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lastmannsqueen · 8 years

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Sun and Moon

Part 3 of 3

Part 1 Part 2

Note: This is long overdue. There’s some Joshaya thrown in there for you Joshaya shippers. Also, if you haven’t read my one shot Helios I hope you give it a shot. There’s some RF and RL in that one. Anyway, I hope you enjoyed reading this and expect many more one shots or short stories. Up next is either a Joshaya one (The Girl with Aquamarine Eyes) or a Rucas one (Vernorexia or Pluviophile). Anyway, I hope you enjoy this!

***

Josh stayed in the corner as he watched Maya trying to spark up a conversation with Lucas. He was too busy staring at the pair, he didn’t see Farkle approaching him.

“Freak Face number three,” Farkle exclaimed walking towards him. “I finally got away from a sugar-hyped Freak Face number two,” He pointed towards Zay who was dancing up a storm in the middle of the bakery. “I see you’re trying to burn Lucas with your eyes.”

“I don’t have laser eyes, Dr. Turtleneck,” Josh’s eyes flickered to Farkle and his new look. “Or should I say Dr. Too Cool or whatever. Hey, I have that jacket!”

Farkle’s cheeks flushed, “You influenced my style in a way. So have you said hi to Maya?”

Josh’s jaw clenched and Farkle’s eyes brightened at the action. “She seems pretty occupied to me. I wouldn’t want to bother her.”

Farkle’s eyes followed Josh’s to see Maya mumbling something to Lucas. Lucas’ eyes were elsewhere, firmly glued to Riley who was being flirted on by Charlie Gardner.

“Ah, yeah, that’s a mess over there,” Farkle stated. “I wouldn’t get too close to any of that.”

“So, my niece has a new boyfriend and Maya likes Lucas now,” Josh didn’t seem all too happy. “When did this happen? More importantly how?”

“I think it’d be good if you talked to Maya,” Farkle told him. “I think she needs to clear her mind and untangle her confused emotions and you’re just the person to do it.”

Farkle walked away and Josh noticed Lucas had gotten up to get punch, but was interrupting his niece’s conversation. Josh weaved his way through the crowd, his eyes set on the bored blond.

“You and Lucas?” He blurted out. He cleared his throat and started again. “What happened to you being in it for the long game?” He took pulled a seat next to her and watched as her face grew redder.

“Aren’t you happy I’m not chasing you like a lost puppy?” She questioned. “Isn’t that what you wanted? Me to leave you alone.”

“How would you know what I wanted?”

“You shot me down multiple times,” She grumbled.

“I didn’t,” Josh told her, his eyes trained on her. “I said you were too young, I started looking at you differently Maya.” He placed his hand on her arm and gave it a squeeze. “I’m not sure what to make of what life throws at us, but I can’t see myself not having someone like you in it. All I want is you happy and if Lucas makes you happy, I’m happy for you.”

He got up to leave but her voice stopped him.

“What if he doesn’t make me happy?” Maya asked in a small voice. “What if I was wrong about everything? What if I was just confused and now I’m lost? What if I lost myself in the process, Josh?”

Josh gave her a deliberate look and offered a feeble smile. “What I’ve always liked about you Maya was that you were always so sure of yourself. You marched to your own drum. You didn’t want to be like the sun, because you were a moon and you had your own special light to offer people. I hope you realize that being you is the best person you can be.”

Maya gazed at him with watery eyes and it broke his heart when her lips trembled.

“Have you ever heard the story of how the Sun loved the Moon so much, he died every night to let her breathe?”

“I’d do the same if it meant you’d be happy.” With that, Josh left Maya Hart trembling with emotions as she began to process everything that had happened that confused her.

***

Charlie smirked up at Lucas, his green eyes twinkling with arrogance. Riley stood at Charlie’s side trying her best to look she actually wanted to be next to him. Lucas was glaring at Charlie, fed up with every subtle insult he threw the Texan’s way. They were arguing about who knew Riley better and Lucas was hurt that Charlie had gotten to see her little quirks. Quirks he felt that he had only known.

“Okay no one knows Riley better than Maya and I,” Farkle interjected as he pushed Lucas out of his way and poured himself some punch. “Could you two Freak Faces flare your feathers and go see who’s the alpha male elsewhere? I need to talk to Riley.”

Riley’s eyes widened with panic, she tried to look at Charlie and Lucas for help, but they were too busy staring each other down to notice.

“How about I start cleaning up so we can head out to your building’s roof?” Charlie said and Riley nodded. He swooped in and pecked her cheek quickly before going to put away some things.

Lucas’ eyes flared up with a fire Farkle thought would burn up half of New York City. “I’ll help with the clean up. I know this will take forever to clean up. I’ll also start ushering people to where your parents are.”

