Chapter Seven: Nobody Messes With a Matthews

A/N: YES I KNOW THIS IS LATE BUT WRITERS BLOCK IS TERRIBLE SO IM VERY SORRY.

Well,

Now that I've got that out of my system…

Okay but I have an excuse for posting this a day or so late. I had standardized testing this week and fuck me gently with a chainsaw that was hard. So, because of mandatory testing that made me want to shoot myself, I couldn't write at all. (Okay well I probably could have when I got home that day but I was tired.)

So, recap; this is the chapter based on 'Girl Meets Sneak Attack' and I wrote it in about three hours on nothing but half a cup of coffee and anger fueled by the fact that I accidentally deleted 'Girl Meets Demolition' before watching it.

Without further ado, I give you chapter seven of '1994'

XxXxXxX

"Cory Matthews, I have devised a quick get-popular plan and you my good sir are our key element."

Shawn had never not been popular.

Never.

Like, not ever.

He hated John Quincy Adams Middle School for making him look like, um, well Cory. People like Shawn Hunter were born to be popular and this whole time travel thing had thrown his good looks and charm out of whack. But suddenly, his wit and jokes weren't working on the class and he and Cory still sat together, usually on the floor, at lunch. He just couldn't take it anymore! Even Farkle was more popular than him and that was saying something. His plan was genius, absolutely genius. But Cory wasn't exactly convinced yet.

"No, Shawny I'm not going to just ask out Missy Bradford. You can't even sit next to the girl seeing how she sits hanging upside down from the ceiling, wrapped in a cocoon of her own wings!" Shawn rolled his eyes at his friend's exclamation. Cory just didn't understand how to take one for the team sometimes. And yeah, maybe Missy had to comb her hair in the morning to hide the horns but she was just really hot and really popular and if Cory could get in good with the vampire queen then they would be set for life. "Why don't you just ask her out?" His friend shot back, placing his dark blue cap over his head. It was going to be hard to get this one past his stubborn friend.

"Because Cor, girls like Missy Bradford don't go for guys like me. See, Missy Bradford and Jill Hallinger share a circle of snobby girls that would never, ever date trailer trash like me." He explained bluntly, watching Cory's face falter with its usual sympathy.

"You are not trailer trash, Shawny. Not anymore that is. We live in the same apartment. You're not any poorer than me and you shouldn't feel that way." He stepped forward, placing a gentle hand on his shoulder. Shawn rolled his eyes, already tired of Cory's pity. He didn't mean to bring on a sea of sympathy and it was already making him sick.

"Okay, being poor isn't even what this is about. You look nice, I don't. The solution? Ask. Her. Out." He groaned giving his friend a shove into Mr. Matthews' classroom. Cory took a short glance into the classroom at the pink sweater wearing Missy Bradford. He turned around not a second later with a look of panic on his face.

"I think I'm a little too late for that, Shawny." He whistled, gesturing towards the doorway. He stuck his head inside, focusing on Missy who was flirting with Johnny Cash like mad. He coined an impressed expression, turning back to Cory.

"Huh, she's talking to him and hasn't bitten his head off yet. Amazing." He shrugged, suddenly noticing Maya and Riley next to them. This morning was not looking great for Cory or his daughter. "Hey Hart." He hissed to the blonde next to them, motioning to the door behind him. She glanced in at the two kids, her face quickly falling as she turned back to Riley. The girl quickly placed a shaking hand over her best friend's face, pulling her away from the door.

"What are you doing?" Riley giggled, trying to pull Maya's hand off her face. "Ohhh but this is too easy, it's Maya!" The brunette cheered, thinking it was all a stupid game. "I know because I saw you put your hand over my face." She grinned, her peppy mood still untouched.

"That's not the game." Maya sighed, finally pulling her hand away from Riley's eyes.

"What's the game?" The second girl cocked her head like a confused puppy, her gentle innocence just shining through. God, if she saw Vampira and Lucas together that would just kill her. They couldn't let that happen, especially since Cory still needed to date Missy for his plan to work.

"The game is protect the plant from the bulldozer in the pink sweater." Shawn put in quickly, realizing that bulldozers don't wear pink sweaters and Riley would most likely key in on that. But, hey! Maybe she wouldn't?

