Riley P.O.V.

I woke up the next morning, eager to put yesterday's homecoming surprise out of my mind. Today I was supposed to go apartment hunting with Maya. I was a little nervous. I hadn't spent any real time with Maya since I left for college.

It wasn't as if she wasn't still my sister. I still talked to her constantly while I was in California. But our relationship did shift after the events of high school and there was still a lot Maya didn't know.

If I was being honest, however, most if not all that Maya didn't know about had to do with Lucas. We had certainly come a long way, but it still felt weird to talk about Lucas to Maya. We both tried to avoid the subject altogether. For me it was discomfort, for Maya it was probably guilt.

My phone interrupted my thoughts. It was Evan. Instantly brightening my mood, I picked up the phone

"Good Morning Riles. I hope you slept well" Evan said.

"Yeah, I slept okay, it's weird being back in my childhood room. It brings back so many memories." I confessed. With Evan there was nothing he didn't know, he knew it all and despite all of it, he stayed.

"I know last night was rough for you Riley. I know how strong you are, don't feel like you have to prove anything by coming back. If you want to go back to California at the end of the summer, that's okay too." Evan responded.

"I like being home, Evan. I missed my parents, Auggie and just New York in general. This is home." I whispered. "Plus, I'm already looking for apartments today."

I knew that Evan was just trying to comfort me, but I also knew part of the reason he said what he did was because he was hoping that I would return to California with him at the end of summer. And while I loved Evan a lot I couldn't put myself in a situation where I was deciding where to live solely because of a boy. I couldn't do it with Lucas, and I wouldn't do it with Evan.

"Okay enough with the heavy. I know you're apartment hunting with Maya today. Do you want to grab breakfast beforehand?" Evan asked, quickly changing the subject.

"Sure, I'll just tell Maya to meet me at the Bakery." I responded, eager to start a new day.

I got ready, just in time to hear my Dad opening the door for Evan. I hurried towards the living room.

"Hi, Sir. It's good to see you again." Evan said, extending his hand to shake Cory's.

Cory ignored the hand, simply shaking his head and muttering "I guess I really gotta get use to this new guy…"

"Dad!" I scolded. My dad had met Evan before. My dad knew about Evan and even met him briefly during graduation but my Dad would always be…well my Dad.

"Let's go Evan!" I said, grabbing his hand and walking out the door.

"Your dad really doesn't like me huh?" Evan asked, bemused.

"Don't take it personally Evan, you could be prince charming and my Dad would still believe you were his sworn nemesis, put on this earth solely to destroy him." I chuckled, while adding mentally, that he was still probably upset at what Lucas had put me through.

We walked over to the bakery, Evan filling me in on how his grandparents were doing.

As we approached the front door of the bakery, I instantly froze.

"Riles? Is everything okay?" Evan questioned, following my gaze to the boys filling one of the tables in the bakery. There sat Farkle, Zay, and Lucas.

"C'mon Riles. You guys are in the same group of friends, you'll have to face each other eventually. I'll be right here." Evan encouraged, holding my hand and leading me into the bakery.

As soon as we stepped in, I locked eyes with Lucas, causing him to stand abruptly as we approached the table

"Not again." Zay muttered.

"Hey, guys. Do you mind if we join you?" Evan asked cheerfully, making me grateful that I didn't have to start the conversation.

"Yeah. You can take my place, I was just leaving." Lucas answered tersely, while still looking at me.

"C'mon man you can't do this all summer." Zay spoke up. Ignoring Zay, Lucas continued towards the door.

I followed after him, stopping him as he opened the door. "Lucas, c'mon we have to talk. I don't like this. Just stay, please?" I pleaded

His gaze softened a little and I took my chance, "We're going to be around each other possibly for the rest of our lives, we have the same friends. I just…I want us want us to be friends." I continued

And just like that the moment was over, "Yeah. That's the problem." Lucas responded quietly before quickly turning back towards the door and running into Maya in the process

"Hey Huckleber—". Lucas was gone before Maya could finish her sentence. "OK! Good morning to you too" Maya yelled after him

Stepping into the bakery and taking a look at everyone's expression, Maya grumbled, "Aw man! I missed Round 2, didn't I?"