Riley smiled warmly at Lucas and his face softened, an action that didn’t go unnoticed by Farkle. Lucas looked like he was going to hug Riley, but he thought better of it and left quietly.

“He loves you.”

“Farkle!”

“It’s all over his freak face!”

“He likes Maya,” It pained Riley to say that out loud. “She’s happy.”

“Are you still sure she is?” Farkle inquired. “I know you two better than the back of my hand. She doesn’t seem happy, Riley. Neither are you. It’s ridiculous that you’re doing this.”

“You want her happy don’t you, Farkle? You’ve always been our stars and our clouds, always there for us. I know what I’m doing.”

“I don’t think you do,” He said sincerely, concern washing over his face. “The Sun didn’t have to die for the Moon. You stop dying at midnight Riley. You start breathing again and she’ll continue to breathe.”

The air gushed out of her lungs as she watched his retreating back. If she started breathing and living at midnight, why did it feel like she was slowly dying? Drowning in her emotions, drowning in everything her actions had gotten her into. She didn’t want Maya to lose her light and she was willing to lose her own light at Maya’s expense.

***

Farkle had kept his promise, and honestly, Riley should have known he wasn’t bluffing. Their friendship was valuable and Farkle wouldn’t let something like this deteriorate Riley nor the group.

Riley’s eyes flashed towards Lucas and then towards Maya. They both looked stunned and rooted to their place. Their classmates rushed out and Riley moved towards the corner, to stay hidden under the shadows. Lucas looked like he was going to walk towards Riley, but Farkle pulled him away reluctantly. Farkle knew that Maya and Riley needed to talk. Riley watched as everyone left. Josh was the last one to leave. He lingered by the door watching Maya intently before he left too.

After a prolonged silence, Maya’s quivering voice filled the air. “Is it true?”

The shimmering light from the fireworks highlighted Maya’s features, Riley stayed hidden in the shadows too afraid to come out.

“Maya…”

“Do you still have feelings for Lucas?”

Riley remained silent and Maya’s voice only grew angrier, “Tell me, Riley.”

“Yes,” Riley felt the tears slip down her face, but she tried her best to keep her voice even. “I do, Maya. I’m sorry I didn’t mean to– I don’t want to. If I could stop myself from feeling what I feel I would. I swear!”

“How could you?” Maya snapped her face sparking with fury.

Riley flinched at her tone, feeling an iron grip on her lungs. The pressure was maddening and she suddenly felt terribly breathless. She couldn’t breathe.

“Maya I am so sorry!” Riley pleaded stepping out and grasping Maya’s hand gingerly.

“No you’re not Riley,” Maya abruptly walked towards the bench and sat down, Riley followed although she felt like melting onto the roof. “You’re not sorry for doing what you did, you wanna know how I know?”

Riley swallowed the thickly but didn’t respond.

“You don’t regret making me temporarily happy,” Maya continued a soft smile on her face that surprised Riley. “I’m not mad that you can’t shut off your feelings, Riles,” Maya took Riley’s hand in hers and gripped it firmly. “I would never force you to stop feeling what you feel. I’m angry that you are willing to sacrifice your happiness for mine.”

“I always will, peaches,” Riley admitted, lacing their fingers together. “Without question.”

“How could you do that to yourself, honey?” While her voice was soft, there was also an underlying hostility to it. “Why would you do that? Why would you let go of Lucas in order to make me happy?”

“I’ve only ever wanted to make you happy, Maya Hart.”

Maya’s ocean blue eyes flickered towards Riley who had her head bowed. She tucked her fingers under Riley’s chin and lifted it up slowly.

“Oh, honey you make me happy every day,” Maya confessed with a beaming smile. “Lucas…I’m honestly confused. I thought I should feel something for him, but it’s become clear he doesn’t make me happy. Not the way you think. He’s my friend, Riles. I see that now.”

“You don’t have to lie, Maya,” Riley said feeling the air being squeezed out of her lungs with the rising anticipation of her total downfall. “I know you’ve liked Lucas for a long time, I won’t let you step back again.”

“I never stepped back,” Maya’s eyes glittered from the moonlight and stars. “It was always you and Lucas and always will be. I don’t honestly don’t like him like that, I thought I did. I wanted to. I still like Josh.”

“Why did you want to like him?”

“He’s like you in some ways,” the blonde said. “The best parts of him are like you, but on him, I can’t stand it. He’s such a Huckleberry. You…you Riley, you’re the sun.”

Riley felt her insides tingle at the compliment. It’s been said before but never like this. Never with so much passion, love, and appreciation.

