"Ancient Greece," Cory said starting class right after the bell had rung; He was walking around the front of the classroom holding a very prettily wrapped present.
"What that? What that that?" Riley asked pointing to the present.
"What thi-this?" Cory asked her and she nodded, "This is a present."
"Is it for me?" Riley asked with a big smile on her face.
"What's your game, Cory?" I asked raising my eyebrows.
"Game? I mean no game." Cory answered too quickly, "I just want to know who here wants this present."
Everyone raised their hands except Maya and me.
"Oh, Maya, Violet, what? You assume by playing hard to get, I'm gonna give it to you?" Cory asked us
"Well, yes," Maya said as if it were obvious, "That's one of the many arrows in my quiver."
"Medieval talk what are you doing to me, woman?" Farkle asked Maya shuddering.
"Violet?" he turned to me.
"Well, no I just don't want it considering it's probably some life lesson on a box," I shrugged.
"Riley!" He handed her the present.
"Yay!" She quickly opened the box and pulled out a small chalkboard that said, "The Trojan horse?"
"Surprise" Cory said smiling.
"Called it," I said.
"This isn't a present." Riley pouted, "This is one of your life lessons wrapped up in a class lesson wrapped up in a box of nothing just like Violet said."
"How you doing, honey?" I asked Riley.
"I'm all worked up" Riley said furrowing her eyebrows.
"We know," Maya said comforting her.
"You assumed because it was all neat and pretty that something good was inside. Ancient Troy was protected by walls. The Greeks couldn't get in, so they built a big wooden horse and left it behind. What do you think the Trojans did?" Cory was lecturing the class.
"They left it there because they were afraid that somebody was trying to teach them something?" I jokingly asked, before seriously answering the question, "They captured it as a trophy and brought it inside. That night, the Greek soldiers crawled out of the horse and defeated Troy."
"What have we learned here?" Cory asked. Lucas raised his hand and Cory called on him, "Mr. Friar?"
"Don't make assumptions based on what you see?" Lucas said.
"Riley, listen, I'm sorry I made an example of you." Cory apologized before pulling out a smaller box, "So here's a gift for you."
"Ooh no! I want to no! Pretty ribbon no!" Riley said battling with herself.
"I'll take my chances with that, Sir." Lucas said as he got handed the box.
"No, Lucas. You have to assume it was no good because the first one was no good." Riley told him putting her hand on the box to stop him from opening it, "Aren't you all proud of me, dad?
"No!" He said and she finally let Lucas open the box
"Get out of detention free," Lucas said pulling out a small card.
"Ooh, I could use one of those," Maya said, "Gimme that and I won't call you "ranger Rick" all week."
"Here you go" he handed her the card.
"Thanks, ranger Roy." She said grabbing the card
"Lemme guess. Ranger Roy is filling in for ranger Rick?" I asked her shaking my head and laughing.
"All week." She laughed with me "And now you." She turned to Cory.
"Oh, is something gonna happen to me?" he asked scared.
"Yes, it is." I answered.
"D-d-d-detention but not today. Boom!" Maya sang getting up onto Cory's desk and dancing before shoving the card in his face.
"Read the card." Cory told her.
"Say 'get out of detention free' then give worthless card to Maya then watch her dance on my desk." Maya read sadly.
"Never assume." Cory stated again, "Look more deeply. Just because something is wrapped up all pretty, doesn't always mean it is."
"You were in on this!" Maya turned to Lucas threateningly.
"I'm ranger Roy and I'll be here all week." He said as we all walked out of the classroom and were standing at my locker.
"You're such a dork," I said rolling my eyes as he wrapped his arms around me from behind.
"But I'm your dork," he said kissing my cheek, "I gotta go, I'll see you later?"
"Definitely," I said winking at him.
He walked away and Maya was smirking at me while Riley was just smiling.
"What?" I asked putting my books into my locker.
"So you and Lucas?" Maya asked nudging me. I still hadn't told them about the kiss or the kiss after that or the kiss after that one. I just wasn't ready to tell them yet, because I didn't know what me and Lucas are.
"Lucas and Violet sitting in a tree," Riley started singing.
"That's enough," I sighed smiling, "Let's go get seats at the debate."
"In conclusion, school uniforms reduce individuality which will be unnecessary in the real world when you're all working for me. Thank you. I am Farkle!" Farkle finished the concluding statement of his side of the debate. I was sitting in between Lucas and Riley and Maya was on the other side of Riley.
I rested my head on Lucas' shoulder and looked down at our intertwined fingers smiling to myself.
"I don't understand debate." Riley said turning to me.
"I say you do." I stated.
"Okay" She shrugged and faced forward.
