Brylee glances up when she heard footsteps walk into the room, smiling a little at seeing Riley's younger brother, Auggie. "Hi, guys." Auggie greets cheerfully. Maya and Riley glance up at him, not saying anything with solemn looks before looking back at the laptop. Auggie frowns. "That's not nice." Maya and Riley look at him again, but with a forced smile this time before they look back at the laptop.

Brylee chuckles a little and shakes her head. She sends Auggie an apologetic look. "Sorry, bud. We're a little busy right now."

"Okay. Today's local item...'No Day at the Beach'." Maya read off one of the headlines and Riley looked at her with confusion.

"What's that?" Riley leans over to get a closer look, furrowing her eyebrows as she read the article out loud. "'New York City beaches are overrun with trash. Bottles, cans, wrappers litter our beaches to the point where wildlife is endangered and people no longer go barefoot.'"

Auggie frowns. "But I like the sand between my toes." He then turned and left the room.

Riley leans back, leaning against the window. "Don't you hate it when people overreact?" Brylee shared a look with Maya before they both turn to look at Riley, giving her incredulous looks. Brylee rolled her eyes and chuckled a bit as she shook her head.

"So, how do you feel?" Maya questioned, glancing at Riley. Riley was looking to her right dramatically, her hands folded on her lap.

"I feel transformed. Evil's gooey tentacles have squeezed my pure heart. But I'll never believe that people aren't good." Riley answered with a smile.

"You know how I pass the newsstands and the headlines are screaming right at you in the face?" Maya asked and Brylee nodded in agreement. She knew what her sister was talking about, the headlines were impossible to ignore.

"I look at the pretty magazines." Riley grinned.

"Of course you do." Brylee murmured under her breath, shaking her head slightly. She wasn't surprised, it was typical Riley behavior.

"But do you ever look at the news?" Maya inquired.

Riley shrugs. "Mm, I know what's trending. I know what's up with what's up."

"Hmm...So you look at the news every day?" Maya asked her.

"Hmm," Riley shakes her head with a grimaced look. "Not every day, no."

"You don't look at the news at all?" Brylee chimed in, glancing at Riley with surprise. She didn't look at the news every day, but she looked at it once in awhile to know what was going on.

"Hmm, not really, no." Riley admitted.

Brylee couldn't help but frown a bit at her answer, shaking her head a bit. "Wow." She murmured, feeling a bit of disappointment. She couldn't believe that Riley didn't look at the news at all. That was concerning, it was important to know what was going on in the world. She didn't like looking at it all the time because it made her anxious sometimes, but she still looked at it often enough to stay informed.

"Riles, the world isn't as simple as you think. There's a lot of bad stuff going on." Brylee tells her. "I mean, I get that you want to hold onto the good and hope that everyone is good, and I wish that was true, but it's not. Ignoring the news won't make the bad stuff go away. It's better to know what's going on so you can be prepared and maybe even help make a difference." She said softly, giving her a sympathetic look.

Riley glances at her with a frown. "What's wrong with looking at the pretty magazines? I like to look at the pretty pictures." She asked, tilting her head.

"Nothing is wrong with that. I like looking at the magazines too." Brylee reassures her. "But, it's also important to look at the news and stay informed. Ignorance isn't bliss, it's dangerous." She tells her. She wasn't going to beat around the bush for Riley, she needed to hear the truth. "I know it's scary and it can be overwhelming, but it's better to know. I'm not saying you should obsess over the news, but it's important to know what's going on in the world. It can be helpful to learn and educate yourself."

Riley is quiet as she thinks and then glances at the headlines that Maya had pulled up on her laptop. Her face fell, eyes widening slightly as she read the headlines and some of the articles that popped up. "This is now?"

"Right now." Maya replied softly, glancing at her with sympathy.

"Where is this?" Riley inquired.

"This is our world." Maya responded. Brylee glanced over at Riley while the brunette stared at the laptop. She could see the girl's eyes watering and her expression filled with shock and disbelief.

"The world isn't just full of pretty things, Riley. It's also full of pain, suffering, and injustice." Brylee murmurs gently. She could see the way her friend's eyes were filling with tears and felt a pang of sympathy. She hated seeing Riley sad, it was the worst. "There's a lot of good, don't get me wrong. But, there's also a lot of bad. That's just life."

