A/N: Hey everybody. School is in full swing and things have been crazy lately, so please do not be offended or surprised if I am not posting as often. We are all crazy busy people and school is definitely a top priority. Thanks for reading and don't forget to review! :)

(Previously in Iridescence)

"You've been my friend longer than anyone else. You know me inside and out. I can't stay angry. That's not me. But I was upset that you couldn't see that I was hurting. From Charlie, Missy, their words and their actions. I guess all the small things really added up."

"I noticed that you were different, but I wondered if maybe that was just you growing up. You never told me anything Riley, you aren't as transparent as you used to be. I thought that maybe you were just growing up and getting older."

"Really?" Riley asked.

"Yes," Maya replied honestly.

"I didn't know," Riley said looking down at her hands still holding the painting in front of her. She placed the painting down on her bed.

"I'm sorry I couldn't see it, Riley. Actually I'm sorry about a lot of things. I made a list," Maya replied, pulling out a notebook from her backpack.

X

Topanga chuckled at her daughter. "So your father and I did some research on the Ship Board Education. It looks like an incredible experience to me. Twenty three countries in eight months, there are still exams when you finish, but obviously not as tedious as college. I think it would be a fantastic transition to college, especially since you don't know what you want to study yet."

"Really?" Riley asked shocked, completely forgetting about the food left half chewed in her mouth, and almost spitting it on the floor.

"Absolutely. Obviously there is still a lot to talk about and we would need to call Stuart Minkus, and coordinate things-"

"Are you serious right now?" Riley swallowed her food and interrupted her mother. The parent's exchanged a knowing smile.

Chapter 12: Transitions

Riley yawned, as she walked down the school hallway early the next morning, Maya beside her, leaning against her arm for support. The girls had stayed up later than planned to say the least, both getting minimal sleep, but not minding one bit because they had each other now. They were however, slightly grouchy.

"You're drooling," Maya pointed to Riley's mouth, her eyes slightly drooping.

"Hm, what," Riley stood up a little straighter, wiping her mouth, not even fazed by what was happening around her. "That's weird. Lucas isn't even around," she joked.

Maya laughed, out loud, earning the attention of multiple classmates. She was overtired and tended to over react to things when she lacked the eight hours of sleep her body required.

"I need caffeine," Maya said after she calmed down. "Do you want to get some?"

"Class starts soon," Riley looked at her watch, "I don't think we have time."

"We are going to make time then, because if I don't have caffeine, I'll be sleeping in your dad's class, so I don't think he'll mind if we're a little late."

Riley shrugged, noting the truth in her statement. Riley knew that she would likely come close to sleeping at any point that day, she just didn't want to get in trouble.

"Hey Riley!" Lucas said loudly, coming down the hallways, grabbing her attention. She covered her ears from the noise.

"Shh," she whispered, putting her finger to his lips.

Lucas furrowed his brows, not understanding. "We were up late last night," Maya replied.

Lucas nodded, still watching Riley, for any change in character, she smiled goofily, and wrapped her arms around him. Lucas felt her chest shake from giggling against his chest and had to laugh. He kissed her forehead.

"Awe, is poor Wiley tiewered," Lucas cooed, his hand rubbing circles around her back. She nodded against his chest.

"We've got to go get coffee," Maya told Lucas. "Come on Riley. You are never going to make it through the day like that."

"My legs are tried," Riley pouted.

Maya rolled her eyes, and turned away from her. Riley looked back at Lucas with a small pout on her face, and one minute later, Riley was on Lucas's back and he was carrying her down the hallway. Her arms wrapped around his neck, absorbing the warmth of his body.

"You really don't have to carry me," she whispered into his ear sending shivers up his spine.

"I want to," Lucas replied. "Plus you weigh next to nothing, so I hardly notice it."

"Oh really? You hardly notice me?" Riley replied, shifting herself on his back. Lucas wasn't really sure what she would be doing next, but soon he felt her soft lips against his neck, and his shoulders. "Do you notice me yet?" Riley asked.

"You're a difficult girl to miss," he said after a minute, swallowing loudly. She giggled once again, and rested her head against his shoulder. She didn't have a heavy head by any means, but Lucas could tell that she was exhausted just by the way she held herself.

Lucas soon caught up with Maya in the line for the cafeteria, and Maya began to chuckle at the sight of them. Lucas rolled his eyes, he didn't care if he looked silly for carrying Riley around the school. But Maya's amused expression stayed.

"What?" he asked, shifting his weight.

