Fall Apart

Chapter Four

"I just don't want to hurt Riley." She urges.

"I know," he sighs, "Neither do I."

***

"So, he likes you?" Riley says. They're sat at the bay window again. They hope it isn't broken. Well, Riley is sat. Maya is layed across it with her head on Riley's lap while Riley plays with her hair.

"Yeah, at least that's what I think he thinks he said," she breathes out.

"Well that's great, isn't it!" Maya can tell Riley is at least a little excited for her. The only other person Maya had liked was Riley's Uncle Josh. And he'd not given up on the argument that he was too old for her. Riley was happy, and less disappointed than both of them had expected.

"I don't know, Riles." She looks up at her, "What about you?"

"This isn't about me. This is about you and Lucas."

"I know you like him. Or at least you did."

"You're right." Maya sits up as Riley stands, "Lucas was my first crush, my first date, my first kiss." Maya nods hopelessly. "But I also thought he was the one the moment you pointed him out on the subway. I didn't even know him. You did, Maya. You got to know him and then you stepped back for me, when you didn't need to."

"Riles, I-"

Riley interrupts. "I know you want to protect me from bad things happening. But you don't need to. Maya, we are going to make mistakes and meet people and go to high school and do lots of things, okay. We were never going to be my mom and dad and I know that. And I'm okay with that. There's plenty more boys or girls out there, not everyone is married when they're two." She holds Maya's hand, "What I'm saying is I want you to go out there and be happy and I've seen how Lucas makes you happy and you really care about each other and ask him out." She meant it.

Maya laughs quietly and puts her head on her best friend's shoulder. "You're still my favourite. I'll always love you the most."

***

They're in Topanga's now; Maya and Lucas. Riley and Farkle are watching from the window outside. Maya and Lucas know this, it doesn't bother them. They're getting smoothies and Katy is working behind the counter. It's too quiet, it's too new and confusing.

He looks up at her. "So this is our new relationship..." She raises her eyebrows.

"Yeah...How's it going so far?" He replies.

"Weird, man." Zay calls from the stools near the counter.

"You don't have to watch!"

"I can't look away!"

"What're you thinking?" He asks.

"Oh, now? Well. It's funny you mention that. Right now what I'm thinking, what is running through my head actually is that I think of you don't start talking to me right now I'm going to pour this smoothie right over your head so why don't you gimme the best you got."

"Did I ever tell you once I ever delivered a baby horse?" Then he feels the cold, wet feeling of strawberry smoothie on his head and neck. "Kinda looked like this. The miracle of life." She's grinning at him and he's grinning back and he has a weird feeling in his chest. "This is what I want."

"What is?" She looked satisfied and curious at the same time.

"This." He puts his hands in the mess of his hair, "We don't have to do the thing where were sit to have coffee and talk for a date. We can... Do us. Be ourselves. I wouldn't have it any other way than this." He motions the mess she's made.

"Gee, thanks Huckleberry."

***

They're pressed arm to arm, almost head to head, watching over the date. Farkle isn't watching the date, he's watching Riley. He'd expected her to be disappointed or a little wistful but she wasn't. A sharp intake of breath from Riley, he looks forward and Lucas is covered in smoothie. But it's okay because he's grinning.

They're walking the girls home. Lucas and Maya are a little ahead. Not quite holding hands but also they couldn't be closer. Farkle had his arm around Riley's shoulders, that's how it had always been. If he didn't do it it would be weird. But it was already weird. Everything was weird. He wanted to be close to her but he didn't because it felt wrong and he had a girlfriend. The Matthews' apartment was on a block or so from the café so it didn't take long do reach. Dawn wasn't quite setting in but they sky was a little darker than the pale blue it had been before.

They're just outside the door when Farkle can't take it. Lucas pushes the door open and Farkle brings his arm back from around Riley and Grabs Maya's shoulder gently, "I need to talk to you... You guys go on, we'll catch up."

"Farkle? What's up?" Maya says as they turn round a corner down the hall, genuine concern in her voice she usually tries to hide.

He takes a deep breath in and out while looking at the floor before he looks back at her, "How do you break up with someone?"