A Huckleberry Love Story

Chapter 1: Summer Vacation

A soft morning light shimmered through the curtains and onto Riley's cheek as she stretched and pulled herself out of bed. She stepped into her fuzzy bunny slippers and made her way downstairs to the kitchen, where she quickly prepared two bowls of milk and cereal. Riley ran back up the stairs with a bowl in each hand, spilling a bit of milk as she stumbled her way up. Once in her room, she opened the window, allowing the light to pour in. 

"Here comes the sun!" Riley exclaimed as Maya climbed through the window. 

"Hey, I'm not the sunshine-y one here." Maya said as she sat down next to Riley on their Bay Window. "I'm the dark, mysterious one, remember?" 

"That's right, peaches." Riley smiled as she pinched Maya's cheeks. "Breakfast?" Riley handed Maya a bowl of Cheerios and picked up her own to eat. 

"Riles, you don't have to make me breakfast anymore. Now that Shawn married my mom, there is always someone home and always food on my table in the morning." Maya smiled, "Shawn can barely fry an egg, but I appreciate his effort." 

"I'm glad you have a family now." Riley said with a smile,"So, what do we do now? Nothing is happening. It's summer. No school, no teachers, no life lessons to be learned. Only time to be enjoyed. What are we going to do this summer, Maya?" 

"Don't know. But as long as I spend it with you, it will be a great summer." 

"Awwwwwee!!" Both girls squealed in unison. 

Maya turned her head to take a good look around the room. "You're right. Nothing is happening." She looked up, as if she was talking to the sky, "Life! Make something happen!" 

"Ladies!" Just then, Farkle climbed through the window, followed by Zay. "Guess what we're doing this summer?" 

"What are we doing this summer?" Riley asked curiously. Whatever it was, Farkle seemed excited about it, and she was glad. Since Smackle broke up with him a few weeks back, Farkle hadn't been himself. Riley was happy to see him excited about something again. 

Zay held up five train tickets. "We're going to Texas!" 

"Texas!?" Maya and Riley exclaimed in unison. "We haven't been to Texas since..."

"since Tombstone the Bull." Riley finished. 

"since that country club and that campfire." Maya finished. 

"since Maya and Lucas almost kissed at that campfire and Riley pretended she didn't love Lucas and the triangle was born?" Zay finished. 

The girls let out an awkward laugh. "Well, none of that matters now!" Riley exclaimed. "That was two years ago. The triangle died, Lucas and I dated for a few months until we broke up and decided we were better as friends, Maya is herself again, and nobody has feelings for nobody! We are all friends and we are all going to Texas and this will be the best summer of our lives!" 

"Hey, speaking of huckleberry, where is he?" Maya asked. 

"He's packing!" Farkle proclaimed. 

"Yeah, and you better start packing, too." Zay started, "we're leaving tomorrow morning." 

"Well, yee-haw!" Maya shouted with a slap to her knee. 

Riley took Maya's hand, "ready for the best summer of our lives, Peaches?" 

"Ready." Maya squeezed Riley's hand. "This will be the best summer of our lives."