"She fell asleep," Maya shrugged, pointing up to the sleeping Riley. Lucas looked over his shoulder and felt the slow breath on his neck escaping her lips. She was definitely asleep. he smiled warmly at her, before looking back at Maya.

"So what happened last night?"

Maya shrugged. "Something that should've happened a long time ago. We made up. We're better off together, always have been."

"That's great to hear," Lucas admitted, moving forward in the line. "So what happens next?" he asked.

"I don't know," Maya replied honestly. "I really just want a drama free life for a while. If I never experience drama ever again, it'll be too soon."

Maya placed her order, ordering for Riley as well, and she soon had two small coffees in her hands and Lucas and Maya left the cafeteria.

"Maya," a girl called from ahead of both of them, Lucas exchanged a look between both girls and heard an audible sigh come from Maya.

"Here," Maya said, passing a cup of coffee to Lucas, "I'll catch up, you two better get to class."

"You sure," he asked raising an eye brow at the girl.

"Yeah," Maya replied looking back at then girl who was now standing in front of them, "Just get Riley to class before the bell."

Lucas nodded and continued walking, listening to the voices quiet behind him.

"Shauna, now is not a good time," Maya said just as Lucas entered the class and left them alone.

Lucas nearly laughed five times as his peers exchanged looks at him and Riley. He stopped outside Mr. Matthews history class and once again shifted his wait to accommodate Riley.

"Riley," he whispered, trying to wake her up slowly. She stirred in her sleep. "Riley, it's time for class," he said again.

Riley's eyes opened slowly, she she collected her bearings. "Hi," she whispered, leaning her head back into his shoulder, with a sly smile. Lucas nearly melted at the sight of her sleepy, dreamy self, in her most vulnerable state. She was amazing and she was on his shoulder, catching some Zzz's.

"Riley," he said again. "We're going to be late." He could feel her shifting on his back, extending her legs to the floor.

"Do we have to?" she pouted looking at the floor and back up at Lucas. Lucas caught his lips against hers, his hand holding her chin up to his. She smiled against is lips.

"It's you're dad's class," he replied.

"Oh, then maybe we should," Riley said, once again capturing their lips together for a brief kiss.

Lucas nodded watching Riley carefully.

"Come on," Lucas said, eventually, watching her eyes droop. He passed her the coffee, and put his arm around her. "We've got history."

Once again, she leaned against his shoulder, and took a large sip of coffee, letting Lucas lead the way.

After ten minutes, the coffee was consumed, and Riley was awake, more awake then she had been in a while. She also really had to use the restroom.

"Dad?" she raised her hand up to the sky. Cory smiled and looked down at his daughter. "May I use the bathroom?" she asked.

She washed her hands, and looked in to the mirror sighing to herself, noting how pale and exhausted her face appeared. She wasn't sure what Lucas saw in her, but he must have seen something because he kept coming back and that was something. She put her fingers through her fair, catching the tangles

Riley nodded to herself and stood up a little straighter, before exiting the restrooms and emerging into the hallway once again. Just then she heard the beginnings of a conversation and voices that she recognized.

"I wanted to say sorry, for how I acted Maya, I didn't mean to come in between you and your friendship with Riley. She's a good person, and I am sorry."

Maya sighed, and nodded, taking a seat on the bench.

"It's okay, it wasn't you really, it was just me. I'm stupid and sometimes I do stupid things."

"You're not stupid Maya, you're human, we all are. We all make mistakes."

"Thanks. I'm glad we're friends. But I think I should say that I am done with Missy for good. If you want to hang out with her, that's fine, but warn me, because I don't think I can handle her anymore."

Shauna laughed and nodded. "Absolutely, that seems fair."

"Maya," another girl squealed and Riley instantly knew who it was.

"Sorry," she head Shauna say. Riley could almost hear the rolling of Maya's eyes.

"Don't walk away from me Maya," Missy said loudly.

"What do you want Missy?"

"An apology," she replied. "You have been so rude, ignoring me for two weeks, and I want to know why you have bene ignoring me, and I want an apology?"

"You want an apology?"

"Yes," Missy replied simply.

"You don't deserve an apology. Everyone else in this fucking school deserves an apology from you, not the other way around. The world does not revolve around you Missy. You're no more than a spoiled brat that everyone is going to forget about in 2 months."

"What did you just say to me?" Missy hissed.

"You heard me," Maya got in her face.

