Val Meets I am Farkle
I don't own Girl Meets World!
Val sat in class in between Annie and Lucas. Her Dad stood in front of the board, written on it were the words "Geniuses: Mozart, Einstein, Jobs."
"A) Every human being is a unique collection of atoms." Cory started the lesson "B) Some of you in this room, might be human beings. C) When you mess with atoms, or human beings, they blow up."
Farkle slammed his hands down on his desk and shouted "Belgium, 1831!"
"Okay, everybody, it's happening right now. Under your desks, Farkle's gonna blow!" Cory called.
Everyone dove under their desks in fear.
"I know everything except Belgium, 1831." Farkle cried "And once I know that, I'll know everything! And then my name goes on the board with those three idiots!"
Riley and Val shared a look "Breathe, Farkle." They said together.
"Too late." Farkle started to wobble "I taste blue." He toppled over into Annie's lap.
"Can I-?" Annie asked, turning to Val.
"No." Val cut her off "Give him a minute then say something factually incorrect, he'll be fine."
"But can I at least lay him down, I don't think this position is very comfortable. For either of us." Annie argued.
She had a point, Farkle's back was bent weirdly and his head lolled.
"Fine, but give him a pillow." Val nodded.
"But-!"
"No buts!" Val scolded "You have two others in your locker, you can lend him one."
Annie sighed and passed Val a small pillow. Val got up and laid it on the floor next to Annie's desk. Annie gently shoved Farkle off her lap and Val caught his shoulders and set him on the ground.
"You know, with anybody else, that would have been strange." Riley mused.
"But with Farkle, we don't even lift him off the floor anymore." Maya finished "Oh, here's your book." She dropped a notebook on Farkle's stomach.
"Ugh!" Farkle groaned.
The guidance counselor, Miss Oben came into the classroom "Sorry to interrupt, Mr. Matthews, I'm here to speak with Farkle Minkus."
"Farkle, guidance counselor." Cory called.
Farkle sat up "Well it's about time."
Before Miss Oben could take Farkle into the hallway, Riley, Maya, Annie, Lucas, and Val all stepped up and moved in front of her.
"Are you finally taking him away?" Riley asked.
"He goes, we all go." Maya added.
"No one is taking away my friend." Val warned.
Lucas and Annie sighed "We're here so it's not just them."
"There are no secrets in our group." Riley shook her head.
"Hmm, is that so?" Val joked "Well, I'm not part of your group anymore so I guess that's okay."
Maya jabbed Val in the side with her elbow "Nothing can come between-" The bell rang "Okay."
Maya led Riley out. Val, Annie, and Lucas stayed until Riley and Maya came back and dragged them outside.
"Why would you do that?" Val asked angrily "We were supposed to stick up for Farkle together."
"We're just gonna listen from outside." Riley shrugged "What's the big deal?"
"The big deal is we are supposed to be there to support Farkle through thick and thin. You can't just run off when the bell rings." Val argued.
"Would you shut up? I'm trying to listen." Maya had her ear pressed to the door.
There was a small scuffle as Val, Riley, Lucas, and Annie all tried to get an ear to the door separating them from their friend.
"Farkle," They heard "I have the results..."
Farkle interrupted "Of my I.Q. and Aptitude tests? I'm a genius right? You know how I know? 'Cause I'm a genius. It's not conceited when it's true. Right, Mr. Matthews?"
"I wouldn't know. I'm barely literate." They heard the twins father joke.
"Your parents have given me permission to tell you that yes, you scored in the superior range." Miss Oben said, sounding very proud.
"And my Aptitude test says I should consider a career in..." Farkle prompted.
"'Ruling the world.'" Miss Oben answered then laughed "Never seen that one. The rest of the class falls within a more traditional range of careers. Although we did get one bunny farmer..."
"Yay!" Riley couldn't help the shout of joy she gave, Annie elbowed her in the ribs "Ow!"
"And 'Armpit sniffer #5 in a deodorant factory." Miss Oben continued.
