Chapter One: Girl Meets World
I walked off of the plane and into the airport to look for my mom, dad, and my two brothers. Oh where are my manners. My name is Caroline Howard and I am 13 years old. I live in New York, but for the past year I have been in Britain for my dancing. It was an amazing experience, but I missed everyone back home especially my two best friends Riley and Maya. Now one of the best parts about me coming home is that they don't know that I am coming home. So tomorrow I start school with them and I am going to surprise them because when it comes to big gestures I do the biggest.
"Caroline!" I hear someone behind me exclaim. When I turn around I see my little brother Max running towards me. "Max!" I exclaimed and ran towards him. I picked him up and gave him a big hug while kissing him on the head. "I missed you so much." "I missed you too." Max replied. "Well did you miss your older brother who is so much better than you?" my older brother, Chase asked. "No I didn't miss my older brother who is so much better than me." I said and his face dropped. "I missed you."
"Whatever." Chase said pulling me into a hug. After Chase let me go I had my moment with my parents which consisted of my mom threatening me. She said that if I leave her again she will lock me in my room. "Of course mom I couldn't dream of leaving you." I told her. We walked over to baggage claim so we could get my bags. Afterwards we hurried to the car so we could get home because mom said something about I need sleep before tomorrow. Once we got to our apartment I ran to my room since I have been in there since a year. It looked just how I left it which was perfect.
"Caroline get ready for bed, you have your first day of school tomorrow." My mom called from down the hall. "Okay." I yelled back. I walked over to my suitcases and grabbed the new pajamas the one of my friends gave me before I left to come back here. After I got my pajamas on I went in the bathroom to brush my teeth then put my hair in a ponytail. I walked back to my room and got in my bed once I turned off my light. I couldn't wait to see how Riley and Maya were going to react.
I woke up the next morning by Max jumping on me. "Caroline, mommy said that you have to get up." Max said. "Okay." I said. "Now get off of me." I told him. Max got off of me and left my room. I walked over to my closet and picked out something to wear. Once I was dressed I grabbed my bag and walked out of my room. I walked into the kitchen and stole some bacon off of Chase's plate.
"Hey that's my bacon." He whined. "No it's my bacon because it's going into my mouth." I told him eating a piece. "Come on Caroline I am going to drop you off before I go to work." My dad said. "Okay daddy." I followed my dad out of our apartment, but not before I stuck my tongue out at Chase. As we were riding down on the elevator my dad told me that I was being put in Cory's class.
The ride to John Quincy Adams Middle School wasn't a long ride, but it gave me enough time to figure out a way to make a big entrance. Dad took me to the office so I would be able to go to class. Once we did that I said goodbye to my dad and walked towards my classroom. I decided to wait outside the room till I saw the perfect time for my entrance. "Okay, let me get back to jamming so learning into your heads." Cory said. "The Civil War." "The Civil Bore." Maya said and I giggled. "Thank you future Mini Mart employee of the month." Cory said. "Would I be making more money than you?" Maya asked.
It was silent for a moment before he spoke again, "The Civil War. Anybody?" "A war we fought against ourselves." Riley said. I was shocked that Riley actually knew that do to the fact that I have never seen Maya or Riley study. "What you actually studied it?" Cory questioned in disbelief. "No I'm actually living it." Riley replied. I heard something which probably meant that Riley hit her head against the desk.
"People, people are we here to learn or not?" Farkle asked gaining everyone's attention. "What do you mean Farkle?" Cory asked. "I mean I've been in love with Riley since the first grade, but I'm also equally in love with Maya and Caroline." Farkle explained. "Some might say the great mystery of the universe is whose going to be the first Mrs. Farkle." "You don't want this." Maya said then added, "and Caroline isn't here." Oh if only she knew. "Bring it on." Farkle said. "Also Caroline will come back for me" I had to hold in my laughter. "I always thought he would wind up with back of the class Brenda." Riley said. I'm guessing that everyone turned their heads to look at Brenda. Farkle made a sound of distaste.
"Actually the great mystery of the universe is how you can love three women the same who couldn't possibly be more different" Cory said. "We're not so different." Riley said. "Including Caroline." "May I overstep my boundaries, sir?" Farkle asked. "You always do." Cory said. He gestured for Farkle to move to the front and they switched spots. Farkle changed Cory's name plate so that it said Farkle. I wondered when he did that.
