"Ancient Greece," Dad began his lesson as we sat in history. "What that? What that that?" I asked frantically, pointing to the large, wrapped box in his hands. "What thi‐ this? This is a present."he told me. "Is it for her?" Riley asked. "What's your game, Matthews?" Maya asked "Game? I mean no game. I just want to know who here wants this present." dad said. Everyone but Maya raised their hands "Oh, Maya, what? You assume by playing hard to get, I'm gonna give it to you?" Dad asked her. "Well, yes. That's one of the many arrows in my quiver." She answered. I heard Farkle shudder from behind and I turned to face him "Medieval talk. What are you doing to me, woman?" Farkle asked her. I rolled my eyes fondly and turned back to the front of the room. "Raven." Dad said, placing the present on my desk. "Yay!" I cheered. I opened the box and the smile fell from my face as I raised a plaque. "The trojan horse?" I read appalled. "Surprise." He said, while doing jazz hands. "This isn't a present!" Riley exclaimed "This is one of your life lessons wrapped up in a class lesson wrapped up in a box of nothing." I added in agreement "How you doing, honeys?"Maya asked us. "We're-a worked up." Riley and I said in unison. "I know." Maya told us. "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?" Dad asked. "They left it there because they were afraid that somebody was trying to teach them something." Riley said causing me to giggle. Dad shook his head at my twin. "They captured it as a trophy and brought it inside. That night, the Greek soldiers crawled out of the horse and defeated Troy." dad told us, "What have we learned here? Mr. Friar?" he asked looking at the Lucas "Don't make assumptions based on what you see?" he guessed. "Raven, listen, I'm sorry I made an example of you. I know'd you'd share with your sister so, Riley, here's a gift for you." Dad said, holding up a smaller box. "Ooh no! I want to no! Pretty ribbon no!" Riley shouted, arguing with herself. "I'll take my chances with that, sir." Logan said. Dad handed over the box. "No, Logan. You have to assume it was no good because the first one was no good. Aren't you all proud of me, dad?" Riley said. "No!" he shouted. "Get out of detention free." Lucas said, reading the back of the card Logan was holding. "Ooh, I could use one of those." Maya said. "Gimme that and I won't call you "Ranger Rick" all week." she offered. "Here you go." Logan said handing Maya the card. "Thanks, Ranger Roy." she said. "Lemme guess. Ranger Roy is filling in for Ranger Rick?" Logan asked smirking. "All week." Maya confirmed before turning t my dad. "And now you." she told him. "Oh, is something gonna happen to me?" he asked. "Yes, it is." Maya said, while she stood up. She began to scat, while running onto my dad's desk. "D‐d‐d‐detention! But not today. Boom!" Maya ended. "Read the card." Dad ordered. "Huh?" Maya asked. "Card." Dad repeated. "Say 'get out of detention free' then give worthless card to Maya then watch her dance on my desk." Maya read from the back of the card. She frowned before hopping off the desk and walking back to her seat. "Never assume. Look more deeply. Just because something is wrapped up all pretty, doesn't always mean it is." Dad told us. Maya turned to Logan. "You were in on this!" She shouted at him. "I'm Ranger Roy and I'll be here all week." Logan said, tipping an imaginary hat and I snickered quietly with Lucas "Oh‐ho‐ho." Maya said, turning back to the front of the room.
