As the night went on about, the four friends continued to enjoy their dance. Between two drinks and a dash to the bathroom to avoid Missy's flying punch glass, Riley and Lucas had shared some good laughs and dances. Although none of them had actually made a real move, they had both though that the night was too good to be overthinking things. Their feet had started to become sore, their ears were buzzing from the loud music and their minds were cloudy from the excess of sugar and hormones.

Lucas took her suddenly out of the gymnasium and in the halls, delicately holding her hand. They had almost made their way through the hallway when they had run into Billy and Zay, who were chatting over by the lockers,

-"Lookin' good Matthews"

-"Thanks Billy. You're not so bad yourself"

-"Careful now, your boyfriend here is the southern kind of jealous." Joked Zay

-"Keep that big mouth of yours shut, wise guy" laughed Lucas, slightly hitting him in the shoulder. Zay winced.

-"Jealous, Intimidating, violent AND has a lack of sense of humor" countered Zay with a side smile, rubbing his shoulder.

-"You pick'em well Matthews." Smirked Billy, avoiding another playful punch coming his way. The couple rolled their eyes and laughed, skipping their way up the stairs and out of the building, on to the rooftop. That space had been used by the School Ecologic and Environmental Department, (S.E.E.D), for a victory garden/green roof for some state competition. Since then it had turned into a whimsical hiding spot for friends and lovers alike to get away from everything and enjoy the view. Maya, who often came up there to draw, had originally shown the spot and the way to get there. That consisted of a small, seemingly forgotten, staircase near the art classrooms. By now the rooftop was dark, illuminated only by New York's glittering hustle and bustle. To live in a place that somehow never slept was something Riley wouldn't trade for the world. Lucas, growing up in a rural pitch-black-and-silent-by-nine ranch, never ceased to be amazed by NY's everlasting energy and life.

But he was even more amazed by that little woman looking over the edge of the balcony with him. The way her eyes never seemed to stop glistening with joy and wonder to the world around her. Thirteen years old and she was a perfect blend between a responsible adult's maturity and a wide-eyed child's innocence. Her quirks and antics could only bring a smile your face and one couldn't help but being attracted to that happy, optimistic, glowing girl. What probably struck Lucas the most about her was how completely unaware she was of her effect on him, and everyone else around her. She didn't try to be anything she wasn't. She presented herself as she was, flaws and insecurities included. And yet you couldn't help but be drawn to her, she was just so…Riley.

-"Lucas?" she asked, as chocolate tentatively met pistachio in the darkness,

-"Yes Riley?" His voice barely above a whisper, scared to break the spell that seemed to enchant them,

-"Remember when you told me you wanted to be a veterinarian?" she asked,

-"Yeah, why?"

-"You said you had told me something you had never told anyone else before. I realized I never returned the favor."

-"So…you want to tell me something?"

-"Something I've never told anyone before." She paused, exhaling quietly. She gathered all the courage she could muster and then…

-"Lucas, I like you. Really like you. Like you like I've never liked anyone before. Like you so much it scares me but makes me feel fearless. Like you for every little thing that you are. The cowboy, the baseball player, the gentleman, the moral compass, the angry boy, the friend that comes to your rescue, the knight in shining armor. And I know we're just two kids at a middle school dance but, like you said, there are some moments that you know you're going to remember forever and I want this to be one of them. So, Lucas Friar, I just wanted you to know that I really like you. If that hadn't been clear…"

-"Oh it was clear alright." Lucas said, dazed and ecstatic all at once. Taken by a flow of courage and throwing away all sort of doubt, he took the step separating him from her,

-"I hope this is clear too." He whispered, then cupped her face with both hands and finally had his moment.

The great thing about first kisses is, because you have nothing else to compare it to, there are expectations to be met. You enjoy it blissfully, not exactly sure of what to do, but not caring at all. Riley wasn't sure the description she had read in books, the exploding fireworks and the angels singing, quite defined what she was feeling. But the way her knees felt weak and bucked, her lips tingled against his and her skin seemed to burn under his hands completely satisfied her.

