I am the worst, I know! I am so sorry. I have been starting a new job and working on a few other stories while I tried to decide where I wanted to take this story next. I had some major writers block but I finally worked out a storyline. I would never just leave the story hanging on you guys. This chapter will take place at the end of their summer break and is the set up. I know you will be confused with the ending but it is just setting you up for the next arch of this story. All will be explained in the next chapter and I'm already working on it. Thank you so much for your patience and kindness! I really appreciate it.

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

Chapter 36

"Hey babe," Maya greeted as she walked into her boyfriend's apartment. Josh looked over from his spot in the kitchen and smiled at his girlfriend.

"Hey," Josh said. He grabbed a bottle of water from out of the fridge and then handed the second one he was holding to the blonde. They shared a quick kiss and a smile.

"Thanks," Maya smiled. She walked over with him and took a seat on his couch. She laughed at all of the boxes around his living room and he shot her a look. He knew exactly what she was going to say because she said it every time she came over.

"I'm working on it," Josh insisted.

"You moved into this place over a month ago," Maya pointed out. Right after graduating college at the end of last semester, Josh moved into his very first apartment. He was going to be working as an intern at a newspaper in the journalism department and the apartment felt like the next big step for him.

"I know that," Josh said. He lifted Maya's legs up and rested them across his lap as she shot him a teasing smile. "It's a process. I am envisioning how I want the apartment to look before I unpack."

"It's laziness," Maya smirked.

"Well I may be unpacked if someone wasn't always coming over and distracting me," Josh poked her leg and she laughed.

"Oh don't pretend like it's a horrible distraction," Maya rolled her eyes. Josh pulled her even closer and kissed her square on the lips. He pulled back and then brushed a piece of hair off of her face.

"Have you talked to Riley today?" Josh asked. Maya let out a long sigh and then shook her head.

"I talked to her on the phone last night but I knew today was going to be hard," Maya said. "We all wanted to be there but they insisted that it was best we weren't. They wanted it to be low key and just the two of them. She was going to stay with him the entire time. I think his mom and dad are there too."

"I feel so awful," Josh sighed.

"Me too," Maya nodded. "All of their plans are completely delayed now. She is going to be living in the apartment by herself now."

"I wish there was something we could do for them," Josh said.

"I do too," Maya nodded. She smiled softly at him and he could feel his heart start to race slightly. Her smile could make any situation better.

"I have something for you," Josh suddenly said.

"You do?" Maya raised an eyebrow at her boyfriend. Josh turned around slightly to grab something off the side table and then handed her a square box. She looked down at the box and then up at her boyfriend curiously. "What is it?"

"Well opening it may help," Josh teased. Maya rolled her eyes and shoved his shoulder before opening the box. She felt her eyes widen and butterflies fill her stomach at what was inside.

"It's a key. It's the key to your apartment, isn't it?" Maya asked, looking up in surprise. She saw Josh nod at her and her heart started to race.

"I want you to be able to come and go as you please," Josh said. "I know we said we weren't ready to move in together yet but I want you to feel at home here. You can use it whenever you want."

"I love you," Maya said and then launched herself into his arms. She kissed him and then hugged him close. She knew how big of a moment this was for them. She knew that this meant something incredibly special to the both of them.

"I love you too," Josh said before pulling her in for another kiss. He felt comfortable about this decisions. He felt completely right about this decision.

GirlMeetWorldRucas. GirlMeetsWorldRucas. .

"Here you go," Smackle said. She handed Farkle his coffee as Claire handed Zay his coffee. The four sat around the couches in Topanga's and silence fell over the group.

"When do you guys go back?" Claire asked.

"Next week," Farkle said. "We wanted to get there a little earlier so that we could finish getting the apartment ready. We didn't want to be unpacking and starting the semester at the same time."

"You two must be so excited to be moving into your own place," Zay said. He knew that this was just the beginning for the couple. In just four months they would be walking down the aisle and living together as husband and wife.

"We are," Smackle smiled at her fiancée.

"Only one semester and then the two of you tie the knot," Claire smiled at the couple. "It's so exciting!"

