Thanks to Sandy for all her help! :D and to you guys for reading.

The ending is very close, I hope you guys enjoy these last few chapters :D

Walk Me Home

Chapter 24: The Writing On the Wall

October and November wore on, and fall gave way to winter. Lucas reminded himself he was playing the long game. He wasn't going to rush with Maya; it might spook her. He wasn't going to pay her more or less attention; it might make her suspicious. He was going to wait for the perfect time to ask her out.

It wasn't easy. There were many times where he wanted to ask her, and he often found himself thinking what would be like to kiss her; but he was going to do this right. Lucas didn't want any weirdness to creep back into their relationship, and if that meant patience then he was going to be patient.

Opportunity arrived on a Monday when he and Maya were sitting together in the science lab, hearing the 'afternoon' edition of the school announcements before school let out for the day.

Remember - the voice was saying over the PA System - tomorrow is Taco Bar Tuesday in the cafeteria. Also, the Student Council would like you to know that tickets for our Non-denominational Winter Formal will go on sale this Friday.

The bell rang and everyone began to gather their things to leave.

"So, about the dance-" Lucas began.

"Yeah?" Maya said, stopping to button up her coat.

"Could we go together?"

"You mean as a group?"

"I mean you and me."

"Did you ask Riley already?"

"No."

"Are you trying to make her jealous or something? Because she won't appreciate it."

"No. Not everything in our lives has to do with Riley, Maya. I want to go to the Winter Formal with you."

"Why?" She asked nervously.

"Maya," He said in a tired sigh. "I like you."

"But you're Riley's first boyfriend. It can never happen. Girl Code."

"Riley and I were boyfriend and girlfriend for two hours, like, eighteen months ago. Just to be clear, I was never planning on asking her to the Winter Formal."

"Then you should ask someone else. I'm not doing this to her," Maya said.

"Fine, maybe I will," Lucas snapped.

"Good," Maya snapped back, pushing past him to get to the door and make it out of the school as fast as she could.

-0-

Maya spent the rest of the afternoon holed up in her room. She had tried to stop this train before it left the station. That was what putting distance between herself and Lucas had been all about back in October. She had tried.

It hadn't worked, but she figured it hadn't made things worse at the very least.

Things had gone back to normal – because to be honest, that distance had hurt her too, she was way too used to having Huckleberry in her life – but she was pretty sure she hadn't been making lovey-dovey eyes at him or anything like that to encourage him…

This was not supposed to happen.

-0-

The next day, Lucas was in a temper. All his patience had blown up in his face and Maya was now acting like he didn't exist, which only made him madder. By Wednesday, he was in what could only be called "a bitch of a mood" and the basketball coach had made him stay after practice to run laps until he cooled down. During practice, he had nearly gotten into a fight with a teammate.

On Thursday, both he and Maya were just miserable.

And Riley had had enough of it.

"What's going on?" Riley asked, cornering Maya before she could make a run for it at the end of the day. They hadn't hung out all week.

"Nothing's wrong," Maya said stubbornly.

"Maya."

"I'm telling you, Riley-" Maya began to make an excuse but Riley cut her off, holding up her hand.

"Bay Window. Now."

"I can't."

"Now, Maya," Riley said, grabbing her arm and marching her toward the subway. She didn't stop or speak until they were sitting on their bay window. She had even made Maya take off her shoes so she wouldn't make a run for it.

"This is too much," Maya complained. "And my feet are cold."

As an answer to that, Riley tossed a blanket to Maya and then sat down next to her. "Okay. Now you're going to tell me what happened between you and Lucas."

"Nothing happened. If Cowboy has the blues it isn't because of me."

"Oh, so you did notice how upset he is."

"Riley-"

"You guys haven't talked in two days and he's miserable. So I want to know what happened."

"I told you not-"

"Ring Power," Riley cut in.

"Curses," Maya said. Riley almost never used ring power on her, and she always complied when Maya did. Taking a deep breath and so not ready for this, Maya went on. "He asked me to the Winter Formal."

"Yay!" Riley said excitedly, clapping and bouncing on her seat. "I knew he would do it. Well, I hoped he was working his way around to ask you." She went on, stopping only when she noticed Maya was frozen with surprise. "What? Did you think I didn't know you guys like each other? I mean, I'm a bit dense but I'm not stupid. The writing has been on the wall for a long time, Peaches."

"But… Riles… you liked him first. I could never-"

"Oh, grow up!" Riley snapped, channeling her inner Gamma Gamma Girl "What are we? Five? Is Lucas a toy we're supposed to fight over?"

"But-the Girl Code."

"The only Girl Code I care about is this: You are my best friend and I want you to have everything you have ever dreamt of. And I will turn this world upside down to make it happen, because I know you would do the same for me," Riley said. With that, Maya cracked her first smile in days but she was still unsure.

"Look," Riley went on. "Lucas and I tried. Lucas and I failed. Lucas fell in love with you. He and I are better off as friends and that's not the end of the world. We've known it for months and months, Maya; we didn't even have to talk about it."

"But-" Maya started tentatively, getting at the other thing that made her say no to Lucas. "Why me?"

"Because you're pretty great, Maya" Riley shrugged. "You often say you're broken but I don't think so. Farkle and Zay don't think so. Lucas obviously doesn't think so. If you want to talk about why you and not me… I think Lucas always felt like he had to be Mr. Perfect all the time when we had our unofficial-thing. With you he feels he can be himself and you'll still like him, warts and all."

"How'd you figure all that?"

"Because he and I are a lot alike. And that's how I feel about you. You let us be, Maya, and that's a lovely gift."

"So, you're not mad?"

"Nope," Riley said, hugging Maya close.

"And I'm still your favorite person in the world?"

"You'll always be my favorite, no matter what."

"He's going to ask someone else, though." Maya said in a small voice.

"No, he won't," Riley said assuredly. "But just in case, saddle up, Peaches. We're going to bag ourselves a Cowboy"