Maya's POV

"Did you see it?!" Riley squeals as I grabbed my textbooks. She was obviously happy about whatever she was talking about because she's in her "so-happy-it's-unhealthy" mode.

I slammed my locker door and say, "No, obviously I haven't seen it, because I'm still in my 'why-must-it-be-Monday-morning?' mode. Now what is it?"

"Come on," Riley giggled and then she grabbed me by the sleeve and dragged me to the end of the hall. She points to a bright pink poster covered in glitter. There was a picture of a couple waltzing on it and in big bold letters, it read:

THE ENCHANTED GARDEN GALA: COME DANCE THE NIGHT AWAY! MUSIC, LIGHTS, ROMANCE! FALL IN LOVE UNDER THE FULL MOON!

WHEN: MARCH 24, 8:00 PM

COST: $8.00 PER TICKET

"No way, no how," I say as straightforward as I could.

Riley's happiness instantly deflated. "But it's the Enchanted Garden Gala!" she whines, "Everyone will be going!"

"You only want to go because you finally have a boyfriend," I say, "Besides the dance practically requires a date to go."

"You see right through me," Riley sighs.

She and Lucas have finally started going out, and my worst fears have been realized: I am becoming a third wheel. I don't want to lose my best friend because she's dating and I'm not. And she and Lucas could break up and where would that leave me? I wish Riles was single again so we could have something in common for once.

"I bet I could find you a fella for the dance," Riley says, smiling again.

I couldn't help it; I started to laugh. I laughed so hard that my lungs started to ache. Riley looked hurt but my eyes were swimming in tears of laughter to notice. Riley Matthews, a matchmaker?! Her brother would do a better job, look at him, he's married! Sure, she found Lucas, but only because he returned the feelings. And look at me, boys are intimidated by my icy glares, only guys who are paid would take me to the dance. Only Farkle would be confident enough to but I burn him so many times, he's well-roasted. The only guy I ever liked was Josh, but I learned my lesson: love is a jerk. And as if my mother would let me date. When I was little, she drilled into my head that all men are sons of the devil and that Prince Charming was just a delusional fantasy conjured up by the diseased minds of hormone-induced teenage girls. The divorce really shook her up, okay? It's why no men dare ask Katy Hart out, she scares them. And look who inherited it.

"I'm sorry Riles, but you just can't just wave a magic wand and my Prince Charming arrives on a white horse. The universe doesn't work that way," I say.

"Or can I?" Riley teases, tapping her index finger on my nose like a wand.

"No you can't, this conversation is over," I say. I was about to leave for class when Riley puts her hand on my shoulder. She has a crazy idea swarming in her head, I can tell by the glint in her eye.

"I bet I can find you the perfect match for the dance and show you that romance is worth it, or twice your loneliness back," she declares.

"I'm not lonely, just single," I grunt.

"Please," she begs. I can't stand it when she begs, she gets these huge doe eyes and her lip trembles and it's like slapping a puppy. And I can't stand it when my little plant gets upset.

"Fine," I say, exasperated.

"Yay," Riley cheers, "I promise you won't regret this!" Riley then started skipping down the hall to her next class.

"I doubt it," I mutter to myself.

Author's Note: So what do you think? Will Riley find Maya her Prince Charming? Or is Maya right about love being a jerk? The next chapter will be in Riley's POV and the narrator role will alternate between them. Which do you think is cuter: Joshaya or Faya? I just think they're both kinda cute. Remember, don't start un-believing (guess where that quote came from and who said it) Okay, I heart you! — MadameX818