A/N: To Guest, thank you! Here's that update: Part Two of the Resolution xD Sorry if this chapter has grammar errors. I was rushing because I have so many ideas I want to get out~

Chapter 12

Farkle. I need to talk to Farkle. He's the only person I know who is close to Riley. Maybe she told him about us. Or if not, I'm sure he can guess.

The problem is that I haven't spoken to him in a long time. I have no idea where he spends his time, nor do I know where his classes are. There's only one person to ask, but I know the consequences of doing so. Is it worth it? I don't know, which saddens me. I used to say Riley was worth it even in my sleep, but we've become different people. I don't know if she loves me anymore.

"Maya," Lucas warns me. We're heading out of class, and I almost walk into the door. "Watch out."

I stop abruptly and blink. I forgot where I was. That happens sometimes, but usually when I'm not walking.

I stay silent as we head to my dorm and ignore Lucas' glances at me. He stops me by the time we're halfway there, and I raise my eyebrow questioningly. He says, "Maya, don't pretend that you don't know why I stopped you. I know there's something bothering you."

I look everywhere but at him as I debate whether to tell him the truth, but do I really need to ask myself that? This guy knows me like the back of his hand, maybe even better that that, because honestly, who knows how the back of their hand looks? So I say, "I need to talk to Farkle."

Lucas hesitates. "Why?"

I sigh. "I need to talk to him about Riley."

His eyes grow concerned. "Are you sure that's a good idea? I know that you want to understand what happened, but are you ready to know every detail of the story?"

"I'm not ready. That's why I want to talk to Farkle, not Riley."

He purses his lips in contemplation, eyeing me carefully. "Okay. Do you know where he is?"

I shake my head forlornly. "I haven't talked to him in a year. I was hoping you could help me find him."

Lucas holds his arm out for me. "Lucky for you, ma'am, I keep very close contact with Mr. Minkus."

I curtsy, teasing him, then wrap my arm around his. "Why, thank you, Mr. Huckleberry."

He tips his imaginary hat. "Anything for milady."

. . .

Lucas holds his hand out to stop me. "We can't go in," he says. "The lab is only for those in the chem major."

"Then what do we do?" I ask.

"You stand here while I look like an idiot."

"Wait, what?"

He then proceeds to wave his arms frantically from the door and shouts, "HEY."

Everyone turns around, so Lucas stops moving like a stranded baboon and says, "May I speak to Farkle Minkus?"

A boy steps forward with goggles and a lab coat. He seems baffled instead of angry like I would have expected. He approaches us and asks, "What are you doing here, Lucas? I told you I have an important-" He pauses when he finally notices me. His eyes widen, and I wave sheepishly. "Hey, Farks," I greet.

"Maya," he manages to breathe out. "Okay, just wait a moment. I need to put my stuff away. I'll be right back." Farkle speed-walks to clean up, and I look at Lucas and say, "Thank you."

He smiles gently. "No problem. No matter what happens, I'm always here for you."

. . .

We go to Retrogrand, and Farkle looks around with knit eyebrows. He says, "Maybe I shouldn't have worn black today."

"Dude," Lucas says. "You wear black everyday."

Farkle waves Lucas' comment off as we approach the counter. The barista is a thin male, and although it's a random thought, I'm happy that Kelly doesn't have to work overtime. The guy smiles almost as charmingly as Lucas and says, "Hey, what can I get for you today?"

"I'll have a mocha and a dark-roast," says Lucas. I roll my eyes at the fact that he ordered for me.

"And I'll have whatever makes me the least hyper," Farkle says to which the barista chuckles.

"Are you paying altogether?" the guy asks.

"Yeah," Lucas says, but Farkle is already handing the barista the exact change. I raise my eyebrow while Lucas says, "I can pay, Farkle."

Farkle blinks. "But I already did."

"And the right amount too," the barista adds. "Man, how did you calculate that?"

Farkle answers, but I tune him out. I don't need to hear math in a coffee shop.

The barista gives us our drinks after a riveting conversation on addition and multiplication, and I lead the way to my favorite table. As I'm about to hop on to the chair, Farkle says, "Are you sure, Maya?"

I give him a death glare, and he puts his hands up in surrender. "Okay! You're sure." He sits across from me while Lucas sits in between us. Farkle asks, "So what did you want to talk about, Maya?"

I squirm in my seat, not realizing earlier how hard it would be to bring up what I want to say. Finally, I let out "Riley."

He purses his lips. "What about her?"

"First of all, how is she?"

He looks down at his coffee. "She could be better."

I lean forward. "Why, Farkle? Please just tell me why."

He slowly brings his eyes up to meet mine. "She misses you and Lucas."

Lucas sighs bittersweetly. "I thought she hated me," he admits, voice cracking.

"No," Farkle says softly. "She was just disappointed you didn't tell her sooner. She still wants to be your friend. She loves you, after all."

"And I love her. Just not in that way."

"Yes, we know," Farkle says, then glances at me. "You love Maya in that way. I've always known that, so I'm at fault too."

Lucas appears shocked. "You knew? How?"

"Your eyes tell all, Lucas. Those who don't see are those who don't want to believe."

Like Riley and me, I want to fill in. "But if she misses us, why won't she talk to us?" I ask.

Farkle smiles sadly. "She feels like she doesn't know you guys anymore. Lucas never told her how he felt, and you distanced yourself from everyone, including her, Maya. Ring Power didn't seem to work anymore, and she lost hope."

My little ball of sunshine lost hope. I shake my head. "No," I keep saying. "No." I'm losing my mind. "It's not that Ring Power stopped working; I stopped working."

"You have to tell her that, Maya."

"But will she listen, Farkle?" I look into his eyes to find something, any hint of the truth. "Will she listen and believe me?"

He nods. "As long as you're one hundred percent open."

"Okay," I nod. Then I cry. I cry in the middle of a crowded coffee shop because I finally have hope that I will find what I lost so long ago. I cry because I'm finally finding myself. I cry because I'm finally going to be reunited with everyone. Then I say, "Sorry, Farkle, for pushing you away. You're one of the best friends any person in this galaxy could ever have."

Then he gets up, walks around the table, and gathers me in his arms. "It's okay. I should have been there for you no matter what."

I cry harder and bury my face into his shoulder. I cry harder because everyone I know takes the blame for my selfish acts. "I love you, Farkle."

"And I love you, Maya."

I hear a chair being pushed out and another pair of arms hold me. "We all love you, Maya," I hear Lucas say. "We all love you, and we will never stop."