Season One

Chapter 1.

An Angel Meets the World

"Why do we have to sneak out of the house, if we're not doing anything wrong until we sneak onto the subway?" Riley asked for the hundredth time.

"Do you think you're ready to just walk by your parents?" Maya asked.

I was sitting on Riley's bed watching my two best friends as they sat at Riley's bay window. We had been at this for the past ten minutes and I couldn't help but be amused, but also annoyed, at Riley's resistance.

"I think I'm ready!" Riley said excitedly.

"Let me see your face as you walk by your parents," I said, rolling my eyes at her.

Maya and I watched as Riley made the most ridiculous face I had ever seen. I tried so hard not to laugh at our little goof ball, I almost didn't make it. She made my day even when I didn't want her too. She always made me forget about my home life. For that I was grateful.

"Why are you making that face at us Riley?" Maya asked.

Both Maya and I knew this was the question her parents would ask as she made her way towards the front door. The question was could she lie to them. I highly doubted it.

"Because I'm sneaking onto the subway," Riley said.

She paused and the smile slipped from her face as she knew that answer wasn't going to work. It made things easier that Riley wasn't stupid. Most of the time she got things right away. Other times we weren't so lucky. Thank god it wasn't one of those other times.

"Out the window," she finally said, the smile returning to her face.

"Let's go," Maya said, pointing out the window.

Maya and Riley made their way out the window but I stayed behind, still sitting on Riley's bed. I knew what was going to happen. It was just a matter of seconds. I observed my fingernails on my night hand, when right on cue Riley and Maya were pushed back into the room. Soon after Riley's father, Cory Matthews, climbed through the window after them. The two girls made their way over to Riley's bed to sit beside me. Mr. Matthews stood in front of us.

"Here's what I'm thinking," he said, "it's not your world yet. It's still my world. Because if it was your world, Jazzabelle and Maya would have you on the subway already, thinking that you pulled something over on me, but you didn't."

I watched as Riley's father came closer to us. I crossed my arms over my chest, with a smirk on my face. I knew once he started his lectures it would be a long time before he was done. At least you learning something from them in the end.

"You wanna know how I know that?" Mr. Matthews asked us. "Look at you. You're right here."

"How long do I have to live in my father's world?" Riley asked, looking over at Maya and me.

I felt bad for her, but at least her parents cared what happened to her. Her parents weren't like my dad, which was a good thing. I was glad at least one of us had a loving home life. I'm glad that it was her.

"Until you make it yours," Mr. Matthews stated. "Riley do you know what I want more than anything?"

Riley, Maya, and I shared a look with one another. We then looked back to Mr. Matthews and shrugged when we came up with nothing.

"For you to make it yours," he finally told her.

"I will," Riley said with a smile.

She linked one of her arms threw Maya and her other threw mine. We all smiled at each other. Then we again looked back at Mr. Matthews.

"And when I do will you still be there for me?" Riley asked.

"Right here," a female voice chimed in.

All of us looked over to Riley's bedroom door. Riley's mother, Topanga Matthews, was standing there with her arms crossed over her chest. She was smiling at all of us as she made her way over to stand by her husband. She linked arms with him.

"We'll be right here," she reassured not just Riley, but Maya and me as well.

Maya, Riley, and I shared a look with one another before. With our arms still linked together, we got up from the bed and walking out the door. We were ready to make this world ours.

As soon as the three of us entered the subway station we heard drumming. I turned to find the source of the noise and saw a familiar face.

"Weasel!" Maya exclaimed as we all made our way to him.

"Maya! Jazzabelle!" Weasel greeted us before noticing Riley. "Who's the new chick?"

"Chick," Riley said excitedly. "Down here I'm a chick. No wonder my parents don't want me on the subway."

She pointed to the stations floor with a big smile on her face. The young brunette was practically jumping up and down with excitement. I couldn't help but laugh as we started walking toward the subway train. Ah how I loved my corky best friend Riley. She and Maya meant the world to me.

"You're slouching Maya," a lady told Maya.

She and another woman walked passed the three of us. I looked at the lady who talked to Maya. It took me a minute to recognize that it was Gretchen, a woman that Maya and I knew after years of taking the subway.

"Looking good Jazzabelle," Gretchen said, pointing at me.

I smiled and nodded my head to her in thanks.

"Thanks Gretchen," Maya said.

I watched as Maya stood up straight with her hands on her hips and started strutting away. Riley looked at me and I waited to see what she was going to do next. She didn't disappoint when she started strutting after Maya. I rolled my eyes, but laughed as I followed behind them like a normal person would walk.

The three of us stood while holding onto the poles that stood in the middle of the subway train. Maya was in the middle while Riley and I were on both sides of her. I watched as Riley took a tube out of her backpack.

"Woah, Riley," I said. "You don't do lip gloss."

"Oh," Riley replied innocently, "what I forgot to mention is that I'm completely reinventing myself. I ride the subway now, I have kiwi lips now, and I'm as cool as Maya now."

"What about me?" I asked. "What am I? Chopped liver?"

"I'm sorry to break it to you honey," Maya chimed in, "but you're not cool. You're too cute to be cool. You're the perfect mixture of Riley and me. You have a temper and you're sassy, but you're also cute and shy."

I knew deep down Maya was right but I wasn't going to let her know that. It was childish yes, but if you thought about it I was still kind of a child.

"I'm not cute!" I exclaimed. "I'm the opposite of cute."

"Oh really?" Maya asked.

"Yea," I snapped.

