When Maya heard that it was from Riley she quickly grabbed the letter from Farkle, completely ignoring his complaint that it was private and started reading. Feeling upset that Farkle had gotten a letter from Riley and he had not.

"Whose Ben?" Maya asked

"If you must know he is someone that she met on the plane flight to Boston and they have become friends. As you read they go on photography walks and he has been helping her with some of her classes." Farkle explained.

"I didn't know that she was using her camera, how come she never told me?" Maya asked while she looked at Farkle.

"She never thought that they were good so she never showed us or told us. I asked her about it and she felt scared to mention it. She said she really liked taking pictures but was worried that we would tell her that she wasn't good enough." Farkle stated, he gave Maya a look because he thought that she was going to interrupt him, and she backed down. "She said that she wanted to show us but all she could think about is how we all told her not to do cheerleading because none of us believed in her. She said she didn't want this to be the same."

Farkle looked at the same group and noticed that they all seemed sad, as the remembered that through most of tryouts they had all tried to get her to quit instead of supporting her. Something that she never did. Riley never made anyone feel like they couldn't do something. She was everyone's cheerleader, but none of them were hers. That is when he looked at the pictures that Riley sent. They were amazing two were done in black and white, where one of the meteors were going across the sky and you could see this beautiful flash of white go across, it was amazing. Then one was in color and she got the lighting beautiful. There was a little bit of the trees in the picture and it just took Farkles' breath away. There was one other and it was a group of kids. Riley was in the back row. And in the background there was the were flashes of white going across the sky. Riley was smiling, she was wearing skinny jeans and a black shirt that fit tight. Farkle couldn't make out much detail but she looked stronger. There were three other girls in the picture and from Riley's description they had to be her roomies. Then there were four guys, he couldn't tell them apart but he would put money that the guy with his arm around Riley was Ben. He flipped the picture over and she had each person's name in the order of the photo and sure enough the name Ben was right beside Riley. Farkle decided to show the gang the pictures, and wanted to gauge Lucas's reaction to the last one. This way he could figure out how Lucas felt for Riley.

"Here these are some of her pictures." Farkle said while passing them out. "There was a meteor show a few days ago, and she took pictures. Since in the city we can never see these, she wanted to share."

"That sounds like Riley, always trying to make people smile." Lucas said. As they looked at the pictures they were blown away. They were amazing, made each of them feel like they were seeing the shower for themselves. They all realized how horrible it was of them. Riley was really good but she felt like she couldn't share this talent because no one would believe in her.

"Here is one of her friends. The girls in the picture are her roommates at camp, the guys are some of Ben's friends and roommates, the taller one with his arm around Riley, that is Ben." Farkle said. As soon as he said guy with his arm around Riley Lucas's head jumped up and he took the picture.

"what that can't be okay, he is like thirty or something, he looks too old." Lucas complained.

"What… let me see, oh wow he is cute. Way to go Riles!" Maya exclaimed. "Are they dating Farkle, they looking really …... umm chummy."

"No he is not thirty Lucas, he is going into his sophomore year, and the one with really long blond hair that is Mitch he is a junior and they are all hanging out as friends. So no Maya Ben and Riley are not dating. But looking at that picture I don't know if that will be true by the end of the summer. He has been helping her with her photography and boxing." At that everyone looked up from the pictures.

"Boxing… Riley Matthews is boxing?" Zay asked

"Yea, she said that she is starting to get pretty good at it too."

"But why would she need to learn o box, it's not like we can't protect her from stuff." Lucas said.

"She wants to know that she can do it on her own. Plus she thinks it will help with her cheerleading so who knows." Farkle explained. He kept looking at Lucas though, he was sure that if he kept staring that the picture of Riley that he was going to make it set fire. He was really quite and seemed to be thinking about something. Who knows Farkle thought maybe this will be the kick in the pants Lucas needs to do something to make Riley and him official or make him realize that he has to be okay with her moving on. Riley deserves to be happy whether that is with Lucas or someone else.

"Farkle, do you think that when you write Riley back that you could send her a letter for me too. I really want to talk to her, and its so hard not being able to." Maya whispered into his ear when she returned the other photos.

"Yea, I think that would be a great idea." Farkle whispered back causing Maya to smile at him.

"Thanks" Maya said back. " can I have it for you tomorrow? I want it to be perfect?"

"Yea no problem Maya, take your time."

