A/N: Thank you for all the love on this story! I appreciate you guys so much.

WEDNESDAY

When Riley woke up, she rubbed her eyes and groaned as the sun shone brightly into the room. She sat up and realized she was still on the couch. The memories of her kisses with Lucas flooded back and she sat abruptly.

"Whoa there girl," Zay joked and Riley saw Zay on the loveseat eating.

"What time is it?" Riley asked.

"Like nine, what are you doing out here? You're that mad at Maya?" Zay asked

"Uh yeah I guess," Riley said as she adjusted her clothes.

"Come on Sugar, they've been together for years, it was bound to happen," Zay said.

"After we graduate, sure!" Riley said and laid back down.

She wondered if Lucas had gone to sleep in his room. Why didn't he stay out there with her? Was he ashamed they had made out for hours on the couch in the dark? Did he have regrets? Did she?

"Um …, where is everyone else?" Riley asked.

"Maya is showering, Farkle is working, and Izzy is still sleeping. Time changes and all," Zay said.

He didn't mention Lucas. Should she just ask? She didn't know what Zay would say? Would he tease or answer?

"And Lucas?" Riley asked.

"I think he went for a run. When I woke up he wasn't in the room," Zay said with a shrug.

Riley smiled and realized Lucas hadn't left her alone on the couch. He had just gone out to work out. She laid back down when she heard a door swing open. She looked over to see Maya dressed in fresh clothes and her long blonde hair wet from the shower.

"Hey," Maya said to both of them while looking at Riley.

"Hart," Zay said and got up from the seat.

He winked at Riley before going over to the kitchenette. Maya walked over and sat in his seat while Riley stared at the ceiling. Her lips were still swollen from hours ago, and she could feel her stomach flip.

"Riles, can we talk?" Maya asked.

"Sure," Riley whispered.

"I'm sorry I didn't tell you before but I swear Josh and I were going to talk to you this weekend. Stupid Huckleberry," Maya said as she mumbled the end.

"Don't say that about him!" Riley snapped and Maya backed off.

"Sorry," They said in unison.

"Look, can you forgive me?" Maya asked.

"Yeah," Riley said.

"Can you look at me?" Maya asked.

Riley turned on her side and looked at Maya. Maya's blue eyes were wide and filled with tears. As much as Riley wanted to stay mad, she couldn't. They were best friends. Plus she knew the two were getting serious. She just wasn't ready for all these changes.

"I forgive you Peaches," Riley said and Maya smiled.

"Yay," Maya cheered and Zay laughed.

Both girls turned to him and saw him watching them from the counter with a smile. They all started to laugh when Farkle walked into the room. He was on a call and ended when he saw his friends.

"Good morning Farkle," Riley said and Farkle smiled.

"I hope you two talked things out or it's going to make brunch awkward," Farkle said as Maya rolled her eyes.

"Of course Minkus," Maya said and Farkle smiled.

"Zay are you eating? You know we're going out," Farkle chastised.

"I'm hungry besides Izzy is sleeping, and Lucas is working out," Zay said as he took another bite of food.

"You couldn't wait?" Farkle asked.

"Nope," Zay said with ease.

"Farkle you have to let us pay for something!" Riley said as Farkle waved her off.

"No, it's my treat besides you did all of this for us!" Farkle said and pointed to all the decorations around the room.

Riley smiled which made Farkle smile back at her. They heard a door open and saw Isadora in her pajamas walking toward them. She rubbed her eyes and smiled at her friends. Farkle wrapped his arms around her waist before he placed a kiss on her temple. Riley smiled brightly at the two lovebirds while Maya faked a gag.

"Oh stop it," Zay jokes.

"It's nice to see you two happy," Riley said.

Isadora hid her face, and Riley could tell she was getting uncomfortable with the attention. Farkle fixed Isadora's hair and then looked at Zay.

"Do you know what time Lucas is coming back?" Farkle asked.

"No, he was gone before I woke up. Hopefully, soon, I mean it's already going on an hour," Zay said.

"I'm going to get ready," Riley said, excusing herself to her room to shower and change.

Maya watched her as she walked away with a curious look in her eyes. She wanted to push Riley to talk about Lucas but right now she was on thin ice. Instead, she turned her attention to the love birds and started to bother them.

After Riley changed into a lilac color summer dress, she worked on her hair. Should she let it dry naturally, or blow-dry it? Maybe curl the ends? What would Lucas like? Riley shook those thoughts in her head and decided to let her hair dry naturally. The waves would come out and it wouldn't look like she put so much effort into her looks today. As she applied some lipgloss and figured this was as good as it was going to get.

She walked out of the room to see everyone minus Lucas ready in the living area. Isadora and Farkle had changed into fresh clothes and looked awake. Yet all of their faces had the same look, it was of confusion and pain.

"What's with the long faces?" Riley asked.

"Uh … Lucas left," Zay said.

"He hasn't come back from his run?" Riley asked.

"No he left Riles, he took his stuff and left," Maya said.

"What? No way? Really?" Riley asked.

"Yeah I went to change, and I was going to call him when I noticed his bag was gone. I looked and he took his stuff. He just disappeared. I tried calling him but it keeps going to voicemail," Zay said and showed his phone.

Riley could feel her stomach twist into knots at the thought of Lucas leaving. She couldn't understand why he left? Was it because of their kiss? Then she remembered what he had told her, he dropped out. Something had been going on with him the last few days and she was slowly putting it together. She didn't know what possessed him to do the things he had been doing but she wanted to make sure he was okay.

"I'm going to call him," Riley said and walked back towards her room.