"I got a job!" Maya cheered, then "Ow!" As Annie elbowed her too.
"But I expect there's going to be further testing, is that right, Miss Oben?" Cory asked.
"Yes. When someone scores this high, the experts usually want to confirm the testing."
"And then, more specialized schools with gifted programs, like Einstein Academy, might approach you." Cory warned Farkle.
Riley stuck her head inside the door "Now, Farkle says..."
"I'd never leave my friends behind." Farkle finished.
"Who's a good genius?" Riley asked.
"I am!" Farkle smiled goofily.
"One more thing, Farkle." Miss Oben said, stopping him from leaving "It's important not to react to your score in any way that might make your friends feel-"
"Inferior. Of less value. Like dum-dums."
"We're talking about my daughters!" Cory said, offended.
"Who's fault is that?" Farkle laughed.
He walked to the door and opened it, causing Val, Riley, Maya, Lucas, and Annie to all fall through.
"Heh heh." Val chuckled sheepishly "Sorry."
"Actually, Miss Matthews, I need to talk to you next." Miss Oben smiled.
"Me?" Val asked "Why?"
"You have also scored in the superior range, and I'd like to warn you that Einstein Academy has already sent the school letters offering you a tour of the place."
"What?" Val looked to her father.
Cory hesitated "I think you should at least take a tour, honey. Einstein has great programs and more funding and-"
"But I'd be leaving all my friends!" Val protested "I don't want to leave my friends."
"I won't make you do anything you don't want to do, but you should think about it." Cory assured his oldest daughter "We can discuss it with your Mom tonight."
Topanga's was decorated for Farkle's genius party. His parents had even included Val's name on the banner, making it her party too, though she was happy to sit back and let Farkle gets the glory.
"Welcome to our Farkle and Valencia-" Stuart Minkus began.
"Ahem." Val cleared her throat.
"Right, sorry." Stuart corrected himself "Welcome to our Farkle and Val genius party. I'm Stuart Minkus, the original genius, very proud to welcome my son and his friend to the club. I'm sure his mother, who is unexceptional, would like to say a few words representing her people."
Stuart turned to his wife, a beautiful tall blonde woman in a red dress. She got up and wrapped an arm around her husband's shoulders.
"Yeah. I'm unexceptional. Who does what I say?" She asked.
"Everybody." Stuart smiled.
"Hi, Cory." Farkle's Mom waved to the teacher.
"Nyah!" Cory squeaked.
"Stop it." Topanga warned.
"Look at her." Cory protested.
"What? I like her now. She's a lot less scary than she was in high school."
"Uh-huh." Cory still looked terrified "Are you not lookin' at her?"
"I hold in my hand the answer to the question everybody's been asking." Mrs. Minkus stepped forward with an envelope "Is Farkle a clone? A robot? Or a real boy?"
"Real boy, real boy, real boy, real boy." Farkle prayed.
"Twenty bucks on real boy." Val whispered to Annie.
"I'll double that for clone." Annie scoffed.
"Please, he's a robot." Eric said, completely serious.
"Any other takers?" Val asked the room.
Everyone shook their heads, knowing better than to bet against Val Matthews.
Mrs. Minkus opened the envelope "This is the birth certificate of Farkle Minkus. Real boy!"
"Yes! Pay up." Val laughed.
Eric and Annie groaned "Will you take an IOU?"
"Sure." Val rolled her eyes and went over to Farkle "Congratulations, Farkle. I never had any doubts."
"Thanks, Val. And thanks for having me, Mom."
"Any time, kiddo. You make me proud every day." Mrs. Minkus kissed her son's cheek "Stuart and I want to thank all of Farkle's friends who care about him. You're all he ever talks about."
"We hope you'll keep encouraging him to be as unique as he's always been." Stuart said, getting up "The Minkuses have always been simple, incredibly rich people. Please enjoy our party, and don't forget your complimentary penguin."
Cory and Topanga walked over to the Minkus parents.
"Hey, Minkus, great party." Cory clapped Stuart on the shoulder "Nice shirt. I don't care about any of that. You married Jennifer Bassett. Did you know that?"
