Riley wakes up slowly to sunlight streaming across her form. She's cuddled up against her Aunt Morgan on a couch that she vaguely remembers moving to in the midst of her crying jag. Her eyes feel dry and puffy and a little painful. She knows from past experience that when she gets up and looks at herself in the mirror, her face is going to be a blotchy, swollen, tear-stained mess. Fitting, considering how she feels.

Invisible.

Forgotten.

Minuscule.

Her own parents didn't even realize she had run away until someone told them hours after the fact. For all the problems they've been having, Riley just can't believe it. How is she supposed to reconcile the parents who used to act out all of her favorite picture books with her during power outages and tell her she was going to be someone who changed the world for the better with the people who don't even care to notice how upset she is? How is she supposed to forget how low she ranks on their list of priorities now?

Her only solace is that she's not dealing with them now, forced to pretend that she really doesn't mind and everything will be OK. How long that respite will last, she's not sure. Morgan had been plenty fired up on her behalf the night before, but Riley's been in this position before thinking that someone was on her side and looking out for her and having things end up as bad if not worse than when they started.

People get tired of dealing with her. They decide that their way is better than hers or that she's just being stupid or that they just don't want to be bothered anymore and even if they don't take action and start trying to do things how they want they still tell her all of that.

Riley wants to believe that, as her aunt, Morgan will be different. She just can't trust that she will be.

She starts to stretch and adjust her position carefully, unable to tilt her head and see if Morgan is waking up too. It takes about three seconds after she starts moving for Riley to get her answer.

"I was wondering when you were going to wake up. You must have really needed the sleep." Morgan says, squeezing Riley's shoulder gently before beginning the process of disentangling. She groans a bit as she unfolds her limbs. "Make a note, I am not young enough to be sleep sitting up on the couch anymore." When she finishes her stretching routine, Morgan turns to face her. "OK. So. If you have no objections, I was thinking that we could have a girls' day today. We'll start with brunch at this great diner back in Wells-,"

"Brunch?" Riley interrupts, feeling a little lost. She's still not totally awake and Aunt Morgan is talking like she's already three steps further into their conversation than she is.

"Yeah. They serve waffles with your choice of ice cream and warm maple syrup. Best breakfast I've ever had." Morgan nods. "And after we eat, I figured you probably need to pick up a few things. Some more clothes, a bathing suit, some HBA stuff...we can either head up to the mall in Portland or the down to the outlets in Kittery. Even cross over to the stores in Portsmouth if you want. Wherever you want to go and whatever you want to buy. Aunt Mo Mo's treat."

Riley starts to protest a little. "You don't need to buy me things. I'm already imposing on you, and completely without warning at that."

"You're not imposing on anything. You being here is a surprise but it is absolutely a welcome one. I meant everything that I told your parents last night. I'm happy to have you for as long as you want to stay."

Riley blinks, unsure of what to say.

Morgan waits for a moment, but eventually reaches over, resting her hand on top of Riley's. "How about we just take things a day at a time, OK? Today is day one, you're my niece who I haven't seen in a year, and I don't have to be at the theater until 6:30, so I think it's perfectly fair that we spend today eating, shopping catching up and spoiling you. Unless that sounds like your idea of a bad time."

"No...it sounds great." Riley just isn't sure how she's going to enjoy it. She can't remember the last time she did something that was meant to be fun that didn't also have a cloud of awkwardness or emotion hanging over and threatening to ruin things at any moment. She wants to believe that things will be different with Morgan. That this can be like a little vacation. But even hearing her Aunt reaffirm her commitment, there's still a very loud voice in the back of Riley's head telling her that whatever this is can't possibly last. Her own mother can't be bothered with her, why could anyone else?

Riley can't relax or have fun or forget about everything back in New York when she knows deep in her heart there's still another shoe to drop.

Morgan tilts her head, staring at her pointedly. "Do you want to try that again? Maybe with a hint of excitement or enthusiasm this time?"

"I'm sorry. I do want to go, it sounds like it'll be fun, I just..." Riley drops off, feeling incredibly stupid. In the past 24 hours she's traded being tired and upset for being an insecure emotional train wreck. At least before she had mostly been able to close it all off and pretend that things were OK. Now she can't even make it through three sentences before a wet, choking lump starts to form in her throat. "How do I do that?"

"Well..." Morgan slings an arm over her shoulder, pulling her close once more. "You start by getting dressed. And if you feel up to it after that, you go to breakfast. And you just...tackle the pieces."

"That works?" The strategy seems like a solid one; maybe if she only looks at things as independent moments, not days or weeks or anything else, it will be easier to ignore the worry that it's all going to go away.

"Sometimes. And if it doesn't, I'll be right there with you."

They make it through breakfast (where Riley decides that waffles with ice cream and maple syrup is pretty much the most perfect combination she had never thought to try) and after a little extended debate over whether or not her aunt should be spending money on her if she's really going to be staying for a while, they end up going to the outlet shops in Kittery (where, after they do some serious shopping, they start to play the ugly clothes game, snapping pictures of each other in the most heinous outfits they can put together). The day is going well enough, Riley thinks. Her Aunt Morgan's strategy of 'tackling the pieces' seems to work, making the whole affair seem less daunting than it had that morning. There's just something...less about the whole day. Less than she's dealt with in months. No pressures, no worries about saying the wrong thing or revealing something she'd rather not, no wondering what something really means or why someone would use those particular words…

As the day presses forward, Riley can feel some of the anchors she's had dragging her down loosen their tethered grip around her ankles. Even that slight difference is noticeable and makes her wonder when she stopped noticing exactly how horrible everything felt at home, but she tries to focus on enjoying the relaxation and rediscovered lightness instead of getting caught up in more questions.

It mostly works.

When they take a late lunch at a seafood shack overlooking the water, Riley gets to shift her attention to ask her aunt all about her life and what's been happening since they last spoke. Morgan's thoroughly enjoying her first season as the artistic director of the town's theater, and even though the pace of life in Maine is vastly different from what she grew up with in Philly, she's grown to appreciate that.

Morgan's only real complaint appears to be her lack of love life. Her job takes up most of her time, and the pool of eligible men in the area is...small. According to her, in a town where the two main economies are the beach and summer stock theater, the bulk of available men are more interested in the other available men than they are the available women.

But on the whole, Morgan's really happy that she's landed in the beach side town, and she promises to show Riley all of the best parts while she's visiting.

