''Whats up?'' Riley set down her book as Lucas walked into her room he lived down in the trailer park by her street now. Where Shawn was, so he came to get her from school.

''Just looking at the pictures we have of home''. Lucas sat down and put his arm around her. ''At home its Almost February here its almost December''. She sighed. ''I didn't think we'd be spending Christmas here, I want to go home Lucas. I want Maya to pick me up for school and we have breakfast together like always, instead her Foster parents insist on driving her because she runs away. I just want things to go back to normal''. Lucas was supposed to be in grade 8 he and Maya were already slightly cross being 14 and in grade 8 but now they were 14 in seventh grade. They would be fifteen and in seventh grade.

''We just have to get used to life here, we might not be going home. We could be here forever''. he rubbed her shoulder. He was only trying to be strong for her. She needed him to be strong. The door opened. ''here's not so bad.'' He was lying to himself and to her.

''But it's not New York''. She pointed out. ''I want to go home Lucas i'm tired of being strong and pretending i'm not homesick. I am homesick. And I'm NOT used to pretending to be about to turn 13.''

''Yeah me either they are not going to believe that Maya and I are 13''. She smiled at him.

''They think your turning 14''. She told him. She put her head on his shoulder. ''Enough about ages we'll get used to it.'' He kissed her again. ''But i'm still homesick.''

''We all are.'' he told her. '' You know more then anyone that I am too.'' He said. ''You don't have to be so brave all the time.'' She put her head on his shoulder. She was about to cry. ''I don't around you''. Maya she used to not have to around Maya, their friendship was starting to get strained. Not only that but she realized that her foster parents drank a lot sometimes it scared her.

''Do you want something to eat? You look Hungry''. She said. Standing up he wished people would stop saying this. he WAS hungry. but he really hoped not everyone could tell.

''I'm fine''. He shook his head.

''Riley, Cory and Shawn are here to walk to school with you.''

''Thanks Amanda''. Riley said her Foster mom smiled at her and shut the door. They stood up and walked to the door to meet their friends. ''Guess we gotta go''. She said looking around and sighing. ''I just wish it was home''. She met them at the door.

''Hi guys''. Riley said walking downstairs. Her and Cory had been bonding lately and they were pretty close now he was starting to pick her up from School. She picked up her bag and Lucas picked up his.

''Hi Riley, Lucas''. Riley swung her backpack over her shoulder. ''How are you doing today''. Riley narrowed her eyes as Cory took her backpack from her. He never talked in the morning. ''Let me carry that''. She gave him a strange look.

''Thank you''. She said giving Lucas a funny look. But she forgot about it and shook her head.


''So my mom says, 'why don't you try being polite for just one day and see if people don't notice.' ''. Lucas shook his head. Manners were something he'd be taught all his life this wasn't new to him. How did this kid not know how to be polite?

''Hay, for what its worth Cor, I think your polite''. Lucas just rolled his eyes Shawn and his version of manners were not he same. Farkle walked in the door and he went to meet his own best friend.

''Well we've been here for two and a half months now''. Lucas said as they opened their lockers. ''We still haven't found a way home''. He shut the door. ''Should we just accept our home is here now?'' Farkle shrugged. ''We've looked in a million books that all say the same thing: time travel isn't real''.

''I guess, I mean there's nothing we can do about it''. They went and sat down on the bench nearby to wait for the girls like they always did and started doing some homework. ''Maybe this is all a big huge dream that i'm having.''

''You got a name?'' They looked up to see Cory being groomed by some girl, uh oh Topanga he had to go out with Topanga. Riley would freak out.

''Uh Cory''. he stammered.

''I'm Teresa, my friends call me T.K''. They tried not to laugh. ''Janitor Harly's sister, that came to work sometimes and saw him she works down town''. He explained it Lucas and Farkle spent a lot of time with the janitor.

''Oh nice to meet you''. She took his arm.

''Oh no, I knew this was going to well!'' Lucas rolled his eyes.

''Chill its a pen!'' Maya said rolling her eyes, As she walked by and sat down next to Farkle. ''Whats going on here?'' She said leaning on the wall crossing her arms. Looking at them along with the two boys.

''Cory's getting a date''. Lucas explained.

''Ah good for him''. Maya said. ''Come on Farkle, we have homeroom together.'' She said getting up and walking away with Farkle at her tail.

''Are you daft? What about Topanga?'' Lucas said watching Cory and Shawn walk away Maya turned around.

''What? the Dude needs to chill out as badly as his daughter does.'' She said pointing to Riley, who was leaning against her locker talking to Shawn she looked like she'd seen a ghost. She walked away again things were getting better with Maya. She hadn't been in trouble in weeks. ''See you later Cowboy''. Lucas just rolled his eyes and smiled affectionately at Maya. He realized just how hungry he was. Maybe he could talk to Riley,s he was the one person he trusted with everything.

''Riley''. He said taking her arm and walking her too homeroom. ''I need to talk''. She looked at him nervously but then she just looked worried.

''Are you OK?'' She asked him. ''Lucas?'' She stopped walking with him. He looked into those eyes.

