Chapter 1: Girl Meets Change

Disclaimer: I do not own the characters or settings of Girl Meets World. I do, however, own the character of Remigius "Remy" Bellamy. I seek no profit from this act of fiction, merely recognition from the community of readers. I certainly hope you all enjoy.

For those of you who read my other work on this site, this will be similar in some regards of songs playing an integral part in the storytelling. In some cases, they will be present in the actually story, on other occasions they will merely be an inspiration behind the chapter. If an inspiration, they'll be in brackets and italicized, otherwise they'll be sung by a character present in the story. Other warnings, this story is a futurefic, taking place roughly 3 year ahead of the current GMW series, placing our favorite foursome in their junior year of high school. As far as ships go (I know how you all love your ships), these first couple chapters will contain hints toward them until they culminate in later chapters, but they will officially be Rucas and MayaxOC (Remy). Along the way, our favorite future dictator of the world might even get some lovin'. Also, though they will not have major arcs like our favorite school kids, the adult relationships are what you would expect. Cory and Topanga, Shawn and Katy.

It was the first day of the first year of the rest of their academic lives. That was what she told herself every year when that first early September morning crept up. Junior year had finally arrived and Riley Matthews sat at the table, slowly eating her bowl of cereal as she glared at her father. Another year, another class with my father. World History Honors. How does this just...keep...happening?! she thought to herself, crunching away slowly at the multicolored loops as she slowly spooned them passed her lips. At least we all share the class again. Farkle, Lucas, and"

"7 o'clock Riles, let's get movin!" Came the call from the front door of the apartment. Standing in frame was none other than the blonde vixen herself, Maya Hart. Her choice of clothing was nothing shy of exceptional for their first day: a leather half coat, a black and gold sequined shirt, and a tight pair of black jeans that accentuated the curves she had developed as she grew into an even more stunning young woman. Maya Riley finished her thought as she picked up her bowl and put it into the sink. "I'll see you at school Daddy," She said, hugging her father as she moved toward the door, grabbing her purple plaid backpack along the way. It was reminiscent of her bags from JQA, but more mature as she had grown up and out of the need for overly poppy colors or designs.

"Oh, that's right, we're in some strange Twilight Zone episode where every year we some how end up with him for History. Some things never change." Maya said with a sigh. She smiled as her best friend walked passed her into the empty hallway of the apartments, looking her up and down. "Good to see you're still your usual, smiling, chipper self though Riles. The outfit is nice." Standing before her in a red t-shirt with silver sequins on the sleeves, a matching red skirt that reached just below her knees, and thigh high socks in small black flats was her best friend in the entirety of earth, space, the universe, and existence itself.

"Aww, thanks Maya. You look pretty amazing yourself." She said as they walked through the apartment, out the front doors, and to the subway. It seemed so long ago that they were sneaking out to go to there. So long ago that Maya shoved Riley on to Lucas and started a fire in her that still was burning. So long ago that the whole Matthews family stood on the subway platform and commemorated Riley being given her "key to the world". Now, they stood on that same platform, smiling as people took and left umbrellas from the small bins that they had put up during their class project about businesses back in 7th grade, listening to the usual morning players make their music.

Ahead of them, the headlights of the subway car moved ever closer until they heard the familiar scrapping of the brakes. When the doors opened, the friends boarded their usual mode of transportation with smiles and laughter. Sure, it was the same as always, and maybe Maya was right that some things never change, but there was an unexplainable comfort in routine.

Maya looked about the car and saw the usual morning commuters on their way to work or school...except one face that she had never seen before. Sitting in the same seat that Lucas occupied four years ago was a new face. A young man, their age, held an acoustic guitar and was tuning it carefully. His hair was cut short, combed forward and up at his forehead. The Ivy League cut as they called it. His eyes were covered by thin, brown, wire framed glasses. He wore a denim jacket over a black Led Zepplin shirt, all tied in by a pair of black jeans and paint splattered, black converse. If she hadn't been caught up in how handsome he was, she would have noticed a bookbag sitting behind his leather guitar case. Her smile widened and she raised her hand slowly, mouthing the word hi at the new face.

He raised his own hand, having caught a glimpse of her and her friend as they boarded. He mouthed hi right back and resumed tuning his guitar. Finally finding the tuning he wanted, he pulled a pick on a chain from around his neck and began to strum. He cleared his throat as he let the words softly flow.

"Blackbird singing in the dead of niiiiight. Take these broken wings and learn to fly. All your life, you were only waitin' for this moment to arrive." He thumped out a small beat on the maple wood guitar. Riley took notice of the music first, then her friend staring, and finally the young man.