Maya was about to say something, until she looked behind her. When she turned back to look at Riley and me she had a big smile on her face. The scary smile that meant that she up to no good. The one that said that she had an evil plan going through that evil little mind of hers. That smile was never good.

"Well if you think you're so cool," Maya challenged, "let's see how cool you can be when you look at him."

I looked over my shoulder to where Maya had been looking. That's when I noticed a sandy-blond haired guy that looked about our age, maybe a little bit older. He was sitting not too far from us, looking down at his lap where he was holding a book he was reading. I had to admit he was pretty cute.

He must have somehow felt me looking at him because he looked up. At that moment my sky blue eyes met his emerald green ones. Just then I felt something I hadn't felt before. It was like something in my chest snapped and soon after I felt a pull toward the boy. It was like a part of me had been missing until I saw this boy. I didn't understand how that could be possible. I didn't even know if I like it, let alone what I thought about it.

It felt like forever since he looked up but it must have only been a few seconds because he smiled at me. I could feel the heat spread across my cheeks. I gave the boy a small smile back and then looked away. The feeling of embarrassment washed over my whole body. The strange thing was I had no reason to be embarrass. I didn't even have the courage to look at my friends. I just looked down at my feet. My head shot up when I heard Riley giggle. She and Maya were both smiling at me and I knew I wasn't going to get off the hook for this one. If I did it would be a miracle.

"Hmmmm…" Maya hummed. "I think you like him."

"No I don't!" I defended. "I don't even know him."

"You don't have to know someone to like them," Riley stated.

"So?" I said.

That's the only thing I could say. I grabbing for straws, a sad, but true fact.

"So go talk to him," Maya said with a laugh.

"No I'm good, thanks," I declined.

"See this is why you're not cool like Maya," Riley said.

"Yea," Maya nodded, with a huge grin on her face. "You're gonna need some lessons."

I gave her a confused look before looking at Riley for some clarification. She just shrugged. I then looked back at Maya.

"Okay," Maya said, rolling her eyes, "let me show you everything you need to know about boys and girls, Jazzabelle. Of course, you should pay attention, as well Riley."

Riley and I watched as Maya walked over to where the boy sat. As soon as she sat down next to him I felt anger take over the embarrassment throughout my body and I looked away from Maya and the boy. But why should I be angry about Maya sitting next to the emerald eyed boy. I didn't even know him. Was I... was I jealous. No I couldn't be… could I?

I looked back up as Maya started talking.

"Hi, I'm Maya," she said happily. "You're really cute. We should hang out sometime. You make me happy. You don't pay enough attention to me. This isn't working. It's you, not me. We can still be friends. Not really."

I stared, with my mouth wide open, as Maya walked back to us, leaving the boy just as confused as I was. What was she thinking?

"He's available," Maya said, "we just broke up."

"Are you okay?" Riley asked. "Do you want to talk about it?"

I rolled my eyes. I couldn't understand some of the things these two did. They came up with some strange things, but if I had to be honest I would be lost without them.

"Do you think you're still cool like me?" Maya asked me.

"I know I'm cool like you," I stated boldly.

Riley decided to change my answer for me.

"She wants to be exactly like you," she said. "She, like me, thinks too much and you don't think at all."

"See, you get me," Maya said happily. "So let's not think."

I didn't understand what she meant, until it was too late. Maya had forced my hand off of the pole that was holding me in place. I closed my eyes and let out a little yelp as I fell backwards. Before I knew it I landed in Maya's 'ex-boyfriend's' lap. I slowly opened my eyes to see the boy looking at me.

"Hi," he said.

He smiled down at me as he gently sat me down beside him. I could feel my heart rate pick up when I felt his arms around me. Seriously! What in the world was happening to me? This wasn't something that ever happened to me. Never mind I lied. I take it back. The only time it happened was when I was at home.

"H-Hi," I muttered. "My friends and I were just talking about you. You used to go out with my friends, Maya."

'Why did I just say that?' I asked myself.

That was a stupid thing to say. I knew it was. Maya and this guy didn't even date. That was just something stupid Maya did to teach Riley something. This was just stupid. He probably thought I was mentally challenge.

I watched as the boy looked towards Maya and Riley before looking back at me and nodded with understanding. That's when I got to look back into his emerald green eyes again. On the other hand who cares if he thought I was some nut case. He was pretty cute. Oh who was I trying to kid? He was really, really cute. I think this could really work out for me. If I was lucky and I was never this lucky.

'Oh dear god,' I silently prayed, 'please give me the luck I need. Please.'

"I'm Lucas," the boy finally said.

"I'm Jazzabelle," I muttered.

Before either of us could say anything else a lady walked up to us. Lucas and I looked up. The lady was pleasantly plump, with dark sick. She had brown hair and brown eyes. I think she could be nice but right now my luck had ran out.

"Perhaps someone would like to give their seat to someone older?" she stated.

Lucas started to get up and gather his stuff so he could give the lady his seat.

"Oh not you sweet potata pie," she said happily. "You're fine where you are."

The young boy looked over at me to see if I really wanted to move. Even though I wanted to see where this was heading, I had to go back to Riley and Maya before I embarrassed myself even more which wouldn't have been that hard.

"No it's fine," I told him. "I have to get back to my friends anyway."

"Why thank you," the lady said happily. "I just got off a 12 hour shift and want to get off my feet."

I got up and walked back over to Riley and Maya.

"How ya doin'?" Riley asked me, when I got back to them.

"I don't know," I mumbled.

I grabbed the pole to hold myself up before I fell again.

"Uh-huh," Maya said.

"I can't believe you just did that to me," I growled at her.

