Val Meets Smackle

I don't own Girl Meets World!

"Ancient Greece-" Cory started his class.

"What that? What that that?" Riley interrupted pointing at the present her father held.

"What thi-this?" Cory pointed at the pretty wrapped gift he held "This is a present."

Riley smiled "Is it for me?"

Maya crossed her arms "What's your game, Matthews?"

"Game? I mean no game. I just want to know who here wants this present." Everyone in the class raised their hands except for Maya making Cory look at her "Oh, Maya, what? You assume by playing hard to get, I'm gonna give it to you?"

"Well, yes. That's one of the many arrows in my quiver." Maya said, rolling her eyes like it was obvious.

Farkle shuddered "Medieval talk- What are you doing to me, woman?"

Val looked at him weird "What?"

"Riley." Cory set the present down on Riley's desk.

"Yay!" Riley cheered, opened the box, and pulled out a small wooden horse "'The Trojan horse'?" She said incredulously.

"Surprise." Cory held out his arms.

"This isn't a present. This is one of your life lessons wrapped up in a class lesson wrapped up in a box of nothing." Riley threw the horse behind herself angrily.

Val ducked the flying wooden toy and shouted "Hey!" She crumpled up a piece of paper and chucked it at her sister's head.

"How you doing, honey?" Maya asked, concerned.

"I'm all worked up." The twins said together.

"I know." Maya nodded.

"You assumed because it was all neat and pretty that something good was inside. Ancient Troy was protected by walls. The Greeks couldn't get in, so they built a big wooden horse and left it behind. What do you think the Trojans did?" Cory asked.

"They left it there because they were afraid that somebody was trying to teach them something." Riley scowled.

"They captured it as a trophy and brought it inside. That night, the Greek soldiers crawled out of the horse and defeated Troy. What have we learned here?" Cory asked and Lucas raised his hand "Mr. Friar."

"Don't make assumptions based on what you see?" Lucas offered.

"Riley, listen, I'm sorry I made an example of you. So here's a gift for you." Cory pulled out a smaller, wrapped gift.

"Ooh- No! I want to- No! Pretty ribbon- No!" Riley fought with herself.

"I'll take my chances with that, sir." Lucas said, raising his hand again.

"No, Lucas. You have to assume it was no good because the first one was no good. Aren't you all proud of me, dad?" Riley grinned, pleased with herself.

"No!" Val and Cory shouted together.

"Riley, that's not the lesson." Val groaned and put her head down on her desk.

Lucas read the card aloud "'Get out of detention free.'"

"Ooh, I could use one of those. Gimme that and I won't call you 'Ranger Rick' all week." Maya offered.

"Here you go." Lucas passed the blonde the card.

"Thanks, Ranger Roy." Maya smirked.

Lucas sighed "Lemme guess. Ranger Roy is filling in for Ranger Rick?"

"All week. And now..." Maya turned to Cory "you."

"Oh, is something gonna happen to me?" Cory had planned this all out with Val that morning and he knew exactly what would happen.

"Yes, it is." Maya stood up and started to dance "A d-d-d-d, a d-d-d-d" She climbed on top of the desk "a d-d-d-detention. But not today. Boom!"

"Read the card." Cory told her.

"Huh?"

"Card." Val said.

"Say 'get out of detention free' then give worthless card to Maya then watch her dance on my desk." Maya read from the card.

"In conclusion, Val?" Cory called on his oldest to finish the lesson.

"Never assume. Look more deeply. Just because something is wrapped up all pretty, doesn't always mean it is." Val said from her desk, admiring her nails.

"You two were in on this!" Maya realized, looking at Val and Lucas.

"I'm Ranger Roy and I'll be here all week." Lucas tipped an imaginary hat.

Maya shuddered angrily.

"Sorry, Maya. Dad made me." Val shrugged.

"Hey! It was your idea!"

That night was the N.Y.C. Interscholastic Debate. Farkle's team was competing against Einstein Academy.

"...in conclusion, school uniforms reduce individuality which will be unnecessary in the real world when you're all working for me. Thank you. I am Farkle!" Farkle raised his arms and bowed deeply.

From the audience Riley said "I don't understand debate."

"I say you do." Maya told her.

"Okay."

"I like debate- exploring two sides of the same thing- good and bad, light and dark, right in front of you at the same time. Where else are you gonna get that?" Lucas asked.

Val gestured at the two girls who sat next to them.

"Oh, right here. Look at you." Lucas laughed.

