Maya's POV

Farkle and I got out of the PATH train in Jersey City. I wasn't sure where we should go prom shopping, but Riley said she was going to the Manhattan mall so Farkle thought we should go to the Newport mall. It was only a few stops away from Greenwich Village on the PATH. I don't really ever go to New Jersey, but Farkle seemed to know where he was going.

"I think you'll like this mall, Maya. It's much bigger than the Manhattan mall," he said.

I shrugged. "A mall is a mall." As I reached the top of the escalator, I could see the riverfront. I was captivated by the skyline. So this what it looks like from the other side of the Hudson. I walked closer to the water.

Farkle followed. "Maya, the mall is the other way," he said.

"Hold on, Farkle. Check out this view," I said.

"Isn't it great? I've always felt the best view of New York City is from Jersey City," he said.

I pulled my sketchbook out of my backpack. "Do you mind if we hold off on the shopping. I'd love to draw this," I asked.

"As you wish, sketch away," he replied.

He took out his phone and started taking photos of the skyline.

A small group of private school students were walking along the riverfront. Two boys and two girls. The girls, in their polo shirts and pleated skirts with knee high socks, the boys, in their khakis, were loosening the their ties and taking off their blazers. They reminded me of my friends.

"Hey Farkle?" I said still watching the private school kids. I didn't realize I had unintentionally started to draw them.

Farkle noticed my sketch of them and then followed my gaze. "Yes, Maya?"

"How come your parents didn't put you in private school?" I asked.

"You think I'd look good in a blazer and tie?" He joked.

"Honestly, Farkle, do you ever wonder how we're best friends?" I asked.

"What do you mean, Maya?" He asked.

I looked away from the blazers and pleated skirts and turned to Farkle.

"We're as different as any two friends could possibly be. You're a scientist. I'm an artist. You're wealthy. I'm poor. You're a genius. I'm-"

"You're smart too, Maya." He stopped me before I could say anything self-deprecating.

"I don't get it though. You're dad is so successful. Your family has so much money. Why wouldn't he put you in private school?" I pressed.

"My parents were going to enroll me at a private middle school, but I refused. I told them I wanted to go to John Quincy Adams with my friends," he smiled.

I smiled back. "I'm glad you did."

"As am I," he replied.

"What about high school?" I asked.

"He suggested some prestigious private schools, but I told him I want to go where my friends go."

"Any thoughts on college yet?" I asked.

"My dad is trying to push Princeton on me, but we'll see," he shrugged.

"You strike me as Ivy League material," I said.

"Maybe. Or maybe I'm MIT material. But I'd really love to get into Cooper Union."

Sounds familiar. "What's Cooper Union?" I asked.

"I'm surprised you don't know. It's the most selective art school in the country."

"Oh, really? Then what would you want with it?" I asked.

"It's also a science and engineering school, Its full name is The Cooper Union for the Advancement of Science and Art."

"Wow, there's actually a college that appeals to both of us," I remarked, pleasantly surprised.

"Yeah and it's right near us, in the East Village."

Oooh. That's why it sounded familiar. I remember now seeing the Cooper Union sign at the Astor Place subway station.

"Even if I could get in, I'm sure I could never afford it," I said.

"Every student gets a half tuition scholarship," he said.

"Say what now?!" Now he's really got my attention.

"They used to give every student a full tuition scholarship until they had a financial crisis during the recession, now it's only half tuition," he explained.

"That's still amazing! A private art school that's half free, and I wouldn't have to pay for a dorm, I could live at home because it's so close." I could hear the sound of my own voice doing something dangerous. You're getting your hopes up, Maya. They're the most selective art school in the country. You're probably not going to get in.

My face must have been conveying my doubts. Farkle answered my thoughts. "Getting into Cooper Union isn't easy, but it also isn't impossible. Just work on your portfolio over the next few years, and show them your best work," he said.

"Yeah. Who knows? Maybe we'll both get in," I entertained the possibility.

He smiled really big. "Wouldn't it be great if we could go to college together?"

I smiled. "Yeah it would. But right now we have an 8th grade prom to go to." I finished up my preliminary sketch of the skyline and snapped a photo with my phone to use as a point of reference to help me fill in the details later. I packed up my sketchbook and pencils. I took one last look at the riverfront and the group of private school friends I had been drawing.

I turned to Farkle and gave him a hug. He hugged me back.

"What was that for?" He asked, as we started walking toward the mall.

"I don't know if I ever thanked you for entering me in the talent show, so thanks. It turned out to be one the best nights of my life," I said.

"Because it was the night Riley asked you to be her girlfriend?" he asked.

I blushed and smiled. "Yeah."

We walked into the mall.

"I like seeing you this happy, Maya. I like seeing you both happy together," he said.

"What about you? Did you ask Smackle to prom?" I asked.