"You're welcome," she shrugged.

"I'm probably never going to talk to him again," I said. "So I don't understand what the point was of doing that."

At that time Riley thought she would help me again. Funny thing about Riley was when she tried to help me in these situation, she actually made them worse somehow. This was one of those times.

"What if that was the best moment of her life?" she asked Maya. "What if nothing ever happens for her again?"

I gave Riley a glare that said 'Stop Helping Me' before I looked back at Maya. She looked at me and I saw her get that mischievous twinkle in her eyes that she always got before she was up to no good.

"No! No! Don't you–"

But I didn't get a chance to finish because Maya grabbed onto my hand again, yanked it off the pole, and pushed me back to Lucas. Again I let out a small yelp and closed my eyes as I fell backwards. When I opened them, instead of being in Lucas' lap, like last time, I fell into the lady's lap. She was looking down at me and she wasn't amused. I guess I didn't blame her. I would be mad too, if I had just got off of work and some kid fell into my lap.

"I'm so sorry," I apologized to her.

"It's for you," she said to Lucas.

She handed me over to Lucas. To be honest it seemed that he was more than willing to get me. I was okay with it as well.

"Hello again," I said.

I couldn't help but look down at my hands in embarrassment.

After we got to school we went straight to our lockers. Somehow the three of us got lucky and our lockers were side by side. It made it a lot easier for us to stay together. Thankfully we had all the same classes.

"Did you have trouble with the homework?" Riley asked.

She had been done getting her things out of her locker and was waiting for Maya and me to finish getting ours.

"Nope," I responded, as I closed my locker.

"Piece of cake," Maya stated, also closing hers.

"You didn't do it, did you?" I guessed.

"I don't even know where my books are," Maya confessed, with a laugh.

"They're here," Riley said, "and they're heavy."

I watched as she opened up her backpack and handed Maya her textbooks. The bell rang for first period and the three of us walked into class.

"You have to do the homework, Maya," I urged.

"Yea," Riley chimed in. "The teacher's insane, a total nut job. I think there's something seriously wrong with him."

"Hi honey," Mr. Matthews said, as he stood in front of us.

"Hi daddy," Riley greeted with an innocent smile.

"You're late to your father's class."

"Oh, don't worry, Mr. Matthews," Maya said. "You wrote her a note."

She took a folded note from her back pocket and held it up.

"I did?" he asked.

"You did," Maya stated

She handed the note to me.

"You did," I repeated.

I then gave it to Riley.

"You did," Riley nodded.

She gave it to her dad, who unfolded it.

"Riley's late," he read the note a loud. "Deal with it."

He shrugged and looked at Maya.

"Wow Maya," he said impressed, "you got my signature down pretty good this time."

"Oh, it was easy," Maya stated as she took her seat. "You write like a girl."

The look on Mr. Matthews' face was priceless. I mean yea he had some pretty funny expression and all of them were priceless in my opinion, but they seemed to get better and better as the years went by. Riley and I followed Maya over to our desks at the front of the class. The order of our seating arrangement was me, Riley, and then Maya.

"Okay," Mr. Matthews started. "Let me get back to jamming some learning into your heads… The Civil War."

"The Civil Bore," Maya said mockingly.

Mr. Matthews give Maya a tight smile.

"Thank you," he taunted, "future mini-mart employee of the month."

"Would I still be making more money than you?" Maya retorted, with a smile.

Mr. Matthews glared at her this time, before he decided to ignore Maya and to continue on with his lesson.

"The Civil War," he continued, "anyone?"

"A war we fought against ourselves," Riley answered.

"What, you actually studied this?" her dad asked in disbelief.

"No, I'm actually living in it," Riley groaned.

She placed her head on her desk in despair and it took everything I had to hold back a laugh.

"People, people," Farkle jumped in. "Are we here to learn or not?"

Farkle was the kid that sat behind Riley. He was another one of my friends. He, Riley, Maya, and I knew each other since first grade. I thought he was a nice kid but he was also really smart. He had brown eyes and brown hair, with a haircut that looked like his mother hand cut it while a bowl was on his head. Who knows maybe she did but that didn't stop the three of us from hanging out with him.

"What do you mean, Farkle?" I asked.

I turned to face him. I wasn't sure what he was going to say. Another thing about Farkle was anything and everything this kid said was interesting in one way or another. I think it was because he was so smart. How he got so smart, I have no clue. I probably never will.

"I've been in love with Riley since first grade," he started, "but I've also been equally in love with Maya and Jazzabelle. Some might say that the great mystery of the universe is who's going to be the first Mrs. Farkle."

Maya then turned to look at Farkle.

"You don't want this," Maya glared warningly.

"Bring it on," he challenged.

"I always thought he'd end up with back-of-the-class Brenda," I shrugged.

We all turned to look at the weirder, female looking version of Farkle in the back row.

"Ew, yuck!" Farkle exclaimed.

"Actually," Mr. Matthews interrupted, "the greatest mystery of the universe is how you could love three women the same, who couldn't possibly be more different."

"Maya and I aren't so different," Riley jumped in.

"Yes you are," I interjected.

"May I overstep my bounds, sir?" Farkle asked, as he raised his hand.

"You always do," Mr. Matthews said.

He moved to the side, giving the floor to Farkle. The small boy made his way to the front of the class and flipped the nameplate on Mr. Matthews' desk. Weirdly enough, on the other side of the name plate said 'FARKLE'. Like all the times Farkle spoke in front of the class this was sure going to be… fascinating. I watched as he made his way over to Riley's desk and slammed his hands on it.

