So sorry! The previous version of chapter 7 had a problem uploading aad I couldn't deletethe chapter. (if anyone knows how to delete a chapter or change the title, please comment to let me know)Also, I noticed that some of my words blend together when I upload (eg. whatis which is actually what-is) and some of my words jumps to the next line. I don't know if y'all can see it, but if you can, I'm sosorry, I can't change it! :(Anyways, here's chapter 7 for real this time. Please follow, favourite, and COMMENT!Enjoy!:D

We sit down. Riley angrily, Missy smugly, Maya gingerly. The blackboard writes "WAR: WHY?"

"Hey, Maya, Lucas. Congrats on winning favourite couple." The class grins at us. What? They flash us a page in the school yearbook. Sure enough, the words "FAVOURITE COUPLE: LUCAYA" stands out at us. Photos of Maya and I line the page. Riley's
mouth is open. "It's in the school papers too." Maya snatches the school paper from an outstretched hand and reads out loud.

"'The adventurous Miss Maya Hart and Texas cowboy Lucas Friar have been often seen together in school. Is all really as they seem? Recent school polls for the yearbook has revealed that more than a few people think they are something more than friends.'"
There's a silence around the classroom. Maya can't read on.

"How could you?" Riley says softly, choking.

"Riley, it's just a school newspaper! You're really going to let this affect us more?" Missy gathers her things and stands. She plops them on Maya's table.

"Move. I'm sitting with Riley now. She deserves better friends." she orders. Maya crosses her arms in a very Maya-like manner. Riley stares dead ahead at the blackboard. Missy's arm shoots out, and I shoot out of my seat, chair scraping loudly. Her
fingers wrap itself around Maya's shirt and she shoves hard. The chair and Maya falls sideways.

"Missy, stop!" Farkle shouts. Zay freezes. Farkle and I each take one of Maya's arms each and support her.

"That's too far." Farkle says angrily. He glares at Missy. "Stop her, Riley!" Riley stares dead ahead. Half of the class looks angry, the other horrified.

"Zay?" Riley asks. Zay grabs his things and shifts to the other seat next to Riley. The kid in that seat didn't even make a sound; he moved to Missy's old spot.

"Come on," I mutter. We shift Maya and her things to Zay's old seat, beside mine. Now Riley, Missy, and Zay were side-by-side in the first row, and Maya and I are in the second row, Farkle behind Maya. Mr. Matthews steps into class, takes a look around,
and sighs. He sets his things down on the teacher's table and walks up to the blackboard. He points.

"War. Why does war happen?" He glances around. "Riley."

"It happens when two sides don't agree on something. But eventually, the side that is right wins the war, and the side that is wrong loses." she replies.

"That's interesting, isn't it? Is there really a right and wrong side in a war?" Mr. Matthews asks. My hand raises. "Mr. Friar."

"War happens when two different sides think what they believe is right, and they think therefore the other side is wrong. It's what makes the war deadly, because sometimes the sides don't know when to stop." I say, glancing at Maya and Riley.

"Good." Mr. Matthews nods approvingly. "Now tell me; who went too far?" Riley points accusingly at Maya. Maya doesn't react.

"Maya went too far. She brainwashed Lucas into being on her side. She and Lucas won favourite couple." I blink. Maya's hands remain steady in her lap. She looks at the table.

"No. Missy went too far. Missy pushed Maya off her table!" Farkle says. Mr. Matthews' eyes widen.

"Is this true, Miss Bradford?" Missy doesn't react, her face calm. "Detention, Miss Bradford. I'm disappointed." Mr. Matthews tells Missy. Then he gestures around the classroom and our rearranged seating arrangement. "And, uh... Who did this?"

"We did." Riley says.

"Riley made us choose between her and Maya." I say quietly. Mr. Matthews heard me.

"What? Well... Who's on whose side?" he asks confusedly.

"Missy and Zay are with me. Farkle and Lucas chose Maya." Riley says with a glare.

"Miss Matthews. Miss Hart." Maya finally looks up and at our teacher. "It's not too late to stop before it becomes a war." There's a pause around the classroom. Then Riley stands and walks to Maya. Maya looks up at her.

"Riles." she says quietly, like she's begging the old Riley to come back.

"I challenge you to a duel." Riley's voice is firm.

"Uh... Miss Matthews, that's not what I was going for."

"I accept." Maya says softly, like she can't believe her old Riles is gone.

"Duel to the death." Missy interjects, smiling.

Mrs. Matthews produces two ice cream cones that are stacked high with ice cream. Maya and Riley take one each. The whole group and Missy are at Topanga's. Maya has swapped her crutches for a wheelchair. The doctor thought it was better for her. Zay
is giving instructions.

"-then you'll turn, and fire."

"How do you know how to do this so well, Zay?" Mr. Matthews asks curiously.

"Well, in Texas, we call this a Wednesday." Maya and Riley face each other. "One, two, three. Fire- wait. Something's wrong." Zay stops himself. Mr. Matthews grab his shoulders and pulls him back, out of the firing zone. "Oh, that would have been
messy. Fire!" Maya rolls forward. Then she turns, and hands Mr. Matthews her ice cream cone.

"That is the best way I ever saw to resolve conflict." Mr. Matthews smiles and lick the ice cream.

"Riles?" Riley steps forward. And smashes her ice cream into Maya's shirt. Mrs. Matthews gasps.

"Riley!" she exclaims, but Riley and Missy have already gone. Farkle and I walk to Maya. Riley's friendship ring is on the counter.

"It's okay." She smiles, but her lip quivers. "I'm going to go for a walk." Mr. and Mrs. Matthews glance at each other worriedly. She rolls out. She didn't come back.