It was late. Too late for Riley to still be awake, thinking about the rooftop fiasco. She was sitting in the middle of her bed, over the covers, with her knees pulled into her chest. Is that what losing someone felt like? Is that what the universe wanted her to learn from this? Not everyone can stay. She rolled over, shoving her face in a pillow and yelled into it.

When she'd come back down from the roof, Maya was nowhere to be found, and her cellphone was off. But of course, Lucas and Zay were involved, too. What were they up to, playing around with their emotions like that? There was a tap at the door.

"Maya?" Riley asked.

The window lifted open, and Farkle climbed in. "Nope, it's me."

"It's late," Riley said, turning away from him.

"I know, I'm sorry. I didn't mean to wake you up."

"I was still up," Riley said. "What do you want?"

"Riley, I'm so sorry." The sound of Farkle's voice made her turn back to look at him, and from the small light of the window, she could see that he'd been crying. "I pushed you away because I was afraid. I thought I was doing what was best for you, for you to be happy. But I was just being a coward. And I hurt you. I never, ever want to hurt you again. Please tell me you know that. Please tell me you don't want me to go forever."

"Farkle," Riley said, pushing off her bed to run to him. She took him by the shoulders while he hung his head. "I don't want you to go. That's what upset me in the first place. You're staying right here, okay?"

Farkle looked up, smiling through his tears. "You forgive me?"

"Of course I forgive you," Riley said, pulling him into her arms. "I would never let you go. Don't you know that?"

"Riley?"

"Hm?"

"Can I tell you something?"

Riley pulled away to move to the bay window. Farkle wiped his eyes with his sleeves, looking down at the floor. "The reason I walked away was because I thought you and Lucas were going to be together. I couldn't imagine anything different. I saw the way he reacted when he found out we kissed and…I thought that was it. And I'm not proud of it, but I was jealous. I couldn't stand it. I wanted you to be happy. I still do, of course. I just. I didn't know how it would feel to see you happy with someone else."

"Farkle…"

"Hold on," he said, interrupting her. "I know this is going to change things between us. I understand that. I've spent a long time staring at my ceiling thinking about it. But I don't think I'll ever sleep again if I don't go through with this." He paused, took a deep breath. "I've loved you since the first grade, Riley, but I never knew just how much until right now. I've already told you that you're made of sunshine, but you're so much more than that, too. I've seen you smile, but I've also seen you cry. You're brilliant, and incredibly complex. After all this time, I'm still learning about you. And sometimes…I feel so much that I can barely stand to look at you."

Riley stared at him, mouth open. They were just a few inches from each other, hands almost touching in the small space between them.

"You feel all that, and you still tried to run away from me?" she asked.

Farkle put his hands up, "I'm sorry," he said, laughing a little. "I can go now, if you're tired." His smile hadn't left, but Riley could see he was hurt. He'd made a mistake no scientist should: he'd settled on an outcome before the results were available. He still wasn't seeing the big picture.

"Do you want to know how I felt when you kissed me?" Riley asked suddenly.

"Okay," Farkle said, noticing the space between their hands.

"It wasn't like a summer rain, or fireworks," she said.

"It's alright, I understand," Farkle said turning to the window. "I'll let you sleep."

Riley grabbed his hand before he could leave. He turned back to face her, stunned. "You didn't let me finish," she whispered. He just stared at her, nodding a little as a sign to continue.

"When you kissed me, it was just you and me. You and me and the bay window, the safest place I've ever known. I didn't see stars or sparkles or whatever it is people tell you you're supposed to see in fairytales, but I felt our hands together, and the way you smiled a little…I felt all of it. And sitting here with you now," Riley said, looking away from him as her cheeks turned red. "I can't help but remember."

Farke was taken aback, his eyes wide. He stared at her for a moment, suddenly finding it hard to even speak. "Y-you what?"

Riley shifted her hand from his wrist so that their fingers laced together. She smiled at all his nerves. "Do you feel that?" she asked.

"It's like a spark. In the best way," he said quietly.

"Yeah," she said. "I feel it, too. Do you understand now?"

Farkle moved away from her a little, falling back onto the wall. "I'm not dreaming this, right?"

"Want me to pinch you to make sure?" Riley asked

"Yes please," Farkle said, quickly followed by an "Ow! Oh, wow. I'm awake." He looked down at their hands, shaking his head, but smiling wider than ever. "How did we get here?"

"You've loved me since the first grade. It just took me a while to catch me up." Riley pulled on Farkle's hand so he'd move close to her again. "I love you, Farkle." she said, grinning.

"You and me?" He asked, squeezing her hand in his.

"You and me."

And just like that, they found each other again, barely able to contain their smiles as their lips met. That was the moment Riley knew. This is what the universe had wanted for her all along.