"Riley, is the sun warm, and bright, and lights up my whole day." Farkle said then moved on to Maya. "Maya is the night dark and mysterious, and the night has always been a mystery to me because I go to bed at 7:30. Then Caroline is dawn, the beauty before the day starts, the darkness before the light, then the light that takes the earth before the sun fully comes out. How could I love three women, how can I not? Thank you I am Farkle."
Farkle walked back to his desk and Cory walked back to the front of the class. "So we were indeed trying to find out who we were as a people." Cory flipped the name plate so that it showed his name again. "Who am I? What should I be? History shows that bad things happen when you don't know who you are." I saw this boy walk past me and into Cory's class. He looked familiar, but I couldn't place my finger on it. Anyways he opened the door and walked in, Cory noticed him.
"Who are you? I don't know who you are." Cory said. "I'm Lucas Friar from Austin, Texas." Lucas said. Why does that name sound so familiar? I thought as I messed around with my charm bracelet. "Oh new student Mr. Friar?" Cory asked. "Yes sir." Lucas answered. "Great you're just in time for today's assignment, have a seat." Cory said. I decided that now was a good time to make myself known. I opened the door and everyone turned to look at me.
"You might not know who he is, but you know who I am!" I exclaimed. "Caroline!" I heard a voice exclaim. The next thing I know I'm in the air. I look down to see Cory. "Mr. Matthews as much as I'm glad that you remember me." I said. "Can you please put me down?" "Of course." He said. Cory put me back down on the ground. "For all of you who don't know this is Caroline Howard. From the looks of it she just moved back here from Britain."
"Caroline you're back." Three voices said. I turned around to see three of my best friends. "Yep I'm back and staying." I said. "Well Miss Howard take a seat." Cory said. I sat down and turned to look at the boy behind Riley. "Luke?" I questioned. "Care?" he questioned. "It is you!" we both exclaimed. "You two know each other?" Riley asked. "Yeah for one of my competitions it was in Austin. I met Lucas there and we became fast friends." I explained.
"Can we get back to learning?" Farkle asked. Riley turned around and looked at Lucas. "Okay so we-." Cory noticed that Riley was looking at Lucas and not paying attention. He walked over and turned her head so she was looking at him. "So I'd like you guys to open your books to page 48." We all opened our books to page 48. "Now I'd like you to turn to page 1." We all turned to page 1, I had a feeling that no one was going to like what he was going to say next. "Now I'd like you to read from page 1 to 48." Everyone groaned when he said this. "Aw too bad on you. Okay so for tonight's assignment I'd like you to write me a three page essay on anything, anything at all that you guys believe in so strongly you'd fight for it."
"That," Maya started, "I'd fight for no homework. I come here every day why can't you teach me everything I need to know while I'm here." "Woo." Riley said and I shook my head. Cory gave Riley a look. "Not woo." Maya stood up, "He gets our days, let's take back our nights. No homework, more freedom. Who's with me?" Then Maya started to chant, "No homework, more freedom." Then other people started chanting with her. Maya turned to look at Riley and said, "This is it kid if you want to be more like me stand up." Then she looked at me and said, "Come on you've left us for a year." She was guilt tripping me into agreeing with her. Riley and I stood up and looked at Cory.
"What are you doing?" Cory asked. "I'm making a choice about who I want to be, about whose world I want it to be." Riley said. "Riley I know you, you know exactly who you are." Cory said. "Who am I, dad?" Riley asked. "You're just like me." Cory answered. "Yeah would you do this?" Riley asked. "No homework, more freedom. No homework, more freedom." Cory looked at me, "Don't do this." "Sorry Maya guilt tripped me." I told him before chanting, "No homework, more freedom." Riley and I walked past Farkle and asked, "Farkle are you with us or not?" I followed Maya and Riley out of the classroom.
I sat down with Maya and Riley when Maya said something, "Aw look at him looking for a place to fit in." "Do you think he'll sit with us?" Riley asked. Maya and I both scooted over. Lucas walked over to us, but the seat was quickly taken by Farkle. "Ladies." Farkle said. "Farkle." We replied. "Interesting lunch line dilemma. Sloppy Joe or chicken pot pie or Cesar salad. Or Sloppy joe or chicken pot pie or Cesar salad." "Is that all you got?" Maya and I asked. "That's it same time tomorrow." Farkle said before getting up and walking away.
