Chapter 4
Maya jumped off the bed in excitement and threw her arms around Riley. "No peaches, I'm not ok, I'm fucking thrilled. Farkle, Zay, me, we all knew you weren't over him, now that you got it out in the open, maybe you can finally truly get over him and be happy". "Wait", Maya paused, "was he nice about it at least, cause otherwise I'll kick his ass. Ranger Rick may be many things but I always assumed he would be a gentleman".
"Maya, calm down" Riley responded, "yes he was a gentleman, but no, I won't be getting over him because he isn't over me either. We are dating again." "Wait, why didn't anyone say anything to me, and why did you assume Lucas wouldn't love me back"? Maya looked embarrassed, "We didn't want to interfere, it's your life. As for Lucas, I just assumed since he's been kind of a man whore the last few years that was what he wanted to be. Anyone can look at you and know you're not disposable, that you deserve to be treated like a princess". "Wait", Maya looked sideways at Riley, "just what did you guys do in there besides talk, I know you said he was a gentleman, but I don't see Matthews getting that mad about a conversation, even if you did break the rules and go into a boy's room to do it".
"Maya", Riley said aloof, "my dad doesn't know what we did or didn't do; he just knows that Lucas was respectful, why should I tell you"? Maya giggled and grabbed Riley, pulling her down to the bed. "Peaches", Maya said, "start talking". Riley tried to blow it off, "we just made out a little, ok a lot, and maybe a little more than making out". Maya looked at her in awe, "I'm just going to ask you one question, did you have sex"? "Maya", Riley responded shocked, "of course not, we just got back together"! "OK", Maya noted, "so let me get this right, you fooled around, probably a lot more than you are telling me because you have a very guilty grin on your face, but you stopped him before you actually had sex, sound about right?" Riley blushed and stared down at her shoes, "everything except I stopped him, you have it backwards", she mumbled. "Holy shit!" Maya exclaimed, "Ranger Rick called things off, wow respect to the cowboy". Riley started laughing, "Maya, can I ask you something serious, Andrew was your first right?" "You know he was" Maya answered, "I told you so". "So how did you know he was the one", Riley asked, "was it just because you had been together longer than your past relationships, or was there a reason". Maya glanced at her knowingly, "It's probably the same reason you think Lucas is the one, Andrew was interested in more than what was between my legs, he was willing to wait, even wanted to. The scum bags I dated before probably wouldn't have waited for me to get my clothes all the way off if I had let them". "Good" was all Riley said as she smiled at her best friend.
A few minutes later, Maya and Riley made their way to the dining room for dinner, joining a table with Farkle, Isadora, and Andrew. Riley's face lit up as she saw Lucas start to walk their way, only to be waylaid by her father who pointed to the other side of the room. Disappointed, she turned to the empty chair, just in time for Zay to slide into it. "What's the matter sugar", he asked, you don't look happy to see me." "It's not you Zay", Riley reassured him, "I was just thinking of someone else, that's all". "Really", Zay drawled, "and who might that be that you would want to see more than me"? As Riley blushed, Maya couldn't stand it anymore "she was looking for Lucas; he was on his way here, but Matthews cock-blocked him". "Maya Penelope Hunter!" Riley exploded. Zay looked confused and also a little devious. "Wait a minute", he asked, "we'll get back to Maya's language and Riley middle-naming you in a minute, why would Riley's dad be keeping them apart?" Everyone stared at Riley as she blushed. Maya started to laugh "tell them peaches or I will". "Fine", Riley huffed, "not that it is anyone's business, but Lucas and I got back together this afternoon". Farkle looked confused, "but Mr. Matthews has always liked Lucas, you're 17 years old, it's not like you haven't had other boyfriends, why would he care?" "Because Matthews caught Riley coming out of Ranger Rick's room" Maya blurted. "Maya!" Riley hissed. She looked up to face her friends, "sadly she is right, so we might as well enjoy the rest of the weekend, because I am probably grounded until eternity, and God knows my dad will never let Lucas through the front door again". "Guess he'll just have to use the window like the rest of us" Maya sing-songed, causing everyone to laugh.
Riley's predication came true, even though there were nearly 100 students on the trip, for the next day and a half, her dad seemed to act like his mission was to keep her and Lucas separated. She did have fun though, she even let Andrew talk her into the bunny hill a few times, making it twice without falling. She was never cold either, since she blushed from head to toe every time she felt Lucas staring, which seemed like always. Sunday afternoon they were back on the bus, Riley sitting with Maya, while Lucas sat three rows behind her with Zay, which was the closest Mr. Matthews would let him get. He also personally steered Riley off the bus and towards the subway, she didn't even get a chance to say goodbye to Maya. It was a long subway ride; her dad didn't say one word from the bus to the apartment front door.