Farkle Meets the New Year
Chapter 2
This idea came to me after a recent rewatch of Girl Meets the New Year. Thought it would be fun if Riley got to turn the tables on Farkle. In this story Farkle and Smackle have been broken up for nearly years. They haven't seen or spoken to one another at all. He broke up with her so she wouldn't be tied down. He wanted her to follow her dreams. Those dreams led her to Stanford, University in California. Farkle was in Princeton, New Jersey. Smackle has been given the opportunity to study in Australia. Will she take the position or will Farkle be able to make her change her mind? Will he be able to admit his feelings to her? Takes place from Thursday, December 29 to Saturday, December 31, 2022.
Note-the Clique Six is all 21 with Lucas being 22. Josh Matthews is 24. They are all Juniors in college and Josh followed in Cory's footsteps and is working as a middle school history teacher.
Friday, December 30, 2022 The Matthew's Apartment/Josh and Lucas's Apartment
The next morning Lucas was awake bright and early to sneak back down the fire escape to his apartment. Riley was still asleep when Lucas left. He could have stood there watching her sleep but knew that Josh Matthews was an early riser and didn't want him to know he hadn't slept in his own bed. So, down the fire escape he climbed. He planned on going back to sleep for a bit, but when he climbed through his window he was greeted by a very weary and exhausted looking Farkle Minkus sitting on the edge of his bed. It looks like Farkle had crashed here last night.
"Hey, buddy! How are you?" Lucas greeted Farkle.
"I'm okay, I guess. Hope you don't mind that I kind of crashed here last night, or rather this morning. I got home and couldn't sleep so I was going to climb to the bay window to talk to you and Riley but I realized it was 3 a.m. and that you guys were probably asleep. I made it to your window and figured I would just sleep for a bit. I was so tired. I went for a walk after I left Topanga's and walked all night and ended up here. How come Josh is sleeping on the couch?" Farkle asked.
"Well, you see it's like this, Josh has been sleeping on the couch since Riley's been staying upstairs. He thinks that if I try to sneak out he'll hear me and stop me." Lucas explained.
"Let me guess, Josh doesn't realize the fire escape leads right up to the bay window?" Farkle asked.
"No, he doesn't, and I'd like to keep it that way," Lucas added.
"Your secret is safe with me, Lucas, but it seems like Josh is a really heavy sleeper. He probably wouldn't wake up if the subway went through here. Farkle yawned. Lucas would it be alright if I crashed here for just a bit longer, I'm still really tired."
"Sure, thing Farkle. You can sleep in Josh's bed and I'll crash in my room. See you in a couple hours," Lucas said.
Lucas went to his room and sent Riley a text message to let her know that he would see her in a couple hours. He set an alarm so that he wouldn't sleep too long. When he woke up he felt a better. It was a good thing he got that extra bit of sleep because he had to work a shift at the animal clinic today. As he headed to the bathroom to take a shower he could smell pancakes. So, he walked down the hall to the living room and peaked in the kitchen to see Riley, Josh and Farkle talking about new year's resolutions and whether are not they can be kept. Smiling he headed to the bathroom and took a quick shower, looking forward to some of Riley's chocolate chip pancakes and bacon.
Farkle had woken up to the voice of Josh Matthews talking to someone on the phone about him being successful at keeping Lucas out of the Matthew's apartment upstairs. Farkle thought it was funny how oblivious Josh was about the fire escape. Farkle surmised that Josh was talking to Cory Matthews and that Cory had probably enlisted his brothers help with Lucas. Farkle often thought it funny that Cory was still so protective over Riley. Cory and Topanga had long ago accepted the fact that Riley and Lucas were in it for the duration and allowed Lucas to call them mom and dad. Farkle was happy that at least that was still the same after all these years. He was so lost in thought that he didn't hear Riley protest about what Josh was telling her dad. He stopped by the bathroom to freshen up a bit and headed for the kitchen to talk to his friends. They had been his saving grace ever since he had broken up with Smackle and he had no doubt that Josh never realized just how much he still loved Isadora. He always would, nearly three years and she still had his heart. He only wished he still had hers. Riley looked up from the griddle where she was making pancakes to give him one of her trademark Riley smiles and wish him good morning.