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"In conclusion, school uniforms reduce individuality which will be unnecessary in the real world when you're all working for me." Farkle concluded his speech, "Thank you. I am Farkle!" he bowed dramatically as we all watched the debate. "I don't understand debate." Riley told Maya and I. "I say you do." Maya said causing me to laugh. "Okay." Riley agreed. "I like debate." Lucas told us from his seat beside me as we sat in the row behind Riley, Maya and Logan. "Exploring two sides of the same thing. Good and bad, light and dark, right in front of you at the same time. Where else are you gonna get that?" Logan questioned, Lucas and I shared a look before I pointed to a smiling Riley and a frowning Maya "Oh right. Look at you." Logan said in realisation. "And now from Einstein academy, undefeated this season. She is who your mama wishes she gave birth to! The one, the only Smackle!" Dad announced as rock music began to play. Smackle crashed through Einstein Academy's logo before she boxed the air like she was Rocky. The music stopped as she walked up to Farkle. "You goin' down, chump." Smackle said and I raised an eyebrow. Smackle turned to face the audience. "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." Smackle said before walking to her 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?'" Dad informed us, "Great, thank you. So the winner of today's debate is‐" Dad started, as Farkle stood up but Dad pushed him back down. "Isadora Smackle, Einstein academy." he announced. "It looks like our debate team could use some help." Lucas said. "Yeah, Smackle's definitely got game." I said. "She beats Farkle every time." Riley added. "You think he's gotten used to it by now?" Maya asked and we all turned to Farkle. He was lying on the ground, groaning as people walked past him. "It hurts." Farkle said through his groans. "Nope. Good thing we're there for him." I said, as Maya, Riley, and I stood up. "Being there for him is the most important thing we can be‐" Maya started, but paused. "Melon balls." she said, pointing to some which were on a table. "Ooh." Riley and I said before we walked to the melon balls. Riley and I left Maya with the fruit as we walked over to Farkle and Smackle "We Farkle good job being smart and everything." I told him "Thanks for coming Raven." he started and I noticed Smackle walk away "You too Riley. Sorry you guys had to see me lose again." he told us apologetically and Riley clapped "Wonderful debate Farkle. " I told him "A memory that will live with me right up until the next thing happens." she added before we both gave him a hug. Once he left Riley pulled me along to go see Smackle. "Well, Smackle. Good job being smart and everything." Riley repeated my line as we smiled awkwardly before turning to leave, "I am sad." Smackle exclaimed casing us to turn to face her again "What?" I questioned "Farkle and I are perfect for each other. Why does he prefer you guys?" she asked us and we stammered "I don't know." I told her, "If I knew, I'd stop." Riley said "Well. There's nothing left to do now than get a smoothie all alone and continue this good cry I'm having." Smackle told us and I frowned "You're crying" I asked confused "Yes." she told me "A-wah. A-wah." she mimicked a crying baby, very robotically "I don't think that's actually-" Riley started only to be interrupted with more "crying". Smackle started to mumble some sad gibberish and I grimaced slightly "Look. I am going to ask you something really fast and then I'm going to regret it... You want to come to our house?" she asked and we both shot our heads to face each other "Ooh." we said together lowly before we faced Smackle again "Yes. I would like to come to your house." she told us "There;s much I can learn from you." she added, Riley and I looked at each other at a loss for words before extending our arms to give her a hug. We tried multiple times before Maya interrupted our latest failed attempt at a group hug "Oh, no! I already have a weird friend." she said through mouths full of melon balls. "She means us" I told Smackle sighing, gesturing between my sister who was nodding with a grin and myself.
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"Why do I have to be a part of your campaign to befriend every little woodland creature?" Maya asked Riley as we sat at our bedroom window along with Smackle "I mean, we've got our little bird, we don't need anymore." she added gesturing to me and I smiled and waved at my sister "Which woodland creature am I in your mind?" Smackle asked Maya who looked her up and down "You're like a little Gopher-Chipmunk combo deal." she answered as Smackle took notes. "Maya, Smackle needs our help." Riley told her. "Yes. I need you to teach me the equation for beauty." Smackle said. "Why?" Maya asked, confused. "Smackle loves Farkle." I told her. Her eyes widened. "Why?" Maya asked again. "But he prefers you three to me because you're all aesthetically pleasing. I, on the other hand, am less aesthetically pleasing, but am superior in every other area." Smackle said. "Okay, so you want us to make you beautiful?" Maya asked. "Yes, but I don't expect you to be able to change a trillion years of evolution in five seconds." Smackle told us. I smirked "Let me know when it's four seconds." Riley told her. "Go!" Maya shouted. The three of us jumped up and began the transformation. When we were done we sat back and looked at our work of art. "I'm pretty?" Smackle asked, looking down at herslef. "You're the hottest little Gopher‐Chipmunk in the whole forest." Maya told her. "Who's the genius now?" I asked. The three of us whipped our hair back and looked at each other. "Stop it." We all said in unison. "My outward appearance now seems to represent the current trends agreeable to the general populace." Smackle said. "Then why are you still talking like you don't know what you look like?" Maya asked. "Ah, my speech. That's an easy fix." Smackle said. "I don't think so." Riley told her. "Awesome, like, giggle, question, oh my gosh," Smackle said. I gave her a confused look. "Do you wanna lay that out again for us normals?" I asked. "Observations reveal that if I merely insert "awesome," "like," "oh my gosh," and giggle at everything like it's a question, I will assimilate into the general teenage population." Smackle said. I snickered. "It's not that easy, Smackle." I told her. "E=mc2." Smackle said. "What did you do that for?" Maya asked. "Like "e" totally equals m.c. Squared!" Smackle said, and then giggled, "Oh my gosh, awesome!" Maya, Riley, and I leaned in closer to each other. "E=mc2." Maya said "I understand the universe." Riley and I said in unison. The three of us mimicked an explosion as our minds had just been blown.
