"I think if I've learned anything about friendship, it's to hang in, stay connected, fight for them, and let them fight for you. Don't walk away, don't be distracted, don't be too busy or tired, don't take them for granted. Friends are part of the glue that holds life and faith together. Powerful stuff."

(Sep 22) When I first read this Jon Katz quote, I didn't know what to think of it. I didn't know the true power of friendship. These past few days though, our group has been tested. And to think... It all started on one of the happiest days ever.....

(Song - Good Morning ~ Singing in the Rain)
(I know it's really random, but I was clueless and I love musicals)

~~~~~~~

I groggily sat up, rubbing my eyes as I woke up. I was in Riley's bed since I had slept over at the Matthews, after my dad went on another (blegh) date.

Riley, who was sitting on the bed next to me, turned and smiled. "Isn't this such a great morning!"

I furrowed my eyebrows, as I stood up and started to pick out my clothes. "What's up with you this morning?" I asked, grabbing my clothes, and changing in the closet. (Yes I'm weird, I know.)

After walking out in my white paint-splattered shirt, jeans, and white converse, I put my hair in a high ponytail. Meanwhile, Riley sat there waiting for me, humming, and completely ignoring my question.

We walked down the hallway, and right before we walked through the doorway, we heard the intercom buzz. "Maya. Farkle."

I went sit at the table, while Riley stood at the doorway. "Those are my friends." She hopped down a step in the small staircase. "I love my friends." She hopped down the other step. "It's a sunny day."

She walked over to the intercom. "I love a sunny day. I love my friends." She pressed the button on the intercom to let them in. "I love my family. I love a sunny day." She hugged Cory. "I even love going to school." then she sat down.

Matthews tilted his head. "Okay, what's going on with her?"

I shrugged my shoulders. "She's been like this since I got up. Frankly, it's creepy."

Topanga stared at her daughter confusedly. "I don't know. Don't do anything."

Riley just kept going. "I'm in a good mood." She snapped her fingers. "This life thing? I think I got it down."

Maya and Farkle walked through the door. I smiled. "'Sup friends," I said, causing Mr. Matthews to stare at me oddly.

Topanga put our breakfast on the table. "Maya, oatmeal." She gestured to the table.

Maya just looked at it with distaste. "No thanks, Mrs. Matthews."

Topanga just stared at her. "Oh, I wasn't asking."

"Yeow," Maya said walking over to the table and sitting next to me.

"Farkle, you too."

Farkle closed the door. "Thank you. But my mother already made me eggs, home fries, wheat toast, marmalade and a strawberry shaped like a star."

Auggie stood up. "I'm going to the Farkle's. Who's with me?!"

Topanga just sighed. "Sit down. Eat it, please."

Auggie gestured to the oatmeal. "But it's still this."

I smiled. "I think it's delicious Topanga. Thanks again you guys for letting me stay over with such short notice."

Topanga smiled at me, and Cory turned to me. "So Kenzie, you gonna go home soon?"

I put a hand on my chest dramatically. "You don't like having me here. Thanks a lot, Matthews."

He chuckled. "Just seems like you're around a lot, everything good?"

I nodded. "My dad's just... busy," I said slowly. Farkle looked like he was going to say something, but Matthews cut him off.

"Hey, Auggie, guess what? It's Googly time."

Topanga shook her head. "No TV at the table."

He nodded. "You're right, Topanga. This table is about the discussion of today's events only. Riley." He gestured to Riley.

"I woke up. I love everything. I sat here."

"All caught up. Googly time! Kenzie hit it." He pointed to me, and I dramatically pushed the button on the remote.

We all, except for Auggie strangely, started singing along with the TV. "Here comes Mr. Googly and his foogly boogly friends-"

Auggie cut us off, turning off the TV.

"Hey!" We all exclaimed.

"I'm too old for Mr. Googly." He said walking over to the couch.

After he said this, I realized I had forgotten my backpack at my house. I'm not sure why I chose to remember then, but I did. So, I ran back to my apartment, grabbed it, grabbed a note from my dad, and walked back into the apartment, just as Riley said wistfully.

"They grow up so fast."

And for some reason, I knew we were going downhill from there.

~<3~

"I was so worried about this new school year." Riley said as we walked to History class, "New school, new people, I didn't think I was going to survive. Not only am I surviving, but I'm also thriving. I'm like a plant going like this." She raised her arms and legs in an awkward 'plant' poses. "What was I so worried about?"

Maya and I looked into the classroom and saw... Missy flirting with Lucas!? I gasped, and Maya covered Riley's eyes. Riley smiled. "What are you doing? Oh, this is too easy. It's Maya. I know because I saw you put your hand over my face. I'll do you now."

She went to cover Maya's eyes. Maya stopped her hand. "Oh, that's not the game."

Riley kept smiling. This is going to crush her. "What's the game?" She asked innocently.

"The game..." I said slowly, "Is protect the plant from the bulldozer in the pink sweater."

"Oh, Kenzie," she smiled, "Bulldozers don't wear pink..." She looked into the classroom and saw what was going on. "Huh."

We sadly watched as she walked away from the door. "You okay?" Maya asked slowly.

Riley swallowed hard. "Yeah." No, she's not. She slid down her locker until she's sitting. Maya and I slid down next to her. "Oh, look what the bulldozer did to you," Maya said.

"She crushed our little sunflower," I said, hugging Riley.

Riley nodded. "There are other girls, in this world.

We nodded. "Yeah, there are."

"And other girls, like Missy Bradford, are going to talk to Lucas."

"They are."

Riley sighed. "I don't like that."

"We know."

"I wish the world was just us three."

Maya smiled. "Then it is."

I nodded. "The three of us, together. Like its supposed to be."

And it was

~<3~

(Sep 23)"Some changes look negative on the surface but you will soon realize that space is being created in your life for something new to emerge."
― Eckhart Tolle

It's official. Things weren't going well for Riley. But even though it was hard, and when it was happening we all thought it was terrible, I now realize how much our friendship grew because of it.

