CHAPTER 1

Farkle had loved Riley since first grade. Farkle had loved Maya since first grade. He grew up loving his two best friends. He never questioned his love for them, he just knew that he loved them, and that was enough for him – until it all changed.

Farkle began to find himself. Like he had said to Lucas, he first wanted to take over himself, and after that the world. Well, he started to take over himself. He found out a lot about who he was, and he made sure his friends always knew what he learned about himself and who he was. But now he wasn't sure if he should tell his friends what he realized. Farkle had told himself time and time again that whatever he came across, he'd be himself all the time, no matter what, but now, he wasn't so sure.

Farkle had already run some tests to come to terms with himself. He got rid of his turtlenecks, changing them for mostly black clothing, which he was content with. He didn't miss his turtlenecks at all, not even his favourite orange one. Besides that, he changed his hair, much to everybody's delight. His hair actually looked good now, instead of that same haircut he'd had for years and was so stereotypical for a nerdy boy like him. Farkle liked his new hairdo, every time he looked in the mirror, he couldn't help but look at it and realize he should have done this way earlier.
Farkle had also started to be less of a stereotypical nerd. He started to behave more like a (relatively) normal teenager, even calling his teacher a 'hambone' and he wasn't as driven to learn everything there was to learn anymore; he had embraced the fact that he'd never learn some things, like what happened in Belgium in 1831. In fact, he didn't really do much for school anymore, as a straight A student, he didn't need to do a lot of the homework, because he knew most of it already. Instead, he invested all his time in his social life. He was the one to pick up his friends when they needed him. Or even when they didn't need him, because Farkle was not someone to only come to when times were rough. Farkle also wanted to be someone to laugh with and have fun with, and his friends saw him like that too. Farkle spent all his time around his friends, as they were the ones that mattered most to him. More than his education, more than himself, more than anything. It had never been a secret that Farkle cared for his friends, especially Riley and Maya, but never had his friends such an impact on Farkle before, as they had always been by his side, no matter what crazy idea's he had come up with, which luckily mostly faded over time. For example there was this one instance where Farkle tried to be more like Lucas, the one person Farkle envied. Farkle had worn a cowboy-hat (which admittedly suited him very well), cowboy boots, stereotypical Texan clothes and he had spoken with a southern accent, things even Lucas didn't do. Soon, Farkle found Maya making fun of him (ha-hurrr), and that had made him realize that there was no such thing as 'Texas Farkle', as there was a 'Texas Lucas'. And that's how Farkle came to know that he wasn't being himself when trying to be like Lucas, and he was forever grateful that his friends had snapped him out of that.

But now, Farkle realized something about himself and he wasn't sure if he should share it with his friends. It wasn't exactly a good thing and he knew that it might change his relationship with his best friends forever. If he told Riley, then soon everybody would know it. If he told Maya, he'd be made fun of. If he told Zay… well, the same would happen as if he'd tell Riley. If he told Lucas… well, Lucas would be the best option, but Farkle just detested anyone knowing. What was even worse, is that Farkle was absolutely sure that this was him. There was nothing he was more certain of than this and it just killed him that he couldn't tell anybody. He was less certain of his love for Riley and Maya than this, which meant a lot, as he loved both girls to no extend.

Farkle had never been good in hiding secrets. Especially for his friends. That's one thing he detested about himself, but perhaps the hardest thing to change about himself. He couldn't just change his whole character like that, like he could change his clothes. He knew that someday, and probably someday soon, it'd come out and he'd change for good. He knew that it was just a matter of time before his friends knew. He looked up against it, but at the same time, he found it a relieving thought that he wouldn't have to hide this any longer. He just half hoped it'd take long before it be revealed, but the other half hoped it would come out soon.

So when Farkle walked in Mr. Matthews classroom one day, he was nervous. What if his friends knew something was wrong? What if he came across insecure? What if it was obvious that he was hiding something? Luckily, before his friends had the time to talk to him, Mr. Matthews started the lesson. It was an interesting lesson on the second world war, but Farkle couldn't concentrate. All he could think about was his problem, which, in his mind, seemed bigger that the second world war.

When the lesson was over, Riley, Maya, Lucas and Zay gathered at the door and waited patiently for Farkle to assemble his books and walk to them. When he finally had reached them, they walked out together. History had been their last lesson, and so they headed off to Topanga's, their usual hangout place.. As usual, Farkle sat next Lucas on the couch in the middle of the room. They barely spoke a word, all sensing some kind of tension. Lucas was the first to break the silence.
"So, Farkle, what did you think of the lesson?" he asked.
"Lesson? What lesson?" Farkle said, panicking.
"Ehm… The lesson on the second world war? The one we finished like ten minutes ago?" Lucas replied, confused by Farkle's response.
"It was okay, nothing I didn't know," Farkle commented, not knowing what else to say, as he hadn't paid attention at all during class.
This was cause for alarm for the rest of the group. Farkle never was the kind of person to brag about what he knew. Sure, he'd called them 'dumb-dumbs ' once or twice as a joke, but he had never said anything like 'nothing I didn't know', about a lesson before, even if it had been nothing new to him, he always made sure to stay positive about the lessons, for his friend's sake. He just wasn't the type of person to be obnoxious.

"Are you okay, Farkle?" Riley asked.
"Okay? Yeah I'm okay! Why wouldn't I be?" Farkle said, but the speed in which Farkle talked gave away that he was nervous.
"Are you sure, man? You don't look okay!" Zay brought in.
"I'm fine, just a bit tired, I guess," Farkle responded.
"How can you be tired? You go to sleep at seven-thirty and wake up at eight. You basically miss half a day each day!" Maya said.
"Perhaps that's not enough, perhaps I need more time to sleep," Farkle defended himself.
"Farkle, it's obvious you're hiding something, It's obvious that you're not fully comfortable, it's obvious that you're nervous, buddy, what's wrong?" Lucas asked.

Farkle sighed. It had to come out some time. He'd rather have it over with right now. He was nervous, he was, but he didn't want to hide any longer.
"Riley, Maya, I love you two, I really do, but I've caught myself falling in love with someone else," Farkle said, exhaling deeply, almost sighing, glad that he'd finally said it. But the conversation wasn't over yet.
"Alright, so who is it?" Riley asked. Farkle looked at her anxiously. Then he looked at Maya the same way. Then his gaze fell upon Lucas and finally on Zay.

Author's note: Please comment on characterization, I'm not sure if I got that right, so please help me!
I hope you've enjoyed this, there'll be two more chapters!