She did.

"Oh Maya, bulldozers don't wear-"

"Missy is flirting with Lucas and he's flirting back!"

Every set of eyes in the hallway suddenly fixated on Cory who shoved his hand over his mouth quickly. A new record, nearly ten seconds without meddling. Good for him! However, not so good for Riley who's face had fallen into a wide-eyed sulk as she stepped away from the classroom, her cheeks turning bright red.

"You okay?" Maya asked slowly as if she could spontaneously combust at any moment. Riley pursed her lips, staring straight ahead into the quickly emptying hallway as the first bell went off with alarm.

"Yeah." She heaved a sigh, falling into a crouch as she slid down the locker, Maya following suit.

"Aw look what the bulldozer did to ya." She commented, only half joking.

"There are other girls in this world." Riley nodded, attempting to reassure herself more than Maya. Shawn and Cory watched awkwardly from their position by the door, occasionally glancing back to Missy who would often touch Lucas' shoulder or give him a flirtatious smile.

"There are." Maya agreed cautiously, staring down at her friend.

"And other girls, like Missy Bradford, are going to talk to Lucas." She concluded, any trace of happiness from that morning gone. God, why did Missy Bradford have to mess everything up? Why couldn't she just go back to whatever pit of hell which she emerged from?

"They are."

"I don't like that."

"I know."

"I wish the world was just me and you."

"Then it is."

xxx

"The sneak attack. December 7th, 1941."

God, why did everything Mr. Matthews teach just have to apply to their lives?

"A date which will leave in infamy!" Farkle finished for their teacher just like Minkus would when they were in the sixth grade. What a suck up.

"Geez, you'd think the kid actually memorized Mr. Matthews' lesson plan or something." Shawn rolled his eyes, muttering sarcastically to Cory next to him before realizing what he had just said. "Cor, I have an idea."

"No!" His friend protested a little too loudly, once again drawing the attention towards him. Shawn groaned, sinking lower in his seat.

"Alan, Shawn, do you have something you want to share with the class?" Mr. Matthews raised an eyebrow and Cory sat up taller in his seat. Here we go again Shawn mused to himself in dread.

"That is a disgusting display of PDA, Mr. Matthews! Those two need to leave the room because I just can't focus on my learning with their little make out session over there." Cory gestured to Lucas and Missy in front of them, still flirting quite a bit. Maya turned around and literally growled at Cory who was probably making this whole situation worse for Riley, which Mr. Matthews noticed.

"Mr. Friar, Ms. Bradford, save it for later where I don't have to see it." He suddenly noticed Riley's limp arm which was raised in the air by Maya. "Yes, Riley? You have a pertinent observation on the subject of the sneak attack?" He questioned, obviously just wanting to get on with his lesson. Riley, frozen in place, didn't say a word.

"May I be excused?" Maya offered the words for the sulking girl, who only somewhat heard them as she repeated with; "my eyes see my shoes." Maya groaned, motioning to Lucas and Missy behind her who still hadn't stopped smiling at each other like lovesick puppies. Ugh, get a room! Shawn rolled his eyes. He could flirt better than that hopeless cowboy any day.

"Yes Riley, you may be excused." Mr. Matthews sighed, finally understanding the source of his daughter's dilemma.

"Forever?" She put her head up hopefully and her father shook his head.

"No, you have to come back to class at some point honey, ya just have to." He explained, handing her the bathroom pass as she got up from her seat and walked to the front of the room. She was about to run into the wall before their teacher gently pushed her towards the door. Things were not looking good for her this morning.

"It was another sunny day in paradise before the sneak attack that changed everything." Mr. Matthews attempted to continue with his Pearl Harbor lesson but it was impossible to teach a class that wasn't even paying attention. Everyone, Topanga and Farkle included, was focused on what was happening outside. Riley was staring intently and kind of creepily at Lucas, watching him flirt back with Missy. She would press her face up against the glass so close and not even blink. It was actually a little impressive. But, as Missy reached over and gently tapped Lucas' nose, she uttered a single syllable that finally put Riley over the edge.

"Boop."