''Nothing you know what, don't worry about it, i'm fine''. She held onto his hand she knew something was wrong, but she wasn't going to push the matter. ''Hi Shawn''. She narrowed her eyes leaning against the locker.

''Holy crap Lucas are you OK?'' Oh God Now he had Shawn's attention, the kid who knew everything about kids living just above the poverty line. He'd eaten yesterday afternoon, In fact he'd had breakfast that day a meal he didn't get today. Now that the father had a job, things would get better as they promised him. ''Wait your not are you?''

''I'm fine, just still kind of adjusting to trailer park life''. He explained. ''Didn't get much sleep. My neighbors were fighting.''

''You'll learn to tune it out''. He shrugged. ''I heard gunshots and cops''. Lucas stood up.

''Wait, that was coming from the trailer park?! I thought they had the tv on!'' He shouted. ''How am I allowed to live there?'' The worker had told him though it was a sketchy neighborhood, it was a safe clean house it was partly true. He thought they were that in need of homes.

''You'll get used to it, Maya did''. Ugh, no she didn't that was why she left. He was starting to understand.


''Are you sure your OK?'' Riley said She was turned talking to Lucas who was sitting on his desk. ' I mean you can talk to me.'' He raised his eyebrows at her. She huffed. ' Fine, you say your fine and I believe you.'' Liar, she didn't buy it. He knew his girlfriend.

''Are you stressed from moving?'' Lucas sighed.

''Yes extremely.'' He admitted.

Well you could talk to someone you trust, a adult I mean''. Lucas smiled at her smart nature.

''That would've been your dad. '' He explained. ''All I have is you''. He kissed her.

''I'll get used to this''. Lucas said. '' Maybe I can find my own way out.'' Riley shook her head.

''Lucas no_'' He cut her off with a kiss.

''I was kidding''. He assured her. Mostly. ''Besides, this is harder on Maya then anyone, she just wants her family back. She doesn't want to live with strangers.'' Lucas explained. He took her hand and squeezed it. he was trying to get the attention off him.

''She has us, just like you do''. She kissed him. ''We are our only family now''.

''That we are''. He said sighing. ''Sometimes I wish we didn't have to be''.

''Mr Friar, can we talk about this after class?'' They looked at one another startled. Oh great him and his big mouth. ''Yeah I herd.'' Mr Turner crossed his arms. ''This needs to be handled by adults, not three thirteen year olds''. They both looked at one another. Not they had to do this on their own. ''We need to get you all some much needed counseling''.

''Mr Turner Sir we can handle this on our own''. Lucas said quickly. ''Really, we're used to handling problems on our own by now.'' He shook his head at Lucas. ''And we're only 12''. Lies

''Guys your all only in seventh grade, you have to let adults handle somethings''. Lucas and Riley looked at one another maybe it WAS better if they didn't have to handle everything on their own. ''I know since you got here your used to dealing with things all alone, but you don't have too! You have your teacher and your other friends, your foster parents.''

''What ever you say Mr Turner''. Lucas replied. ''I guess I understand''. He looked at her hands. ''But I'm still not sure I agree.''


The next day in homeroom Lucas and Riley were sitting face to face on their desks. ''Last night the little kids next door stayed up till like three in the morning and I didn't get any sleep because the mother and father were yelling so loudly''. Lucas was explaining to Riley why he looked like he'd just been hit by a car. Lucas had managed to get our of homeroom yesterday, before having to talk to Mr Turner. So everything was good for now, except that Shawn was watching him eat a sandwich from dinner last night for his breakfast.

''Alright homeroom, announcements.'' Lucas and Riley both sat down in their desks. ''Uh stay awake''. Lucas knew this meant boring news. She saw he sat with his head on his desk falling asleep he really was tired he never slept in class he'd missed two nights of sleep.

''Item one, chess squad, All students interested in trying out the fast passed world of...'' he looked up at the class. Everyone was already half asleep. ''Yeah, you see jumping to relevant stuff, Item 11 due to a freezer mishap fish copobs will not be served in the cafeteria as scheduled.'' Every one clapped and Riley and Lucas rolled their eyes.

Shawn got up. ''Thank you, thank you''.

''I don't want to know, uh Item 15...''

''Hey''. Riley and Lucas turned around and there was that girl that was hitting on her dad yesterday.

''Hey back''. Riley rolled her eyes, this girl was not welcome to her dad in her books.

''Awe there he is, there's my guy''. Riley rolled her eyes at Lucas.

''Yow know its funny, I've got this thing called homeroom_''

''Yeah this covers it''. She handed a note to Mr Turner.

'' Want are you doing in our homeroom?'' Riley snapped.

''Our homeroom now sweetie''. TK shot back, Riley huffed and turned around to face the wall. This was NOT what she had wanted to see. She put her shoulders on her desk and pouted.

''Great''. She moaned. She didn't pay attention for the rest of class When the bell rang

Lucas jumped up and charged towards the door. Mr Turner put a hand on his shoulder and he turned around. ''Even better''. He muttered. ''Mr Turner_''

''No MR Friar we need to talk about this''. He sighed as the other students left.

