FARKLE POV
"I don't know man, I'm just getting bored." Billy told us.
"Bored how?" Zay asked him
"Like I never see her anymore, she cancels on me like all the time and shit. We never have actual deep conversations anymore. I just kinda slowly lost feelings" He explained
"Come on man, Exams are coming up, she's probably just busy." Lucas said
"I don't know. I don't love her anymore. Ya know?" he asked with Zay and Lucas nodding their heads.
"And that's it then? You just wasted each other's time?" I asked, zay kicked me in the chin while Lucas shot me a glare.
"What ?" I said glaring at Zay, rubbing my ankle.
"You can't just drop a bomb like that on her Billy. Try fixing it, talk to her about it or at least wait till after exams to break up with her." I told him
"I guess you're right Minkus" He said slowly
"Of course I'm right!"
"But do what's best for you man, keep yourself happy too," Zay added on
"Yeah, I don't know. I'll talk to her I guess. See you around guys." Billy said walking away to find his girlfriend. As soon as he left Lucas slapped me up the head and said
" what the fuck dude?"I cringed at his tone
"OW, stop abusing me. I haven't done anything"
"Bro, you're projecting. Stop it." Zay said seriously
"Projecting what?" I asked annoyed
"Breakup blues." Lucas replied
"And what the hell is that?"
"A stage that happens post-breakup" Lucas said
"You went through denial, and now you're going through the salty phase where you either hate love or hate those who in your eyes are abusing love." he continued
"Ha. I don't have break up blues." I rolled my eyes. Friggen Lucas took a psychological approach to everything after his Psych class
"Yeah yeah, you're just pissed that a relationship you had for three years broke, you need to learn to be single" Lucas told me
"Four years" I corrected
"You know what you need Farkle? A guy's night. We need to teach you how to be single. Help you find a fling or something. Be your wingman. You're in luck cause you're looking at the best wingman in town" Zay informed me
"I don't want a fling, I'm not salty. I respect Isadora's decision. He can't just lose feelings because she is busy. That's immoral and makes whatever they had unreal." I explained
"Doesn't matter." Zay said while shrugging, Lucas nodding backing Zay up.
"It does matter. Zay if-" I was interrupted by a petite blonde who launched herself into Lucas. He was just as surprised by the gesture as I was but caught her with ease and returned her hug.
"I got a 93 on the chem test!" She exclaimed, before kissing him on the cheek. I don't know if it was me but lately these two have been way more friendly, and not friendly as in they're nice to each other but friendly as in they can't keep their hands off each other.
"Oh wow! Damn, great job shortstack"
"Awh Maya look at you getting A's in AP classes" Zay snickered, as Maya gave him a hug.
"I always knew you could" I told her with a smile, as she wrapped her arms around me.
"Heyy what'd I miss ? why are we all hugging?" Riley asked as she joined us at Zay's locker.
"I got a 93 on my chem test all thanks to huckleberry!" Maya was practically beaming. I don't know why she gets so surprised when she gets in the 90's. She's very smart.
"Thanks to me? This is all you Maya." Lucas said leaning back onto Zay's locker.
"I couldn't have done it without you though"
"Yes, you could've" he said while rolling his eyes
"Honest Maya you're super smart." Riley said nodding
"Soo what'd I interrupt? You boys looked like you had a serious conversation going on." Maya said looking at the three of us.
"Guy talk." Zay said simply gesturing us to start walking to the caf.
"Guy talk?" Riley asked, following in his footsteps.
"Yes, guy talk." Lucas agreed. I rolled my eyes
" They want to have a guy's night so they can -" Zay slapped me up the head this time.
"OW I swear to god someone hit me one m-" I stopped myself after looking at Zay's expression. I looked at him and then the girl's and I realized what I almost said. I feel super guilty not telling Riley about my recent break up. I have come to the rational decision that I shouldn't inform her until I am positive about my feelings.
"Guy talk" I repeated quietly
We all sat down at the table. Lucas and Maya one side, Riley and Zay on the other, I pulled up a chair and seated myself on the end of the table between the guys.