"Boop?" Riley exclaimed running back into the room suddenly. "That's the best you got? You don't think that I can do boop?" Riley scoffed. Okay, so if anyone had been paying attention to the sneak attack lesson before, they certainly weren't now. Even Mr. Matthews had stopped teaching, he had to, he no longer had anyone to teach. "I can do boop like you've never seen; boop!" She grinned, turning on Lucas and while she had most likely intended to gently bop him on the nose like Missy had not a minute ago, suddenly she had her finger up his nose and a mortified look on her face. "Does anybody see this?" She questioned, her mouth barely moving in her paralyzed state of caught-in-the-headlight-fear.

"Everybody sees this." Missy leaned over to correct Riley who couldn't move. Lucas looked up at her and Shawn felt a surge of anger in his chest. If Lucas was such a "nice guy" why didn't he just pull away and end the embarrassment for Riley? What a freaking jerk, Cory was right the entire time.

"Take your finger out!" Maya hissed, a panicked look on her face as she turned to face the still immobile Riley.

"Can't. Can't move. Scared." Riley muttered, not moving an inch. Shawn literally felt the embarrassment come off of her in waves. What, was Lucas enjoying her finger in his nose or did he just like making fun of his "friends"? He wanted nothing more than to just punch Lucas in that moment. What an asshole. "Do you think Lucas knows?" She whispered through clenched teeth, obviously trying to bring light into her current situation.

'Oh he knows!' Shawn wanted to shout 'He knows he's a terrific jackass!'

As Shawn looked up from Riley in front of him, he saw every set of eyes in class on him. Oh great, what had he done now?

"Shawn, office now." Mr. Matthews sighed, already writing him a pass.

"Wait, I said that out loud?" He moaned, slapping his forehead with his hand. Now he looked like the jackass, (but really Lucas still was). 'Good luck' He mouthed to Riley before slipping out the back door of the class.

He was definitely on Cory's side for this one.

Lucas had to go down.

XxXxXxX

"Detention? All week? Nice going, buddy!"

Topanga groaned inwardly as Shawn and Eric high-fived, laughing obnoxiously. If she had to put up with one more boy tonight-

"Shawn, Eric, tell me what you think. Would Missy Bradford like these skinny jeans or is she not into that?"

It only took a second for Topanga to realize what was going on. First of all, Cory was wearing her jeans. Secondly, he wanted to impress Missy Bradford, of all people? The girl that had practically reduced their future daughter and friend to tears that morning? Third of all, Cory was wearing her jeans and they looked a hell of a lot better on him!

"Cory, I'm telling you now, neither me nor Missy Bradford appreciate the fact you're wearing my jeans. Hand 'em over." She ordered, averting her gaze from Cory's legs. Suddenly, her phone buzzed loudly and she held it up to her ear before realizing she had just gotten a text from Maya that just said; "URGENT. Come over to Riley's place right now!" "I have to go. Cory, my jeans better be back in my dresser by the time I get back or I will personally make sure you'll be starring in a broken jaw commercial by tomorrow." She threatened, getting up from her spot in the recliner, ignoring Shawn and Eric's confused glances.

"Since when did you get a Samsung Gusto 2?" Eric scoffed, expertly identifying the phone. She groaned again, Eric's knowledge of cell phones was beginning to get on her nerves.

"Since Maya gave it to me. I'm gonna go now." She sighed, slipping into her shoes at the door as Shawn stood up and stretched.

"I'm going with her. Gotta ask Riley something." Shawn explained and as much as Topanga didn't want him hanging around her, she agreed anyway, wanting to ask her friend what the hell possessed him that morning to say something like that out loud. "Tell Jason we'll be back later when he gets home."

"Wanna make it a party?" She asked the two Matthews brothers remaining. Cory shook his head as he retreated to the bathroom to take off her jeans. Eric yawned, picking up the TV remote and flipping it on.

"As much as I'm dying to meet future Cory and his lovely bride, I'll pass." He reassured her and Topanga rolled her eyes as her and Shawn left quickly.

Damn right she was lovely and although Cory wasn't the perfect husband, she was sure it would all work out someday. Weren't Riley and Auggie proof of that?

xxx

"Oh great, you brought Fonzie along."

