A/N: Thank you for all the love for this story. I appreciate it :)

"You can do anything as long as you have the passion, the drive, the focus, and the support." - Sabrina Bryan

Riley tried her best to not feel angst but every time the bell rang she jumped. Charlie tried his best to distract her but she could feel herself crawling out of her skin.

"We can go somewhere else," Charlie said as Zay walked in.

"No it's fine," Riley mumbled as she watched Zay put on his apron and walked over to the two.

"Fine cafe patrons what may I get you?" He asked as Charlie chuckled.

"It's okay Katy has been keeping us from dying from dehydration," Riley said and pointed to the many glasses.

"What about your fave, fresh-baked chocolate cake?" Zay asked as Riley tried to figure out an excuse.

"I can't, dinner soon, actually …" Riley grabbed her phone as Charlie nodded to Zay.

"One slice won't hurt Ri," Charlie said as Riley noticed the time.

"I have to go, I told Lucas I would meet him for our project," Riley said as Charlie's face turned sour.

"Where?" Charlie asked.

Riley lost in thought and did not notice the tone change for him. Riley thought that if she had enough time to change into fresh clothes.

"Riley?" Charlie snapped and Riley jumped.

"What?" Her eyes were wide with fear and Charlie asked once more.

"Where?" Charlie asked.

Riley sighed and stumbled to explain what was going on. Instead, Zay stepped in and gave Charlie a look.

"Her place, with her parents and brother," Zay said and tried not to give Charlie such a hard time.

Zay knew more than both of them but he did not like the tone that Charlie had recently taken with Riley. Nor did he like the look of pure fear on Riley's face. As much as it killed him that Riley would not tell him what was going on, he respected her wishes.

"It's getting late Sugar, you need me to walk you home," Zay continued.

"Zay you just started working," Riley said and Charlie scoffed.

Charlie threw a few bills onto the table and got up without saying a word to Riley. Her eyes filled with tears and Zay removed his apron from his waist. He turned to say something to Katy who already witnessed everything and gave Zay the okay to go with Riley. He reached for Riley's hand and she took it hesitantly. They left the cafe quietly and Zay tried to string some words together. Instead, they walked in silence with their fingers intertwined.

"Are you happy … with Lucas?" Zay asked as they reached her brownstone.

"Zay," Riley breathed.

"I support any decision you make Sugar, with Charlie or not, with Lucas or not, but are you happy?" Zay asked.

"I'm getting better, but happy with a guy right now, it's not in my cards right now," Riley confessed.

"Because Farkle and I are the best," Zay joked trying to ease the conversation.

"Is it that apparent?" Riley joked back.

"I should head back Sugar, tell me if the cowboy acts up, I too know how to tie up people," Zay said and pulled his hand away from her.

He stepped away from her and waved. Riley took a deep breath and ran towards Zay and hugged him tightly and Zay hugged her back.

"Thanks, Zay, for everything," Riley whispered as he squeezed her tight.

"Always," Zay said as Riley pulled away from him.

She smiled softly and ran towards her brownstone. He watched her enter before making sure it was safe enough to walk away.

Riley opened her front door and tried to decide if she should change before Lucas came over but she was surprised to see him already there. She dropped her bag onto the couch as Lucas was between Ava and Auggie with notebooks spread out. Auggie had his hands on his face in awe as Ava stood close to Lucas's face blowing a giant bubble.

"Lucas?" Riley asked.

Ava's bubble popped and she rolled her eyes at Riley.

"I was going for the world record there!" Ava complained as Lucas chuckled.

"What's going on?" Riley asked as she walked towards the table.

"Projects," Auggie answered as Ava sat back next to him.

"Mom? Dad?" Riley questioned as Lucas looked down at a blank piece of paper.

"Josh had a thing at school, Maya is there too, Mom said you two can watch us," Auggie said as Lucas stared at his notebook.

Riley felt that there was more to the story but Ava jumped in.

"Can we eat now! Cowboy said it was rude to eat without you! I am starving," Ava exaggerated as Riley gulped.

"Yeah of course, sorry," Riley mumbled and walked towards the kitchen counter and Lucas jumped up to help her.

He towered over her and grabbed the bowl of spaghetti, he had yet to acknowledge her. He grabbed the garlic bread with his other hand and placed it down. With no second to spare, Auggie and Ava grabbed at the food as Riley clutched the meatballs.

"Riley, meatballs!" Auggie demanded and Lucas grabbed it from her and passed it to him. The two watched the younger two chow down the food without hesitation and Riley had to hold back her chuckles.

"We're done! Come on Auggie let's go play," Ava said as she jumped from the table with her cheeks full of food.

"My stomach," Auggie groaned as he followed her out the room.

"That was … weird," Riley said as Lucas cleaned off the table.