"Is that new?" Riley asked Maya who looked down at her petite wrist. Hanging from it was a beautiful silver bracelet with four delicate looking charms. I saw Lucas crack a small smile at the sight of her charm bracelet.
"Yup. He gave it to me yesterday" she said pointing at Lucas, He nodded.
"Oh yeah! Thanks for reminding me Maya. I got you a charm as well Riles." I watched him reach into his bag and ransack it looking for the charm. He pulled out a small box and handed it over to Riley. She immediately brightened up. Riley liked Lucas. So would it even matter if I did have feelings for her? Riley and Lucas. That's what it's always been. Does that mean it will always be that. She liked him. Anyone could see that. I couldn't help but smile at how her eyes glowed as she looked at the charm.
"Awh Lucas. Thank you! It's so cute"
" It reminded me of you" he replied with a smile.
"Date night's thursday now huh" Zay asked with a laugh as he took out his sandwich
"It wasn't a date, we went to an art gallery and um got dinner." Lucas said while rolling his eyes.
"How is that not a date?" I asked
"Yeah what pair of teenagers just casually decide to go to an art gallery together?" Zay added. I nodded, showing my agreement with him
"You go to art galleries together?" Riley asked, her tone quiet but harsh. Maya sighed
"Yes, only because you, pumpkin, talk about purple cats, zay bashes the artist or tries hitting on them and Farkle tries to find logic in each fucking painting" She said throwing me a glare
"I DON'T UNDERSTAND ABSTRACT! There is no point for it!" I defended as Riley cracked a smile.
"Great to know I'm the last option" Lucas mumbled
"No, i didn't mean it like that. I-" Maya sighed and placed her hand on his knee.
"I like going to the galleries with you, if anything you're my first choice." she reassured him. They looked at each other in silence for a moment.
"Wow, that was kinda nice. Are you- no are you going soft Hart?"He asked her faking shock
"Not at all" She snorted
"Damn first we find out you're a romantic and now you're being, dare I say it. Nice?" Zay asked his eyes growing wide
"Who are you?" I asked before breaking into a laugh with the guys.
"Hahah so funny." she replied
"You all should think about a career in acting." she said sarcastically
"I make a great Pippin." I told her with a wink,she giggled
"So let's get this straight. You both just randomly went out for dinner and a show but you both going out together alone,is not going out together?" Zay asked with a smirk. I knew what he was trying to do. Zay is trying to get them together. To win the bet they have to get together before the beginning of grade 12, if they get together after that I win. Knowing Lucas and Maya they won't admit they're feelings for each other till November at the earliest. I did my math, I know what I'm talking about.
"Well,It wasn't random," Lucas said with a smirk
"Wasn't random for you, completely random for me" Maya corrected with a chuckle, leaning towards him, her hand still on his knee.
"Did you tell them yet?" she shook her head no.
"Tell us what?" Riley asked
"Um well, Shawn proposed to my mom last night," She said a bit shyly, I felt my face lift into a huge smile.
"Oh my god,That's great!" Zay exclaimed
"I am so happy for you Maya, I wish your new family works out " I said, She was beaming and I love seeing her this happy. Riley looked confused.
"You told Lucas before you told me?" I watched as Zay and Lucas shared a look and Maya turned to look at me. I knew why I mean that's not the reaction you would expect from your best friend.
"Well um she never told me. I knew before her, I helped Shawn pick out a ring and was there when he proposed." Lucas said taking his phone out to show us pictures. Riley nodded slowly
"Good for you peaches." She said a bit slovenly. Maya rolled her eyes and leaned back in her chair. We grew silent, it wasn't exactly comfortable but not exactly awkward.
"Not bad," Lucas said breaking the silence, lifting maya's hand off his knee and inspecting the bracelet. She kept her hand on his knee for this long, I can't tell if that's normal behaviour or not.
" So I talked to my dad about the tickets for Texas and he thinks it's a great idea" He told us
"Yeah, and I told my mom and she's glad I'm bringing a friend along, something about not driving her crazy when we're home" Zay supplied, I chuckled. Home for Lucas and Zay will always be Texas, no matter what they say, and how much they love New York.