Riley checks her phone for the first time since arriving in Maine on the drive back to Ogunquit. There are a few missed calls mixed in with a number of texts.

ZAY (9:44 AM): why'd the Augster drop a new podcast ep? it's not saturday...

PEACHES (10:27 AM): Where r u? Ur place is empty...

MISSED CALL FROM PEACHES (10:30 AM)

ZAY (10:33 AM): woah...Aug-monster went off on your parents...things ok over there Sugar?

MISSED CALL FROM PEACHES (10:40 AM)

PEACHES (10:42 AM): srsly, wth r u? Answer ur phone

SPARKLY FARKLE (10:45 AM): Maya says you're not answering your phone and no one's at your apartment. What's going on?

MISSED CALL FROM LUCAS (11:00 AM)

LUCAS (11:01 AM): I know you might be ignoring me because you're mad at about last night but you should answer Maya. She's starting to worry.

ZAY (11:10 AM): ok was Aug the Dog's podcast some sort of hint or something? has something gone down? do we need to mount a rescue? send up a smoke signal or something and it's on.

UNCLE JOSH (11:17 AM): Why r ur friends texting me to ask where u r?

UNCLE JOSH (11:19 AM): Nvm. Got the story from my mom. Call me if u need me, K? Maybe answer one of ur friends so they stop wigging out.

Riley skips over several more missed calls and variations of 'Where are you?' and 'Answer your phone' before she reaches the last text.

SPARKLY FARKLE (3:23 PM): Why does your phone's GPS say you're in Maine?

Her indignation at Farkle having access to that sort of information rises quickly enough that she types out a reply and sends it before even really thinking about it. How do you even know that?

SPARKLY FARKLE (3:40 PM): I installed an app on your phone back in seventh grade so I would know where you were, and I forgot to have you get rid of it when I stopped being so weird… Are you OK? Why haven't you been answering anyone? Why are you in Maine? What's going on?

Riley sends her reply as a group text to all of her friends, lying only a few times to try and make this the end of the conversation. I'm fine. I'm visiting my Aunt Morgan and there isn't great cell reception here. Not sure when I'll be back in the city. Sorry to worry you. She turns her phone off after the message is sent, and drops it into the cup holder between the seats.

Morgan side eyes her from her position driving. "Everything OK?"

"Yeah." Riley nods, smiling tightly. "Everyone just realized I wasn't in New York anymore and decided it was time to worry about me."

"You make it sound like that's not a good thing."

They've been avoiding talking about her friends and love life and everything else all day. Or rather, Riley's been avoiding it and her aunt has been very polite about not bringing it up in the meantime. Morgan's not exactly asking a question now, but it's obvious she's opening the door for the conversation. Riley has to think for a moment about whether or not she's willing to take the leap and walk through it.

Riley crosses her arms over her chest, leaning against the car door. "It just feels weird...they didn't care that much when I was with them."

"Didn't they?"

"Well, some of the time they did." Riley admits. "Mostly when I was so upset that I wasn't letting them think things were fine anymore." She thinks back to the her classmates deciding that Lucas and Maya were the best couple in the school, and when the bully was sending her all of those awful text messages. Both times, like now, she had stopped pretending that she was still shiny and happy Riley and instead let everyone see how upset she really was. Only then did they decide there was a problem. And maybe she's being unfair, but that bothers her; it feels like they only pay enough attention to see if she's fitting their expectations, and if she is, why should they bother thinking about her further? "Is it expecting too much to think that's not enough?"

Morgan takes a moment to answer. "Yes and no."

Riley's head snaps in her aunt's direction.

"I'm not defending it but from what you've told me, just about all of your friends have spent the past year wrapped up in all sorts of their own angst. And teenagers, especially teenage boys, are still developing emotionally. You're like emotional toddlers. It can sometimes be hard to pick up on the littler signals that something is wrong, and even harder to try and bring it up and do something about it.

"You've always been a bit more empathetic and sensitive." Morgan continues to explain before Riley can say anything (though she's not sure whether she would protest because she doesn't find it that hard to see when her friends are upset or if she would agree that her friends, particularly Maya, have had a lot going on this year so it does make a bit of sense that they would be preoccupied). "But for most kids your age it takes a problem smacking them upside the head, like the person they've grown to rely on suddenly not being there, for them to realize that something's going on."

OK. Riley can accept that. Mostly. "You also said no."

"I did. Because I know you. I know you do absolutely everything you can to help your friends and make them happy even when they don't have any problems. And I don't think it's out of line for someone who gives that much to their friends to expect them to return the favor. Especially a group of friends as close as yours is."

Which is all well and good, but doesn't really help. It sounds to Riley like she's just supposed to accept that this is the way things are for her right now. Like Morgan thinks she's painted herself into a corner and she just has to deal with it until everyone else grows a bit more. She says as much when her Aunt turns off the main road towards her neighborhood.

"Did I say that? Ri Ri, the only time you are ever just stuck in a situation is when you refuse to do anything about it. If their behavior bothers you, you are 100% allowed to tell them that. Friendships are two way streets, and if you give a lot but don't get anything in return they are not being good friends."

"I can't just walk up and tell them that!"

"In those words? Of course not. But if you sit down, and calmly explain what it is that they do or don't do that hurts you, they'll probably understand and try to fix things. It will at least start the conversation and you guys might find a better balance."

Riley's not entirely sure how that conversation would go with any of her friends. They never seem hesitate to tell her if she does something they don't like—including things like pushing too hard to make them fit her standards. Would they really even listen to anything like her Aunt is talking about without accusing her of doing the same thing once again? It seems like the sort of thing they would get defensive about…

"I don't know...it's not like I'm perfect. I know I do plenty of things they don't like and-," Riley's voice catches in her throat as they turn into Aunt Morgan's driveway. There's another car that she recognizes parked off to one side. And a form sitting on the front steps of the cottage. A prickly heat washes over her despite the car's air conditioning.

Morgan huffs as she parks. "I can't believe...Wait here." She instructs, before exiting the vehicle and storming up to her front door. She's in such a rush that she doesn't close her car door, and she's not exactly being quiet so it's easy for Riley to hear every word of her angry greeting. "Seriously Cory?! This is what you call staying away? Showing up not even a day later?"