"And now from Einstein academy," Cory started reading from a notecard "'undefeated this season, 72 pounds of raw intellectual power! She is who your mama wishes she gave birth to!' The one, the only... Smackle!"

Smackle burst through a paper banner and started punching the air and dancing.

"You're goin' down, chump!" Smackle grabbed the microphone and started her speech "Wearing a uniform makes you surrender to conformity and sacrifices uniqueness, which is our most valuable freedom. Don't let anybody tell you what to wear. Don't let anybody tell you what to be. Smackle, the one and only, out."

"Whoo!" Val stood up and cheered "Preach it, sister!"

Farkle stared at his friend in shock. Val slowly sat down mouthing 'Sorry.'

"Well, before I announce the winner, let me remind you all that our final debate of the season will be held right here next week, where our thought-provoking topic will be 'Is beauty only skin deep?'" Cory announced as the judges passed him the paper with the winner on it "Great, thank you. So the winner of today's debate is...Isadora Smackle, Einstein academy."

Over the applause Riley said "It looks like our debate team could use some help."

"Yeah, Smackle's definitely got game." Lucas grimaced.

"She beats Farkle every time. You think he's gotten used to it by now?" Riley asked.

Farkle was on the floor moaning in agony "It hurts!"

Riley, Maya, Lucas, and Val stood up.

Maya started to lead the way over to their hurting friend "Nope. Good thing we're there for him. Being there for him is the most important thing we can be-" A waiter walked by with a plate of melon balls "Melon balls."

"Ooh!" Riley's eyes got big.

Maya seized Riley's hand and dragged her after the waiter. Val looked at Lucas, who shrugged and went after the two girls.

Val walked over to Farkle and Smackle.

Smackle was saying "Valiant effort as usual, my arch-nemesis. Perhaps a smoothie would take the sting out of my latest victory."

"Yeah. Perhaps you're right. I'll go see." Farkle stood up.

Smackle pushed him back down "Smackle, you fool. You forgot how literal he is. Farkle, I meant would you like to get a smoothie with me?"

"I ship it." Val whispered.

But Farkle sunk her ship "Isadora, what part of 'Arch-Nemesis' do you not understand?"

"Farkle, you might find this hard to believe, but I am a significant amount of fun. Would you like to see my fun face?" Smackle offered.

Val knew Smackle pretty well actually and knew that she started making her fun face the moment she had started speaking. And, knowing Farkle, he'd mess it up somehow. Not that she didn't love that little genius.

"That would be of interest to me. Proceed." Farkle said.

"I'm doing it!" Smackle shouted.

Riley came up to the group and Riley said "Well, Farkle, good job being smart and everything."

"Thanks for coming, Riley. Sorry you had to see me lose again." Farkle frowned sadly.

Riley hugged the little genius "Wonderful debate, Farkle. A memory that will live with me right up until the next thing happens." Farkle hugged her back then hugged Val.

"Good debate, Farkle. You know, if you need some help with the next topic I'm always here for you." Val whispered in his ear.

"Thanks, Val. I might just take you up on that."

"Well, Smackle, good job being smart and everything." Riley said as Farkle walked away.

Smackle sighed robotically "I am sad."

"What?" Riley turned back to the small girl.

"Farkle and I are perfect for each other. Why does he prefer you?" Smackle asked sadly.

"I don't know. If I knew, I'd stop." Riley said, sounding upset.

"Well, there's nothing left to do now but get a smoothie all alone and continue this good cry I'm having." Smackle started moving away.

Riley called her back "You're crying?"

"Yes." Smackle moved her hands at her eyes "A-wah A-wah."

"I don't think that's actually-" Riley said.

Smackle cried louder "A-wah A-wah..." And started muttering gibberish.

"Look, I am going to ask you something really fast and then I'm going to regret it. You wanna come to my house?" Riley turned away "Ooh."

"Yes, I would like to come to your house. There is much I can learn from you." Riley tried to hug the girl but was failing miserably when Maya walked up.

"Oh, no! I already have a weird friend." Maya groaned loudly.

"She means me." Riley said, pleased.

"No!" Val fake gasped "That couldn't be you."

Topanga and Val were in the kitchen making a chocolate pound cake. Just as they set it down on the table Auggie opened the door and walked in.

"Auggie?" Topanga asked, noticing his sad expression.

"Why-y-y-y?!" The little boy ripped off his shirt revealing a white tank.

"Whoa! Auggie, what's the matter?" Val asked, hurrying over to her little brother.

