Author's Note: So this first chapter is a little shorter than the rest hopefully will be, but I just wanted to see how it is received first! I hope you'll like it!

CHAPTER 1 – HOWDY

"Riley, wake up!"
No answer.
"Wake up!"
No answer.
"For fuck's sake, wake up!" Farkle shook Riley's shoulder a bit harsh.
"Huh?" Riley muttered, her eyes slowly opening, trying to adjust to the light.
"Time to heat up the bricks," Farkle whispered.
"Huh? Oh yeah, course," Riley said, taking her head off his chest so that he could get off her bed. He stepped onto the floor and helped Riley stand up. He took her hand and they walked downstairs. They had been studying together, but Riley had gotten tired, so for a moment (or so she thought), she had let her head rest on Farkle's shoulder, but she ended up dozing off and sleeping for nearly three hours. In the meantime, Farkle had remained silent and hadn't moved at all, not even when his butt and legs started to feel numb.

"Going home, Farkle?" Topanga asked.
"Yeah, I done figured I had to by now," Farkle said with his usual, charismatic smile.
"What time is – oh boy would you look at that," Topanga interrupted herself mid-sentence, "Why are you still here?"
"Riley fell asleep on my chest, so I didn't have the heart to wake her up. I finally decided it had gotten a little out of hand, so I woke her up. Reluctantly, may I add," Farkle answered.
"Aren't you just the perfect gentlemen," Topanga stated with a smile on her face, content with the choice her daughter had made.
"See you at school tomorrow?" Farkle asked.
"No, I'll be at my office," Topanga answered.
"He didn't mean you, he meant me," Riley sheepishly corrected her mother, "and yes you will, see you tomorrow!"

With that, Farkle closed the door behind him and walked home. It wasn't far, only a mile. It was just enough to enjoy the fresh blowing through the outskirts of Austin. He walked past his best friend's house on his way home, so he peeked in to catch a glimpse of his Lucas, but Farkle could only see his folks, sitting around the table, playing cards. Lucas was probably upstairs in his room, practicing another Waylon Jennings' song on his guitar. Smirking to himself, Farkle proceeded his walk home.

"What done took you so long?" Farkle's mother, Jennifer, called out when the door had just closed behind Farkle.
"Sorry, we forgot the time," Farkle said.
"Well, don't forget it next time," a man's voice came from the kitchen.
"Stuart, I can handle this, I don't need no man to raise my kid," Jennifer shouted.
"You only forgot he's my kid too," Stuart said as he stepped out of the kitchen, his freshly tapped glass of water in his hand. Farkle didn't want to witness his parents' bickering, so he went upstairs to his room and dimmed the light. He lied down in bed, enjoying the darkness around him, which he secretly missed sometimes now that he dated Riley Matthews. Riley was one big ball of sunlight, and often times, Farkle said that Riley was the sun itself, shiny and hot. But Farkle missed a little darkness in his life, usually provided by his best friends, Lucas Friar and Isaiah 'Zay' Babineaux. After an evening with the Matthews, Farkle felt that he'd had enough sunshine for the next couple of days. Finally surrounded by darkness, Farkle soon fell asleep.

When Farkle woke up the next morning, his parents had already gone to work. He got up and made himself ready for school. When he was good to hit the road, he pulled on his coat and took his hat from the coat rack. He locked the door behind him and was on his way. He took out his earbuds and selected a playlist on his phone. Subconsciously he sang along to the music sometimes.

Jambalaya, and a crawfish pie and a file' gumbo
'Cause tonight I'm gonna see my ma chère amie-o
Pick guitar, fill fruit jar and be gay-oh
Son of a gun, we'll have big fun on the bayou

Farkle paid more attention to his music than to the traffic around him, so when he had only one more street to cross, with his school already in sight, he stepped onto the street without looking. The sound of a braking car pierced through his earbuds and his head snapped towards the left. The car had lost speed, but it wasn't enough. Farkle got hit and was sent flying through the air, only to fall down on the curb a few yards further. Immediately, several people ran up to him, including Riley, who had seen it all happening. When she reached him, she stroked Farkle's face and asked if he was alright.
"I'm fine," Farkle said, trying to stand up, but a jolt of pain rushed through his chest, forcing him to lie back down. The owner of the car that had hit Farkle took out his phone and dialed 911.