"You didn't really think I was going to stay away?" It's harder for Riley to hear her dad's response. He doesn't match Aunt Morgan's volume or ire; his voice is soft and tired and when she puts it all together with his slumped form, tears spring to Riley's eyes at how shattered he seems. "You tell me that Riley is upset and in pain but I'm not supposed to come running and do everything I can to try and fix that?"

"You're not when you're part of the reason she's so upset."

He stands, shaking his head. "You're not the gatekeeper here, Morgan. She's my daughter."

"Oh, is that what she is? Because to hear Riley tell it for the past year or so all she's really been to you is at best one of your students and a lot of the time all she's really been is the fourth person living in your apartment. She's had trouble with her friends not respecting her feelings and everything that goes along with that, not to mention this love triangle thing with Maya and that Lucas kid and not only do you not even try to make a genuine effort to talk things through with her or just be there for her while she's dealing with it, but you don't even make the effort to spend time with her like you used to. Wow, I take it all back, you are obviously the front runner for father of the year."

"Says the woman up for Best Relative Ever." Her dad fires back. Riley no longer has to fight to hear his words because Morgan has succeeded in provoking a response. There's a nastiness in his tone that feels entirely foreign coming from the same man who used to tuck her in at night and sing The Unicorn Song and sends a pit sinking to the floor of Riley's stomach. "Who actually tries to get caught up in her work and traveling and literally anything else that will keep her from having to come home and visit her family. Who couldn't find the time for her parents 30th Wedding Anniversary, or her younger brother's high school graduation, or to see her older brother get sworn into the senate. Yes, please Morgan. Do tell me more about how easy it is to raise a family, since you have so much experience in that area."

Riley undoes her seat belt and rushes out of the car, desperate to stop the argument before it gets even meaner. She feels sick that her aunt and father are fighting because of her. She had run away because she needed a break. She had finally figured out that she needed to just accept the way things are at home now and she just wanted a chance to do that. She never meant to break down and have Morgan try and start fixing things, or for anyone to start slinging blame and yelling at each other. The only reason she had said no to her parents coming up right away and panicked at the sight of her dad just now was because she's barely had the chance to breathe yet, let alone recharge enough to go back as he will surely insist upon, and deal with everything all over again.

That and she's more than a little terrified over how much trouble she's in for running away in the first place.

But she can't watch her family fight and be horrible to each other. Especially over her. Riley can find a way to deal with whatever grounding or punishment her parents can come up with and she can get used to relying on herself; she couldn't handle the guilt of causing an actual rift between family members.

"Both of you stop right now!" Her run stops as she steps in between them. "Family doesn't treat each other like this."

"Riley, it's fine." Morgan cautions, reaching out to lay a hand on her shoulder.

Riley shakes her head. "No, it's not. You're both saying horrible things for absolutely no good reason."

"No, Riley, we have our reasons." Her father denies. He doesn't take his glaring gaze away from Morgan, although his tone softens considerably.

"Being angry is not a reason to be cruel."

Aunt Morgan crosses her arms over her chest and quirks an eyebrow. "He doesn't mean any of it. He's just upset that I'm not letting him push around while I'm helping you."

"I was talking about both of you!" Riley protests, throwing her hands up in the air. All of her worry is quickly being shoved out of the way by her indignation. Even now, with two people who have supposedly listened to how it feels like nobody has been hearing her lately, she's stuck repeating herself and trying to make them understand her. "And you're not helping. I know that I came to you because I was hurt and I said I didn't want to see my parents for a while but that I didn't mean for you to be so...so nasty!" She takes a step back out from between them, and looks at them both. "If this is how you're going to treat each other I'm sorry I ever said anything, and I'm not gonna stand here and watch you two tear each other apart. I'm going for a walk on the beach. Maybe you can figure this out while I'm gone."

She takes off down the path that winds around Morgan's home and will bring her down to the beach. Her dad calls her name once that she hears, but Riley doesn't stop; she can't stop or once again what she's done will come crashing down on over her head and she'll have to feel it all again.

When she kicks off her shoes and steps into the sand her strategy fails and it all hits her anyways. How stupid can she possibly be? Yelling at her dad when she's surely already in trouble with him? Yelling at her Aunt Morgan when she's been so welcoming and helpful? Talk about biting the hand that feeds you.

Riley sinks down to sit in the sand, staring aimlessly at the blue-gray waves rolling gently into shore. She might as well enjoy the sight while she can, and in many ways watching the repetitive motion is relaxing. Surely when her dad or Aunt Morgan catch up with her it'll be to tell her that she needs to get everything together and hop in the car to head back to New York. Morgan might have been willing to fight for her before, but she can't imagine that will be the case now.

No, it'll be back to the city to try and find her footing in her life now that she's clear on where she stands.

Riley sits and she stares and she wonders if that's a life and a world that she really can handle being a part of and she doesn't even notice when her dad comes up and sits next to her until he nudges her shoulder with his and speaks.

"You know, it's not every day a man gets to feel two feet tall two times in less than a day thanks to his teenage daughter."

She glances over, but barely registers that there's half a smile on his face. "I'm really sorry. I never should have run away to come up here, and I never should have yelled at you just now. I just didn't want you guys fighting over me and saying all those things that you could never take back. I'm so not worth that and I can't believe I was so dramatic and selfish to even put you in the positi-,"

"Riley, I'm gonna stop you right there." Her dad cuts her off, holding up one hand. He only continues after she closes her mouth. "First of all, I can promise you that you are worth that and more. I might be doing a really horrible job showing that lately, but you are my daughter and there is no one I wouldn't fight if it meant protecting you.."

That doesn't sound right. Not because she doesn't necessarily believe him, but because it just seems wrong. Nobody should be willing to fight the world, particularly people that are a close part of their own world, just for her.

"That said," her dad continues, "you were right to get between us and put a stop to that. I was angry and taking it out on her because she was there and it was easy, and that's an awful thing to do. It's good that you stopped us before it got out of hand. I should have known better, than to do anything but direct my anger to the person I'm actually mad at."

"Me?" Riley cringes.

He shakes his head. "Me. When it comes to you I was...terrified when I realized Morgan was telling the truth and you weren't in your room. Incredibly worried when it hit me that something had upset you so much that you didn't think you could stay and talk to me or your mom. A little proud when I realized you had come up with a good plan and gotten yourself safely someplace so far away," he admits with another nudge and small grin, "and then scared again when I realized that meant you were good at this and if I couldn't fix this I could easily lose you…." He trails off in a heavy sigh. "Riley, why did you run away?"

