The doorbell rings and Riley rushes to answer it, knowing who it is.

"Long time no see," Farkle smirks.

"Yeah right, yesterday was so long ago" Riley jokes.

Topanga looks over, "Oh good, just in time. I just finished making dinner"

Cory suddenly runs into the kitchen, hearing the conversation. "DID SOMEONE SAY FOOD?"

Auggie skips in behind him and sits down. "IM READY IM READY IM READY!"

Topanga laughs. "You're definitely your father's boy."

Riley looks back at Farkle, shakes her head, and laughs before pulling his arm and dragging him to the table.

They eat for a couple of minutes, making mindless smalltalk about school, before the conversation shifts.

Riley looks around the table realizing how much she missed being with everyone she loves, "I feel like it's been forever since we've all eaten together like this."

"It has been awhile," Topanga replies.

"Yeah, Riley, do you even live here anymore?" Cory quirks an eyebrow. "You've been at the Minkus' nearly every night this week. The most I see you is in class."

Riley shrugs.

"Yeah, I'm gonna have to start charging her rent," he nudges her playfully.

Riley smiles at him.

Topanga cocks her head and adds, "Speaking of, how are your parents Farkle?"

Farkle stiffens and puts his fork down before answering. Riley gives him a concerned glance, knowing that his parents have been arguing more than usual.

She's been afraid to talk to him about it so far, but she's noticed his parents are never home at the same time and rarely interact in front of her.

"Um-," Farkle stutters, coughing.

Farkle wipes his hands nervously on his jeans and Riley places her hand over his for support under the table.

Farkle starts again, "I actually don't really know. I haven't been able to see them much recently. They're just busy with work and stuff."

"Oh okay, tell them Cory and I said we should catch up sometime," Topanga says.

"Will do," Farkle nods, his posture relaxing.

"Oh, I remember you guys mentioned that party your parents were having. How did it go? I'm surprised Minkus was able to stop working to have a little fun."

Riley deflates, remembering the events she tried so hard to forget this past week. Avoiding Maya and Lucas at school and the subject altogether made it easy to forget what she saw that day, but now all she could do was remember. She felt like total and utter shit.

And Farkle noticed.

He quickly answered before her parents could push even further. "It was the same old. Dancing, talking, doing what teenagers do. Anyways, Auggie, how's Ava doing?"

Riley realizes as he's speaking that she never let go of his hand and squeezes his it out of gratefulness for changing the subject.

She stays quiet the rest of dinner, but could feel Farkle's gaze from the corner of her eye. She didn't look back at him but never let go of his hand.

—-

"It was nice seeing your parents again. I really missed Auggie," Farkle comments, lying on her bed a while after they washed the dishes.

Riley smiles but it didn't quite reach her eyes.

Farkle sits up abruptly and turns to face her, looking her in the eyes intently. "Riles, did you really think I wouldn't notice that you're upset. Please talk to me."

Just as Riley's about to answer, her phone goes off. She closes her eyes, praying it isn't Maya, but it's too late. Farkle's already seen her name flash across her phone screen.

Farkle grips her shoulder. "Riley, how long are you gonna avoid Maya? You guys have been best friends for as long as I've known you. Would you really give up your friendship over this one thing?"

Riley sighs deeply. "Farkle, you don't understand."

"I think I do." Letting his arm fall off her shoulder.

"It was betrayal!"

"It was just miscommunication," he tells her.

"Was it? Because there was no communication. Maya could've talked to me. Lucas could've talked to me. But they didn't even try," Riley throws her arms up, exasperated.

Riley starts to feel her heart race and her eyes prickle with tears.

"You know Maya. Would she really do this to purposely hurt you? You're only hurting yourself by not talking to them about it."

Riley turns away from Farkle and looks out her window instead. "Farkle, I thought you were on my side."

He sees her shoulders shake and watches her wipe away tears on her cheeks. It kills him to see her like this.

He scoots closer to her. "I'm always on your side."

She twists her body to face him and he hesitantly wipes away some of her stray tears.

"Look," he continues, "I'm here for you whether you're ready to talk to them or not. I just want things to be okay between you guys. I'm sorry it seemed like I was against you. I want to help you. Anything you need."

Riley took a deep breath. "I just want to be here with you right now," she whispers. "I don't want to think about what happened with the others, at least not tonight."

"Okay, so...Star Wars?" He asks, a smile playing on his face.

That smile spreads to Riley's face. She nudges him, "You know me well."

"As long as it's Empire Strikes Back, I'm in," he replies, pulling her laptop off her nightstand.

Farkle and Riley settle into their normal movie positions, with her head resting on his chest.

—-

Halfway through the movie, Riley stops playing with his hands and sits up to look at him in the eyes.

As soon as she drops his hand, he asks, "What's wrong?"

"Nothing," she looks down and then back up, "I'm just grateful to have someone like you. And I wanted to thank you for this week. I don't know what I would've done if you weren't there for me."

"Come here," he wraps his arms around her tightly.

She settles into the hug and sighs in his embrace, tucking her face into his neck. He holds her close for a few moments before sitting back to watch the rest of the movie.

Riley rests her head back on his chest and quickly glances up at him. He looks so focused on the movie and some part of her finds it strangely endearing.

As her eyes flick back over to the screen, she wishes she could stay in this moment forever, with him.