"Good morning, Farkle. Did you sleep well?" Riley asked.
"Yes, Riley. Thanks for asking. Sorry I took your bed, Josh. I hope I didn't put you out," he said.
"Nah, someone might as well be sleeping in it. I'm kind of getting used to the couch, Howdy isn't getting past Uncle Josh, no sir." Josh said with a smirk. "Hey, Farkle can I talk to you for a minute?
"Sure, Josh, what's up?
"I just wanted to apologize for what I said last night. It was insensitive and I was a jerk. Can you forgive me?" Josh asked
"There's nothing to forgive. I kind of reacted badly and that isn't your fault and don't let Maya tell you otherwise. I just don't know what to do about the situation and I kind of sploded, sorry about that." Farkle said.
"Look, Farkle, I know you and I aren't as close as I am with Lucas and Zay, but that doesn't change the fact that I care about you. You have been there for Riley and Maya for years. I'd like to get to know you better, but no matter what, if you ever need someone to talk to I'm here for you, okay. You have nothing to apologize for and lets just call it even and move on, okay?" Josh meant every word he said to Farkle. He was important to Riley and Maya, so that meant he was important to him, as well.
"Sounds good to me, Josh. Thanks." Farkle added.
"Let's go see what we can do to help Riley, I'm starving and I'm pretty sure I saw her use chocolate chips in those pancakes." Josh and Farkle headed into the kitchen to see if they could help Riley. They set the table for breakfast. Lucas joined them a bit later and the four of them enjoyed breakfast together. After they ate, Josh headed out to meet Maya and Zay at the park and Lucas headed into work.
Riley asked Farkle if he wanted to hang out with her for a bit. They went upstairs to the Matthew's apartment and decided to watch a movie. They spent more time talking than they did watching the movie. Riley was trying to figure out how to bring Smackle into the conversation and after several tries, she just went for it.
"Farkle, Lucas and I had a talk about you and Smackle last night. I know what you said to him about Smackle. We were so worried about you and how cryptic you were being that I called her." Riley told him.
Farkle got up and walked over to the kitchen table and sat. He was holding his head in his hands when Riley joined him. She sat on the bench and pulled his hands away. "Farkle, I know. She told me about Australia."
"Riley, how could you? No one was supposed to know. I promised her sister I wouldn't say a word."
"Isadora's sister told you about her trip to Australia?" Riley asked. "Smackle wondered how you found out?" I'm sorry Farkle. We were just worried about you. Why did her sister tell you?"
"She called me yesterday afternoon just out of the blue. I wasn't going to take her call but, Isadora has been on my mind a lot lately and I was worried maybe something bad had happened." Farkle got up from the table and looked at Riley and said, "I know this is your thing with Maya, but bay window, bay window right now."
Riley and Farkle went up the stairs and headed down the hall to her room. Farkle was the first to sit in the bay window and Riley followed. "Okay, we're here. Go ahead Farkle."
"Smackle's parents are worried about her going to Sydney. She won't know anyone there and even though they are so proud of her they don't want her to go. So, they thought that if they told me, that maybe I could stop her. Her sister said that if I still loved her I needed to tell her. Riley, you know I have never stopped loving her and that I only let her go so she would follow her dreams. If I tell her my true feelings, there is no guarantee that she won't still go and if she were to stay I would feel bad for her giving up this opportunity because of me. It would be selfish of me, wouldn't it? Please tell me what to do here, Riley? You and Lucas are the only ones that know I still have feelings for her and I need your advice."
Riley had tears in her eyes and she could see that Farkle was also on the verge of crying. She pulled him in for a hug and just held him for a minute. She could feel him relax and return her hug. She pulled away and looked at him and said, "Farkle Minkus, you are the least selfish person I know. You gave her the freedom to follow her dreams, no matter what that did to you. I have watched you be miserable for the last two and a half years without her. I personally think you're due for a little selfishness. I don't think anyone could blame you if did. You need to let yourself live again, living your life in a holding pattern hasn't done you any good. Love yourself a little Farkle and tell Smackle how you feel before she leaves and it's too late."
"But what if any feelings she had for me are gone and I'm just opening myself up for heartache? I don't know if I can handle losing her a second time." Farkle said.