"Well, I'll have to be like three weeks late, Dad said I can leave the family vacation a week early so I'm there in time for the wedding" Riley said with a sad smile
"Well my family and I are leaving a right after my last Exam." Lucas said
"My last exam is on Wednesday, I have Two on Monday, one on Tuesday and one on wednesday" I told him
"I have both my exams on Monday." He said
"Me too" Maya equipped
"I have two on Tuesday and one Wednesday" Zay said
"Okay, then Maya can stay with my me and my family and Zay and Farkle fly in together on wednesday after your exams."
"That's a good plan." Zay said looking at me, I nodded
"So do I get to meet the wonderful Vanessa who broke little Zay's heart" I said, Maya giggled and Lucas chuckled, Riley remained silent, cracking a small smile.
"Dude, do not test me, I will accidently forget you in the forest and let you die there."
"I'm a genius Zay, if anything you're the one getting lost all I have to do is show u a pretty girl and I could lead you down a well and you wouldn't know." I said with a smirk, he rolled his eyes as Lucas and I shared a high-five.
"I''m going to the library, I have to meet brandon there for a project." Riley announced abruptly as she got up. Maya looked at her with confusion
"You're doing a project with him?"
"Yeah, paired us up in civics. Sorry peaches. Anyway I gotta go." and with that she took her bags and left.
"He still goes to this school?" Zay said with a light chuckle. Riley's words added tension in the air.
"Yeah, he does." Maya said with a sad smile
"I still never got why you guys broke up." I told her
"Yeah, me too." she replied
"I guess things weren't as good as I thought" I saw Lucas shift awkwardly
"You still like him?" Zay asked softly
"Well no, but I miss him. I miss having him around and his smile and his laugh. I miss how he smelt, he was my first everything."
"And that's different than still liking him?" Lucas asked her
"Um I think it is. I mean I don't like him, I don't want to be with him again, but there's something about him I'll always miss no matter what. He was my first, and he was refreshing. He made me happy. I think all in any relationship you miss your ex, sometimes you don't even have to miss the person but the feeling you had with them "
"I get that, like missing memories instead of who made them." Zay said
"exactly"
"Then why'd you break up?" I asked her
"He um, well I, okay you see that."
"Spit it out sugar" Zay said, she sighed
"He told me that it was unfair to him that he liked me more than I liked him, he said that I was with the wrong guy and he couldn't stay with me knowing that he'll always love me more." she said softly with a sad smile
"Fuck him,but like don't actually fuck him that's not what I me, but you know fuck him." Zay told her. I couldn't help but roll my eyes with a smile, maya starts to laugh
"Wow!" Lucas said while shaking his head and chuckling
"Why would he say that? What the hell? How could he possibly know that? You don't think he was right do you?" I asked because well that was similar to what Isadora said to me
"At the time? No I didn't. I was furious. The hardest thing to do is to mourn the loss of someone who is still alive,who you'd have to see around, and I hated that he left me. but I get it. He was sort of my escape. My time away from my family and Riley and everything. He made me just have fun. He wanted serious and I wanted fun."
"And was he right?"
"Yeah Farkle, I guess he was. I liked him. A lot. And he broke my heart whether I choose to admit it or not, but it wasn't going anywhere. I guess in um some ways I was with the wrong guy."
" well at least you're with the right one now" Zay said with a wink as Lucas rolled his eyes
"What? You're with someone? What? Who? How can you be with someone and not tell me? Is he good enough for you?" I asked her
"I'd hope so" Lucas muttered, while Zay laughed
"I'm not with anyone." she said with annoyance
"That's not what Lucas's sister thinks" zay added, I looked at the three with confusion.
"Anyone want to fill me in."
"Yeah, so Maya and are kinda fake dating." Lucas said
"What the hell?"
"Yeah" maya said with a nod
"I needed a date for the wedding and I might have accidently said that she was my date." I nodded slowly before turning to zay
"Oh wow, Zay it doesn't count cause it's not real"
"It's sick that you two have a bet going" Maya said
"Give it time, it will be" Zay said ignoring Maya's comment. Maya scoffed
"No, it will not. Riley's kinda obsessed with him, so don't tell her" Lucas nodded at her statement
"Not for long with Minkus here" Zay said punching me in the shoulder , while Maya and Lucas shared a smile
"I think isadora is wrong"
"Why? I mean you've always said you love Riley" Lucas said
"So i've always said I love Maya. I love them both. Equally."
