Chapter Fifteen: Girl Meets Friendship
"The following is a campaign commercial brought to you by," I started. "The Riley for Princess Committee." Maya finished. "Imagine your education in a magical kingdom and unicorns roam the hallways." Riley said on top of a horse with a horn taped on its head. Maya moved the poster and we stepped out of the way. "Say goodbye to too much studying." Riley said. She pointed her sword to two girls' books and they were transformed into balloons.
Cory walked down the stairs. "Say goodbye to meddling teachers." Riley said. She pointed her sword at Cory. "But Riley I'm your fa-." Cory was cut off because he disappeared. "A vote for me is a vote to live happily ever after. I am princess Riley Matthews and I approveth this messageth." Riley said.
Maya and I stepped forward. "The campaign of Riley Matthews is not responsible for anyone who thinks a horse is a unicorn." I said. "No you're not." Maya said to the horse.
4 Days Before Election
"Democracy. Our form of government where the power lies with the people. So who can tell me another form of government where the power doesn't lie with the people?" Cory asked us. "Farkle! Thank you sir." Farkle said calling on himself, but thanking Cory. "Dictators! Love 'em get to do whatever they want. Want to be one someday."
The door opened and Lucas walked in. "Mr. Friar!" Cory announced. "Sorry for being late sir, my flight was delayed." Lucas told him while handing him his slip. "You went back to Texas again this weekend?" Riley and I asked. "Visited my friends." Lucas answered. "He misses his old friends." Riley said. "Oh cowboy's got the blues." Maya said.
"Campfire for one. My friends are all cows and I miss 'em. Huh-hrrr, huh-hrrr." Maya sang. While she was singing Lucas pulled out a harmonica and began to play it. "I will never get to you, will I?" Maya asked. "No, but I sure do appreciate the effort." Lucas told her. "Ooh." Maya shuddered as she turned back around.
"Okay guys, seventh grade student council elections are coming up." Cory informed us. All of the class groaned except for Farkle who said, "Yay." "Why that?" Cory asked. "Because every year somebody runs, makes promises, and nobody does anything." I answered. "Yeah, what lug head is running the elections this year?" Maya asked.
"How ya doing?" Cory asked. "Can't you just make a change?" Riley asked. "You know what it's up to you guys to make changes. Since we're studying alternative forms of government this year, why don't we let the candidates run in any form of government they chose?" Cory suggested. Once again we all groaned while Farkle said, "Yay."
"So any nominations?" Cory asked. Farkle raised his hand. "I Farkle nominate I Farkle for dictator." Farkle stated. "You can't nominate yourself Farkle." Cory told him. "I'll nominate him." A voice said. I turned around to see it was the rebel talking. "Really?" Farkle questioned. "Yeah I like ya, I got your back." The rebel told Farkle. "I thought you had my back." Farkle said to Lucas. "Well I got his back." Lucas said, turning towards the rebel. "Whoa easy there harmonica." The rebel said.
"Who are you? Where did you come from?" Lucas asked. "He's the rebel." I answered. "Well, what am I?" Lucas asked. "Oh you're the good guy. You're our moral compass." Farkle told him. "Wow that sounds hard to pull off." Lucas said. "Yeah, but you're really good at it." Farkle told him. "Thanks." Lucas thanked. "See." Farkle said.
"He's right Friar, represent democracy." Cory told Lucas. "I don't know Mr. Matthews. If democracy worked maybe I'd gotten a vote on where I got to live." Lucas told him. "I nominate Lucas Friar for president." Riley announced. "Okay, second?" Cory asked. Riley raised her hand. "Honey you nominated him, you can't second the nomination." Cory told her. Riley put her hand down in defeat. Riley looked at me and gave me this look. I raised my hand and said, "I second the nomination."
"Alright fine." Cory said walking over to his desk. "What are you doing?" Maya asked. "He's you're competition." "I'm not running for anything." Riley told her. "Yes you are I've got plans for you." Maya retorted. "Yeah." "You know what it'd be an honor to run for president. Thank you Riley and Caroline." Lucas thanked. "My pleasure buddy." Riley replied while I just said, "You're welcome." "I don't know how it happens." Riley told us.
