This is more like a prologue than a first chapter. Please give it a chance! - Lauren.

"Maya, wait up!" 18-year old Maya Hart spun around in the hallway of her high school to see her best friend Riley Matthews running towards her. "I have such amazing news!" Riley gushed.

Ever the optimist, Riley's signature grin was stretched wider than most would believe possible. But somehow, Riley managed it, and Maya loved her for her positive outlook on life, even though her sunny disposition wasn't always realistic. "Hey Riles, what's up?" she asked.

"Guess," Riley said, arriving next to the less-sunny blonde.

Maya rolled her eyes. "You get me all excited and then you take all the fun out of it."

"Maya, just guess," Riley whined, ignoring Maya's comment. "I'll give you a hint: it's something I've wanted to happen for a very long time now."

"Farkle and Smackle got together?" Maya guessed, playing along.

Riley shook her head. "Nope. Better."

"You got into Juilliard?" Maya asked hopefully.

Riley's grin gave it all away as she shoved her acceptance letter into her best friend's face. "YUP!"

Maya shoved the letter out of the way, but she wrapped Riley in a big hug. "I'm so proud of you, honey."

"Full scholarship, too," Riley said, beaming. "I guess all those dance classes paid off, big time."

"Have you told anyone else?" Maya asked, as the two began the walk to their homeroom. "Or am I the lucky first?"

"You are," Riley admitted. "I haven't even told Blake or my dad. I saw it in the mail this morning and knew you needed to be the first to know."

Blake Allison was Riley's boyfriend of almost two years now. After getting over her initial shock of her long-time crush Lucas Friar liking Maya, Riley had used her positive outlook on life to get her through her heartbreak and believe that there was someone better out there for her. Now fully over Lucas, she was happier with Blake than she'd ever been with anyone else, including Lucas.

"He's not gonna be happy you told me first," Maya said.

"Blake?" Riley asked, confused.

"No, your dad!" Maya said, rolling her eyes once more.

"Whatever, he'll just have to deal with it," Riley said. "What about you, have you decided where you want to go yet?"

"No," Maya sighed. "I'm still debating."

"You know you have to get back to the schools by March, right?" Riley asked as they entered homeroom.

"I know, but it's a matter of tuition now. My mom can't afford it, even with my two part-time jobs and Shawn forcing her to let him chip in a little," Maya said, sighing once more. Her life was messed up in more ways than one at the moment, and because of it, the thought of her making a decision made her sick to her stomach. "I want to go to Julliard, especially since that you've gotten in. But Lucas is definitely going to Columbia, and Josh-" she stopped short.

"Hold up," Riley said as they took their seats. "I thought you didn't like my uncle anymore."

"I don't," Maya said, confused. "I don't know why I mentioned him. Probably just an old habit, I guess."

"Well, I guess you have a lot to think about," Riley said, pulling out her notebook. "Are you leaning towards one right now?"

"Probably Columbia because of Lucas and because that's the school that's the cheapest to attend," Maya admitted. "But I'm not making a decision anytime soon."

"Just you wait," Riley observed. "These next few months are gonna fly by."