“I guess I wanted to like him, because I saw a bit of you in him,” She paused trying to gauge Riley’s reaction. “I liked that he represented the good I see in you. But I also saw a lot of me, those parts were anything but sunshine. I thought since he was like me in that sense but with bits of you, we’d work out. Truth is, I like teasing him more than I want to like him romantically. He needs you to center him, he needs me to be a good supporting friend.”

“You’re his sun just like you are mine,” Maya dazzled her with another smile. “I didn’t want to share you and some part of me grabbed on to him, because it made sense to me that I’d keep you. You’re my best friend and I don’t want to lose you to him.”

“You will never lose me, Maya Penelope Hart.”

“I know that now, Riles. You’re my Sun, if I lose you…I lose my light.”

“If I lose you I’d never unfold my hands,” Maya’s grip on Riley’s hands tightened as she spoke.

“Don’t ever let go of me,” Maya’s voice was broken as Riley’s eyes filled with promise.“This Moon needs her Sun, but don’t let go of yourself in order to please me. Don’t ever hurt yourself for me, I can’t see you in pain.”

“I promise,” Riley whispered into the air watching the bright moon as she leaned back on the bench.

“Tell me the story about how the Sun loved the Moon so much, he died every night to let her breathe.” Maya’s head fell onto Riley’s shoulder.

Riley felt a soft smile form on her face. “You’d think the sun was stupid.”

“Not stupid, just too selfless for its own good.”

“How about the one where the Moon helps the Sun shine during the day and Sun helps the moon glimmer during the night?”

***

A couple of days after New Year’s, Josh Matthews was lounging at Topanga’s waiting for his niece’s friends to show up. The first one to show up was Lucas and as soon as he saw Josh he took a seat next to him.

“You like Maya,” Lucas stated bluntly as Josh struggled to compose himself from such surprising accusation. “I’ve seen the way you look at her.”

“She’s too young.” Josh shrugged picking at the blueberry muffin he had gotten.

“Not by much,” Lucas said. “Can I offer some advice Josh?”

Josh smirked and nodded, “You’re going to give me advice anyway, Cowboy.”

“Don’t give up on what you feel for her,” Lucas said with a smile. “Wait for her. She’s been waiting for you to come around for a long time, just wait it out for her.”

“Is that what you’re doing with Riley? Waiting for her to come around?”

“Yeah,” Lucas confirmed. “She thinks we won’t last and end up hating each other. I know that won’t happen. I’m waiting for her to see that too. She’s my Sun, she lights me up even when it’s dark.”

“I can say the same thing about Maya,” Josh placed his muffin on the table and glanced at the back of the room where Maya’s Sun and Moon drawing hung. “She’s like the Moon alluring and beautiful, she has her own special light. I’ll wait for her. Just don’t give up on my niece.”

“I will never give up on what Riley and I have.”

“Good,” Josh clapped Lucas on the shoulder. “Or else her uncle won’t be too happy.”

They watched as the rest of the group trickled in and they all shared new memories. The New Year was looking very promising.

***

Maya’s head was on Riley’s shoulder as the sat on the bay window listening to the soft music coming from Riley’s phone.

“Life is changing isn’t?” Riley asked as Maya lifted her head off Riley’s shoulder. “You’ve got a promise from Josh for an eventual future. I’ve got Lucas who says he’ll wait until I’m ready for a relationship. We’ll be starting high school soon. What if we drift away, Maya?”

“This will never change, Riles,” Maya said lacing her fingers with Riley’s and watching their friendship rings touch. “You are my Sun and I am your Moon. No matter what life throws at us, we will always be friends. Nothing can break us apart. Not a boy, not a new school, not even us trying new things in high school. We will always be here for each other.”

“I love you, Maya,” Riley’s eyes glistened under the light as she pulled Maya towards her.

The sun was setting and a golden light bathed the room. Maya mesmerized glanced at Riley.

“You turned gold,” She grinned, glancing down at her shimmering hand. “I turned gold.”

“All the moon needs is a little bit of light to glow,” Riley murmured as Maya beamed.

Maya tugged Riley into a warm embrace and the brunette smiled delighted. “The Sun doesn’t need to die to let the Moon breathe. I love you too, Riley.”

The two girls stayed sitting there in awe, as the golden rays washed away and the sky darkened. The moon and the stars sparkled beautifully against the blue-hued sky and lit up the city.

Riley’s head fell onto of Maya’s and everything felt peaceful. Her lungs felt free. She didn’t need to slowly die every day in order to let Maya hope and dream and be happy. They made each other happy, a pair that worked in a cohesive manner, bringing out the best in each other. The Sun no longer died every night to let the Moon breathe.

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