"So you could love us both equally but differently." Maya said taking a sip of her drink
"What do you mean?"
"I love my mom and I love you but that doesn't mean I love you the same. She's my mom, you're my Farkle.I'd do anything to protect any of you. Love you equally but differently."
"Damn look at Hart go" She threw Zay a stunning smile
"Ugh, I hate feelings" I groaned placing my head on the table. the three snickered
"No one loves them" Lucas said patting my back
"Except maybe Riley" Zay said, I groaned louder as they chuckled
" hey um Farkle" a sweet voice called out from behind me, I looked up and leaned back in my chair
"Hey Amanda" I smiled at the girl from my English class. I heard Zay let a low whistle, causing Maya to start laughing. I sighed
"Ignore them, they're like five." I said leaning over to grab Maya's drink
"How can I help you?" I asked her
"Forget him, How can I help you?" Lucas asked her with a flirty smile. Maya cracked up even more taking a fry off his plate
"God, you guys are such pigs!" She exclaimed. Amanda smiled at him.
"I would take you up on that offer but i\I'm not too sure your girlfriend would like that." She told him
"Touche!" zay said with a chuckle
"I am completely single." he said with a smirk
"Not emotionally" zay said
"Shut up" Lucas replied throwing a fry at him
"And not according to the rumour mill. Um so Farkle I was wondering-"
"If you want my english I gave it Max, and who knows if i'm getting it back" I said interrupting her she bit her lip and smiled
"I don't want your english homework, I can do it myself"
"I-I didn't mean to offend or anything. I know you can do your homework. I'm pretty sure everyone can and you are very smart" I rambled on. She raised an eyebrow her smile only growing
"You know I'm going stop talking right now"
"Okay"
"I'm just going to listen to you talk. That's what I'm going to do" I said nodding
"Oh my god" I heard Zay mutter
"I heard that you were recently single" I chuckled
"I wonder where you heard that from" I said looking at zay while pointing the drink in my hand at him. He took the drink from me and said
"It wasn't me asshole"
"I thought I was going to talk" she said
"And you are cause I'm listening' I said while running a hand through my hair.
"I heard you were single and I was wondering" I opened my mouth to protest because it was too early for me to go out with another girl.
"I'm not asking you out" she said quickly before I could say anything
"I know you're recently single, been together with her forever. I was just wondering if you wanted have some fun?" I chuckled and looked her up and down. Shamelessly checking her out. I liked fun right?
"What kind of fun?" I asked my eyes meeting with her dark green ones. She had a smirk on her lips. She ran a hand through her raven colored hair.
"A party, full of hot people, booze and good music" I smiled at her . I was going to tell her no, parties just weren't my thing.
"Before you say no, you can bring your friends. It might not be your typical crowd but trust me when I say it's going to epic"
"Oh he will be there" Maya told her with a smile
"perfect ! ill text you the details " she said with a smile before walking off
"So what the hell was that Minkus?" Zay asked
"Sorry not used to pretty girls talking to me for something other than homework"
"Should I be offended? " Maya asked, I blew her a kiss to which she grimaced
"So we all going to the party? I mean Riley would be so against it" Zay said.
"Shit, and she'd wonder why we were invited." Maya said
"Well we have to tell her, we keep too much away from her"
"But she wouldn't want to go and might get slightly upset if we go with out her, ditching her on her friday movie night thing." I said
"Don't worry about it, I'll take her to the movies. I still haven't got a chance to talk to her."
