"Girl Meets She Don't Like Me"

TJ learned at a young age that not everyone is going to like you. And he was okay with that...For the most part. He just wished his parents liked him a little bit more or at least acted like they did. TJ walks up the steps inside the school and stands beside Lucas, Farkle, Smackle, and Zay, surprised to see Maya on the floor holding an upset Riley in front of a wall of lockers.

TJ raises his eyebrows in confusion as he looks at the girls on the floor. "Okay, what happened?"

"Someone doesn't like Riley, my legs are asleep, we have Health class." Maya replied.

She unwraps her arms from Riley, letting Lucas pick her up and carry her over his shoulder to Health class. Maya reached her arms out to TJ, making grabby hands at him, which made him chuckle. He walked over to her and bent down. Putting his hands under her legs and back, he picks her up bridal style. Wrapping her arms around his neck, Maya smiled at him. He smiled back at her as he followed Lucas and Zay to the Health classroom.

Once they get to the classroom Lucas puts down Riley beside her desk and then went to his own desk. TJ then puts Maya down beside her desk, giving her a quick kiss on the cheek before he heads over to his desk, not noticing the somewhat surprised look and the light blush that dusted Maya's cheeks. TJ noticed that Smackle had dragged Farkle in by his feet, which he thought was odd.

After each of them sat down, TJ glances over at Riley and Maya when Riley speaks. "Maybe you're right." Riley said, turning in her chair to face Maya who sat behind her. "Maybe I can't control who likes me or not, but there's more to life, like Health class. I am so excited for this Health class."

TJ looks at the chalkboard, his eyes widening slightly when he saw the words 'Our Bodies Our Friends' written on the board. "Why would you ever be excited for Health class? Health class is scary." He mumbled, shaking his head.

"Yeah, I agree with TJ." Maya nods in agreement as she read the board out loud. "'Our Bodies Our Friends.' Yikes."

"Oh. I'm sure that the teacher's sensitive take on life will be a lovely way to learn how our bodies work." Riley smiled. She turns to the front, her eyes widening at the teacher, who was staring at her with his hands on his hips.

"Alright, all you creepy, little child-adults, settle down." The Health teacher, Mr. Fanuchhi, spoke to the class. "Let's get this over with, huh?"

When Riley raises her hand, Mr. Fanuchhi points at her. "Ugh. Put your hand down Sunshine." As he continues to speak, Riley lowers her hand. "You'll all pass no matter what. You know why? 'Cause if I fail ya, I gotta meet your parents. I don't want to meet your parents. I don't want to meet you. Alright, let's talk about your bodies."

TJ looks over at where Farkle sat in front of Lucas, his eyes widening when he suddenly falls out of his chair. Mr. Fanuchhi shrugs. "Yeah, I don't blame him."

"Are you sure that you're the right person to teach us this?" Riley asked the teacher.

Mr. Fanuchhi teacher smiles at her. "Why don't you give me a chance? I may surprise ya."

Riley smiles. "I want this to be talked to be in a delicate and sensitive manner."

"I have a feeling that ain't gonna happen, Riley." TJ shook his head.

"He's right." Mr. Fanuchhi points at him. He looks back at Riley. "'Cause I'm not teaching you guys that way."

Pouting, Riley leans back in her seat. "You can't control this either, Riles." Maya told her.

"Should we be worried about Farkle?" TJ questioned, looking over at the boy who was on the floor.

Smackle shakes her head. "No worries. He should be fine." She smiles as Farkle gets back up and sits down. "Welcome back, beloved."

"Alright, everybody open your Health textbooks to page 73." Mr. Fanuchhi told the class and everyone did as they were told.

After reading some of what was on page 73, TJ's eyes grew wide. He looks over where Farkle sits when he heard a thud and saw that Farkle fainted again.

Mr. Fanuchhi points at Farkle. "He's the only one here that knows what he's doing."

****

The next day, TJ stands beside his friends and in front of the class facing the door. Riley and Maya walk in, looking at them with a bit of confusion when they see the class smiling at them.

The class then splits up, showing who they were hiding who happens to be Cory Matthews. Cory stood at the front of the classroom with his hands on his hips, staring at Riley and Maya with an upset expression. "Ya happy?"

The girls stare at him with a scared expression. Riley turns to Maya. "Do it." She then leaned her head on Maya's shoulder as the blonde held her head and quietly sang a song she had made up.

Once everyone sat down, Cory speaks to the class. "So, I said 'Hey, Fanucchi, don't take this the wrong way.' He did. 'Can you be a little more sensitive in Health class?' He can't. So, here I stand in front of you begging you to make this easy on me."

Maya slowly raises her hand up, looking at Cory with a grin. Cory shakes his head, looking at her with a face of disgust and fear. "Put that hand down forever."

"You have to answer my question about my body." Maya said.

Cory cringes, shaking his head. Riley turns to Maya with wide eyes. "Maya, it's my father! He doesn't know anything."

