A rumor is nothing more than gossip with a purpose. - MARY C. MCDONALD

Riley jumped when the door slammed and she felt something hit her shoulder. Her vision blurred from her sleeping and tried to make out the two figures looking at her.

"Mom?"

"Riley, Lucas," Topanga said and Riley turned to Lucas who had fallen asleep himself.

During their sleep, Riley had fallen asleep on his chest and Lucas had his arm wrapped around her waist. It looked bad, but Riley knew her parents had to understand she didn't do anything.

"Oh shit," Lucas mumbled and pulled his arm away from Riley's waist.

"Riley, Lucas," Topanga repeated.

Riley stood to her feet and tried to look for the time but she was still foggy.

"Boys!" Cory snapped.

"Mom, we didn't do anything," Riley said as Lucas stood up himself.

"Where is Auggie?" Topanga asked as she walked to the kitchen.

Riley went to help with the bags Topanga had in her hands. However, her mother waved her away.

"Auggie!" Riley called and she could hear her brother's running footsteps.

He appeared in the doorway and smirked at Riley who glared at him.

"What were you doing?" Topanga asked.

"Playing my video game, Lucas helped me and Ava with our homework," Auggie said with his smirk.

"Mom?" Riley asked and Topanga gave Auggie a tight lip and smiled.

"We just fell asleep," Riley said.

"Mr. and Ms. Matthews, she isn't lying, we were watching a movie for our project and I guess we fell asleep," Lucas added.

"Project?" Topanga asked.

"Dad assigned us with a project about our passions," Riley said.

Topanga shot Cory a look and he yelped at his wife's expressions.

"Oh Mom it's not a big deal, it would be the first time they fell asleep together," Auggie added.

"Auggie!" Riley exclaimed as her brother's eyes went wide.

"Topanga!" Cory exclaimed as he inched towards Lucas who hid behind Riley.

"Auggie please go to your room while we talk to these two," Topanga said as she walked over to the couch.

"Oh man I wanted to hear them get in trouble," Auggie complained as he walked away from the scene.

"Sit please," Topanga said as she sat in the single-seat and Cory glared at the tall blonde teen.

"Mom seriously all we did was-"

"Sleep, I know honey but … we need to talk about this, you two specifically," Topanga said as Riley sat on the couch. Lucas cautiously sat next to her with an embarrassed look on his face.

"Did you know in 7th grade your father and I fell asleep after a project, at school?" Topanga asked as Cory yelped.

"No," Riley said as she looked between her parents.

"Your father took it as an invitation to tell everyone he was the man," Topanga said as Cory looked down.

"What does that mean?" Riley asked as Lucas groaned.

She turned to him and she realized he knew what her parents were insinuating.

"Your father allowed the school to think we had well sex," Topanga said and Riley's mouth dropped open.

"What! Why! Dad!," Riley said and turned to her dad with a look.

"That isn't exactly what happened," Cory said as Topanga gave him a look.

"That's how I remember it," Topanga said

Young Cory and Topanga walk out of Mr. Feeny's office. They had both endured an uncomfortable conversation, they knew he had to understand they did nothing. The hallway filled with a rousing cheer of applause. While Topanga looks confused, Cory looks satisfied. A young Shawn pulls Cory aside.

"What's going on?" Cory asked confused by everyone's reaction.

"You are a god" Shawn exclaimed and patted Cory on the back.

"What are you talking about?" Cory asked as confusion clouded his face.

"Like you don't know. Like you didn't spend the night with Topanga," Shawn said as he insinuated they did more.

"All we did was edit!" Cory exclaimed.

"Hey, you call it what you want, but you are the MAN!" Shawn said with a grin.

"I'm not the man," Cory said.

He saw Harley Keener and Joey walk over to him with smirks planted on their face. Harley pointed at Cory and swung his arm over Cory who was surprised at the action.

"There's the man! There he is. Barely three feet high. I mean, not much to look at, but inside ... there lurks a little Harley Keiner" Harley exclaimed.

"So, uh… So Matthews. Come on, tell the truth now. Did you sleep with her? Did you sleep with Topanga?" Joey asked as he leered at Cory.

"Well, that's a very private, personal, intimate, quest-"

"Hey! Are you the man? Or are you just you?" Harley interrupts which surprises Cory.

Cory was confused about what he should say as the three teens stared at him with hunger in their eyes. They were looking at him in a different light, one made of popularity. Cory was hesitant and looked over his shoulder. Topanga's gaze was locked on Cory and he could see that she was waiting for him to say something, anything.

"I guess… I'm the man!" Cory said as the boys began to congratulate him.

Over his shoulder, Topanga teared up due to Cory's lies. Her face reddens as others cast looks at her about what happened, fewer congratulations but more judgment. She had to get out of there right at that moment.

Riley stared at her father in admonishment as Lucas's mouth gaped open. He turned to Riley and placed his hand on her shoulder.