"Riley is the sun," he began. "Warm, bright, and lights up my whole day."

He then made his way over to Maya and slammed his hands on her desk.

"Maya is the night," he claimed. "Dark, and mysterious, and the night has always been a mystery to me because I go to bed at 7:30."

Then he walked over to me and again slammed his hands on my desk.

"And Jazzabelle is the twilight," he stated. "Like the sun she is warm but like the night she is a mystery. She has secrets even I can't figure out. She is the perfect balance of both the sun and the moon."

I froze when Farkle said I had secrets even he couldn't figure out. He didn't know how close he was to the truth. Farkle didn't seem to notice how still I was because he just continued on with his rant.

"How could I love these three different women?" he asked "How could I not? Thank you! I am Farkle!"

I was still frozen as Mr. Matthews and Farkle switched places again and our teacher began to lecture again. I just hoped that Farkle would never figure out what I was hiding. I don't know what I would do if he did.

"So we were indeed trying to find who we were as people," Mr. Matthews stated. "Who am I? Who should I be? History shows that bad things happen when you don't know who you are."

I then saw someone at the classroom door. I looked and saw Lucas from the subway. As he walked into the classroom I unfroze. I couldn't help but sit up straighter. Mr. Matthews saw me looking at the door and turned to see what I was looking at. The boy was standing right beside him.

"Who are?" Mr. Matthews asked him. "I don't know who you are."

I rolled my eyes at my teacher. I couldn't believe how weird he could be.

"Subway boy," Riley exclaimed.

I looked over at her and she was already looking in my direction. I nodded and she winked at me. When I saw that she winked at me, I rolled my eyes again this time at her, and look back up at the front of the class.

"I'm Lucas Friar," Lucas introduced himself, "from Austin, Texas."

"Oh," Mr. Matthews said, surprised. "New student, Mr. Friar?"

"Yes sir."

"Great you're in time from today's assignment. Have a seat."

He started walking toward me. When he saw who I was, a smile spread across his face. I couldn't help but smile back. Thankfully the only empty seat in the classroom was right behind me. At that moment I could have jumped up and down with pure joy. Instead I turned as he took his seat. We were still smiling at each other.

"Hi," I whispered.

"Hi," he chuckled.

Mr. Matthews continued talking as he walked down our row. When he saw I wasn't paying attention he grabbed my head and turned it so I was facing forward again. My teacher then continued with whatever he had been lecturing about.

"So what I'd like you guys to do is turn to page 48," Mr. Matthews ordered.

We all turned to the page he told us to turn to.

"Now I'd like you to turn to page 1," he said.

We did as we were told again. By now I knew where this was going. I knew what was going to happen even before Mr. Matthews said it.

'Wait for it…' I thought to myself.

"Now, I'd like you to read from page 1 to page 48," Mr. Matthews said with a smile.

Everyone groaned but Farkle.

"Oh, too bad on you," Mr. Matthews mocked.

The way he said it was pretty funny. It was hard for me to keep from laughing.

"Okay, I'd like you to write a three page essay on anything," Mr. Matthews continuing with the rest of the assignment, "anything at all, that you guys believe in so strongly that you'd fight for it."

"That!" Maya exclaimed.

"What?" Mr. Matthews asked.

'Oh no,' I thought. 'This was just what Maya had been waiting for.'

"I'd fight for no homework," Maya clarified. "I come here every day. Why can't you teach me everything I need to know while I'm here?"

"Maya no," I warned.

"Whoo!" Riley hollered.

I smacked my forehead with the palm of my hand.

"Oh god," I groaned.

I then stared up at the ceiling.

'Why do my friends have to be so difficult?' I asked it.

I looked at Mr. Matthews as he shot his daughter an angry look.

"No whoo," she finally decided.

"He gets our days," Maya shouted, to the class, as she stood up, "so let's take back our nights! No Homework! More Freedom!"

'Why me?' I asked the ceiling again.

"Who's with me?" Maya rallied.

The class soon began to chant, following Maya's lead.

"No Homework! More Freedom!" they chanted. "No Homework! More Freedom!"

"This is it kid," Maya told Riley, "if you want to be like me, stand up."

She didn't ask me because she knew that I wouldn't follow suit. I watched as Maya walked out of the class with most of the students fallowing behind her. Riley stood up with them.

"Whatcha doin'?" Mr. Matthews asked as he walked up to his daughter

"I'm making a choice about who I want to be," Riley stated. "About whose world I want it to me."

"Riley I know you. You know exactly who you are."

"Who am I dad?"

"You're just like me."

"Yea, would you do this?"

Riley didn't give her dad a chance to answer before she started chanting as she started walking down her row of desks.

"You going too?" Mr. Matthews asked me.

I shook my head.

"Not really in the rebellious mood today," I shrugged. "Besides, out of the three of us at least one of us has to be sane."

"Thank god," Mr. Matthews sighed with relief.

"Farkle are you with us or not?" Riley asked, when she got to his desk.

Riley and Maya lead the classmates that followed, out of the classroom through the back door. All who was left in the class was Lucas, Farkle, me, and Mr. Matthews. Soon after everyone else left Farkle jumped out of his seat looking confused.

"I don't know what to do," he whined. "My education, or my other two women. My education or my other two women. Oh it's happening again sir."

Farkle then fainted into Mr. Matthews' arms. I guess you could call that a trust exercise. I watched him as he put Farkle in a chair. Mr. Matthews tried to revive the young boy in the chair.

"Is it always like this?" Lucas asked from behind me.