"I like debate exploring two sides of the same thing and defining the middle ground: good, necessary, and bad, light, gray, and dark, right in front of you at the same time. Where else are you gonna get that?" Lucas looked at the three of us, "Oh, right here. Look at you."
"And now from Einstein academy," Cory began introducing Farkle's opponent, "undefeated this season, she is who your mama wishes she gave birth to!" The one, the only Smackle!"
Smackle burst into the room through a poster of Albert Einstein and walked around the room to Farkle, "You going' down, chump".
She began her argument, "Wearing a uniform makes you surrender to conformity and sacrifices uniqueness, which is our most valuable freedom. Don't let anybody tell you what to wear. Don't let anybody tell you what to be. Smackle, the one and only, out." She sat down with the rest of her team.
Cory got up from his seat, "Well, before I announce the winner, let me remind you all that our final debate of the season will be held right here next week, where our thought-provoking topic will be 'is beauty only skin deep?"'
A woman came over and handed Cory an envelope. "Great, thank you. So the winner of today's debate is…" Farkle began to stand up but Cory pushed him back down, "Isadora Smackle, Einstein academy."
"It looks like our debate team could use some help." I said standing up finally letting go of Lucas' hand.
"Yeah, Smackle's definitely got game." Lucas agreed
"She beats Farkle every time. You think he's gotten used to it by now?" Riley asked us as Maya stared at Farkle on the floor.
Farkle groaned from his spot in the middle of the floor, "It hurts".
"Nope. Good thing we're there for him," Maya said as the three of us started to walk over to him.
"Being there for him is the most important thing we can be," Riley said before spotting a snack table, "melon balls."
"Ooh." Maya and Riley and I walked over to the table.
"Well, Farkle, good job being smart and everything." Riley said when she and I finally reached Farkle, Maya was talking to Lucas.
"Thanks for coming, Riley and Violet." He smiled at us "Sorry you had to see me lose again."
"Wonderful debate, Farkle. A memory that will live with me right up until the next thing happens." I said hugging Farkle before he walked out of the auditorium.
"Well, Smackle, good job being smart and everything." I said smiling at Smackle.
"I am sad." She said in a robotic tone.
"What?" Riley asked.
"Farkle and I are perfect for each other." She said looking us up and down "Why does he prefer you?"
"I don't know." I said "If I knew, I'd stop."
"Well, there's nothing left to do now but get a smoothie all alone and continue this good cry I'm having." She looked at us expectantly.
"You're crying?" I asked skeptically.
"Yes. A-wah a-wah." She started to fake cry.
"Look, I am going to ask you something really fast and then I'm going to regret it. Do you wanna come to my house?" Riley asked and I looked at her like she was crazy.
"Yes, I would like to come to your house. There is much I can learn from you." Smackle said immediately acting happy again.
"Oh, no! I already have a weird friend." Maya said walking over to us.
"She means me." Riley said proudly.
"Why do I have to be a part of your campaign to befriend every little woodland creature?" I asked Riley as her, Maya, Smackle, and me were all sitting at the bay window. I didn't trust Smackle I feel like we are somehow being tricked into helping her beat Farkle.
"Which woodland creature am I in your mind?" Smackle asked.
"You're like a little gopher Chipmunk combo deal." Maya answered.
"Maya, Violet, Smackle needs our help." Riley told us and we both rolled our eyes.
"Yes. I need you to teach me the equation for beauty," Smackle said and I laughed.
"Why?" Maya asked.
"Smackle loves Farkle." Riley explained.
"Why?" I asked this time.
"But he prefers you three to me because you're all aesthetically pleasing." Smackle said, "I, on the other hand, am less aesthetically pleasing, but am superior in every other area."
"Um I beg to differ," I said annoyed with the girl. "Okay, so you want us to make you beautiful?" I clarified.
"Yes, but I don't expect you to be able to change a trillion years of evolution in five seconds."
"Let me know when it's four seconds." I said playing with the ring on my finger.
"Go." Maya yelled and we all started to work on Smackle.
"I'm pretty?" Smackle asked when she finally looked in the mirror.
"You're the hottest little gopher-chipmunk in the whole forest." I said smiling at her.
"My outward appearance now seems to represent the current trends agreeable to the general populace." Smackle said talking to herself.
"Then why are you still talking like you don't know what you look like?" Riley asked.
"Ah, my speech. That's an easy fix." Smackle said.
"I don't think so." I said sitting down on my bed.
"Awesome, like, giggle, question, omigosh."
"Do you wanna lay that out again for us normals?" Maya said looking at Smackle as if she were crazy.
"Observations reveal that if I merely insert "awesome," "like," "omigosh," and giggle at everything like it's a question, I will assimilate into the general teenage population." Smackle shrugged.