"There he is." I told Riley. I grabbed her arm and said, "Invite him to sit down." I made her move over a seat. "With words?" Riley asked. "You're ready for this." Maya said. "But what do I say?" Riley asked. "Hey Lucas, looking for somebody special?" Maya suggested. "I can't say that." Riley said. "Hey Lucas, looking for somebody." Maya suggested. "Too forward." Riley stated. "Hey Lucas." I tried. "Like we're on a first name bases?" Riley questioned. "Hey." Maya and I said.
"Hey." Riley replied. "Hey back." Lucas said as he sat down next to Riley. "Hi." Riley said. "You're sitting here." "Way to point out the obvious Riles." I mumbled. "Is that okay?" Lucas asked. Riley gave him a thumbs up and he smiled. It was funny watching Riley trying to talk to Lucas because as it is shown she is not able to do so. "Can you excuse me for just one sec?" Riley asked and Lucas nodded. Riley turned towards Maya and I. We all started squealing and hitting each other. Riley turned back around to look at Lucas.
"How ya doin'?" Cory said. When did he get here? I also knew that this wasn't going to end well. "Dad, you have a choice here." Riley said. "You can understand this is just a boy talking to me in the cafeteria." "I'm going to do whatever you say next." Cory told her. "This is so innocent." Riley said. "Yeah Mr. Matthews, Lucas isn't going to do anything wrong." I said. "Honey, sweetie, fathers don't see anything as innocent." Cory said. See this is what happens when I try to help Riley. Her dad treats me like a daughter so I get these talks too. "We see it as. What's the opposite of innocent?" "Right here." Maya said raising her hand and Cory waved.
"Please don't do anything to embarrass us." Riley and I said. "I'm going to talk to Mr. Friar about geography." Cory said. But I knew better than it just being an innocent conversation. "You know I've been to a lot of places. Never been to Texas though, what part of Texas is closest to Mexico?" "That's be El Paso, sir." Lucas told him. Here it comes. "Great let's go right now." Cory declared. He went behind Lucas' chair and pulled him out of the cafeteria. Lucas waved and I think I was just as embarrassed as Riley because it felt like Cory was my dad. We grabbed our lunch trays and went to put them away.
"So did you do the homework?" Riley asked. "No I didn't do the homework." Maya said. "The question on everyone's kiwi lips is did you do the homework?" we put down our trays and walked away. "No, I'm one of the founding members of the homework rebellion." Riley said. "You think I did my homework?" "I think you did mine too." Maya said. "I did, I did and I really liked it." Riley admitted. "Riley don't save me." Maya said. "What?" Riley questioned.
"Let me be me." Maya said. Farkle walked past us. "Oh you got three deserts." "Angle's food cake." Riley said. "Devil's food cake." Maya said. "And red velvet cake." I said. "Let me guess who's who." Maya said. "Hey Farkle's just hungry, not everything is about you." Farkle walked away from us. "Oh and Caroline we know you did your homework." Maya said. "Well how was I not to?" I asked. "I mean Riley's dad told my father." They just looked at each other.
I saw Lucas walk into the classroom and smirked because I knew Cory was going to freak. Riley turned around and looked at Lucas. "Hi. I'm glad you're back." Riley said. "Hi, me too." Lucas said. "Hi, I'm glad that he wasn't able to get you across the border." I said. "Hi, thanks Care." Lucas said. Cory walked over to us, "Hi, apparently you have a better sense of direction then I anticipated."
Riley and I turned back around. "When will this stop?" I whispered to Riley. "Hopefully soon." She whispered back. Cory made motions between his self before speaking, "You are a really good looking guy." This is so embarrassing. "Okay, so today we are going to find out if anybody here believes in something so strongly they'd fight for it. Maya." "Yes sir." Maya replied. "Present your homework." He said. "Can't do that sir." Maya told him. "Why not?" he asked. "Didn't do my homework sir." Maya answered. "Why not?" Cory asked. "That's what I'm fighting against sir." Maya said.
"Oh this could go on for a while." Farkle said. He pulled out a sleep mask and put it on. He laid back in his seat and started snoring, "Farkle, Farkle, Farkle, Farkle, Farkle." "I didn't do my homework either." Riley said. "Oh really." Cory said. "Yeah we're the same now." Riley said. "I don't believe in homework." "Guess what Riley." Cory said. "That doesn't make you the same as Maya at all." Then he looked at me. "Please tell me you did your homework?" "I did do my homework." I told him. "You are my new favorite." Cory declared.
