More Rilaya and Zarkle conversation! I apologize for Lucas's absence in this chapter. But I'll make it up to you guys in the next. I promise. Enjoy!
The Art of Letting Go
Chapter Eleven
Following their trip to Mount Sun Lodge, Riley had vowed that she was going to get over Lucas. Or at least try. Even though she was way off of Missy's radar and her bruises have healed quite nicely, Riley feared that the minute she got back with Lucas, the bullying would continue. So she just gave up on him. It was hard, seeing him at school all the time, but she somewhat managed.
Maya still didn't believe it. She could tell Riley still had strong feelings for him. And every day Maya would come up with new reasons of why Riley did what she did. None of them ever came close to the truth. She didn't bother trying to get the truth out of Riley, she knew it would just annoy her and push her away. So she played along and did whatever Riley asked her to.
Zay had told Farkle that he wanted to get Riley and Lucas back together. And letting everyone know why Riley broke up with him was Zay's first order of business.
"We need to tell Lucas," Zay said as he and Farkle entered Cory's classroom. They were ten minutes early, so the classroom was empty.
"But what about your promise?" Farkle asked. He and Zay sat down at their designated seats.
"She's not planning on telling him anymore," Zay replied, keeping an eye on the door to make sure no one walked in and heard their conversation. "Just because the bullying stopped she thinks she doesn't have to tell Lucas because they broke up. But I told her I'm still going through with the deal. So we're going to tell him."
"We?" Farkle looked at him with wide eyes.
"Yes," Zay confirmed. "I've known him forever but I still need help tying him down."
"Look, I don't want to deal with Texas Lucas," Farkle said.
"Farkle," Zay said sternly. "We need to do it for Riley and Lucas, okay? I'm tired of having to lie to Lucas whenever I hang out with Riley. He keeps getting jealous and thinks that me and her have some kind of affair going on. He's getting angry because he thinks I'm ditching him for her."
"Fine," Farkle caved. "I miss hanging out together as a group."
"Should we be worried that Missy will continue to bully Riley if she finds out?" Zay asked.
"Who's bullying Riley?" Smackle suddenly appeared and sat behind Farkle.
"Oh, nothing, dear!" Farkle quickly retreated, not even realizing she had entered the classroom. Smackle squinted her eyes at him for a few seconds before Farkle broke. "Someone was bullying Riley but now they stopped because they told Riley to break up with Lucas!"
"Farkle!" Zay said, slamming his hands on his desk.
Farkle turned to Zay, "I'm sorry, Zay, I had to tell her!"
"You were doing so well up until now," Zay muttered. "Women."
"Tell me everything, beloved," Smackle sternly demanded, disregarding Zay's comment.
Farkle sheepishly looked at Zay and shrugged. Zay sighed and gave him permission to tell Smackle. Farkle told Smackle the basics of the situation, as he didn't have enough time to tell her the whole story because class was about to start and the rest of the students would be piling in.
Zay and Farkle crawled in through Riley's bedroom window after school. Riley was lying on her bed on her stomach, typing away on her laptop. She turned to look at her friends. They sat at the bay window.
"Hey, guys," she greeted weakly.
"Alright, I'm just gonna get straight to the point," Zay stated before taking a deep breath. "I told Farkle everything, and before you get mad at me—"
Before Zay could continue explaining himself, Riley sat up on her bed and interrupted him.
"You told Farkle?!" Riley exclaimed, breathing heavily.
"I told him a while ago," Zay informed her, "before the ski lodge trip."
"Riley, don't get mad," Farkle said.
"I can't even if I wanted to," Riley replied in annoyance, her breathing returning to normal.
"You're welcome for telling him," Zay said.
"Wait," Riley stated firmly, realization hitting her. "Did you tell—"
"No ma'am, just Farkle," Zay confirmed. Farkle nodded.
"But Smackle overheard us talking about it at school today…" Farkle's voice trailed off. "I couldn't help it so I told her."
"But we're here to persuade you to tell Maya," Zay quickly chimed in before Riley could say anything. "She already thinks something's up with you."
"Honestly, I was planning on telling her today anyway," Riley replied. "I'd rather her find out from me. At the ski lodge she kept asking me about Lucas and she didn't like my answers. Then she said the truth has a funny way of coming out. So now I'm paranoid that she'll just find out. And with the way this is going I feel like the entire school will know before her."
Riley shot her friends a death glare.
"Sorry," Farkle and Zay said in perfect unison.
"It's whatever," Riley retorted, shaking her head. She got up from her bed and stood in front of the two.
"What about Lucas?" Zay inquired. "Are you planning on telling him?"
"No, I already told you this," Riley replied. "It doesn't concern him anymore so why bother?"
"It does concern him!" Zay retaliated.
"You only think it doesn't because you're trying to get over him," Farkle stated, "which isn't working, by the way."
"Yeah, I see how tense you get in class," Zay said. "You know he's sitting behind you and it makes you nervous."
