The next morning found Maya and Riley at the train station, Noah had offered to drive Maya home, but the girl was stopping at Shawn's. Noah and Stiles had seen Maya off and were leaving the girls to say goodbye. Maya didn't know what to say so she pulled her best friend into a hug.
"At least you know you'll see me again
this time." Maya rolled her eyes at Riley's attempt to joke
"It's not funny and you know it" Riley
hung her head, mumbling sorry. Maya just shook her
"Does Stiles know yet?" she asked, Riley shook
her head
"No but the sheriff does… I still don't
want to tell Stiles; I couldn't bear his reaction." Maya hung her head
"Look… I know my cousin and I like to
think I would know what he would do, and I think he'd be upset sure but not at
you, just what you've been through." Riley shook her head
"He'd hate me"
"He loves you Riley" at this Riley's head
shot up
"What?" she asked scared. Maya felt pity
on the girl, just a little
"He always had, I don't know if he loves you,
but he definitely holds you up on a pedestal, always has." A silence fell over
them and Riley began fidgeting, Maya sighed
"I don't know what will happen in the
future Riles but he'll never judge you okay?" she said. Riley nodded and
watched as Maya walked away, praying more than anything that one day she'll be
able to believe in peaches again.
It was later in Stiles truck that Riley
seriously considered telling Stiles the rest of her story. When she was about
to Stiles saw a man passed out on the sidewalk, high. The boy snorted
"Pathetic" he snorted. Riley felt her heart plummet
"What's pathetic?" she asked. Stiles nodded to the man
"Just why do people think its acceptable to get in that state? It's disgusting" Riley looked down, her heart hurting. She herself had been one of them 'people' and if Stiles' reaction was anything to go by he would not take the news pleasantly.
"You know that some people fall into circumstances they can't control and drugs can be there only escape" she told him. Stiles said nothing, he just focused on the road. As an uncomfortable silence settled upon the pair. The drove home both wandering how a few sentences had changed their friendship. When the car stopped Riley made a move to go inside the house, but Stiles stopped her
"Look uh… I'm sorry if I seemed insensitive I just… I know it's people that are on stuff that are most lethal… they don't really know what they're doing ya know and that scares me." He looked down; Riley sighed
"It's okay Stiles… I just like to give people the benefit of the doubt" Stiles nodded and let her go.

It was a week later when the party was brought up again to Stiles
"You know you like her, why don't you just ask her out?" Scott asked
"Yeah and she definitely likes you to!" Allison added. Stiles sighed
"Look there are many reasons, for one she is Sixteen and I'm eighteen… isn't that wrong or illegal or something?" Alison laughed
"No and besides it's not like you're having sex is it, you are inviting her to a party!" Stiles still shook his head
"I live with her guys; it would be awkward" he argued. Scott shrugged his shoulders
"Oh well I guess you will just have to go alone… again!" Stiles scowled and threw his hands up in the air.
"Fine! But when she rejects me it's your fault!" he then turned on his heels and marched over to the girl in question.
"Hey Stiles" she said, her smile lighting up Stiles' heart. He stopped and just stared at her, how is it this girl he had known his whole life had slowly captured his attention in a way she never had before.
"Look you really don't have to but there's a party this weekend and I was wandering if you wanted to go with me and you know you really don't have to-"
"Stiles I would love to"
"Like I know we've known each other forever and it wouldn't have to be a date not if you don't… Wait what?" he asked, only just realising she had answered him. Riley laughed
"Of course I'll go with you Stiles… let's call it a friend date for now though" Stiles nodded dumbfounded, he never thought she'd agree. She didn't know half the people at the party, but she still wanted to go.
"You are the best" he said grabbing her shoulder and kissing her cheek before running to his friends
"Guys she said yes!" he screamed, they both laughed at him. Together the trio left for class as Riley shook her head in the background.