"I'm nominating you for something. This is your chance to be the voice of strong willed confident women everywhere." Maya explained to Riley as we walked towards our lockers. "I want to be a princess." Riley told her. "Listen." Maya started, but Riley cut her off. "No, you listen to me. I'm twelve years old, the window is closing on my princess dream. I'm too old to be a flower girl and I ain't winning any pageants until I grow into these limbs. Princess is all I have, get it for me." Riley explained. "As you wish my lady." Maya told her. "Yay." Riley cheered.
Riley and I were working on her campaign when Cory came into the apartment. "Hey dad campaign question." Riley told him. "Impartial as your teacher I must refrain from showing any favoritism." Cory said raising his hand. "But as your father. What ya got?"
"We got serious Riley." Riley told him. She held up a stick with her face showing no emotion. "Loser, what else you got?" Cory asked. "Smiley Riley." I shouted, showing him the one of Riley smiling and this one was in color. "Love her. See you at the victory party." Cory said.
"Quiet." Topanga quietly hissed as she came out of the hallway. I heard Cory do a little scream. Riley and I got up and walked towards our rooms.
3 Days Before Election
"Everybody deserves the right to vote because if that right is taken away, you know what you get?" Lucas asked. I was in the gym standing next to Maya. We were in the gym because this is where the election was going to be held. Right now the candidates are supposed to be giving their speeches.
"I am Farkle!" Farkle shouted. "And these are the dictatorettes. They are part of the new Farkle nation. How would you like to be part of the new Farkle nation?!" "Meh." All the kids said. "Nobody's buying Farkle. Nobody wants you for dictator." Maya told Farkle.
"I was afraid something like this would happen. But genius that I am I have a plan. I got an uncle Morty in the t-shirt business." Farkle replied. "Who will become part of Farkle nation for a free t-shirt?" "Yeah!" the crowd shouted. "Dictatorettes give the people what they want." Farkle ordered. Farkle's dictatorettes started to throw the t-shirts to the crowd. "Uh oh." Maya and I said looking at each.
"Instead of learning on books we should learn on tablets. The whole world would be in our fingertips. Instead of reading about Spain we hit a button and we go there. Ole." Riley said. "Whatcha doing?" I asked Riley as me and Maya stepped on to her platform. "I'm addressing the issues." Riley answered.
"Nobody cares about the issues Riles. They only care about who's having the most fun." Maya told her motioning towards Farkle. "Farkle nation!" Farkle shouted. "Farkle nation!" the crowd shouted. "Holy moly I've got me an army." Farkle stated.
"He's got him an army. I need me a kingdom. I'm not princess enough yet, am I?" Riley asked. "No honey you're not." I told her. "Farkle nation." Farkle and the crowd started to chant. "Farkle nation! Farkle nation! Farkle nation! Farkle nation! Farkle nation!" Two boys put Farkle on their shoulders and they left the gym.
"What do I need to be princess enough?" Riley asked. "You need a unicorn." Maya answered. "You'll get that for me?" Riley asked. "Yeah, I know a guy." Maya told her before walking away.
Riley, Maya and I were in Riley's room petting the horse that Maya got Riley. Topanga walked into the room. "What horse?" I asked as Maya put a lamp shade on the horse's head. "I was up again with Auggie last night very tired. Cory we need bread." Topanga said. "Um I wanted you to have my princess hat from when I rallied against gender stereotypes. I was going to light it on fire, but it's too pretty. Good luck to you." She handed Riley the box. "Bye honey." She said to the horse before she walked out of the room.
2 Days Before Election
We were in class watching Riley campaign commercial. "A vote for me is a vote to live happily ever after. I am princess Riley Matthews and I approveth this messageth." Riley said on her "unicorn" in the video. Maya and I walked in front of the horse. "The campaign of Riley Matthews is not responsible for anyone who thinks a horse is a unicorn." I said in the video. Everyone clapped once it was done.
"Well America's always had a special place in its heart for princesses. Perhaps Riley will be the first one every voted in." Cory said. "Not after everyone sees Farkle's commercial." Farkle said. "Play it sheep head." "Sheep head?" Cory questioned. "T-shirt." Farkle offered. "Oh free stuff." Cory said. He grabbed the t-shirt and the disk. He walked over to the TV and put the disc in.