"I know things." Cory defends himself. "What is the body? What does the body want? I'm gonna tell ya. Soup."

TJ raises his eyebrows. "Soup?"

"Yes, TJ." Cory nods. "The body wants soup." He looks at the class. "Now you all know everything. Good night." He waves goodbye and went to leave the classroom but stopped when Smackle raised her hand.

"Smackle time, please." Smackle said.

Cory looks relieved as he nods. "Absolutely." 

Zay glances at Farkle with confusion. "Hey, I thought it was Farkle time."

"It is Farkle time." Farkle immediately said. "It's always been Farkle time. It'll always be Farkle time. Farkle time is a worldwide phenomenon, a division of Farkle Enterprises and the incontrovertible esssene of my soul." Smackle turns to face him, smiling at him and blew him a kiss. Farkle nods, looking back at Zay. "It's Smackle time from now on."

Smackle stands up, facing the class. "Mr. Matthews is our teacher and our friend who always encourages us to pursue the subject matter." She encouraged Cory. Cory argued with her, saying not this time and immediately walked over to stand off to the side.

"We will begin." Smackle smiled. She then explained what was on page 73 of the Health books. Everyone stared at her with different expressions. Some were shocked, some were confused, some were disgusted, and some were in disbelief. Most of them were shocked and disgusted. And, of course, Maya was the only one who was amused by this while Riley had covered her ears the whole time.

****

Later that day, the friend group sat at Topanga's. Maya and TJ sat next to where Farkle and Smackle sat as Riley went over to sit beside Lucas after getting a snack. "Lucas, what would you do if there was somebody in your life who didn't like you?"

"I'd go like this." Lucas said and then smiled.

Riley raises her eyebrows. "That would work for you?"

Lucas nods, looking over at Smackle, and smiles at her. Smackle giggles and smiles. Farkle looks at her with offense. "Smackle!"

Smackle looks at him. "Do it." Farkle smiles at her and Smackle awkwardly giggles. Nodding, Farkle presses his lips. "Thanks, honey."

"Zay?"

"Riley?" Zay looks at her with raised eyebrows, and Riley asked him the same question she asked Lucas. Zay cringes. "Oof. I moved to New York."

Everyone laughs while Zay laughs dryly, looking at them with a glare. Riley looks at Maya curiously. "Maya, what would you do?"

Maya shrugs. "I just don't care as much."

"Well, you cared when you used to be me." Riley voiced.

Maya nods. "Yeah, and it was exhausting, but I'm better now, Riles. You want to feel better? Don't care so much."

Riley shakes her head. "I don't know how to do that."

"I care that people like me." Smackle admits. She looks at everyone. "Do people like me?"

Riley smiles. "Of course they like you."

"They do?" Smackle smiles. She looks at Lucas. "You like me, Lucas?"

Lucas shrugs. "Sure."

Smackle then pushes Farkle behind her in an attempt to hide him. "He's sitting right next to me!" She let go of Farkle, letting him sit normally again as he looked at her with furrowed eyebrows.

Lucas looks at Riley with a smile. "Riley, there's not a person in this world that wouldn't like you once they got to know you."

"Oh, that's very nice of you, Lucas, but the more me I was, the faster she ran away." Riley frowned.

"So?" TJ shrugs his shoulders. "Who cares about her? Just forget about her."

Farkle nods in agreement. "Let's just think about something else."

"Yeah." Maya agrees. "Maybe if we move on and think about something else then we could get on with our lives she said, knowing that was crazy."

"Hey, guys," Smackle said. "Did you know that astronomers calculate that there are one billion trillion stars in the observable universe?"

Zay looks at her with wide eyes, pretending to be shocked. "One billion trillion? Well, that's just amazing."

Lucas nods, going along with the unspoken plan which was to distract Riley. "I thought it was less."

"I know." Zay nods. "It gives you so much to think about."

"Other than whatever's going on in our little lives." Lucas said.

"Riley, you could name all of those billion trillion stars whatever you wanted." TJ said to Riley with a smile.

"Great idea, TJ!" Maya pats his hand that rested on his knee. She then decides to intertwine their hands together, looking at TJ with a smile when he smiled at her. She looks at Riley, pointing at Riley with her free hand. "That is what you could do. I'll get you started. Twinkly. Sparkly. Twinkly. There's three."

"It's certainly shows how vast the universe is and how small we are." Farkle pointed out.

Riley smiles. "Hey, you're right. We're all just specks. That's all we are." Her lips form into a frown. "And that other speck doesn't like me!"

****

"My good years are behind me, I have 80 star names to go, and I go to a high school where somebody doesn't like me." Riley said as she and Maya walked into Health class the next day.

TJ glances over at them, watching as they take their seats. Everyone else was always seated and ready for class to start. "Look on the bright side." Maya suggested.

Riley smiles. "Bright side! 79 to go."

"And now this!" Maya spoke in a posh voice which made TJ smile a bit at her. Riley smiles and turns around to face the front.

