𝒇𝒓𝒆𝒆 𝒇𝒂𝒍𝒍𝒊𝒏𝒈 — 𝒆𝒊𝒈𝒉𝒕

❝ 𝙨𝙚𝙫𝙚𝙣𝙩𝙝 𝙜𝙧𝙖𝙙𝙚 𝙨𝙚𝙦𝙪𝙚𝙡 ❞

──︒✿ཾ∘∗✽ᜒࠬ. ──

Amanda was exhausted. Not only did she not get enough sleep last night due to the constant rings and dings of her phone, she woke up extremely early to avoid her family in the morning and caught the early subway to school. She didn't feel like dealing with her family, especially Riley.

──

Amanda walked into her cousins room to see her crying on her bed, phone in hand, "Riles. What's wrong?"

Riley leaned her head on her cousin's shoulder, "you've been through this before, right?"

When Amanda gave her a confused look, Riley continued, "someone used to bully you, right?"

Amanda's eyes widened, "Riley, is someone bullying you?"

The teary eyed girl nodded and handed her cousin her phone, which was blowing up non-stop. Amanda did something very rash, and very stupid. She sent the harassers a lengthy message telling them who she was and told them to go after Amanda, not Riley.

──

A week later, it's still happening. Amanda's phone was filled with notifications from an anonymous student who didn't know when to stop. She was the first person in the classroom when she arrived to her school. She sighed as she sat down in her seat, and put her head in her arms, hoping to get some sleep before class started. She wasn't worried though, she lived with her teacher, she'll be caught up eventually. She was out like a light in a matter of minutes.

Riley felt guilty. It was her fault her cousin was going through something she had already endured a year earlier. She promised Amanda she wouldn't tell anyone what was happening, but it was slowly eating her up inside.

The group of friends walked into the class, all laughing and smiling except for Riley, who noticed her exhausted cousin right away, "guys," she called and motioned to the sleepy girl.

Lucas put his stuff on his desk and crouched down beside Amanda's desk, trying to wake her up, "Mandy," nothing, "hey, wake up."

The girl woke up with a start, her eyes meeting the Texan's. She immediately put a fake smile on her face and silenced her phone without him looking.

"You okay?"

She looked up to see all her friends looking at her concerned, "I'm fine. Just didn't get a lot of sleep last night," she reassured them.

Riley looked down, more guilty than ever. This is all my fault, she thought. She gave Maya a piece of her thoughts this morning about the blonde being a bully. She felt bad but she didn't want anything else to happen to Amanda on top of everything that was already happening to the girl.

──︒✿ཾ∘∗✽ᜒࠬ. ──

"In what ways do human beings resolve a conflict," Matthews asked his class.

"Bring in the mama," Zay suggested.

"They talk it out," Farkle countered.

"They go to war," Andrew said.

"Why can't they talk it out?"

"They go to war."

"Oh, okay, you and me against Farkle," Zay said to Andrew.

"They talk it out!"

"They go to war!"

"Let's get him," before the two boys could launch at Farkle, he brings out a toy ball launcher and uses it on the other two boys.

When he was done pelting them he added, "you should've talked it out."

"Many conflicts escalate and do not end well," Matthews continued, "the story of Alexander Hamilton and Aaron Burr is a prime example. Anybody know what happened? Riley?"

"Please stop picking on me."

"What?"

"They had a duel," Farkle answered, "Burr killed Hamilton."

"In 1791, Burr captured a Senate seat," their teacher told them, "from Hamilton's father-in-law. Which launched their rivalry. Then Burr accused Hamilton of publicly insulting him."

A phone dinged. Amanda's phone. She checked it and sighed, another message.

"Amanda, no one should be texting you in class," her uncle scolded.

The girl nodded, "I agree," she caught her cousin staring at her, "Riley, stop looking at me like that."

"I'm not looking at you like anything, Amanda."

"Yes, you are. We're not doing whatever you want to do here. Save it for later."

"Fine," Riley turned to her best friend, "I don't want you saying Rileytown anymore."

Maya scoffed, "I like Rileytown, I like you and I like to say whatever I want."

"Riley, what's this about," her cousin asked, but was ignored.

"Now, Burr challenged Hamilton to a duel, to resolve their conflict."

"Maybe that's what we should do," Riley said to Maya.