"Maya?" she said, nudging her softly with her elbow.

"Shh, I'm listening Riles. I'm listening…" She said, closing her eyes and just enjoying the change in their morning routine. Change...while routine gave a strange sense of comfort, change gave a rush of excitement. Maya enjoyed that rush.

"Blackbird singing in the dead of niiiiight. Take these sunken eyes and learn to see. All your life, you were only waiting for this moment to be free." His eyes, a gentle golden color, closed as he strummed out the classic from memory. "Blaaaaackbird flyyyy. Blaaaaackbird flyyyy. Into the liiiiiiiiight...of the dark, black night." the applauds of the subway car rang softly in his ears as he finished the Beatles classic and segwayed into an acoustic rendition of a modern song. That described him perfectly...old into new. He sat on the rumbling seat and began to thump onto the wood of his instrument once more and then strummed the first notes. He smiled as he saw the two girls eyes go wide upon realizing what his next song would be.

"She says I'm walking in a straight line. But that's not really her style. And they've all got the same heartbeat, but her's is falling behind. Nothing in this world could, ever bring them down. Yeah, they're invincible, and she's just in the background. And she says: 'I wish that I could be like the cool kids, because all the cool kids they seem to fit in. I wish that I could be like the cool kids. Like the cool kiiiids." He warbled softly as he played the normally alternative rock song with the warmth and energy of his little maple wood beauty. As the subway took more stops, he continued to play. He smiled at the girls as he played the final refrain of the song when he heard the stop before his.

" I wish that I could be like the cool kids, because all the cool kids they seem to fit in. I wish that I could be like the cool kids, like the cool kiiids. I wish that I could be like that cool kids, 'cause all the cool kids they seem to get it. I wish that I could, be like the cool kids-" he pulled the pick away and clipped it back into place on his necklace as he unzipped the guitar case at his feet and put his instrument back in. "Like the cool kiiiids." he finished, acapella, as he slung his case over his shoulder. He smiled as the sub brakes scrapped once more. "Main Street and 5th. Thomas Jefferson High School, Main Street Cafe, and Transfer to Blue Line." the voice came over the PA system. The girls clapped and turned toward the door as they exited to head to their school. As the crowd shuffled in front of the musician, Maya finally turned her head and broke her stare.

Is this how Riley felt that day I pushed her into Ranger Rick? What is wrong with me? she thought as they both exited and ascended the staircase toward Thomas Jefferson High School. Well, I may never see him again anyway, so, oh well. Some changes were just split seconds. Ripples on the normally calm lake of routine and regularity. He was just a very shiny pebble who made some nice waves. At least, that's what she thought.

As the crowd shuffled out, the young man slung his backpack over his other shoulder and exited last. He hoped his chivalry wouldn't make him late. Tardiness was not the best first impression to give. The sub doors closed behind him and he broke another smile. "New York City...a change of pace for sure. Just what I needed...just what we needed." He said, holding his phone up and sending a message. Ride went well. On platform before school now. Love you Ma. he typed quickly as he hit the send key and ran up the stairs. After a short walk, he saw the words that sat above the doors of his new high school. Thomas Jefferson High School. Sure, he had spent 2 years building up friendships and a reputation at his old school, .but he needed this. Change was good. He had mindless paperwork to fill out before he could get to his first period class, so he walked quickly to the registrar's office to handle that business.

"So, what was that all about Maya?" Riley said as they opened their lockers. She was optimistic, and bubbly, and everyone's light...but she wasn't oblivious. She caught the undivided attention her blonde haired bestie had given the guitarist on the sub. Not to say the music wasn't amazing, especially for someone their age, but the gaze that Maya had on said a lot more than 'this guy sure can play.'

"What was what all about Ri? I was just listening to the music and enjoying the change in our regularly scheduled program. The last time we had any excitement on the subway to school was when that guy came on with his pet weasel and it went into labor. Are you telling me you didn't enjoy it?" She said, her tone almost accusatory. Deflection was a great defense tactic, and one that Maya excelled at.

"Oh I enjoyed it, but not quite as much as you. I saw it all over your face." Riley quipped, waving her finger in a circle around Maya's face, the blonde chomping playfully toward the finger.

"Saw what all over her face?" Came a voice from behind, a country twang accenting the words. If the accent didn't give the speaker away, Riley's beaming smile and sudden lack of words certainly did. Standing behind the girls, clad in a deep navy flannel that covered a white undershirt and a pair of blue jeans that hung over the tops of his black leather boots was the moral compass of their little club, Lucas Friar.

