Riley cleaned off Josh's tray as Julia grabbed it from her hands. Riley gave her a soft smile before she sat back down in her chair and Josh grinned.

"So you and Maya?" Josh questioned as Riley rolled her eyes.

"Maya and I .." Riley trailed as Josh sat up slowly and groaned.

Riley moved to help him and Josh stopped her before she could.

"I'm dying not dead," Josh joked and Riley glared at him.

His laugh was weak but filled with happiness and turned to Riley. A slight gleam in his eyes and she rolled her eyes. He was hoping they were the way they used to be their whole childhood. Attached at the hip, she didn't want to bring him down. After Maya ate she rushed out of the apartment with a truce that she wouldn't tell Lucas yet. The blonde, however, did crack Riley's phone passcode and put in her phone number. She sent a text early that morning to Riley.

Maya Hart: Can't see Josh today but I'll stop by after work to formally meet Isabella.

Riley had yet to respond to the text and played with the idea of deleting it.

"Penny for your thoughts?" Josh asked.

"Maya … she wants to get to know Izzy," Riley confessed as Josh grinned.

"Riles everyone loves that little girl, I don't know why you stress over this," Josh complained.

"Lucas, shouldn't be saddled with this," Riley said.

"It takes two to make a baby," Josh snapped.

Riley sunk into her seat. Her pregnancy was a sore subject between the two. Josh was disappointed in Riley but furious Lucas wasn't helping. Riley had to remind him, he didn't know but it didn't matter to Josh. He helped to make Isabella, he should help to raise her.

It strained the two gentlemen's friendship but as time went on it melted away. Josh couldn't be mad at Lucas fairly, so he let it go. She understood his frustration but tried her best to explain to him to be frustrated with her, not him. He didn't know, he didn't know and it was her choice.

"Josh not this again," Riley groaned.

"I know, I know it's just Lucas will love Izzy, I don't understand how you believe he would hate her Riles!" Josh complained.

"I think it's easier for me to accept it that way because he shouldn't have to give anything up for a mistake," Riley said.

"Riles," Josh whispered.

"I am not saying Izzy is a mistake but we were just kids Josh, why should both of us give everything up? I took it so he could follow his dreams," Riley said and wrung her hands.

"He's not even a pre-vet major anymore," Josh grumbled and instinctively closed his eyes in annoyance.

Riley tilted her head and gave Josh a look who tried to sink into his bed. He knew he should not open that can of worms, but he was just so tired of all the secrets. He knew that if Riley knew the truth, maybe she would be willing to allow Isabella and Lucas to meet.

"Josh?" Riley questioned.

"So Alli, his fiancee, you met her," Josh said and sat up.

"Oh, the gorgeous blonde model looking thing that flaunted her diamond ring?" Riley retorted sarcastically and a bit harsher than she meant to.

"Yes, well her dad is this big business dude here in the city, so Alli changed schools to go to Columbia to study business, and she convinced Luke to follow her, and he changed his major. He's going to work in their business and become one of them," Josh confessed as Riley's eyes widened in shock.

"Are you kidding me? How long has he known this girl?! Is this why Zay kept it a secret! Wait! Does Lucas live in New York? What the hell!?" Riley rambled as Josh chuckled.

"Riles … do you still … love him?" Josh asked as Riley stammered.

"No … it's just who is he anymore?" Riley pondered and sunk further into her seat.

Who was she?

"The father of your child?" Josh said cooly and Riley glared at him.

"Fine, I'll drop it … so you and Maya?" Josh asked with a smirk.

Riley fiddled with her phone and responded to Maya's text message.

Riley Matthews:Ok.

Maya Hart: What's wrong?
Riley Matthews: What? Nothing. All I said was ok?

Maya Hart: Tone was different, see you later.

Riley sighed and shook her head at Maya's text. Years have gone by and Maya still knew Riley so well. She slid her phone into her bag and could see Josh still smirking at her.

"I already told you, she wants to meet Izzy," Riley said and Josh raised an eyebrow.

"She's also going to help me figure out what to wear tonight, I don't even know why I am subjecting myself to this," Riley groaned.

