Riarkle One Shots

Ship

"I ship it," Maya tells us.

I shake my head at her. "That's not helping us Maya."

"The whole school ships it," Lucas points out.

"Guys!" Riley groans. "We aren't a couple. We are just really, really good friends. Why don't people get that boys and girls can be really good friends without having to date or anything like that.

I nod in agreement.

We're all sitting in Riley's living room. Her parents are out of town and Auggie is with Dewy. We're just keeping her company until her parents get back tomorrow.

The thing is someone in our class posted a picture of Riley and I racing to my car after school. That's when Maya told us everyone thinks we would be a cute couple. Even Mr. Matthews.

Maya looks at Riley who's sitting next to her with Lucas on Maya's other side. "It's not that bad honey. Shipping is just a natural thing that people do. You don't have to take any of it to heart."

"I know that," Riley mumbles into the pillow she's clutching.

I look at the ceiling and adjust myself on the armrest next to Riley. "I just think it's weird to know that people are looking at us and thinking 'wow they would be a cute couple' or 'I think those two should go out' and... well you get the point."

"Exactly," Riley agrees. "I want to hangout with my Farkle freely."

"Oh, your Farkle," Maya jokes making Riley blush and look away.

"I think it's time to for me to hit the hay," the Texan cuts in before anything else can be said.

"Agreed," Riley says while grabbing her hand and heading towards her room. They're sleeping in there and Lucas and I are sleeping in the living room.

"Goodnight," I call to them.

"Night," they reply over their shoulders.

I chuckle and fix my sleeping bag since I offered to sleep on the floor. As I climb in Lucas call me quietly.

"Yes?" I reply without turning to him.

I hear him shift, probably to look at me, and ask, "Is the thought of you and Riley dating really that bad?"

I lay there and think about it. I don't say anything and eventually Lucas assumes I'm asleep and falls asleep himself. I just stay there and think about it. I mean no it's not a bad thing.

In fact, it would be kinda nice I think.

No. I can't think that.

She's my best friend and not supposed to cross that line because that could ruin our relationship forever.

I don't want to ever lose her.

A few hours later and I'm still not asleep when I hear a small voice call out my name. I sit up and turn to see Riley standing by the kitchen counter.

She motions for us to sit on the window seat and I quietly follow. We sit facing each other and I don't know what to say.

"I'm sorry to bug you," she says after a moment. "I just couldn't sleep after that talk, I guess."

I nod. "Me too."

Riley pulls at the ends of her hair and looks into my eyes. "Do you really think it would never work between us?" she mumbles the question.

I'm taken aback for a second. Why is she asking me this?

I slowly answer, "I don't know. I'd like to think it could work."

Stupid. Stupid. Stupid.

"But do you think it could?" Riley presses while leaning towards me.

"Do you want it to?"

"Maybe. Maybe I don't know what I want anymore. Maybe I thought I had everything figured out, and now I don't."

"Well maybe I feel the same way," I whisper. "I just don't ever want to lose you because you are one of my best friends."

"That's exactly I think," she agrees while scrunching up her eyebrows in the cutest way possible. "Why did we hate the idea of us shipping us."

I sigh. "I didn't want to lose you... I still don't."

"But it could work. I mean if you want it to. Maybe this talk was stupid. It's just early, or maybe late I'm not sure, and I'm delirious. Forget-"

I lean in so that our foreheads are touching and I hear her breath hitch. "I'm happy we're having this conversation, and I don't want to forget it."

Her eyes go soft and she smiles lightly. "I like you Farkle. As more than friends."

"I... think I do too."

She puts her hand on mine and I lace our fingers together. I smile at her because she's just so beautiful and she smiles at me for reasons I don't know.

I shift and hug her tightly as I thank everyone for shipping us.