Riley was quiet while she stares at the headlines, processing the information, her eyes still glued to the laptop screen. Brylee could tell that Riley was struggling to come to terms with the harsh reality of the world outside her bubble of innocence. It was a difficult realization, but a necessary one. Brylee could see the pain and sadness in Riley's eyes, and her heart ached. She wished she could take that pain away, but she knew that wasn't possible. All she could do was be there for Riley and offer her support and comfort.

****

Brylee sat at Topanga's later that day, sitting at her place at the counter. Bennett was working, but since it was slow and no new customers had came in yet, he was leaning against the counter in front of her and talking with her as she worked on homework. Riley and Maya sat at their usual place with their friends and they could overhear them talking about the new things Riley had learned in the world. Bennett was surprised to hear she finally found out, but he was glad because he knew she needed to know. Though, he also knew that it was a lot to take in and it wasn't easy.

"So, how did Riley take the news?" Bennett asked as he glanced at Brylee. He had heard bits and pieces from their conversation, but he wanted to hear the full story from her.

"It was hard. I'm not gonna lie. It was a lot for her to take in." Brylee admits, sighing softly. "I think she's finally starting to understand the world is not all sunshine and rainbows. I can tell it's a lot for her to process, but I think she's handling it well."

Bennett nods in understanding, his expression thoughtful. "It's tough, especially for someone like Riley." He glances over at his cousin, concern evident in his gaze. "But she's a tough cookie. She'll be okay."

"Yeah, I know." Brylee murmurs, a small smile forming on her lips. "She's strong. I admire that about her."

Bennett smiles a little and chuckles. "Yeah, she is. She has a good support system, too." He adds, nodding his head towards Maya and her friends. "And us, of course."

"Of course." Brylee chuckled a little as she smiled at him.

"So, how are you holding up? With Rhys I mean. Because I swear if he hurt you again, I will break his legs." Bennett threatened and Brylee can't help but roll her eyes.

"Oh, please. Like you can do any real damage." She teases a playful smirk on her lips. She giggled when she saw the offended look on his face. "I'm fine, Benny. Really. I appreciate your concern though." She reassured him, reaching out to squeeze his hand.

Bennett gives her a mock offended look before he grins. "Hey, I can be intimidating when I want to be." He retorts, squeezing her hand back gently. "But seriously, if he gives you any trouble, you know I've got your back."

Brylee smiles gratefully at him, feeling a rush of warmth in her chest at his words. "I know you do, and I appreciate it more than you know." She tells him sincerely. "But, let's hope it doesn't come to that."

"Agreed." Bennett nods, smiling at her. "So, how's the homework coming along?" He asked, glancing down at the history homework she was working on. He didn't mind history, but he had to admit it wasn't his favorite subject.

Brylee groans and slumps against the counter. "It's torture. Why do teachers assign so much work?" She complained, letting her head fall onto her now crossed arms.

Bennett laughs, shaking his head in amusement. "I hear you. But, you're almost done. Just hang in there a little longer." He encourages, reaching over to ruffle her hair.

Brylee lifts her head and gives him a mock glare. "Hey, don't mess up my hair. It took me forever to fix it this morning." She huffed, reaching up to smooth her hair back into place. She had decided to curl her hair that morning and it had taken her forever to do.

"Sorry." Bennett chuckles, holding his hands up in surrender. "Alright, I'll leave your hair alone." He grins. "But seriously, you got this. Just a little more and then you're free. You want another coffee?" He asked, nodding towards her empty mug.

Brylee smiles a little and nods. "Yeah, thanks." She hands him her empty mug, her heart fluttering just because of the fact their fingers had touched for a second. "I'm gonna need it to keep me awake." She joked, earning a chuckle from Bennett.

"Okay, coming right up." He gave her a mock salute before taking her mug and heading off to make her a fresh cup of coffee.