He was focused on the table and she watched him place the younger ones' books together. Carefully, he placed out two plates together and sat down waiting for Riley to join.

"Did I do something?" Riley asked with fear in her voice.

"No, of course not, I'm sorry it's just I paid them to give us some privacy and wanted to make sure they were gone," Lucas chuckled.

Riley sat next to him and confusion crossed her brow. Why did he want to be alone? Why was he so quiet tonight? Her mind wandered but she watched him place food on their plates carefully.

"Lucas … what is going on?" Riley asked.

"I just wanted some time alone, with you, at school we have our friends, here we have the wonder twins or your dad with that look in his eyes, I kind of just want to sit here with you, so you can be comfortable with me," Lucas said and twirled some spaghetti.

"That's it?" Riley pushed.

"Well, um … also I wanted to talk about … you and Charlie? I kind of heard rumors at school and could you, I don't know clarify them for me?" Lucas said.

"We are in a rough patch but he isn't happy with me right now," Riley said and shoved some noodles around.

"He kind of blames you," Riley continued and Lucas nodded as he listened.

"I'm sorry I didn't mean to interfere with your relationship," Lucas said and placed his fork down.

"You didn't, I was honest with him, and I'll be honest with you too. I am confused about my feelings, about my relationships, and basically my future," Riley said.

"What do you mean? I thought you already had your future planned out?" Lucas asked.

"Everything changed, maybe college isn't for me," Riley said.

"Of course it is! Riley, you are so smart, and any college would be lucky to have you," Lucas said.

"But is college right for me? This year isn't how I planned it to go, why should I expect anything else to go right?" Riley said.

"Because you're worth so much more, and you can do so many great things. Hell Violet and Peaches can become a best-seller and why are you looking at me like that," Lucas said.

"You read Violet and Peaches?" Riley asked.

"Yeah I read all of them, Zay shares them with me, I'm sorry I should have told you,' Lucas said and scratched the back of his neck.

"Oh I didn't know you liked it," Riley said.

"I love it," Lucas said and Riley blushed.

"Thank you," Riley said and looked back at her plate of food.

Lucas turned back to his plate and twirled some noodles. He could see the hesitation on Riley's face and he thought of what he could say to get her to eat.

"Your mom is a great cook, is that rosemary I taste?" He asked as Riley fumbled with her fork.

She cut a piece of the meatball and tasted it. She swallowed hard and nodded at Lucas.

"Yes it is, she is," Riley mumbled and took another bite of meatball.

Lucas smiled at her and continued eating. Slowly, but surely Riley ate the entire plate of spaghetti and he could see that she was uncomfortable. Lucas grabbed her plate with his and walked them to the sink. Riley groaned and Lucas could feel the anxiety eating him alive.

"So our project?" Lucas began and Riley snapped her head towards him.

"Do you have a passion?" Riley asked.

"I'm stuck between baseball and being a vet," Lucas said and drummed his fingers against the counter.

"Oh," Riley said absentmindedly.

"Is writing your passion?" Lucas asked.

Riley stumbled and Lucas could see the gears turning in her head. He walked over and sat near her. He could see her tremble slightly and still stumble over her words. She couldn't get what she wanted out and Lucas sighed.

"I don't know anymore," Riley whispered.

"We have the rest of the school year to figure it out," Lucas said with a smile.

"I know it's just … I used to know who I was, and now everything is just … messed up," Riley said.

"I got an idea, since we know what I kind of want to do, why don't we table it and watch a movie," Lucas said and walked over to the couch.

"A movie? Lucas we need to work on this, if not then this meeting was-"

"Two people fixing their friendship?" Lucas said with a grin.

"Lucas," Riley whispered.

"It's a movie for our project, it's 42, the Jackie Robinson film, it's about baseball, and Chadwick Boseman is an amazing actor," Lucas said as he grabbed the remote.

"Ok but it's for our project," Riley said as she walked over to the couch.

She plopped down into the couch and grabbed a small throw pillow. She curled up with the pillow and glanced at Lucas who was searching for the movie. His tongue stuck out just a bit as he concentrated on finding the movie. His eyes lit up as he found it and laughed in victory. As he started the movie up, he plopped himself on the couch next to Riley. Riley seized up but Lucas moved away just enough to give her space.

Once she was relaxed she watched Lucas's face light up as the movie played, small movements when something thrilling occurred. She never noticed how he seized up when a momentous scene happened or how his eyebrows lifted with his laughs. Although the movie was enjoyable, she had been exhausted from the day. Her eyes fluttered shut but she jolted herself awake and Lucas noticed. Slow with his movements he inched closer to her and wiggled his shoulder. Hesitant but exhausted Riley laid her head on his shoulder. Before she knew it she had fallen asleep on Lucas's shoulder.