Chapter 4- Who is That

"Whoa," Riley exclaimed as they were leaving the food court with their cinnamon rolls. "Who is that?" Maya followed Riley's icing covered finger to the direction she was pointing. She almost lost her own breath when she noticed who Riley was pointing at. On the same floor they were on, looking in the window of a Hollister storefront, was the most beautiful boy either of them had ever seen. Granted, all they were getting was a profile view of this gorgeous creature, but that was enough.

"I have no idea," Maya replied breathlessly, "but I want to find out." Riley smacked her arm, playfully.

"Maya, you have a boyfriend. Remember?" Riley said, accusingly. Maya rolled her eyes.

"So do you, Riley." She scoffed. "Besides, there is no harm in looking, right?" She looked back at Riley, who was hesitant at first. Suddenly, Riley was beside her, walking toward this mystery boy. Maya shot her a knowing glance, and Riley shook her head.

"I can't really let you do this alone, can I?" they giggled and approached the boy. He turned at the sound of the laughter and Riley gasped. He was more beautiful from the front, especially his bright smile.

"Hi." he said. Riley smiled and said nothing until a painful jab in the ribs from Maya brought her back.

"OW!" she exclaimed. "I mean, hi." She held out a sticky icing covered hand without thinking. "I'm Riley." The boy looked down at her hand and back up at her, smiling widely. Maya looked at Riley's hand and rolled her eyes, while handing her a napkin. Riley, realizing her hand was a sticky mess, accepted the napkin, and blushing, offered her other hand. He took her hand and without taking his eyes off Riley, kissed her hand, causing her to blush an even deeper shade of red.

"I'm Evan." He replied. Riley pondered the name. 'Evan. Evan. Where had she heard that name before?' She thought to herself. She shrugged. It did not matter. Because this boy had the face of an angel. He had hair like Uncle Shawn's, where just running his hands through his hair would cause a girl across the room to faint. He had the most perfect pouty, kissable lips. His eyes were a deep brown that she was currently getting lost in. And not to mention that smile. He could light up a room. She shook herself out of her trance and gestured toward Maya.

"This is Maya." She introduced her and Evan took her hand and kissed it as well. Maya was not as entranced as Riley was, but she was definitely affected. She took a couple of steps backward and smiled, politely. She looked to Riley, but she had not taken her eyes off of Evan.

"I'm just gonna…go to the bathroom, really quick." Maya stammered, trying to find an excuse. " and then we will go. Gotta catch that bus, right?" She smiled sarcastically and headed for the bathroom, leaving Riley with Evan.

"So," Riley asked, "I haven't seen you here before." She looked at him, quizzically. "But you look so familiar, though." Evan shrugged.

"I just moved here from Illinois." He explained. "I was living with my dad, but my mom needs me down here. I think she is sick or something." His eyes got sad when he mentioned his mom. Riley regretted asking anything.

"I'm sorry. I didn't mean to make you upset." Riley apologized. She was doing a lot of that today. Changing the subject seemed like the best course of action. "So, are you going to Abigail Adams?" she asked. Nodding, he looked at her.

"Yeah. I start on Monday." He flashed her one of those bright smiles. "Hopefully, I'll see you there." And with a wink, he pulled out a pen and wrote his phone number on Riley's hand. Afterward, he walked the opposite direction, leaving Riley to swoon as she watched him walk away. Even his butt was perfect, she noticed. But where do I know him from? Suddenly, she remembered where she was and looked around for Maya, who was exiting the bathroom at that very moment. She ran to meet Maya at the bathroom and they headed for the exit doors.

"Wasn't he dreamy, Peaches?" Riley stared at her hand as they walked. "His eyes, his hair, even his butt." She giggled, which made Maya smile a little.

"Yeah. He was gorgeous." She replied. "but so is Lucas. Your boyfriend?" Riley brushed off her comment.

"There is nothing wrong with a little harmless flirting, Maya." Riley said, defensively. "Besides. Lucas is moving in two weeks. I'll probably never see him again." She walked in silence the rest of the way home.

Later that night, Riley was talking to her parents at the dinner table about her day at the mall.

