Maya's POV

It's been a couple days since the party. KC and I walked into school. Derrick was standing at the entrance with roses.

"KC," Derrick said. "I'm sorry for the way I acted the other night. Can we talk about it?"

"I have to get to class," KC said. She started walking past him.

He stepped in front of her. "KC, please."

"I don't want..." KC started to say. She closed and opened her eyes and bit her lip. "Fine. Maya go on without me."

"KC." I said.

"I'll meet you in class."

With hesitation I said, "Okay." Did I miss something? I thought. Why did she bite her lip? She met me in Art class like she said she would. She didn't look very happy. Maybe they broke up, I thought.

Farkle's POV

"Hey KC," I said. She didn't answer me. "What are you doing after school?"

"Working," she said, flatly. "Can you not talk to me? I don't feel like it."

"Of course," I said. I have those days too, I thought.

"Alright class," Mr. Jackson said. "I am going to pair you all up for a project." He began walking around the room. "Each partner will paint a picture. Whatever is on your mind. This will show your very emotions at that moment."

"Didn't we already do this, sir?" Lucas asked.

"Ah," Mr. Jackson said. "So you may think, but there's a twist. I want you to sit back to back as you do it. Once you are done, and it is dry. You will put them together, upside down. Do not let your partner see your painting until the next Monday when, as one, they will be shown in class."

"How did you even come up with this?" Marley asked.

"This is something my teacher had me do," Mr. Jackson said. "I learned a lot about many of my classmates with this method."

"So how will you decide who will be partners?" Lucas asked.

"By picking names out of a hat."

"Very original," Maya said.

"Alright here we go," Mr. Jackson said. He drew a name. "Marley, you will be partnered with…" He drew another name and said, "Dave. Lucas, you will be with… Yogi. Maya, you will be paired with… Darby. KC, you will be paired with… Farkle." KC raised her hand. "Yes, KC?"

"Can I have a different partner?" She asked. I was shocked. What?

"Why?"

"I just don't want him as a partner," KC said.

"For the project?" Mr. Jackson asked.

"No, for any project," KC said. What? Is she upset at me for standing up for her?

"Well, I'm sorry, but it's decided." KC sat down as if she was defeated. After class, I stopped her at the door.

"KC, did I upset you or something?"

"Leave me alone, Farkle," she said.

"We're friends," I said. "You can tell me if I upset you."

"I have to get to Mr. Matthews' class," she said. "I'm sorry." She walked away. Why is she acting like this? What did I do?

Maya's POV

I went to Mr. Matthews' class. I don't know what happened last period. It seemed completely random for her to act that way towards anyone, let alone Farkle. It was totally out of character for her.

"Morning everyone," Matthews said.

"Morning," we all said.

"Can anyone tell me what personality is?"

"Personality is the characteristics that make up someone's character," Farkle said.

"Correct," Matthews said. "And what type of things can cause a difference in personality?" No one answered. "KC, why don't you answer this one."

"No thanks," she said.

I looked at her and whispered, "KC, just answer the question."

"KC, you haven't been very active in class," Matthews said. "I'm asking you to answer one question."

"I don't know," KC said.

"Don't know what?" Mr. Matthews asked.

"The answer," she said.

"Yes you do," Farkle said.

"I told you not to talk to me," KC said, glancing back at Farkle. What is going on? She stood up and grabbed her bag.

"Where do you think you're going, KC?" Matthews asked.

"Anywhere but here," KC said.

"Sit down, KC," I said.

"No," she said. She got to the door.

"KC, if you leave, I will mark you absent, and you will be given detention."

"I don't care." She walked out. Marley and I went after her.

"What do you think you're doing?!" I said.

"Go back to class and leave me alone."

"KC we are best friends," Marley said. "What has gotten into you?"

"Nothing and not anymore if you don't leave me alone."

"You don't mean that. I know you," Marley said.

"Please just go back to class."

"Fine but you're coming back with us," I said.

"No, I'm not," KC said. "Bye." She walked out of school.

We went back to class, worried about KC, more than ever.

"Where's KC," Lucas asked.

"She left," I said.

"You didn't stop her?!"

"We tried."

"So what can cause change in personality?" I asked.

"Well, being bullied can make you colder, as Riley said in class a couple of weeks ago," Matthews said. "Depression and many other things can change your personality."

"Can a bad relationship change someone's personality?" Farkle asked.

"Well, that could depend on how 'bad' the relationship is," Matthews said. "Being in a 'bad' relationship may cause depression, anxiety, and other things." He looked around the room and then said, "Class dismissed. Maya, Marley, Lucas, and Farkle please stay behind." Everyone left the room except for us.

