Chapter Three: Girl Meets Sneak Attack
"Care get up!" Riley shouted. I pushed her off of me and sat up in my bed. "What are you doing?" I asked her. "Well today is a great day and I want to share it with my friend that is living with me." Riley explained. I did notice that Riley looked happier than normal which is a good thing. But I have a feeling that something is going happen that is going to ruin that happiness. I don't want that to happen.
"Okay just let me get dressed." I told her. She sat on my bed and I walked into my closet. I walked out and posed for Riley. "How do I look?" "You look amazing and today is going to be amazing." Riley commented. "Don't get a head of yourself." I told her. We walked out of my room and we could hear the buzzer. Riley pointed towards the door.
"Those are my friends." She walked down the step. "I love my friends." She jumped down another step. "It's a sunny day, I love a sunny day. I love my friends." She pushed the button and walked towards the table. "I love my family, I love a sunny day." Then she hugged Cory. "I even love going to school." Riley sat down and I sat down beside her.
"Okay what's going on with her?" Cory asked. "I don't know." Topanga answered then she added, "Don't do anything." "I'm in a good mood." Riley said, she started snapping her fingers. "This life thing, I think I got it down." The door opened and Maya and Farkle walked in. "Maya, Oatmeal." Topanga said holding a bowl of oatmeal. "No thanks Mrs. Matthews." Maya replied. "Oh I wasn't asking." Topanga said setting the bowl down.
"Yow." Maya said. She walked further into the apartment and Farkle closed the door before walking any further. "Farkle you too." Topanga said. "Thank you, but my mother already made me eggs, home fries, wheat toast, marmalade, and a strawberry shaped like a star." Farkle told her. Farkle sat down next to me. "I'm going to the Farkle's." Auggie declared. "Whose with me!?" Auggie got up, but Topanga stopped him. "Sit down and eat it please." Topanga said as she sat down. "But it's still this." Auggie retorted pointing towards the bowl of oatmeal.
"Hey Auggie guess what? It's Googly time." Cory said. "No TV at the table." Topanga ordered. "You're right Topanga this table is about the discussion of today's events only." Cory said. "Riley, Caroline." "I woke up, I love everything, and I sat here." Riley stated. Cory turned to look at me. "I was awoken by a very happy Riley, I got dressed, and sat down at this table." I told him. Cory looked at Topanga. "All caught up, Googly time." Cory said turning on the TV. Everyone besides me started singing the theme song. Auggie got up and turned off the TV.
"Hey." Everyone, but Topanga and I said. "I'm too old for ." Auggie said. He walked over to the couch. "What?" Topanga questioned. She got up and walked over to Auggie. "But Auggie, Mr. Googly is your best friend." Cory said. Topanga picked up Mr. Googly. "But Auggie I'm your foogly boogly best friend." Topanga said talking through Mr. Googly.
"Can I tell you a secret?" Auggie asked. "Of course you can tell Mr. Googly all your secrets." Topanga said. "I have a new best friend now." Auggie told Mr. Googly. "Oh really? Who would that be?" Topanga asked. "I don't want to tell you who she is." Auggie said. "She?" we all questioned. "I said too much." Auggie told Mr. Googly.
"Why don't you tell Mr. Googly all about your new best friend and none of us will listen?" Topanga suggested. We all looked away and pretended that we weren't listening. "I'm this many. I'm done with you now. Goodbye." Auggie said. I looked to see him setting Mr. Googly face down on the couch then he sat back down. "They grow up so fast." Riley commented. Topanga continued to stare at Auggie in shock.
As we walked through the hallway Maya and I listened. "I was so worried about this new school year." Riley said. "New school, new people, I didn't think I was going to survive. Not only am I surviving I'm thriving. I'm like a plant going like this." She made a motion that I think is supposed to represent a plant growing. Maya and I were smiling. "What was I so worried about?"
Maya and I looked in the classroom to see Lucas talking to Missy. I looked at Maya and she turned around so she could put her hand over Riley's face. I put my hand over Maya's so we were sure Riley couldn't see anything. "What are you doing?" Riley asked. "Oh this is two easy it's Maya and Caroline. I know because I saw you two put your hands in front of my face. I'll do Maya first." Maya and I removed our hands while Riley tried to cover Maya's eyes.