"…and then, right when we were about to leave," Riley sighed dreamily, "there was this boy, standing in front of Hollister, just looking in the window." At the mention of the word boy, Cory snapped his head up from his plate and looked from Topanga to Riley.

"Boy?" he interrupted. "What about Lucas? Did you guys break up?" Riley shook her head.

"No, Dad. I was just looking. I am still going out with Lucas. At least until he moves away." She said sadly. "Evan will be going to Abigail Adams starting on Monday." She continued.

"His name is Evan?" Cory asked, curious. He had heard that name before, but where. He looked to Topanga for a clue, but she shrugged, having no idea. He pushed it out of his mind, but made a mental note to come back to it later.

After dinner, Riley and Topanga were working on the dishes and Cory was getting Auggie ready for bed. Suddenly, Riley gasped. Topanga looked at Riley as if she had two heads.

"What is it, Riley?!" Topanga asked, concerned. Riley hit her forehead with her palm and looked at the calendar. January 14th.

"I can't believe I forgot!" Riley cried. "I am a horrible friend. I am so selfish. I have thought of nobody but myself this week, and Maya's birthday is on Sunday!" She sat on the dining room chair and put her head in her hands, groaning.

"Oh, Riley. It's ok. We can throw something together by Sunday afternoon, right Cory?" Topanga looked to Cory who was in his own world while dressing Auggie for bed. "Cory?!" Cory snapped his head up and looked at Topanga, then looked at Riley crying.

"It's all right, Riley. He's just a boy. There are plenty more."

"Dad!" Riley exclaimed. Topanga shot him daggers with her look.

"What? Isn't that what we were discussing?" Cory asked, confused.

"Cory," Topanga sighed, "Maya's birthday is Sunday." She gestured to Riley.

"Oh. I see." Cory replied, finally understanding. "We can definitely throw something together by then. How old is she turning now, 20?" Riley giggled through her tears.

"Dad," she rolled her eyes, "she will be 16." She shook her head and dried her eyes. "I am going to see what I can come up with and we will put our ideas together." Her parents nodded and Riley smiled widely and clapped her hands.

"Yay!" She jumped out of the chair and ran to her room to come up with the perfect gift for Maya.

"Where are we going, Riles?" Riley walked behind Maya, covering her eyes and leading her up the stairs to the apartment. Riley giggled as they passed what Maya could sense was another person in the hallway.

"You'll see, Peaches. We are almost there." As they reached the door, Riley reached around Maya and turned the door handle. As they pushed the door opened, Riley uncovered Maya's eyes. Suddenly, the whole apartment erupted in cheers.

"SURPRISE!" yelled everyone. Maya jumped and shrieked in surprise. She was not expecting that. Riley was jumping up and down and clapping. Maya looked around in amazement. She thought everyone had forgotten her birthday. Her eyes filled up with tears as she looked at all the decorations. There were green streamers hanging from the ceiling and balloons set on the table. There was even a cake with green icing in the middle of the dining room table.

"Oh my gosh! How did you guys do this?" Maya exclaimed after she reclaimed her voice. As she went around the room, hugging everyone, there was a rap at the door. Since she was the closest to the door, she answered it while still facing the party guests and shaking her head, incredulously. She turned around and saw a cowboy hat staring her in the face. As the stranger slowly lifted his head to face Maya, she gasped.

"Howdy, m'aam!" he imitated his best country accent. "Y'all seen a birthday girl 'round here?" he smiled broadly and held out his arms for a hug.

"SHAWN?!" she shouted. "What are you doing here?" She pounced on him and wrapped him in a hug, almost knocking him to the floor.

"Whoa!" Shawn exclaimed. "I missed you too, Maya." She laughed and released him from the hug. "What are these? Tears? Why are you crying?" he wiped away the tear that was rolling down her cheek with the corner of his shirt.

"I missed you so much, Shawn. You don't even know." She sniffed back more tears and took a step backward. Shawn just smiled knowingly at her and hugged her tightly, rubbing her back, consolingly.

"I missed you too, kiddo." He replied. "I missed you, too."

Arthurs Note: How r yall liking it so far? Is it to boring? What's yalls opinion? Yall ready for some action? Please dm us suggestions or leave a review with suggestions.