"Does not," Riley argued, crossing her arms over her chest.
"Whatever you say," Farkle replied. "I notice it too."
"Can you guys just leave so I can tell Maya?" Riley requested nonchalantly.
"Fine, but you better tell Lucas," Farkle retorted.
"For the last time, I'm not telling Lucas!" Riley replied.
Zay and Farkle looked at each other, shrugged, and exited her room through the window. Riley was left in confusion. She shook her head to get her out of her daze and texted Maya to come over. Within minutes, Maya was sitting at the bay window with Riley.
"Peaches," Riley smiled.
"Sweetie," Maya grinned. She knew exactly why Riley called her here. She finally broke her.
"I have to tell you something…" Riley fiddled with her thumbs, not breaking her stare with Maya.
"Go on, honey," Maya urged.
"I know you've been speculating that I still have feelings for Lucas," Riley began. "And you're absolutely right."
"I knew it!" Maya exclaimed, standing up and pointing at Riley.
Riley hung her head in shame.
"I totally knew something was up. You've never given up on him before," Maya replied, sitting back down. "It's so unlike you."
"And I don't want to give up on him," Riley answered truthfully.
"Then why are you trying to get over him?" Maya asked, before adding, "Even though that's not really working out in your favor."
"Why does everyone keep saying that?!" Riley remarked.
"Because of the way you act when he's in your vicinity," Maya answered in a 'duh' tone. "And also the way he acts around you. He still loves you, Riles."
"It doesn't matter," Riley replied. "We broke up."
"That's what I don't understand," Maya said. "Why break up if it's not something you both want? Lucas is miserable without you and he couldn't be any more annoying."
"Maya, I had no choice," Riley sighed. "I'm miserable too. You really think I wanted to break up with Lucas? I love him a lot."
"You have a choice, Peaches, I don't understand," Maya shook her head.
"Missy told me to break up with him," Riley confessed shyly.
"Missy Bradford?"
Riley nodded.
"What does that Missy chick have to do with anything?" Maya asked. "And why does she think she has some kind of power over you? I didn't even know she went to our school. I'm so confused right now."
"Because she did have some kind of power over me," Riley replied, tears forming in her eyes.
Maya donned a worried demeanor and immediately took Riley into her arms. Riley bawled.
"Peaches, what happened?" Maya whispered, slowly rocking Riley back and forth to comfort her.
"She bullied me, Maya," Riley said in between breaths. "She hurt me. She gave me a black eye."
"That explains the bangs," Maya muttered. She got slightly angry at Riley for not telling her sooner, but she got angrier at Missy for hurting her best friend. Maya ran her thumb across the skin surrounding Riley's eye where the black eye once was. "And let me guess. The only way out was to break up with Lucas?"
Maya felt Riley nod in her arms.
"Why didn't you tell me sooner, Peaches?" Maya questioned, resting her head on Riley's.
"It's not something I'm proud of," Riley replied in a muffled voice. She freed herself from Maya's grasp and sat up, wiping her tears. "It's embarrassing, Maya. She told me that I wasn't good enough for Lucas. She said I was holding him back and that he has a lot more potential. He deserves better."
"And you believed her?"
"Sticks and stones will break my bones but words will never hurt me," Riley recited. "That's so stupid. Words do hurt. And yes, I did believe her. How could I not? She kept reminding me every second of the day."
Riley told Maya every little detail of what happened with Missy. She also told her about the whole thing with Zay and how he told Farkle and Smackle knew. Surprisingly, Maya didn't react too furiously upon hearing that some of her other friends knew about it before she did. Maya was just glad that Riley had gone to her personally.
"Did Missy keep her word?" Maya asked. "Did she leave you alone?"
"Yes," Riley replied softly.
"And you think moving on from Lucas is the next step?" Maya retorted.
Riley nodded.
"Well, you're wrong," Maya said.
"It's not like I can get back together with him," Riley answered. "It'll just get me back on Missy's radar."
"Forget about Missy," Maya said. "I doubt she'll come back after you. She's just jealous that you ended up with Lucas, okay. Don't let her insecurities turn into yours."
"Maya, I'm scared," Riley confessed. "Not about Missy. I'm scared that Lucas wouldn't understand. That's why he doesn't know. That's why I haven't told him. And he doesn't have to know because we're not together anymore. So why open a closed wound?"
"I highly disagree that this is a closed wound," Maya replied. "I don't even think it's healing. But I'm glad your bruises have. And you know what? I'm not going to force you to make things better with him if you don't want to. I'll support you no matter what. Just me and you, Peaches."
Thanks for all the reviews! Just a heads up, we're nearing the end of this fic. I have planned to get up to sixteen chapters right now, but that may end up being more. It all depends on if I get more ideas. Otherwise, chapter sixteen will be the last. BUT don't be alarmed, I have another Rucas fic in the works!
Next: a chapter you've all been waiting for. ;)