The evening was in full swing, the sun winding down out of sight, the brisk late fall air blowing the remaining noises of the bustling city through Washington Square Park. Shawn and Maya were coming under the arch, and began toward the central sunken fountain area. Maya, being restless and nervous, found she could not settle or sit. Shawn looked about, settled at the top most step of the fountain. After what felt like ages, but in actuality was more like 5 minutes, he looked to Maya and asked,

"Anything?"

Maya pulled out her phone, waiting for any sign from Josh that they were close. Bobst was only 3 minutes from the park, so they couldn't be far. She shook her head, and paced anxiously, tossing her hair in her hands, and biting her lip. Somehow, she thought, they must've beat RIley and Josh here. Shawn was feeling unsteady, knowing he could not risk getting this wrong.

"Can you call Josh and see if they're close?"

Maya instead of answering just hands Shawn her phone, to do it himself. Maya was too preoccupied with scanning the surrounding entryways to the main area to call Josh. Shawn took the phone, dialing Josh, who answered.

Maya was no longer listening actively to his conversation, she was intent on spotting Riley. The worry, the dread of imagining Riley jumping in front of New York City traffic, dodging cars, throwing up in the dorms; Riley must be so exhausted, she thought.

In the background, Shawn heard Josh pick up.

"Hey we are here, towards the center. Where are you?"

Josh responded,

"We're taking our time, coming up on your left."

Shawn knew not to say anything that would spook Riley or Maya for that matter. Gosh, he had quite a bit riding on this. Teenagers, and their feelings, and these two special girls.

Josh hung up, and took a moment with Riley,

"Riley, don't run this time. Be brave, okay?"

Riley, bag in hand, with her precious envelope pocketed on the side, nodded back to him.

Maya was pacing, with one arm tucked around her waist, the other with her hand at her mouth, fighting the urge to bite her nails. She continued scanning the area, as there weren't too many people around.

Josh walked alongside Riley for a while, and Josh saw Shawn and Maya before Riley did. He stopped, and touched Riley on the back of her shoulder, pointing them out. Maya was looking off, seeming to be anxious. No words were exchanged, Riley felt that touch, and she knew. Looking out, she spotted them. A wave of emotion struck her hard, knowing that Josh was right, she couldn't run anymore. There was her girl, worried pacing about the park in her.

It was like the universe fell into alignment, and not a moment after Riley saw them, Shawn looked over, prompting Maya to look to her left, and that was it. The two locked eyes, and Riley felt every piece of her body begin to shake. Maya's distinct voice cried out from a bit aways,

"Riley!"

Maya began immediately running over, and Riley dropped her bag to the ground. She paused, unable to move, but found it in herself to force herself to go. She started rushing as well, and Shawn and Josh followed in tow, knowing that so long as Maya was there, Riley wouldn't go far.

Maya couldn't hold it in, and started to tear up, sprinting towards Riley. It did not take long for them to reach each other, and upon being close enough, they practically collided together in an embrace. Riley wrapped one arm around behind Maya's head and the other around her waist fiercely. Maya reached an arm around Riley and her other hand holding Riley's face and hair. The two stood together, swaying slightly as they almost knocked each other to the ground with their desperation. Simultaneously, they pulled faces away without departing their grip on each other, and before either of them knew it, they were kissing each other, Riley feeling Maya's tears on her face. After holding that kiss for a moment, Maya pulled away, resting her forehead on Riley's gripping the side of Riley's face, intently looking in her eyes.

"Riley are you okay, please are you okay?"

Riley rocked with a sob and nodded back, Maya then said faintly,

"I was so scared…I got you, it's okay." They gripped each other again, both now crying, and Riley's legs gave out underneath her. She slowly buckled towards the ground, and Maya supported her on the way down. She was then holding Riley against her chest, both refusing to acknowledge anything around them, they had somehow gone into a space that was just the two of them. Maya breathily saying quieted things to Riley, being out of breath both from running and from trying not to fully break down into sobs.

Josh, not knowing the context of the girls now being in a space of being more than friends, stood, taken aback upon seeing them kiss, though it was brief. Shawn saw it, and understood it for what it was, two kids in love. He accepted from that moment forward he would always try to respect that love they had for each other. Josh knew he would not dare interrupt them, but Shawn knew he would have to break the moment as he walked up to them.