I turned to look at him. I thought I was going to have trouble talking to him but I surprised even myself. The world flowed out my mouth like I had known him forever.

"No," I said. "Yes. I mean it depends on the day, I guess."

Lucas smiled at me and I smiled back turning around. I grabbed a book I had been reading called 'The Mortal Instruments', from my backpack and enjoyed the quiet time.

I took my time getting home. I didn't know if he would be home or not. Around this time he'd either be at work, at the bar, or at home. If he was working he'd go straight to the bar afterwards. Which meant he wouldn't be home till early tomorrow morning. If he was at the bar he again wouldn't be home till early morning. If he was home he would either be asleep or up drinking. I didn't know what his schedule was like from day to day for work, which was sad and scary at the same time. I didn't even know which place I preferred him to me. Mostly what I preferred was if he was out, I hoped he'd be too drunk to come home to beat me. If he was really drunk he'd just pass out on the couch. If he wasn't, well here comes another bruise to add to the list.

When I got to my house, the door was locked so I took that as a good sign. The house was quiet as I slowly made my way to the living room. My father wasn't lying on the couch so I took it he was either at work or at the bar. It was another sleepless night either way. I made my way into the kitchen to make dinner. I made mac'-en-cheese with tuna in it. It was something that I enjoyed from time to time. I was never hungry enough to eat all of it so I put the rest in the fridge so my father could have some.

I washed the dishes and cleaned the kitchen. One less thing I would get yelled at for. After I was done there I walked up to my bedroom and got to my homework. I thought about Mr. Matthews lecture. I had to write a three page essay about what was worth fighting for me. That one was easy. I went to my desked, grabbed, and pencil and paper, and started writing.

'Something I Find Worth Fighting For'

'Something I find worth fighting for is no more child abuse.'

Two hours later I thought my essay was perfect. I just hoped I didn't have to present it in front of the class. I looked at the clock on my desk it was only a quarter to 8. I guess I could try to get some sleep before the old man got home.

I went to the bathroom, took a shower, changed into my PJ's, and brushed my teeth. By the time I was done in there it was a quarter till 9. It was time to get some sleep. I turned off my light and jumped into bed. It was easier to get to sleep then I thought it would be.

I woke up to the front door slamming shut. My eyes flew open as I heard the loud noise. My heart rate picked up the way it always did when he came home from a night of drinking.

'Please be too drunk,' I begged to myself. 'Please be to drunk.'

It was quiet for a few minutes, almost too quiet. Slowly I let out the breath I had been holding and closed my eyes to go back to sleep.

"Jazza," my father's deep voice came from the bottom of the stairs. "I'm home. You know what that mean."

Once again my eyes flew open as my heart sank to the bottom on my stomach. I couldn't catch a break anymore.

"Awe," Maya said, as I sat down, "look at him, looking for a place to fit in."

I knew who she was talking about but at the moment I really didn't care. After the beating I endured early this morning, I was just trying to pretend that I wasn't hurting so much. My dad didn't drink as much as I wanted him too, half the time he never did. After about ten minutes of beating the midsection of my body he stopped after he heard the cracking of a few of my ribs.

"That's for being you," he said.

The sound of cracking ribs and his words echoed in my ears.

"You think he'll sit with us?" Riley asked, bringing me out of my painful thoughts.

"Who?" I asked, pretending I didn't know who they were talking about.

"Lucas," they both answered.

I looked over to my right side where there was an empty seat. I couldn't help but smile at the thought of him sitting there. I looked back at Riley and Maya. They were smiling at me. Maya was going to say something but before she got the chance, Farkle moved into the seat next to me. The three of us turn our heads to look at him.

"Ladies," Farkle greeted.

"Farkle," we replied in unison.

"Interesting lunch-line dilemma," he said. "Sloppy Joes, Chicken Pot Pie, or Chicken Nuggets? Sloppy Joes? Chicken Pot Pie? Or Chicken Nuggets?"

Was the chicken nuggets supposed to me be? Seriously? Why? Just because people thought I was cute didn't mean that I had to be the cute small chicken nuggets. It just wasn't fair. I guess I would always be the cute and broken chicken nugget for the rest of my life. It was quit sad really, like everything in my life.

"Is that all you got?" Maya asked.

Farkle nodded happily.

"Yep, same time tomorrow," he said as he got up and left us.

I shook my head not really understanding what just happened.

"There he is," Riley said.

I looked to where she was looking at Lucas.

"Invite him to sit down," Maya told me.

"Why me?" I asked. "Why is it always me?"

"It's not always you."

"Yes it is. What do I say anyway?"

"Hey Lucas, looking for someone special?"

"She can't say that!" Riley said for me.

"Hey Lucas," Maya tried again, "looking for somebody?"

"Too straight forward," I protested.

"Hey Lucas."

"Like she's on a first name basis?" Riley asked with a big smile.

"Hey," Maya said simply.

"Hey," I said trying it out.

"Hey back," a voice said from my right side.

I turned around, taking everything I had not to cry out loud from the pain in my ribs. Lucas was sitting down next to me. A smile spread across my face.

"Hi," I breathed. "You're sitting here."

'Well no dud Captain Obvious,' that little voice in my head said.

"Is that okay?" Lucas asked worriedly. "Am I making you uncomfortable?"

"Can you excuse me for just one sec?" I asked.

Lucas nodded, and I quickly turned around to Maya and Riley. The three of us did a little girl squeal thing before I turned back to look at Lucas, but he wasn't the only one sitting there when I looked back.

"How ya doin'?" Mr. Matthews asked.

