Riley and Zay were both sitting on a couch together watching a movie as they were both laughing. As the movie continued, Zay said, "This was a real fun choice of a flick. Thanks for bringing it over Riley." Riley smiled and said, "Thanks." Then Riley and Zay both looked into each other's eyes, slowly moved their faces towards one another, and then briefly kissed. The two then moved their faces apart, now both looking a bit turned off. Zay then said, "You feeling any spark here?" Riley turned her head and said, "Nope." Then Riley and Zay scooted a bit apart as Zay said, "Hey, it's cool." Then Riley looking guilty now said, "Sorry. I mean I was curious to see what this would be like, but..." Then Zay said, "Hey. I thought I felt something too, but I'm glad we're both being chill about this. I mean, the kiss was nice for a second though. I mean I haven't kissed anyone in over five years, and for you it's been over twenty." Riley then parted some hair away form her eyes as she said, "Well..." Zay looking surprised said, "Oh my gosh. Were you seeing someone Riley? I didn't know you had already jumped back in the game. Was he anyone I know?" Then Riley looking a bit embarrassed said, "Well... it wasn't a he." Then Zay turned his head back and forth and smirked as he said, "Oh my gosh. Lucas was right." Riley looking confused and caught off guard said, "What do you mean Lucas was right?"

Zay smirked as he said, "Back when we were teens... well... now look, Lucas loved you in high school. But... he sometimes was wondering how much you liked him. I mean you barely held his hand, we can all count the number of times you kissed him on ironically one hand. So Lucas figured that maybe, just maybe, you were more into girls and just didn't realize it." Riley chuckled a bit and then playfully covered her face as she said, "Oh my gosh. How is it my friends knew me better than I knew myself growing up?" Then Zay smiled and said, "Hey, don't feel bad. But at least this is another common interest we have now. So... this girl you were with... how long were you together?" Riley then leaned back and sighed as she said, "Just one night. It was an amazing night, but... I totally turned her down saying I was more interested in men, and how confused I was that night... or am I just confused now?" Then Zay looking sympathetic said, "Hey. I know it must be weird. It must be crazy when your real identity comes to the surface. But just be honest with yourself, and also be honest with all your friends. We'll support you all the way girl." Riley looked right at Zay as she smiled and said, "Thanks Zay."

Awhile later as evening began, Riley was driving her car down the road. As heavy rain began to fall, Riley said, "Ooo. Better not go too fast." Then suddenly a car from behind Riley sped up right behind her and began to honk loudly. Riley looking a bit nervous tried to remain calm as she said, "It's okay. It's better to drive slow when there's heavy rain. Just gotta remain calm." Then suddenly the car behind Riley began to turn it's high beams on and off quickly. Riley suddenly squinted her eyes as she slowed down and said, "Ah. I can barely see." Then suddenly the other car swerved around Riley and got right near her as a loud male voice yelled, "Learn to drive bitch!" Then suddenly several glass bottles were thrown in Riley's direction hitting the side of her car, breaking her side window, and hitting Riley. Riley swerved to the side as she yelled, "Ahhhhh!"

Riley then sat in her broken car on the side of the road breathing heavily with her eyes closed. Then suddenly a car pulled up behind Riley. Riley barely looking outside curled up into a ball in her seat as she yelled, "Ah! Don't hurt me!" Then suddenly Megan appeared running towards Riley as she said "Riley? I thought that was you. I saw what happened. Did you get that jerk's license plate number? I couldn't see it in the rain." Riley seeing Megan began to breath less heavily as she said, "No. He moved too fast. I... oh my God. It was all so fast. I knew he wanted me to drive faster but it was dark and raining hard. I wasn't that far below the speed limit, I swear. But when he threw that glass at me, I... oh God, I thought I was gonna get hurt and fall into another coma again or worse, and..." Riley then began to break down and cry, as Megan hugged Riley and said, "Hey. You're safe. You got no cuts on your body, just your car and your jacket it looks like. You're gonna be okay. Now just breath a bit while I call the police."

Megan opened the door to her apartment, as she held Riley's hand leading her in. As Riley sat down in the kitchen she said, "Are you sure this place is safe? How many security cameras are around the building?" Megan sat facing Riley as she said, "This is a safe place. Don't worry. That guy won't be coming after you. He was just a jerk that would've attacked anybody driving safe tonight." Then a worried looking Riley said, "But we can't be sure. Neither of us got a good look at him. And since we couldn't get a good look at his car, the police can literally do nothing. There's a maniac attacking people on the road, and no one is doing anything!" Then Megan touched Riley's hands and said, "Whoa, whoa. Now look. We did get the color of his car. That was something. And the police did say they would try to get some extra cops to patrol that area for awhile. Meaning there's a higher chance now that they will get him."