The TV turned on and we watched Farkle's commercial. "Good evening Farkle nation. It is I, your benevolent dictator. As you can see I'm kind to all the creatures of Farkle nation." Farkle said while petting a cat. "Our animal friends need room to roam free, but my opponent, Riley Matthews, feels a proper place for a horse is trapped up in the confines of her New York apartment bedroom."
Riley got up and turned off the TV. "How could you do this to me Farkle? You told me you were just going to take a picture of the horse." Riley said. "I want to win." Farkle shrugged. "Farkle don't even talk to me." Riley told him as she sat down. "Riley I-." Farkle started, but he stopped.
"Okay this campaign just got dirty, yay." I stated. "Team princess needs to strike back hard." Maya added. "Fine." Riley got up and stood in front of the class. "The truth is that horse had a dream. All that horse ever wanted was to be a unicorn and I made that dream come true. That horse loves me." Riley told us. The class clapped for her. "It's amazing what people will believe." Riley said quietly.
"He spies on us, he'll spy on all of you. I bet there's cameras on all of you right now. What you have to decide is if you want to live in a magical kingdom or a police state." Maya stated. "Hey cut it out. Friends don't attack each other. No going after Farkle." Lucas told Maya. "Okay moral compass I promise we won't go after Farkle." Maya replied. "Good, thank you." Lucas thanked.
The bell rang and everyone beside me, Riley, and Maya had already left. "We're going after Lucas." Maya told us and I felt my eyes widen. "Why?" Riley and I asked. "Farkle's nothing without his army. Lucas is the competition now." Maya explained. "I'm not attacking Lucas." Riley told her. "Me either." I added. "You two don't have to do anything." Maya said.
"No." we both said. "Riley this is your last chance to be a princess. Everybody's got something they're hiding even Lucas. I'm going to find out what it is." Maya told us. "Maya if you do." Riley started. "Yeah?" Maya questioned. "Don't tell us." I finished. Maya didn't answer she just walked out of the room. Riley grabbed her bag and we walked out together. "It's going to be fine." I told her. "I hope so." Riley replied.
Day Before Election
"He's squeaky clean. I haven't found one thing to attack this guy on. Nobody at school has a bad thing to say about him." Maya told me and Riley, the next day. "Good." Riley and I said. "Our only hope is finding something personal." Maya replied. I saw Lucas walk down the stairs. "Hey Huckleberry." Maya greeted. "Hey Lucas." Riley and I greeted.
"Excuse me I'm dealing with something personal." He told us before moving away from us. A smile found its way on to Maya's face. "Hello." Maya said. We walked closer to Lucas. "I don't understand why I can't go back this weekend sir." Lucas said into his phone. Maya, Riley, and I moved to sit on the ledge near the stairs. "No I'm not trying to argue, but this isn't my home. Texas is my home." The statement hurt, what else is he going to say.
"But dad you told me I'd be able to see my friends on weekends if I wanted and I want to see my friends." There was a pause before Lucas spoke again. "Yes I have friends here. Right now we're all trying to destroy each other. Well I'm sorry to sir, but I wasn't the one who didn't to come to this school in the first place." Lucas turned and noticed us sitting there. I put my head down because honestly I didn't want to see Lucas right now. I took off my charm bracelet. "I have to go now."
I looked up to see Lucas walking towards us. "I suppose you guys will be using that against me." Lucas said. "I would never." Riley told him. "Quiet princess." Maya told Riley. "What that you don't want to be in our class? How could that hurt you running for president of our class?" "Don't worry it's only your word against hers." Riley said.
"Unless I had some kind of electronic recording device. Oh look at that." Maya said pulling out her phone. She played what Lucas was saying on the phone. Lucas left and I followed after him. "Lucas." Riley called, but he didn't answer. "Lucas!" I shouted. He stopped and looked at me. "Yes?" he asked. I walked closer to him and put the charm bracelet in his hand. "I'm sorry that you going here has been such a problem for you." I told him angrily. I could feel the tears threatening to come out. I turned away from him and left. I could hear him calling after me, but I didn't listen.
Election Day
Riley had told me her plan for Lucas and even though I was mad at him. I still wanted him to be happy. It wasn't that hard getting in touch with Lucas' friends since I did meet them when I visited Texas.