'Oh no,' I thought to myself. 'What are you going to do now Mr. Matthews?'

"Dad," Riley began, "please don't over react. You have a choice here. You can either understand that this is completely innocent and that he's just a boy talking to Jazzabelle or…"

Riley didn't even get to finish whatever else she was going to say.

"Considering I see Jazzabelle as another daughter," Mr. Matthews stated, "I'm gonna do whatever you say next."

I sat frozen in my seat. Did Mr. Matthews say that he saw me as another daughter? I didn't think he ever thought about me like that. I wandered if Mrs. Matthews thought of me like that too. I couldn't help but feel confused about the whole thing, but that was a worry for another day. Mr. Matthews was the problem I had to face now.

"Honey," Mr. Matthews continued, bringing me back out of my thoughts, "fathers don't see anything as innocent. We see it as… what's the opposite of innocent?"

"Right here," Maya said, raising her hand.

Mr. Matthews gave Maya a weird look. It pretty much said that she was right.

"Please don't embarrass me," I begged him.

"I'm not going to embarrass you, Jazzabelle," Mr. Matthews said with an evil smile. "I'm just gonna ask Mr. Friar a geography question."

He then turned to Lucas who looked confused about the whole thing, but had also been quiet though it.

"You know I've been to a lot of places," Mr. Matthews stated. "Never been to Texas though. What part of Texas is closest to Mexico?"

"That will be El Paso, sir," Lucas answered.

"Great, let's go right now," Mr. Matthews declared.

I watched in total embarrassment as he grabbed the back of Lucas' chair and pulled him away to 'El Paso'. As he was pulled away Lucas smiled at me and I gave him a small smile in return before turning to look over to Riley. She just shrugged. It seems as though she was too lost for words, just like me. Maya then stood with Riley and I right behind her. We took our trays over to the trash cans.

"So did you do the homework?" Riley asked us.

"No, I didn't do the homework," Maya retorted. "The question is on everybody's kiwi lips, is did you do your homework?"

"No. I'm one of the founding members of the homework rebellion. You think I did my homework?"

"I think you did," I jumped in, "and I think you did Maya's too."

"I did," Riley cried out, "I did and I really like it."

"Riley," Maya sighed with a small smile, "don't save me."

"What?" Riley asked giving her a confused look.

"Let me be me," Maya stated.

Before the conversation could continue I noticed Farkle walking past us. He had a tray, this time with three desserts on it.

"Oh, you got three deserts?" I asked him.

"Angel's Food Cake," Riley said.

"Devil's Food Cake," Maya stated.

"And Cocoa Cola Cake," I smirked. "Let me guess who's who."

"Hey Farkle's just hungry," Farkle defended himself. "Not everything's about you."

The three of us watched as he walked away, trying not to laugh.

When I got to history class I noticed that Lucas was already there. I couldn't help the smile spreading across my face.

"Hi," I said as I sat in my seat. "I'm glad your back."

"Hi," he said with a smile. "Me too. He didn't take me very far."

"Hi," Mr. Matthews whispered, as he came out of nowhere. "Apparently you have a better sense of direction than I anticipated."

I groaned. I had no idea why he was doing this to me. Mr. Matthews did a 'I'm watching you' thing with his fingers and then stopped to stare at Lucas for a few more seconds.

"You're a good looking guy," Mr. Matthews finally stated.

He left then, leaving both Lucas and I confused. Soon the bell rang and I turned around to look at the front of the class.

"Okay," Mr. Matthews said to everyone in the class, "so today we're going to find out if anybody here believes in something so strongly they'd fight for it."

The teacher walked up to me.

"Jazzabelle," he said to me, "present your homework."

"Can I just give it to you after class please Mr. Matthews," I begged him.

"Why?" he asked with a confused look on his face.

"I don't want anyone to hear it. Could you just grade it for me? If you have to take points off because of it that's okay by me. Just please let me hand it in after class."

"Okay. Okay Ms. McCormick. I can do that. You can give it to me now, if you want, and no one has to hear it. I promise. No points will be taken off."

"Okay," I whispered. "Thank you, Mr. Matthews."

I grabbed my backpack from the floor and took out my homework. I handed it over to him. He gave me a reassuring smile before continuing down to the row. Though he skipped his daughter and went straight to Maya.

"Maya," he said, "present your homework."

"Can't do that sir," she said.

"Why not?"

"Didn't do it sir."

"Why not?"

"'Cause that's what I'm fight for, sir."

I just groaned and shook my head, not really understanding how I had friends like this. I felt someone tap me on the shoulder. Being careful of not bringing more pain to my ribs, I slowly turned in my seat to face Lucas.

"Hi," he said with a smile.

"Hi," I whispered.

"Uh… is she always like this?"

"I hate to say it but yea."

When I turned back Mr. Matthews and Maya were still going at it.

"Oh this is going to go on for a while," Farkle guessed, mostly to himself.

I turned to look at him, as he propped his feet on top of his desk and put on a sleeping mask before taking a nap.

"Farkle, Farkle, Farkle," Farkle started to 'snore', "Farkle, Farkle, Farkle."

I giggled, even for the Farkle I grew up, this was strange.

"Riley," Mr. Matthews moved on. "Homework. Present it. Now."

"I didn't do my homework either," Riley informed him.

"Really?"

"Yeah. Maya and I are the same now. I don't believe in homework."

"Guess what Riley. That doesn't make you the same as Maya at all."

"I have something to say," Maya said.

We all looked at her, she was raising her hand.