Topanga stifled a laugh as both her and Shawn stepped inside of Riley's apartment and Maya led the two to Riley's bedroom. Her small room was decorated with different pictures and pretty wallpaper. There was only one window but it took up most of the room and Riley sat on it, a sulky and sad look on her face.

"This is our window. It's very sacred and you should be lucky we asked you to join us here tonight." Maya nodded and Topanga couldn't tell if she was joking or not. Shawn leaned up against the wall, (trying but failing to look cool) and Riley rolled her eyes, pulling the boy down to sit next to them on the window which was decorated with soft pillows and a blanket.

"What's the problem, Riley?" Topanga spoke first, her voice soft as she looked over to the brunette.

"You remember this morning?" She asked, her brown eyes filled with sadness and childlike innocence that made Topanga melt. Riley was sensitive, kind, and just great to be around. So why did Missy Bradford hate her so much?

"Who could forget it, honey?" Maya raised an eyebrow, shooting a small smile towards Riley who shared her friend's joking manner. That's how close Riley and Maya were because if anyone else had joked like that in front of the girl, either Maya would hit them so fast that they wouldn't remember what happened or Riley would ignore them for the rest of their lives. They were just like Cory and Shawn, but a little smarter.

"Well," She continued with a sigh. "I think of this as a personal challenge issued by Missy Bradford to grow up and to grow up fast." She explained, choosing her words carefully. See? Riley didn't even want to offend her mortal enemy. How could anyone hate this girl? "So, what do I do?" She asked her three friends, her doe eyes just yearning for advice.

"Nothing." Shawn shrugged, answering her question simply. However, it just wasn't the answer Riley was searching for.

"Give me advice; you're a genius at this." She changed her course, turning on Maya instead. "Grow me up." She begged with wide eyes and a mournful tone.

"Why?" Maya spat, sticking with Shawn's opinion.

"Because everybody else is." She replied with a whine.

"That's not the way I see it."

"How can you see it any other way?"

"Missy Bradford has decided to grow up fast, Riley, which has nothing to do with you." Maya scoffed, trying to calm her best friend down.

"And take it from a guy, Riles. If anything, it's kind of creepy. Well I guess her hotness and the whole 'uber-popular' fact cancels that out, but it still-" Shawn was cut off by a killer glare from Maya and his voice trailed off with nervousness.

"Okay, you're done talking now." She silenced him much to Topanga's amazement and turned back to her nervous brunette.

"What if Lucas takes her to a scary movie?" Riley inquired, her eyes swimming with fear and uncertainty. "I get scared at scary movies. You'll take care of me, won't you?" She quoted airily, mocking Missy Bradford. "Barf! Barf I say!" She cried after her impression.

"Riley, do you want Lucas to ask you out?" Topanga stepped in the conversation, shooting her daughter a comforting look.

"I don't know if I'm ready for that." She sighed with reluctance as she played with the hem of her dress nervously.

"Then what do you want from him?" Maya pushed herself back into the conversation, attempting to force an answer out of Riley.

"I-I don't know!" She groaned, looking up from her flowered dress. "I just, I don't want him with her. Am I jealous?"

"You wouldn't know how to be jealous." Topanga put in sweetly, knowing that it was a fact. Apart from never hurting a fly, Riley had probably never even experienced envy of anyone. She was too kind and forgiving.

"I just, I don't want him taken away from us. She's bad news, teach me how to flirt." Riley prompted, an idea popping into her head that made even Maya groan and roll her eyes. Teaching Riley how to flirt would be like teaching a dog how to make eggs. Not impossible, but a huge waste of time. When would someone like Riley ever need to flirt?

"Not gonna do that." Maya responded quickly, crushing her friend's dream.

"Why not?"

"I don't even know how to flirt. Who our age knows how to flirt?" Maya retorted briskly, shooting another death glare at Shawn as he raised his hand cautiously. "Shut it, Brando, you couldn't flirt with a shoe." She quipped, making another joke about his trademark leather jacket.

"Hello, ladies." Farkle winked as he popped in the window, startling Topanga who was sitting right next to the open window. Great She thought to herself their own personal Hugh Hefner had arrived.

"Farkle." Riley greeted, inviting the chipper Minkus in. "You were out there?" she questioned, a little disturbed.