Brylee watched him go with a fond smile, her heart feeling warm and light. She could never seem to stop herself from smiling around Bennett. And it was funny because not long ago they hated each other. They used to bicker and fight all the time, always getting into each other's business. But now, they were close and couldn't imagine their lives without each other. It was crazy how much things had changed between them, but she wouldn't change it for the world. Yes, they still bickered and fought sometimes, but it was different now. It was playful and lighthearted, never meant to hurt. They cared about each other deeply, and Brylee knew that Bennett would do anything for her and she would do the same for him.

She sighs and turns back to her homework, forcing herself to focus. She needed to get it done before she could relax for the rest of the evening. The last thing she wanted was to spend all weekend working on her homework. Besides, the sooner she finished her homework, the sooner she could spend time with Bennett. She didn't want to waste any time that could be spent together, and she knew he felt the same way. He was just as busy as her, so they had to cherish every moment they could get. And, besides, there was something about being in the same space as him that made her feel content.

Bennett returns with her coffee and she takes it from him with a grateful smile. "Thank you." She says softly, her fingers brushing against his as she takes the mug. She can't help but notice the way his cheeks flush at the touch and she can't help the smile that tugged on her lips. Her heart had fluttered at the touch as well, and she felt her own cheeks grow warm.

"No problem." Bennett clears his throat, his cheeks still flushed. "Anything for my favorite customer." He said with a playful grin, leaning against the counter in front of her once more.

Brylee chuckles softly, shaking her head at his teasing. "Flattery will get you everywhere, Bennett." She teased back, taking a sip of her coffee. It was warm and comforting, just like being around Bennett.

Bennett laughs, his eyes sparkling with amusement. "Good to know." He replies, his grin widening. "So, what's next on the agenda after homework? Movie night? Pizza? Both?" He suggests with a raised eyebrow, his tone hopeful.

Brylee smiles, feeling her heart skip a beat at the thought of spending the evening with Bennett. "Sounds perfect to me." She agrees, her smile widening into a grin. "As long as I get to pick the movie."

Bennett feigns offense, placing a hand over his heart dramatically. "Hey, I have excellent taste in movies, thank you very much." He protested with a mock pout.

Brylee laughs, shaking her head fondly at him. "Okay, fine. We'll compromise. We'll watch one of your movies first, and then one of mine." She suggests, reaching out to playfully poke his arm.

Bennett grins, nodding in agreement. "Deal." He says, his eyes twinkling with excitement. "But just so you know, my movie picks are the best."

Brylee rolls her eyes playfully, but she can't hide the smile on her face. "We'll see about that." She teased, earning a chuckle from Bennett.

He was about to say something else when the door to the bakery opened and a familiar face entered. It was none other than Rhys himself. He scanned the room until his gaze landed on her. A small smile formed on his lips and he began making his way over. Brylee feels a mix of emotions as she sees Rhys approaching. She quickly composes herself, not wanting to show any signs of discomfort in front of Bennett. Rhys finally reached their spot at the counter, offering Brylee a warm smile.

"Hey, Brylee," Rhys greets her, his voice gentle. "Mind if I join you?"

Brylee hesitates for a moment, glancing at Bennett briefly before turning back to Rhys with a forced smile. "Uh, sure, Rhys. Take a seat," she replied, gesturing to the empty stool beside her.

Rhys takes the seat, offering a polite nod to Bennett. "Hey, Bennett. How's it going?" He asked, trying to strike up a conversation.

Bennett's demeanor remains friendly, though there's a subtle tension in the air. "Hey, Rhys. Can't complain. Just another day at Topanga's." he replied with a nod. Brylee feels the weight of the situation settle over them, unsure of what to say next. She took a sip of her coffee, glancing between Rhys and Bennett awkwardly.

"So, what are you guys up to?" Rhys asked, breaking the silence.

Bennett clears his throat, shooting a quick glance at Brylee before answering. "Just hanging out, catching up." He replied vaguely. Brylee nodded in agreement, not wanting to delve into the details of their plans with Rhys present.

Rhys seems to pick up on the tension, his smile faltering slightly. "Well, I don't want to intrude. I just wanted to say hiand see how you're doing, Brylee." He says, his tone genuine. "I've been thinking a lot about what happened between us, and I wanted to apologize again. I know I hurt you, and I'm truly sorry for that."