"You won't know unless you try. Maybe if you open up to her and she turns you down after all this time apart it won't hurt as bad." Riley was trying her best to be positive, but she figured she was going to have to tell him exactly how Smackle felt. "Farkle, I wish I could tell you that it was all going to be okay, but the only thing I know for sure is that you love Smackle and she still loves you. The two of you have suffered long enough."
"What do you mean when you say Smackle still loves me? After all the hurt and pain, I caused her. I wouldn't give me a second chance if I were her. If I were her I'd hate me." Farkle thought for a minute, he was so sure Riley was just telling him what he wanted to here.
"Don't you get it Farkle? Smackle hasn't come home to New York since she's been at Stanford because it's too painful for her to be here and see all of us because we remind her of you. The places you to use to go in the city. It all makes her think about you. Farkle she still loves you and she says that if California isn't far enough away to make her forget about you, maybe Australia will be." Riley was laying it all out for him. "Farkle, she is in as much pain as you are. She was heartbroken when you broke up with her and she has thrown herself into her research and is just living a shell of a life. Kind of like you are. When was the last time you did anything socially that wasn't related to school, our friends or Minkus International?" She asked.
Farkle thought for a moment and answered, "Honestly, I can't remember when. But that doesn't matter. My life is perfectly fine the way it is. Once I graduate from Princeton, my dad will have me on the fast track to the top of the company. It's all I need."
"Farkle you're kidding yourself if you think that running a company is all you need. That's only half a life. Who will you go home to at night. Who will be there when you've had a hard day and need someone to talk to? Who will be there beside you when things get difficult, Farkle? You can't do it all alone. Smackle is your person, your other half, Like Lucas is mine. Josh and Maya have that to. Even Zay is seeing someone and has been happy these last few months. It's time, Farkle. Time for you to fight for what you want, who you want."
"Riley, does everyone know that I still love Smackle?" Farkle asked
"Of course, they do. They've always known. Ever since that day in 9th grade when you told her you liked her exactly as much as you say you do. We all knew that Smarkle was forever," She answered.
"Smackle is my person and I want to share this life with her, but I am also scared she won't want that anymore. I'll think about it, Riley. I'm just not sure." Farkle finally admitted.
"Someone once asked me if I knew what the Horn of Gabriel was, do you remember that Farkle. You remember outing my feelings for Lucas in the 8th grade?" she asked.
"Yes, I remember. What does that have to do with my situation with Smackle?" Farkle asked, worried.
"We don't lie to each other Farkle. I'm not going to let you start off the new year with a lie. I'm not going to let Smackle leave the country thinking you don't love her. I'm going to end the misery that the two of you have been living with. This horn blows at midnight on New Year's Eve, Farkle. Either you tell Isadora how you really feel, or I will." Riley was serious. "You told me that you hoped I would do the same for you. Well, that's what I'm doing." I love you, Farkle and I want you to be happy."
"Riley, please don't. Leave it alone." Farkle would beg if he had too.
"Farkle if you hadn't told everyone that I still loved Lucas, who knows how long the triangle that wasn't would have went on. At the time, I couldn't see that what you were doing was for the best, but it was the beginning of the end. Yea it took a while but it all ended well. Me, Maya and Lucas are all where we're supposed to be, that's all that matters. I'm doing this so that you and Smackle can either have closure or the beginning of something really wonderful." she had tears in her eyes. Riley just wanted her friend to have the happiness he deserved.
Farkle was at a loss for words. He couldn't believe she was using his own words against him. He remembers telling Riley that he hoped she would do the same for him if the situation was reversed. There was no argument he could make that would stop her. He had just over 24 hours to work up his nerve. He was so afraid of hurting Isadora more than he already had. He just couldn't do that do her. But Riley was right he needed closure with Smackle. If she didn't want to be with him, he needed to know, so that hopefully they could both move on. He didn't have any words for Riley. She was only doing what he had asked of her years ago. "Riley, I'll think about everything you've said. I just don't know what I'll do."
"Fair enough, Farkle. But either way this horn blows at midnight but. I'm not honking like a goose." Riley laughed and then hugged her friend. Farkle accepted the hug because he knows that she has his best interest at heart. "I hope you can forgive me if it comes down to it."
