Summer Love

Chapter 23

A/N: I'm so sorry to have left you guys without a new chapter for so long! It was really busy with the end of school, but now it's summer break so I finally had time to write this final chapter. Hope you all like it :)

-------------------------

Maya's POV

We're still driving, but according to Mrs. Matthews, we're getting really close to home. I'm lying in bed. With everything that's happened in these last few weeks, I'm exhausted.

I just realized that one year ago today, the whole gang met Lucas. Back when he was the new guy, and a cowboy. Back when he was simply my friend.

There's a knock on my door.

"Come in!" I yell. It's probably Riley. She was playing a game with Farkle, Auggie, and Ava, but maybe she's done.

Lucas walks in.

"Hey, huckleberry," I say. "Today is..." I trail off. The answer isn't going to be a good one. I mean, his father is dead; why would he be thinking about us?

He gives me a smile. "Happy one-year-of-meeting-iversary, Maya."

I give him a quick kiss.

"You too."

He sits down next to me and takes my hand. I rest my head on his shoulder, closing my eyes.

Riley and Farkle walk in, almost touching. They sit down too. Lucas, me, Riley, Farkle.

"I'm gonna miss this," Farkle says.

"What?" Riley ask.

"The four of us together. I mean, we'll be in school with each other and all that, but this summer has just been really amazing."

"Preach, Minkus," I say. I look around at my three best friends. "But even if the summer's over, we won't let this friendship be."

"Never," Riley agrees.

"This has been the worst summer of my life," Lucas says with a laugh. "But definitely most memorable. Because even when there was nothing to be happy about, you guys could still make me smile."

This makes us all beam.

Shawn's POV

I knock on the door to Maya and Riley's room.

"Come in, Shawn," I hear Maya say.

I open the door. "How'd you know it was me?"

"Riles' family doesn't knock; they're pigs," she replies with a laugh.

I laugh too. "So, Maya," I say. 

"Yeah?" she asks. 

"You... you wouldn't mind if I took your mom out on a date, would you?"

Maya stares at me for a second, her mouth hanging open. A grin emerges on her face. "Yyyyyyaaaaaaaaayyyyyyy!"

Riley's POV

We're only 3 hours away from home. Only 3 more hours with my best friends on the summer we'll never forget. But this summer has had everything. Lucas and Maya, me and Farkle, and best of all, the four of us and our whole family on the ride of our life. 

I wonder how we'll top it next summer?

Topanga's POV

Cory's driving as I finish up a game of Go Fish with Auggie and Ava. Man, this kid is getting on my nerves. But I do love her. (I also love throwing her out, but that would be sort of hard to do here...)

I tap Cory's shoulder. "Hi honey."

He smiles. "Hey."

"This is it," I say. 

"Yes it is," he replies. "We got to spend time with our kids, and students..."

"And your family, and Katy, and your favorite person in the world..." I continue. 

Cory nods. "Yeah," he says. "Shawn." 

I laugh and rest my head on his shoulder. 

"Only a couple more hours."

"Mmm-hmm," I say. "I miss home."

"Me too, Topanga." 

He looks out into the streets. "But as long as I have you, it doesn't matter where I am."

I kiss his cheek. "My home is wherever you are."

Lucas's POV

There is nothing better than a room full of your favorite people in the world. A place where you can all be safe and happy together. We're sleepy, but no one wants to fall asleep since we're so close to home.

Topanga walks over. "Picture?" 

We smile at her camera. "Wow," she says. "This is good of everyone."

And it is. But nothing will ever capture how Maya's head feels on my shoulder, or how Farkle looks at Riley when she's not looking, or the wonderful pain in our sides as we laugh at whatever the heck Eric's doing. 

We're all filled with as much of the summer as we can take with us, though. With memories, with sorrow, with joy. And we drive through the forests and highways and streets back home in our RV full of love.

---------------------------

A/N: 

The end.