"Wow," Mr. Matthews said. "I don't know what to do. I've never seen this before. The floor is yours Ms. Hart."

He stepped aside to let Maya take over. That was probably not his smartest idea. Maya walked to Farkle's desk first to make him up.

"Get up Farkle," she said. "You're gonna wanna be awake for this."

"Is it our honeymoon?" Farkle asked happily as he jumped awake.

'What is going on in that head of his?' I wandered to myself.

"No, you missed that," Maya stated. "It's time to hand in our essays."

"Oh!" Farkle exclaimed happily. "Farkle goes first! Farkle always goes first!"

I watched as he ran to get his project.

"All right," Maya began. "Everybody who did their homework put it on your desks."

I was glad I turned mine in first because I had a bad feeling about this.

"Careful there, Ms. Hart," Mr. Matthews warned.

"Maya," I whispered to her.

But she didn't seem to hear me. She just walked around the room grabbing everyone's homework. Then the back door to the classroom burst opened and Farkle came into the room with a huge diorama in his hands.

"The burning of Atlanta led to the end of the Civil War and peace," Farkle explained. "I believed that peace is worth fighting for."

With everyone's essays in her hand, Maya took one of the sparklers from Farkle's project and with that I knew what was going to happen. I knew had to figure out a way to stop it.

"Hey!" Farkle protested. "That's a vital part of my diorama!"

Maya ignored him and plucked another sparkler from the diorama.

"And there goes Virginia," Farkle uttered sadly.

Maya walked to the front part of the classroom and stood on her desk. I stood up as she held the sparklers and the essays up separately in the air, in front of her.

"The burning of the homework led to the end of the homework rebellion because there was no more homework," she declared.

I thought hard on how to stop her as she went to set the essays on fire with the sparklers, but I was coming up blank. There was only one thing I could do. It wasn't much but I had to try.

"Maya!" I cried out. "Don't do it!"

I shouted at her as an attempt to stop her, but I knew it was a little too late. She was too far gone.

"Alright," Mr. Matthews yelled, as he tried to grab at the essays in her hand, "alright that's far enough. Maya I get it!"

Even he couldn't stop her as Maya continued to raise the sparklers to the ceiling.

"No Homework!" she chanted. "No Free–"

And that when everything went downhill. Maya was soon cut off by the fire alarm going off, and the water sprinklers turning on, from the ceiling. The class began to scream as the ice cold water rained down on us. Everyone started running out of the classroom. The only people left in the room was Maya, Riley, Lucas, Farkle, Mr. Matthews, and myself.

"Is this part of the presentation?" Farkle asked in his panicked state.

I was starting to get soaked before I felt the water stop. I turned around and saw Lucas holding his jacket over the both of us. I moved closer to him so I would be completely covered.

"Thanks," I said to him with a smile, "this means a lot to me."

I looked over to Riley who was still being rained on by the sprinklers. She was looking over at us. She looked little guilty in my opinion.

"Why didn't you stop your friend?" Lucas asked her.

"That's not what I do anymore," Riley replied.

"You're better than that Riles!" I exclaimed.

"Jazzabelle at least tried to stop her," Lucas said.

"Jazzy's that kind of person," Riley defended. "Not me. I let Maya be her."

I watched as Farkle frantically ran around the room. He soon jumped on Mr. Matthews' back, probably thinking he could help him.

"Ms. Hart." Mr. Matthews growled. "You have detention."

Maya lowered her head and got off the chair.

"The principal will determine if it goes further than that," Mr. Matthews continued. "Ms. Matthews, Ms. McCormick, Mr. Friar, please leave."

Our teacher struggled to get the message out with Farkle squirming on his back.

"I deserve detention too," Riley retorted.

"No you don't," her father said. "You didn't do anything. And because you didn't do anything one of your best friends is in very deep trouble."

Riley walked out of the classroom with Maya. As Lucas and I started to leave, I turned to look back at Mr. Matthews.

"Alright Farkle," Mr. Matthews told the boy, "you can get down now."

"Well, you're actually quite comfortable sir," Farkle commented.

"Thank you, Farkle," Mr. Matthews said.

He actually looked happy with the complement. After a few seconds of waiting for Farkle to get off, Mr. Matthews at irritated.

"Get off!" he snapped.

"FARKLE ISN'T GOING ANYWHERE!" Farkle shouted.

After I rolled my eyes at the two of them, I turned around. Lucas was standing beside me still holding his jacket over my head.

"So how are you liking New York so far?" I asked him.

"Oh I'm liking it more and more every day," he said.

We both laughed as we made our way out of the classroom.

I closed my locker door as Mr. Matthews ran up to us. He had an angry look on his face with Farkle still on his back.

"Down, Farkle," Mr. Matthews ordered.

Surprisingly Farkle got off.

"You're looking at us pretty hard there, Matthews," Maya said almost playfully.

"Jazzy and I just want to stand by our girl," Riley stated.

"Riley," Mr. Matthews sighed, "you missed the moment to stand by your girl by not doing the best thing you could do for her: be yourself."

Disappointment was clear in his voice. I could hear that from a mile away. I got it every day ever since my mom died. Riley looked down ashamed when I snuck a peak at her.

"Jazzabelle, Riley, take Farkle for a walk," Mr. Matthews ordered.

Riley and I led Farkle down the hallway. Before we were out of sight Riley and I gave Maya a smile of encouragement.

"Riles?" Maya said.

Riley and I turned to look at our friend.

"Yeah," Riley replied.

"If we can't hang out with each other as much anymore," Maya began, "don't worry about it."

"Wait why wouldn't you–" Riley started to ask.

