The Girl They Couldn't Find

Epilogue

9th March 2021
Tuesday

Riley Matthews sat, hunched over the silver computer, as her fingers furiously flew over the black keyboard.

Her chocolate brown eyes were focused intently on the small black markings on the screen. She barely paid attention as the door to her dorm opened spookily.

"Bla bla bla...mind suffers...bla bla bla...reality," she muttered under her breath, as a dark, shadowy figure crept towards her, hands outstretched, as if ready to kill.

The figure suddenly wrapped his tanned arms around a triumphant Riley, and she screamed louder than the loudest banshee as the figure rolled on his sides, laughing his head off.

"Lucas!!" Riley yelled, punching her boyfriend playfully. "I was finishing my philosophy paper you little twat!"

Lucas Friar gazed at his girlfriend, watching as her long, silky, mocha brown hair danced around her flushed face. He'd never seen his Riley so happy, so smiley. Both of them loved studying at Pennbrook, and with Mr. Feeny here to guide, lecture and nag them, their degrees were flourishing. Maya and Charlie called once a week, sharing colourful stories of their new life in California. Farkle was already the president of a dozen different clubs, and Zay had joined the football and dance team.

He snatched Riley's hand away from her computer, and twirled her around so that his chin was resting on her shoulder.

"Well, I'm your little twat aren't I?" he murmured huskily. He turned her around, and met her lips, pressed against his. Her hands rested on his shoulders as he scooped her up, and deepened their passion.

"My roommate isn't coming back until tomorrow," she giggled, bouncing on the bed like a little kid.

"I hope you like animals," Lucas japed, as he fingered the waistline of her jeans, kissing her pink lips hard.

Out of the blue, Riley's phone rang. Both of them groaned, as Riley rolled off the bed with the elegance of an elephant, and pressed the 'answer' button.

"R-Riley?" Maya Hart stuttered, her voice filled with uncertainty.
"Peaches! You're not meant to call until Friday."
"How's it going?"
"Well, I was finishing my philosophy paper, it's really helping with my psychology degree. Lucas snuck into my dorm, we almost-"
"Riley, I really don't want to know about your sex life. You think I don't know about what happened on the 8th of August? I could hear your Dad screaming in horror all the way from the other side of New York."
"Fine. His veterinary degree's going great, Farkle's managing degree and Zay's engineering degree is good too. Oh, and Zay sprained his ankle during football practise and-"
"OWWWWWWWW! SH*T!!"
"Maya? Are you okay?"
"Riley, my water broke. The babies are coming."

--------------------------------
6pm

Charlie Gardener dashed around the tiny apartment, picking up magazines and comics for Maya to read.

Another yelp was released and in the blink of any eye, Charlie was by his girlfriend's side, squeezing her hand as she buried her face into an old t-shirt. Her massive stomach protruded through her baggy singlet, and her blonde hair tickled Charlie's nose, as Maya carefully pushed herself to her feet, and leant against Charlie.

"Come on. I'll get you to hospital," he muttered, leading Maya out of the apartment and sliding her into the old car.

Without warning, when they were only three blocks away, the car ran out of gas. Maya's contractions were closer, and her screams pierced Charlie's heart. Charlie swerved into a parking lot just in time, and Maya waddled onto the pavement, leaning against a pole, firmly instructing herself not to cry.