A New Beginning

Like a Puzzle

A/N: Guys I am extremely sorry for not updating for a while! I will try to update often again, school has started so it's hard to find time, I'll try to update again soon!

Lucas POV:
Riley silently walks out the door. Not saying anything about where she was going. I sit for a minute and then decide to try and call her. I pick up my phone and find her contact. I press the call button, but it goes to voice mail. I hang up and sigh loudly. I think about where Riley goes when she has problems. "Maya." I say to myself. I rush over to her place and knock on the door. "What Bucky McBoing Boing." She huffs. "Is Riley here?" I ask hopeful. "No... Isn't she with you?" She questions. "No I kinda made her a little mad." I confess. Maya grabs my shirt and pulls me towards her face like she did in 8th grade. "Why are you hurting my best friend? Huh Hopalong?!" She whisper-yells. "I didn't mean to..." I say. She lets go of my shirt and shuts the door in my face.

I walk back to my apartment. The kids are still asleep, so I lay on the couch watching tv and thinking about how I've messed up. I slowly drift off asleep.

Riley POV:
I decided to walk to my destination so that I could clear my head. I don't understand so much in this situation. Why did I walk out like that? Why was Lucas being so protective? I decide to take a detour and go to Chipotle for a few minutes since I'm hungry.

After I am done eating I walk for a few minutes before making it to my destination. I knock on the door three times before the door opens. "Hey Riley, what brings you here?" He asks. "Hi Uncle Josh. I needed to clear my head, and you can always help me." I say as he guides me to his couch. "Well what's the problem?" He asks concerned. "Boy problems." I answer.

"Boy problems?"

"Yes"

"Is this about your fake husband?"

"Lucas, and yes."

"Aren't you two boyfriend and girlfriend too?"

"Yeah,"

"So tell me what happened."

I tell Josh everything that happened. He nods occasionally and he looks as if he's understanding. "Well Riles, here's the thing you have to ask yourself. Would you rather Lucas be over protective or not even care?" Josh states. I lock eyes with him and I think about this question. Josh holds such a good point with this, "Of course I'd rather him be over protective." I answer. I sigh as I realize Josh's whole point. "And I should be thankful that he cares for me so much." I say. "That's exactly what I wanted for you to realize. Now, shouldn't we be getting to your apartment to cook for Thanksgiving dinner?" Josh says. "We?" I ask. "Well yeah, I'm not going to let you walk alone back. I'm driving you, and I might as well stay since I would be coming in like two hours any way."

Once we get back to the complex, I knock on the door, and Josh stands behind me. Lucas answers the door with a plain face on. Not a smile, not a frown. "Uhh, h-hi Lucas..." I stutter. He rubs the back of his neck and says, "Yeah, hi." Still with a plain face. "I just wanted to-" I say but am cut off. "Riley. Why did you run off like that? I don't understand!" He yells. I open my mouth to talk, but nothing comes out.

"Look Riley I-I don't want to hear it." He says looking at his feet. I am on the verge of tears now. This is because of what I did. "But-" I say but am once again cut off but Lucas' words. "Riley I don't even know what to say." Then Josh cuts in, "Lucas, just give Riley a chance. She is a great person." "I know she is." Is all Lucas says and opens the door wider and walks away. I enter and Josh isn't far behind me. I plop down on the couch and my uncle sits beside me. Lucas goes somewhere but appears after a minute. He sits on the other couch silently. There's a knock on the door, and I know it's my mom. "I'll get it." I say hoping up.

Topanga POV:
I knock on the door to Riley's new apartment and she answers the door with a huge smile. "Hey Mom, come in!" She gestures me inside. I look to find Josh relaxing on one couch and Lucas looking stiff on the other. I decide to shake it off.

"So what do you need help with?" I ask politely as I approach the kitchen. "Everything really." Riley replies rinsing her hands in the sink.

After we have finished cooking pretty much everything, all 6 of us sit in the living room to watch the parade on TV. Christine and little Josh sit on the floor, Riley, Josh my brother in-law, and I sit on one couch, and Lucas sits alone on the other. Now I know something is wrong. I decide not to ask in front of everyone. I will ask her later. This is like a puzzle.

After the parade, the green bean casserole is ready so Riley and I go to the kitchen to take it out. Once in the kitchen I place a hand on one of Riley's shoulders, "Riley what's happened between you and Lucas?" I ask puzzled. She looks at me dead in the eye and says in a plain tone, "Nothing, Mom, everything is great." I look at her and frown; I know everything is not great. "You can tell me, nothing goes beyond this room." I say honestly. "Mom it's nothing." She says turning around. I sigh and walk behind her. "Riley this is not nothing! It is completely obvious that you two are not getting along. Tell me and I'll help you fix it before everyone comes!" I say huffing. "Fine. You want to know what happened?!" She says turning back around like a diva. "Well that'd be nice." I sass back. "He got on my last nerve and I lost my temper this morning. I walked, no. I jogged out of here because I didn't want to talk to him for a bit. There."