Hey guys! I know that I haven't written in a long time. I lost a family member last year and I couldn't write. It was hard to deal with but I am here now. I also couldn't figure out where I was going with this story or any of my stories. After my aunt passed away, I didn't feel like I wanted to write anymore. I hope you guys can forgive me and I am sorry for this semi long author's note. Also, don't worry about JOSHAYA because I am putting them back together. They just have some serious issues to work through. Also, this chapter is pretty short because it is a fill-in for the next couple of chapters but I still hope that you all like it. Anyway, enjoy this chapter and I have to say this... I don't own any of these characters from GMW besides Nia, Casey, and Jess. Luv u guys!

Knock. Knock. Knock. Why do people knock anyway? Riley thought as she knocked for the fourth time before Farkle opened the door.

"Well, you wanted to talk but you can't open the door on time. You better be glad I did not go for the spare key you tell Smackle to use 'in case of emergencies'." Riley walked into the living room where all of her friends was sitting expectantly. Including Charlie ...and Lucas? A frown appeared on her face.

"Why is Lucas here, Farkle? Josh, Maya...what is going on?" Riley took a deep breath before crossing her arms over her chest. With a huff, she sat in the seat that Farkle asked her to sit in. She felt like this was an interrogation or something.

"Riley, a lot has happened. A lot of bad things that we all need to clear up before heading off to college or wherever life takes us. Anyway, things need to be settled today and not a minute later." Farkle said the last part while scanning his eyes towards everyone.

"Well, if we are going to settle things...why is rebound guy still here?" Lucas stated glaring at his ex-girlfriend's 'lover'.

"He is here to give Riley support. Nothing else. Anyway, who wants to go first. Wait, maybe Riley you should just get everything out. The frustrations, etc. All of it." I don't even know where to begin Riley thought as she looked over all of her friends.

"Well, I...I...I. Frankly, I think all of this is just fucked up. Honestly, I guess I deserved everything right. My relationships always end up in disaster. This is honestly stupid! I mean I was...I...I don't know what I was thinking by coming here. See you later." Riley got up to leave but something stopped her. Words.

Words that shouldn't have to leave the mouth of a person who is just starting their lives. An eighteen year old girl who has gone through so much and still suffers much more.

"I have cancer."

Three words and eleven letters that broke Riley's heart.

"Maya, what are you talking about? What kind of cancer?" Smackle broke the silence that evaded the room and walked towards where Maya was sitting in the back crying silently.

"Ovarian cancer. The doctors don't believe it is anything but I won't be able to have children. At least that is what they said. I haven't been back to the doctors in a while. I just couldn't do it anymore...you know." Everyone's eyes turned to Josh who stormed out of the apartment crying. Maya ran after him screaming his name and apologizes to Riley for accidentally knocking into her. Riley had fallen onto the floor. Charlie helped her get up even though Lucas was sending him glares. Riley muttered a thank you but her brain was still spinning.

"Well, that explains everything I guess."

"What are you talking about Farkle? You suspected that Maya was sick." Riley sat back down in her seat, a little in shock but she owed it to Maya to hear this.

"No, but I knew something was wrong. I mean she confronted Lucas about his time with Nia…"

"Wait. Maya didn't confront me about anything. She never knew anything. She told me to not think about cheating on Riley when Nia came to visit the first time because she knew that I wanted to be intimate with you. I know you guys think that Maya was hiding the fact that I was sleeping around a secret, but she wasn't. She was just as clueless as you guys were."

"But when we confronted her, she took the blame. Why?" Zay looked as confused as everyone else did.

"Because I knew that Riley really loved Lucas and I didn't want her to go through what I did. I told Lucas to end the relationship if he had ever hurt Riley to the point of no negotiation. I just wanted everyone together because I don't know how long I have." Maya walked further into the living room and sat on the couch.

"Where's Josh? What happened?" Jess sat next to her while rubbing her back in comfort. Maya choked on her sobs while throwing her head back laughing. "Philadelphia. He left to go home. Said something about how college break started earlier and he needed time to think. I guess I can't blame him. I am still that same weird kid who chase him to some college party. So now you know. Riley, there is no one here to blame. Sometimes love falls apart because of circumstances and boredom. Lucas became bored with the fact that he couldn't keep it in his pants."

"Hey!"

"Well it is true. Josh became bored with the idea of me and my stupidity. Just like everyone in here will be bored in the first couple of months, maybe even years when I die and say things like, "Well we will always remember her. She was tough and talented, but she also loved her friends!" Maya cried at the last part and held onto Jess tighter.

"Is that what you were afraid of? That you were going to die and everyone would forget you. That if you didn't tell Riley about your talk with Lucas about sex, then maybe you all will stay together." Riley looked to Charlie and back to Maya in a daze. Why didn't she ever think of that? Maybe because you didn't know that she was dying!