"No," Amanda immediately cut in firmly, "enough, Riley. Don't bring Maya into something she isn't involved in. If you want to be mad at me, be mad at me."

"I'm not mad at you! I'm mad at myself, I feel guilty!"

The two girls were going back and forth, their fellow classmates, and teacher, watching intently.

Amanda sighed, "you don't have to feel guilty, I'm handling it."

"What going on here, girls?"

"Nothing."

"Riley called me a bully because I keep saying Rileytown," Maya answered Matthews.

"Maya is not a bully, Riley. I would know that," Amanda shook her head, "what's up with you and Rileytown, anyway?"

"I don't deserve to be in Rileytown anymore."

"Why not?"

"Because I'm causing you pain, Amanda."

It was silent in the classroom until Amanda spoke, "okay," she nodded, "you wanna duel someone? Duel me. Take your guilt out on me. I can take it. I've dealt with worse."

"But—"

"Duel to the death, Riles," Amanda told her.

Another silence followed until the bell rang. Amanda was the first one out the door, not wanting anyone to question what happened in class. She just wanted to be alone.

──︒✿ཾ∘∗✽ᜒࠬ. ──

Amanda and Riley stood on opposite sides of Topanga's with Lucas and Andrew standing next to them.

After Zay scooped the ice cream, he passed it too the two boys.

Lucas sighed as he passed the ice cream to the girl he had feelings for, "why are you letting her do this? All you have to do is tell us what's wrong and we'll go from there."

"There's nothing wrong. I'm handling it."

"Riley," Zay called, "you're the one who was challenged to this duel, you take the first shot," he said, "all right, you'll take three paces, turn, and fire."

"How do know so much about this, Zay?"

"Well, back in Texas, we called this a Wednesday," he told Farkle, "ice cream ready? One—two—three. Turn. Fire!— wait a minute," Zay found himself in the cross-fire. He was pulled back by Maya, "oh, that would've been bad. Fire!"

The two cousins stared at each other for a moment, before Riley spoke, "tell them, Amanda, or I will."

"I will throw this ice cream right in your face."

"No, you won't."

"Yes, I will. It will be a lesson for you to trust me when I say, I have things handled."

"You don't," Riley raised her voice, "and that's okay, Mandy. You don't have to go through things alo—"

Riley was cut off by Amanda shoving the ice cream in her face. Her cousin stormed out of the bakery, leaving all of her friends and family, concerned.

Andrew gave his towel to Riley, "you okay?"

"I'm fine."

"You don't like fine."

"That's because this isn't Amanda at all," she told her best friend, "I have to tell you all something," she turned to her parents, "you guys have to leave."

"Riley—"

"Mandy and I have a conflict, Dad. Let us handle it," she cut off her father. Her parents looked at each other, sighed, and walked out of the bakery.

"What's going on, Riley," Lucas asked.

"Something happened last week, and it's all my fault."

"What does that have to do with Amanda," asked Farkle.

"Mandy's getting bullied again, guys."

A pin drop could be heard in the silence of the bakery.

"And it's all my fault," Riley finished.

"What do you mean," Lucas clenched his jaw and fists. He was boiling inside but he was willing himself to keep calm.

"A couple weeks ago, I started to get messages on my phone. Basically, I was getting cyber-bullied. And a week ago, Mandy caught me crying in my room. I showed her the text messages and she texted them back."

"Let me guess—" Maya started.

"She told them to go after her, instead," finished Andrew.

Riley nodded, "and now its my fault Mandy is living through another case of bullying. I'm causing her pain."

"No you're not, Riles," Maya told her best friend, "we need to find Mandy and talk to her."

Lucas was the first one out the door.

──︒✿ཾ∘∗✽ᜒࠬ. ──

Amanda hadn't let tears fall in a long time. The last time she let herself cry was when the music program was endanger of getting shut down. Amanda had her own bay window in her room, and she loved it. And right now, she was letting tears fall, sitting at her bay window, alone.

Mandy heard footsteps in the hallway coming closer and closer into her room. Thankfully, she locked her door.

"Mandy," she heard Lucas from the other side, "Amanda, open the door, or I'm knocking it down."

That got the girl out of seat and to the door. She swung it open to see all of her friends behind Lucas, worry in the air around them. The group could see the tear stains on her cheeks.

