Riley opened her eyes to find that she and Farkle were still in the forest, curled up together with the blanket wrapped around them like a cocoon. She remembered the previous night and a soft smile warmed her features.

Though that wasn't exactly how she'd imagined her first time happening, Riley had to admit that she had no regrets. Some may judge her for sleeping with someone she barely knew, but the truth is, she felt a connection with Farkle. Even if her friends thought he was trouble.

She smiled softly when he opened his eyes and looked up at her, and the small, sleepy smile he gave in return made her heart start racing in her chest. Though she imagined she'd feel awkward the morning after, she didn't feel awkward at all.

"Hey." she whispered.

"Hey." he whispered back. "What time is it?"

"I don't care." Riley murmured. "Let's just...stay here a little longer."

Farkle didn't need to be told twice. His arms wrapped around her and pulled her in close, his head turning to press a gentle kiss to her forehead. "Was last night your first time?" he asked her, his voice soft, and not judgmental at all.

"Yes." Riley whispered. She wasn't going to ask if it was his first time because, frankly, she knew better. But she didn't mind. "Does that bother you?"

"No." Farkle shook his head. "I was just going to tell you that, well...I wouldn't have thought that was the first time you'd done something like that. You were good."

Riley laughed as a lovely shade of red set her cheeks aflame. "I think you're a liar, Mr Minkus."

"Nope." Farkle said. "Genuinely. In fact..."

"What?" Riley dared him. "Go on, say it."

"I've only slept with four girls, but you were the best of all of them, I have to admit. And those were girls that had done it before." Farkle admitted.

Riley chuckled quietly. Then a thought occurred to her. "Farkle..."

"What's up?" he asked, immediately detecting the change of her tone. "Everything okay?"

"Was this..." she trailed off. "Nevermind."

"No, go on." Farkle said, turning to look at her. She turned so she could look him in the eyes, too. She'd know if his answer was a lie if she was looking at him as he spoke.

"Was this a one time thing?" Riley asked, fearing the answer, but asking the question nonetheless.

Farkle was silent for a moment, lost in thought. Then, "I don't know. I don't think so." he said, and she could tell he was being honest.

It was better than a definite yes, and more than Riley could have asked for. A soft smile graced her features again, and Farkle relaxed, reaching out to brush a lock of hair from her forehead. "We should get going." he mused. "We'll be late for college."

"So?" Riley asked. "I don't care."

"You should." Farkle chuckled. "I don't want you to get chucked out, alright?"

"Fine." Riley agreed, and they got dressed, picking everything up and heading back to the car. "I can't go to school in this." she realized, looking down at herself.

"Why not? I think that dress suits you." Farkle said. A pause. Then, "I liked you better out of it, though."

"Farkle!" Riley exclaimed, nudging him gently with her elbow, acting as though she were mortified when, really, she found it funny that he could joke about it. She was relieved that things weren't awkward between them – and when Farkle placed an arm around her waist, guiding her to the passenger seat, she realized that the sparks were still there, even more so than before.

He drove her back to her apartment and, as she went to get out, he reached across to grab her face, bringing her closer so he could kiss her. The kiss went on a lot longer than intended but, when they finally broke apart, he was giving her that mischievous grin of his. "See you at college."

"See you soon." Riley smiled, and she got out of the car, waving as he drove off. Slipping off her heels so as to enter the flat more quietly, she climbed the stairs and turned her key in the lock, bracing herself for Maya yelling and crying and telling her she was an idiot.

But there was nothing. Maya was curled up on the sofa, fast asleep. Riley checked the time. An hour late for college. Typical. She quickly slipped into her room and changed into a different outfit, removing her makeup and reapplying it to a more daytime-friendly setup. She re-did her hair and, honestly, she felt great. She walked into the living room and shook her best friend awake.

She wished she could talk to Maya about losing her virginity, but she knew the blonde would flip and Riley didn't want to fight with her anymore.

"Maya, we're so late!" she exclaimed. "We've gotta get to college."

"Riles..." Maya mumbled, sitting up. "Can't we just skip today?"

"No, Maya. This is college and it's important and we both overslept a bit." Riley shook her head. "Get up."

"Riley...I'm sorry about yesterday." Maya said quietly, and that was that. They were back to normal.

Riley slipped into her Maths class half an hour later, and her teacher merely gave a disapproving look. As she headed towards where she'd normally sit, however, Farkle spoke up.

"Hey, Riles." he was grinning at her, and there was a free seat beside him, which he patted. "Come sit down."

So she did. She made her way to the back and sat beside Farkle and he was smirking at her in a way that made her stomach flutter. "Late night?" he asked, loud enough for everyone to hear.

"You have no idea." Riley replied, and yet the secret smile they shared was not, in any way, subtle. Zay was staring at the two as if he'd never seen them before, and his eyes settled on Riley. He shook his head and turned back to the front, and Riley couldn't help wondering why she felt sadness settle into her gut.

For the entire lesson, Riley and Farkle copied each other's notes and had quiet conversations. Farkle's hand wound up on Riley's knee at some point, and although she half expected it to go further, he left it there.

Almost like a boyfriend would.

"This has happened many times." Zay's voice was ringing in her head. "He sets his sights on a pretty girl, he's nice to her, flirts with her for a bit, makes her fall in love, then he hooks up with her and breaks her heart and moves on to the next one."

Riley half-believed him at the time, but she wasn't sure anymore. Shut up, Zay, her mind said instead. You're wrong.

After class, Farkle helped Riley collect her things and offered to walk with her to their next class.

"May as well, since we're in all the same classes." Riley teased, raising her eyebrows at him. "Not very good at this, are you?"

"Maybe I'm a bit rusty." Farkle mused. "But at least I'm making the effort. Gotta give me some credit for that."

"Hey Farkle!" someone called. One of his friends, presumably. "You coming, bro?"

"Nah, man. I've got things to do." Farkle replied.

Wolf whistles were the only answer he got, and his friends saluted him as they vanished.

"You can go with them if you want." Riley said, as they exited the classroom. "I don't mind."

"I don't want to." he shrugged, grinning down at her. Riley's heart melted. "Like I said...I have things to do. Better things."

Then he stopped walking, placed his hands on her face, and kissed her, and he didn't give a damn that people were staring. Riley's hands crawled up his chest to the lapels of his shirt, and she tugged him closer to her. After a few long moments, he broke away, chuckling as he leaned down to whisper.

"Have patience, princess." he teased.

"Maybe I can't." Riley replied, but she was smiling anyway. As they turned to walk towards class, though, Riley noticed something.

Maya, Lucas and Zay were standing a few feet away, staring. They were watching her and Farkle as they walked by, and their gazes hardened as Farkle wrapped an arm around Riley. He hadn't noticed them.

"Riley, can we talk?" Maya called out, and Riley paused in her steps, looking over her shoulder. "Later, at our apartment? Just me and you?"

Riley nodded and then she and Farkle continued walking.

"Best friend talk?" Farkle asked, and Riley nodded.

"I guess so." but deep down, she knew exactly what it'd be about.

She wasn't looking forward to it at all.