"Does this have something to do with- ucch- Ava?" Topanga asked.

"Ava!" Auggie wailed "Even when I think of her backwards she's still Ava!"

He opened the refrigerator and got out a can of whipped cream. Then he threw himself down in a chair at the table in front of the cake. Taking the whipped cream, he sprayed it all over the pound cake.

"Okay, tell me what happened right now." Val ordered.

"She's through with me." Auggie howled and shoved his face in the whipped cream and cake.

"Oh! Yay! Even when I think of it backwards it's still Yay!" Topanga cheered and her son and daughter stared at her "Okay, tell me what- ucch- Ava did."

Auggie started hyperventilating "She said we might not be together for the rest of our lives!"

"Easy! Calm down, Auggie, it'll be okay!" Val rushed to reassure her baby brother.

"Okay, deep breath, honey." Topanga sat down next to the crying little boy.

"She thinks there could be...others." Auggie wept.

"Honey, of course. That's only natural." Topanga told him calmly.

"No, it's not. You're supposed to meet somebody and fall in love and be together forever." Auggie insisted.

"Mom!" Val hissed "Not helpful for a heartbroken five year old!"

"Oh, honey, who put that crazy idea in your head?" Topanga asked.

"You and Daddy."

"Huh. I wonder how many people the idea of Cory and Topanga has ruined."

Auggie raised his hand "Me!"

"Come on, Augs, let's go get you cleaned up." Val lifted the little boy and carried him to the bathroom.

She washed his face and dried his tears.

"Thanks, Vallie." Auggie hiccuped.

"No problem, Auggie. Do you wanna talk about what happened?"

Auggie started shaking his head but slowly changed to nodding "I just love Ava so much. Why doesn't she love me the same way?"

"Auggie, sweetie, you're five. True love is really difficult to understand, even for grown-ups." Val said softly.

"But Mommy and Daddy understand it." Auggie protested "So do you and Eric."

"Oh, Auggie, Eric and I aren't dating." Val told him.

"Well, you should be." Auggie frowned "I may only be this many," He held up five fingers "but I know love when I see it. I knew I loved Ava the minute I saw her. But now she's done with me..." Auggie trailed off into tears again.

"She might not be done with you." Val suggested.

"Really?"

"Really, really." Val nodded "She might just need a break. That's completely normal, and afterwards, with a love like you two have, you'll end up together in the end. That's how fairytales go. And if anything's a fairytale, its our lives. Look at Riley."

Auggie stopped crying "You're right. Riley and you are both really great. Maybe everything will be okay."

"Love you Auggie." Val hugged her little brother.

"I love you too, Val." Auggie returned the hug then pushed her off "Don't push it."

Val walked into her sister's room just in time to hear Maya complain "Why do I have to be a part of your campaign to befriend every little woodland creature?"

From the bay window Smackle said "Which woodland creature am I in your mind?"

Maya hesitated "You're like a little gopher... chipmunk combo deal."

"Maya, Smackle needs our help." Riley told her friend.

"Yes. I need you to teach me the equation for beauty." Smackle looked at them pleadingly.

"Smackle, you're already beautiful." Val told her, coming into the room.

"Why?" Maya whined, ignoring Val.

"Smackle loves Farkle." Riley explained.

"Why?" Maya asked incredulously.

"But he prefers you both to me because you're both aesthetically pleasing. I, on the other hand, am less aesthetically pleasing, but am superior in every other area." Smackle boasted "I could understand it if he loved Val, but you two?! Come on!"

"No thanks," Val put up a finger "Farkle's my friend, nothing more."

Maya pushed Val's hand down "Okay, so you want us to make you beautiful?"

"Yes, but I don't expect you to be able to change a trillion years of evolution in five seconds." Smackle said sadly.

Riley looked at her nails like she'd seen Val do "Let me know when it's four seconds."

"Go!" Maya shouted.

"I'm... pretty?" Smackle asked staring into a mirror.

"You were always pretty, Smackle. Now you're just conventional." Val told her with a sigh.

"You're the hottest little gopher-chipmunk in the whole forest." Maya told the girl, ignoring Val's comment.

Riley handed Smackle a hand mirror "Who's the genius now?" She boasted.

Riley and Maya flipped their hair together and said "Stop it."

"My outward appearance now seems to represent the current trends agreeable to the general populace." Smackle said, staring into the mirror.

"Then why are you still talking like you don't know what you look like?" Maya asked.

"Ah, my speech. That's an easy fix." Smackle set the mirror down on Riley's dresser.