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Maya, Riley and I made our way into the history classroom were the debate team were meeting. "Ladies." Farkle greeted. "Farkle." We replied in unison. "Maya, why are you wearing glasses?" Logan asked her. "They're Smackle's. I'm just holding them for her. On my face." she told him. "We want to see if people will treat Maya differently now that she looks smart." Riley said. "Hello, suddenly‐approachable‐woman. What's your prescription? Mine's 20/800," on of the team members said and I laughed softly, "I can basically only hear you." he added "I don't have a prescription. Although I must say, you guys are looking a lot less blurry." Maya told them. "That's the nicest thing any girl's ever said to us." The other one said. "I liked you better blurry." Maya said quickly, while taking the glasses off "That's the second nicest thing a girl's ever said to us." The other one replied. "I think you look nice any way you are, Maya." Farkle told her. "Thanks Farkle." she told him smiling "You wanna go out with us?" I added and Farkle collapsed. "Out like 'out on a date'?" He asked. "Aw, no." I told him, while crouching down as Maya and Riley did the same. "Out like out there with me, Raven and Riley because there's someone else we want to introduce you to." Maya corrected. "Yep. We think you'll really like her." Riley added. "I have a very specific taste in girls." Farkle announced, "Is she one?" he asked "Uh‐huh." I said nodding in amusement "That'll do it!" Farkle shouted. I rolled my eyes fondly at the boy.
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We all arrived at Svorski's bakery ready to commence the plan. "Presenting your date from the modeling runways of Paris, France," Riley started. "The new face of geek chic," I continued. "Isadora Smackle." Maya finished in a french accent. Smackle walked into the place, posing as she did so. "Wow," Farkle admitted, as Smackle approached, "You made her over?" he asked us "You know, just us girls playing with our hair and clothes." Riley replied. "Are you finally intrigued by me, Farkle?" Smackle asked. "I'm intrigued that my friends don't realize that you are an evil genius." Farkle said. I raised my eyebrow. Riley chuckled. "But a pretty evil genius, don't you think?" Riley asked. "This is debate preparation, isn't it?" Farkle asked Smackle. "What?" I asked, shocked. "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?" I asked feeling betrayed. "Affirmative." Smackle replied. "Raven, Riley, do I please have your permission to mess her up now?" Maya asked angrily "Negative." We answered. "Smackle, did you assume this outward change in your appearance would not affect your inner self?" Farkle asked. "Of course it won't. I am Smackle." she said before holding up her hand "But look, four red nails and one blue one. I don't know why." Smackle admitted, "That said, how could any outward change possibly affect the inner Smackle?" she concluded as Lucas and Logan approached us. "Hi, guys." They said before turning to Smackle, "Wow, Smackle," Lucas started "you look great." Logan added. Smackle giggled. I raised my eyebrow. "Did that just come from me?" Smackle asked. "Smile at her." Farkle told the boys. They both smiled at Smackle. "Oh my gosh." Smackle said, "Oh my gosh, I just said "oh my gosh". Like, awesome. Question?" she babbled "Are you okay, Smackle?" Riley asked. "I don't understand what's happening to me." Smackle admitted. "Why don't you sit next to her, guys?" Farkle asked and they done as asked sitting on either side of her. "No one that's ever looked like you two has ever sat this close. Are you sitting here because you want to be my mate?" Smackle asked. My eyes widened "We're sitting here because the seats were empty." Logan replied. "You smell like pine trees." Smackle told Lucas. And Vanilla. I sighed dreamily"Thank you." Lucas said looking mighty uncomfortable. "Our feet are touching." Smackle told the two. "You're doing that." LThey told her. "Hmm. Smackle, would you mind telling me, what is the square root of 36?" Farkle asked. "Who cares?" Smackle asked dreamily gazing at between Logan and Lucas. "Excellent. Logan and Lucas are on our debate team. Will that be a distraction to you?" Farkle asked. "Should be, yeah." Smackle said still in a trance. "Good. Let's go. We've got a debate to prepare for." Farkle said, standing. the three of us sat with Smackle as the boys left. "What have you done to me? I'm broken. I'm pretty. I'm confused." she said "We can put you back." I told her "Oh, I'm not goin' back!" Smackle exclaimed "I'm not that confused." she added examining her nails.