"Not much. Just that Lucas can't stand the sight of Riley or Evan or both" Zay joked, instantly shutting up when Farkle shot him a look.

"Maybe he has more imaginary classes to attend to." Maya joined in. I knew they were trying to ease the tension, but nothing could ease the immense guilt I felt. I didn't want Lucas to feel as if he couldn't be around our friends just because I was there.

"C'mon Riles, grab a bagel and let's get this show on the road." Maya added. I looked over to Evan.

"You go on Riley, I'll be fine here. Have fun!" Evan encouraged, cheerfully.

"Don't worry Cotton Candy Face, we'll take good care of him" Zay smiled innocently.

A few hours later

"I can't look at another apartment, I'll fall into a year long depression. Everything is either too expensive or its cheap and I just have to give up the burden of my dignity to live there." I groaned.

"Don't give up yet, Riles. There's still one place I want to show you." Maya said, smiling eerily.

"Where?"

"It's a surprise!" Maya responded, leading me down an unfamiliar street.

After a few moments of walking, Maya stopped and turned to me, "Okay close your eyes!"

"Maya, if I did something to make you angry, I'm sorry. But killing me isn't the answer." I half-joked.

"Riley if I was going to kill, I'd be way more creative than this. Please give me some credit" Maya mocked. "Now up the stairs, careful my clumsy little bird."

I walked slowly, holding onto Maya's hand. We walked up some stairs, and into an elevator. The elevator stopped, and we stepped out, walking down what I assumed was a hallway.

Maya wrestled some keys out of her purse and opened the door, "WE'RE HERE!" she yelled, triumphantly

I opened my eyes, and we were inside a tiny but cozy apartment. I instantly recognized it as Maya's from the pictures she had sent me in the past.

"My roommate is moving out in two weeks. And I could use a new roommate…" Maya said hesitantly.

"Before you say no, hear me out. I know things are better between us but they're still some things to work out…some things we won't talk about…and I'm not asking us to go back to being completely co-dependent but I hate the idea that there could still be secrets between us…"Maya rambled.

Honestly the idea of living with Maya sounded great. It was something we always discussed when we were younger. And it felt good to know that even after all we'd be through, Maya still liked the idea of living with me as much as I liked the idea of living with her.

And I felt confident that our time apart in college had taught us how to be in each other's lives without being so co-dependent. We could definitely live together and still grow as individuals. But I wasn't sure if I was ready to divulge all of my secrets…especially about Lucas.

As if reading my mind, Maya continued, "I'm not asking you to divulge every secret Riles. I guess what I'm trying to say is that before we start this new chapter in our lives. I want you to know everything…I don't want the past to keep coming back to haunt us."

"What is it Maya?" I asked, my blood running cold.

"Riles, after the party senior year. You know how Lucas and I kissed?" Maya asked, tentatively

"Yeah…"

"Well we kissed and then we went back to his house…and we almost went all the way…like the all the way…But we didn't, I swear." Maya finished quickly, barely speaking above a whisper

"Is that it?" I asked, relieved. The news certainly surprised me. The content of what she was saying should have angered me. But I wasn't angry at Maya.

I couldn't be angry at Maya. She was trying to show me her growth. This wasn't something she could have dropped in an email or phone call while we were thousands of miles apart trying to heal after high school. Maybe she felt like the timing was never right, maybe she didn't have the opportunity to tell me, but there was certainly one person that had more than enough opportunities to tell me: Lucas.

Maya was still looking at me in shock. It was obvious, she expected me to get angry. It made me even prouder of how far we'd come. She knew that there was a chance I would get upset, stop talking to her and walk out. But she took the risk anyway.

