Authors notes: Okay, so I know this chapter does not include any Lucaya moments, but I'll be uploading chapter sixteen later today and it will be including some Lucaya moments. I just wanted to do this chapter because I wanted Riley to learn that ignoring her friends is not a good thing.

Cory POV (last day of seventh grade, May.)

I walked through the halls of John Quincy Adams Middle School, heading in the direction of my history class. I entered the room and made my way to the chalkboard. Memories came flooding back of the recent year; I couldn't believe that it was my last day of teaching Riley and her friends.

I turned around and saw the seventh graders, including my own daughter Riley. Riley, Lucas, Farkle and Maya were sitting in the seats they'd occupied during the one year that they had attended my class.

I observed Maya tapping Riley on the shoulder. "Hey Riles, Farkle and I were wondering if we're still going to go to the bowling alley to celebrate seventh grade being over?" She asked with an excited manner. I knew Riley would want to go; bowling had been their tradition every year since they were six.

Lucas smiled and nodded his head. "Yeah I love bowl-" Lucas didn't get a chance to finish his sentence as Riley cut him off with a hand signal.

"Sorry, can't. Lucas and I have plans, but you and Farkle can go bowling yourselves if you want!" Riley stated inconsiderably.

Lucas looked at Riley obliviously. "We have plans?"

Riley nodded her head with a wide-set smile. "Yeah I thought it'd be cool to go see the new Jennifer Lawrence movie together."

Maya slumped back onto her chair disappointedly. "Oh that's fine I guess," she murmured.

Lucas whispered into Riley's air. I couldn't hear his exact words but he said something about being able to go to the movies any other time, and that they should go bowling. Though Riley quickly shook her head.

Farkle furrowed his eyebrows with a puzzled expression and turned to face Riley slightly. "But Riley it's the last day of seventh grade…remember our tradition?" He asked, sounding a little hurt.

"Farkle it's just bowling, we can go any time," she said while rolling her eyes and scoffing simultaneously. I had never been so disappointed in Riley, ever since she had started dating Lucas she had been acting like a different person, especially toward her closest friends. I wanted to blame Lucas's influence, but I knew that Lucas was including them much more than Riley was. Riley was always such a kind, selfless, and inclusive friend, but at that moment she wasn't being a good friend to Maya or Farkle.

"That concludes this class. I hope you all have a great summer," the bell rang and Riley and her friends sat up and headed for the door.

"Riley, may I speak to you for a moment?" I inquired worriedly.

Riley stopped and turned back to face me. "What? I didn't do anything bad, I promise!" She blurted out nervously.

"It's nothing like that. Just sit down." I stated with a concerned expression displayed across my face.

Riley rolled her eyes. "Dad do I have to? I'll be late for class!" She moaned in frustration.

I looked at her sternly. "Yes, just sit down. I'll write you a note."

Riley cautiously took a seat at one of the front desks. "What is this all about?" She asked. I then realised that this should be a conversation I have with Topanga.

I shook my head. "Oh don't worry, we'll have this conversation after school-you're coming home with me today."

Riley let out a deep sigh. "Okay fine," she muttered frustratingly. "Can I please leave now?"

I nodded my head. "Great," Riley said with a sigh. Riley got off the seat and faced me slightly. "Can you write me a note?" She asked with an impatient manner. She took a piece of paper from her history text book, and passed it to me. I wrote a note for her maths teacher, and passed the note back to her.

Riley grabbed the note from me, and walked towards the door and left. I was surprised by her new-found attitude-I knew she was bound to go through the 'teenager' phase, but I hadn't suspected it to happen so soon, especially to my usual bubbly daughter. I just hoped that Topanga and I could help her through the problems she was facing. I grabbed my Smartphone from my desk drawer and dialled Topanga's number-I figured that it would be good to warn her about what was happening with Riley.

"Hey?" Topanga answered nonchalantly.

"Hey we need to talk about Riley…"

It was three thirty. Riley and I had just walked through the door, and Topanga was waiting for us, looking very serious.

Riley scoffed. "Way to make it obvious mum. What is it that you want to talk to me about?"

"It's about how you've been treating your friends," I stated without preamble.