Riley shook her head "I don't think so."

"Awesome, like, giggle, question, omigosh."

"What?" Val's mouth was hanging open in confusion.

"Do you wanna lay that out again for us normals?" Maya asked.

"Observations reveal that if I merely insert 'awesome,' 'like,' 'omigosh,' and giggle at everything like it's a question, I will assimilate into the general teenage population." Smackle smiled.

Maya snickered "It's not that easy, Smackle."

"E=mc2" Smackle said.

"What did you do that for?" Maya groaned.

"Like "E" totally equals M. !" Smackle giggled "Omigosh, awesome!"

Maya leaned her head on Riley's shoulder "E=mc2"

"I understand the universe." Riley leaned her head on top of Maya's.

The two mimicked an explosion and Val rolled her eyes "Come on! We learned about this yesterday in science! And Smackle, you don't need to change how you look or talk or act for a boy. That's absolutely ridiculous. And if you don't stop, well, you're going to loose some friends."

"You don't want to be my friend anymore?" Smackle asked sadly.

"No." Val shook her head "I will always be your friend and I will always be there for you because I care about you. But you have other friends and they prefer the real, original, one of a kind Smackle."

"Thanks Val," Smackle smiled softly "But this is me now."

The girls, Maya, Riley, Val, and Smackle, walked into their history classroom where debate team was practicing. Maya was wearing Smackle's glasses.

"Ladies." Farkle greeted them as they entered.

"Farkle." Riley, Maya, and Val replied in unison.

Lucas stared at Maya "Maya, why are you wearing glasses?"

"They're Smackle's. I'm just holding them for her...on my face." Maya explained.

"We want to see if people will treat Maya differently now that she looks smart." Riley continued.

Val rolled her eyes and sat down "She doesn't look smart, she looks blind."

One of the debate team members stood up and moved towards Maya "Hello, Suddenly-Approachable-Woman. What's your prescription? Mine's 20/800. I can basically only hear you."

"I don't have a prescription. Although I must say, you guys are looking a lot less blurry." Maya said, squinting.

"That means you probably need a prescription." Val pointed out.

"That's the nicest thing any girl's ever said to us." The debate boy whispered to his other half excitedly.

Maya took off the glasses "I liked you better blurry."

"That's the second nicest thing a girl's ever said to us." Debate boy shouted.

"I think you look nice any way you are, Maya." Farkle smiled at their blonde friend.

"Thanks. You wanna go out with us?" Maya asked.

Farkle fainted to the floor "Out like 'out on a date'?"

Maya patted his head and helped him up "Aw, no. Out like out there with me and Riley because there's someone else we want to introduce you to."

"Yep. We think you'll really like her." Riley grinned.

"I have a very specific taste in girls." Farkle quirked an eyebrow "Is she one?"

"Uh-huh." Riley giggled.

"That'll do it!"

And Farkle followed the girls out. Val stayed in her seat for a moment before Riley ran back in, grabbed her sister's hand, and pulled her out the door.

"Presenting your date from the modeling runways of Paris, France-" Riley said, standing in the doorway to Svorski's Bakery, presenting Smackle.

"The new face of Geek Chic-" Maya continued "Isadora Smackle."

"Wow!" Farkle stared in shock "You made her over?"

"You know, just us girls playing with our hair and clothes." Riley smirked.

"Is that all you think girls can do?" Val glared at her sister "Because that's so shallow, conceited, and wrong."

Smackle ignored Val "Are you finally intrigued by me, Farkle?" She asked.

"I'm intrigued that my friends don't realize that you are an evil genius." Farkle frowned.

Riley chuckled "But a pretty evil genius, don't you think?"

"This is debate preparation, isn't it?" Val realized.

"What?" Maya deadpanned.

"The next debate is 'Is beauty only skin deep?' Smackle doesn't want to be like you guys. Smackle only wants to win. You ladies have been played." Farkle said sadly.

"Is this true, Smackle?" Riley turned to the girl.

"Affirmative."

Maya stepped forward, punching her fist into her palm "Riley, do I please have your permission to mess her up now?"

"Negative." Riley put out her hand to stop Maya.

Farkle stood up "Smackle, did you assume this outward change in your appearance would not affect your inner self?"

"Of course, it won't. I am Smackle. But look, four red nails and one blue one. I don't know why." Smackle held up her hand "That said, how could any outward change possibly affect the inner Smackle?"

Lucas came over to the group "Hi, guys. Wow, Smackle, you look great."

