Chapter 6

It was the second to last night of the cruise as Riley and her dad stood on the top deck of the ship watching the sun go down. "Well princess, did you have a good time" Cory asked. "I really did" Riley replied, "the ship is amazing, the teen clubs were fun, the food and the waiter fantastic, I mean the rooms are small and seriously lack plug-ins, but you can't have everything. Oh, and parasailing in St Marten and seeing the sea turtle when we were snorkeling in St Thomas are definitely the two coolest things I've ever done. Thank you for giving me my phone back, the pictures and video turned out great". Cory shrugged, "yeah, well, you can't get into too much trouble with it, there's no service on the boat. Besides, I think it might be about time to return it to you permanently, when we get back to New York, grounding is over". "Really?" Riley squealed in excitement. "With a couple of conditions" Cory rushed in, "if Lucas wants to see you, he needs to come to the front door, you two will not be hanging out in your room alone". Riley looked up at him, "so does that rule pertain to everyone or just Lucas?" "Please", Cory scoffed, "like I could keep Maya from coming in the window even if I wanted to".

Riley laughed and laid her head on Cory's shoulder. "So if Lucas and I want to go out, that's allowed too right, he just needs to pick me up at the front door?" Cory sighed, "yes, it's allowed, as long you tell us where you are going and you are back by 10". "Dad!" Riley protested, "my curfew is 11, you've haven't made me come back from a date by 10 in years". "Yeah, well, Lucas is different" Cory responded. "Why?" Riley challenged. Cory took a minute to look his daughter in the eye before quietly answering, "Riley, come on, you know you never really had feelings for those other guys, but you definitely have feelings for Lucas, it's obvious anytime I see you, even when you two are trying to hide in the hallways at school. Lucas is the one, the one that could break your heart, or if he doesn't, will break mine." Riley looked confused, "Lucas wouldn't hurt me, and how could he break your heart?" Cory regarded her sadly "by taking you away from me". "Oh" Riley replied, "don't worry dad, I'm not going anywhere". The two fell silent as they continued to watch the sun go down.

As soon as Riley was through customs, she was texting Maya, Lucas, Farkle, Isadora, and Zay. "Grounding is OVER, who wants to get out of their apartment tonight?"

The responses came fast and furious:

Maya: "I'm in, be at your place in 20 minutes."

Riley: "Make it an hour; we aren't even on the way home yet."

Farkle: "Sounds good, Isadora and I are in"

Zay: "You know I'll be there sugar".

Lucas: "My flight doesn't even leave for another hour, won't be in until late".

Riley switched to a private message for Lucas. "Don't worry, I'd rather see you one on one anyway. Can you come over tomorrow night? COME TO THE FRONT DOOR".

Lucas: "Of course baby, can't wait to see you".

Riley: "Miss you and love you, want to go to Topanga's tomorrow night?"

Lucas: "Absolutely, pick you up at 6, love you."

Riley arrived home to find Maya waiting outside of her window. "Maya, I told you we wouldn't be back for an hour" she exclaimed as she opened the window. "I know" Maya replied, "I'm just so happy to celebrate your freedom". Riley laughed and began to show Maya cruise pictures until Farkle, Isadora, and Zay arrived. "OK sugar" Zay said as he walked in her door to find everyone else in the window seat, "now that all the impolite people have arrived, what did you have in mind"? "I don't care" Riley answered, "I just want to see the world outside my window again". "Movie?" Farkle suggested. "Sounds great" Zay replied, "as long as you promise not to ruin the ending". Riley quickly informed her parents where they were headed as she and her friends left to celebrate her first day of freedom.

The next night Riley waited impatiently on her couch starting at 5:00 hoping that Lucas would arrive soon, but also hoping her mom would get home before he got there. Cory was hanging out in the kitchen "grading papers" but really pacing and waiting for Lucas to arrive so he could grill him. Topanga came in at 5:45 with Lucas in tow. "Look who I bumped into in the lobby", Topanga exclaimed, "Cory calm down, they are just going to Topanga's, and he knows to have Riley back by 10". "Topanga's hmm", Cory said as he began to gather his papers, "you know, I like to grade papers there, I think I will go down as well." "Cory, sit" Topanga said sternly as she pointed at a kitchen chair, "you two, go, have fun, don't be late". Riley grabbed Lucas' hand and rushed out the door, but he was careful to wait until the elevator doors closed before grabbing her and pulling her in for a passionate kiss.

As they walked hand in hand into Topanga's, Lucas turned to Riley "so tell me, our first official date since we got back together, why did you pick a place that is downstairs from your parents". Riley returned his gaze boldly. "Because this is a great place to talk, and I realized that was what I missed most about you, we haven't really talked in four years, and I wanted to catch up. Tell me about Texas". The couple found seats and ordered, and then Lucas started to talk about his trip last week, and then about his previous trips, the death of Pappy Joe and his father's ownership stake in the ranch, about school, sports, and everything else he had been involved in recently. Riley talked about the cruise, her summer trips to DC to visit her uncle Eric, school, and even events with Maya that Lucas wasn't up to date with. Neither one of them discussed any of their past relationships, not because they were hiding anything, but neither one even considered them. At 9:45, hours after they paid their check, Riley received a text from Topanga "15 minute warning". "Oh Geez" Riley exclaimed, we've been talking for 4 hours, I can't believe they didn't nudge us out of here already, I'd better go". Lucas grabbed her hand firmly, "this was the best night I've had in a really long time, come on, I'll take you home". As Riley protested that it wasn't necessary, the two took the elevator upstairs to her apartment and through the front door, still hand in hand. Cory was in the living room, staring at the door. "So Mr. Friar" he asked as soon as they came in, "you got her home on time, did you have a good time with my daughter?" "Yes sir, I did, Riley I will see you tomorrow" Lucas replied squeezing her hand. As Lucas opened the door to leave, Riley came up to him, enveloping him in a hug and a quick kiss before shutting the door. She then turned to her father with a "deal with it" look on her face before heading to her room for bed. The text from Lucas came as soon as she made it to her room.

Lucas: "So that goodbye must have gone over well."

Riley: "Don't know, didn't stay to find out, you are my boyfriend and I love you, dad will have to learn to deal with it."

Lucas: "I love you too, can't wait to see you tomorrow. Goodnight."