"Talk to her about what" Maya asked stuffing salad in her mouth
"Well Farkle wanted me to tell her that I don't like her like that"
"Yeah, I can't even think of her as a potential if my best friend still likes her" I said
"Well, I don't, so go for it man"
"You know Riley asked me if I thought that you two were over, apparently I'm the only acting normal in this group." Zay told us, I rolled my eyes
"What'd you say?" Maya asked
"Nothing, I told her I didn't know. Y'all need to clean all this shit up and tell her "
"Don't you think we know that" I said looking at him
"She's catching on. She thinks there is something you aren't telling her about smackle"
"Well of course she is, she's not stupid. I can't believe you two dragged me into this" Maya grumbled
"You chose to accept." Lucas told her simply. And he was right it was her choice to pretend date him.
"Ugh shut up"Maya said as the bell rang.
RILEY POV
"Maya, can I ask you something?"
"Mhm sure" she mumbled with her mouth full
"Is this outfit too date like?" I asked holding out a pink dress
"Yes, it is. Riley just go with what you're wearing or in sweats hell it's just Lucas for god's sake, and it's not a date."
"I know, but you got changed"
"Because I'm going to a party" she said sitting up in my bed. She looked good, her hair up in a high ponytail, she was wearing a slick black dress with red pumps. Her makeup was smoky and her lipstick was dark red and popped up against her pale skin. She looked hot.
"I guess that's logical" I flopped down next to her
"Maya?"
"Yes" she asked still facing her computer screen where she was watching old reruns of F.R.I.E.N.D.S
"I'm scared."
"Of what honey?" she asked facing me
"I think a lot of things are going to change, and I don't know if it'll be good." She looked down at her hands.
"Riley, things change all the time, there isn't time to decide if it's good or not. Sometimes you just have to believe it is good and move on."
"This summer is going to be different, what if it changes us, and our friends?
"Nothing would get in between us, and the guys? You don't have to worry about them, I don't doubt that they're here for the long run. And if not, what can you do. People come and go, in the end it's just what they did to change your story that matters."
"Sure. you have a point. Speaking of the guys, I think Zay might like me."
"What?" Maya asked with a laugh
"Oh wait, you're serious. Why? Why would you think that?"
"One, why would it be surprising to like me? I'm great. And um I was talking to him about Lucas and how I think we're over you know. For good."
"Why do you think that?" I looked at her and I couldn't tell her because I suspect that he might like her. I couldn't let her think that I think that she would ever betray because she wouldn't. She would never go after Lucas.
" Let's say it's a feeling"
"Maybe you should talk to him about the feeling, let him know. Do it tonight! It'll be just you guys." she said a bit too enthusiastically
"Yeah, I guess, but like I was saying I was talking to Zay and he said something like the right person you need is right in front of you. And he was the only person with me!"
"Oh sweetie I don't think Zay likes you, he was probably just referring to someone he knows"
"That doesn't make sense, no one was near us"
"He probably meant it hypothetically you know like when people say right under your nose" I nodded slowly, why was she so against zay liking me? Did she like him?
" So anyway party with Amanda Luchigo?" I asked with slight confusion, effectively changing the subject
"Farkle got invited and didn't want to go alone. Apparently she's in his english and I have a feeling she might like him" Maya said with a smirk
"Well sure what's not to like, small problem he has a girlfriend. Poor Amanda isn't getting lucky" I said with a giggle
"That's for sure and even if he was single, Amanda and Farkle? No way."
"Honestly!I hope he and smackle are okay, they were like the definition of love"
"Yeah but definitions change" she said with an awkward laugh
"No, I don't think so. If whatever you had was real it doesn't just end."
"It sometimes does sweetie, you can love someone and not be in love with them"
"But you still love them and you don't hurt the ones you love. ever."
MAYA POV
The party was loud and hectic, The air tainted with the smell of weed,booze and sweat. I loved it, I watched as my classmates danced and made out with each other, I dragged Farkle onto the dance floor and i danced with him, It was fun, I was having fun until i heard someone call out my name.
"Maya?" I cringed,I knew who the voice belonged to, and even through the loud music and chanting, his voice was crystal clear.I haven't seen him let alone heard from him in a while. I turned around to face him, He looked good, his dark hair concealed with a black beanie, His ripped jeans matched with a band t-shirt. HIs blue eyes were still piercing with a playful sparkle to them.
"Maya." He repeated
"Yes, Brandon?"