Smackle giggled then stared in horror "Did that just come from me?"

Farkle got an idea "Smile at her." He told Lucas.

Lucas smiled.

"Omigosh. Omigosh, I just said 'Omigosh.' Like, awesome. Question?" Smackle questioned.

"Are you okay, Smackle?" Riley asked, concerned.

"I don't understand what's happening to me."

"I don't either, but it's interesting." Val smiled.

Farkle smiled evilly "Why don't you sit next to her, Lucas?"

Lucas sat next to Smackle.

"No one that's ever looked like you has ever sat this close. Are you sitting here because you want to be my mate?" Smackle whispered.

"I'm sitting here because the seat was empty." Lucas said slightly nervously.

"You smell like pine trees."

"Thank you?"

"Our feet are touching." Smackle smiled goofily.

"You're doing that." Lucas pointed out.

Farkle laughed wickedly "Hmm, Smackle, would you mind telling me, what is the square root of 36?"

"Who cares?" Smackle asked, staring starstruck at Lucas.

"Excellent. Lucas is on our debate team. Will that be a distraction to you?" Farkle asked.

"Should be, yeah." Smackle sighed.

"Good. Let's go. We've got a debate to prepare for." Farkle stood up and dragged Lucas out the door.

"Yeah, I'm gonna go catch up with them." Val stood up and chased the two boys out "Freeze, Farkle!"

"Val!" Farkle spun on his heels and Lucas knocked into him "Ow!"

Val stalked up to the two boys "What's your problem?"

"What do you mean?" Farkle asked innocently.

"You're seriously gonna try to win by throwing Smackle off her game?" Val scowled "That's not winning! That's cheating."

"I'm not cheating." Farkle defended "I'm using an asset. Lucas asked to join the debate team before all this happened and we let him, so we're gonna use him."

And with that, Farkle grabbed Lucas's arm and dragged him away.

"I'm very disappointed in you, Farkle!" Val shouted after him.

Val sat in her room with Auggie on her lap reading a book on dinosaurs when her little brother got up.

"Sorry, Val." He said "I've got an appointment with Riley and Maya in the bay window."

"Okay, Aug. Something going on?" Val asked.

"I'm worried about Ava."

"Still?" Val smiled "I thought we decided you'd be okay."

"I will, but they're really good at making us feel better." Auggie smiled "You wanna come with me?"

"I'll always stick with you." Val hugged Auggie tightly.

When they broke apart Auggie grabbed his big sisters hand and pulled her into Riley's room. They sat down in the bay window and waited for the two girls to arrive. But when the window opened, it was not Riley and Maya who crawled through, but Farkle.

"Hi, Auggie." Farkle waved "Hi, Val."

"Hi, Farkle. Riley's not home." Auggie told the genius.

"So what are you two doing sitting in the bay window?" Farkle asked, confused.

"I just wanted to see if sitting in the window would fix my woman trouble. Riley always sits in the window. But I think it only works for her." Auggie explained.

"Well, that could be because Riley has such and active and creative mind." Val said "She's very smart."

"What happened?" Farkle asked the little boy.

"Ava said we might not be together forever."

Farkle looked over to Val and mouthed 'Ava?' She mouthed 'Girlfriend.' Back at the boy.

"And you expected that you would be?" Farkle asked.

"Yes, because I'm only" Auggie held up five fingers "this many and I still have high hopes."

Topanga entered and Farkle high fived Auggie as he hopped off the bay window and hugged his mother.

"If you like her, she must be really something." Farkle smiled.

Topanga winced "Oh yeah, she's really something. You know, Farkle, we have a front door."

"I know, but I'm here on business." Farkle told her.

Riley and Maya walked through the door.

"Okay, who's first?" Riley asked.

"I am." Auggie raised his hand, then looked at Val and grabbed her hand, lifting it up "We are."

"Farkle, do you have an appointment?" Maya asked.

"No, I'm a walk-in."

"I'm sorry, Farkle. Feel free to read one of our waiting room magazines. We're jammed." Riley sat down next to Auggie and Val, Maya sat down on their other side "Go."

"I want to be with Ava until I die." Auggie told them.

"She doesn't feel the same way?" Riley frowned.

Auggie threw up his hands "She's vague, man. She's messin' with my mind."

"But it doesn't matter what she says, it matters what she does." Riley smiled.

Maya cocked an eyebrow "Did she actually break up with you?"

"No." Auggie said.

"What?" Topanga almost shouted "Wait a minute. Auggie, I assumed you guys broke up."

