Authors note: TRIGGER WARNING! Mentions and discusses 9/11. I do not own anything except these fantasy ideas.

Chapter 1

Riley P.O.V.

As I sat in the black SUV between Maya and the window, remembering today's lesson. Not that it was a poor lesson, but it was a very hard lesson. Today we learned about 9/11… some people learn about it on 9/11, but my father always was a little different with the lesson plays. My father said that he just felt compelled to teach us about it today.

Begin Flashback—

When Farkle and I walked in to class after putting away our latest science project. As we entered, we quickly spotted our parents. My mom, and Farkle's dad where there with my father. I was somewhat shocked.

"Dad, what are you doing here?" Farkle asked.

"You too mom, why are you here?" I asked.

They simply just gestured to the board. Knowing it would be faster just to sit then continue asking questions. As we did so, we motioned for the others to do so. When everyone was finally seated, my father started.

"Can anyone tell me one of the biggest events that happened during your guys' life?" he asked, as he picked up the chalk. I watched as no one, not even Farkle, went to answer the question. "Farkle? Do you know what it was?" Farkle just simply nodded. He sighed and stood up slowly, with a pained expression.

"Tuesday, September 11th, 2001. A day that showed that we were not invincible or unsusceptible to attacks. Also known as 9/11, the day that 19 al-Qaeda members, an Islamic terrorist group, used planes in a coordinated attack on the US. Two of the planes hit the Twin Towers or the old World Trade Center. One hit the Pentagon, and another was taken back by the passengers, and crashed in Pennsylvania on its way to the White House, Washington Memorial or Capitol building."

My dad nodded and Maya held her arms out to me as I leapt into her lap, scared of what was coming next. My dad then wrote '9/11 a terror attack on America, our lives, and our spirits'

"As Farkle said, on 9/11, 4 planes were hijacked and three were crashed into important buildings. Before this, most of America thought America was safe from any of the attacks that third world countries had been facing. The attacks killed almost 3,000 people including 343 fire fighters, 72 law enforcement, 55 military personal and 265 people that were on the planes."

"Oh my god" Maya and I said. My dad then pulled down the projector screen, and started setting up the videos.

"We're first going to show you the crashes and collapses of the buildings. Then Mr. Minkus, Mrs. Matthews and then I will tell our experiences on that day. I will warn you that you do not have to watch this! It will be pretty graphic, but if I didn't think you needed to see it I wouldn't put it on." He looked pointedly at me, as well as the rest of the others. Maya firmly grasped my hand and we had a silent conversation.

'Can you handle it?'

'Yes, If not I can always leave.'

'Are you certain? I know it might cause you to not sleep, even if you decide to leave.'

"I can do this." I finally say.

The lights were turned off, and the videos began.

The first one was about the first plane, where it came from, what happened before and during the hijackers taking control. We listened to what was heard by air control. And we were able to see the first plane hit. I gasped as I watched the plane just fly straight into the building, as did everyone else.

The other three videos were similar, different mainly because the showed the other planes. I started to cry when I saw the second plane just drive straight through the second building. As well as when we watched, the towers collapsed. It was especially hard when we watched the second tower be hit, then collapse not 52 minutes later, because the plane hit a lot lower on the building.

As the video finished, the lights went back on and my mom and Mr. Minkus stepped to the front. Mr. Minkus spoke first.

"On 9/11, I was currently at Minkus International when the first plane hit. You rarely see any large planes fly over Manhattan, so when a large Boeing 767 flew by, it caught a lot of notice. I was watching it fly lower, lower, and watch it disappear. Then I heard a bang and saw the plume of black smoke reach the sky. At first, we thought it was just a mechanical malfunction but just 14 minutes later, the second plane clearly and deliberately flew into the south tower, and that was when we realized that it was a terror attack. After it was confirmed that the mastermind was Osama Bin Laden, the U.S. and its allies made the decision to go to war in Afghanistan to track him, and his other followers."

As he finished and went back to his seat, my mom and my dad both stepped up to the front.

