend. "You are not a failure."

"Claire," Zay shook his head but she continued on.

"You had one minor setback but that grade does not define who you are or what you are capable of. You are one of the smartest, most determined people I have ever met in my life," Claire insisted and then reached out to grab his hand. "I believe in you and your potential more than you even realize."

"We had such great plans for the summer," Zay said. "We were going to spend all our time together before we had to separate for school again. How could you not resent me?"

"Because they aren't cancelled," Claire said and then squeezed his hand. "We are just pushing them back a month so that you can graduate on time."

"I don't want to break up," Zay admitted.

"I don't either," Claire said.

"Then how do we get rid of this giant gap between the two of us?" Zay asked. He started to trace circles around the back of Claire's hand with his thumb and it filled her stomach with butterflies. She loved that her boyfriend still made her feel like a school girl with a crush.

"We need to talk to each other," Claire said. "If we aren't open and honest about what we are feeling then this relationship is never going to last."

"No more hiding our problems and expecting them to resolve them on their own," Zay added.

"Always remember that I have your back. Whatever you are going through, you don't have to do it alone. I want to help you and be there for you," Claire said. Zay smiled and then leaned forward to kiss his girlfriend.

"I love you beautiful," Zay whispered against her lips. Claire smiled brightly and wrapped her arms around his shoulders.

"I love you so much," Claire promised. She scooted closer to her boyfriend and lifted an eyebrow. "Now how about you show me around campus and all the cool places to hang out?"

"Your wish is my command," Zay smirked. He leaned in for one more kiss and then stood up, extending a hand. "My lady?"

"How chivalrous," Claire teased and grabbed his hand before standing up. It was not always going to be perfect between the two of them but they loved each other enough to work through it.

GirlMeetWorldRucas. GirlMeetsWorldRucas. .

"Hey Sophia," Riley said as she walked into her dorm room the next day. She saw her roommate tossing clothes around the room and she was suddenly hit in the face by a red dress. "What's going on in here?"

"Oh hey Riley!" Sophia waved and then walked back over to her closet. "Nothing works for me."

"Are you going somewhere?" Riley asked, walking over and taking a seat on her roommate's bed.

"I'm going on a date," Sophia nodded.

"You are?" Riley widened her eyes.

"Well don't look so surprised. I do date," Sophia raised an eyebrow and shot her roommate a look.

"I know you do," Riley said. "I just didn't know there was anyone here that caught your interest."

"There wasn't," Sophia mumbled and Riley raised an eyebrow. "Some guy from my psychology class asked me out. So I figured, why not?"

"Do you even like this guy?" Riley asked.

"I won't know unless I give him a chance," Sophia shrugged. She heard Riley's phone start to ring and watched as her roommate fished it out of her back pocket. Sophia saw Farkle's name flash on the screen and quickly turned away from Riley. Riley ignored the call and turned back to see her roommate not looking at her. "You didn't have to do that."

"Do what?" Riley asked, shrugging her shoulders innocently.

"Riley," Sophia turned back around and smiled at her friend. "I love you for caring so much, I really do. It's no secret that I have feelings for Farkle but I've gotten the message. I know he is completely unavailable and I am going to respect his relationship. I'm not the type of person that would ever come between two people who are clearly in love with each other."

"I'm sorry," Riley sighed.

"Don't be sorry," Sophia insisted. "You're not the one who forced these feelings on me. It's time for me to move on from whatever I may have felt for him and find the person that I am truly meant to be with."

"Then I think the blue dress with the white stripes is perfect for the occasion," Riley said.

"You don't think it's too dressy?" Sophia asked, lifting up the dress and holding it up against her body.

"Absolutely not," Riley shook her head. "It's casual but not too casual. It looks perfect on you."

"Thanks Riley," Sophia smiled at her roommate.

"Any time," Riley smiled in return and then watched Sophia walk off to the bathroom to get ready. She hoped that her roommate was being honest with herself and that she was really going to make an effort to move past Farkle. Seeing Sophia get hurt was not something she was interested in seeing. Sophia was too great of a person for that.

GirlMeetWorldRucas. GirlMeetsWorldRucas.

"Hey kiddo," Shawn smiled when he saw his step-daughter walk into their apartment later that day.

"Hi dad," Maya waved and then walked over to sit with him. "Where's mom?"

"Work," Shawn said. Maya noticed the lap top and smiled.

"Editing pictures?" Maya asked.

"Of course," Shawn laughed and then closed the computer. "How are you kiddo?"

"I'm okay," Maya sighed and lifted her knees up to her chest.

"Well I don't believe that for a second," Shawn raised an eyebrow at the blonde and then nudged her shoulder.

"I'm just so scared all the time," Maya admitted and then closed her eyes for a second before opening them. "Every time I close my eyes I can see my picture around the art studio and then Eric popping out. Josh doesn't get to me in time though."

"That can't happen though," Shawn insisted. "He's locked away."

"But what if he gets out?" Maya whispered and Shawn saw the tears fill her eyes. He scooted closer to her and wrapped an arm around her shoulders.

"Then he is going to have to get through me first," Shawn said.

"Dad," Maya shook her head.