Cory holds a Health textbook, speaking to the class. "One of the most intricate parts of the human body is..." He opens the textbook, his eyes widening at what he reads. "No!" He closes the textbook, throwing it over to his desk. It misses the desk and lands on his chair. Cory looks at the class. "I want to talk to you guys today about the human foot."

TJ narrows his eyes as Cory starts drawing a badly drawn foot on the chalkboard. Cory turns back to the class with a smile after he's done with the drawing. "Questions?"

"A lot of questions." TJ responded.

"See," Zay speaks up, gesturing at Cory. "What we have here is a man with nothing to say." He shakes his head, sympathetically staring at Cory. "Sad."

"Give up, Matthews?"

Everyone looks at the door to see Mr. Fanuchhi. Cory looks at him and nods with a relieved smile on his face. "Okay."

"It's not so easy to explain the wonders of the human body to the freshmen class, huh?" Mr. Fanucchi asked him as he walks into the classroom.

Cory nods. "Or anyone."

"So," Mr. Fanuchhi looks at Riley, standing at the front of the room. "Did he teach it to you in a delicate and sensitive manner you requested, Sunshine?"

Riley shakes her head. "Not quite, but it's out of my control. Everything is."

Mr. Fanuchhi smiles and then blows a raspberry. He points at Riley. "Wrongo!"

Riley furrows her eyebrows. "Wrongo?"

"I've been doing this 20 years." Mr. Fanuchhi explained, referring to teaching. "It is never graceful, but it's always important. 'Cause after you get past all your laughter and embarrassment, we all arrive at one thing: you get this one mind and you get this one body. That's what completely yours to control."

"How you take care of it, how you treat it, how you nourish it, what becomes of it." Mr. Fanuchhi continued. "It's completely up to you. Especially when it seems like nothing else is."

Cory smiles. "Boy, do you have a good teacher here. Does life know what it's doing or huh? Uh, you know what else there is about the human foots? They do..." He stopped talking and then ran out of the classroom.

Mr. Fanuchhi chuckles. "Yeah, they all do that."

He faces the class with a small smile. "Alright, here is the thing about Health. This is what makes you healthy: whenever it seems like everything else is out of control you need to be able to rely on your own minds and your bodies to be whoever you are. 'Cause knowing who you are that's the best control you could possibly have."

"So, make good decisions about yourselves." Mr. Fanuchhi continues. "That's the best thing I can teach you."

Lucas looks at Riley with a smile. "That's pretty good, Riley."

Riley smiles, looking at Mr. Fanuchhi. "Yeah. Maybe I should just control me. Maybe that's okay."

"What about 'Our Bodies Our Friends'?" Smackle asked.

"What about page 73?" Farkle questioned in a small voice, looking at Mr. Fanucchi with a scared expression and then fell out of his chair since he fainted.

"Oh, yeah. Listen," Mr. Fanucchi got everyone's attention. "Someday, way down the line, please, if you make more of yourselves, teach them the same thing. They'll thank you for it."

Riley smiles at him. "Thank you."

Mr. Fanucchi looks at her with surprise, but then smiles and shrugs his shoulders. "Anytime, Sunshine."

****

TJ stands outside of Topanga's, holding a red balloon like his friends do the next day. He yawned, still not fully awake yet. He looked around at his friends, noticing they were looking tired as well.

"Why did you make us set our alarms so early?" Riley whined.

"I had such a good dream." Smackle sighed. She smiles. "You know what I was dreaming of?" She looks at Lucas, who stood beside her and Farkle. She smiles at Lucas. "How you doin'?"

Farkle looks at her with wide eyes, and his mouth formed an 'o' shape. "We're holding balloons, Riley." Zay said to Riley, looking at her with confusion.

"Yeah, why do we have ballons?" TJ asked the brunette who stood between him and Maya.

"I know that sometimes I can be a handful..." Riley started.

"No." Everyone beside Smackle said who spoke the truth. "Yes, yes you are."

"But I learned something, and I wanted to share it with you guys." Riley finished.

TJ yawns. "This early in the morning?"

Riley chuckles. "Yes, TJ." She smiles at each of her friends. "This our letting go ceremony. We will let go all of the things that we think we can control, but we really don't."

"Well, I'm not doing it." Zay shook his head, handing his balloon to Maya.

"You don't control that." Farkle said.

"Expect each other." Riley smiles. "We will never let go of each other."

"See?" Farkle asked Zay, smiling a bit.

Zay smiles and nods, taking his balloon back from Maya. "Okay, everybody. Let go of your balloons." Riley said and let go of her balloon while the others did the same.

"What happens now?" Farkle asked.

"Well, whatever life does to us maybe we can't control it," Riley replies. "But we can be who we are and...Control how we react to it."

A/N i can't believe i only have a few chapters left & then that'll be the end of this book. im gonna miss writing tj so much & im so glad all of you have enjoyed this book so far! all of your reads, votes & comments mean the world to me <3