"I'm always out there." He replied and Maya seemed to be the only one who shared Topanga's views on Farkle's creepiness. Riley, still fixated on her flirting issue was oblivious.

"Farkle, you're the biggest flirt in the seventh grade." She continued much to Maya's disappointment.

"Why thank you." He winked back, somewhat flirtatiously. That doesn't mean it actually works on anyone! Topanga wanted to shout.

"Can you teach me how to flirt with Lucas?" She questioned hopefully, cocking her head to side to see her friend's reaction.

"I'd do whatever you'd ask me." Farkle replied with no hesitation which puzzled Topanga. Wasn't he in love with her?

"I thought you loved her?" Maya spoke Topanga's question aloud, gesturing to Riley next to her.

"I love both of you. I want you happy." Farkle grinned and Topanga realized; Farkle wasn't actually trying to flirt with his two friends, he was just being a guy. More a supportive friend than a possible boyfriend. When he said he loved them, did that mean he loved their friendship more than the thought of being with them?

Why was future everything to confusing?

"Before we get out of here, I have a question for Riley." Shawn spoke up for the first time in a few minutes as Topanga stood up and smoothed out her skirt, praying that Shawn wouldn't say anything stupid.

"Yes, Shawn?"

"Why do you care about Lucas being taken away from you so much? Wasn't he the one who didn't break away from your little 'boop' thing this morning? If he cared about you so much why didn't he end the embarrassment for you there?" He sat down again, this time next to Farkle and kept his eyes fixed on Riley's expression which wavered with uncertainty as she processed his question.

"What are you tryna say, Lawrence?" Maya spat, jumping to her best friend's defense. Oh no, Topanga mused what had Shawn gotten himself into?

"I'm saying that someone like Riley doesn't come along every day, and if Gunsmoke saw that he wouldn't take her for granted and flirt with Missy right in front of her." Shawn concluded as he ushered Topanga out the window first, jumping after her second. "Think about it!" He called through the open window as Topanga stopped to watch the 'love expert' hop down from the wobbly fire escape outside.

Topanga was going to have to watch Shawn very closely from now on because if he were to ever develop feelings for her future daughter, Riley wouldn't be the one getting "hit on".

XxXxXxX

"So you think he'll sit with us, or her?"

Cory ignored Riley's bitter question as he and Shawn both took seats at Riley, Topanga, and Maya's table. This was it; he was sitting at a real table rather than the floor. He was a popular girl and he didn't even have to date Missy Bradford to do it!

Okay, that came out wrong.

He was still sitting at a table though!

"I try not to worry about things I have no control over." Maya smiled gently, shaking her head at her friend's antics.

"Really? 'Cause that's all I do!" Riley commented with a grin as she focused her attention back on Missy who was seated at a table adjacent from theirs.

"Hey, can I sit with you guys?" Farkle questioned, coming up from behind Shawn and making him jump. The boy was still just so similar to Minkus and every time he got near Shawn it freaked his friend out a little. Cory also noticed that throughout the entire first half of the school day, the two girls had been treating Farkle considerably nicer than usual. Take Science for example; usually Maya would threaten to stab Farkle at least five times with the scalpel if he got one inch closer to her than usual. Today it was only two times!

"You better." Riley shot back playfully and Cory rolled his eyes. Another example of Riley being way too nice to Farkle. But when was Riley ever not nice? The boy sat down next to Maya and Cory was somewhat glad that Topanga had chosen to do some homework in the school library that afternoon rather than sit with them. He was afraid the lunch table would get too crowded and they would force him and Shawn to sit on the floor again.

"You think he'll sit with us or her?" Farkle obviously shared Riley's opinion on the matter and even shot a glare over his shoulder towards Missy who was being swarmed with all her popular little friends, no doubt questioning their queen bee about her soon-to-be date with Lucas.

"Speak of the devil." Cory muttered to Shawn next to him as Lucas walked up to their table cheerily.

"Hey what's up? Is there a seat with you guys?" Lucas questioned more to the girls than anyone else. What a sleaze Cory mused to himself. No way was he going to go to the movies with his daughter. Missy was fine; he could have her, but not Riley.

