Authors note: Sorry for late upload! Got swamped at school. Hopefully it was worth the wait

11:45 pm.

"So, what's going on?" Lucas sat on the corner of Maya's bed. He had come through the front door quietly (refusing to use the fire escape) but he could've been a fire engine and not woken Katy up at this point in the evening. He looked concerned. 'You've done a great job of scaring him. Texting him to come over in the middle of the night, then sitting in a silent ball on your bed. Real suave.'

"I- I'm just kinda freaking out, Lucas." There, that wasn't so hard.

Lucas curled his lips inwards, contemplating the right words to say.

"I guess it must be serious if you called me by my real name." He smiled, and Maya forced herself to laugh along gently. Hopefully he doesn't notice. 'Ah yes, because acting is the one trait you really inherited from Mom.' Fine, no more bullshit. Just tell him what's going on. Just say it. Just. Speak.

"Maya, I'm sorry if you really do just want to be left-"

"I think I'm in love with Riley." The words hung in the air. Lucas's eyes widened. He opened and closed his mouth several times, unsure of how to respond. 'Idiot of the year award goes to… Maya Hart! Congratulations, this is what, fifteen years in a row? Quiet the hot streak.' Maya could feel the hot tears begin to well up and pour from her cheeks. Nope. Nope. Nope. Cannot cry in front of Lucas. Maya spun around and buried her head in the pillow. She drew a shaky breath inwards before being overtaken by sobs.

"Hey hey hey, Maya. Maya. It's okay. It's okay. I'm here for you. I'm here for you. Just breath." Lucas laid down next to her. "Breath. In and out. Everything is going to be alright. Your family and friends are here for you." Maya laughed in spite of herself.

"Oh yeah, I've got mom of the year in the other room right there. She's really got my back. And who else, I've got Farkle, boy genius extraordinaire, I'm sure he really can empathize with being a fucking moron."

"You're not a-" Maya sat up now, a small fire in her eyes.

"Oh no, I'm not stupid. I'm just jeopardizing the Matthews, the only people who ever have given a damn about me, and Riley, my best friend. I keep being distant and cold with her because… Because I can't stop thinking about wanting to kiss her. So excuse me if I didn't want to pull the Texas ranger into my web of crazy. You're a regular friend. I don't really have many of those."

8:00 pm. Riley checked her phone for the fifth time in as many minutes. She had hardly spoken to Maya since school let out that day. She stared out her bay window so distantly that she didn't initially notice Farkle's entrance through it.

"Hey, Riley?" Riley's gaze broke, and she jumped a little as she was pulled back into reality.

"Hey Farkle. What, no 'ladies'?"

"There's only one of you right now, it'd be lady. That's actually why I'm here."

"What's going on?" Distress blossomed like a flower on Riley's face.

"Have you heard from Maya at all?"

"Not really, why?"

"I just stopped by her house, and she seems like she's having a really hard time with something. She wouldn't really say what."

"That's ridiculous. Maya tells me everything. Why wouldn't she tell me what's going on?"

"I don't know. Is there anything she's been avoiding when it comes up in conversation?" At this, Riley blushes slightly.

"Well, I mean she's been kind of changing the topic when I talk about Lucas. Wait, do you think she… likes Lucas?"

"I don't know Riley, but you should go talk to her and sort out whatever this is. If it is Lucas, or something else, it shouldn't come between you guys."

"Well what are we waiting for? Let's go help Maya."

12:00 am.

"So, are you going to tell her?"

"Riley? Yeah, that's rich. She'd probably never speak to me again." Lucas put an arm on Maya's shoulder.

"Maya, she's your best friend, and she's one of the most accepting people we know. You don't have anything to fear."

"I'm just not ready yet, alright?" Lucas pulled his arm back.

"I'm sorry, it's totally your call." Maya stared up at the ceiling. "Thank you."

"Of course, it's totally your decision."

"No, not just that. You're the first person I've told about any of it. It feels really good, to say it out loud."

"I'm glad I can help you." Lucas leaned in and hugged Maya tightly. She rested her head on his shoulder for a minute. She felt exhausted, but she could also finally breath. There was a sense of calm. She wasn't alone. Her arms wrapped around Lucas tighter as she took a deep breath. The city lights in her window twinkled like stars. Then a shadow was cast onto her floor. Maya followed the shadow up and her eyes met Riley's. Maya's face was overcome with surprise. Riley's was consumed in confusion and pain.