~~~~~

"Sneak attack. December 7th, 1941."

We were in History class. Riley was still sad, Lucas and Missy were still flirting, and I was still trying to survive it all.

Farkle and I smiled. "A date which will live in infamy."

Riley looked panicked. "A date? They're going on a date? In Italy?"

I petted her hair. Maya softly reassured her. "No, honey. You're in History."

Riley looked like she was going to cry. "I'm history?" I'd had enough of this.

"Okay, put your hand up." I lifted her arm.

"Yes, Riley? You have a pertinent observation on the subject of the sneak attack?"

Maya whispered to her. "May I be excused?"

Riley tried to repeat. "My eyes see my shoes."

Cory gave us a look, and we pointed at Missy and Lucas. "Yes, Riley, you may be excused."

"Forever?"

"No, you have to come back to class at some point, honey. You just have to."

Riley left the room. I raised my hand.

"Yes, Miss Huxton."

I gave a sad smile. "My great grandmother was a little younger than me when it happened. She was originally from Kansas but had moved to Honolulu. She wrote in her diary later. 'It started off as an ordinary day, in my life, the life of Janie G Blue, in a place that was paradise (at least for most people). Until something happened that changed it all. Until the sneak attack."

"Thank you Miss Huxton for sharing that. I'd love to talk to you about your family someday."

"Yeah," Farkle muttered. "So would I."

I turned to him in confusion, before turning back around.

Riley peeked out from the window and spied on Missy and Lucas. Missy giggled. "Do you like the movies? It's dark at the movies."

"Woah really, no kidding," I muttered.

Lucas shrugged. "Depends on the movie. Depends who I'm going with."

"Scary movies? I get scared at scary movies. You'll take care of me though, right?" I gagged. Riley pressed her nose up against the glass.

"People who had viewed themselves as safe no longer had any security at all."

"Just you and me, Missy?" Lucas asked. Oh no.

"Just you and me, Lucas." She tapped Lucas's nose. "Boop."

Uh oh. Riley walked into the classroom. "Boop? That's the best you got?"

"Please be cool, please be cool, please be cool." Maya and I begged under our breath.

"You don't think that I can do boop?"

Maya turned to Farkle and I. "How bad do you think this is gonna be?"

"World War Three," I replied simply.

Farkle shrugged. "I think we should have some faith in our Riley."

I snickered. "Just watch."

"I can do boop like you've never seen. Boop!" She turned to Lucas to tap his nose but accidentally stuck her finger in his nose. "Does anybody see this?" She asked obliviously.

Missy snickered. "Everybody sees this."

I slapped my forehead. "Take your finger out!" Maya whispered.

"Can't. Can't move. Scared." She paused. "Do you think Lucas knows?"

I looked up. "Riley, I've never seen anything like this before, I don't know what's gonna happen."

"Farkle?"

Farkle stood up. "Boy, Riley. I don't think I could do that even if I tried. Hey, Maya, boop. Oh no." He had done the same thing.

I banged my head on the desk.

"The bombing of Pearl Harbor was our official entrance into a world at war, and nothing would ever be the same." He got that right.

~<3~

"You want me to bring you lunch?" Farkle asked. We were standing by our lockers, where Riley was sitting in one.

"No. Food would only keep me alive."

"We need you alive Riles, you keep us alive!" I exclaimed.

"Come on, little plant, come back into the sun," Maya said.

Riley sighed. "I'm afraid something terrible will happen if I ever come out of here."

Maya laughed. "Riley, that's crazy."

"Yeah," I continued, "Nothing could be worse than what's already happened."

Then, something worse did happen. Yep, you guessed it. Missy Bradford walked up to us. "Oh, there you are." She started with fake sympathy. "I've been looking for you. You're not upset with me, are you? Because I didn't hear that you and Lucas were together or anything."

I growled. "We're not," Riley muttered.

Missy nodded. "Hmm, yeah, that's what I thought. So if you're not, then it's not a problem if I ask Lucas out, because he's really cute. Don't you think?"

Maya and I looked at her. "I loathe you." We said simultaneously.

Missy just smirked. "Well, Lucas doesn't. In fact, I think he's kind of into me. Shocker."

Then she walked away. Riley looked up at us. "I live here now."

Thanks a lot, Missy.