FLASH FORWARD, THREE MONTHS

Riley shouldn't be doing this, and she knows it. "This is going to get us in a lot of trouble," she mumbles. "Worse than grounded, I bet."

But how can it be wrong, when she's with him, them? They'd never intentionally get her in trouble, they're family. She trusts them, and they trust her. Her heart feels like it's going a thousand bunny hops a minute, and she's hanging onto their hands, hoping this doesn't bite her in the butt later.

Lucas Friar and Jesus Foster are alike, and maybe that's why she has found herself crushing on him. But crushing on Jude Foster too? Man, Maya would have words to say about this. It made her feel sleazy, especially because both boys were brothers of the other girls, and there was a three year age difference between her and Jesus...just like there was between Josh and Maya.

Was she an awful person or what? She didn't know if she should be liking Jude, considering the others had said he'd just gotten out of a relationship recently with a boy. It was pointless to like a boy who didn't like girls, right? Or maybe he liked both? She'd never had the guts to ask.

All she knew for definite was that he was nice, and her best friend since she'd gotten here. Her mind has been occupied with thoughts of Farkle lately, and Jude...well, he doesn't remind her of him so much as give her the feeling he did: familiarity and comfort. Like she was safe.

And Jesus...he made her heart flip flop, and gives her goosebumps when he touches her. Not that he did ever, really. He gave her hugs before bed sometimes but that's about it.

She and the others are going to be home while Stef and Lena go to a friend's dinner, and honestly? Riley had expected them to propose a party in their absence, but instead they'd all made plans to go out.

Well, almost all of them. Callie would be home, and so would Jude. Mariana was going to see her cousin Adriana, Jesus and Brandon were going to drive around and maybe see a movie. Riley wondered if Callie didn't make plans so she could confront her about Jude; had she picked up on her feelings somehow?

Some sort of sister telepathy or girl empath powers? She didn't think she'd been making it obvious how she felt, but she could be oblivious to a lot of things she did.

"Hey, Riley, can I talk to you?" Callie asked, nodding her head towards the backyard.

With a panicked feeling, she nods, stuttering a little when she says yeah. They go out to the swing, and Riley takes a spot beside her, looking down at her feet. There are butterflies in her belly, and not the good kind.

"Do you always go out to the beach at night?"

The question catches her off guard, and she looks at her with surprise. "Not always, but a lot of the time, why?" Had she seen her sneak out? Or, oh no, what if she followed and saw her sobbing in the ocean like some crazy person?

"Why do you go there, Riley?" It was dark and a lot of weirdos hung out at the beach at night, and she didn't like the idea of her going there. She was a fourteen-year-old naive girl, and could get hurt.

Her answer is instant, "It's peaceful. I love hearing the waves, feeling the cool air. There wasn't a beach in Greenwich, just buildings, and streets." She shrugs, acting like it's no big deal.

"There are a lot of creeps out there, so could you go during the day, maybe? I'll go with, if you want."

Even though she wants to say 'no, I like going at night because it's quiet and peaceful, and I can cry without questioning', she just smiles and nods.

This seems to satisfy Callie, and she pats her head as she gets up. "I'm going to go make something to eat, want to join?" She walks backwards so they are still face to face, and Riley shakes her head. She doesn't have much of an appetite right now.

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