"He's going to make you end our friendship," Maya said cutting her off.

"He said that?" I asked.

"He's really upset with me," Maya whispered.

"He loves you!" I exclaimed. "Just like he loves Riley. Just like he loves… me."

"I don't think so anymore. I just want you to know that I get it wouldn't be your fault, Riles. Or yours Jazzy."

"Beautiful," someone exclaimed.

The three of us turned around and saw the lady that I accidentally landed on yesterday. She was talking to us.

"You three little bumblebees got a sweet thing going on!" she continued. "But where's your hunk?"

I knew she was talking about Lucas and I knew that, that question was meant for me.

"If you ain't got no hunk, you ain't got no story," she said happily.

We kind of ignored her and turned our attention back to each other.

"I haven't been that good a friend," Maya muttered.

"You're our best friend!" I protested.

"You're best friends!" the lady exclaimed interrupting our conversation again. "Best friends are important. I got a best friend. I'm not talking to her right now."

"I go too far," Maya stated, ignoring the talking lady. "I don't think that's gonna stop. I'm bad for you Riles. And even though it's hard to believe I'm bad for you too Jazz."

"Did he say that?" Riley asked.

"He will."

The subway came to a stop.

"This is your stop," Maya said to Riley. "Don't be me. Don't go as far as me."

She took Riley's hands off the pole and started walking her to the subway doors that led to the platform.

"No!" Riley shouted, trying to get Maya to let go. "No! No!"

"Maya what are you doing?" I cried out.

"No!" the lady exclaimed. "Don't push her off the train! You don't push your best friend off the train!"

Maya walked back over to me looking down at the floor, ignoring as me as I spoke.

"Maya why did you do that?" I asked.

She didn't say respond to my question. I looked back to the door where Riley was. I smiled as I watched her stick her hands through the gap and forced the doors open.

"Oh, she's back!" the lady cried out loudly. "That little girl opened those doors with the power of love."

Maya's head shot up and we watched as Riley walked over to us.

"You are not allowed to push away our friendship!" she ordered. "Neither of you! We would never do that! Jazzabelle how could you just let her push me away like that?"

"Riley," Maya sighed, "I'm pushing you away before I'm no good for you."

"I'm guessing she thought that maybe this is what's best for all of us," I stated. "But maybe now she knows she's wrong."

"Only I decide that!" Riley stated to Maya. "Do you know why?"

Maya didn't say anything. She just looked down at her feet.

"Because, if it is my world now," Riley continued when she didn't get an answer, "the first two people I'd want in it is you and Jazzabelle."

I looked at Maya and pushed her gently with my elbow. She looked back up at me as I smiled at her. She couldn't help but smile back and she pushed me with her elbow. I sucked in a breath from the pain in my ribs but my friends didn't seem to notice.

"You're gonna save me," Maya guessed looking back at Riley, "aren't you?"

"We are," Riley said.

"Always," I said.

Riley and I grabbed Maya by both hands and pulled her off the subway to Riley's house.

"Where is he?" Riley shouted, as we entered her house.

Auggie, Riley's little brother, and Mrs. Matthews pointed to Mr. Matthews, who was sitting at the dinner table. Riley marched up to him with Maya and me behind her.

"Who me?" Mr. Matthews asked.

"There is no way I'm going to let you break up my friendship with Maya!" Riley declared. "And if there's something that happens where you're mad at Jazzabelle you're not going to break up that friendship either."

"Is that what you think I want, Riley?" Mr. Matthews asked.

"No," she said thoughtfully. "What you said you really wanted from me is to make the world my own. And to do my homework. Well I'm doing it right now. Here's what I think is worth fighting for."

Riley came over to Maya and I, to stand between us.

"Maya and Jazzabelle are my best friends," she began. "Maya's going to get us into trouble and Jazzabelle and I are going to get us out of it. And we did, because here we are. Look at us dad. We're right here. Our Civil War is over, I won."

We smiled at each other. After a moment I knew what to say.

"What happens now?" I asked.

I stood with Riley, her parents, Maya, Lucas, and Farkle at the subway station. Mr. Matthews stepped forward with a smile on his face.

"Friends, family, and all you other subterranean mole people," he began, "we're here to celebrate Riley being Riley. Now some may call this a New York City subway pass, but you Riley, you can consider this as your ticket to the world."

I smiled proudly at Riley as her father gave her the card.

"You think I'm ready?" Riley asked filled with hope.

"You showed us you are," Mrs. Matthews said.

"Riley," Mr. Matthews sighed, "I've already met the world, it's your turn."

"Hey this isn't so different from Texas," I heard Lucas say.

We all turned to look at Lucas to see that he and Farkle were over by the edge of the platform.

"Look, there's a pony," Lucas said.

I watched as he pointed to something on the other side of the subway tracks.

"That's a rat," Farkle pointed out.

Lucas looked at the rate with a surprised expression as two girl walked by him and Farkle. As per usual Farkle couldn't help himself from saying something… interesting.

"Ladies," he said, looking over his shoulder.

"Farkle," they replied, as they walked away.

We all laughed. Then Riley, Maya, and I walked away from the group to wait subway.

"So where do you want to go?" I asked my best friends.

"Don't know," Riley said. "Big world."

"Ours now?" Maya asked.

"Yea," Riley agreed, "but dad did say I had to be home by 5:00."

"Don't worry," Maya said. "He wrote you a note."

She held up a piece of paper with Mr. Matthews' signature. We all laughed as the subway doors opened and we stepped on to it. This was the beginning of our lives in the big world.