Hello, It's Me.

Part 13

"Riley, honey, are you almost done in there?" Her mother, Topanga, asked from the other side of the door.

Riley sighed. "I'll be out in a minute!" She swept a bit of blush on her cheeks to give her face more life.

Her wedding was approaching quickly and she hadn't slept much the past few days. She looked dreadfully drained out. It was Thursday afternoon and her mother had gathered the girls for a brunch and a spa day with some shopping in between. It was Riley's very own bachelorette party. Maya had come up with many wild and interesting ideas that Josh had quickly shut down and he suggested Topanga come up with something that would keep the girls out of jail.

Riley plastered a wide smile on her face and came out of the bathroom. Ava immediately complimented her look and Topanga insisted they leave now. Maya, Ava, and Aunt Morgan led the group out to Morgan's car since they would all fit in it. Topanga and Grandma Amy trailed behind them, leaving Smackle and Riley to catch up to them.

"You're not happy," Smackle blurted abruptly, her wide eyes fixed on Riley. "Why is that?"

"I am happy, Smackle," Riley insisted flashing her brilliantly white teeth.

Smackle regarded her for a moment, before saying, "You've always been a very good liar, Riley. You know how to hide your feelings well. I would think that considering your experience doing that, you wouldn't do that again. Don't hide your feelings, Riley."

They reached the car, but Riley pulled Smackle aside still smiling. "Smackle I appreciate your concern, but I'm not hiding any feelings. I'm happy. Charlie makes me happy."

Smackle nodded, her expression clearly showing she wasn't buying anything Riley said. "I just hope you don't wake up ten years from now, miserable and regretting not taking a chance on real love and instead opting for the safer route. The one you think is the best option currently, may not be the right one in the future or maybe even ever. Love works in odd ways I have yet to understand, but I know that when you look at Charlie I don't see love in your eyes. You don't see him the way you see Lucas." She bit her lip nervously, watching Riley's unreadable expression with sharp eyes. She noticed the cracks on the surface- the way Riley's eyes hardened at the mention of Charlie, but soften at Lucas's name. "The truth always has a way of coming out one way or another."

Smackle flashed her a quick smile before ducking into the car.

"You and Farkle are really meant for each other," Riley grumbled before entering the car too.

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"You can't stay like that forever man," Zay grabbed a pillow and smacked a blanket covered Lucas with it. "Get up now!" Another hit. "You're stinking up this room again and I ain't having it. No amount of Febreeze is going to mask the smell of roadkill and sewage sludge."

Lucas poked his head out of the blanket and glared at him. "It doesn't smell that bad."

Zay's hand flew to his chest and he gasped loudly. "Unbelievable. Clearly your sense of smell is not up to par with mine," He shook his head. "This is exactly like the Febreeze commercial of the mom and her son with a stinky room. He can't smell it. You're noseblind to this odor. I'm the momma and you're the son," He pulled out a bottle a Febreeze and started spraying the whole room with it. "Son, hit the showers you smell like dirty laundry and dog poop. At least this room smells better, I'm not spraying you though."

Lucas barked out a laugh. "Okay, fine I'll go take a shower and stop moping," He tossed the blanket at Zay and he shrieked at the horrible smell radiating off it.

Zay folded the blanket quickly and tucked under his arm. "While I put this blanket in the washer and tidy up this place, "He gestured to the dirty room. "Don't give me that look, we all know you won't clean this mess. So, go make yourself useful and fetch me some pastries."