Riley doesn't even know if she can begin to explain it all to him. It was one thing to blurt it all out to Aunt Morgan when she was barely in control of herself to begin with; Aunt Morgan wasn't actually involved or in the position to tell her she was wrong or get mad at her or anything else. Her dad on the other hand…

It's already starting to sound like he's hurt and feeling guilty over all of this and Riley may be upset but the last thing she wants to do is make him feel worse. He's still her father.

Eventually she settles on, "I got really tired."

"Of?"

It takes Riley another moment to answer him. She doesn't want to, but she remembers what Morgan was saying in the car, about friendship being a two way street and tells herself that that reasoning might just apply to family too. "Being the odd one out. Things have been really hard with all the Maya and Lucas stuff, and every time I got home it just got harder. Watching you and mom with Auggie...You both get along with him so well and take care of him and it's just...not like that with me anymore."

"When I was...a little older than you, Eric and I had a similar problem with your grandpa. He did certain things with me, and certain things with him, and neither of us had a whole relationship. I promised myself if I had more than one kid I was never gonna do that."

"You haven't really." Riley shakes her head. She feels a bit bolder now that she's started. At least brave enough that she can explain what she really means. "You're not treating us differently. It's more like...you've stopped dealing with me at all."

"Riley-,"

But she's on a roll now and presses forward. "We don't talk anymore. Not if it's not about school. And we don't go on father-daughter trips or watch movies together...You don't like to talk about Lucas and my love life and I get it, but it's like...it's like hitting puberty made me invisible to you. I've been exhausted and drowning for weeks and not only can't I talk to you about it, but you don't even notice how miserable I am to just give me a hug and tell me it's going to be OK..." The tears start to fall, and Riley wipes at her face and sniffs. She's so sick of crying but every time something starts it up it's like faucet that she can't even reach to turn off.

Her dad starts to reach out, but hesitates. "You probably wouldn't believe me now if I gave you a hug and told you it was going to be OK, would you?"

"Not particularly." She wipes at her nose indelicately with the back of her hand after his comment makes her snort and giggle through the tears.

"Then I won't for now." He nods. "But I will tell you how incredibly sorry I am. Watching you grow up and become a young woman has been so hard for me. It means I'm getting older and you're getting older and I'm not ready for either of those things. Sometimes you seem so smart and strong and sure of yourself that it feels like you don't need me anymore. And I'm not saying that to make an excuse, because there is no excuse for making your daughter feel like she can't come to you anymore, but I have to explain...When you build your world around taking care of someone and they start to grow out of needing you...I guess I started taking steps back because I didn't like how it felt when I couldn't be what you needed anymore.

"But I didn't think about how that would look to you, or that it was making it harder for you to come to me, and I need you to know that it kills me that something I did made you feel so alone and miserable."

"Just because I'm getting older, doesn't mean I don't need you anymore." Riley turns away. She's starting to feel ridiculously awkward crying in front of him, for one, and she needs to process exactly what her dad has told her. Does he mean it? Is it worth the gamble in trying to trust him again. "I'm always going to need you. You're my dad."

"And I'm always going to want you to come to me when you do. No matter what, or who, the problem is. You're my daughter."

Several beats pass while Riley's tears taper off. She starts staring at the water again, using the timing of the waves to even out her breathing, and is a little startled when her dad starts to chuckle.

"You know, believe it or not, there was also a time when I had to talk to your grandparents because between their work and Eric and Morgan I was completely getting lost in the shuffle."

It's a little hard to believe. "What did they do?"

"Your grandfather told me that if I had something to talk about and I needed to get his attention, then all I had to do was grab his face like this." Her dad reaches over and turns her to face him by gently pressing her cheeks with his hands. "And he promised that as long as I had his face, I had his attention. Think we should try that?"

Riley understands the giggles now, and she's willing to give in to them herself now that she's picturing it; she wants to believe that her dad sharing this means he plans on genuinely trying to be better. Maybe if it sticks, going back to the city so soon won't be so bad. Giving into the silliness of the moment, Riley laughs and claps her hands to the sides of his face. "Dad?"

"Yeah?"

"Let go of my face, please?" After they release each other she shifts her position so she can wrap her arms around his neck. He hugs her tightly in return. "I'm sorry I scared you by running away."

"I'm sorry I helped make you feel like you had to."

Riley enjoys the embrace for far longer than she normally would and when they finally pull apart, it's only because it's getting a little hard to physically hold the position with how they're sitting. "I know I said last night that I didn't want to see you," she says wiping her face once last time, determined that she's done crying for the afternoon, "but I'm glad you ignored me this time."

Her dad wraps an arm around her, pulling her close again and letting her lean head against his shoulder. "Me too, Riles."

Several long beats pass. Riley tries to just sit there and enjoy the moment—the relief and newfound peace of being on the road to a repaired relationship with her dad—but there's a question circulating in her head that won't leave her alone. She doesn't really want to ask it, not when she knows not only might she not like the answer, but that even the act of asking it might disrupt the comfortable reconciliation she's started with her dad. However, Riley can't just ignore the glaringly obvious missing factor.

"Mom didn't come with you, did she?"

Her dad briefly stiffens behind her, sighing soon after. "No, she didn't."

It takes everything Riley has not to crumble all over again. There's nothing about her dad's words that indicate, 'No, your mom didn't come with me to try and apologize but she has a good reason not to and she feels horrible about it anyways.' If anything, he sounds tired and hesitant when he speaks, which just doesn't seem like it could ever be a good sign. "Did she say why?"

"Sometimes it can be really hard to admit that you're wrong about something. Especially when your mistakes mean that you hurt someone that you love. When Morgan called last night, your mom and I both realized that we've been wrong about a lot. We both have a lot to make up for with you and to apologize for and...your mom is having a hard time with that."

Riley wants to pout and be petulant and go back to being angry at that. She wants to ask how, if it's so hard, he managed to get through the struggle and start dealing with it. She wants to ask if he could get over himself and face the problem why couldn't she?

Only her heart takes over from her brain and what comes out is, "She hates me, doesn't she?" before her resolution not to cry anymore breaks again.

Her dad stays with them in Ogunquit for two days. He apologizes to Morgan for his less than kind words (receiving one in return for hers) but they spend most of their time together in serious, rediscover their father-daughter bond mode. They go to the beach and the show Morgan's theater is producing, and they even drive further up into the state to catch a minor league baseball game. In addition to the fun, it all leaves them with plenty of time for talking.