After that the gang started talking about other things. Both Lucas and Maya were pretty quiet but for different reasons. Maya was trying to figure out what she wanted to tell Riley and how. It was hard enough talking after all this time, but it was a totally different thing to not be able to do it face to face. Lucas was worried about Riley and this Ben guys. Why had he waited so long to talk to Riley? Why hadn't he just forgiven her? He was basically pushing her to this Ben guy and why because he was too macho to tell her how he felt. Because he always assumed that she knew how he felt and that she would wait.

Riley,

Hey thank you for your letter and the pictures they were amazing. The pictures really made me feel as if I was there with you watching these. Maybe the next time that there is another shower you and I can watch it together somehow. I am sure that my family could rent a cabin or something. I am really happy to hear or I guess read that everything is going good at camp. The gang may have read your letter; I hope that you are not mad though. As soon as I told them that it was from you Maya yanked it from my hands and then they all just kind of passed it around. I also may have shared all of your photos. They were really good; I can't wait to see more of them. Also Maya thought that Ben was cute and asked if you two were dating. Lucas seemed upset about that. I think that it shows how he feels about you. Do you still think that you want to get together with him, that he can be your cowboy and you his city girl?

We were all really surprised to find out that you are taking boxing classes. How are those going, are you learning any good moves to share, are you going to get ripped? LOL what languages are you taking I know that you had mentioned that you wanted to take French, but what else are you going to learn? How are your other classes, I know that you said that you are taking a math class? What kind of class is it? I have to say I am kind of sad that I didn't go with you and that you get to learn over the summer so much and I don't. maybe if you go again next year I can come with. It would definitely be fun.

How are your roommates treating you, is it awkward to have to share your room? Since you never had to before? What do you do during the night, other than talking moonlight walks with Ben? What other actives are there to do? Also how is the food, I keep picturing regular camp food like what they have on TV shows, but really is it like that? It might be a make or break for me for next year. Only joking.

Around here everything is the same, I am really looking forward to that museum exhibit that you wrote about. I swear every time your dad would try to teach it something always happened. It is as if the universe never wants me to find out. If the same thig happens at the exhibit, I am going to seriously reconsider trying to learn anything about it. Or maybe it is our group of friends. It is always something with us that makes him change paths. Do you, Maya and Lucas have a pack to never let me learn about it. Like we did with not letting you find out that Pluto wasn't a planet anymore?

The gang here is doing okay; we all miss you. It's not the same here without you. I really hate that we can't spend the summer together but I know that if this is making you happy that it will be well worth it. Smackle and I are doing good. I keep hoping that she chooses to come to our high school instead of hers. I know that the other school is better for her, but I want to be able to hold her hand in the halls, and make sure that she is doing okay. I really care about her, and I think that I could fall in love with her. It's just really hard to be so far away from her. So before I go Zay said to say hi, and I attached a letter from Maya. I didn't read it, but she said that there was nothing bad in it. That she misses you and that she wanted to reach out. So please don't hate me for sending this.

Love and miss you,

Farkle

As Riley read Farkle's letter she sighed. She was worried about reading Maya's letter. She knew that Farkle said it shouldn't be bad. But what if Maya was still mad at her for lying about how she felt. What if she was mad about her leaving without much of a goodbye? Riley looked out over the lake and decided to go ahead and read it. Words couldn't hurt her, and the only way that Maya could is if she let her. While she was looking at the like she saw the guys swimming and splashing each other and the girls all decided to tan. This gave her the peace and quiet that she needed to read. And she still got to spend time with her friends. She knew that no matter what she would be great friends with everyone, and who knows maybe they could be her family too.

Riley,

It is so hard to start this letter, not because I am mad or because I want to yell or scream or anything. But it's been awhile. I know that it is my fault that we haven't talked. I know that you are I did the same thing and that we were only trying to let the other one be happy and not worry about ourselves. I know that you were doing what you thought was the right thing to do. But I still was upset. I think I was scared that I would lose Lucas, and I didn't want you to know or him. I didn't want to say something that I would regret so I didn't say anything. I think this is the longest we have ever gone without talking and I know that it is my fault. I hate that we didn't talk, and I hate that the more that I thought about everything that I made you step back for a stupid reason. Now I am not trying to say that my feelings are stupid but I think I was being stupid.