"We fell in love." Stuart shared a loving look with his wife "She told me."
"Maya, when I rule the world, I'll give you half because you're my lovely fake wife." Farkle offered.
"Hey, I want some of that!" Riley protested.
"Since when?" Annie asked, making Riley glare at her.
"Yeah, Farkle, you love them equally." Lucas reminded the genius, ignoring Annie's comment "Marry them both. Wouldn't that be the genius thing to do?"
"See why I keep you around!" Farkle pointed "Make it happen, Face."
"Here we go." Maya stood up and ran around the couch.
Farkle joined her.
Lucas whispered to Val "I promise, I'm just doing this for Farkle." Then he knelt down in front of Riley "Riley Matthews?"
"Yes?"
"Would you..." Lucas tried.
"Absolutely."
"...Do me the honor..."
"Any time at all."
"...Of becoming..."
"Whatever you want."
"...Mrs..."
"Do you not understand 'yes'?"
"...Farkle Minkus?" Lucas finished, looking relieved.
Riley paused "You're gonna be there, right?"
"A yes is a yes. Here's your ring." Farkle pulled the ring from Maya's hands.
"Hey!" The blonde called.
"You get two penguins." Farkle bargained.
"Okay." Maya shrugged.
Farkle placed the ring on Riley's finger and the brunette was immediately transfixed by the sparkling stone.
"Maya, marry us quick while she's still distracted by the sparkles." Farkle ordered.
Farkle dashed around the couch and shoved Lucas gently out of the way.
"Okay." The Texan sat down and wrapped his arm around Val's shoulders.
"Blah, blah, blah." Maya said officially.
"I do." Farkle grinned.
"Blah, blah, blah."
"There it is." Mrs. Minkus came over and took the ring from Riley and put it on her own finger.
Riley looked up now that the ring was gone "What do you want?" She asked Farkle.
"If anyone has any reason why these two should not be joined-" Maya said quickly.
"I object, yes." Smackle burst onto the scene.
"Smackle." Maya greeted.
Riley leapt up "You made it to the wedding, Smackle!" She tried to give the genius girl a hug but Smackle simply stood there awkwardly "Still having trouble with the hugging thing, aren't ya?"
Val untangled Riley's arms from around Smackle.
"Thank you, Val. The average middle-schooler spends nine minutes a day engaged in hugs. Do you know what I can accomplish in nine minutes?" Smackle asked.
"No." Riley shook her head.
"Ask NASA." Smackle said proudly.
"Good for you, girl!" Val grinned.
"Smackle, here to mock my recent membership into the genius club?" Farkle asked.
"On the contrary, Farkle. I welcome you and Val with open arms." Slowly and awkwardly, Smackle held her arms out wide "My arms. They are open."
"What do you want me to do with that?" Farkle asked.
"We are both geniuses now." Smackle explained.
"Yep. That makes us even more alike than we were." Farkle nodded "And as all of us know..."
"Like forces repel." Smackle lowered her arms "Yes, science says we may never be together."
"But love isn't science." Val reminded them.
"And science never makes a mistake." Farkle agreed.
"Really?" Riley walked up to the three and held up a picture of the blobfish "Have you seen the blobfish? Why, science? Why?"
"Why do you carry that around if it freaks you out so much?" Val asked.
"I don't know." Riley shrugged and walked away from the three geniuses.
"I am here to ask you both to consider transferring to Einstein Academy." Smackle said, getting her bearings.
"That's not happening." Lucas pointed at the dark haired girl.
"Stop hitting on me." Smackle glared.
"Ha." Lucas laughed uncomfortably "Okay."
"What would be the benefits of our going to Einstein?" Farkle asked.
"Whoa, you mean 'you' going to Einstein. I'm not leaving my friends." Val shook her head "Sorry, Smackle."
"Actually, honey..." Topanga waved her oldest child over "I think it would be smart to look into Einstein Academy."
"Why?" Val asked.