"That's not the game." Maya told her. "What's the game?" Riley asked. "The game is protect the plant from the bulldozer in the pink sweater." I told her. Riley moved past us. "Oh Caroline bulldozers don't wear pink." Riley saw Lucas and Missy talking. "Huh." She turned around and walked over to the lockers. "You okay?" Maya and I asked. "Yeah." Riley answered before sliding down the lockers. Maya and I soon followed her.
"Aw look what the bulldozer did to ya." Maya said looking at Riley. "Really Maya?" I asked and she just shrugged. "I'm sorry Riley." "There are other girls in this world." Riley started. "There are." I confirmed. "And other girls like Missy Bradford are going to talk to Lucas." Riley said. "They are." I said because this happens all the time with Lucas. "I don't like that." Riley stated. "Sometimes I don't like it either." I told Riley. "I know." Maya said.
"I wish the world was just as three." Riley said looking me and Maya. "Then it is." Maya and I declared. Riley leaned against Maya and I leaned against Riley. I knew exactly how she felt.
"Sneak attack." Cory said. "December 7th, 1941" "A date which will live in infamy." Farkle pointed out. "A date?" Riley turned to look at me and Maya. "They're going on a date?" Riley looked at Missy and Lucas. "In Italy." Maya leaned over me. "No honey you're in history." Maya told her softly. "I'm history?" Riley questioned.
"Okay put your hand up." I told Riley and I lifted her arm by her elbow. Cory looked at us before speaking. "Yes Riley. You have an important observation on the sneak attack." I pulled her hand done a said, "May I be excused?" "Maya see my shoes." Riley said. Cory looked at Riley before looking at me and Maya. We motioned our heads back to Missy and Lucas. I think he got it because he said, "Yes Riley you may be excused." "Forever?" Riley hopefully asked.
"No you have to come back to class at some point honey, you just have to." Cory told her. Riley got up and started to walk towards the door. She was about to walk into the wall when Cory pushed her over and she walked out the door. "It was another sunny day in paradise before the sneak attack that changed everything." He said. I turned towards the windows and saw Riley. "Do you like the movies? Dark at the movies." Missy laughed. "Depends on the movie." Lucas told her. "Depends on who I'm going with."
"Scary movies? I get scared at scary movies. Will you take care of me?" Missy said. I snorted because of her sad attempts of flirting. Riley was pushing her face into the window it was funny to watch. "People who had viewed themselves as safe no longer had any security at all." Cory continued. "Just you and me Missy?" Lucas asked. Missy nodded, "Just you and me Lucas." She reached over and tapped his nose while saying, "Boop." Riley ran towards the door and opened it.
"Boop?" Riley questioned. She walked over to where Missy and Lucas were sitting. "Is that the best you've got?" "Please be cool, please be cool." Maya begged. "You don't think that I can do boop." Riley stated. Maya turned to look at me and Farkle. "How bad do you think this is going to be?" Maya asked. Farkle said, "I think that we should have some faith in our Riley." While I said, "She will most likely get embarrassed and want to stay in her locker without food."
"I can do boop like you've never seen." Riley bragged. This wasn't going to turn out good for Riley. "Boop." Riley turned, but instead of touching the top of his nose it was touching his nostril. "Does anybody see this?" "Everybody sees this." Missy laughed and I glared at her. Riley didn't move her hand away from Lucas' nose. "Take your finger out." Maya demanded. "Can't, can't move." Riley said only moving her mouth. "Scared." Missy had this smug look on her face and I didn't like it one bit. "Do you think Lucas knows?" "Oh he knows." I muttered.
"Riley I've never seen anything like this before I don't know what's going to happen." Maya admitted. "Farkle." Riley said. "Boy Riley I don't think I could do that if I tried." Farkle told her. "Hey Maya, boop." Farkle pointed his finger out. "Caroline." Riley pleaded. "Don't ask me you are the first person I've met who has done that." I told her. "The bombing of Pearl Harbor was our official entrance into a world at war and nothing would ever be the same." Cory finished. Riley still had her finger in Lucas' nose and that means embarrassment central for Riley.
We were standing in front of Riley's locker. "Do you want me to bring you lunch?" Farkle asked Riley. "No food would only keep me alive." Riley said from inside her locker. "Come on little plant come back into the sun." Maya said trying to get Riley out of her locker. "I'm afraid something terrible will happen if I ever come out of here." Riley told us. "Riley that's crazy nothing could be worse than what's already happened." Maya laughed. I hit Maya on the arm and shot her a look. I turned to look at Riley. "You can't let this one thing dictate what happens next." I told her.
