[Author's note: For the talent show chapter, the song I envisioned Maya singing, is actually a song by Sabrina Carpenter (the actress who plays Maya) called "Two Young Hearts" from her Eyes Wide Open album. The lyrics below (typed in italics) are the intellectual property of Sabrina Carpenter. No copyright infringement intended. If you want to hear the song, so you can better imagine this chapter as you are reading it, you can find it on youtube here: https: youtu .be 3d86CS4A2Kc (I'm not sure if links are allowed in story text so I removed the two / slashes after https: and the one slash / after .be and I added a space after youtu). Enjoy! Reviews are always appreciated. I would also be interested to hear what you, the readers, want to see happen next for the characters. Thanks for reading :-) ]

Girl Meets Complicated

Chapter 13

Riley and I stood in the audience in the gym, awaiting my turn to perform in the talent show. We watched our friends and classmates perform. Farkle had already performed an adorable tap dance number, which was quite the crowd pleaser. Zay was now up there, dancing gracefully with his ballet class partner. Lucas had been cheering on both Farkle and Zay from across the gym.

I turned to Riley. "I'm a little nervous."

She reassured me, "I know you'll be great, Peaches." Her eyes wandered into the crowd like she was scanning it for someone.

"Maya, don't get mad at me," she said.

"I could never," I replied.

"I invited your mom," she confessed.

"Of course, you did." I've come to expect this from Riley. "Just like when you tried to get her to come to my art show."

Her eyes grew wide. "Except this time, she actually came! Yay!" Riley nodded toward the door. I turned around and saw my mom had just entered the gym. Riley waved and smiled. My mom returned the gesture. I turned back to face Riley.

"Are you mad?" she asked.

I considered my answer for a moment. I looked at my mom and then back at Riley.

"No, actually, I'm glad she's here. I need her to hear this song too," I decided.

"Next up, we have a song from Maya Hart!" the host announced. Lucas, Zay and Farkle applauded supportively.

"Yeah, Maya!" Lucas cheered. Riley gave me a quick hug. "Kill it, Peaches!"

Riley's POV

Maya put her guitar on over her shoulder and took the stage. I couldn't help but notice how beautiful she looked in the spotlight.

"This song is called, "Two Young Hearts," she said. She started playing.

"It's a narrow line, I'm walkin', better watch my step,"

She looked at me.

""Cause we got everybody talkin'. And I can hear 'em say,"

Her eyes shifted to Lucas.

"Maybe in another lifetime,"

Her eyes shifted again, this time to her mom.

"Maybe when you're older.

What they don't know is,

I've already made up my mind.

And yes I know what love is."

She looked back at me and our eyes locked.

"Cause we are

Two old souls, with two young hearts.

We can run.

I will follow you to the end of the earth,

Where we can see forever,

They can never tear us apart,

Two old souls with two young hearts.

Two young hearts."

I couldn't hold back my huge smile. She was serenading me with such hopeful, romantic lyrics. Her vocals were stunning. Her eyes shot over to her mom again.

"They say we're too young."

Then her eyes returned to mine.

"I could lie awake in darkness,

Oh, just to dream of you."

She smiled back at me. My heart skipped a beat.

"And you could lay your head on my chest,

Just like you always do."

I started to feel butterflies in my stomach. I could feel my cheeks blushing. I was sure my heart would explode before the end of the song. What are you doing to me, Peaches?

"Maybe in another lifetime,

Maybe when we're older,

At least we know that,

We've already made up our minds,

And yes we know what love is.

Cause we are

Two old souls, with two young hearts.

We can run.

I will follow you to the end of the earth,

Where we can see forever,

They can never tear us apart,

Two old souls with two young hearts.

Two young hearts."

We're gonna keep on runnin',

Runnin' for all that we are.

We want it, all or nothing.

We knew it right from the start.

We are part of something

Something as old as time, time, time.

Cause we are

Two old souls, with two young hearts.

We can run.

I will follow you to the end of the earth,

Where we can see forever,

They can never tear us apart,

Two old souls with two young hearts.

Two young hearts.

She looked back at her mom for the final line of the song.

"You're never too young."

The whole gym erupted in applause. "Yeah Peaches!" I cheered. Farkle crossed the gym amid the applause. "I knew it! I knew she would be great in the talent show if I signed her up!" He said.

I nodded in agreement. "She's amazing."

I looked at Farkle and leaned in closer so he could hear me over the cheers.

"Farkle," I began.

"Yes, Riley?"

"What you saw in the bay window, Maya and me, that kiss, it wasn't experimenting. It's so much more than that," I admitted.

"I know, Riley," He replied.

"You do?" I asked, surprised.

"Well I AM a genius," he responded smugly. I rolled my eyes at him.

He continued, "But it doesn't take a genius to see the way you two look at each other."

I smiled. "Farkle," I began again.

"Yes, Riley?"

"If Maya and I became a couple, would you be okay with it?" I asked him.

His expression seemed to imply that I should know better. Maybe I did know, but I still wanted to hear him say it. He's known Maya and I since we were little kids. The three of us had alway been friends, and now things were starting to change.

"Riley, I've always been your friend. I promised to love you both the same. Nothing could change that. I want you and Maya to be happy, always."

I gave him a big hug. He said exactly what I needed to hear. "Thanks, Farkle."