When the two backed away, smiles so big they probably shone brighter than the city's skyline, Lucas linked both their hands and Riley shot him a questioning glance,

-"Was I not clear?" nervously joked Lucas. She giggled,

-"Oh no, you were! I just…that was your moment right?" she asked

-"I believe it was…" he responded, puzzled,

-"Then I'm just wondering… What am I to you? Now I mean?" Lucas relaxed, understanding where she was going,

-"Well, you'll always be a princess. Except now you'll be my princess. If you want to, that is."

-"Oh I don't mind." She beamed

The two couldn't help but let the huge smiles and laughs escape. Still holding hands, they looked over the view of the buildings and roads filled with noise and vivaciousness. The night always transformed the deafening chaos of the day into a soft rumble, which made it all seem so far away.

-"Remember when you were scared of being outside after seven pm?" Lucas asked, with a smirk,

-" I was hoping we would never have to mention that ever again…" she sheepishly answered,

-"You know I'll probably never let that go right?" Lucas continued,

-"Is it me or is Maya rubbing off on you?" she countered with a smile

-"Oh yeah, pretty soon I'll be introducing myself to people like « Howdy y'all, I'm Hoppalong, I lurv me some sheep-riding and bonfires with my cows, how 'bout you, sugar? »"

Riley threw her head back in a fit of laughter. Lucas though there had never been such sweeter sound to his ears, then wondered when he had become such a cheesy sit-com character.

-"Anyway, how come you stopped being scared of it?" He continued. Riley sighted,

-"I guess I learned to see the beauty in the dark instead of the fear"

-"You know, that's one of the things I like most about you. You see the beauty in everything. And everyone. Even when they don't see it in themselves."

-"Stooop it" Riley cooed, flipping her hair in her usual fashion,

-"I'm serious!" You should see yourself from someone else's point of view, Riles. Then you could see how much of a positive effect you have on everyone. We're all lost little sheep drowning in a sea of chaos without you, Riley. You're our lighthouse bringing back to shore."

-"That's very poetic Lucas, but what do you mean everyone? I'm not some cheerleader Lucas, I don't have that many people in my life."

-"See, that's where you're wrong. You completely change people around you, for the better. Remember how you got the whole school to be more respectful to the staff? How you got Billy to stop bullying Farkle? How you got Zay to stop missing classes? How you helped Farkle through his existential crisis? How much of a rock you are to Maya? I mean, even Charlie is less of a pain since you went out with him, and you know he needs all the help he can get in that department." Lucas explained, sneering at Charlie's name. Riley giggled,

-" You never really liked him did you?"

-"Not really, he brings out a side of me I don't really like. A side you've somehow embraced with me, even though I still haven't completely accepted it myself. And you have no idea how grateful I am to you, for that." He said, sincerity and emotion ringing in his every word. Riley snuggled closer to him, wrapping both arms around his torso and getting on her tippy toes to place a feather light kiss on his cheek.

-"Thank you. You don't know how much it means to me to hear you say that." Lucas smiled and looked down on her, his arm protectively placed around her shoulders. And for the rest of the night those arms stayed linked, as those two kids poured their hearts to each other, lit by the city's light and the sky's stars.

And those two hands remained linked during the whole walk home, and the way up the stairs and to the front door of the Matthews residence. And somehow they managed to stay intertwined as they walked into the apartment and faced the wrath of a certain irrational, loving, worried father. And when the dreaded time of goodbyes came, these hands stayed together while Riley and Lucas shared one last chaste kiss and a gentle squeeze before letting go.

After the two grinning, love struck boys left, Riley and Maya skipped up the stairs and to their sacred bay window, to share, between gushes and giggles, their emotions of the night and just how much of a wonderful creation boys were.

-"I don't care Topanga, I will chaperone the next dance. If she comes back from Homecoming with a boyfriend, I don't wanna know what she comes back with after Prom."

I am finally proud to announce that this story has come to an end. Thank you for everyone who read, reviewed, followed and favorite this story and had the patience to wait during my hiatus and pulled me out of my lethargic state. I hope you've enjoyed this last chapter and you'll enjoy whatever I do next.

R&R

-F