"Why?" Topanga looked confused "It's a good school, you could get better teachers, work with kids who like what you like, and, let's face it," She lowered her voice "Riley hasn't been very nice to you these past few years. I think a change might be good."
Val's mouth was hanging open "I'm sorry, so because she doesn't like me, I have to uproot my whole life, change schools, and loose my friends? How is that fair?"
"Life isn't always fair, Val." Cory joined in "And we're not saying you have to go, we're just asking that you think about it."
Val took a deep calming breath "Okay, I get that you guys just want what's best for me, but I don't want to leave. I like my school. I like having Dad as a teacher. I like getting to see my friends every day. And I don't think it's fair that you are trying to make me give up these things."
"Val, we just want you to have a bright future."
"I know, and I love you for that. But my future will always involve my friends. And that's not changing."
Val walked back to Lucas who was sitting on the couch, watching the interaction between the Matthews parents and Val.
"You okay?" He asked slowly.
"I'm fine, just irritated. I can't believe they actually want me to transfer." Val complained "I know it's a good opportunity, but my whole life is my friends. You, Farkle, Annie, and Eric. I don't want to just up and leave."
"It isn't like you wouldn't see us." Lucas pointed out "You would still have weekends and holidays and summer-"
Val cut him off "Lucas, how much do you know about Einstein Academy?"
"I know it's where Smackle goes to school."
"Einstein Academy is a boarding school. You need a special reason to get special permission to leave. Smackle gets it because her Uncle is the principal. I wouldn't. I'd only see you on holidays and in the summer."
"Whoa."
Cory stood behind his desk. On the chalk board were the names "Genius: Mozart, Einstein, Jobs, Farkle, Val." Farkle sat all and proud in his seat. Val was slumped over, resting her head in her hands. Lucas was keeping a close eye on her.
"Farkle, Val, what are you?" Cory asked.
"Geniuses. We're on the board." Farkle answered proudly.
"Wrong." Cory looked at his other daughter who for some reason looked overly happy "Riley, what are you?"
"Bunny farmer!" Riley squealed.
"Wrong." Cory shook his head.
"Then don't go into my room." Riley smiled nervously.
Cory gave her an incredulous look then shook his head "All these things that you guys have been told you are this week? That's only a piece of what makes you an individual. This I.Q. test produces a number that puts you in a category. A label. Don't live under a label. It just gets in the way of who you are."
"But if you get called something enough, don't you start believing it?" Lucas asked.
"Believe in what you contribute to others. We expect great things from you, Farkle. You too, Val." Cory smiled.
But Val didn't respond, she just sat there staring into space.
"I'l try my best, sir." Farkle answered.
"But, I also expect great things from everybody else. Remarkable people have I.Q.'s all across the board." Cory gestured to the board "Everyone has great gifts. And everyone in this class has the potential too impact our world. So just be yourself. It's the only label that matters."
Miss Oben came and knocked on the door "Mr. Matthews? If it's alright with you, I need a moment with Farkle."
"Okay. Farkle?" Cory called.
Val sat up, suddenly aware as Farkle got up and followed Miss Oben out. She glanced at Lucas and the pair shared a worried look.
It wasn't long before Miss Oben came back "Val? Can I have a word?"
Val nodded and got up. Lucas gently grabbed her hand.
"I'll be fine." She whispered, not knowing if it would be true.
Lucas nodded and let her go. Val followed Miss Oben out of the classroom and into her office. Inside was a tall man in a suit.
He held out his hand for Val to shake "Hello, you must be Valencia Matthews. I'm Mr. Grace, I'm here to give you a few more tests since you scored so high on your I.Q. test."
"Hello, Mr. Grace." Val shook his hand "It's nice to meet you."
"Can you answer a few questions for me?"
"Certainly." Val nodded.
By the time the testing was done, school was over and Val decided to walk home by herself. She had pepper spray and stayed around people, but the thoughts that swirled through her head were dangerously frightening. Something told her that Farkle was having the same thoughts go through his head.
Swallowing her fear, Val took out her phone and texted Farkle.