"Allison isn't that bad, she's a lot but she's sweet," Josh said and gave Riley a reassuring smile.

"She's also getting married to Lucas, and making him change ...who he is," Riley sighed and looked at her lap.

"Riles … do you still love him?" Josh asked.

She could just tell him no, just as she said before.

"I don't know," Riley confessed.

Riley stood in her childhood bedroom and stood in front of the mirror. The fanciest thing she brought was an off the shoulder blue top and faded blue jeans. She wasn't prepared to be galavanting around the city. Besides, who was she trying to impress? Allison? Herself? Zay? Lucas.

"No," Riley heard and saw Maya in her doorway.

Riley's shoulders dropped as Maya sauntered in with dress bags. She plopped them onto the bed and took a long glance at Riley.

"I'm guessing you're not into pinks and purples anymore," Maya inquired as Riley turned to her.

She was but not as much, with a toddler dark colors just survived longer.

"Why?" Riley asked as Maya unzipped a bag.

Maya pulled out a long black dress and passed it to Riley.

"No," Riley objected as Maya gave her a raised eyebrow.

"We're going to Masa, it's the most expensive place in the city, jeans aren't going to cut it, Matthews," Maya said.

Riley groaned as she grabbed the dress. Isabella walked in with a small bag and grinned at Maya, a bit of mischief in her eyes.

"Hey squirt," Maya said and Riley seized up.

Squirt

It was what Josh called her, her whole life, his squirt, even when she got taller, she was always going to be his Squirt. Riley threw the dress back on to the bed as if it burned her hands and took a step back. Maya had to pick it up from Josh, their relationship, hers with them. It was overwhelming and she excused herself from the room.

Isabella watched her mother leave and then met eyes with Maya. Maya's eyes were wide with shock but also tried to mask it with a smile for the small girl.

"Mommy is sick," Isabella said and opened the small bag.

She pulled out a folded photo, half a purple crayon, a used gold star sticker, and a rusted penny.

"That's for you, take," Isabella said and jutted the junk towards Maya who hesitantly took it.

"Uh thanks," Maya said awkwardly.

"Is it enough?" Isabella asked as she climbed onto the bed struggling slightly.

"Excuse me?" Maya was confused as she moved the stuff to one hand and sat next to Isabella.

"I pay, you tell, it is my special stuff," Isabella said and Maya smoothed out the folded photo.

She tried to hold back her tears, as she stared at a faded picture of Lucas and Riley. Riley was staring at the camera, a bright smile on her face, it looks like she had just been laughing. However, it was Lucas's face that Maya pain over. He was staring at Riley with the biggest grin on his face. They were so madly in love, she knew this because she took the picture, and gave it to Riley that summer before she disappeared.

"Where did you get this?" Maya sniffled.

"I don't know," Isabella said and looked at her feet.

Maya could see Isabella's lip began to tremble. Maya knew Isabella took the photo without permission but she also knew it had to be somewhere Riley had it to always have access to it.

"I won't tell," Maya said.

"Mommy keeps this book on her table, she had it in there, that's my daddy right?" Isabella asked.

Maya nodded, and Isabella began to smile. She got closer to Maya and whispered words that broke the blonde's heart.

"I want my daddy to love mommy again, she won't be sick anymore!"

Maya placed the things in her bag and cleaned her face.

"Your daddy loved your mommy very much," Maya whispered.

"Really!" Isabella asked with a grin.

"They were a fairytale," Maya whispered.

"I wish we were a family," Isabella said dreamily.

Maya let out a sigh as Riley walked back into the room. She tried not to make eye contact with the brunette. She couldn't reveal that Isabella basically told her Riley was depressed over Lucas, nor that she believed Lucas did not love her anymore. She shoved it down there with her feelings about Josh.

"I hope Izzy was respecting boundaries," Riley said as Isabella giggled.

"Totally the kid is amazing Riley," Maya said and tenderly rubbed Isabella's hair.

Riley bit her lip at the moment and took it in. Maya has accepted the little girl without a blink of an eye. Maya grabbed the black dress again and threw it at Riley.

