I thought doing this poll was a good idea, & I still do. But, what I failed to realize was that I cannot write any more chapters until the poll is complete. So, I wouldn't be able to update.

So, I have decided that I will write the story in the direction I want it to go in, but I will still take your feedback. The poll will remain open, so keep voting!

This chapter is shorter than the last 3, only because I didn't want to sound repetitive.

Disclaimer: I own nothing.

Part 4: Riley

January 1st, 2016. New Years Day.

A day of celebration for what's to come.

At least, thats what it's suppose to be.

If you ask Riley Matthews, she might say differently.

While most people are spending their holiday celebrating, she's wallowing alone in her room.

Her parents & brother are sitting in the kitchen with family, celebrating the new year. But, she's not in the mood for celebrating.

Maya hasn't answered her calls or text messages.

She wants to be mad, but then she would be a hypocrite. Because, she's ignoring Farkle.

She doesn't want to start the year this way. She hates fighting with her friends. They only have a couple more months of school left before they head off to High School. She wants them to be friends again. No more conflict.

So, Riley jumps to her feet, grabbing her shoes & running into the living room. She nearly trips down the stairs, which catches everyones attention as she slips her combat boots on.

"Riley, what are you doing?" Cory asked, standing from the table.

"I have to go see Maya." she said, going to grab her coat.

"Honey, its New Years Day. We have company here. You're not leaving." Topanga said gently, gesturing to her grandparents & Uncle Josh sitting at the table.

"I hate when we aren't talking. I don't want to start the year this way." she explained. "I need to know that no matter what happens, we will be okay. I won't let us get tragically torn apart. Not without a fight."

& with that, Riley exited the apartment.

She marched right through that alleyway & climbed up the fire escape. Maya must've heard her coming, because before Riley reached the top, her head was sticking out the window. "Hi peaches."

Maya came out to join her & they both took a seat. "You haven't answered my calls." Riley said, smiling nervously.

"I turned it off, I wanted to ignore all my problems until we go back to school." Maya replied.

"I'm a problem?" Riley asked, feeling hurt.

Maya turned her head to face her. "You lied to me, Riley. You've lied right to my face."

"So did you." Riley snapped.

"I wasn't lying by hiding my feelings. If you asked me if I liked him & I said no, that would be a lie." Maya explained. It got silent for a few moments. "How did it go last night?"

"We talked about his feelings for me…& for 's very conflicted." Riley answered. "Maya, I don't want to be tragically torn apart like the girls in the book."

"I told you, there's nothing you could ever do to make me hate you." Maya said. "No matter what happens, I'm going to be your best friend until we die."

"How are you so sure of that?" Riley asked. "Look at the girls in the book, they were the best of friends & 1 secret tore them apart forever."

"We won't end up like them, because we're Riley & Maya. It's always been you & me." she said. "Your dad told you that this is your world, you get to decide who's in it. So, unless you throw me out of Rileytown, I'm here to stay."

Riley threw her arm around her best friend, pulling her into a side hug. "I love you."

"I love you, too." Maya said, pulling away.

"Wanna come over?"

Maya shook her head. "I think I'm gonna stay here for the day. Lucas isn't the only one who has a lot to think about."

Riley raised an eyebrow, but didn't ask. "Okay."

Riley's grandparents & Uncle Josh had just left. She was getting ready for bed when there was a knock at her window. Seeing it was Farkle, she walked over & opened it.

"Are you talking to me yet?" he asked, coming into her room.

"Farkle, I told you I needed more time." she said. "I wanted Lucas & Maya to have more time."

"& I told you that starting out the new year with a lie wasn't the right thing to do." he said.

"Lucas & I had over a year to figure out how we felt." Riley said. "I just wanted to give them the same."

"You wanted them to have a year? By then it would've been too late, Riley." Farkle explained.

"More than a month would've been nice." she said. "It was not your secret to tell."

"Neither was telling Lucas how Maya feels." he shot back. "Maya & Lucas are confused about how they feel & they need to figure that out. But at least they're not lying about it."

"Yes, I get it. I lied, I'm a hypocrite. I tell everyone to be honest & tell me how they really feel & I do the opposite." she said. "But that doesn't matter. What matters is that when Lucas picks Maya, everything's gonna change."

Farkle raises an eyebrow. "What makes you so sure he'll pick Maya?"

"Because he told me how he feels about her." Riley said, sitting at the Bay Window. Farkle joined her. "He likes her. He thinks she's beautiful & funny. He likes that she doesn't expect him to be perfect."

"That doesn't mean he'll pick her. He's liked you since the beginning…that means something, Riley. That doesn't just go to away." he said. "& whatever happens, you'll both be okay."

"Are you gonna hate me forever?" he asked. Riley turned to face him before putting her head on his shoulder. He wrapped his arm around her waist.

"I could never hate you, Farkle." she said. "I just want to go back to the way things use to be."

"When everyone was keeping their feelings a secret?" he asked. She shook her head, sitting up to face him.

"I want to go back to when Maya & I didn't keep secrets from each other." she corrected.