"Farkle, may I ask you something?" Matthews asked.

"Yes," Farkle answered.

"Why did you ask if a bad relationship could cause personality change?"

"I think that may be why KC's acting out."

"You think she's in a bad relationship?" Lucas asked Farkle.

"Yeah."

"Why did Derrick attack you on Saturday?" Marley asked.

"I pointed out that I thought he wasn't treating her right," Farkle said.

"What do you mean?" Lucas asked.

"It just seems like he doesn't respect her," Farkle said.

"Why would he attack you, though?" Marley asked.

"I wasn't 'minding my own business,'" he said.

"We'll get to the bottom of it," I said.

After school, we went to Topanga's. After we sat down, KC came to take our order.

"What can I get you guys," she said.

"A reason you walked out of school would be nice," Lucas said.

"It's personal," she said. "What food or drink can I get you?"

"Chocolate donuts?" he asked. We all nodded. "Six chocolate donuts."

"Those will be right out." She walked away from the table. When she brought us the donuts, Farkle spoke up.

"When can we do the art project?"

"I'll have to see when I can get off this week."

"What happened in art class?" Zay asked.

"KC tried to refuse to be Farkle's partner for the art project," I said.

"Why?" Zay asked.

"We don't know," Lucas said.

I went up to the counter. "Hey KC," I said.

"What?"

"When are you gonna sign up for the open mic?"

"I don't know, Maya."

"How about November 21st?"

"Fine I don't really care," KC said. I wrote it on the signup sheet. "Anyways, I know you didn't come to talk about that. What do you really want?"

"What's going on with you?"

"Like I said, it's personal," KC said.

"Why did you be a jerk to Farkle this morning?"

"Maya, just go sit down."

"Fine."

Farkle's POV

Thursday, KC and I went to the art class after school to work on our project.

"So he said to sit back to back," I said.

"I know, Farkle," she said. We sat on stools and began painting.

"Why are you mad at me?" I asked.

"I'm not."

"Then why did you not want me to be your project partner?"

"It's complicated," she said. "Let's just get this done, please."

"Art shouldn't be rushed," I said.

"You're being annoying," she said. "Stop talking to me. I'm going on a date with Derrick tonight, and I need to get this done before then." We continued painting. I wanted to glance at what she was painting, but I knew I wasn't supposed to.

After a bit I asked, "Is it because of him?"

"What?"

"That you won't talk to me, and didn't want to be my partner?"

"You should have just stayed out of it," she said. "Now please just leave me alone."

"It's 4:45," I said after a while after looking at my phone. "What time is your date?"

"Why do you care?" KC asked.

"Wouldn't want you to be late."

"Five," she said. Her phone began to ring. "I have to take this." She stepped out of the classroom. I could tell she was arguing with the person on the other end. My guess was Derrick. She came back into the classroom, closed her eyes and felt her way back to her seat.

"Why did you do that?"

"We're not supposed to see each other's paintings, remember?"

"Yeah," I said. "Was that Derrick?"

"How'd you guess?"

"You were arguing," I said.

"I'm sorry I've been such a jerk to you."

"It's fine, I know it wasn't you."

"Do you really want to know why?"

"Yes," I said.

"Derrick thought I was or am cheating on him with you," she said.

"Because I stood up for you?"

"I guess," she said. "What did you say to him?"

"I told him that he should respect you," I said. "I told him that he shouldn't do things that make you uncomfortable."

"Oh," she said. "You saw that?"

"Yes," I said. "I also noticed you were staying by the punch."

"Yeah," she said. "By the way, I told him that I couldn't go out tonight because we needed to finish the project."

"Why are you still with him?" I asked her.

"It's complicated," she said. "I'm done with my half." She changed the subject.

"I'm done too," I said. "You could probably go on that date, now. It's only 5:20."

"Yeah," she said.

"I'll put them together after they dry."

"Thanks," she said, "you're a good friend."

"You too," I said.

"Remember, no peaking," she said with a laugh. She left. I don't really feel like a good friend telling her to go on the date.

On Monday we all presented our paintings in class. I saw her side. There was a broken glass, a pair of handcuffs, and other things. Mine had a similar atmosphere. There were two rings that were cracked, and a man made of money and other things on my mind. As a whole, I saw broken. We all looked at each other's paintings. Learning has become a window. I looked over at KC, and she was staring at the painting that we painted with the saddest face I had ever seen her have.