Riley catches him up on the situation with all of her friends. He swallows his discomfort with it admirably, only advising her to cloister herself twice before giving her some actual things to think about, once again drawing on stories from his past.

Her dad also tries to assure her that her mother's absence and lack of communication are only indicative of her mother's struggle to process what's happening, not of her feelings for Riley, but it's a little hard for Riley to put much stock in his words when there's no call from her mom, no sign of her appearing and no sign of either of those things changing (even on a phone call with Auggie, her younger brother dolefully informs her that just a mention of Riley's name is enough to send her mom out of the room).

As much as she feels better about things with her dad, and however more prepared she feels to deal with whatever might happen with her friends, Riley knows she's not ready to go back and face that.

With a bit of negotiation and discussion, she reaches the agreement with her dad and Aunt Morgan that she can stay in Maine, provided that they stay in touch, for the three weeks until Morgan's birthday, at which point they'll reevaluate.

After her dad goes back to New York, Riley joins her aunt at the playhouse and starts unofficially working as her assistant as a way to thank her for her hospitality and understanding. This mostly boils down to being a gofer, organizing scripts and notes for meetings, and making coffee, lunch, and bakery runs. She gets the chance to peer in on rehearsals and watch performances and finds herself spellbound by the talent and watching the cast and crew build incredible worlds on stage.

Between running her errands and watching as much as she can, Riley gets to know several of the cast members, more so when she learns that several of them are Aunt Morgan's closest friends in the town and that once a week after the performances everyone who wants to from the cast and crew gets together at a piano bar down the road and throws an impromptu cabaret performance for the who ever happens to be there at the time. Morgan always goes, often acting as the MC, and three days into working as her assistant, she and the cast insist that Riley join them.

Morgan also insists that Riley pick a song and join everyone on stage, a notion that Riley argues against, even as they're making their way from the theater to the restaurant that night. "I just don't think it's a good idea."

"I know you haven't exactly prepared anything, but it's not that kind of thing anyways." Morgan rolls her eyes. "Half the time we're playing karaoke roulette in there. Everyone's really supportive and it's a lot of fun. I think it'll be good for you."

"It's just...not something I do anymore." Riley shrugs.

"What? Sing?"

"Yeah."

"Riley, you've got to be kidding. You have an incredible voice. Why would you stop singing?"

Riley doesn't answer right away. How do you explain that you put something that you loved to the side because you didn't want your friend to have to share the spotlight? It's not something that Aunt Morgan will understand; she's always been someone to advocate being the best version of yourself always and if other people can't handle that then they can't handle you and you should move on. She's never worried that her actions, personality, or life in general would be enough to drive someone away. "Other people needed it more."

The cryptic statement doesn't deter her aunt. "Well you need it now. Start thinking of a song."

At the piano bar, Riley gets up on the makeshift stage and sings Landslide. Three lines in she starts to relax. Halfway through she let's herself get lost in what she's singing. By the end of the song she's a little shaky as the emotion starts to over take her, but she feels lighter and stronger than she has in ages.

When they get back to Morgan's house from the bar at the end of the night, Riley is still too keyed up to sleep, and she starts the process of writing e-mails to the friends that she's felt so disconnected from lately.

Morgan subtly spies on Riley from the side of the packed lobby, unable to contain her small smile and swell of pride as she watches her niece help hand out programs for the day's matinee. The teen is much closer to her usual friendly and joyful self; compared to how she was when she first arrived she's practically glowing. And while Morgan knows she can't take total credit for the fast turnaround (that honor mostly belongs to Riley getting a chance to be breathe away from a couple of very difficult situations and having a few serious discussions with her dad to rekindle and repair that relationship) she's more than happy to attribute some of the rediscovered confidence and liveliness to her support and motivation. After all, the improvements have been particularly marked since Riley started joining her at the theater and even more so in the day and a half since Morgan had convinced her to sing at the piano bar.

Morgan enjoys watching Riley smile and help the patrons because she looks so at ease and genuinely happy.

Then Morgan notices that she isn't the only one in the room watching her niece.

There's a young man standing near the souvenir counter. His eyes are on Riley and he doesn't even try to hide it, nor does he try to hide the small, admiring smile. He's more put together than half the teenagers who get dragged there by their families and recognizable from several pictures Morgan has seen of Riley and her friends. It doesn't take much for Morgan to put two and two together. This is the guy. This is Lucas.

Morgan has to wonder what the parents in New York are up to. Clearly it's not watching their kids.

How her niece, at only 14 has already inspired a guy to put this level of effort in when most of the boys at that age are barely secure and open enough to manage the heart emoji is a little awe-inspiring. Or, it would be if it weren't for the fact that he's also a guy jerking Riley around because both she and her friend have feelings for him and he won't make a choice. Morgan has a little sympathy for him (after all, the girls are best friends and also his friends and no matter what his decision is, that leaves a lot of feelings getting hurt) but at the end of the day her loyalty lies with Riley, so she gets to dislike the boy who's been helping to kill Riley's spirit.

He's oblivious to the fact that someone has caught on to his observations, even when Morgan starts navigating the crowds to approach him. Riley hasn't noticed his presence either—she's still greeting theatergoers and handing out programs with enthusiasm—and Morgan is determined to pull him aside and have a few words before she does.

Morgan doesn't really care how dreamy or sensitive he is; if he undoes any of Riley's progress there's going to be hell to pay and it's only fair if he knows that. And if she happens to scare and torture him a little for the role he's already played, well...that's an added bonus at this point.

When Morgan is standing next to the teenager, she leans in next to his ear. "Do your parents know where you are?"

He jumps a little, then turns to look at her. He takes in her professional attire and the badge identifying her as theater staff and his posture straightens, though he relaxes and smiles again as well. "Oh, my mom has already gone in to sit, ma'am. I was just-,"

"You were just staring at my niece." Morgan cuts him off archly, then introduces herself. "Morgan Matthews. Sister of Cory, Eric, and Josh. Aunt to Auggie and Riley. Not impressed by you so far."

He doesn't seem too daunted, despite his smile receding back a little as he holds hand out. "Luc-,"

"Lucas Friar, AKA the cowboy with the heart of gold who's been breaking a heart or two of his own lately. I know who you are."