"Chop, chop," Maya said as Isabella continued to giggle.

Riley stepped behind her Chinese curtains and changed into the dress. She felt uncomfortable in the dress and knew that it wasn't for her. She hesitantly stepped out behind and Maya smirked.

The black dress hugged Riley's slim figure and had a long slit along the leg. The back was completely gone and was being held up with a faux diamond halter chain.

"Maya I can't wear this!" Riley said and groaned.

Before Riley could continue to complain, Zay strolled in. He stopped short as he took in Riley in the dress. She hadn't dressed up in years and he knew she wasn't into the glamour scene. However, one look at her and he couldn't think straight.

"Wow," he whistled as Riley blushed.

"See, Zay approves!" Maya said not knowing the history between the two.

"Uncle Zay!" Isabella cheered and Zay laughed.

Isabella leaped from the bed and ran towards Zay with her arms wide open. He picked her up and tickled her stomach as Maya watched. She bit her lip in wonderment and watched Riley avoid eye-contact with her.

"When are we going home," Isabella asked Zay as Maya watched.

"Soon princess" Zay said and turned back to Riley.

"You look amazing Riles," Zay breathed.

"Thanks, Z," Riley whispered and invertedly closed her eyes.

Z was their private thing, something she called him affectionately. She knew that the slip of the tongue could start something that she wasn't ready to explore. However, Zay coughed and cleared his throat.

"Hey Princess, want to go for a spaceship ride?" Zay asked as Isabella yelped with glee.

"Ladies I will be meeting you at the restaurant, I have to meet up with Farkle, … Riley … wow," Zay said and turned Isabella over.

He made noise to mimic a spaceship and ran out of the room. Isabella's laugh bounced off the walls and Riley laughed. Her smile bright but completely dropped at Maya's intense stare.

"You and Zay huh?" She asked.

Riley fidgeted with the dress and broke eye contact with the prodding blonde.

"We are friends," Riley said and turned to the mirror.

"Does he know that?" Maya asked as Riley's shoulders dropped in annoyance.

Maya was staring at her through the mirror and Riley rolled her eyes in annoyance with the investigation.

"Yes, he is my best friend"

Riley could see Maya flinch in the mirror, and turn to open the other bag. Maya fluffed out a skin-tight strapless red dress and Riley slowly turned around. She did not know how to approach this without making things worse. Both girls got swept up at the moment, swept back into the past, and that comment brought them back to reality.

"Maya?" Riley called and twisted her fingers.

Nervous Habit.

"Mhmm?" Maya responded but still locked on the red dress.

"I am sorry, I didn't mean to hurt your feelings, but Zay is my best friend, he was there every step of the way but he doesn't replace our friendship, well the one we used to have. I would like to be friends again, and maybe with time we can rebuild into what it used to be," Riley confessed.

"We can try," Maya said, her voice low and soft.

"I love you," Riley choked and tried not to start crying.

"I love you too," Maya whispered.

Riley smiled at Maya and the blonde tried to muster a smile.

"I just don't trust you," Maya whispered and broke eye contact.

Riley sighed and understood Maya's train of thought. Maya scooped the dress and walked out of the room to change. Riley sauntered to her full-length mirror and took a slow spin to see the dress. Riley was lanky her whole life, however certain parts had filled out. The dress hugged her in the right place. She fidgeted with the dress before walking over to the only heels she brought. Black which went perfectly with the dress.

She made a face at her hair and thought about straightening it.

He missed the long hair.

Riley shook the thoughts out of her head and made a face. She couldn't think about him right now. It wasn't fair to Allison, Zay, herself, and not Lucas. Just thinking of his name made her uneasy. It was like she was in high school again.

"You're not doing your hair, your makeup?" Maya asked and Riley jumped.

She hadn't noticed Maya come back in, dressed in the strapless ruby red bodycon dress.

"You look beautiful," Riley said and gave her a Riley smile.

"You look like a zombie," Maya said and Riley feigned offense.

"Makeup isn't high on my priorities, being a mom-" Riley was looked at by Maya.

"As a former child of a single parent that's bullshit, sit down," Maya said and walked over to her purse.