Riley breathed deeply for a moment and said, "But.. how can you be so calm Megan? I mean what has happened to the world since I got out of my coma. Has humanity just become more evil?" Megan sighed and said, "No. That's part of the harshness of just being an adult. When you're a kid and even a teenager, somehow your parents can protect you from many harms. But when you're adult... you realize how rough the planet really is when your safety net is gone. Trust me, I know. I've been where you are." Riley looking a bit curious with caution in her voice said, "Megan... have you been attacked before?" Megan looked down and then with hesitation in her voice said, "Yeah. But... in a more intense manner. I... um... when I was in my late teens... I was raped... more than once." Riley looking horrified cover her mouth and said, "Oh my God."

Tears appeared in Megan's eyes as she nodded and said, "Yeah. I mean the guys I was with kind of convinced me I wanted it but... they were bigger, older, and stronger than me. They basically forced me into thinking I wanted it. But... when I asked for help later, no one wanted to help me either." Riley then looking sympathetic said, "Megan, I... I don't know what to say. Have you talked to anyone else about this?" Megan turned her head and said, "Yes and no. I mean literally yes. I've talked to therapists and other people. But they just assumed I was being a drama queen, over-exaggerating, or just making it up. I think they said those things because they either believed it, or... maybe they just wanted to be in denial of how bad things were, because to accept the reality of how harsh a world is... can be kind of depressing." Riley looked down as she said, "Yeah. It is." Then Megan touched Riley's hand as she said, "But it isn't. Sure there are dark corners. Actually there are a lot of dark corners. Actually there are many huge dark corners. But they're not the main part of what makes life amazing. There's still amazing stuff out there like nature, good music, situation comedy TV shows, kind friends, supportive family members, and there's people you fall in love with."

Riley then looked into Megan's eyes and said, "Megan. You've been through all that pain, and yet you can still be that positive?" Megan sighed and said, "Oh, it's still a challenge. I still have mornings where I don't wanna get up. And sometimes painful memories of the past make me ball up and cry when I'm alone. And trust me, I still haven't told you about all of the hard stuff I've been through. I mean at one point I got... well, I'll tell you about that some other time. But if I just freeze up all day long and don't live my life, then I let the people in my past who hurt me win. But I have learned, you can't do it alone. If you can't find anyone who can help you, just keep looking high and low until you find someone who is willing to support you. And Riley... I just want you to know that... I will always here here to support you." Then Riley gently squeezed Megan's hand as she said, "Megan... I wanna be here to support you too." Then Riley and Megan looked into each other's eyes, moved their faces closer, and then had a deep passionate long kiss. Eventually the two moved their faces away as Megan said, "Riley... are you sure you want this? I thought you said that you wanted..." Riley nodded and said, "I did. But... I've realized I am a broken and messed up person who is still trying to figure out what she really wants. But... if you're still willing and don't mind the fact that I'm really broken and messed up..." Megan smiled as she said, "I don't mind as long as you don't mind that I'm still broken and messed up. But maybe in all of our brokenness and messed-up-ness... we can help each other heal." Riley smiled and then she moved her face forward again. Riley and Megan then had a deep kiss that went for a very long time.

THE END

*Author's Comments - So yes, I saw the comments and got the messages. The majority of you all wanted Riley and Megan to become a couple. So you all got your wish. Hope you enjoyed that ship becoming real. And now... here's my difficult confession. Earlier today I was assaulted by an unknown individual. It's rattled me up, shooken me to my core, and made me so fearful for my life. I wanted to just curl up into a ball the rest of the day and do nothing. But just like one of characters just said in my story: if I just freeze up all day long and don't live my life, then I let the people who hurt me win. I had to do something I loved, something that gave me purpose to get up and move again. So, I wrote this chapter. I'm still scared to go outside tomorrow, but I am determined to keep living. I am not going to ignore my attack and act like it didn't happen. I'll probably remember it for the rest of my life. But I am not going to let it keep from going out and experiencing what good the world has as well. I am still broken and messed up. I am going to have a hard time trusting new people I meet in my life for a very long time. But I can still start to rebuild my life and do something constructive and positive with it like writing this chapter. I hope this story meant something to all of you. It definitely did for me.