"Then you should know that-,"

"Walk with me, Friar." Morgan beckons with one hand, leaving no room for argument. With one last glance towards Riley (still happily engrossed in her duties) Morgan leads Lucas out of the building towards the patio garden where the theater serves drinks in the evenings. They're still walking, just breaking through the crowd when Morgan speaks again. "Is you mom really in the theater?"

"Yes ma'am." He's now getting thoroughly intimidated, if the brevity in his answer and nervous glint in his eye is anything to go by.

Morgan stops in her tracks, turning on her heels and arching an eyebrow. A little extra attitude never hurts. "Do I look like a ma'am to you?"

He swallows. "You look like a person who deserves to be respected."

Well. There are worse ways to answer that question. Morgan will give Lucas credit for that, even if she won't show it. She starts to walk again. "And what exactly is it that brings you all the way to Maine? Are here to make things better? Or worse?"

"Better ma-," he cuts himself off, thinking better of his response. "I mean, Ms. Matthews. I convinced my mom to bring me up here, so I could put an end to this once and for all. I'm choosing-,"

"Who you are hoping is still willing to date you after months of this drama is their business and yours, not mine." As much as Morgan would like to, she knows she can't just shield Riley from this, and could very well want to if she knows what Lucas' plans are. Better to just not know. She takes a seat at one of the empty wrought iron tables. "What I do want to know is why now?"

Lucas sits, paler and more off-kilter than he had been back in the lobby. He takes her through a quick summary of the situation with the two girls, struggling a bit to remain vague when it comes to his actual feelings and who they're for. It's so clear who he's referencing when he says his feelings for one girl have always been special compared to his feelings for the other, but he didn't dare come between them and make the choice, potentially coming between them or making one of them hate him, that Morgan has to fight to keep from smiling.

"Before she came here, Riley and I had a fight." He continues after the story has reached the present. "She pointed out that I wasn't being fair to anyone and wasn't helping. And then Josh posted that video you sent of her singing...She was so open and honest and—and I didn't realize before I saw that just how much she was hurting. I knew I had to stop pretending and do something about it."

"That song wasn't about you." As far as Morgan knows, although this is something that Riley has been avoiding talking about more and more, Riley was much more thinking about Topanga when she was on stage. It was why she had filmed the moment and sent it to her family; she had thought maybe it might spurn the sort of response in her sister-in-law that it apparently managed to do with Lucas. She doesn't want to outright discourage him, especially now that she's confident he wants to choose Riley, but Morgan also doesn't want him to think that this will be a magical fix it moment if Riley accepts what he has to say. The rest of the problems she's dealing with aren't going to magically vanish just because the boy she likes likes her back.

Lucas nods solemnly. "Not entirely. I know I'm not the only person that's hurt her lately. But if even a fraction of the pain she was letting out up on that stage was because of me then I owe it to her to apologize and try to make it right."

Morgan has to hand it to the kid. If nothing else, he definitely knows the right words to say. She leans forward in her seat, resting her elbows on the table. "OK. If you wait here, I will get Riley to come out and you can say your piece. But—I am warning you right now, if you do or say anything to upset or hurt her, if you don't respect what she decides or what she has to say about all of this...Well...People go missing in the woods around here all the time and never get found."

"Understood, ma—Ms. Matthews."

"Excellent. Now, where is your mom sitting? Someone should tell her you might not make it inside for the show."

You should head out to the garden patio. There's someone out there waiting to see you.

Riley's heart is pounding so intensely in her chest that it feels like it might punch through her ribs at any moment. Her aunt wouldn't tell who it is that's come to see her, just that she thought it was someone Riley would want to see. That could practically mean anyone, and Riley isn't really in the mood for surprises. She knows Aunt Morgan isn't going to send her towards anything that she thinks would be bad (she had been more than willing to fight with her own brother to protect Riley after all) but even so, Riley's trust and belief in other people still isn't that high.

She's found her footing again since leaving the city but the ground beneath her still feels terribly unsteady and she doesn't want to stumble and fall again. It's all she can do to keep walking. Then she rounds the corner and stops dead in her tracks at the head of the sidewalk.

Lucas.

The pounding in her chest intensifies from an intense drum solo to a vigorous jackhammer.

He's pacing near the tables, texting while he walks, but it only takes a few brief moments for him to notice her and a soft smile to break out across his face. "Riley!" He tucks his phone back into the pocket of his pants and half jogs up to her.

"Lucas!" A nervous giggle falls through her lips and she takes a step back, just out of the reach of his attempt at a hug when he reaches her. She can't do this. Why Aunt Morgan thought this would be a good thing, she doesn't know, because all she can think about is yelling at him, calling him a jerk and essentially giving him permission to choose Maya just to put them out of their misery, telling him to leave her alone, and surely this is just the fallout from that coming to fruition. This is where the ground is going to completely disappear all over again and she just can't do it. "What...are you doing here?"

His smile falls back when she doesn't accept his embrace. "We need to talk, Riley. There is...so much that we need to talk about. And I have something I need to do with you." He tries to grab her hand but again Riley moves it out of the way.

If this is it, if this is really going to be the end, she's not going to make it easy on him. She's not going to let him be gentle and gallant and make it all the more heartbreaking for her. If this is going to be the end, she knows it's wrong of her, but she wants to be able to be mad at him so she needs him to be mean. So she resists his touch and says the first sarcastic thing that comes to mind. "Let me guess. Since I've been gone you've been spending time with Maya and you need to even things up again."

"No." He shakes his head. "This is something just for you."

Riley doesn't even get a chance to think what that could mean. Her phone chimes in her pocket. At first she ignores it but then Lucas smiles again and nods.

"You should read that."

How can he possibly know? Riley asks herself, pulling her phone out anyways and thumbing open the text message.

PEACHES (2:15 PM): Listen to what Huckleberry says. Follow your heart. I promise I'll be just fine with what happens.

Riley frowns. She looks up, and sees Lucas regarding her with a seriousness that even after all these months of drama, she's not quite used to seeing on his face. Or maybe it's just that there's something about it now that she can't quite place. A not of something more than just the heartache and angst.

"You were so right to yell at me the other day. I've known who I wanted to be with this entire time, I just...never dared to say it out loud because the last thing I wanted to was lose anyone's friendship. But doing that was wrong. Because instead of ending things quickly, all I was doing was giving out false hope and making the inevitable harder. I've already apologized to Maya for that, and now I'd like to apologize to you."