Maya raised her hand, "I have something to say." "Wow I don't know what to do. I've never seen this before. The floor is yours Miss Hart." Cory said. Maya got up and turned towards Farkle, she pulled his sleep mask, "Get up Farkle, you're gonna want to be awake for this." Farkle took off his sleep mask then stood up, "Is it our honeymoon?" "No you missed that now it's time to hand in our essays." Maya told him. "Oh Farkle goes first." Farkle declared. "Farkle always goes first." Farkle ran out of the room to do something.
Maya was at the front of the room and she turned to look at us, "Everyone who did their homework put it on your desks." I didn't want to because I knew what was going to happen. "Careful there Miss Hart." Cory said. "Are you sure about this?" Riley asked. "I got this." Maya said. When Maya came to my desk I didn't give her my homework instead I said, "Maya don't do this."
"Okay." Riley said. Maya continued to collect everyone's homework when Farkle walked in with a diorama. "The burning of Atlanta led to the end of the Civil War and to peace." Farkle said. "I believe that peace is worth fighting for." Maya walked by Farkle and took one of his sparklers. "Hey that's a pivotal part of my diorama." Maya took another one. "And there goes Virginia"
Maya walked to her desk with the homework and the sparklers. "The burning of the homework led to the end of the homework rebellion because there was no more homework." She was about to burn the homework when Cory stepped in. "Alright, alright that's far enough Maya I get it." Cory said. Maya raised the sparklers above her head. "Maya don't." I said. I got up to stop her, but it was too late. "No homework, more freedom." Then the sprinklers or whatever they're called went off and everyone started screaming. "Okay so those work." Maya stated.
"Is this still part of your presentation or is this actually going on?" Farkle asked. Everyone left the room except for Farkle, Maya, Lucas, Riley, Cory, and I. I took off my jacket and put it over my head while walking towards Riley and Lucas. "Why didn't you stop you friend?" Lucas asked. "That's not what I do anymore." Riley told Lucas. "You're better than that I mean Care tried to do something." Lucas said. "I'm just letting her be her." Riley said. We looked at Maya. Farkle started running around the room, or he tried running around the room before he jumped on Cory.
"Miss Hart you have detention." Cory said. "The principal will determine if it goes further than that. Miss Matthews and Miss Howard please leave." "I deserve detention too." Riley said. "No you don't you didn't do anything." Cory said as he struggled with Farkle. "Because you didn't do anything your best friend is in deep trouble." Riley walked out of the room and I followed behind her.
We were standing by the lockers waiting for Cory to come out. He did come, but he had Farkle on his back. "Down Farkle." Cory commanded. Farkle got down off of him. "You're looking at us pretty hard there Mr. Matthews." Maya said. "I just want to stand by my girl." Riley said. I had nothing to say at this point because I think I showed where I stood pretty clearly.
"You missed the moment to stand by your girl." Cory said. "You were trying so hard to be her Riley you forgot the best thing you could do for her is be you." It was silent for a moment, but she should know that he is right. "Riley and Caroline take Farkle for a walk." Riley and I looked at Maya before walking away with Farkle.
We were just standing and the silence was kind of killing me. "Riles and Care." Maya said. "Yeah." We said. "If we can't hang out with each other as much anymore don't worry about it." Maya said. Why was she saying that? "Wait why wouldn't we?" Riley and I asked. "He's going to make you end the friendship and he's going to tell Care's dad to make her do the same thing." Maya told us. "He said that?" Riley asked. "He's really upset with me." Maya said.
"He loves you." Riley said. "I don't think so anymore." Maya said. "I just want you two to know that I get it wouldn't be your fault." I heard clapping and I turned to see a lady, "Beautiful, you three little bumble bees got a sweet thing going, but where's your hunk?" We looked at her like she was crazy. "You ain't got no hunk, you ain't got no story." "I haven't been your good friend." Maya said.
"You're our best friend." Riley and I said. "They're you best friends." The lady said. "Best friends are important. I've got a best friend, I'm not talking to her right now." We turned back towards each other. "I go too far," Maya said, "and I don't thinks that's going to stop. I'm bad for you both." "Did he say that?" we asked. "He will." Maya replied. "This is your stop." Riley and I turned to look, but we didn't move. "Riley don't be me. You don't go as far as me."
"No." Riley and I said. We continued to shake our heads as Maya pushed us off the subway. "No!" "No." the lady said. "Do not push them off this train." Riley and I started to walk away. "You do not push your best friends off a train." Riley and I stopped walking and turned to look at each other. "I'm not you." Riley said. We turned back around and walked back towards the train. Riley pulled the doors open and the lady noticed. "Oh they're back." She said. "That little girl pushed these doors open with the power of love."