"I'm serious," Shawn insisted. He looked down at the blonde and nodded. "The minute I signed those adoption papers, I promised to protect you for the rest of my life. You are my daughter and there is nothing in this world I wouldn't do to make sure you were safe. I am never going to let some punk hurt you. There is just no way it is going to happen."

"I love you dad," Maya smiled up at Shawn and then rested her head on his shoulder.

"I love you too kiddo," Shawn promised. "You are going to get through this. You are the strongest person I know."

GirlMeetWorldRucas. GirlMeetsWorldRucas. .

"Hey Farkle," Riley said once she heard him answer the phone.

"Hey," Farkle said.

"Sorry I missed your call before," Riley said. "I was sort of in the middle of something."

"Is everything okay?" Farkle asked.

"Yeah," Riley said. "I was helping Sophia get ready for a date."

"A date?" Farkle repeated.

"Yup," Riley said. "Some guy from her psychology class asked her out and she said yes."

"Oh cool," Farkle said.

"Farkle, is everything okay?" Riley asked.

"I'm scared," Farkle admitted.

"What?" Riley asked. "What are you scared of?"

"Losing Smackle," Farkle sighed.

"Why would you think that?" Riley asked, clearly surprised by his omission.

"I've been with her since middle school. All I've ever known for love is Smackle. For a brief second, Sophia was something different. She made me worry that by settling down so young, I was missing out on everything that being single had to offer," Farkle explained and then took a deep breath before continuing. "Then I got back to school and I saw Smackle. I looked into her eyes and realized that I never wanted to be single. I never wanted to explore the possibility of dating another woman."

"It's normal to get cold feet before getting married," Riley insisted.

"I think Sophia represented everything I thought I was missing out on by settling down so young," Farkle admitted. "I know in my heart though that I never want to be with someone else. Smackle is the only person I ever want to be with in life."

"It's okay to be scared," Riley promised. "It's normal to be nervous to get married. I would be surprised if you weren't. Just remember the love you have for Smackle and all that you two have been through. She was there for you through the darkest times and the best of times. The love you two have is once in a lifetime and there isn't much else that can compare to how she makes you feel."

"Do you want to be my best man?" Farkle teased.

"What?" Riley laughed.

"I'm going to need this inspirational speech on my wedding day because there is a good chance I pass out," Farkle said.

"Unfortunately I am already spoken for as the maid of honor," Riley teased. "But don't worry, I can share my services. I will be there with the inspirational words and a hug to go with it."

"I don't know what I would do with you," Farkle admitted.

"Right back at ya," Riley said.

GirlMeetWorldRucas. GirlMeetsWorldRucas.

"Hey Peaches," Riley said.

"Hey Riles," Maya said. "It's so good to hear your voice."

"How are you?" Riley asked.

"I've been better," Maya sighed. "Everything is just so crazy right now."

"How can I help?" Riley asked.

"Tell me it's all going to be okay," Maya pleaded.

"Of course it's all going to be okay," Riley insisted. "You're Maya Penelope Hart. You are the strongest, most fearless, and bravest person I have ever met in my entire life. You give me strength Peaches. You always have and you always will. Now you have to let us be strong for you. It's okay to need our help. It doesn't mean you're weak, it just means that you have people who care enough about you to build you up."

"You're wrong," Maya said. "You've always been the strong one. You've always been the one who gives me strength."

"How about we give each other strength?" Riley suggested.

"Deal," Maya agreed. "I'm going to need your strength, Riles."

"Then take all the strength you need," Riley insisted. "I have plenty to share."

"You're something pretty amazing, you know that right?" Maya asked.

"I just love you and always want to see you happy," Riley said.

"I love you too," Maya said. She smiled to herself because sometimes all you needed was your best friend.

GirlMeetWorldRucas. GirlMeetsWorldRucas. .

"Well it sounds like you've had a full day of comforting," Lucas smirked. He continued to rub her feet and she let out a content sigh.

"I just want to see everyone happy," Riley said. She rested her head against Lucas's pillow and smiled at her boyfriend.

"I'm happy," Lucas smiled.

"Yeah?" Riley lifted an eyebrow and laughed.

"You're here," Lucas said. "I could never be unhappy when you're around."

"You're so cheesy," Riley poked his stomach with her toe.

"I wanted to talk to you about something," Lucas suddenly said. Riley noticed the change in his demeanor and pulled her legs closer to her before scooting close to him. She rested a hand on his arm and raised an eyebrow.

"Is everything okay?" Riley asked.

"It's nothing bad," Lucas insisted. He took her hand in his own and then looked deeply into her eyes.

"What is it?" Riley asked.

"You know how much I love you, right?" Lucas asked.

"Of course I do," Riley smiled. "I love you just as much."

"I've been thinking and I had an idea I wanted to run by you," Lucas said.

"What's that?" Riley asked. She could see he was debating something and squeezed his arm, urging him to continue.

"I love spending time with you and being around you all the time. I know we're young but I also know that you're the one I want to be with forever. We already spend all of our time together," Lucas said. "So, how about we live together?"

"What?" Riley asked. She felt her heart start to race and her stomach flutter with butterflies at the idea.

"Do you want to get our own place together next semester?" Lucas asked. Riley widened her eyes, clearly surprised. She and Lucas living together next year?