Riley unconsciously lowers her phone as she listens to him and a small spark of hope starts to flicker at his words; it fades out just as quickly and gets replaced by fiery indignation at his last sentence. "You just said that-,"

"I know. This conversation is going to be very different then the one I had with Maya, I promise." Lucas waits a moment, and when Riley doesn't protest again, he continues. "I need to apologize to you Riley. I never made my choice clear because I knew it could hurt Maya to hear that she's never been more than a friend to me and that I don't see that changing. I figured it I took that away from her she would hate me, and I know how you feel about her. I know if I hurt her there was every possibility that you would hate me too. I could never live with losing either of you.

"But I didn't realize that in my effort to not hurt her I was making you doubt everything that we shared and hurting you instead. I thought that some part of you knew what I was doing. But then you yelled at me and I realized how wrong I was. Then the next thing I know you're gone...And I realized that there's only one person that I can't bear losing. You."

"What?"

"Riley, I begged my mom to bring me up here because we've spent the past few months drifting further and further apart, trying to push down our feelings and be the bigger people for the sake of friendship, and maybe this does make me a bad friend, I don't know but...I don't want to waste one more moment having you think that you're not the most important person in my life."

"You..."Riley can't even begin to form a sentence for the tears that are gathering. This can't possibly be happening.

Lucas steps forward to take her hands; this time Riley lets him. "Riley, I came here for you. Just for you."

Riley's fairly certain that she stops breathing. One moment she's stunned, in complete disbelief that something she's been secretly dreaming about for months is genuinely happening, the next moment Lucas is pulling her closer and his lips are on hers, and the moment after that she's melting, smiling and crying and feeling about a thousand different emotions converging on her all at once. "Is this really happening?" She doesn't even realize that she's said the words aloud until Lucas chuckles and answers her.

"I hope so. Because if this is a dream, this about the part where it turns into a nightmare and you tell me to get lost."

"I could never..." It takes Riley a moment of a serious thought, even through her tears and joy and disbelief to decide what to say next. As perfect as the moment feels, even having Maya's blessing on top of everything else, there's so much to consider; she wants it, but is she ready for it? Is he? Is it really the right time to make any sort of decision like this when she's been so off-kilter? "Promise me that we'll do things our way? At our pace? How we think they should happen?"

"I don't think it could work if we do it any other way."

"Then...if this a dream," Riley takes a deep breath, already starting to feel overwhelmed again, "it's the part where I say yes. Let's be an us."

Lucas grins. In a movement that nearly startles her he drops her hands, wraps his arms around her and hoists her up, spinning and laughing in joy. Riley joins him, unable to contain her own giggles in the incredible lightness of the new moment. He presses a kiss to her cheek as he lowers her back to the ground.

They stand together, smiling, arms around each other and almost swaying to a non-existent music for who knows how long. Riley isn't going to bother to count the moments. Not when things feel so exciting and so right for the first time since the end of seventh grade. Even so, she knows they can't just stand in the garden patio forever.

"What happens now?"

"Now, we do just what you said. We go at our pace. We ignore the pressure from everyone else and just do...us."

"That sounds nice."

"Also, you get to be the one to tell your Aunt. Your dad could take lessons from her. She is seriously scary."

Things seem to move a bit faster once she and Lucas find their new understanding. He and his mom don't stay in Maine very long given the last minute nature of their trip, but while he's there they manage a video chat with Maya (so Riley can confirm that her involvement is officially over and that her friend really is OK with the outcome) and a date (mini golf, ice cream, and a walk on the beach). Even after they leave, it just feels like everything's coming together.

The triangle is done with. She's had several long talks with Maya and Farkle and they've been so open and honest with each other it feels like they have to be on the road towards a much better set of friendships. Her dad has been reaching out every day, sometimes just to say hi, but more often than not to have a lengthy chat.

The only thing missing—and it's an absence that seems to be growing bigger and colder every day—is her mother.

Her mom still hasn't made an appearance. Or called. Or sent a text message or a smoke signal or anything to indicate that she even remembers that she technically has a daughter. Riley's desperate to ask her dad what's going on but she's too afraid of the answer to do it.

For a few days her fear and depression over the absence of her mom turns into anger. Her dad had said plenty about how hard it was to realize that you had failed as a parent and to have to admit that, but somehow he had gotten over himself and managed. What exactly is so special about her mom that she can't? Riley can't think of anything that she had said or an action she had taken that would make their conflict different than that of the one with her dad. The only conclusion that Riley can reach is that it has to be something about her. There's something about who she is that her mom can't bond with and her mom seems to be done pretending that she can or that she cares.

There's a sense of resignation that comes with figuring this out, in addition to the crushing blow and the way it seems to grip her heart in a shameful, red-hot fist.

Maybe this is the price for everything else coming together. Keep your friends, keep your dad, get a boyfriend, lose your mom.

Riley doesn't dare share this realization with anyone. They'll just tell her that it's not true, her mom just needs more time. But Riley's never seen her mom hesitate to do anything. If anything were going to happen, there would have been a sign of it by now. It just seems smarter to her to prepare herself to go back to a home where she'll be invisible to one parent than to waste time on everyone's false hope and set herself up for more disappointment. So in between phone calls and video chats and helping Aunt Morgan at the theater, that's what Riley tries to do.

Then, in the week before her Aunt's birthday the letter comes.

Dear Riley,

I never thought the day would come where it would be easier for me to write to my daughter rather than have a discussion face to face, and I am beyond ashamed that it has come to this but...I don't even know where to begin to apologize for what I've done. After Morgan called and told you'd left and why, I spent the whole night thinking and realized exactly how many times over this past year that I've failed you. It's more times than I'd care to count, though I'm sure each and every one stands out in stark contrast in your mind.

I'm sorry.

I'm sorry for all I've done and I'm sorry for not saying it in person.

Your dad wanted me to come with him to Maine to apologize and make things right. He couldn't understand why I refused. He argued with me that you're our daughter, and you're in pain because of us, and we have to go and help you. He didn't understand that was precisely why I couldn't go.

How do you help someone when you're the source of their pain? How do you apologize to your daughter when you can't even look her in the eye?

I couldn't make myself come with him, and I'm sorry.

I'm sorry I can't even call, because every time I try I start to cry and have to stop. Any conversation we have needs to be about the pain I've caused you, not my anguish at finally realizing that I've caused it.

