As Riley and Farkle enter Topanga's, Riley's hand brushes lightly against Farkle's. Just as she notices how close they were, they see Maya and Lucas sitting at their usual table at the center.
Riley's eyes fall to the floor, "Farkle, they're right there, what do I do?"
Farkle looks down at her. They share a look and Riley can see his answer in his eyes. Before she even really has a chance to think, she feels a tug on her arm and is being pulled outside of Topanga's.
"Riley, we need to talk," Maya says once they're face to face.
Riley just stares back at her, crossing her arms.
"I know I've been a shitty friend, but it all happened so fast. I wanted to tell you, but you know how it is. Everything that happened between you guys and us…"
"That's it? Is that all you have to say? Maya, you know how much that hurt me. You guys are two of my best friends. I mean, how could you do this me?" Riley throws her hands up in exasperation.
Maya grabs her hand. "Trust me, if I could change how I feel, I would. I hate that I'm the reason you're upset."
Riley yanks her hand back. "Well, just saying sorry isn't gonna fix it this time, Maya. Not anymore."
Riley pushes past Maya's shoulder on the way back inside, spots Farkle, and walks angrily up to him.
"Riles, what hap-,"
Before Farkle can even finish, he's pulled out the door and onto the street by Riley.
"What's going on? What happened?" He presses her with concern apparent in his eyes, as soon as they're out of earshot.
Riley won't answer, so before they are able to cross the street to the next block, Farkle stops her with his hands on her shoulders. "I'm not going anywhere until you tell me what happened. You know you can tell me anything. It's no use keeping it all inside."
She takes a shaky breath. "Everything's fine. I just don't know how to fix this mess. I thought I could talk about my feelings with her, but it just hurts too much. I don't know how to handle it, how do you handle it?"
Farkle slowly shakes his head. "Not like this. You're way too worked up. How about we just do something to let out your pent up frustration."
He takes both of her hands in his and starts walking backwards, pulling her with him. A small smile crosses his face and she feels something warm inside.
He says, "We can't let this day go to waste. Besides, I'm Farkle. I've got a PhD in Riley."
She snorts. "Oh Farkle, what am I gonna do with you?"
He smirks. "What are you gonna do without me?"
At Farkle's penthouse later that evening, Riley and Farkle just finished their latest round of Zombie Destroyers. They'd been playing it for four successive hours. Riley never realized she could have so much fun doing nothing.
"Bet you never thought I would be this good at this game huh Farkley?" Riley raises an eyebrow.
"Riley, you lost every time" Farkle deadpans, although a chuckle slips past his lips.
"Yeah but look at how many kills I got! I'm amazing!"
"I don't know about your kills but I can attest to the amazing part."
She flashes him a genuine smile and shifts closer to him on his bed. "You're the one that's amazing," she says as she pokes him in the chest hard enough to push him backwards.
He shoves her shoulder back playfully, "Ha, sure…"
Riley pushes back even harder, making him fall back on his bed laughing. "I'm serious Farkle."
"No, I am," he grins mischievously. All of a sudden, he jumps up and grabs her waist, flipping her back on the bed and positions him above her. \
**Note from the authors: it's not that kind of story, sorry if that's what u were here for. pedos***
"Farkle! What are you doing!?" Riley exclaims.
Those are his last words before he attacks here, tickling her sides and neck-the areas he knows she's ticklish. Riley starts gasping for air from laughing so hard. Between giggles Riley manages to get out, "Farkle...stop...please...I'm begging you…"
And then, he just stops, leaving their faces only inches away. His arms are on either sides of her head, his body still towering over hers. He looks down at her and Riley for once can't read him. He has this look in his eyes that she's never seen before.
The only thing Farkle can think of is how he has never seen anything more beautiful.
They're breathing hard as they revel in this comforting silence that has enveloped them. It dawns on Riley that she enjoys being this close to Farkle. She's so close, she can see exactly what color his eyes are and begins to make out constellations connecting his freckles.
Without even being aware of it, Riley's hand instinctively reaches out to trace his freckles across his face. She feels her face begin to heat up. Just as she's about to cup his cheek, she's pulled back to reality. She lowers her hand to her side and coughs to clear her throat. "Could I, um, could I get some water, Farkle?"
Farkle has to shake his head to wake up from the world where it's just Riley and him. "Uh, yeah. Yeah, sure."
The second he crawls off the bed and out the door, Riley lets herself relax. She sits up, rubbing her temple anxiously. She likes spending time with Farkle, she's come to realize from all their time together, but could she like him like that? Does she?