"Oh, Mom. You should never assume. Didn't Dad teach you that?" Riley asked.

"Yeah, don't you get the home versions of these lessons? You're married to the guy." May pointed out.

"Of course, I do. There's just so many of them." Topanga's face crumpled "Oh no, I married Feeny."

Riley turned back to Auggie "So, how is Ava messin' with you?"

"She says we might not be together forever. But she also says we might." Auggie sighed.

"So you still have a girlfriend." Maya said slowly.

"And I let you eat cake and whipped cream." Topanga groaned.

"Hmm, so I had a pretty good day!" Auggie smiled and Topanga patted him on the back.

She picked him up and they left the room. Val was about to follow when Farkle grabbed her hand.

"Val, will you stay?" He asked nervously.

Val studied his nervous face before nodding and flashing him a small smile.

"Next!" Riley called and Farkle pulled Val back to the bay window "Yes?"

"I'm tortured." Farkle admitted.

"What about?" Riley asked.

"Smackle's not gonna be at her best at the debate." Farkle explained.

"Why not?" Maya asked.

Farkle sighed "Because you made her better. Except you didn't."

"You want us to change her back?" Maya nodded in understanding.

"If we do, Farkle, you'll lose the debate." Riley said.

"I only want to beat her when she's really her. She's the best arch-nemesis I could ever have." Farkle smiled happily.

"Otherwise, if you beat her, it doesn't count." Maya said with a small smile.

"You're pretty smart, Maya."

"Even without the glasses?"

Val wrapped an arm around Maya's shoulder and beamed at Farkle "Even without the glasses. And Farkle, by the way, I'm joining debate with you guys."

Val was almost late to the debate. Just as she walked in, she heard Farkle complaining to Riley and Maya and hurried over to them.

"You promised you'd change her back." Farkle was very upset.

"We tried." Riley protested.

"She wouldn't go for it." Maya finished.

Farkle stopped Smackle as she walked by "I didn't want to win this way, Smackle. I hope you enjoy being beautiful."

"Oh, I do." Smackle smiled deviously.

"How the once-mighty have fallen." Farkle turned to the audience "The nation of Troy was charmed by a beautiful wooden horse. They neglected to consider what was inside. And they lost everything because of outer beauty. Don't be fooled by a pretty wrapper. I mean, who keeps the wrapping paper?"

Riley raised her hand "I wear ribbons."

"Okay." Farkle conceded "And our concluding statement will be made by Valencia Matthews." Val glared at him "Sorry, Val Matthews."

"There can be absolutely no debate that the quest for outer beauty at the expense of one's inner self is a road to personal destruction. People make assumptions. I've been labeled a princess and perfect. People think that because I'm pretty I'm not smart, but here's a secret; I like school and I do pretty well. You might look at me and assume princess. I look at me and I know I'd better get good grades, because what's on the inside has to be more important than what's on the outside to get into a good college and into a good life. Because beauty is not skin deep. Thank you."

The audience clapped wildly.

Smackle stood up and, in a Valley Girl accent said "Omigosh, I'm so totally unprepared and scared."

"We finally got her." A boy on Farkle's team smiled wickedly.

"Maybe that's what you would assume I would say, considering the effort I put into my appearance." Smackle went back to normal.

"Uh-oh." The kid said.

"I'm here to argue today that beauty actually is skin deep. So I've done some research and I've learned... that it is. When you get compliments from people who don't ordinarily compliment you, when people look at you differently, packaging does matter. I wasn't pretty, then I was. This is a world where "pretty" seems better somehow. Which is too bad, but it's not debatable. However, I also learned that if you get swept up by what you are on the outside you can lose who you are on the inside. Even though it is easy to be fooled by the beauty of a Trojan horse, its real power comes from the army within- intelligence, compassion, integrity, courage. That army is the real you, no matter what you look like. So even though beauty may be skin deep, beauty is nowhere near as important as the army inside. And I'll try not to forget that." Smackle put on her glasses "Well, look at all of you. You're all very deeply beautiful. Especially you, Farkle. Thank you."

The crowd went crazy.

"She beat us." Lucas said out of the corner of his mouth.

"Yeah." Farkle smiled.

"Because she's right." Val smiled "She is beautiful inside and out, and so are all of you." Val walked over to Smackle "Great job, Smackle. I think you'll make an excellent opponent at the next debate."

"Thank you, Val." Smackle giggled "I think you're going down."

"Not without a fight."

Word count: 4900 words
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Love,
The Author