I'm sorry I stopped valuing your accomplishments. I'm sorry I stopped encouraging you to explore and embrace your talents. I'm sorry that I took for granted that you understood your strength and potential and didn't need me to remind you of it anymore. I understand now that it's not a matter of whether you understand or need it, it's that you deserve to hear it from me regardless.

You are incredible and strong and the world is at your feet. I'm sorry that I let you feel otherwise.

I'm sorry that I stopped making time for you in the face of your growing independence.

I'm sorry I stopped listening to what you were telling me. I'm sorry I stopped paying attention to what you were trying to get me to notice.

I'm sorry that I prioritized helping Maya over you. That wasn't fair to anyone. It wasn't fair to Katy, who wants nothing more than to be the person Maya can turn to and has worked so incredibly hard to become that person. It wasn't fair to Maya, who deserves a chance to form that bond, and by letting her to continue to rely on me instead of pointing her that way, I was keeping her from doing so. And it wasn't fair to you. I left you without someone to turn to when you needed me most and my willful blindness to the situation left you feeling alone and unwanted.

I'm sorry.

I don't expect you to forgive me. A mother making her daughter feel so horrible for so long is unforgivable. But I want you to know that I regret every last moment of it.

I am so unbelievably proud of you for the young woman you're becoming. I hope one day I'll earn the right to tell you that to your face, but right now I know I've lost that right and I have to earn it back. I only wish I knew how.

Until I figure that out, I need you to know this:

You are my strong, beautiful daughter. My fierce, fantastic, smart daughter. You, Riley Rose-Marie Matthews, are my daughter. And I'm sorry for ever treating you like anything less.

With all apologies and love,

Your Mother

Riley shows the letter to her Aunt Morgan, while using shaking hands to wipe the tears from her face. "It's time for me to go back."

Morgan reads the letter and nods. "I'll call your dad."

The same lengthy train ride that took her away from the city brings Riley back to it. Her dad picks her up with Auggie in tow, so she spends most of the trip from the train station to the apartment marveling over his growth spurt and hearing about his day camp adventures since they last spoke on the phone. His happy stores of swimming lessons, capture the flag and one epic water war of campers against counselors are the perfect distraction from her nerves.

She knows it's time for her to come back. She would have had to eventually anyways but if her mother's letter had told her anything, it was that if they were going to talk about what happened and truly figure out where they stood with each other, she was going to have to initiate it. Her mom seems to think that Riley won't accept anything else, even though she's already done so with her dad. Riley has to prove to her that she's at least willing to listen if they're ever going to move forward.

Riley knows it's time to come back. That doesn't stop her from being terrified that it's somehow going to go wrong. It's a fear she's battled for the entire journey back, a little tempted at every stop over to hop off the train and buy a ticket back to the security of the beach and Aunt Morgan's. She stays on the train out of a stubborn optimistic belief that no matter what happens with her mom, everything else is going to continue working out and be great. The same force of will sticks with her while she listens to Auggie and chats a bit more with her dad. It's a nice, bolstering companion right up until they reach the door to the apartment, where every last bit of optimism disappears and she freezes.

"Does she know I'm coming?"

"I thought a surprise might be better." Her dad answers her quiet, slightly panicked question.

"For her or me?"

Her dad and Auggie reply at the same time.

"Both of you."

"Her."

Well, that clears that right up. Riley doesn't even get the chance to really consider why a surprise would be the better option before her dad pushes the apartment door open. He and Auggie enter first, and it only takes a moment for Riley to hear her mom's voice.

"Well there you are, what took you guys so long? I thought you were just going down to the farmer's market...and yet you're back without a single vegetable."

"We made a detour." Auggie announces proudly.

"A detour? For what?"

Riley can only see the back of her dad's head, but she knows he's got that silly grin on his face. The one that he wears whenever he feels he's pulled something off and gotten one over on someone. He never gets to wear it with her mom so he's probably particularly pleased at the moment. "Just a surprise for you."

Her mom says, and Riley hears just how tired her mom sounds. "Cory, whatever it is I'm sure that I don't-,"

"It's me." Riley steps through the door reminded that she decided to come back to take the first step and prove to her mom that she was willing to have the conversation in the first place. That means taking the first step literally too. Her mom is sitting at the kitchen table with a cup of tea and a book. Her face is drawn and thin; maybe it's just Riley's imagination but she looks a little older than she remembers. Tears spring to Riley's eyes. She did this.

"Riley?" Her mom pushes away from the table with a speed that seems to surprise everyone. Her face is so stunned that Riley can't yet tell if it's a good thing or a bad thing.

She waves, ever so smally. "Hi mom."

"Riley!" Before she knows it, her mom is launching herself across the room and pulling Riley into the tightest hug she thinks she's ever been a part of. They're both crying in the embrace—it just feels too good and familiar to be in her mother's arms again to hold back until she thinks they're back at that point in their relationship again to give in—and after moment she realizes that while her mom is holding her and stroking her hair and crying, she's also talking. "Oh Riley, I am so sorry. Did you get my letter? I know it's not the same as a real apology and we have so much that we need to talk about but it was the only way I knew how to start. Tell me you got my letter and that you want to fix this. Tell me you believe that we can fix this."

And Riley knows. She knows without question that her mom is genuinely sorry. She knows that with enough talking and time, they'll find their way back to a comfortable mother-daughter relationship. She knows that the first step she wants to take towards that is making her mom smile again. "Of course we can." She pulls back from the hug, wiping at her face. "I left because I thought I had lost you, not because I wanted to."

"Oh thank god. I was so worried that you'd never want to talk to me again, and there is so much that we need to talk about."

"There is." Riley nods. "But before we do that, I thought you might want to hear about my date with Lucas." First dates and new boyfriends were, after all, something that in Riley's eyes every girl should get to share the details of with their mother.

Her mom's eyes widen. "He chose?"

Riley glances towards her dad. He's known about that for a while now, and surely he would have told.

"I thought that was something that was better left as a surprise too." He says, the same little grin on his face.

Riley turns back, nodding again and smiling through the remainder of her tears. "He chose." She links her elbow with her mom's and starts walking down the hallway towards her room. The only real choice in the apartment when it comes to gossip and emotional discussions is the bay window. "I'll start at the beginning. I was helping Aunt Morgan at the theater where she works..."

And that's that! Thank you so much for reading and all of your reviews, subscriptions, and favorites. You're all the best!