Brylee meets Rhys's gaze, her expression softening slightly. "I appreciate the apology, Rhys," she replies, her voice quiet. "But it's going to take time for me to fully trust you again."

Rhys nods understandingly, his expression earnest. "I understand. I just want you to know that I'm willing to do whatever it takes to make things right with you. I miss having you in my life, Brylee."

Bennett clears his throat, sensing the tension in the air. "Well, I think I'll leave you two to catch up," He says, standing up from the counter. "Rhys, you wanna order something before I get back to cleaning?" He asked, trying to break the awkward silence.

Rhys glances at him and shakes his head. "No, thanks, Bennett."

"Alright, suit yourself." Bennett nodded, glancing between them before leaving them to talk.

Brylee gives Bennett a grateful smile as he walks away, leaving her alone with Rhys. She takes a deep breath, steeling herself for the conversation ahead. "So, what did you want to talk about, Rhys?" she asks, her voice steady.

Rhys takes a moment to gather his thoughts before speaking. "I know I messed up, Brylee. I let you down, and I regret it every day," He admits, his tone sincere. "But I want you to know that I've been doing a lot of soul-searching since then. I've realized how much you mean to me, and I'm willing to do whatever it takes to earn back your trust."

Brylee listens to Rhys's words, feeling a mix of emotions swirling inside her. Part of her wants to believe him, to give him another chance. But another part of her is wary, afraid of getting hurt again. "I appreciate your honesty, Rhys," She replies, her voice soft. "But trust isn't something that can be easily regained. It takes time, and it takes effort. I can't just forget what happened."

"I know," Rhys murmurs, his gaze filled with remorse. "I'm willing to do the work, Brylee. I'm willing to show you that you can trust me again. I know it won't be easy, but I'm willing to put in the effort. Because you're worth it."

Brylee considers Rhys's words, feeling a tug of conflicting emotions. She knows that forgiving him won't be easy, but she also can't deny the feelings she still harbors for him deep down. "Rhys, I want to believe you," She said softly, her voice wavering slightly. "But it's going to take time. I need to see consistent effort from you, not just words. Actions speak louder than words, you know?"

Rhys nods, his expression determined. "I understand, Brylee. And I'm willing to do whatever it takes to prove to you that I've changed," He assures her. "I won't let you down again."

Brylee gives him a small nod, feeling a glimmer of hope amidst the uncertainty. "Okay," She says softly. "We can take it one step at a time. But I need you to understand that rebuilding trust won't happen overnight."

Rhys reaches out to gently take her hand, his touch warm and reassuring. "I'm willing to be patient, Brylee. I just want the chance to make things right between us."

Brylee meets his gaze, seeing the sincerity reflected in his eyes. Despite the hurt he's caused her in the past, she can't deny the longing she feels to give him another chance. "Okay," She finally says, a small smile tugging at the corners of her lips. "We'll see where this goes."

Rhys returns her smile, relief flooding his features. "Thank you, Brylee. I won't let you down." He promised, squeezing her hand gently before letting go of her hand.

As they sit together at the counter, Brylee can't help but feel a sense of hope for the future. Despite everything that's happened, there's a chance for them to rebuild their relationship and move forward. It won't be easy, but if he's willing to put in the effort, she's willing to give him another chance. It may take time, but it's a start. Brylee and Rhys continued to talk for awhile until he had to leave. He promised to keep in touch, and she knew she would see him again soon. She felt lighter after their talk, knowing that they were on the path to healing their broken trust. She could only hope that Rhys would continue to prove himself worthy of her trust, because if he did, maybe there was a chance for them to be friends again after all.

A few moments after Rhys had left, Brylee looked over her shoulder when she heard a commotion where her sister and her friends were sitting. She had overheard that Zay had came in with a cookie he got from his grandma and how his grandma only made one because she knew he would appreciate it more, but then Riley had ate it and even claimed it was only okay. She was surprised Riley did something like that, she knew her sister and friends had the good and evil debate and she knew Riley was trying to act evil now to prepare for the debate, but eating a cookie that was meant for someone else seemed too far for her.