"How do you feel like introducing our new status as roommates at Zay's apartment? Do you know where he lives?" I asked abruptly.

A few moments later we were standing outside of Zay's apartment.

"You know Riley, I'm really glad that we're going to be roommates, but I can't believe our first act as roommates is murder. "Maya whispered excitedly.

"We're not going to murder anyone Peaches." I responded rolling my eyes and lifting my hand to knock on the door.

A few seconds later, Zay appeared at the door. "Maya? Riley? What brings you to casa Zay?"

"Riley is totally going to neuter Huckleberry" Maya yelled, her excitement taking over.

Ignoring both of them, I asked, "Is Lucas home?"

"Yeah…he's in his room. Wha—" I pushed past him, not letting him finish his sentence. I had a mission

I went down the hallway, letting my anger fuel my courage. I stopped outside of his door, before pushing the room door open.

"You have some nerve!" I started, not taking a second to notice if Lucas was decent or awake or even actually in the room.

"Riley! What the hell?" Lucas jumped up completely caught off guard.

But that didn't deter me, "You have some nerve! You're upset that I didn't tell you about Evan, I get it. But you've been keeping some things to yourself, haven't you? I said, practically yelling. "Oh Riley, I want to start a new, I want you to know everything." I fake mocked him., "You're so full of shit!"

"Riley, calm down. Nice to see you too, by the way. It's been so long" Lucas responded sarcastically

"Oh shut-up. We haven't spoken because every time I come into the room you take off like I've kicked your dog or something!" I sputtered out. I didn't want him to be cute right now. We were fighting.

"I think we if we go back far enough, it's you that stopped talking to me first." Lucas retorted

"That's not what I'm here to talk about, Lucas!"

"Then what is it, Riles? Why did you just barge in here, yelling at me and without knocking might I add. I could have been…indecent." Lucas responded, still attempting to be cute.

"Oh please, it wouldn't be anything I haven't seen before" I replied, automatically. My eyes widened, realizing just a second too late what I had just said.

Immediately after the words left my mouth, Zay yelled from the other side of the door, "OH-MY-GOD I THINK COTTON CANDY FACE HAS SEEN LUCAS NAKED BEFORE", followed by the sound of Maya smacking him.

Lucas walked past me, a smirk on his face, and opened the door, "Guys, do you mind giving Riley and I a second?"

"Oh wow, we didn't even realize…how did we get here? I just…is this not the bathroom?" Maya scrambled to come up with an excuse, "ok yeah we'll be in the living room."

Lucas closed the door and turned to face me. "So, what pray tell have I been keeping from you?"

"Do you remember the end of sophomore year of college? When—"

"Yeah, Riles. I remember you don't have to remind me." Lucas interrupted, looking down at the floor.

"Ok. That night you told me that it was your first time. That you had never wanted to go all the way with anyone other than me? Well, I spoke to Maya earlier today and she told me you guys almost had sex senior year, so you obviously have wanted that experience with someone else…with Maya." I said quietly, realizing for the first time what Maya's confession actually meant.

"Whatever that's not the point. The point is that we've both kept things from each other. So, if I can get past you keeping that from me, can you get past the Evan thing? He's really nice, I think you'd really like him" I finished, clearing my throat, trying to cast any emotion out of my voice.

"Is that all Riley?" Lucas scoffed.

"Lucas…"

"I think you should go." Lucas said, opening the door.

"Okay. But we you can't stay mad at me forever. We…You mean too much to me." I finished, before exiting the room.

I walked towards the living room and grabbed Maya's arm. "I'm ready to go Peaches. I'll see you at Farkle's party Zay. I said quickly.

We exit the apartment and the building in silence. The warm breeze greets us, and I feel like I can breathe easier than I could in Lucas's room.

After a few moments, Maya stops me and turns to ask, "Riley, what's going on?"