"Maya, you are right. People do grow apart but they always find someway to come together again. That is what happened to us. We all grew apart. Art club, football, chess, dance club, model u.n., cheer-leading. We all were doing our own things but we managed to stay friends but… That's not how it should be and we are all going to work on it. I promise. We are going to schedule you a doctor's appointment and get our dresses tailored and we are going to make our summer break just spectacular! I promise you that Maya Clutterbucket-Hart-Hunter." Everyone laughed at the last part. Riley stood up and walked over to Lucas after glancing at Charlie who gave her an encouraging smile.

"I am not mad at you guys but I am mad at Lucas. It doesn't mean that I don't want to be your friend because like or not, my friends are your friends so I am officially forgiving you for breaking my heart. Even though I won't forget it. Deal, but it doesn't mean anything. I am not giving you a second chance again. Okay, now deal."

"Deal."

Lucas shook her hand and then pulled her into a hug. A hug that she didn't know that she missed until now. With Charlie, she always had butterflies in her stomach even through their own little brief relationship. With Lucas, it was comfortable. That's it. She didn't know if she wanted butterflies or comfort, but from the look on Charlie's face she knew that she had to make a choice.

Do I go with him to Italy or am I giving Lucas another chance even though I just said I wouldn't? Oh man, Charlie knew her so well. Maybe even more than she did herself.

"Okay, thanks for the awkward hug and now I have to go home to do a whole bunch of fucking makeup work. Yay for me. Thanks guys. Maya, are you coming? I think you should come and talk to my parents. They would want to know. You're like a daughter to them. Come on, peaches. Let me buy you a drink." Maya laughed at the last part and grabbed her coat and said goodbye to everyone. It was their own little joke after they had sneaked vodka and who knows what else into Riley's room for late night sleepovers with Jess and Smackle.

Mrs. Matthews walked downstairs to call up one of her girlfriends to see if they wanted to come over and watch a movie. After Alan died not too long ago, the house just felt too silent. Their outdoors store that she was leaving to Joshua and Maya was closed down for the winter time as she couldn't go up there through the snow. Sometimes Feeny would come by and talk but that was it. She was lonely.

"Hey Ma." The voice choked out in the dimly lit room and a few sobs after it.

"Ahhh! Joshua Gabriel Matthews! What on earth are you doing here? At this time of the year? Is it break already?" It took awhile before she caught her breath but she finally noticed that her son had been crying.

"Oh sweetie, I am sorry for the fuss. Are you okay? What's the matter? Is Cory and Topanga and the children okay? Where's Maya? Riley?"

She looked around for someone else but there wasn't anyone else there. Her son looked like hell on earth. He looked as if someone had ripped his heart out and ate it and then spit it out. She grimaced at that last part and sat down at the kitchen table and rubbed his shoulder.

"Sweetie, what happened?" He wouldn't talk. It was just silence until her phone rang.

"Hello, the Matthews residence."

"Hey ma, it's me Cory. Is Josh there? I'd like to speak to him."

"Sure, is everything alright? He looks very upset and hurt."

"Yeah, I'm sure. They broke up again. You know the situation with Riley, Lucas, and Lucas' ex Nia." Oh, how could she forget. That boy better not come around her grand-baby ever again if he wanted to live.

"Oh, well I will give him the phone. Hey Cor, he doesn't seem okay. Is it just the break up or something else?" Mrs. Matthews knew it was something else. She just couldn't pin point what it was.

"Yeah, it is something else but we'll talk about it later. You remember the doctor that Ms. Clarissa used."

"Yeah, the cancer doctor back in Pittsburgh. Why? Oh my, does someone have cancer!" Mrs. Matthews may have squeaked that out a little too loud because Josh had quickly ran up to his old room and slammed the door.

"Uh, Cor..."

"It's okay, ma. Just tell him to call and could you just give me the doctor's cellular information. Thanks ma."

"No problem, Cor. Did you get it all? Yeah? Okay. Are you sure everything is okay? I will come down with Joshua as soon as possible with other helpful information."

"Thanks, ma. Love ya."

"Love ya, too."

Mrs. Matthews sighed and made her way up to Josh's old room. She knocked on the door and walked inside. She hated to be the kind of mother who didn't give their children their own privacy but by the look on her son's face; she can only put two and two together.

"Do you know how long it has been since you were last here? Five months. Yep. I know I counted but I couldn't help it. You were wearing the most ridiculous sunglasses on..."

"And Maya had on the cutest vest with sunflowers that she regretfully chose to borrow from Riley because she forgot to bring an outfit for the barbecue. I remember ma. Thanks but I don't want to talk about it, yet. I just want some comfort in my old room for the moment, 'kay. Please?" Josh pulled the blanket over his head and sobbed quietly or well he tried. Her heart ached for him. She wished him well as she ordered in Chinese and took out his favorite feel good movie, Good Will Hunting.

Sorry to end on a sour note but I promise Joshaya will be back to being friends and then a relationship. As for Riarlie, well they have to go through Rucas first. Hey, you can't beat out a person's first real love or can you? Well, you guys can decide on that. I hope you guys enjoy and I will try to post on Wednesdays more often. I said I will try okay.

Love you guys and Remember to join your hands together and breath in and just remember that you are in class and should not let out that fart that you have been holding all day. *A wink* get it! ;p