"This summer flew by," Farkle shook his head and then a weight sat on his chest. Zay saw his friend's face and nodded at him.

"It's going to be okay," Zay insisted.

"You have probably been the most optimistic about all of this," Smackle said.

"I have to be," Zay shrugged. He smiled at Claire as he felt her rest a hand on his back. "I know Riley needs strength right now too so I need to be strong for the both of them. After all she does for us, we can offer some support for them. That's what friends do."

"Have you talked to her?" Claire turned to face Farkle. She knew how close Riley and Farkle were. She also knew that Farkle was someone she always went to in tough situations.

"Not today," Farkle shook his head. "She called me yesterday but I figured I would just let the two of them be together today. She wasn't really chatty yesterday."

"It's going to be alright," Zay insisted. He looked like he was trying to convince himself as much as everyone else. "Everything will be okay. It just pushes their plans back a little."

"He was so mad the last time I saw him," Smackle said as she remembered the last time she saw Lucas and Riley.

"I don't think I've ever seen him that angry before," Claire agreed.

"He wasn't mad," Farkle said. "He was frustrated. This is all so frustrating."

"At least you got your wedding dress!" Claire smiled. Everyone laughed to themselves because she knew exactly how to brighten the mood. She fit in so perfectly with the group and Zay fell a little more in love with her as each day passed.

"How about a sneak peek?" Farkle teased. He knew there was no chance. Smackle was adamant that he had to wait until their wedding day to see the dress.

"You know that's never going to happen," Smackle nudged his shoulder and smiled at him.

"Do you really believe in that bad luck thing?" Zay asked. Smackle didn't strike him as the type to believe in that kind of stuff.

"I am not taking any chances," Smackle said. "I want this wedding to run smoothly and if that means Farkle waits to see my wedding dress then Farkle waits."

"The lady has spoken," Zay smirked. Smackle shot him a look but everyone laughed. Farkle pulled her into his side and kissed the top of her head.

"I am completely on board with anything you want," Farkle insisted.

"And I love you for that honey," Smackle smiled at him.

"I love you too," Farkle leaned forward and kissed her.

"Are we this corny?" Zay leaned closer to his girlfriend and whispered in her ear.

"You are," Claire teased.

"I am not!" Zay widened his eyes and ruffled her hair.

"Zay!" Claire exclaimed. She shoved his side and they both laughed.

"I think you're the corny one," Zay insisted.

"I think you're a giant dork," Claire smirked at him.

"You're lucky I love you," Zay playfully rolled his eyes. Claire leaned into his side and smiled up at him.

"I am," Claire nodded. He kissed her forehead and she closed her eyes at the contact. "I love you too."

GirlMeetWorldRucas. GirlMeetsWorldRucas. .

"Hey Riles," Maya said. Riley jumped slightly and turned around to see her best friend sitting at the bay window.

"Maya," Riley let out a breath and rested a hand on her chest. "You scared me. What are you doing here?"

"What am I doing here?" Maya repeated and then raised an eyebrow at the brunette. "What are you doing here?"

"I was just changing into something more comfortable," Riley said. "I put a dress on this morning to see Lucas's mom and dad and wanted to change into a pair of leggings instead."

"Come here," Maya gestured her over. She could see how frantic and exhausted her best friend looked in that exact moment. She knew this past week had taken a toll on the brunette and she looked like she could probably sleep for a month if given the opportunity.

"I don't have time to sit down," Riley insisted. "I need to get back. I need to change and get back quickly."

"Riles," Maya shot her a look and the brunette reluctantly sighed. She walked over and took a seat at the bay window with her best friend before pulling her legs up to her chest. She rested her chin on top of them and let out a tired sigh.

"Tell me something happy," Riley said, looking expectantly at her best friend. "Tell me anything. Make me smile."

"Josh gave me a key to his apartment," Maya said as she showed her best friend the key. She was worried about telling Riley because of how drastically things were changing in her life but the look of excitement on the brunette's face made her silly for even hesitating.

