Lucas Jr.

Another Train Ride

"Aren't you glad my parents said I could come?" Riley asked happily as Lucas sat down by Farkle and Zay to wait for the train.

"I'm happy you're here." Farkle piped up.

"Sorry Riley, I'm just too nervous to be happy."

Riley opened her mouth to comfort him, but she was cut off by a familiar pet name. "Huckleberry, relax. They'll love ya or at least like ya. It's hard not too." Maya chuckled.

Lucas smiled. "Thanks, Maya. Want me to take that for you? I know how much you hate work." He smirked standing up.

Maya groaned and nodded, then she handed him her bags and sat down in his seat beside Zay. "Thanks, Cowboy."

Lucas chuckled. "No big."

"Riley! Want to sit?" Farkle stood up and held out his hand toward his seat like a gentleman.

Riley giggled. "Thanks, Farkle. What did Smackle say when you told her you were leaving?" She asked him nicely.

Farkle sighed. "Smackle suggested a break until I get back just incase I meet some other girl this weekend. I explained that I would not be able to find another within two days then she said that the situation may change and I should be single for it. Whatever that means." Farkle rolled his eyes.

Lucas and Maya looked down, Riley frowned, and Zay shook his head.

Soon their train arrived and they boarded. Lucas loaded up his and Maya's bags, Farkle helped Riley with her plethora, and Zay simply walked on with his carry on bag.

Farkle got on and sat beside Zay. Then Lucas, Maya, and Riley got on.

Maya groaned when she saw the last available seat was the big one that could seat three people.

Riley glanced at Lucas then at Maya and went to sit down. Maya rolled her eyes and followed.

Lucas took a deep breath and walked over, then he sat down in between them like he has done at the bay window recently.

He offered Riley a polite, somewhat awkward, smile that she returned. Then he turned to Maya.

He grinned. "Thanks again for coming with me. I don't know how I could handle this without you here." Maya smiled, then she saw Riley and her smile fell. She looked away. Lucas frowned, but he turned back to Riley and smiled. "Both of you."

Riley smiled, then he looked away and she frowned again.

"So glad I'm not back there." Zay commented.

Farkle sighed. "As am I, but maybe we shouldn't have left them as a three seater." Zay nodded.

"Look, I know you love your girls, but this has to end and it will. This trip is the end of the triangle."

"I agree." Farkle nodded.

"I know you do, but you also think it should end with Lucas and Riley and I don't agree." Zay said.

"Riley loves him and I don't think Maya does."

"Look again."

Farkle turned and looked down the asile to the last seat. He squinted his eyes to try to see what Zay did.

"All I see is three people awkwardly sitting beside each other." He huffed.

"Look harder."

Farkle stared at them. "Riley glanced at Lucas. He glanced back. She smiled. He smiled back." Farkle voiced his observations. "He glanced at Maya... She glanced down. He smiled at Maya... She looked away." Farkle's tone faded to a realization. "She's sad."

He turned back around and Zay nodded. "Yeah. Funny thing is when I first met her she always seemed happy, not as perky as Riley, but she seemed like she was having fun in life. This triangle makes her sad."

Farkle frowned. "But... I thought it was Riley. I-I thought it was making her sad. I thought Maya was just upset because Riley was." He explained.

"Except Riley is still smiling, but Maya isn't."

Farkle looked again. Riley and Lucas were talking about something. Maya looked sad, really sad, if he had to guess he would say she was about to cry.

"Who does Lucas love?" He asked when he turned back around again. "I-I thought it was Riley."

Zay nodded. "So did I, but then I looked again."

Farkle looked back one last time. "Riley and Lucas stopped talking."

"Because?" Zay smirked.

Farkle sighed. "Because he's arguing with Maya."

"Arguing or flirting?" Zay's smirk widened.

Farkle blinked. "She pulled his shirt again and he is smiling and she is smiling." He smiled then his smile fell. "But now Riley isn't smiling. I don't like seeing her unhappy."

"But it's fine if Maya is?"

"I didn't say that!" He snapped, then he calmed down. "It's just that I'm used to it. Maya being upset or frowning is pretty common, but Riley is unusual. I don't like it."

"Well I mean you have known Maya longer, but I usually see her happy, smiling, making fun of Lucas with a wide grin." Zay sighed. "I don't see much of that anymore and that bothers me."

Farkle took a deep breath. "No matter what happens one of them will be unhappy for awhile." He frowned. "I hate this."