When the paramedics came, Farkle was taken into the ambulance and to the nearest hospital, a few blocks away. Riley tried to go with him, arguing she was his girlfriend, but the paramedics wouldn't let her. Defeated, she walked into the classroom. She sat down in her usual seat at the front of the classroom. The empty seat was immediately noticed by Lucas, Zay and even by the teacher, Mr. Feeny.
"Where's Farkle?" Lucas asked.
"He's at the hospital," Riley answered sadly.
"What happened?" Mr. Feeny asked.
"Car…" Riley said, choking on her words and trying to walk out of the class.
"Young lady, where are you going?" Mr. Feeny asked.
"Farkle…" Riley answered.
"They're probably checking him up right now, you can't be there. After school, you can see Farkle all you want, but please get back here now. I know you don't feel like school, and I understand, but you at least got to be here," Mr. Feeny said.

Riley walked towards Farkle's house. He had texted her earlier that he had no serious injuries, which had somewhat calmed Riley down. She knocked on the door and almost immediately the door opened and Farkle stepped out. He walked a little difficultly and his arm was in plaster, but for the rest he seemed fine.
"Farkle, are you okay?" Riley said as soon as she saw him, trying to hug him. Farkle held her back with his good arm.
"Don't hug me right now, please. I've bruised a rib and it sure hurts," he said.
"Oh, I'm so sorry!" Riley quickly said, pulling her hands back.
"It's okay, just… help me get inside please," Farkle said. Riley laid a hand on his back and slowly led him inside. She closed the door and pulled off her coat.
"Have you been waiting for me?" She suddenly asked.
"When I was brought home, I sat down on the chair in the hallway and texted you. I've been there since," Farkle answered.
"But that's like three hours!" Riley exclaimed.
"Yeah, but I didn't want to have to get up and walk all the way to the door with my concussion," Farkle explained.

Riley let Farkle lie down on the couch, his back supported by a pillow so that there was a minimum of pressure on his ribs. She went into the kitchen and made tea for them both, as they waited for Farkle's parents to come home.
"You did text them, didn'tcha?" Riley inquired.
"Yeah, I did. I texted my mum. Dunno if she's seen it yet," Farkle answered, "She's always busy there, so yeah, I ain't gonna bother her too much."
Riley gave Farkle his tea and he smiled to her in gratitude.
"So how was old Feeny's lesson?" Farkle asked.
"Well, we finally got 'round to Belgium 1831 today," Riley said nonchalantly.
"You did not!" Farkle shot up but immediately fell back down again, "Oooouuuucccchhhh".
"Oh my God, Farkle, I'm so sorry, no we didn't… I didn't mean to hurt you," Riley rambled.
"It's okay, just… don't do that, please," Farkle said in obvious pain.
"I won't, I'm sorry," Riley muttered.

When Stuart came home and saw his boy on the couch, he immediately became worried.
"What's happened, son?" he asked.
"Got hit by a car," Farkle answered.
"Did you go to the doctor, or did she put these bandages around you?" Stuart asked, pointing to Riley.
"I was brought to the hospital, they did this, it's okay. I have a minor concussion of my rib and my arm is broken, nothing too bad," Farkle said, "Riley came over just after school, she's been looking after me."
"Well that's good, glad to see she did," Stuart said.
"Talking about that, I really do have to go now, I already texted my parents, but I really gotta go now!" Riley said.
"Sure, come here," Farkle said, and when Riley approached him, he gave her a kiss on her cheek.
"Thanks for taking good care of me," he said, smiling at her.
"Anytime," she whispered back. She then left, worried about Farkle, but knowing that he was in good hands.

Author's note:
I hope you liked the chapter, please let me know what you think!
I do not own anything recognizable.