Every time my mom has talked about acting a part or acting like someone else she always says that you can't do someone that you care about. And I thought that you cared about Lucas as a brother when I was YOU! And I care about you Riley, you are like a sister to me. So the more that I thought about it I realized that I was only pretending to be you because I know you so well. But when I said that it was you that thought about Lucas as a brother, it wasn't you. IT WAS ME! I don't like Lucas in that way. I mean yeah it is really impressive how strong he is, and I like that he is not mr. perfect. But I don't like him like you did. You were his cheerleader in Texas I was his sister. I hated listening to his story about his farm and being a vet. You… well you loved it. I just dumped a slushy on his head. I think that is what made me mad and it wasn't what you did but what I did. I made you think I liked him and you backed down. I keep wondering what would have happened in Texas if I had known the truth. Would you and Lucas have had your moment? Would you be together today? Would we be spending the summer in philly like always with me drooling after Josh?

I am so sorry Riley. I am so sorry that you thought that you had to give up Lucas for me to be happy. I am sorry that I was okay with you pushing us together even though we didn't fit like you did. I am sorry that I didn't see that we didn't fit and I didn't see what you were doing with Charlie. I am sorry that I didn't talk to you like I should have. And that I didn't force you to use ring power so that we could talk about EVERYTHING. But the thing that I am the sorriest about is that you don't realize how amazing you are. That you hid your photos from me because you were afraid that I would say that they were no good. From now on I swear I am here for you, to cheer you on against the world.

Please forgive me Riley, if you do, write me and tell me about your summer, your plans, and that super cute guy named Ben.

Love from your sister from another mister,

Maya

Laying back after readying Maya's letter Riley smiled. Of course she would be able to forgive her, and she would be lying to say that she wasn't relieved to hear that she didn't care about Lucas the way that she thought that she did. She was going to have to write both Farkle and Maya. Riley couldn't help but wonder if Lucas knew how Maya felt. He after all seemed to care about Maya, in what way she might never know. It might be too late for him and her, or maybe not. She was laying back down while she debated about timing in her head. All she was sure about is that her and Maya could still be friends. Maybe not exactly like before, Riley wanted to be more independent but they could still be best friends, that read each other's minds and were like sisters. That hopefully would never change.

Just as Riley was laying back down she all of a sudden felt a water droplet hit her in the face. When she opened her eyes she saw sapphire ones starring back. Those eyes belonged to no one other than Ben. Another reason that she didn't know how she felt about Lucas. Both guys were similar, kind, loyal and a moral compass. However, Ben was different and new, and exciting.

"Ben what are you smiling at?" Riley asked

At first Ben wanted to say something like "I am looking at an angel" but decided against it. Riley looked great though, she was wearing a bikini that was simple and red, but with her tanning skin and newly formed muscles she looked great. He was having thoughts that he knew that he shouldn't about a girl that didn't know what she wanted. All he knew is that he would be there for her either as a friend but hopefully as more than a friend one day. " I am looking at someone that looks like she may need a cool down." He decided on.

Immediately Riley's eyes got huge, and tried to jump up but was too late. Ben already had her in his strong, arms. Leaning against his fully formed chest. He should not be able to be this well built at such a young age. He would be able to give Lucas a run for his money with the muscle department. He was only wearing swim trunks so while he ran closer to the lake she could hear and almost feel his heart beat.

"No… no Ben… please, no. You better not do what I think that you are about to do!" Riley started to yell but was too late, no sooner had this come out of her mouth was she in the water. "Benjamin Anthony you are in so much trouble" she said as she climbed on his back and dunked him. One great thing about working out is that she now had the strength to do things like this.

They rest of the group, including the other tanning girls soon joined in on the fun in the sun. The rest of the afternoon was spent with fun and laughter. After they got back to the lake they all ate, and riley caught up on some assignments for her class. She was learning fast, she could speak Spanish and French in a few phrases like, how are you, where is the bathroom, and some foods to order. This week they were going to focus on phrases and other things. Boxing was going great, same with yoga she was excited to get back to school for tryouts between those and Emma's help she knew she would make the team, but maybe she could get varsity. Ben had talked her into taking some music classes with him, and with some tips on breathing exercises and other things she was getting better. Overall this camp is what she needed. She knew that she was better than what she thought that she was, but she knew it was okay to lean on others. But there was a difference between leaning on someone and having them carry her. Now if only there was a class about love. Lucas or Ben. They were both similar and yet so different. Poetry classes helped her write out her feelings in a safe place, but it certainly didn't help her figure it out.