She scrolled through her contacts and landed on Lucas. She pressed the call button and listened to the phone trill. She heard his voice saying to leave a voicemail and she didn't know what to say but tried to string some semblance of words together.

"Hey, it's me. Zay said you left. I don't think you would have left without saying goodbye. Something is wrong. I know it is. Luke you told me about school, you said you love me, and then we had an amazing kiss. What are these signals you're trying to send me? I'm here if you want to talk. Always here. … Call me Luke, please? Okay bye and I hope you're okay," Riley said and hung up the call.

Was the kiss all of a distraction? Did he confess to leaving school and then kissed her to get her mind off of it? Why did he leave school? They were all so close to finishing? Was everything okay at home? Then she realized she should ask Zay to call Lucas's parents. Maybe he had gone home. As Riley stood up and walked towards the door. She tried to calm herself so they wouldn't see her frazzled side.

"Hey he didn't pick up," Riley said as she walked back into the room.

"I'm officially worried if he didn't pick up Sugar's call," Zay said.

"Have you talked to the Friars?" Riley asked.

"Yeah let me give his Mama a call," Zay said as he turned away to make the call.

Riley tucked her leg behind the other and bit her lip. She could feel Maya's gaze and turn to the girl. Maya was studying her and Riley knew she had to calm down or she would end up confessing. Riley placed a false smile on her face for Maya and then looked towards Farkle.

"Where are we going to eat?" Riley asked.

"They have a rooftop restaurant upstairs, our reservation is in ten minutes," Farkle said

"Farkle you didn't have to do all this," Riley said.

"I know Riley but I wanted to show I appreciate you guys and celebrate. Rarely, we get together, why not celebrate with food and drinks?" Farkle said.

"Shh Riles let the rich take us out," Maya joked as Zay turned back around.

"He went home but left, maybe he's coming back here. We should leave a note for him so that he knows where we are at," Zay said as he scribbled on the small hotel notepad.

"Let's get drunk!" Maya said as Zay stuck the note on the back of their door.

The rest of the clique six shuffled out the door, and towards the elevator. Maya was animatedly talking about all the food she was going to eat while Riley remained lost in thought. Lucas had to be underground, on the train. He was going to come back, and then they could talk. She got into the elevator with her friends and she could hear snippets of their conversation. Food, school, relationships. Robotically she followed them out of the elevator and towards a lively rooftop restaurant. Farkle had shown their room key, and they were directed towards a semi-private area.

"Look at that view!" Zay said as Riley could see Central Park blooming with flowers.

"Amazing," Maya added as she sat down.

Riley nodded in agreement and took her seat. She tried to ignore the empty seat next to Zay but it was hard. Riley smiled as the waiter handed them menus and disappeared to get drinks. Riley looked at the menu and looked at the prices, and she looked up to get Maya's attention. The prices were beyond what she had expected to pay but Maya was happily drinking lemon water and looking at the menu. Riley didn't want Farkle to pay for them, he had done so much already. As Riley tried again to get Maya's attention she got Zay's. The two shared the same look, this was far too much for them.

"Farkle, as much as I appreciate you dude, these prices … they're steep," Zay said and Riley nodded.

"Don't worry, my dad prepaid our meals, just enjoy it. Please," Farkle said and grabbed Isadora's hand.

Riley could see that Isadora was now wearing her engagement ring on her hand. A little bit of envy flew in Riley as she watched her two best friends in love. She wasn't envious of them but of what they had. She hoped one day that she too could have a partner who loved her like those two loved one another. After they placed their orders, they segued into conversations about school.

"So how exactly are you getting a Ph.D. chipmunk?" Zay asked as he took a bite of bread.

"It's a five-year program, in year three I can get my Masters before my Ph.D.," Isadora said.

"Five years? Oh, I don't know if I could be in school that long," Maya said which made everyone chuckle.

"I'm thinking about getting my masters in Mental Health counseling," Zay announced.

"Really? That sounds great, how's the dance major going?" Farkle asked.

"Great, I'm a double major now. I decided with my scholarship to take advantage and double. I am now also a psych major, with a minor in cultural anthropology. I want to use dance, and my anthro program to help me become a therapist for adolescents," Zay said.

"It's a lot but it makes sense," Riley said.

"Please don't overwhelm yourself, any of you," Riley said.

"What about you Bubbles? How's school?" Isadora asked.

"Great, I am going to start my student teaching in the fall, and I am really excited," Riley said.

"Can't believe you're turning out like your old man, a teacher!" Zay exclaimed and Riley laughed.

She honestly didn't think that she would be taking after her father but here she was, becoming a teacher. She loved all that she had accomplished so far. She had done two internships, and it demonstrated that this was the right path for her.

"I can't believe it either but I love teaching, I guess I really am Cory with Topanga's hair," Riley giggled.

"We love you for it," Maya said.

"What about Maya? How's the art going? I think I might want to buy a Hart original for my office," Farkle said as Maya playfully rolled her eyes.

"It's going great, I am trying to get this summer internship at an interactive museum, and I have a chance to display some work in a gallery in Chelsea," Maya said as the waiter returned with mimosas and water.

"Yay," Maya giggled as she took her champagne flute.

"I would like to propose a toast," Zay said as everyone grabbed a glass.

"Here is to a lifelong friendship that stays that way, may we keep accomplishing our goals, reach for our dreams, and become the best versions of ourselves," Zay said.

Riley glanced at the empty seat and could feel her stomach turn. Lucas should have been there with them but he wasn't.

"Here, here," Maya cheered and everyone took a sip.

Riley scrambled to drink as well and hoped no one noticed the longing look in her eyes. As soon as they ordered they fell into conversations about school, work, and life. However, to Riley, it didn't feel complete, not without him.

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