The only thing she knew for sure is that she'd rather be with Farkle than her own thoughts because she was scared of where they were going. Pushing off his bed, she walks into the living room to see him on his way back with a glass of water in hand, and plants herself on his living room couch.
"Here you go," he hands her the water.
"Thanks," she replies shakily, realizing her voice sounds weird. She clears her throat.
"Are you okay?"
"Yeah, great," she replies, her voice sounding even more high-pitched than before. She takes a few sips of her water and shivers, suddenly colder without his warmth next to her.
"Wait, are you cold?" he asks.
"A little, but I'm good."
Farkle leaves for a moment. Before Riley can even wonder where he went, she gets a space sweatshirt thrown at her head. She takes it off her head to examine it. "Hey, this is my favorite of your sweatshirts."
"Yeah, mine too," he shrugs. "It's no big deal, just take it."
"Thanks, Farkle," she pulls the sweatshirt over her head and notices that it smells like him. She wishes she didn't.
"So, dinner?"
Riley smiles.
An hour later, his bed is covered in takeout containers and fortune cookie wrappers.
Riley makes a series of unrecognizable noises, noodles hanging out of her mouth.
"Riles, I did not understand one word of what you just said," Farkle remarks, laughing at her.
"I said," she swallows the last of the food in her mouth. "I've been thinking," shoving more lo-mein into her mouth.
"About…?"
Riley swallows again. "Maya. Lucas. Them kissing."
Farkle lifts his eyebrows in surprise.
"I don't like how I handled talking to Maya today. It's been bothering me. I mean I wish they told me, but if it was meant to happen it was meant to happen. How can I not be happy for my best friend? How could I have been so selfish?" She pouts.
He places his hand over hers. "You weren't. You reacted like anyone would. You can't hide your feelings."
"You're right. I'm gonna go talk to her tonight," Riley decides.
They finish up eating and joking around. Finally, it comes time for Riley to face Maya and leave the safety of Farkle's room.
"This was fun." Riley remarks.
"Good luck with Maya. Just say what you feel. You guys will work it out, you always do." Farkle answers.
"Thanks Farkle."
"Tomorrow?" he asks.
"Tomorrow."
She gives him one last grin before walking out of his penthouse and heading to Maya's.
Riley reaches Maya's door and knocks on it three times before it flies open.
"Riley?"
"Maya, we can't go on like this." Maya steps aside so Riley can come in and they walk to her room.
"Yeah, I know honey. That's what I was trying to say earlier."
They both sit down on Maya's bed. It's silent between them and Riley wishes more than anything that this would be over. And that's exactly what she says.
Maya looks at her in surprise. "Me too. I love you and I'm sorry, Huckleberry and I barely
know what's going on ourselves."
"I just wanna say, I thought I acted selfish earlier. But I do wish you told me. It hurt me a lot that I had to find out the way I did. We tell each other everything."
"I didn't know he felt the same way as I did, not until that night. I thought telling you before anything even happened would just make the whole situation worse. And look, it happened anyway. I suck, I know."
"You don't," Riley disputes, "I know it hurts for me right now and things feel weird, but we'll get over this eventually. I just need time."
"I'm glad we're talking again," Maya replies.
"Me too, Peaches."
A smile spreads across both of their faces. A weight feels like it's been lifted off both their shoulders.
"C'mere," Maya hugs her tight and Riley smiles. "Let's never keep anything from each other again."
"Promise?"
"Promise," Maya nods, interlocking their pinkies.
Maya really looks at Riley for the first time since she's been here, and narrows her eyes. "Wait a second. Is that...Minkus' sweatshirt?"
Riley's eyes automatically go wide. She looks down and realizes she's still wearing it. She laughs nervously. "What? Yeah...I just got cold. I was at his house earlier."
"That's his favorite one," Maya comments.
"I know, mine too," Riley shrugs.
Maya knits her eyebrows together. "You know he wouldn't do that for just anyone."
"Yeah…" Riley trails off, "But I guess it's because we're both his girls."
Maya raises an eyebrow. "Sure, whatever helps you sleep at night."
"I'm serious!" she pushes Maya lightly.
"Okay, okay," Maya rolls her eyes, "Hey, walk to school together tomorrow?"
"Sounds perfect."
Riley settles in, talking to Maya about the last week, but a thought pushes at the back of her mind. Why did Farkle give her his sweatshirt anyway? And why did she like it so much?