****

(brylee's outfit for this part of the chapter)

(bennett's outfit for this part of the chapter)

Later that night, Brylee found herself in her room, laying on her bed and waiting for Bennett to arrive. She couldn't help but feel a sense of contentment as she reflected on the events of the day. Despite the ups and downs, she felt grateful for the people in her life who supported her and cared for her. She grabbed her phone when it went off and smiled at seeing a text from Maya. She had been updating her on the situation with Riley.

Riley always gave a dollar to a man that was called Two Shoes Louie who hung out around Topanga's. He was a kind man who didn't have much money. After Riley had been struggling with the good and evil debate, she didn't give him a dollar. Brylee was surprised to hear that, she knew how much Riley loved giving him money and talking to him. She was happy to know that things were better with Riley when Maya had told her she was back to her normal self and had learned her lesson.

She understood what Riley went through. She had a moment where she finally did a bad thing and part of her liked it. It was hard, but it was important for her to learn from her mistakes and move on. She was glad Riley was able to do the same.

As she waited, her mind wandered back to her conversation with Rhys. She couldn't deny the mixed emotions she felt about giving him another chance. Part of her wanted to believe that he had changed, that they could rebuild their relationship and move forward together. But another part of her was cautious, wary of getting hurt again. She was lost in her thoughts, not realizing Bennett was at her window until she heard him knock. She jumped, startled out of her thoughts, and turned to see Bennett waving at her through the window. Brylee felt a rush of warmth at the sight of him, her heart fluttering in her chest. She quickly got up and went to open the window, allowing Bennett to climb inside.

"Hey, you." Brylee smiled, her eyes meeting Bennett's. She wrapped her arms around him in a tight hug, feeling the comfort and warmth of his embrace. Bennett returned the hug, holding her close as he leaned in to press a soft kiss to her forehead.

"Hey," He murmurs, his voice gentle. "How are you feeling?"

Brylee sighs softly, leaning into him. "Better," She admits. "Talking to Rhys was...Intense. But I feel like we made some progress."

Bennett nods, rubbing her back soothingly. "I'm glad to hear that," he said softly. "Just remember, I'm here for you, no matter what."

Brylee smiles gratefully, pulling back slightly to look up at him. "I know," She replies, her voice filled with sincerity. "And I appreciate it more than you know."

Bennett smiles back, his eyes softening as he looked at her. "I care about you, Brylee," He murmurs. "And I'll always be here to support you."

Brylee felt her heart swell with warmth at his words, feeling a surge of affection for him. "I care about you too, Bennett," She says, reaching up to cup his cheek. "More than you know."

Bennett leans into her touch, closing his eyes for a moment as he savored the moment. "I'm glad to hear that." He mumbled, his voice barely above a whisper. They stayed like that for a while, enjoying the closeness between them. Eventually, they pulled apart, settling onto the bed to watch the movie. Bennett had kicked his shoes off and gotten comfortable beside her, his arm resting around her shoulders as she curled into his side.

Brylee let out a content sigh as she snuggled closer to him, her head resting on his shoulder. She felt safe and secure in his embrace, her worries and fears fading away as she lost herself in the moment. It was moments like these that made her feel truly happy, truly content.

"Thank you, Bennett," Brylee said softly, her voice muffled as she snuggled into him. "For everything." She trailed off, feeling the weight of her gratitude as she looked up at him.

Bennett smiles fondly at her, his eyes warm with affection. "You don't have to thank me, Brylee," He said gently, brushing a stray strand of hair away from her face. "I'll always be here for you, no matter what."

Brylee felt her heart swell with emotion at his words, feeling a rush of warmth spread through her. "I'm so lucky to have you." She murmured, leaning up to press a soft kiss to his cheek.

Bennett's smile widens, his gaze softening and his heart fluttering. "I'm the lucky one," He replies, his voice barely above a whisper. "You mean everything to me, Brylee."

They stayed like that for a while, wrapped up in each other's arms as they watched the movie together. Brylee felt a sense of peace wash over her, knowing that she had someone like Bennett by her side. No matter what challenges they faced, she knew that as long as they had each other, they could overcome anything.

A/N i love brylee & bennett so much. i had trouble figuring out how to add them into this episode but im liking how it turned out!