"I can and I will." She retorted. I saw Missy walking towards us. "Oh there you are." She said looking down at Riley. "I've been looking for you." She leaned back against the lockers. "You're not upset with me are you because I didn't hear that you and Lucas are together or anything." "We're not." Riley replied. "Hmm yeah that's what I thought." Missy said. "So if you're not then it's not a problem if I ask Lucas out because he's really cute. Don't you think?"
"I loathe you." Maya smiled at Missy. "Well Lucas doesn't. In fact I kind of think he's into me, shocker." Missy said. She was about to leave when I started to giggle. "What's so funny?" "I think it's funny that you think Lucas actually likes you." I told her. "And how would you know?" she asked. "Because I've been around Lucas longer than you or Riley have." I retorted. "I know him better than you so I know what I'm talking about. Now run a long." I made a hand motion that told her to leave. She turned around and walked away from me. Even after what I said to her Riley was still in her locker. "I live here now." She told us.
We were sitting by Riley's bay window. "I think of this as a personal challenge issued by Missy Bradford to grow up fast." Riley said. "So what do I do?" "Nothing." Maya and I replied. "Give me advice you two are geniuses at this." Riley said. "Grow me up." "Why?" Maya asked. "Because everybody else is." Riley said. "That's not the way I see it." Maya said. "How can you see it any other way?" Riley asked.
"Missy Bradford has decided to grow up fast that has nothing to do with you." Maya told her. "But what if Lucas takes her to a scary movie?" Riley asked, then she started imitating Missy, "I get scared at scary movies. You'll take care of me, won't you?" We just looked at Riley. "Barf! Barf I say." I smiled at Riley and asked, "Riley do you want Lucas to take you to the movies?" "Alone?" she asked. "I don't think I'm ready for that."
"Then what do you want from him?" Maya asked. "I don't know. I just don't want him with her." Riley said. "Am I jealous?" "You wouldn't know how to be jealous and I don't want him with her either." I told Riley. "I just I don't want him taken away from us." Riley told us. "She's bad news. Teach me how to flirt." Riley did this pose while scrunching up some of her hair. Maya winked at her before saying, "Not going to do that." "Why not?" Riley asked.
"I don't even know how to flirt." Maya told her. Riley looked at me. "I know how to flirt, but I am not just going to teach you because of stupid Missy Bradford." I told her. "Anyways who our age knows how to flirt besides Care?" Maya asked. Right when she asked that question Farkle appeared in the window. "Hello ladies." Farkle greeted. Farkle climbed through the window while Riley spoke, "Farkle you were out there." "I'm always out there." Farkle said. "That's something you shouldn't tell people." I told him.
"Farkle you're the biggest flirt in 7th grade." Riley stated. "Why thank you." Farkle replied. "Can you teach me how to flirt with Lucas?" Riley asked. "I would do whatever you ask me." Farkle told her. "But I thought you loved her." Maya said. "I love all three of you. I want you happy." Farkle informed her.
We were sitting in the cafeteria eating lunch. Just like Riley I was wondering if Lucas was going to eat with us. "So do you think he'll sit with us or her?" Riley asked her tone changing when she said 'her'. "I try to worry about things that I have no control over." Maya said. "Really?" Riley questioned. "Because that's all I do." "Hey can I sit with you guys?" Farkle asked when he got to our table. "You better." Riley said. Farkle sat down, "So you think he'll sit with us or her?"
"I think he's going to sit with us, but she's going to come and pull him to another table." I told them. "Hey what's up? Is there a seat with you guys?" Lucas asked as he stopped at our table. "Always room for you buddy." Riley said. "Yeah sit down." I told him. Riley turned to look at us. "I said buddy I'm not helping myself am I?" she asked. You could hear the sound of Missy's boots before you could see her. She walked to Lucas and started talking, "Well you know I was just thinking," She looped her arm in Lucas and took him away, "that if you and I are going to the movies together I should find out what kind of snacks you like so I could buy some for you. Because," Missy showed Lucas her leg while pulling her sock, "I don't want you paying for everything." She walked over to the other side of him and sat down.
"You're toast." Farkle told Riley. "I know." Riley replied. "Are you saying that she flirts better than you?" I questioned Farkle. "Oh nobody's better than Farkle." Farkle said. "I just don't think my young protégé is ready for that monster." "So what are you going to do genius?" Maya asked. "I think I'll just steal her from Lucas myself." Farkle told us. "You would do that for me?" Riley asked.