Riley tilted her head to one side. "What do you mean?" She asked while sitting down on the couch.

"Honey, we think you're leaving Farkle and Maya out," Topanga explained as she walked closer to the couch.

"You too? First Lucas says that I'm leaving them out, and now you guys are saying that too? I have a boyfriend now, so obviously I can't spend as much time with them as I used to," she stated with another scoff.

"I know you have a boyfriend, but that doesn't mean you should automatically ostracise your best friends," Topanga responded, trying to keep her calm demeanour.

"I'm not ostracising anyone!" She retorted back defensively.

I took a deep breath. "I saw how you were talking to them-and I saw the way you just cut down Maya's offer. And the way you spoke to Farkle," I paused for a moment. "I'm disappointed in you Riley-this isn't the Riley that I know-"

"Or do you mean this isn't the Riley that you want me to be?" She questioned bitterly.

I shook my head, realizing just how different she was being. "Honey, I'm not sure if Lucas is good for you."

"Cory," Topanga warned.

"Will you hear yourself right now? Lucas is a perfect gentleman," Riley said while pursing her lips.

I shook my head. "The problem isn't to do with Lucas; it's to do with you."

"But I haven't done anything wrong. I've been trying to be the perfect boyfriend to him. I want our story to be one that I remember for the rest of my life." She paused for a moment. "Like you guys," she added with a soft tone.

Topanga and I looked at each other, our features soft. Topanga sat down next to Riley and looked at her with a caring manner. "That's the thing Riley, you don't need to try and be the perfect girlfriend to him. You're supposed to be yourself. I love you for looking at your Dad and I as examples, but you're supposed to create your own future. Your life doesn't have to be a replica of ours."

"Well, I dunno, I've never been the best at creating my own stories," Riley stated with an insecure manner

Topanga shook her head. "No, that isn't true. Within this year you've grown a lot as a person, you have been creating an amazing story for yourself honey."

I sat down next to Riley and Topanga. "It seems that maybe you're taking the connection that the two of you have and forcing it into a romantic thing. Maybe you two work better as friends?" I suggested.

Riley furrowed her eyebrows. "You're wrong dad, and you're not going to stop me from seeing him!" She got up from the couch, and faced me slightly. "Can you two just let me make my own decisions, and be my own person for once?"

"Riley, you're thirteen. You still need guidance, and maybe you need friends more than you need a boyfriend." I knew that deep down Riley knew I was right; she just didn't want to acknowledge it.

Riley rolled her eyes, and she harshly exhaled through her nose. "You're being a hypocrite dad. You and mum got together when you were like what 13? But it's apparently bad for me to have a boyfriend at the age of 13? I don't get that logic."

Topanga stood up and rubbed her shoulder comfortably. "You're misunderstanding what he's saying."

"How am I doing that?" She questioned with a confused expression displayed across her face.

"Look if you keep on pushing Farkle and Maya away, one day they might not be your best friends any more," I warned.

Riley widened her eyes. "That would never happen. Would it?" She questioned, starting to become worried.

Topanga nodded her head in unison. "Honey, I get that you like Lucas, but you're going to need your best friends, and they're going to need you too. You know, relationships aren't supposed to be all smooth sails, well the good ones aren't. You and Lucas will sometimes find bumps along the way, and you will need your best friends to help you out and heal. And if you do break up with Lucas you will need your best friends," Topanga stated.

Riley nodded her head with a knowing sigh. "You're right-I haven't been fair to Maya or Farkle. I guess I was trying to be someone I'm not, and I didn't really want to admit I was in the wrong. But the real Riley is back now!" She exclaimed enthusiastically. Her smile then turned quickly into a frown. "Will they forgive me though? I was really mean to them this morning."

I smiled at her. "Come on honey, Maya and Farkle love you!"

Topanga nodded her head. "Yeah they'll definitely forgive you," she commented encouragingly.

Riley nodded her head, with a ecstatic smile. "You're right! I'm going to phone them up, apologise, and tell them that I'll join them for bowling." Riley ran to her bedroom in order to get her phone. Topanga and I smiled at each other happily. Riley had grown so much in the past year, and we were very proud of her.