"On nine eleven, Cory and I were at the law firm where I work at when the first plane hit. The old law firm's building was only 4 or 5 blocks from the original towers when the planes struck. When tower one collapsed there was a cloud similar to that from a large bomb blast. The way the streets are, caused the cloud of toxic debris to be funneled a lot quicker than if it was more open. We were very lucky to have been in a building when it happened, as I was 7 ½ months pregnant. There were a large amount of people exposed to the clouds that later developed respiratory problems. After the second tower collapsed, we went outside and it looked like a war torn country. Everything was coated in a thick, sharp, gray dust and the sky was black. When we finally returned home, we learned that all seven of the World Trade Center, as well as the plane at the Pentagon and flight 93." My mom said.

"No one was prepared when the towers collapsed, and in result, many first responders and their vehicles were destroyed. Rehabilitation of the area took a long time. It took until mid-December before the city officially said that all the fires were out. The WTC (world trade center) had a mall underneath and many fires burned for months underground. It was very dangerous putting out the fires and we lost some friends…" my dad had to stop for a second to collect himself and my mother had tears rolling down her face. "In May 2002, the city finally declared the cleanup finished. Since then the US's TSA really cracked down. We went to war on Iraq and Afghanistan, looking for Osama Bin Laden and the other al-Qaeda masterminds. It wasn't until May 1st 2011, did they finally find and kill Bin Laden."

End Flashback—

"Are you excited to go see the new art exhibit that the museum is displaying?" I finally asked the group, breaking the silence. The six of us where going to the Whitney Museum of American Art for an assignment that the art teacher gave us. It was three weeks before Christmas and everyone was super excited as we only had a few days before winter break.

"Of course! I heard that they're unveiling several new pieces! And they also have three new exhibits! " Maya replied. She had been waiting for this for what seemed to her as forever. Whenever she talked about art, hers or others, her eyes would sparkle and her face became animated as in picturing it.

"Who knows Peaches, maybe one day your work will be displayed in a museum." I told her. It was true. Even though her life wasn't the best, it led to great artwork. Farkle and I had developed a theory that people with not so great lives were sometimes the best artists.

"Thanks honey, you've always believed in me." We sat quietly, listening to the others stories. Normally we would have taken the subway, but the line to the museum was being repaired and fixed up for winter. Besides it was too cold to walk all the way there.

"Man the football season has been tough! Not only is the schedule tough but we get pureed constantly! Tell 'em Zay." Lucas said. Zay nodded and told us about the schedule.

"See, they have us practice every day from 6:30-7:45 before school, ninety minutes during the school period and then after school from 4:00-5:00. And if we have a game then we have to practice on Saturdays too! And it don't matter if there's rain, snow, heck the coaches probably would make us practice if there was a tornado ripping through."

"Haa!" Farkle laughed with his trademark, "While you spend your hours being turned into deli meat, Smackle and I have been winning every debate we enter. Not to mention science fair and research areas."

"Congrats guys! Maya? How has your advanced art class? I know you were thrilled to get an extra art class this year. Ohh. What are you drawing?" I looked down at what Maya was sketching. It was the six of us in the classroom with different expressions, obviously looking at something. "What are we looking at Maya?"

"Remember what your father put on the board last week. I remembered everyone's faces and thought I would sketch it." We all laughed, as the last thing my father had put on the board was 'END OF THE WORLD' something we learned about when we found out my uncle Eric was running for president. I laughed as I looked out the window remembering the day.

Flashback—

It had been a normal day when we walked into my father's room and saw my uncle Eric. Ever since he was elected senator he was usually very busy. But since he was here it must be important. I noticed his secret service guard standing in the back of the room and laughed when I saw him shaking his head.

"Uncle Eric!" I called as I ran up to him and embraced him in a hug. Instead of his usual 'Plays with Squirrels' outfit he wore one of his senator suits. I became increasingly suspicious of why he was here but said nothing.

"Niche! Oh and look your friend Moesha!" I rolled my eyes and held Maya back from jumping him. We both knew that he knew her name, but always pretended to forget it, at least that's what I thought. I tried to put faith in my uncle that he wasn't as stupid as everyone thought he was.