"Well I'm certainly not doing it for me toots." Farkle retorted. "She's evil, if I'm not back in two minutes she ate me. How's my hair?" "Hasn't changed in six years." Maya answered. "She doesn't stand a chance." Farkle said flipping his hair. He got up and walked over to where Lucas and Missy were sitting. "Hello lady." "Farkle." Missy said. "Why go to the movies with a boy when you can go with," Farkle lifted his leg on the table and pulled back his pant leg, "a man?" Missy just sat there and I had a feeling this wasn't going to work in Farkle's favor. "Enjoy." "Wow look at you. You're next." She told him. Farkle took his leg off of the table and walked back over to us. He sat down and looked straight ahead. "It worked, I'm next."
Maya shook her head and turned to look at Riley. "Riley she's too good you can't compete with her." "I don't want them together, I don't." Was all Riley said. Riley got up and grabbed my arm to pull me along with her. "Riley." Maya said. "Why are you bringing me with you?" I asked. "Because you agree with me." She answered. She got to the table. "Lucas." "Riley." Lucas said then looked at me. "Caroline." "Yeah hi." I said.
"I don't know what's going on here and I don't have any right to say this, but I don't think you should hang out alone with this girl." Riley told Lucas. Lucas had a smile on his face and asked, "Why not?" "I don't really know, but I think you actually spend time with her alone it's going to change things for you know all of us." Riley explained. "Well aren't you just a concerned friend." Missy said. I glared at her because she was honestly getting on my last nerves. "Yeah I am." Riley replied.
"Well with you around how could I ever possibly get Lucas alone?" Missy asked. She grabbed Lucas' mashed potatoes and smashed it on both of their faces. "Food fight!" Missy cheered. "Hey." Lucas said. Cory walked over. "No food fight." He commanded. "Detention after school both of you." "Oh no both of us alone." Missy said in a fake shocked voice.
I was with Riley while she talked to her dad. "How could you do that dad?" Riley asked. "What did I do?" he asked. "You gave them detention together." Riley answered. "I was the cafeteria monitor I saw potatoes not where potatoes are supposed to be." Cory defended himself. "Detention him, detention her." "But Lucas didn't even do anything." Riley retorted. "Don't care I'm mad with power." He told her pointing to himself. Cory turned towards the chalkboard.
"Then I want detention too." Riley demanded. Cory turned around to look at Riley. "You do?" he questioned. "Riley you've never had detention in your whole life. What could you possibly do that would get you detention on such short notice?" Oh how you shouldn't have said that. I reached in my sock and pulled out my eyeliner pencil getting ready for the plan.
"I could introduce you to my special guest star." Riley suggested and gestured towards the door. "Uh oh." Cory said. Maya came into the room and jumped on Cory's back. "Nothing personal bub." She said. She was able to get him lower to the ground. I walked over and wrote Caroline Howard is the best while Riley ran her finger up and down his lips. "Yeah that will do it." Cory told her. Maya got off of him and Cory turned to look at her. "Nice job." "Pleasure doing business with ya." Maya said as she shook his hand.
We were in detention waiting for Lucas and Missy to show up. Riley decided to make name plates and she made sure Missy wasn't sitting next to Lucas. Lucas and Missy finally walked into the classroom. Missy stopped when she saw us. "How ya doin'?" Riley asked. "What are you doing here?" Missy asked. "Oh I'm a bad girl." Riley replied.
"Yeah you don't want to mess with this one." Maya said when they looked at her. Missy picked up Maya's name plate and asked, "What are these? Place cards." "Yep." Riley answered. "I made them. You sit over there." Riley pointed to the desk all the way in the back closest to the door. Lucas went and sat down in his seat. Missy walked further into the room and stopped at the seat next to Lucas. "I think this seat has my name on it actually." Missy told her sitting down at the desk.
"Alright guys." Cory got up from his seat. "I like my detention to have a little learning in it. So I'd like to continue talking about Pearl Harbor and what happened after the sneak attack. The world was at war and alliances were forged in battle and remained stronger because of that." Maya, Riley, and I looked at each other. I saw Farkle walk past the room, but came in when he saw us. "What is this place?" he asked walking into the room. "It's detention Farkle, it's not for you." Cory explained. "If my friends are in it then it's for me." Farkle said. He walked and sat down behind Riley.