"Always, Riley. You are only doing what I did for you, I just hope I have the guts to do it when the time comes." Farkle said. "Thank you for being my friend and caring about me and Smackle so much." With that he told her he needed to go. He had to meet his father for lunch.
Once Lucas got off work, he went to his apartment to shower, as he and Riley were meeting Maya and Josh for dinner at one of their favorite restaurants. After he showered and dressed he heard a knock on the door. He knew it was Riley. He opened the door and greeted her with a kiss and a hug. He closes the door after she enters and she asks how his day was. He tells her about a yellow lab named Josie that he got to help the doctor with. She had a sore on her paw that he got to dress.
They sat on the couch together and he asks how her day was, "did you get to talk to Farkle after I left this morning?" he adds.
"My day was good. Nothing special going on. Cleaned the apartment and went to the market in preparation for the party tomorrow night. I got everything we needed. Farkle and I did have a nice long talk and I set the plan on motion," she said with a smile. "Farkle and I had a heart to heart about Smackle and their feelings. He fears hurting more than he already has. He's also scared of more heartache for himself. But, he knows they need to work thru their feelings to see where they go from here. I told him I would out him at midnight if he didn't tell her how he felt." She went on to explain to Lucas how Farkle found out about Isadora's plans and what the Smackle's are hoping happens. They headed to the restaurant to meet Josh and Maya. Riley and Lucas fill Josh and Maya in on the discussion with Farkle. Maya can't believe that Riley told Farkle she would tell Smackle how he feels if he didn't but she understands why she's willing to do it.
"Riles I think it's really great that you want to help Farkle and Smackle. But what if it doesn't go as you guys planned. What if Smackle doesn't want anything to do with him? What if she still goes to Australia? What then?" Maya asked.
"Peaches, calm down! The idea is to get them talking. Whatever happens, happens. They just need to work thru their feelings and see where that leads them. We can't make them do anything, but I'm hopeful they will find their way back to each other because they love each other." Riley says trying to ease Maya's fears.
"I trust you and Huckleberry to do the right thing for our Farkle. I just hope Smackle is open to this once it happens. She is still hurting and I just hope she listens to what he has to say, if he works up the nerve to say it. I just want them both happy." Maya told Riley.
"Thanks, Peaches," Riley says. "Hey do you want to spend the night at mom and dads with me. I've missed you since I've been house sitting. What do you say?"
This got Lucas' attention. He wouldn't be able to sneak up the fire escape tonight. That's ok with him because they still had a couple days until her parents and Auggie returned from Philadelphia. He's had Riley to himself so he's ok with sharing her with Maya for the night. He looks over at Josh and jokingly asks, "hey do I need to sleep on the couch tonight to keep you from sneaking up stairs to your brother's?"
"Very funny, Howdy! I know the rules, my brother never had to steal any of my shoes. Well, Shawn never had to steal my shoes." Josh said laughing.
The two couples had a good time and enjoyed the meal and conversation. After they ate they walked back to the apartment building. Once inside the guys walked the girls to the Matthew's door and said their good nights, with Riley telling Lucas that she was sorry that he wouldn't be able to sneak down the fire escape tonight.
It's okay, Riles. I'll be ok with sharing you tonight, just as long as you keep the window open tomorrow night," he whispered in her ear. He gave her a kiss and said good night.
Josh hugged and kissed Maya good night and the boys headed back to their apartment while the girls went to get ready for bed. As they were settling down for the night. Maya looked at Riley and said, "Riley, I trust that your plan will work and I think Farkle and Smackle will get back together. I just want him happy, you know. He hasn't truly been happy for a long time. I want all of us a happy. You and Lucas are stronger than ever and Josh and I are doing well. Hopefully within the next 24 hours our Farkle will be. But what about Zay?"
"Peaches, I think Zay is working on his own happiness. I don't have all of the details because I can't get it out of Lucas, but I know Zay has been seeing someone and hopefully we will find out tomorrow night. Goodnight Peaches, see you in the morning," Riley yawned and turned over. Tomorrow night could be the end of Farkle's unhappiness and the beginning of a bright new year.