chapter 14

Maya's POV

Performing my song in front an audience was even more rewarding than I imagined it would be. I'm really glad I did this. I'll have to thank Farkle again for entering me in the talent show. It felt really good to be able to express myself musically. I took my guitar off and stepped off the stage. As soon as I did, Lucas suddenly appeared right in front of me. He quickly wrapped his arms around me, trapping me in a congratulatory hug. I could see Riley and Farkle across the stage. Riley's eyes were locked on Lucas.

"Maya, you were so great!" he complimented me with a big smile.

"Thanks Lucas." I replied, pulling out of the hug.

"You wrote that song?" he asked.

"Yeah, I did." I answered.

Then Lucas did the unthinkable. I guess I should have seen it coming, but it took me completely by surprise. He took my face in his hands and he tried to kiss me. It all happened so fast. His lips were already on mine before I had the chance to push him back. I couldn't believe he would do this. Hadn't I made it clear to him that what we had was over? I immediately shoved him off of me.

"What are you doing?!" I scolded him. Riley definitely saw the attempted kiss. I could see her hurrying around the stage, with Farkle not far behind.

"I just thought…" he trailed off. He seemed confused by my rejection. Really Huckleberry?

"What? What were you thinking?" I pressed.

"The lyrics, I thought you were singing about me, about us," he explained.

I shook my head vehemently. "No, no, no, Lucas, no."

"But you looked right at me," he argued.

"Like one time! And the part I was singing when I looked at you was 'maybe in another lifetime', as in you and me are not going to happen in this lifetime." How was that not clear to him by now?

"Alright, then who is he? Who is the song about?"

I stared at him in silence, not sure of how I should answer his question.

"I want to shake his hand, and tell him what a lucky guy he is."

Oh, Ranger Rick. You're such a Ranger Rick.

"Well, you can't," I answered.

"Who is he, Maya?" he asked again.

"There is no he. It's not about a he at all." Did I really just admit that to him?

Just then Riley walked up behind me and wrapped her arms around me.

"It was about me, wasn't it?" Riley asked.

I spun around in her embrace to face her. I nodded.

"I'm sorry about what you just saw happen," I apologized.

"Wait a minute," Lucas interrupted.

We turned to face Lucas together. "The song is about Riley?" he asked, confused.

"Yes," I confirmed. "It's about Riley." He shifted his eyes from me to her.

"So you two are together?" he asked, incredulously.

"That depends," Riley answered. I turned to face her. What does she mean?

"On what?" Lucas asked.

"On her answer," Riley said, with a calm confidence in her voice.

Riley took both of my hands in her own. Oh my gosh. My heart started beating faster.

"Peaches?" she started.

"Yes?" Breathe, Maya. If she weren't holding my hands still, I was sure they'd be trembling. I was so nervous, but she wasn't. Her face was beaming with hope.

"Will you be my girlfriend?" she asked. I could feel my eyes grow wide and a huge smile spread across my face. I looked into her sweet brown eyes.

"Of course I will, honey. Nothing would make me happier." I wrapped my arms around her and pulled her close. I held her so tightly. We were in a gym full of people, but in that moment there in each other's arms, we were the only two people in the world.

"What just happened?" Lucas asked. Farkle, who had been watching the whole exchange in silence, stepped in. He put his hand on Lucas' shoulder.

"C'mon Lucas. Milkshakes on me."