"Nothing Bucky McBoingBoing. We just had a musician on the sub this morning and I thoroughly enjoyed the tunes and the change of pace." Maya said in mild frustration that not only was Riley pushing the subject but that now Lucas was involved. Was it this bad when I pushed her about him? ...nah. Couldn't have been. She thought to herself as she slammed her locker. "White boards, Hart." was heard as the slam shook the wall that Cory Matthews had been writing on in the History Room that sat behind the row of metal storage units. Damn it...changes… Maya thought as she pulled her messenger bag over her shoulder.

Mr. Matthews hadn't planned on following his daughter to high school, but when a better paying job with more responsibility presented itself at TJH, he resigned from JQA and moved all of his teaching accoutrements over to his new classroom the summer before Riley's Freshman year.

Before Riley could further push Maya about her overly long gaze with the musician, the bell rang to announce that first period would be starting. The girls and Lucas all rounded the corner to walk into Room 63, the plaque above the number read 'Mr. Matthews: Social Studies.'

Already having taken a seat third row from the left, four seats in, was Farkle Minkus. "Ladies." He said as he saw Maya and Riley enter, each taking their seats at the front of class as usual. "And Lucas." He said as his best friend followed just behind them.

"Farkle." All three of the young man's friends echoed as they turned to look at him. The rest of the class shuffled in as the bell gave three short rings. A 30 second warning. Yogi, nearly unrecognizable after he had his growth spurt that summer, kissed Darby before walking through the door to Mr. Matthews class. It was the first year they didn't have the same history class, and he wasn't happy. Sometimes change wasn't good.

As the bell clanged to and fro a second time to denote class session was about to begin, Cory looked around the room at many familiar faces. He had taught every single one of these students more than once in the last 4 years. He smiled and pointed toward the board once the ringing finished.

Scrawled in neat, red hand writing on the ivory board were three words: Decades, Centuries, Eras. Cory drew a quick line beneath the final word. "Time. Minutes, Hours, Days, Years, Decades, Centuries, Eras...all are time, but each changes bit by bit, sometimes ending completely only to become something new entirely. We may wish that they could go on forever, and some may say change is bad, others may say change is good, but the only thing that change truly is, is-" Cory found himself cut off by his classroom door creaking open as a seemingly tardy student entered. He had done his visual survey, everyone was present. All the normal seats filled, even back of the class Brenda was in her spot...who was this?

"inevitable. Was that the word...Mr. Matthews is it?" came the voice of the stranger as he stepped forward, a leather guitar case over his right shoulder, a black OGIO backpack over his left, and his denim jacket unbuttoned to reveal the four iconic symbols from Led Zepplin. His voice had a slight southern drawl to it. Not the familiar country twang that Lucas spoke with, but more of a down in the bayou feel. He adjusted his glasses as he drew a folded slip of paper from his inside pocket.

Maya's eyes widened as she put two and two together. Subway boy had just walked into her class, and he had finished Matthews sentence for him, and he was at their school and...and...

"I'm sorry to be late sir, had quite the mountain of papers to sign." He extended his arm toward his new teacher, handing him a triplicate form to explain his sudden arrival in the class.

A transfer slip. A change in the roster. He was...their classmate now. What the hell is going on? He was just supposed to be the shiny pebble that made the one ripple and then the lake would go back to being calm and boring and normal. This isn't a ripple, this is a tsunami, a geyser, a flash flood! Maya felt her heart beat skip.

"Well, yes, actually, inevitable was the word...Remigius?" Cory said, surprised at the ability to fill in the word but even more so at the unique name.

"Yes...Remigius Bellamy. I usually just go by Remy though, if it's not too much trouble." He chuckled and set down his guitar in a corner at the back class before taking a vacant seat to the right of Lucas. "Is...this alright?" He said before fully sitting down.

The whole class gave a collective "eh", except for Lucas who actually said sure as the new kid took his seat. It wasn't so long ago that he was in the same position. He was counting the seconds until Maya gave their new arrival his first insult laden name. His mind raced with the possibilities as he heard the southern twang and took in the unique style that he had.

Maya turned her head slowly, trying to be inconspicuous as she took another glance to confirm her suspicions.

"What was that about 'just enjoying the music and the change in our regularly scheduled programming?' " Riley quipped before finding herself on the receiving end of a trademark glare and the words "Shut it" from her best friend. "Okay." she said in mock fear, folding her hands and looking back up at her father.

"Please continue Mr. Matthews, I'm sorry to cause a disruption or a change in the lesson plan." Remy said, sitting slightly forward so he could see the board better.