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Riley, Maya and I made our way into our bedroom were we found our mom, Topanga in the doorway and Farkle, who sat beside Auggie at the bay window. "Okay. Who's first?" Riley asked "I am." Auggie told her before she and I headed over to sit on either side of him as Maya went to stand beside Farkle. "Farkle do you have an appointment?" she asked him, "Nope, I'm a walk-in." He told her "Farkle, feel free to read on of our waiting room magazines." I told him gesturing to the pile before turning to Maya along with Riley "We're jammed." Riley exclaimed as Farkle lifted a magazine and moved to stand beside my mom while Maya took his previous seat. "Go." Riley instructed our little brother "I want to be with Ava until I die!" he exclaimed "She doesn't feel the same way?" I asked frowning "She's vague man." Auggie complained causing us to sigh quietly "She's messing with my mind." he added. "But, it doesn't matter what she says, it matters what she does." I told him drawing his attention, "Did she actually break up with you?" Maya asked him "No." he answered "What?!" Our mom suddenly exclaimed catching our attention as she made her way towards us "Auggie. I assumed you guys broke up." she told him as she took a seat beside me "Oh mom, you should never assume." Riley scolded "Didn't dad teach you that?" I asked, "Yeah, don't you get the home versions of these lessons? You're married to the guy." Maya added backing us up. Mom scoffed "Of course I do. There's just so many of them." she defended before pausing. "Oh no. I married Feeny." she exclaimed suddenly and I raised my eyebrows at her. "So how is Ava messing with you?" I asked Auggie, getting back on track "She says we might not be together forever. But she also says we might." he told me "So you still have a girlfriend." Maya reminded him "And, I let you eat cake and whipped cream." mom added "Hmm." he hummed standing up "So I had a pretty good day." he said in realisation as mom pat his stomach and we all smiled as the two walked away. "Next!" Riley shouted and Farkle took Auggie's place. "Yes?" Riley questioned "I'm tortured." he told us "What about?" I asked frowning, concerned. "Smackle's not going to at her best at the debate." he said looking at me "Why not?" Maya asked confused "Cause you made her better." he told us "Except you didn't." he added "You want us to change her back?" I asked confused "If we do Farkle, you'll lose the debate." Riley told him "I only want to beat her when it's really her. She's the best arch nemesis I could ever have." he said "Otherwise if you beat her. It doesn't count." Maya said, nodding in realisation "You're pretty smart Maya." Farkle told her, "Even without glasses?" I teased playfully and we all laughed.
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"You promised you'd change her back!" Farkle exclaimed to us as we sat waiting for the final debate to start "We tried!" Riley defended "She wouldn't go for it." I told him apologetically. He sighed before walking over to her. He turned to the audience after a while. "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 began. "I wear ribbons." Riley said, raising her hand. I looked to my right and there my sister was, decked in various ribbons. "Okay. And our concluding statement will be made by Lucas and Logan Friar." Farkle announced. He sat down as the two stood up. "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." Lucas began looking sharp in his red blazer. "People make assumptions. We've been labelled jocks and cowboys, and this is from our friends." Logan continued. "But here's a little secret. We like school and we do pretty well. You might look at us and assume baseball players." Lucas added "We look at us and we know we'd better get good grades, because what's on the inside has to be more important than what's on the outside to get into a good college and into a good life." Logan continued "Because beauty is not skin deep." Lucas concluded. "Thank you." they said in unison before walking back to their seats as Smackle took the floor. "Oh my gosh, I'm like so totally unprepared and scared." Smackle admitted. "Maybe that's what you would assume I would say, considering the effort I put into my appearance." she continued "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, then I was. This is a world where "pretty" seems better somehow. Which is too bad, but it's not debatable." Smackle said, while pacing back and forth. "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." Smackle said. She picked up her glasses and put them on. "Well, look at all of you. You're all very deeply beautiful. Especially you, Farkle." She said. "Thank you." Smackle said and we all clapped. She made her way to stand in front of us "Thank you for taking me in. I hope we can be friends." she told us "Cool. We've got a lot to learn from each other." Maya said softly and she smiled at us. Smackle bent down to share a more successful group hug with Riley and I before my sister took the large red ribbon from her head and stuck it to Smackle's stomach. She gave us one last smile before walking away. "I continue to not understand anything." Riley admitted "That's what's so beautiful about you." Maya told her and I smiled as I pulled the two closer and wrapped my arms around them.
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After the debate, Riley, Maya, Lucas, Logan, Farkle, Smackle, and I headed to Svorski's. We sat in our usual seats. "Valiant effort, Lucas, Logan perhaps a smoothie would take the sting out of my latest victory." Smackle said attempting to flirt "Whoa whoa," I started "back off, sister." Riley finished as Lucas smirked at me. "I actually think that Smackle is just enjoying some newfound confidence, Raven, Riley." Farkle told us. "You know me too well, arch‐Nemesis." Smackle told him. "She was using you two to make Farkle jealous!" Maya said to Logan and chuckled. "Well, that's a new one." Logan said and we all laughed softly. "Tell me the truth, Farkle." Smackle began, "If Raven, Riley and Maya weren't beautiful, would you still love them?" Smackle asked. "They're beautiful?" Farkle asked, looking between us "Oh yeah, I never really noticed." the three of us shared soft smiles.