"The winner and new leader of the seventh grade of John Quincy Adams middle school is-." Cory was about to announce the winner as Riley, Maya, and I walked in. "Hold on!" Maya shouted. "Not now Maya." Cory told her. "It has to be right now dad." Riley told him as we walked up to him.
"We have one more very important campaign commercial everybody needs to see." Maya announced. "Girls we've already seen the campaign commercials. The votes are in." Cory told us. "This isn't going to change anything." "Yes it will." I argued. "This isn't about the votes, it's about Lucas." Riley added. "Did you know about this Mr. Friar?" Cory asked. "Is this okay with you?"
"Yeah I know. If this is the kind of friends they want to be, it's okay with me." Lucas told Cory. Maya handed Cory the disc. "Yeah this the kind of friends we want to be." Riley told Lucas. Everyone sat down as Cory put the disc in and the video started to play.
Asher walked on to the screen. "Hey, my names Asher Garcia. I've known Lucas Friar just about all of my life. There's nobody finer I know. I'm here to indorse him for your seventh grade president." After he said that Dylan ran on to the screen. "I'm Dylan Orlando. How ya doin' bud? Looks like you made some new friends. They thought it was important that we recorded this for you." Dylan said. "Is there really a Farkle?" Asher asked. "And Lucas after Riley, Maya, and Caroline went out of their way to find us and we got to know them a little and hear from Caroline again. I think we can indorse them too." Dylan said. "Yeah I approve that message." Asher finished.
"I second that." Farkle said moving over to sit next to us. "I don't want to be dictator anymore. Dictators don't have any friends." Lucas got up and came over to us. "Thank you for the video. That wasn't what I expected to see." Lucas thanked us. "No more going home for the weekends?" Riley asked. "I am home." Lucas replied.
After the Election
Cory, Farkle, Lucas, Riley, Maya, the rebel, and I were in the gym after the election. Lucas won the election and they were figuring out something. I was seated on the stage just listening to everything.
"Hey Mr. Matthews, as the new president I'd like to name Farkle my vice president." Lucas told Cory. Cory laughed at this. "You're kidding?" Cory questioned. "You mean if something terrible happened to you, I'd be president." Farkle said. "Mmm hmm." Lucas hummed. "I accept." Farkle told him shaking his hand.
"Maya." Lucas called out. "I'd like you to be my secretary of state." "I'm nobody's secretary, ranger Rick." Maya retorted. "Hey Hart." The rebel said. "What?" Maya asked. "Secretary of state is the president's ambassador of the world. It means he thinks highly of you, it also means he's trying to get you out of the country." The rebel explained to her.
"Wait a minute. What about me?" Riley asked. "You? What about you?" Lucas questioned. "What am I to you?" Riley asked. "What are you to me?" Lucas asked. He whistled and the white horse walked in. Lucas helped Riley on to the horse and placed her blue veil on her head. "To me. You're a princess." Lucas told her. Riley smiled at him and the horse trotted around the gym.
Lucas came over and sat down beside me. "I believe this belongs to you." Lucas said holding up my charm bracelet. I was about to take it, but he stopped me. "Allow me." He said. He put the charm bracelet back on, but he didn't let go of my wrist. "And what about me?" I asked. "What do you mean?" he asked. "What am I to you?" I asked. "You've always been my Care." He told me. I pulled him into a hug before pulling away. I gave him a kiss on the cheek before going over to Maya. When I turned I saw the blush on Lucas' cheek.
"Hey guys." Cory said as we walked into the apartment. "Cory come here." Topanga told him. "What's up?" Cory asked. "Watch this." Topanga told him. Cory sat down and Riley and I did too. "Auggie we are two working parents. I'm sorry, but that's the way it is. Sometimes daddy can be here to tuck you in and sometimes I can, but we always arrange it so that one of us is with you." Topanga explained to Auggie.
"I don't go to sleep because I want both of you to tuck me in." Auggie admitted. "Oh." Cory said in realization. "One of us isn't good enough, huh?" Cory asked. Auggie laid down on their laps and Cory pulled Topanga, Riley, and I closer to him. "Goodnight princess." He said twice. One for me and one for Riley and he kissed us on our foreheads. "Goodnight princess." He said once again which was probably for Topanga. It was nice to just lay there.