"Ah, but that's just it, isn't it Mr. Bellamy? Change. I didn't intend to be teaching another student, but now you're here. Change. Whether or not that is good or bad is yet to be seen. Your assignment in class today is to pair off in groups of four to discuss why change can be good or bad or something in between. Bonus points if you can cite historical or current events to strengthen your point." He said, clapping his hands and looking about the room and smiling. "And...break."

As his words were spoken, the room became a riot of moving teenagers as everyone scrambled to be with their best friends. Steve, Yogi, Dave, and Sarah had formed a group in the far corner, Brenda, Yindra, and the Academic Halves formed up in...the back row. Myzell, Missy, Billy, and Chloe all moved toward the back door of the room. Maya, Riley, Farkle, and Lucas all pushed four desks together and immediately began talking...at least three of them did. Maya looked back to see where Remy had wound up.

Alone. He stood up against the row of knee height bookshelves the lines the windows of Mr. Matthew's room...alone. He looked around at all the preformed cliques, and held back a sigh. His eyes fell on a pair of eyes that had been watching him a lot today. A pair of baby blues that met him on the subway now sat about 30 feet from where he stood.

"Hi" Maya directed his way, audibly this time. She didn't know why she was so...unnerved by him. This wasn't something she had felt for someone new in, well, ever. What the hell is going on?! ran through her mind.

"Hey" He said back, reaching over to grab his guitar case. He chuckled as her best friend grabbed her head and turned it back to the group.

"I think change can be good because it means there is growth, and growth is needed to make progress." Farkle said almost matter-of-factly. He smiled and nodded at his statement, which almost seemed to go unopposed...until Lucas spoke up.

"But does it really mean growth? Change can also mean loss, or something becoming broken. It isn't always good. Just to play devil's advocate on it all." He shrugged his shoulders, trying to think logically about the real topic.

Maya nodded at both statements, looking back for just another moment, seeing if anything else had happened to the new kid.

Still alone...but now his leather case sat open at his feet.

Cory took notice as well and stepped toward his newest pupil, curious as to what he was doing. "I know there isn't anyone else to work with, but you can't just play music in the middle of class Mr. Bellamy." He said with slight laughter.

"Oh, I assure you Mr. Matthews, I have done the assignment to the best of my abilities...and this is necessary to explain my reasoning behind my feeling of change.I won't play anything beyond tuning until it is my time to present." He said, pulling the maple wood beauty from its leather container. Just as on the subway, he turned the machine heads delicately and listened for his tuning. As he watched the other groups all seemingly conclude, he smiled. He knew his explanation would be sound. As each group presented their reasoning, it had become a consensus that no one believed one way or the other particularly. Change was good in many ways, but it could be argued that other changes were unnecessary or oppressive. It could be constantly argued one way or the other, especially with a group of four different people with different experiences in regards to change. As Maya presented her portion of her group's reasoning, she looked to Remy, and back to Mr. Matthews.

"I believe that change is a good thing. It is inevitable, yes, but regardless of that it gives an element to life that nothing else can. Excitement. Without change, everything becomes predictable, and boring, and monotone. Uniform. Without change, we'd have no color TV. We'd never have expanded into abstract concepts of art. We would never have discovered microwaves or plutonium or 3D. Without change, we would still be a country controlled by the British through taxation without representation. The Boston Tea Party was the beginning of a radical change. The signing of the Declaration of Independence was a monumental change to the way that our forefathers lived, and it was a new and exciting time for America. Good or bad, it can't be argued...change is exciting." She said, looking back to Remy and noticing a small smile crack his lips as she finished...and one cracked her own.

"An interesting approach to things Miss Hart. So, it would seem we've heard from all the groups. One student, of course, was unaccounted for in those group. Mr. Bellamy, you assured me you had done the assignment to the best of your abilities...please explain." Cory said as he looked at the young man holding the guitar against his frame.

"Thank you, Mr. Matthews...and I will. You see, I don't claim to be an expert on anything...but change is quite possibly the number one thing I can speak to right now. I've come a long way from where I was, both figuratively and literally. Change is neither good nor bad. Change is inherent. Change is necessary. Change is undeniable...if you think about life, you come to realize that nothing stays the same. Routine and uniformity are just an illusion we fool ourselves into believing exists. Every day, something changes. The weather, the population, popular opinion...they all change. I wonder if this makes sense they way I'm trying to wording it...so I believe it is best if I borrow the words of someone else. Someone...a bit wiser than just a junior in high school." Remy pondered aloud, pulling his guitar pick from his necklace for the second time that day. "Does anyone in here happen to play and currently have a harmonic?" He looked around and saw a sheepish hand raise.