'Where are you? I think we need to talk.'
'I just finished my testing. I'm going over to your house.'
Val sighed and put her phone away as she walked up the steps to her apartment. She opened the door and came inside to find everyone sitting on the couch waiting. Lucas, Annie, Eric, Riley, Maya, her Mom and Dad, and Auggie.
Val bit her lip.
"Val?" Lucas asked "What happened?"
"I think we should wait for Farkle."
Less than five minutes later, Farkle and his parents knocked on the door. Val grabbed Farkle's hand and whispered to him.
"Do you want to tell them?" She asked.
"I think I have to. I don't think I can handle this on my own."
"You're not on your own. I'm right here with you. Always." Val reminded him "But if you want to tell them, I will too."
They sat down on the kitchen bench.
"So, they did more testing on us." Farkle began.
"How big of geniuses are you?" Riley joked.
Val squeezed Farkle's hand as she felt the fear well up in her throat "Riles, they're-they're..."
Cory stepped in "Riley, they're considering some behavioral traits in Farkle and Val that warrant a more specific kind of testing."
"What? They just noticed Farkle's a little Farkley and Val's a little weird?" Riley asked, confused.
"I could have told them that." Maya shrugged.
Val blinked and bit her lip again "They want to see if we have autism, guys."
Maya's smile dropped and she stood up "You don't."
Riley joined her friend "Let's go tell them you don't."
"We might have a type of autism called Asperger's Syndrome." Farkle said.
"You don't." Maya repeated.
"What is it?" Lucas asked, getting up and moving towards Val.
Val shifted away, slightly afraid of the upset tone of voice the boy was using.
"It's a disorder that affects a persons behavior." Farkle explained, grasping Val's hand.
"Farkle, when I said you were a little Farkley, what I meant was..." Riley tried to excuse her earlier words.
"Yeah, that you behave just like a perfectly normal Farkle." Lucas said.
"You do." Maya insisted.
"And Val, you are not weird." Lucas continued.
"Aren't I?"
"We'll get the results from todays interview, and we'll know." Stuart Minkus said calmly.
"We know." Farkle sighed.
"We don't know!" Maya shouted.
"Guys, we've passed every single test we've ever taken." Val whispered.
"Farkle made us come right over." Mrs. Minkus smiled wetly "He didn't want to go home, he didn't want to do anything except be with you."
"Of course." Topanga smiled "That's who he is."
"I see it in my classroom every day." Cory nodded.
"The most important thing to him was that you were a part of this." Stuart told them.
"Because he's Farkle." Riley smiled.
"That's who you are," Maya said "No matter what anybody says.
"Why didn't you come right home, Val?" Riley asked, confused.
"I needed a moment to myself, to process what's happening, so I walked home." Val tried to explain.
"You didn't want us to be involved?" Maya asked.
"Well can you blame me? All you've done is make it seem like having autism is the worst possibility!" Val blinked back tears "I'm not upset that I might have autism. I'm upset because this has proved that if I do, you are all going to treat me differently." She turned to her parents "You know, Einstein Academy might not be a bad idea."
She got up and left, walking upstairs to her room so no one could see the tears streaming down her face. The silence in her wake was deafening.
Auggie slowly got up and followed his big sister upstairs.
"Vallie?" Val heard Auggie's voice through the door "Can I come in?"
She muffled a last sob and wiped her eyes "Sure, Auggie. Come on in."
The door slowly creaked open and Val saw her little brother's figure in the frame. She blinked back more tears and smiled at him sadly.
"Are you going to go to Einstein Academy, Val?" Auggie whispered as he climbed up onto her bed with her.
"Maybe, I don't know yet. But now, it's a real possibility."
"You know I love you no matter what, right?"
"I do. Thank you, Aug." Val sniffled "I'll be alright. Tomorrow, I'll call Smackle and set up a tour at Einstein and we'll see how it goes."
"I'll miss you if you go." Auggie whimpered.
"I'd miss you too, but I'm not gone yet, so let's not dwell on it." Val sat back "Do you want me to read you a chapter?"