As politely as he could think to do it, He got down at their level, giving some space to not crowd Maya who was presently cradling Riley. He noticed the two were going between Maya holding Riley's face against her chest, and Maya holding Riley's face to hers, resting their heads together as she would brush her hands across Riley's hair. He started to tune into what Maya was saying, now that he was close enough to hear them without being obvious,

"Riley I'm sorry, you're okay, I love you."

Shawn knew now to interject.

"Riley, are you hurt?" He asked, concerned. None of them besides Charlotte, Gretchen and Josh had actually seen her to know if she had been injured whilst making a break for out in the treacherous streets of New York City.

Maya loosened her grip to let Riley move to answer.

"No, I'm okay."

Both girls paused, looking up to see that Josh had walked over carrying her bag with him, then right away went back to attending to each other.

"Hey, thanks for walking over Josh." Shawn said.

Josh, a bit stunned, didn't answer, and neither Maya or Riley were considering why that was. Shawn picked up on this, looked at him, then to the girls, then slowly back to Josh, trying to tell him what had happened, and to mull past it. Josh, remarkably, somehow understood the notion, and did his best to skip over it. Though, he whispered,

"Does Corey know?"

Shawn nodded back, affirming that he had in fact told Corey that something had happened between the girls.

Shawn knew he had to get the ball rolling, after giving a few more quiet moments to give Riley a reprieve. So he gingerly began, cautiously choosing his words, and being meticulous.

"Hey Riley. We are worried about you. I know this is hard," He stopped and took a breath hoping for the best,

"You need to come back to Morgan's place. Maya will come, and be there with you. I am going to tell you the same thing I told Maya. The good change, or the hard change, it will always hit, and you either move with the wave, or you drown. None of us-" He said, looking to Maya, then to Josh, and back to Riley,

"-none of us are going to let you drown. But you have to help us, okay? We aren't here to trap or trick you. Will you come back with us?"

Riley was feeling too heavy to answer. After a moment went by, Shawn decided to rephrase,

"Will you come back with Maya?"

Riley simply looked up at Maya, searching her deep blue eyes.

Maya looked over at Shawn, who seemed to be prompting Maya to ask as well, to which she obliged.

"Riley, can you come with me?"

Riley took pause, and upon seeing how earnestly Maya was asking, she softly answered,

"Okay."

The weight of all that uncertainty of that meeting fell away and off of each of them.

Maya smiled with her eyes glazed over,

"Riley, I'm proud of you for trusting us."

"I trust you Maya."

Maya without a thought just nestled her face into Riley's neck, squeezing her tightly.

"Can you stand up?" Shawn asked, Josh coming in closer in case he needed to help.

Maya gripped tightly one more time, and then started to stand, guiding Riley up while both managed to get on their feet.

"Josh," Shawn past Riley and Maya,

"Will you come with us? Thanks for grabbing Riley's bag."

"Yeah, of course."

Riley took a moment to make eye contact with Josh, saying a million words with one glance. She had, in that single exchange, not only came out to him, but now he also knew that she and Maya had feelings for each other. Josh's look back to Riley was one of surprise, but understanding. He also caught Maya's eyes, as she mouthed

"Thank you" to him. He simply nodded back.

Maya rested one hand on Riley's shoulder and the other on her forearm, and assured her,

"Riley, we are going to walk back. I will hold your hand the whole way back if you want. If you run off again, just know I will chase you. So if you run through traffic, I run through traffic-"

Shawn urgently attempted to interject, concerned, but Maya held up her hand to him, clearly gesturing that she was in control.

"Just walk with me, and we can spend the time together. Will you do that for me?"

"I'd do anything for you Peaches." Both girls smiled, and Riley thought she saw the faintest blush race across Maya's cheeks. Maya took Riley's hands in hers, and faced Shawn. Letting him know, they were ready.

"Okay, we'll go back towards Bedford and Grove, the way we came."

Riley held onto Maya's hand tightly as they all started walking. Maya saw Josh adjusting a familiar envelope, and once there was a bit of space that she could whisper to Riley, she pulled her close and said softly to Riley,

"Did you like my drawing?"

"You don't know the half of it." Riley answered.

So they started back to the Matthew's old house, and though they were walking towards a sad departure, neither Riley or Maya during that trek felt it. There they were, hand in hand, journeying across the New York City streets. There was a sense of pride there that was undeniable. The blonde beauty and her girl, moving through their world, even if for a short while, together.