"Put it down Huckleberry…" Maya said as Lucas began to put his arm in the air. Her command went unheeded as he raised it fully, taking out the harmonica he had in the front pocket of his backpack.

"Okay, excellent, and considering the nickname that Heartbreaker there called you, I have a feeling this might sound familiar…" He said, strumming the first chords of The Times They Are A-Changin'.

Lucas and Maya both had their jaws drop when Remy said 'Heartbreaker'. He gave the first nickname? Wait...what? That's not how this works. That's not how any of this works!

"Come gather round people wherever you roam. And admit that the waters around you have grown. And accept it that soon you'll be drenched to the bone. If your tiiiiime to you is worth savin'...then you better start swimmin' or you'll sink like a stone. Oh the times they are a-changin'." He gently warbled, hearing the harmonica hum as Lucas followed his lead. Maybe I will fit in here… Remy thought as he continued to play.

"Come writers and critics who prophesize with your pens, and keep your eyes wide that the chance won't come again. And don't speak too soon for the wheel's still in spin, and there's no telling who it is namin'. For the loser now will be later to win. Oh the tiiiiiime they are a-changin." He strummed along and smiled as Lucas hit the harmonica as powerfully as Dylan himself. He put the guitar down after a brief solo and looked to Mr. Matthews before speaking.

"You see, change isn't about good or bad. It is undeniable. You either have to admit that it happens, or get swallowed up by it in the hopeless effort of denial. The reason that change is good, regardless of if the change that occurs is inherently bad, is because it allows for growth. It allows for development. It gives people something to strive for, because even if there is bad change, they can hope that it will change again into something beautiful. When Pearl Harbor was bombed, it was the largest foreign attack on American soil in centuries, and it was a terrible change. It was unheard of for Americans to be afraid in their own homes of a foreign threat...but deep down it gave them hope that our troops would bring the fight to the enemy and make us all feel safe once more. When the Vietnam War broke out, America became divided into the self-appointed patriots and those who believed that there was another way to gain peace. Again, this division was a drastic change, but everyone had one hope in their minds. The hope that the war would end, and our troops would return home. That, though so much had changed, it could return to how it once was with fathers home to hug their children, wives able to cook their husbands a warm meal. Deep down, it isn't hard to see what this all means. Change is inevitable. Change is bad. Change is good. Change is hope." He said, standing and putting his pick back onto the small, beaded metal chain he wore around his neck. He put the guitar back into the leather case and took his seat once more.

"And you discovered all this without a group. Alone?" Cory said, pondering his new students rather astute description of the issue of change.

"Alone? No. I'm never alone Mr. Matthews. The person I once was is always there...but you see, that in it of itself explains the entirety of your lesson, doesn't it? History changes. It transforms and grows. Countries change or cease to be. Civilizations evolve or perish. That's on the grand scale...but on the smaller scale, right here in this classroom, change happens. We all were someone, and now we're someone else...we change. What we once viewed as normal changes with time as well. Sometimes groups move apart, or they grow stronger than ever. Friends become enemies, or they become couples, or sometimes family. Stop me if I've gone too far, but I think that's what you were trying to get us all to realize. History changes, and we are the people that make history. We are change." He said, looking around the room and smiling. "I think change is good...and I'm going to like this change." His final words were said as he looked at Riley, Farkle, Lucas, and finally Maya.

"Very well put Remy...very well put." Cory clapped slowly at the transfer student's explanation of the lesson as a whole.

"Yeah, that was almost as good as Farkle time. Way to go." Farkle said, chuckling.

"Good job, Music Man." Maya said, trying to play off her normal 'cool kid' persona...but deep down she was truly impressed. Impressed by his music, impressed by his giving the first nickname, impressed by his determination. Not even Huckleberry had come in on his first day and completely discerned Matthews lesson, let alone with a Bob Dylan song.

The bell rang, the period coming to an end. "Your homework is to write me one page on how you have changed between Sophomore and Junior year. Class dismissed." Cory said, everyone rising and picking up their bags. Remy held open the door for Riley, Lucas, Farkle, and Maya, finally exiting himself. Maya smiled as he began to walk in the same direction as she did, toward the Art and Music wing of Thomas Jefferson High School.

Change...is good. she thought, smiling softly as they walked together in silence.

End of Chapter One Author's Note: I hope you all enjoyed reading. Please review, favorite, etc. I know it was a bit long, but that is just how I've taken to writing, so that will be the common length of the chapters. Some a bit shorter, some a bit longer. Well, off I go to work on chapter two. Any questions, comments, or concerns, please leave a review or email me at keredamstys