Protected

Reconcile

I wasn't mad at Lucas any more. I didn't have it in me. I had Riley, my best friend, but she was with Farkle, and sometimes I felt like the third wheel. Riley assured me that I wasn't, but that was just the kind of thing Riley said. 

So, right now, Lucas was the only person I had all to myself. I know this sounded stupid and selfish and greedy, but I needed him.

I woke up and untangled myself from Riley, who still had me in a bear hug. She was still frowning, even in sleep, and her eyes were still red and puffy from crying herself to sleep. I knew she probably had dreams just like mine, and she cried in her sleep.

I went downstairs, where Farkle, Zay, Josh and Lucas were crowded around the kitchen table. Lucas stood to meet me, warily. I threw my arms around his neck and leaned my head to his chest.

"I forgive you," I said.

There was a collective sigh of relief from around the room, and Lucas wrapped his arms around me gratefully.

He tilted my head up and kissed me gently.

"I'm so, so sorry, Maya," he said, looking at me with those emerald eyes.

"I know you are, Lucas. And I forgive you," I reassured him.

He nodded and smiled. Farkle approached me warily, he wanted to know about Riley.

"How is she?" he asked, "I hate that I hurt her." And I knew that he genuinely did.

"She cried herself to sleep," he winced, "And she fell asleep while bear hugging me. She had nightmares all night and kept crying in her sleep," he looked like he might cry, too, "But she could never stay mad at you." I finished.

As if on cue, Riley came down the stairs, looking bleary and tired. She ran to Farkle and hugged him, just as I did to Lucas.

"I got it out of my system, Farkle. I'm sorry I was angry at you. I hate being angry at you. Take me back?" she pleaded.

"I never let you go," he said.

They hugged tightly. Farkle took her hand and kissed the ring on it.

"I promise that I will never keep any secrets from you again, future Mrs. Minkus," he said.

I wrinkled my nose.

"Riley Minkus? Oh, that's terrible," I said, "I like Farkle Matthews."

We all burst out laughing. Maybe a little too hard, but we were all glad to have something to laugh about.

"So," Lucas said casually. I was immediately suspicious. "I was thinking... maybe you could move in with me."