"It's not that easy, Smackle." Maya snickered.
"E=mc2." Smackle said.
"Why are you saying that right now?" I asked confused.
"Did you do that for? Like "e" totally equals M.C. Squared!" Smackle giggled, " Omigosh, awesome!"
" I understand the universe." Riley said.
"Seriously?" I said rolling my eyes.
"Ladies," Farkle said as Riley, Maya, and I walked into debate team practice.
"Farkle." We all said in sync.
"Violet, why are you wearing glasses?" Lucas asked me.
"They're Smackle's." I shrug, "I'm just holding them for her On my face."
"We want to see if people will treat Violet differently now that she looks smart." Riley explained as the two other boys in the room turned to me.
"Hello, suddenly-approachable-woman." One of the boys said.
"What's your prescription? Mine's 20/800. I can basically only hear you." The other said.
"I don't have a prescription. Although I must say, you guys are looking a lot less blurry." I said walking over to Lucas and he immediately put an arm around me.
"That's the nicest thing any girl's ever said to us." The first boy said.
"I liked you better blurry." I said taking off the glasses.
"That's the second nicest thing a girl's ever said to us." The same boy said.
"I think you look nice any way you are, Vi." Farkle said smiling at me with adoration.
".Thanks" I smiled at him.
"You wanna go out with us?" Maya asked Farkle.
"Out like "out on a date"?" Farkle fell to the floor in shock.
" Aw, no." Riley said.
"Out like out there with me and Riley And Vi because there's someone else we want to introduce you to." Maya said squatting next to Farkle on the floor.
"We think you'll really like her." Riley added
"I have a very specific taste in girls." Farkle said sitting up.
"Is she one?" he asked.
" Uh-huh." I answered.
"That'll do it!" He walked out of the class.
"Presenting your date from the modeling runways of Paris, France the new face of geek chic Isadora Smackle." I presented Smackle in a French accent to Farkle who was sitting in a booth at Topanga's bakery.
"Wow," Farkle said looking at the girl, "You made her over?"
"You know, just us girls playing with our hair and clothes." Riley said as Smackle sat down across from Farkle.
"Are you finally intrigued by me, Farkle?" Smackle asked batting her eyelashes.
"I'm intrigued that my friends don't realize - that you are an evil genius." Farkle said looking at us.
"But a pretty evil genius, don't you think?" Riley giggled.
"This is debate preparation, isn't it?" Farkle asked finally figuring out Smackle's plan.
"What?" I asked.
"The next debate is "is beauty only skin deep?" Smackle doesn't want to be like you guys. Smackle only wants to win. You ladies have been played." Farkle told us.
"Is this true, Smackle?" Riley asked hurt.
"Affirmative." Smackle smirked at us.
"Riley, do I please have your permission to mess her up now? " I asked glaring at the girl.
"Negative." Riley said.
"Smackle, did you assume this outward change in your appearance - would not affect your inner self?"
"Of course it won't. I am Smackle." Smackle said.
"Hi, guys." Lucas walked into the bakery and walked over to us.
"Wow, Smackle, you look great." He complimented her.
Smackle giggled, "Did that just come from me?"
"Smile at her." I told Lucas and he did.
"Omigosh." Smackle said, "Omigosh, I just said "Omigosh. Like, awesome."
"Are you okay, Smackle?" Maya asked smirking.
"I don't understand what's happening to me." Smackle admitted.
"Why don't you sit next to her, Lucas?" Farkle told him. Being the easy going guy he was, he sat next to her without question.
"No one that's ever looked like you has ever sat this close. Are you sitting here because you want to be my mate?" Smackle giggled and I laughed.
"I'm sitting here because the seat was empty." Lucas turned to me giving me a look asking for help but I couldn't stop laughing.
"You smell like pine trees." Smackle sniffed him.
"Thank you." Lucas said clearly uncomfortable.
"Our feet are touching." She said in awe.
"You're doing that" Lucas said.
"Smackle, would you mind telling me, what is the square root of 36?" Farkle asked the girl.
"Who cares?" She said staring at the boy who was staring at me. "Excellent. Lucas is on our debate team. Will that be a distraction to you?" Farkle asked.
"Should be, yeah."
"Good. Let's go. We've got a debate to prepare for." Farkle and Lucas left leaving us with Smackle.
"What have you done to me? I'm broken. I'm pretty. I'm confused." Smackle said looking torn.
"We can put you back." I said.
"Oh, I'm not going' back! I'm not that confused." She said looking at her nails.
"Okay, who's first?" I asked when Maya, Riley, and I walked into our room and Farkle and Auggie were sitting at the bay window.
"I am" Auggie announced.
"Farkle, do you have an appointment?" Maya asked.