"I did. And she accepted," he grinned.

"Nice!" I gave him a high five.

"Now, I just need you to help me figure out what to wear," he said.

"I'll try, but I really don't know much about menswear," I replied.

"That makes two of us," I said.

We went to a department store and each picked out a few different options and met back at the fitting rooms.

"Hey Maya, what do you think of this?"

Farkle had already tried on his first look.

I opened my fitting room door and peered out. Farkle was wearing a tan khaki colored suit with a red and white checkered button down shirt.

"I didn't realize our prom theme was a garden party," I teased.

"It's not," he said.

"Then why are you wearing that?"

"What do you want from me? It's June. All the menswear is designed for summer right now," he snapped.

"It looks fine, just don't wear it to prom," I replied honestly.

"What should I wear it to?" he asked.

"A picnic, at which you plan on taking off your shirt and using it as a tablecloth," I mocked. I'm sorry, but that shirt really looks like it belongs on a picnic table.

"Well, did you do any better? Show me what you're trying on," he demanded.

I walked out of my fitting room wearing a long, cobalt blue ballroom gown. It was a high neck halter, leaving the top half of my back and my shoulders bare, with a fitted bodice and skirt that was full enough to twirl around in. I twirled for Farkle.

"What do you think?" I asked him.

His jaw dropped. Well, that's a good reaction. I think.

His eyes scanned me up and down, his was jaw still on the floor. I stepped closer and lifted his chin back up for him.

"You gonna say something? Or you just gonna stare?" I asked, growing impatient.

A smile spread across his face.

"You look amazing, Maya. I think Riley is going to be luckiest person in the room."

Aww, Farkle! I flashed him a big smile. I twirled again.

"I think this is the one, Maya. You should get this dress. It brings out your eyes so nicely."

My smile faded. "I wish I could."

"Why can't you?" he questioned.

"I just tried it on to feel pretty for a minute. I can't really afford it," I admitted.

"But it's so beautiful on you, Maya," He argued.

"People like me don't get to have beautiful things. People like me go to thrift shops and buy second hand things that other people have already looked beautiful in," I said, sadly.

"Then let me buy it for you," he offered.

"What? No, I couldn't-"

"I insist."

"No, Farkle, it's designer-"

"And for once in your life you deserve to have one designer dress, Maya." He wasn't letting this go.

"Farkle, darling, you are so sweet to offer, but I can't let you-"

"Yes, you can, and you will, you must!" He wasn't taking no for an answer.

"I can't. I won't-"

"Yes, you will. I'm an authorized user on one of my dad's AMEX cards. I charge stuff to it all the time. He never even bothers to ask what the charges are for. This dress is a fortune to you, and it's just pennies to him. I'm not letting you leave this mall without this dress. If Riley were here, I bet she'd agree with me. If Riley were here, she would say 'Ring Power'! and this argument would be over."

Well, he's right about that. I think he just won. How can you argue with a genius anyway?

"Okay, but I don't know how I'll ever repay you, Farkle." I relented.

"You can repay me, right now, by helping me choose a better suit. You clearly have excellent taste."

I straightened his collar and took a closer look at his shirt.

"I can work with this checkered pattern, but we need to change up the color scheme," I decided.

I changed back into my clothes and followed Farkle back to the menswear section. This was actually quite fun for me. He was like blank canvass and I new exactly what colors I wanted to paint him with. I just hope I can find them on these racks. Yes! Here it is! I picked up a midnight blue suit and handed it to Farkle.

"Is it your size?" He checked the tags and nodded.

"Now, do they have that checkered shirt in orange?" I asked.

"Orange?" he asked

"Yeah, just like your favorite turtleneck. Not many people can pull off orange, Farkle. Embrace it."

"The shirts are over here on this rack," he lead me to them. They did have the same checkered shirt in a pale orange and white pattern.

"Great! Grab the orange one in your size," I instructed him. Then we went over to the accessories.

I selected a vibrant burnt orange necktie and a matching burnt orange pocket square.

"These should contrast well against the pale orange boxes in the shirt pattern, and complement the midnight blue suit nicely," I explained.

We returned to the fitting rooms and Farkle went in one to change. I waited anxiously to see if my ensemble would work out as well as I had envisioned it.

When he opened the door, it was my jaw that was now dropping. "Wow, look at you, Stunner!" Stunning is really the only word that accurately describes him right now.

"I look goooooood," he said. "I should let you dress me up more often."

He walked out of the fitting room like he was on a runway, and did a little twirl of his own.

"Farkle, forget the whole genius thing. You're GQ model now," I said.

He grinned. "You know Maya, I have to say, I never would have thought to put these pieces together on my own, but they all work so well together to create a great look."

"Of course they do." I said. "Blue and orange are complementary colors. Trust me, I'm an artist."