"Peaches!" Riley exclaimed as she sat up straight. "That's amazing!"

"I thought so too," Maya nodded and smiled.

"That's a pretty big step for the two of you," Riley said. "I'm proud of you for not running."

"I love Josh," Maya said. "I never want to run from him. I want forever with him."

"Well this is a pretty great start for that," Riley insisted.

"Are you okay?" Maya asked. She saw Riley's shoulders tense slightly and she reached out to grab her hand before giving it a comforting squeeze.

"I'm tired," Riley said. "This was supposed to be the best year ever. We were starting a new beginning together and it all just got ripped away from us. I wasn't supposed to be moving into this apartment alone. I was supposed to be moving in with Lucas."

"He'll get there," Maya said. "It's just going to take him a little longer than planned."

"He said he's thinking of dropping out," Riley said. Maya widened her eyes in surprise and she saw the brunette's eyes fill with tears. "He's so closed off and angry."

"Riles," Maya whispered.

"It's my fault," Riley whispered. "This is all because of me."

"That's not true at all," Maya shook her head. "He was trying to help you and it was a horrible accident. It could have happened to anyone."

"We shouldn't have gone that day," Riley sighed. "We should have just gone to the beach with you guys like we planned."

GirlMeetWorldRucas. GirlMeetsWorldRucas. .

Riley sat down on one of the metal plastic chairs and it made her back ache. She was tapping her foot anxiously and drumming her fingers along her leg. She knew she could just go in but she was glued to the chair. She twirled the promise ring that Lucas got her during high school around her finger and sighed. This wasn't supposed to be how they were spending their last week of summer before everyone went their separate ways. They were supposed to be laughing with their friends and going to the beach. She stood up and walked over to the door, resting a hand on the doorknob. She took a deep breath and pushed the door open.

Lucas's eyes were closed and she wondered if he was actually asleep or just pretending to be asleep. His arms were rested by his sides and there was an IV attached to one of his hands. There was a bandage on his forehead and a bruise around his left eye. She looked down at his left leg and saw it completely immobilized. She knew that Lucas needed to keep it still until he went into surgery later that day. He had been waiting for four days to have this procedure because the doctor needed some of the swelling to go down. For the last four days, he had been in pure misery.

"Hey," Lucas's voice startled her from her thoughts. She looked up at his face and saw him staring back at her.

"Hi," Riley quietly said as she walked closer to him. She rested her hand on top of his hand and gave it a gentle squeeze. "Have the doctors come by?"

"Like five minutes ago," Lucas said. "I'm going into surgery within the hour."

"Are you nervous?" Riley asked.

"Are you?" Lucas raised an eyebrow at her.

"No," Riley mumbled.

"Riley," Lucas sighed. "It's nothing. They just have to reset the bones in my leg. They are going to put some metal rods in there and fix it all."

"It doesn't mean I can't be nervous," Riley said. "You're going into surgery and I can't be there to make it better for you."

"The doctors will do fine, Riley. It's all going to be okay," Lucas insisted. Her eyes shifted down to his leg again and he squeezed her hand. "It's not your fault and you need to stop thinking that it is."

"I can't help it," Riley said.

"I'm going to be fine," Lucas said. Riley sat down in the chair next to his bed and sighed. The two locked eyes for a moment and she felt her eyes well with tears.

"You're supposed to be coming back to school with me," Riley said. "We are supposed to be moving into our apartment together."

"Riley stop," Lucas pleaded. "Just stop, please. I don't want to hear this right now."

"Lucas," Riley sighed.

"Just tell me you love me and wish me luck," Lucas said. "That is all I can handle right now."

"I love you," Riley said. "It's all going to be okay."

"I love you too," Lucas said. He lifted her hand and placed a kiss on the top of it. A tear slipped from her eye but she quickly brushed it away. She had to remind herself that it could have been a lot worse. She had to remind herself that it was only a leg injury. Looking at Lucas in his hospital left an uncomfortable feeling in her stomach though. It was a sight that she never wanted to see in her entire life. She wanted to go back and change it all.