Riley's POV

Maya said she wanted to have lunch in the art studio so she could work on a project. I offered to keep her company but she thought my presence might create too much of a distraction for her. I headed to the cafeteria to have lunch with the boys.

Lucas, Farkle and Zay were already eating. I sat down across from Farkle and Lucas, next to Zay. "Hi guys," I greeted them. Zay looked at me and asked "Where's blondie?"

"Yeah, are you and Maya still in a fight?" Lucas asked.

"No, they definitely made up." Farkle remarked smugly. I shot him a quick glare.

"She is working on something in the art studio," I explained "We were never in a fight. It was just a misunderstanding, but we're okay now."

Zay shook his head. "Classic," he uttered under his breath.

"What?" I asked him.

"She's still avoiding Lucas," Zay said.

"What? No, she really is working on something in the art studio," I defended her.

"Nice cover story. Very believable." he said.

"Riley, could you maybe talk to her for me?" Lucas asked.

Oh no. Lucas is such a good guy. Lying to him is excruciating. It must be hard on Farkle too. I'm not being fair to them. But I'm just not ready to tell Lucas, or anyone else.

"Or maybe if you went out with someone, Maya would see that you're moving on and she wouldn't feel bad about seeing me," Lucas continued. Oh boy, this is awful.

"Oh, I'm sure Maya knows that Riley has moved on." Farkle commented. I stepped on his foot under the table. He winced in pain.

"What if you went out with Charlie?" Lucas suggested.

"Lucas, please. You need to let Maya go." I said.

Lucas looked hurt by what I said. Farkle looked at Lucas and then he looked at me. "Riley, you have to-" Farkle started, but I cut him off by stepping on his foot again.

"No, Farkle. I don't have to go out with Charlie, or do anything else." I glared at him.

Thankfully, the bell rang. I quickly jumped up and left the table.

Maya's POV

I finished putting my paint supplies away and left the art studio. As I left, I collided with someone who was waiting right outside the door.

"Lucas?" Why was he outside the door like that?

"Sorry, didn't mean to bump into you. You know, I really miss you calling me Ranger Rick." Oh dear. He is such a Huckleberry.

"Okay, Ranger Rick, it was nice running into you, but I gotta go," I said.

"Maya, why are you avoiding me?" He asked.

"I'm not, I just have to go to class." I answered.

"Can I see what you were painting?" He asked.

"No! Don't even go near it. It's drying." I really didn't want him to see that painting.

"Just a quick peek?" He's not giving up.

"No, Huckleberry. You can see it when the rest of the class does," I said, pretending that the painting was a class assignment. I walked away, but he followed me to my locker.

"Don't you have a class to get to?" C'mon Huckleberry, take the hint.

"Can we talk, Maya?" he asked. Oh, Huckleberry.

I closed my locker door. "What's on your mind, Ranger Rick?"

"What happened to us?" He asked, sincerely.

"You're a good guy, Lucas, and I care about you very much. But there is no us anymore," I answered delicately.

"But Why?" He asked.

"I already told you." I looked away.

"Because of Riley?" he asked in disbelief.

"Yes, because of Riley." I repeated.

"But Riley is fine with it." Lucas argued.

"Well, I'm not." I answered.

He clasped his hands over his head. "I don't understand, Maya."

"It's more complicated than you think." I said. I quickly walked away and went into my classroom. Wow, keeping this from Lucas is going to be harder than I thought.

Riley's POV

I was sitting on my bed, finishing my homework, when I heard the bay window open. I looked up to see Maya climbing in with what looked like a canvass in her hands. "Peaches!" I smiled and walked over to the bay window to sit next to her.

"Is that what you were working on at lunch?" I asked, looking at the canvass.

"Yep, it is. I made it for you," Maya said as she handed it to me.

"For me?" I asked, excitedly. She smiled and nodded.

I removed the wax paper cover to reveal a stunning, passionate portrait of myself. This must have been what I looked like when I woke up with her this morning. "Maya, it's beautiful. You did this in one day? And just from memory? You're so talented. I love it."

"You inspired me. When I saw you in the morning light, I wanted to capture that moment. I wanted to show you how beautiful you are to me." She said, looking into my eyes. I felt like she was showing me a part of her soul. I'm sure I was blushing through my smile. I will always remember this moment. I leaned in and kissed her softly.

Then I picked up the portrait and grabbed some thumbtacks. I walked toward my closet door and opened it. Maya followed. She watched as I put the thumbtacks on the inside of the closet door and hung the painting on them.

"You're hanging it in the closet?" She laughed.

I turned toward her and wrapped my arms around her, pulling her close.

"Yup, in the closet." I said. "Just like us." I kissed her passionately.

"Thank you for my painting, Peaches." I said after we finished our kiss.

"Thank you for waking up in my arms," She said.

"Anytime."