"Who will read to me if you go?" Asked Auggie.
"I would call you during my free time and we would read then." Val offered "It'd be like when I stayed with Grandma and Grandpa."
"But that wasn't the same."
"I know, but it's the best I can do."
There was another knock at the door and Lucas stepped inside "Hey, are you okay?"
"I don't know." Val shrugged "I guess I'll have to be okay with whatever happens."
"You know, I had a friend back in Texas, her name was Charlotte, she had Asperger's syndrome. And she was one of the kindest people I knew. She loved animals, cooking, and her friends. No one treated her weird or different. The other thing, she was in her thirties with a two year old daughter named Claire. They lived life to the fullest and were able to do everything the rest of us did." Lucas knelt down next to Val's bed "And I promise, I will never treat you any differently if you have this. I like you Val, that's not going to change because you might have autism. I will stand by you and help you with whatever you need help with. I promise."
Lucas looked deep into Val's eyes and they slowly, leaned in about to kiss when Auggie stood up.
"Gross!" He exclaimed "No kissing my sister, mister!" He pushed Lucas teasingly and smiled at Val so she would know he was joking.
"You are too cute, Augs." Val swept her little brother up in a hug "I'll read to you in a bit. Why don't you go tell Mom what we're doing?"
"Okay." Auggie nodded then turned to Lucas "But no funny stuff."
He hopped off the bed and skipped down the stairs. Lucas and Val laughed lightly at the sweet little kid.
"Now, where were we?" Lucas joked.
"I think..." Val pulled him a little closer "We were right about here."
Lucas leaned in and kissed the girl he loved softly on the lips. There was a spark of something that lit a flame inside him. He knew in that moment, that Valencia Matthews would forever be in his heart.
"Would you guys be upset if Val and I transferred to Einstein Academy?" Farkle asked.
The group was sitting at their usual spot in Topanga's Bakery.
Riley and Maya shared an upset look at the question "Yes!" Riley cried.
"Would you still be our friends?" Farkle asked.
"Boy, for someone who's gonna rule the world, you sure ask some dum-dum questions." Maya laughed.
Val glared silently at the blonde.
Smackle walked in, she held two Einstein Academy uniform jackets in her hands. She set them down when she saw the group and walked over to them.
"Farkle. Val." She greeted "People who aren't Farkle or Val."
"Hey, Smackle." Lucas greeted distractedly staring at Val.
"Stop smothering me."
"Okay." Lucas nodded.
Riley got up and hugged the Einstein Academy girl, making her very uncomfortable. Val sighed, got up, and untangled Riley from Smackle.
"Friends. Hugging. I suppose this is all very important to people like you." Smackle mused.
"You love us, Smackle. You just don't know it yet." Riley insisted.
"Noted." Smackle smiled tightly "Farkle, Val, I'm here to see how you enjoyed your tour of Einstein Academy."
"You guys went?" Lucas asked, hurt.
"They spent the day with us. They fit." Smackle grabbed the jackets she'd set down when she came in "And so will these."
Farkle pulled his on first "How does it look?"
"I'm swooning." Smackle grinned "Perhaps we could indulge in our established ritual of sharing a smoothie?"
"Thanks, but I'm not really thirsty right now." Farkle shrugged.
"Nor am I really interested in the consumption of a frozen treat." Smackle took off her glasses and winked at Farkle with both eyes.
"What are you doing? What is she doing?" Maya started to panic "Who do we call?"
"I believe she's winking at me." Farkle told her.
"How do you like it?" Smackle asked robotically, flipped her hair, leaned her chin on her fist, and tried to wink again.
"Yeah, let's see it with one eye." Farkle suggested.
Smackle made a strange face. Everyone begged for two eyes again, except for Val who was staring down at the Einstein Academy jacket in her hands.
"Why don't I get us a table outside." Smackle suggested, putting her glasses back on.
She left, doing several different, uncomfortable poses on her way out the door.
Riley leapt up "Farkle, Isadora Smackle loves you!"