"I would never do that to you!" Lucas said as Cory groaned.

"It was peer pressure," Cory exclaimed.

"The point is … situations like this can make others think something more is going on," Topanga said.

"No one knows we fell asleep," Riley said confused.

"I know Riley, I just want you to be aware of what could happen," Topanga said softly.

Lucas rubbed his hands on his jeans as nerves built up in him because of what was going on. He just wanted to escape and be swallowed by the Earth as he could feel Cory's glare.

"Can I just walk Lucas out?" Riley asked as Topanga nodded.

Cory began to object but Topanga hushed him. Riley got off the couch and Lucas followed suit. He grabbed his bag off the chair and mumbled a farewell to the Matthews. He couldn't look them in the eye, as he felt ashamed and wanted to just leave. The two walked in silence as they left the brownstone.

Lucas let out a breath and sighed as he turned to Riley. Riley had her arms wrapped around herself as the wind nipped at them. The dark sky above them told them it was well beyond into the night, and Lucas had to go home before he got in trouble. Riley shivered and Lucas instantly grabbed her arms to warm her up. Riley seized but relaxed when Lucas thumbed her elbow and smiled at her.

"Thank you," Riley said.

"For what?" Lucas asked.

"For not pushing me, for just respecting my wishes, and for being there as a friend," Riley said and Lucas smiled.

"Of course Riley, I would never do that to you," Lucas said, his voice lofty.

"Riley? Lucas?"

Riley's eyes widened as she looked over Lucas's shoulders and saw Darby and Yogi. Riley could feel her stomach knot up, as they stared at the two of them, but shocked. Riley watched Yogi open his mouth and close it back. Yogi was one of Charlie's best friends, and now he caught her in a moment with Lucas.

"Lucas, goodnight," Riley said and pulled her arms back.

Lucas understood and watched Riley scurry back into her brownstone. Lucas lazily walked down the stairs and stopped in front of the shocked couple.

"No one needs to know, we were just working on a project," Lucas said.

"It's late," Darby said as Yogi didn't say a word.

"I know, we just were working, no one needs to know what time I left," Lucas pushed.

"It's 10 p.m.," Yogi said sharply.

"Please, Riley is already having a tough time at school," Lucas begged.

"Let's go Darbs," Yogi said and pulled Darby away from Lucas.

Lucas sighed, and looked over his shoulder back up the brownstone and could see Riley's bedroom light on. He turned away from the window and began his walk home. Up in the brownstone, Riley had stumbled into her bedroom. Her stomach turned as Topanga walked into her room.

"What's wrong?" Topanga asked.

"Assumptions," Riley whispered and laid down on her bed.

Riley walked into the school building and could feel eyes on her. Was it in her mind or were people talking about her, more than usual? She could hear the whispers as she walked by. She could hear Charlie's name, she could hear Lucas's name and her own.

Everyone knew.

Riley reached her locker already overwhelmed with the day and it had barely begun. As she opened her locker, a blur of blonde appeared with a bagel.

"You left early," Maya mumbled with a full mouth.

"I needed to do something," Riley lied.

"What's up with the gallery of eyes?" Maya asked as she leaned against the lockers and stared at the crowd.

"Nothing," Riley continued to lie.

"Want a bite?" Maya said and shoved the bagel in Riley's face.

"Ew spit," Riley said her voice flat.

"You okay Riles?" Maya pushed.

"Riley!"

Riley turned to see Zay with wide eyes and he was out of breath. He grabbed her arm and she slammed her locker shut. Maya hot on their tail followed them in Cory's empty classroom. Zay closed the door and turned to Riley with a worried look in his eyes.

"You slept with Lucas?" He asked.

"What!" Riley and Maya yelled.

"No! Who is saying that?" Riley asked.

"Everyone and I mean everyone, I heard from Sarah, who heard from Yindra, who heard from Nate, who heard from Nigel, who heard from Darby," Zay explained.

"We didn't swear, oh my god Charlie!" Riley said and ran towards the door.

She opened the door and ran smacked into Lucas who had the same look in his eyes she did. She shoved him away from her and could feel her chest tighten as the whispers got louder. Riley tried to grab the wall when she saw Charlie who looked betrayed.

"Char, Char … Charlie," Riley gasped as her breathing quickened.

The colors began to blur until they faded black. Lucas caught Riley as she tumbled into darkness. Charlie ran over ready to shove Lucas when Zay slid over to them.

"Riley! Riley!" Zay yelled as Lucas cradled Riley in his arms.

"Look at what you did Friar! You always have to ruin her," Charlie growled and shoved Lucas's shoulder.

Charlie grabbed Riley from Lucas and caressed her face and then glared at Lucas.

"Riles!" Maya screamed as she crawled to the passed-out girl.

"Someone get a teacher!" Zay yelled as he tried waking Riley.

Lucas sat flabbergasted as he watched the girl he loved succumb to everything around her.

Charlie was right, all he did was ruin her.