"Bubba," Amanda started wearily, "I can explain."

"Go ahead," he nodded shortly while he and everyone filed into Amanda's room. The others watched the two interact in silence as they made their way to the bay window. Lucas continued, "that's all we need to hear. An explanation from you."

"Look. I know Riley told you. She doesn't keep her mouth shut for too long," Amanda sighed, "yes, I'm getting bullied again. But, you have to believe me when I say I'm handling it. I'm fighting my own battles, just like last time."

"You shouldn't have to fight your own battles, Mandy. That's the point of having friends," Lucas motioned to everyone else in the room, "I want you to do something for me," he continued, earning a nod from the girl, "explode."

"What?"

"It's better for you to explode than to keep everything cooped up inside of you."

"We're right here, Mandy," her cousin told her, her eyes soft, "we're not going anywhere."

Amanda was silent for a bit, before talking again, "you deserve what you get," she told them. Her friends exchanged confused glances while she continued, "you deserve to not know who your father is. You deserve to live your life knowing people don't like you. Knowing people like to cause you pain. You deserve this. It's girls like you who don't deserve a great guy like Lucas. It's girls like you that don't deserve to be happy. So stop being happy. Or we'll give you something to be happy about, putting you out of your misery," Amanda was sobbing at that point. Lucas, despite his anger, pulled the girl who was falling for into a hug. Her head on his chest as she cried. She felt the others come in, making it a group hug.

When her breathing got sporadic, Lucas shushed her gently, "shhh," he cooed into her ear, "you're okay. We're gonna help you. You're okay."

Amanda spoke from Lucas's chest, "when I gave the person my number, I blocked it on my phone, but whoever it is keeps coming back," she cried, "I can't stop it. Just like last time," she broke out of the hug and stood in front of her friends, "I don't want to move away again. I don't want to leave," she shook her head as she tried not to sob out, "I can't handle this, I don't know how to handle it this time."

Riley pulled her cousin into another hug as she took her to the bay window, "you're not alone. We'll help you. We can figure out anything."

Amanda bit her lip, "but what if you're dealing with someone who—"

Ding Ding!

"—who just won't stop?"

──︒✿ཾ∘∗✽ᜒࠬ. ──

"I want to talk to you."

Amanda looked up at her uncle, who was standing in front of his desk. It was the next day and Amanda was feeling much better knowing her friends knew what was happening.

Matthews continued to his niece, "I know there's something going on."

Amanda sighed, "do you want me to you what it is?"

"Do you want to, Amanda? Because you haven't told me anything."

"It ain't good," Maya commented.

"I figured," Matthews nodded, "but you two are on it," he asked his daughter and her best friend.

"Yes."

He turned to Lucas, "and you're on it?"

The boy nodded stiffly, "yup."

"The right way?"

Lucas bit his bottom lip in hesitation, "we'll see."

"The right way, Lucas," Matthews consoled, "you know why? Because Aaron Burr might've won the duel by killing his rival, but he never held office again, and he will be forever known for this. You understand?"

Lucas glanced at Amanda, "yes, sir."

Matthews nodded before continuing, "Farkle? Andrew?"

"Everything will be okay, Mr. Matthews—"

"It always is."

"Why do you suppose it always is," he turned to Zay, "Zay? It's on the board."

The boy's eyes went to the front of the room, "The first one."

FRIENDSHIP

"That's right," their teacher nodded.

"And then your gonna tell us about the second one."

GROWTH

"I am."

Zay smirked, "yeah, I know how this goes."

Matthews began his lecture, "there's nothing more valuable then friends when you have to go through life. But even if your friends aren't around, even if you're all alone, there's always someone to turn to. A parent, or a teacher. It's okay to ask for help," his eyes were on his niece, "there's so much out there that makes its way to you guys so much easier now."

"How do we fight that," Riley asked.

"Well, now we turn to growth," Matthews answered, "rely on each other. Grow together. But sometimes, you have to grow by yourself. But whatever it is that makes its way to you, it's just shadows from your intimidating world," he locked eyes with his niece again, "don't live in the shadow. Your growth can help you get back into the sun."

Amanda smiled slightly, "thanks, Mr. Uncle."