"But I'm loyal to both of you." Farkle argued.
"Well, your two fake wives want you to spend time with one real Smackle." Riley laughed.
"Go get 'em, tiger!" Maya shoved him toward the door.
Farkle paused "Why are you doing this?"
"Did you ask us to help you understand love?" Riley asked.
"Yeah." Farkle nodded.
"Then go figure it out." Riley pointed to the door, where outside Smackle sat smiling contentedly.
"Yeah, we heard you're a genius." Maya joked.
"Val?" Lucas asked, as Farkle left "What's going through that head of yours?"
"You're not mad?"
"Mad?" Lucas asked, confused "Why would I be mad?"
"Because I went to Einstein without telling you."
"You don't need my permission to do anything." Lucas told her.
"I know that. But I think maybe I should have discussed it with you. You know, after the kiss?" Val finally looked up.
"I don't care where you go, because no matter where you end up, you will always be right here." Lucas pointed to his heart "With me."
"That was super cheesy, but also really, really cute." Val laughed.
"So, have you made your decision?"
"Not yet. But, wherever I go, you'll be with me too."
"Hey, Annie." Val said, sitting down next to her best friend in history class.
"I'm sorry." Annie immediately apologized.
"What for?"
"I didn't follow you. When you were upset. You're my best friend and I wasn't there for you."
"You're always there for me, Annie." Val assured her friend "I know you won't treat me any differently, whatever happens."
"Val!" Farkle called from the door "Miss Oben wants to see us."
"Wish me luck." Val got up and passed Riley, Maya, Smackle, and Lucas on her way out.
She stopped Lucas and quickly kissed his cheek.
"What was that for?" Lucas asked, happily surprised.
"Luck."
Lucas smiled dopily and Val followed Farkle out.
They had the conversation with Miss Oben and got back to class. Farkle went in first.
"Farkle time?" He asked.
"And Val time?" Val joined him.
"Absolutely." Cory nodded.
Farkle flipped the nameplate so it read 'Farkle' "Asperger's syndrome is an autism spectrum disorder. A.S.D. This is a pretty complicated label, so we want to explain it to you."
"People with A.S.D can fall anywhere on a spectrum of different behaviors. They talked to us for a long time. And you know what?" Val asked.
"We don't have Aspergers." Farkle smiled "But they also said they don't know what to make of me. And I like that. So what am I? I'm Farkle! Thank you."
Smackle looked down sadly.
That evening Val invited Smackle over, she could tell the girl had had a hard time watching the class.
"Hey, you in there?" Val asked, leading Smackle to her own bay window.
"I'm disappointed."
"Because Farkle and I aren't like you?" Val nodded.
"How did you know?"
"Smackle, I've known you for a long time. I finally did some research on Asperger's when I thought I might have it. And I wanted to say, that it doesn't change you in my eyes."
"Really?" Smackle asked.
"Really. I'm sorry if you felt like you couldn't tell me. I'm sorry if I haven't been supportive enough."
"You-you are though." Smackle tried to find the words "You know when I'm uncomfortable with your sister hugging me and you make her stop. You don't judge me at all. You don't let my bluntness bother you. You're kind and supportive and-what's the word?"
"Friend, Smackle. I'm your friend."
"So will you be coming to Einstein Academy?" Smackle asked hopefully.
"No. I'm sorry, but I can't leave my other friends. But, I could help you come to John Quincy Adams. I think you'd thrive there." Val suggested.
"I will think about your offer." Smackle smiled "Thank you, Val."
"You're welcome, Isadora. And remember, if you decide not to come to school with us this year, there's always next year. High school would be better if you were there." Val reminded her.
"Life is always better with friends." Smackle agreed.
Word count: 5116 words
So I'm back at college and I'm online until the end of September. It's also currently about to snow. I'm really sad about Chadwick Boseman. #WakandaForever. Please don't forget to comment, vote, and add to your reading lists! Stay healthy, stay safe, and stay home! Also #BlackLivesMatter and #SaveOurChildren.
Love,
The Author