"Always room for you, buddy!" Riley cheered, giving the cowboy a friendly punch on the arm and turned towards Maya with a panicked look in her brown eyes. "I just called him buddy; I'm not helping myself am I?" Lucas ignored Riley's little playful punch and sat down in between Riley and Shawn. They began a conversation about some homework assignment or whatever but Cory wasn't listening. He was focused on Missy's jealous stare from across the small cafeteria and the way she glared hard at the back of Riley's head. While Cory wanted to thank the girl for taking Lucas away from his daughter, he also had the urge to punch her in the face for being such a heinous bitch.

"Hi, Lucas." The girl called happily as she sauntered over to their table, placing a hand on Lucas' shoulder. She wore another bright pink sweater that made Cory's eyes want to vomit. "I was just thinking, since we're going to the movies together I should find out what kind of snacks you like so I could buy some for you." She began to lead the country boy over to her own table and he followed like a willing dog. "I wouldn't want you paying for everything." She smiled sweetly at him and bent down to scratch her leg, lifting her skirt up in the process.

"Why can't I have a girl like her?" Shawn moaned next to him, earning a slap on the shoulder from Maya who was staring intently at Riley, just waiting for the outburst.

"You're toast." Farkle commented with a petrified look on his face as he turned back to face Riley.

"I know."

"What? She flirts better than you?" Maya raised an eyebrow at the cocky teenager, still trying to one-up him.

"Oh no, nobody's better than Farkle." He insisted quickly. "I just don't think my young protégé is ready for that monster." He nodded, taking another glance at Missy who had taken a seat next to Lucas and placed a hand on his shoulder. She was staring into his eyes so hard it was like she wasn't even blinking.

"So, what are ya gonna do, genius?" Maya asked the turtleneck-clad boy with a slight cockiness to her tone.

"I'm gonna steal her away from Lucas myself." Farkle reassured the two and Cory glared at him. He couldn't hold it in any longer, he needed to save his future daughter from the likes of Lucas!

"NO!" He shouted, not even realizing he had said it until afterwards. This was it; this was the end for him. Maya was literally going to kill him, she was going to take her flimsy cafeteria Spork and shove it through his chest until she ripped out his lungs.

Well, not unless he could fix it.

"D-don't, um, don't not do that, yeah. Because that's a good, it's a brilliant plan. Go do that now, Min- Farkle." He improvised nervously, not taking his eyes off Maya gripping her plastic utensil.

"Nice save, buddy." Shawn hissed in his ear and rolled his eyes. Okay, so he wasn't the most eloquent actor but at least he could get himself out of a mess pretty quickly.

"She's evil that's for sure. If I'm not back in two minutes, she ate me." Farkle reassured his friends before pushing back his chair and standing up. "How's my hair?" He questioned, running a hand through his thin bowl-cut.

"Hasn't changed in six years." Maya replied monotonously.

"She doesn't stand a chance." He winked as he strode confidently over to their table. Cory strained to hear their conversation, short-lived as it was, but all he could see was the younger Minkus propping his leg up on the table and pulling up his jeans to show Missy his leg. He noticed Riley groan but he mentally cheered. Missy was going to stay with Lucas! They would graduate high school, get married, have three kids and live in Connecticut!

Okay, maybe he was getting a little too hopeful.

But it could still happen! As long as nothing at all interfered with his plan, Lucas and Missy would be endgame.

"I don't know what's going on here and I don't have any right to say this but I don't think you should hang out alone with this girl."

No, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, NO! What was she doing!?

"What in god's name is she doing?" Cory groaned, turning towards Maya. "Call her back, call her back! Abort mission, Riley!" He tried to stand up to go get her, but Maya pulled him down and shot him a look.

"Let's just see where this goes, Curly Fry." Maya ordered him. "Have faith in her." She grinned, watching the three talk quietly. Suddenly, Missy took a big handful of mashed potatoes and spread it all over her face.

Okay, was Lucas like into that or-

Apparently he was because Missy also spread mashed potatoes all over his face.

"Oops." She smiled through a face of potatoes and shrugged. "Food fight!" She yelled, loud enough for Mr. Matthews who was eating his own lunch on the other side of the cafeteria to hear. He watched as Mr. Matthews strode over to reprimand the two kids but his view was obstructed as he felt a lump of potatoes in his face suddenly.