"During this war the United States was put to one of its greatest tests when it met a threat to our way of life." Cory continued on. "But because we were united we prevailed." "Hey Riley and Caroline." Lucas called. Riley and I turned to look at Lucas. "Missy invited me to see a movie with her." Missy leaned over to Lucas. "I think they're aware of it Lucas. No need to make them feel worse." I glared at her when she said that. "And I was wondering if you guys would like to come along with us." Lucas continued. We all smiled and looked at each other.
"You want us?" Riley questioned in disbelief. I smirked because Missy thought she had everything figured out, but when it comes to Lucas friends always seem more important. Missy scoffed, "I'm sorry Lucas that wasn't the invitation." "Oh well then I'm sorry Missy, but I can't go." Lucas said. "What are you talking about? Nobody's ever turned me down in my life." Missy said is disbelief.
"Well you see these are my friends." Lucas explained motioning to us. "And I don't like doing anything without my friends. Right Riley and Caroline?" "Yeah," Riley and I nodded, "right." Lucas turned around to look at Missy. "Now I certainty appreciate you wanting me to take care of you during a scary movie and showing me your leg and all, but back here in the 7th grade I think we would have more fun just hanging out together." Lucas told her.
"Boop." Maya said pointing at Missy. Missy smiled and grabbed her books before getting up. She walked to the front of the classroom then turned to look at us. "Grow up." She said. She started to walk out of them room. "Not yet." Riley said looking at me and Maya. I quickly got up and ran out of the room. "Oh Missy I think you need to watch yourself. You know some people don't like kids who think they are all grown up." I yelled when Missy turned to look at me. I flashed her a smile before turning on my heel and walking back into the room. I took my seat and everyone looked at me. "What? I have wanted to say that to her for a while."
"Oh she's leaving?" Cory questioned. "Okay." "Hey." Riley said to Lucas. "Hey." He said back. "Do you know what the easiest thing about having friends is?" Riley asked. "What?" Lucas asked. "Sometimes all you have to do is trust them." Riley answered. We all smiled at each other.
"When peace time came the United States enjoyed its greatest period of growth, prosperity, and happiness. Detention over." Cory said. He started to walk out of the room, but stopped when he noticed we were still sitting. "You guys coming?" "No we're good right here." Riley told him. He left the room and we just sat there looking at each other. This is what a real friendship is.
It was late, but I had something to do before I went home. I walked into the cemetery and found the head stone I was looking for. I sat down and placed the flowers that I had. "You know I thought that coming back here would help me forget what happened to you." I started talking. "Then I remembered that this is your home to that you belonged here. I forgot that you would come back here where your family could come visit you." I could feel tears welling up in my eyes. "I wish there was something I could have done, something that would have told you that I wasn't giving up on you. But here you are six feet under and I did nothing to stop that from happening. You may have thought I was a good friend, but do you really think that when I did nothing to help you? I am sorry I let you down, that you ended up here." By now I was sobbing and I couldn't stop. I felt something wrap around me and I knew it wasn't my jacket because it was too big.
"There was nothing you could have done to stop it." A voice behind me said when I felt a pair of arms wrap around me. I turned around Chase's face. Chase is Jenna's older brother, but he's three years older than me. "Where have you been?" I asked quietly. "Parents sent me away until the realized that I should be here with them before they lose me like Jenna." Chase explained.
"I'm glad you're back." I told him honestly. "I'm glad I'm back too." He said. He got up and helped me get up. "Now let's get you home." "We can't go to my house." I told him. "Why?" he asked. "Because I'm staying with my godparents." I told him. "Why?" he asked once again. "Because my parents had to go with my brother's because they are going to schools that are not in New York and they didn't want to pull me away from my friends." I explained. "Well then let's get you to where you need to be." He declared. We walked out of the cemetery and I told him where we had to go. When we got to the building he decided to walk me in. Once we were at the door I turned to look at him.
"Goodnight." I said. "Goodnight." He replied. He gave me a kiss on the cheek which shocked me. I was about to give him his jacket back, but he said, "Keep it and give it to me when you see me again." He left after he said that. I opened the door then closed it before leaning against it. I heard four pair of footsteps and I saw everyone looking at me. "Where have you been?" Cory asked. "I had to do something." I told him honestly walking further into the apartment. "That's not your coat." Riley pointed out. I wrapped the coat around me and smelled it. "I know." I smiled. I walked past them and to my room. I got my pajamas on and got in my bed so I could go to sleep. Seeing Chase today made going to sleep so much easier.