Riley knew better than to object and sat down. She watched Maya rummage in her bag and walked back to her.

"Close your eyes" Maya demanded.

Riley sighed and allowed Maya to do her magic. It felt nice to be taken care of, even if it was for one night. She jumped when she felt the heat from a blow dryer as Maya fixed her hair. She didn't want it to seem she was putting in effort for him. She hoped no one took it that way.

"Done," Maya announced and Riley opened her eyes.

Maya had a grin that only worried Riley.

"Here," Maya said and passed Riley a tube of lipgloss.

"Is this?" Riley couldn't finish and could see the sad look in Maya's eyes. It was the same brand of lip gloss from when they were kids.

"Yeah, gloss them up," Maya said as she walked away to do her makeup.

Riley looked in the mirror and was surprised to see how different she looked, high fashion, mature. Maya has given her a soft highlight on top of the bronzer. Her eyelids were done with a smoky look and silver accent on her duct.

"I look … thank you, Maya," Riley said.

"Makeup just highlights what's there," Maya said and smacked her lips. Her lip matches her dress and she let her hair out of its bun. She looked fierce and like a starlet.

"You look wow," Riley said as Maya giggled.

"Let's go," Maya announced.

Riley trailed behind Maya as they walked into the restaurant. Maya has filled the cab ride with updates about Katy and Shawn. She "learned" about Maya's little brother Chet. She faked shock over something Cory told her years ago. It felt wrong but she didn't want to drive a wedge between them further.

"Maya darling,"

Riley spun to see Allison with a glass of wine walking towards them. Allison was in a white elegant dress that floated to the floor. Her blonde hair was pin-straight and minimal makeup. Riley awkwardly folded inward, Allison was beautiful.

"Hey Alli," Maya said and the two hugged.

Riley swallows the jealousy and nerves.

"Oh hello Riley, look at you, you're stunning" Allison cooed and reached for her.

"Hello Allison," Riley muttered and allowed the awkward hug.

"Is everything alright?" Allison asked, noticing the tension.

"Riles is just an awkward being," Maya joked.

"Were you too mates?" Allison asked and Riley could feel the pain in her heart.

That question brought her back to reality. She wasn't best friends again with Maya. This wasn't just a night on the town, she was a piece of the past.

"I need a drink," Riley muttered and walked away to the bar.

Maya sighed as Allison made a face.

"Yes, she's my best friend," Maya said as she watched Riley rush to the bar.

"Was,"

Maya rolled her eyes and saw Lucas with a pointed look on his face.

"Huckleberry," Maya greeted.

"Short stack," Lucas shot back.

"No you two behave, besides it's rare when we're all together. Maya, please apologize to Riley for me, I'll tell the chef almost everyone is here," Allison said before floating away.

"You two seem very chummy," Lucas muttered.

"I can take Alli in small doses," Maya grumbled.

"I meant her," Lucas said.

Maya didn't want to get into this discussion with Lucas. They had grown closer over the years. However, the more Maya had hoped Riley would return the less Lucas believed it. She didn't even admit it to Riley, but having her back made Maya whole again. Now with Isabella …

"And?" Maya questioned.

"She abandoned all of us," Lucas said.

"Not tonight Lucas, tonight is about Josh," Maya said as Lucas brought a drink up to his lips.

"Slow down tonight," Maya whispered.

"Not tonight Maya" Lucas mocked.

"I have to use the restroom, try not to be a dick," Maya said.

Lucas turned back and watched Riley sit at the bar. He groaned at her outfit, not wanting to admit the attraction was still there. As soon as he saw her, he couldn't stop, and he had to. He looked around for Allison but she was gone and there was no other person around.

He turned back to her and watched the bartender linger after placing her drink down. She giggled and Lucas felt that he was suffocating hearing it. Four years, four fucking years, and Riley didn't know the power she held over him. His jaw clenched as the bartender leaned closer to her.

"Take a photograph, it's lasting,"

Lucas jumped and saw a face he hadn't seen in over a year.

"Smackle?" Lucas gulped.

Allison took it to the word that she was inviting all of their little group.