'I've got this all under control''. Lucas assured him.

''How long have you been feeling down like this?'' Lucas decided to come clean.

''Ever since the other family got rid of us''. He explained. ''It sort of shocked me that they could just do that''.

''That's all I needed to know''. He replied. ''Do you feel better''.

''A little''. Lucas said. ''Thanks''.

''If you need to talk come find me''. Lucas just nodded and left the class room.


''Hi Riley'' She turned around.

''Cory''. She smiled at him. ''Hi'' She stopped to talk to him.

''So how are you?'' She narrowed her eyes.

''Fine''. They wached Maya sigh and slam her locker door shut. Something was up with her Riley noticed. Cory noticed.

''Look, your Maya's best friend''. He said. ''She's the rebel type the troubled type''. Riley nodded. ''I know that type, I've known that type since I was five. I know what your dealing with.'' She smiled at him warmly.

''Yeah?'' She said. Normally she would have brushed him off. But he was her age here. ''Shawn?'' She asked. Shawn was the only person Cory was with everyday besides her. Just as He was Shawns only friend.

''Do you need help?'' She looked at him. ''To help Maya?''

''No Cory, its better if we do this by ourselves.'' she told him.

''Riley come on, your only twelve years old''. She gritted her teeth she was thirteen. ''You can't keep trying to do all this on your own.'' Now he sounded like her father.

'' Da_ Cory you don't understand anything! I'm fine OK? This is who we are now.'' She thew her hands in the air. He looked at her for a long time. He narrowed his eyes before he could ask her what she had almost called him she was walking away.

''Now you sound like Shawn''. He said. ''You normally sound like me.''

''Cory can you just leave it alone?'' She said walking away. She knew he wouldn't let it go. He watched her walk away he saw so much of him in her but he saw so much Topanga in her too. Shawn was right, this could be his kid. Not only that buts she spoke of the future and seemed to know things.

''Hey''. Shawn walked up to him.

''There's something about her... about all of them''. He shook his head. ''Your right... I think... I think she almost called me dad''. He said watching Riley and Farkle and Lucas talk in the corner. ''Maybe that's why she's so much like me''. Shawn nodded.

''I was thinking the same thing, things don't add up with them''. He said.

''Should we ask them?'' Shawn shook his head.

''No they'll tell us she trusts you, they all do.'' He watched them whispering to one another. ''When the time is right, we will find out the truth about them, i already have a idea.


Lucas, Farkle and Riley were sitting in the classroom listening to Mr Feeny History used to be they're favorite subject, but they had to say Mr Turner and Mr Feeny both reminded him of Mr Matthews. A lot of the time Mr Feeny's lessons applied to real life. Mr Turner didn't so much lecture as he did just talk to them as if they were having a discussion. ''So you three, how are you?'' They all looked at one another confused. Mr Turner knew they were confused. ''I'm asking because you've been through a lot, dragged from a school you obviously liked a lot to a new one, and your families.''

''Well its been almost four month's''. Riley said taking Lucas's hand. ''We're still together, its still the four of us.'' She glanced at Lucas.

''You know we had our hopes up that we'd be spending Christmas with our families''. Farkle said. ''That we'd be gone by now''. They put their arms around one another.

''But we were wrong''. Riley said. ''We're still here''. She sighed. ''Four month's. So about Maya, Sir I have no Idea whats going on with her''. She said. ''She's scaring us''. They all just looked at the two teachers.

''Guys don't worry too much, she's fine right now. We can help her''. They all nodded. ''We should go''. They said walking out of the class room to go to Riley's to study. They just watched the kids walk away. All of them looking less then happy.

''God those kids are helpless''. Jon said. ''Someday's their fine other's their not, And that little blonde girl. Man she's a lot of work. She's always in trouble''. They were there for quite a few hours. When they closed up Jon found Lucas sitting on the step, he did this all the time. It was worrying him. ''Lucas, buddy I haven't seen you here in a long time''.

''I was just thinking this new family I have, they have money but not a lot of it, they live in a trailer park. Just barely got approved. They only eat two meals a day most days I don't eat breakfast.'' He just sighed. ''I eat at any of my friends, I just can't believe these people had Maya. They aren't horrible but they don't even talk to me!'' None of these Foster homes sounded nice.

''Do you go hungry?'' Jon asked him. ''For days?'' Lucas shook his head.

''They had bred and cereal''. he explained. ''Sometimes the mom goes shopping.'' Man this kid had it rough.

''I'm not used to this you know?'' He asked.

''I know''. He said. ''I'll make some phone calls to get you out of there.'' He assured Lucas. ''Its not a safe place for a kid''. Lucas stared at him, he cared about his class beyond student and teacher. Just like Mr Matthews. Mr Turner was starting to earn his trust. ''What?''

''You remind me of my favorite teacher''. He said standing up. ''A lot. I should go, thanks''. Jon just watched him leave, well he'd gotten one to trust him, three to go.