"I hope you know that you are committing social suicide right now." Missy paused and looked around, catching Riley peaking around the corner. A sly grin creeped up her face, and she looked back at Maya. "Please don't tell me we are still angry about the Riley situation. Maya, I thought we have been over this. It's such an easy solution. Her or us."

"Maya it's okay, you're friends with Riley and you've been friends with her longer, I get that," the tall girl, Shauna told the blonde, finally speaking up for the first time since Missy arrived.

"Shut up, Shauna, it's not okay. Maya you seriously need to make up your freaking mind. Who do you want to hang out with? Us? Or the little slut Riley." Riley heard a slap and a gasp. "Did you just slap me?"

Riley stepped around the corner for a better look, maintaining her distance.

"Hell yeah I did," Maya hissed. "And if I hear another word coming out of your mouth against Riley there will be a lot more from where that came from. Got it? Riley is the bestest friend I've ever had, she is loyal, nice, and a good person, which is something you will never be."

Riley smiled to herself, Maya really was back for good.

"Arrgghh," Missy screeched, turning in the other direction and trotting down the hall, a sour look on her face.

"That was awesome," Shauna squealed, laughing at Missy.

"Maya," Riley finally spoke up.

"Riley," Maya replied wide eyed. "You saw that?"

"All of it," she said.

"You shouldn't have had to hear that."

"I'm glad I did. It means you really are back," Riley smiled.

"Yeah, I am."

Riley hugged Maya tighter than she ever had before. Things were looking up.

"I can't believe you and Farkle are going to travel the world for eight months while I'm back here probably working in a deodorant factory or something," Maya said, taking a bite of her lunch.

"You are going to get into art school, stop doubting yourself," Riley replied.

"But I need a back up plan."

"How about all the other art schools that aren't you're first choice?"

Maya rolled her eyes at her eternal optimist best friend. "Have you told Lucas about Ship Board Education?"

"Not yet," Riley admitted. "I'm still coming to terms with it myself."

"You've told me, you've told Farkle, he'll find out eventually. You would make sure it comes from your mouth."

"I know. I'll tell him. Oh there he is," Riley pointed. "I'm going to talk to him.

Riley jumped in front of Lucas, grinning. Something obviously on her mind, but Lucas didn't get the chance to ask, because before he could open his mouth, she had her lips on his and he quickly became distracted by the kiss.

"Hey," Lucas finally greeted, as Riley pulled away, smiling back at her. He kept from chuckling, knowing he could come off as a moron, but she was amazing, and it blew his mind. Just one kiss and he was completely taken by her.

"Hello," she replied, giving him another quick peck on the lips before turning herself so that they could walk together down the hallway. Lucas grabbed her hand in his, pulling her gently into his arm.

Riley opened her mouth, a big wondrous smile waiting for Lucas, and then closed it, once again unsure of herself.

"What is going on in Rileytown today?" Lucas asked.

"Uhm." Riley looked back up at him, and changed tactics. "So I was thinking, Central Park has an outdoor movie marathon of the Jurassic movies this weekend, and that it would be fun if we could go," Riley said.

Lucas's smile slowly faded. "I uh, I won't be around this weekend," he told her. She looked over a him. "I'm going camping, with some friends," he said. Guilt seething his words.

"Oh," Riley replied, feeling disappointed that he wouldn't be there all weekend, her hand leaving his without even realizing it. She understood that, she wasn't going to be a clingy girlfriend that had to know where Lucas was at all points in the day. She didn't want that. She wanted trust. She looked around for something else to distract her mind, a conversation starter in the least.

Lucas looked down at their hands.

"You know if I was around that I would want to be around you," Lucas added. "The football team is having a sort of team bonding trip," he said, lying straight to her face. He hoped that she would feel less left out if he told her that.

Riley smiled. "You're having guy time," she said. "And what do you guys to when you go camping?" she asked, gripping her backpack straps with her hands, pulling the bag tighter against her.

Lucas shrugged, starting to believe his own lie as he answered her. "Fishing. Messing around. Sitting 'round the campfire telling stories," he replied.

Riley nodded. "Well you have fun," she said, grinning at him. "Maybe you'll take me camping one day," she added. Smiling as she walked back to her table with Maya, away from Lucas in the hallway.

Lucas watched her walk away and then looked down, closing his eyes. He was a terrible person, yet he didn't have the balls to tell her the truth. She'd be upset and everything would go back to the way it was.

And he wasn't sure if she would be able to recover next time.

A/N: What do you think? What is Lucas lying about? Any guesses? Should he have been honest with her?