Welcome to Girl Meets Sophomore Year! I only own the created characters that you don't recognize. The rest belong to Michael Jacobs and Disney Channel. To kind of explain the premise of the story, aside from a few chapters, right now three including this one, it'll all be from the viewpoint of Jason Carter. I've got three main arcs planned right now, and one of them features a few scenes from the series. Maya's going to show a much softer side, but will have a few scenes where she has the full attention on her. Same with Farkle, Riley, Lucas, and Smackle. Of course, with them being teenagers, there'll be some drama. Anyways, on with the story!
The time capsule the group planted fifteen years ago was now resting on the table they once used as a gathering place after school, as Topanga gave them their drinks. Her hair had become an amalgamation of grey and brunette, while her face was filled with joy. Lucas and Riley were sitting next to each other, just basking in the presence of one another, while Farkle and Smackle were discussing a theory. They were waiting on Maya and Jason, the pair who had found out what it meant to fight as one.
"Sorry we're late." The blonde vixen announced their arrival, wearing a soft blue blouse and black jeans that accented her legs. Baby blue eyes meeting the other sets, while wearing a bright smile. Topanga brushed off the apology and handed them the drinks. She smiled at both of them, noting how tired Jason looked. Bags underneath his amber eyes, while his normally well kept hair was a mess.
Jason just gave an embarrassed smile, before explaining the delay. "Went to the park earlier to try and calm myself down. Ended up almost fainting before Vixen found me." Maya, just as she did all those years ago, blushed at the nickname. Topanga remembered how scared Jason was when Maya went upstate to visit Shawn.
"No need to worry. You're here now. Let's see how far you've come since Middle School." Lucas nodded and opened up the container. He smiled at the transfer slip, before turning his gaze to the love of his life. She gave him a shy smile and giggle in response.
"It was definitely the start of something good. I met all of you, and fell in love with the sweetest person I know." The Texan accent had dulled over the past decade plus, but it was still noticeable. Especially when he got angry, which was a rarity anymore. Riley pulled out the ball she had dubbed 'Pluto.'
"I still believe in our friendship and love. I'm glad." She laid her head on her husband's arm, while Maya just rolled her eyes. Jason, on the other hand, gently wrapped her in a one arm hug, hand resting on her shoulder. Much like what Shawn did to Katy after buying Maya a new wardrobe. All while Farkle stared at the orange turtleneck he once wore, remembering how he was bullied for it and how the gang helped get him out
"From being bullied for wearing the turtlenecks to finding out what true friendship and love is. Statistically speaking, this was not very likely. Maybe-" Farkle stopped and stared at the group he had come to call his second family. They all wanted him to continue, but he couldn't. "Maybe it's easier to say that I was the lucky one."
"I don't think so, Hunk." Smackle kissed his cheek, making him go red. Topanga kept the sigh of content inside as Maya pulled out her item. She didn't notice Shawn and Katy enter, but Jason did. He was still scared of hurting her, like her ex did during their sophomore year of high school.
"Back when I didn't believe in hope. But two annoying people forced me into it. My best friend, who had everything I wanted growing up, and the other someone who was willing to sacrifice his own happiness for mine. Both were always there for me, and one went out of their way to prove I deserved to be happy." She smiled sweetly at Riley and Jason, remembering how they pushed her to accept hope and happiness. When she was scared of writing her biological father for the forgiveness project, they were there.
"Aren't you happy?" Jason asked, allowing his soft voice laced with fear. Their eyes met, and a soft smile crossed their faces. Maya took his hand and kissed the knuckles before moving close to him.
"Happy is not a strong enough word for it. Blessed is a better word for how I feel." Riley playfully returned the eye roll from earlier, before motioning for Jason to take his objects out. Two silver promise rings symbolizing his avoidance of ending up like the person who violated his mother, and one that was never really explained.
"Why'd you put in the second ring?" Lucas asked the question everyone had wondered about. Jason smiled at Maya before facing the others. His eyes twinkling with elation.
"The story behind it actually stems from the trip to Texas." Maya, whether it was just to reassure him or not, squeezed his hand tightly, only relaxing it after a quirked eyebrow from her best friend. Lucas looked down remembering that trip all too well. "While the girls struggled to figure out their feelings, I made the decision to change the meaning of this ring."
Jason took a breath before continuing. "It originally was in here as a reminder that I couldn't end up like Alec, but also that I couldn't let myself get too close to anyone. For fear of him trying to hurt them to get to me." Maya let out an inadvertently loud growl, causing Katy and Shawn to chuckle, while the rest of their group nodded in agreement with it. Jason, however, just gazed softly at his wife.
"After Texas happened, I knew that I was head over heels in love with Maya and wanted to make sure she was happy. Whether or not it was with me didn't matter. Her smile has always been the one thing that I love seeing, and I wanted to protect it." He paused before continuing, realizing the irony. "In a way, it represented how much I changed due to Vixen."
The group, and collected parents, let out a soft aww as Maya placed a kiss on his lips. "You sweet talker you. I think it's safe to say that we changed one another for the better." Jason nodded in agreement, still amazed by the love in Maya's eyes and smile. There were times where he wondered how exactly he got so lucky to find such great friends. Other times, he wondered how an angel like Maya fell for someone like him.
"You remember sophomore year of high school?" Lucas asked out of the blue. Maya just nodded, resting her head against Jason's arm, while he rubbed circles on her back.
"How could I forget? Almost got expelled for fighting." Jason replied.
"And I almost lost you that year" Maya mumbled. Jason bit his lip, remembering that fight. Every hurtful thing he said. How her eyes clouded with tears after saying them. How he lost himself due to fear, and how he learned the true meaning of love.
"Yeah, but it all worked out, didn't it?"
"It did. For that, I am grateful. Still didn't ease my fears though. Not until I saw you again."
"Hard to believe you were on the same subway as Lucas. Just hiding until you needed to step in and help Maya with that drunkard." Riley interjected, trying to turn the memories back to the positive side.
"Always good for that. Part of the reason I took French was to help me gain the courage to ask her out." Maya just smiled at that.
"Ace, you could've asked me out in any language, and I would have said yes. You've always made sure I was okay, even though you suffered plenty of injuries."
"Sophomore year was definitely good for a lot of things. But also was the most taxing school year."