"You are not allowed to abandon our friendship." I said. "I would never do that." Riley said. "Riley and Caroline I'm pushing you both away because I'm not good for you anymore." Maya said. "Only we can decided that." Riley and I said. "Know why?" "Why?" Maya questioned. "Because if this is our world now the first person we want in it is you." Riley and I told Maya. "You two are going to save me aren't ya?" Maya asked. "We are." Riley and I said. We grabbed Maya's arms and ran off of the train.
"Where is he?" Riley and I asked when we got to Riley's apartment. Topanga and Auggie pointed towards Cory. "There is no way you can break up our friendship with Maya." "Is that what you think I want Riley?" He asked. "No what you said what you really want is for me to make the world my own and you want me to do my homework. Well I'm doing it right now." Riley said. "This is what I think is worth fighting for, this is one of my best friends. She going to get me and Caroline into trouble and we're going to get us out of it, and I did because here we are. Look at us dad we're right here. My Civil War is over dad, I won. What happens now?"
I would've gone with everyone to the subway, but my parents said that they needed to talk to me. "So what did you want to talk to me about?" I asked. "Honey your brothers got accepted into two different prestigious schools." Mom said. "Yeah mommy is going with me and daddy is going with Chase." Max said. "So who am I going with?" I asked. I was sad that I was going to have to leave my friends once again.
"That's the thing you aren't going." My dad said. "Then where am I staying?" I asked. "I talked to Cory and he said that they would be happy to have you stay with them." My dad said. "So I get to live with one of my best friends while you are somewhere else until the school year is over?" I asked. "Yes." My dad said. I jumped up and gave him a hug. "Thank you so much." I said before running to my room. Maybe this wouldn't be so bad after all.
It was late in the evening and my dad was dropping me off at the Matthews'. Apparently my parents had everything planned before I got back from Britain. My dad was dropping me off today because they're leaving in the morning and they don't want to have to worry about me. "You know that one of you could take me with you." I told my dad as we walked towards the Matthews' door. "We could, but we thought that it would be unfair to pull you away from your friends when you just got back." he told me. I groaned because he was making it very hard for me to be mad at him. "Why are you making it so hard for me to be mad at you?" I asked.
"I'm not trying I am just telling you the truth." He replied. We reached their apartment door and I knocked on it. I could hear people moving around and I waited until someone opened the door. Right as I thought that someone opened the door. "Caroline." The person exclaimed and I was brought into a hug. The person pulled away and I shot my famous smile at Topanga. "It's nice to see you too, Mrs. Matthews." I giggled. "I was so happy to hear that you were coming back and then when your parents asked if you could stay with us. I was so happy that I get to spend more time with you." She told me. "Topanga sometimes I think you and Cory love seeing my daughter more than me." my dad butted in. "Well who can blame us?" she asked. "Your daughter is just so loveable."
"Mommy who's at the door?" I heard someone behind Topanga asked. I looked behind her and saw Auggie standing there. "You know it hurts when you can't recognize my voice." I said with a hurt tone. "Care!" he exclaimed. He ran around him mom and wrapped his arms around my waist. I gave him a hug and then pulled away. "It's nice to see you too." I laughed. "It was so boring here without you." Auggie told me. "Riley and Maya kept whining about how much they missed you and how they wanted you to come back. But they never asked me how I felt about you leaving."
"Aw poor Auggie." I told him. "How about I make you a promise." "What kind of promise?" he asked. "That if you every need someone to talk to then you can talk to me." I explained the promise to him. "I like that." He told me. "Kids as much as we love you guys having the moment," my dad said pointing to himself and Topanga, "but you two have to go to sleep and I have to get home before your mom kills me."
"Right." I said quietly remembering that my family was going away. "Hey ladybug don't be sad." My dad told me as he pulled me in for a hug. "I'm going to miss you." "I'm going to miss you too." I replied. He pulled away and thanked Topanga once more before walking away.
"Come on let's get you settled." Topanga said. She helped me get my bags. I had at least ten and they were pretty heavy, but we managed to get them to the room I was staying in. The room I was staying in looked almost like Riley's room, but the room wasn't out there like Riley's. I put away most of my clothes then decided that it was time for me to go to bed. So I grabbed my pajamas and changed. I turned off my lights and got in my bed. I have a feeling that staying here is going to be different from what I am used to.