" No, I'm a walk-in." He said looking to the ground.
"I'm sorry, Farkle. Feel free to read one of our waiting room magazines. We're jammed." I said pointing him to our waiting chair.
"Go." Riley said when we all sat down with Auggie.
"I want to be with Ava until I die." He told us.
"She doesn't feel the same way?" I asked not seeing the problem yet.
"She's vague, man. She's messin' with my mind."
"But it doesn't matter what she says, it matters is what she does." Maya pointed out.
"Did she actually break up with you?" I asked.
"No."
"What?! Wait a minute. Auggie, I assumed you guys broke up." Topanga said joining us on the bay window.
"Oh, mom. You should never assume. Didn't dad teach you that?" Riley asked.
"Yeah, don't you get the home versions of these lessons? - You're married to the guy." Maya pointed out.
"Of course I do." Topanga scoffed, "There's just so many of them. Oh no, I married Feeny."
"So how is Ava messin' with you?" Riley asked her brother.
"She says we might not be together forever. But she also says we might." Auggie explained.
"So you still have a girlfriend?" I clarified.
"And I let you eat cake and whipped cream." Topanga reminded him.
"Hmm, so I had a pretty good day!" Auggie announced before walking out of the room with Topanga.
"Next!" Riley called.
"Yes?" I asked Farkle as he sat with us.
"I'm tortured." He started.
"What about?" Maya asked.
"Smackle's not gonna be at her best at the debate." He continued.
"Why not?" Riley asked.
"Because you made her better." He thought about it, "Except you didn't."
"You want us to change her back? If we do, Farkle, you'll lose the debate." I said sadly to the boy.
"I only want to beat her when she's really her. She's the best arch-Nemesis I could ever have" Farkle decided.
"Otherwise, if you beat her, it doesn't count." I said understanding.
"You're really smart, Violet."
"Even without glasses?" I asked jokingly.
"You promised you'd change her back." Farkle came up to us before the debate.
"We tried." I said.
"She wouldn't go for it." Maya explained.
"The nation of Troy was charmed by a beautiful wooden horse.
They neglected to consider what was inside.
And they lost everything because of outer beauty.
Don't be fooled by a pretty wrapper.
I mean, who keeps the wrapping paper?" Farkle started his argument.
"And our concluding statement will be made by Lucas Friar." Farkle announced as Lucas got up to speak.
"There can be absolutely no debate that the quest for outer beauty at the expense of one's inner self is a road to personal destruction.
People make assumptions.
I've been labeled a jock and a cowboy, and this is from my friends.
But here's a little secret.
I like school and I do pretty well.
You might look at me and assume baseball player.
I look at me and I know I'd better get good grades, because what's on the inside has to be more important than what is on the outside to get into a good college and into a good life.
Because beauty is not skin deep.
Thank you." Lucas sat down and everyone clapped for him
Smackle got up and began to talk, "Omigosh, I'm like so totally unprepared and scared.
Maybe that's what you would assume I would say, considering the effort I put into my appearance.
I'm here to argue today that beauty actually is skin deep.
So I've done some research and I've learned that it is.
When you get compliments from people who don't ordinarily compliment you, when people look at you differently, packaging does matter.
I wasn't pretty, and then I was.
This is a world where "pretty" seems better somehow.
Which is too bad, but it's not debatable.
However, I also learned that if you get swept up by what you are on the outside you can lose who you are on the inside.
Even though it is easy to be fooled by the beauty of a Trojan horse, its real power comes from the army within intelligence, compassion, integrity, courage.
That army is the real you, no matter what you look like.
So even though beauty may be skin deep, beauty is nowhere near as important as the army inside.
And I'll try not to forget that.
Well, look at all of you.
You're all very deeply beautiful.
Especially you, Farkle.
Thank you."
"Thank you for taking me in. I hope we can be friends." Smackle came over to us.
"We've got a lot to learn from each other." Maya told her.
"I continue to not understand anything." Riley announced.
"That's what's so beautiful about you." I told her.
"Valiant effort, Lucas, perhaps a smoothie would take the sting out of my latest victory." Smackle said to Lucas when we all went to the bakery after the debate.
Whoa whoa, I don't think so," I said showing her Lucas and I's connected hands.
"I actually think that Smackle is just enjoying some newfound confidence, Vi." Farkle said.
"You know me too well, arch-Nemesis." Smackle smiled lovingly at Farkle.
"She was using you to make Farkle jealous!" Riley laughed.
Lucas chuckled, "Well, that's a new one."
"Tell me the truth, Farkle." Smackle requested, "If Riley, Maya, and Violet weren't beautiful, would you still love them?"
"They're beautiful? Oh yeah, I never really noticed." Farkle said smiling at the three of us.