He nodded at her before continuing, "Sarah, Darby, Jade, Yindra, Wyatt, Jeffery, Haley, Nate, Yogi, Dave, Clarissa. I know there are a lot of friend groups in here and I know you guys go through stuff, too," he smiled, "your math teacher helps you guys out, right? And relates algebra to your lives? You guys okay," he asked earning nods from around the room, "learn from each other. Continue to grow. And always know that I'm here for you."

──︒✿ཾ∘∗✽ᜒࠬ. ──

"I know what Mr. Matthews says is right, but Mandy, if you want me to, whoever this is, I can take care of it for you," Lucas told the girl sitting next to him at Topanga's.

Amanda smiled and took his hand, lightly shaking her hand, "thank you, Bubba, no."

"Yeah, Huckleberry, Riley and I got this," Maya smiled while looping her arm through Riley's.

"Thank you, girls, but no."

"Okay, good," Andrew started, "you're gonna face this one down, but how?"

Mandy furrowed her brows as she gazed down at her phone, "you know what she sent me, today? She told me that she knows what I did at my old school to make me a target of bullying. And she's gonna send it to the whole school."

"We already know what happen—"

"No, you don't. Not even you, Bubba," she shook her head.

Lucas looked taken aback, "what? Yes I do."

"I'm not gonna tell you guys now. But, it's bad. And now she's gonna send it to the whole school and I don't know how they're gonna react. I don't want a repeat of last year. I came here to get a fresh start, and it's all gonna fall apart," Amanda turned to her cousin, "what do I do, Riles?"

Riley looked conflicted with her answer, "uh, you turn to your friends. Your true friends who will stick by you no matter what," she took her cousin's hand, "we'll all be right behind you."

──︒✿ཾ∘∗✽ᜒࠬ. ──

Amanda had her head down as she waited for her bully to arrive. Everyone would be coming to class soon, and she was nervous, but she knew she needed to do this.

When she heard footsteps coming her way, she picked her head up and started talking, "thank you for meeting me. No matter how many times I've dealt with people like you, this is my first time confronting someone, and it's scary, but that's okay," she took a breath, "what you sent me yesterday about exposing what I did to the whole school opened my eyes to a new perspective. And it taught me that it shouldn't matter what everyone thinks. I, for one, only care about what my friends and family think of me. Not some strangers who I pass in the halls," she didn't turn around when she heard everyone pile into the main hallway, she continued, knowing her friends were behind her, "up until last year, I had a best friend, who I was friends with since kindergarten, we did everything together. We came into middle school together, but we didn't stay together. She found new friends who she said were cooler then me. I was sad. And she knew that and took it it to her advantage. So, one day, I took out my phone, took a picture of her when she wasn't looking, wrote a stupid caption on the picture, calling her a fake, un-loyal person and sent it to the whole school. I thought it would be funny because not a lot of people liked her, but I was wrong. It was me who got backlash on it. I was harassed in the halls, on my phone, during class. I even got some really threatening notes in my locker sometimes. It got so bad that I couldn't hide it from anyone and my mom found out from the principal, who found all the bad notes people left me in the trash by my locker. I wasn't expelled like you claimed in the message you sent me yesterday, I was transferred here for my safety. And I'm glad, because I having amazing people in my life now," she turned to her friends, who looked at her with adoration, "who I can't see myself without. So, go ahead, tell the whole school what I did. I don't care. And you shouldn't either."

The bully scoffed and turned the other way, not saying another word, "where are you going," Mandy asked.

Riley went up to her cousin, "look, Mandy, the more she walks away, the smaller she gets."

Amanda smiled, "she does get smaller and smaller, doesn't she?"

──︒✿ཾ∘∗✽ᜒࠬ. ──

"I get it, Bubba!"

"I don't think you do," Lucas playfully said with a smile as he continued to tease Mandy. But on the inside, he was serious.

"Okay! Okay! I will always go to you as soon as I need help," she smiled, "I won't do anything by myself if it's bad."

"Good," he pulled her into one of their infamous hugs, his chin resting on her head with his hands around her shoulders, "you gonna be okay?"

Amanda moved her head, her chin now on his chest and she looked up at the boy she had feelings for, "as long as I have you, I'll be fine."

──︒✿ཾ∘∗✽ᜒࠬ. ──

edited: 27 feb 2021