"It's Maya! How do you still not know what it is?!"Maya asked, slightly ticked.

"So, Uncle Eric, what are you doing here? And where in the world is my father?" Normally my father would be waiting for us right at his desk but he was nowhere in sight.

"Riley! Is he gone? Are we safe? Did he leave? Please tell me he left!" I heard my dad call. His voice was slightly muffled and was hard to determine where it was coming from.

"No, he's still here. The better question to ask is where you are?" I asked my dad. I looked around the room, checking every cubby, exit hallway. Then my uncle, following his 'squirrel sense', opened one of the closets and pulled out my father by the ear.

"Oww, oww...Oww...Oww...Oww!" he exclaimed. "Let go of me you half-grown man squirrel." 'At least my uncle didn't grab him by his curly hair.

"Dad, you can't hide! You have to teach us!"

"Yeah, you need to teach me! You still haven't taught us about Belgium 1831."Farkle called as he walked into the class.

"Fine, you want me to teach you something? I'll teach you about the end of the world! The end of the world is right here and right now, we thought the end of the world was when my brother ran for senator. Then when he won as senator, now he's running for president! And he could win!" My father said looking extremely panicked. I honestly wondered if he was going to pass out. No doubt Maya would love that.

"Yep, I senator Matthews of the Grape State of New York am running for President of the 75 states of America. I'm really hoping I get a lot of support from the states of Guam and American Samoa!"

"Uuh, Mr. Senator. Hate to break it to you but there are only 50 states and Guam and Samoa are not a part of it." Farkle said with his head in his hands.

"Really Robot? Or do you just tell me that to make me lose my faith?"

"I'm not a robot! We found my birth certificate!"

"How do you know that your parents didn't just pay for some authority to write one up for you, hmm? Your parents have a lot of money and influence. It probably not be too hard for them. And didn't you say your father invested a lot on a new technology that was 'too advanced'. Maybe it could have been plans for mass cloning or building human-like robots."

"Hunh, I better ask them."

"See, I told you it was the end of the world! Eric tell them about your campaign! "My father yelled from his hiding spot under his desk.

"I am representing the Squirrel Party and my campaign promise is to help build a better furniture for America. This year, with me running, there will be a new record of squirrel and hermit voters as this is the first time they have had someone to represent them!"

"Campaigning for president cost hundreds of millions of dollars! Sometimes even Billions! What are you going to do about that sir?!" Lucas asked.

"Ohh, that. That's easy. See after all my time in the good place of St. Upid Town, I'm paying my way with beard suckers and acorns!"

"Not to shoot down your hopes or anything but you can't pay for campaigns that way." I said. The class was all in shock, Farkle was on his phone looking up if someone could make a faux birth certificate. Smackle was helping him. Lucas and Zay both looked like they were about to say something and Maya was rolling around the floor laughing. "Maya! Don't laugh at him! He is stupid but he still is my uncle, right dad?" My dad was in no better shape. He just stood there twitching, looking like he was about to have a seizure. "Dad? Are you ok?" I asked, very concerned. Maya had sat back down on her desk but after seeing my father, she laughed so hard she fell off.

"Farkle, please tell me there is some way that makes him unqualified to run. The world surely can't think that my brother is possibly a good candidate?" I was also hoping that he wasn't qualified but knowing the world, he was most likely able to run.

"Sorry Hambone but he has met all the needed qualifications."

End Flashback—

I giggled as I remembered it, and continued to watch the people on the street.

I noticed the people and buildings were being passed faster and faster. I thought it was strange but figured that there was a break in traffic. I heard the taxi driver talking to someone on the phone. He must have dropped it as he ducked down to reach it. We were jolted from the second, dramatic increase of speed.

Suddenly I saw a red truck hurling right at us. I heard several crunches and screams, we were jerked and it felt as if the whole world did somersaults. I was tossed, slammed into something hard and then had metal crumpled around me. Then everything hurt,

"Peaches, Hold on!" I screamed and the world suddenly went black.