"Detention for you too, Mr. Lawrence!" their teacher shouted as he went back to his own lunch. Cory wiped the potatoes from his face and turned to Shawn who was smiling cheekily.

"What the hell was that for?" He spat, shoving Shawn. "Now I gotta go to detention with you, Lucas, and ohhhh." His voice trailed off halfway through his sentence as he realized his friend's angle. "Shawny, I love ya!" He exclaimed with delight.

"I know ya do!" His best friend shot back happily and right before Cory could grab him a bear hug, Riley came up behind Maya, tapping her on the shoulder.

"C'mon Maya, we need to get detention." She ordered, pulling her best friend away with her. Cory groaned, breaking his stare with Shawn.

"Shawny?"

"Yeah, yeah. I know."

"We need a scheme."

xxx

"Y'know, I'm actually gonna keep this."

"Shut it, Sideshow Bob." Maya rolled her eyes and Cory glared right back at her. It seems like this was a game between them that would never end.

"No, no I mean it Riley. You did a good job on the place cards." He complimented the naïve brunette who was staring intently at the doorway, no doubt waiting for Glen Campbell to arrive. He held up his paper nametag, inspecting his name spelled out in neat cursive. A drawing of a ladybug was above it along with a smiling sun.

"How ya doin'?" Riley greeted suddenly and Cory glanced up from his funny place card to see Lucas and Missy walk in together. The popular girl held a disgusting look on her face as she turned up her nose at the grinning Riley.

"What are you doing here?" She spat, her tone whiny and obnoxious. Cory couldn't imagine going on a date with that girl and her legs. Okay, maybe her legs but forget the girl.

"Oh, I'm a bad girl." Riley nodded confidently and Cory stifled his laughter with his hand. He didn't even know what Riley did to get detention on such short notice but she did it. Good for her!

"Yeah, you don't wanna mess with this one." Maya smirked, looking over to her friend with pride.

"What are these? Place cards?" Missy scoffed, holding up Cory's bright orange nametag and he grabbed it back immediately. Despite being hotter than a young Yasmine Bleeth, Missy was still a bitch and he loved his place card so there!

"Yup, I made them." Riley replied, her confidence unwavering. "You sit over there." She gestured towards the very back of the classroom where a single place card sat. Missy rolled her eyes as she followed Lucas to sit down, taking the seat next to him instead.

"I think this seat has my name on it, actually." She corrected snobbishly and Cory rolled his eyes. She could take Lucas for all he cared but that country boy was not going to have a happy marriage.

"Alright guys." Mr. Matthews finally stood up, grabbing his lesson plan along with him. He didn't finish his thought before noticing Shawn dart into the classroom, panting like a dog. Where had he been? Detention started at least five minutes ago!

"Mr. Lawrence, you're late to your own detention." Their teacher pointed out the obvious as Shawn leaned on the doorframe, still gasping for breath.

"Do I win something for that?" He questioned in his usual sardonic tone.

"Yes in fact he does. Mr. Lawrence, if you can answer this next question correctly; you win the entire game." Cory announced, turning on a game show host voice as he gestured wildly. "Now, can anyone tell me what Shawn gets as a prize? Anyone? Shawn?"

"An all-expense paid trip to Acapulco?" He guessed, a grin coming across his sweat-streaked face. Mr. Matthews made a loud buzzing sound like a game show buzzer.

"Unfortunately the answer was; another detention! Sit down, please." He motioned towards Shawn's seat next to Cory where his own name tag sat.

"So, I like my detentions to have a little learning in them. So-"

"Mr. Matthews, yesterday you drank like four cups of coffee and watched 'Field of Dreams' on your phone."

"Shawn-"

"I'm just saying! Kevin Costner had nothing to do with World War Two as far as I know." He commented, earning another look from Mr. Matthews.

"Shawn, are you just looking for another week of detention?" He countered and Cory looked over to his friend. How could he be this stupid? Honestly, did he like just making teachers hate him?

"Mr. Matthews are you really willing to sacrifice that much of your life to spend with me? Because I'm flattered and all but I don't wanna inconvenience you." He shot back sarcastically and Cory felt the urge to reach over to hit him upside the head.

"Oh, don't worry about me, Shawn. You can spend a week after school with Mrs. Gardner instead." Their history teacher finally managed to shut the cocky boy up as they all seemed to picture spending five afternoons in a row with their crabby Health teacher who insisted that you couldn't even do homework in detention because you could be conspiring against her. All you could do was stare at the wall in silence and hope you didn't have to go to the bathroom because she didn't let you do that either.

"I'll shut up now."

"You do that." He assured the teenager and continued with his previously planned lesson. "The world was at war. Alliances were forged in battle and made stronger because of that." He lectured and Cory couldn't help but glance around the classroom on his own, looking at their little group. Alliances, war, and battle. It was almost like Mr. Matthews planned it.

"What is this place?"

The chipper voice of Farkle Minkus broke Cory away from his observation and he looked up to find the kid standing there with a smile on his face. Topanga hung back behind him, her arms crossed over her chest. Farkle had no doubt forced Topanga to tell him where everyone was. After all, they were probably the only two kids in the school that would hang around for extra study time fifteen minutes after the bell had rung.

"It's detention, Farkle. It's not for you." Mr. Matthews explained briskly, obviously sick of being interrupted.

"If my friends are in it, then it's for me." Farkle declared, taking a seat right behind Riley. Cory smiled widely, sharing a look with Shawn as they invited Topanga in with them. She let out a half sigh before smiling back and sitting behind Shawn and next to Lucas. Alliances.

"During this war, the United States was put to its greatest tests when it met a threat to our way of life." He continued at last. "But because we were united, we prevailed."

God, teacher-him was so awesome.

"Hey, Riley." Lucas suddenly spoke, leaning towards the brunette. "Missy invited me to see a movie with her." He gestured towards the pink sweater-clad girl who was smiling so widely, Cory wondered if it hurt her.

"I think she's aware of that, Lucas. No need to make her feel worse." Missy added, her tone sickly sweet.

"And I was wondering' if maybe you guys would like to come along with us." He invited, looking around the room. No! Cory groaned. Don't wonder that! Go back to not wondering!

"You want us?" Riley looked genuinely surprised at Lucas' gesture and a small smile spread across her innocent face.

"Um, Lucas, you're little friends were not part of the invitation." Missy growled through clenched teeth, trying her best (but failing) to keep cool about the whole thing.

"Ohhh, well then!" Lucas exclaimed. "I'm sorry, Missy, but I can't go." He grinned towards Riley and Cory felt weak. Why couldn't Lucas just stop being a pretentious gentleman and be a jerk like Missy?

"What are you talking about?" Missy whined, stomping her heel on the linoleum tile. "Nobody's ever turned me down in my life."

"Well, these are my friends. And I don't like doing anything without my friends. Right, Riley?" He questioned, shooting the brunette a charming smile. "Now, well I certainly appreciate you wanting me to take care of you during a scary movie and you showing me your leg and all," Cory had to laugh at that. "But back here in the seventh grade, I think we'd all have more fun just hanging out together." He concluded, looking around the detention room. Seventh grade, my ass Cory scoffed to himself. You look like you're 36!

"Boop!" Maya grinned, pretending to bop Missy on the nose. The snobby girl grabbed her bag and stood up, turning on her heel before she exited the room.

"Grow up." She sneered at Riley with a glare.

"Not yet." The girl countered, smiling at everyone in the room as the evil presence finally left.

"Oh, she's leaving? Okay." Mr. Matthews commented, shrugging as Missy walked out. He continued drawing his diagram of Pearl Harbor on the board but Cory just couldn't concentrate. He glanced over to Riley who was still smiling dreamily at Lucas.

"Hey." She said with a small grin.

"Hey." He replied, leaning forward to look at her.

"You know what the best thing about having friends is?"

"What?"

"Sometimes all you have to do is trust them." She grinned and while Cory appreciated the gesture he couldn't help but wish Missy was back and flirting with Lucas again.

"Shawny?"

"Yeah, yeah. I know."

"We're gonna need another scheme."

XxXxXxX

Okay but holy shit was that long. Thank you guys for all your support and keep reading. Love you all and have a great week!