Lollie Parker

Lollie looked at herself in the mirror and sighed.

She cried last night, nothing new but it's been a while since she cried.

She heard footsteps come from outside and jumped in her bed.

Maya and Riley came on through her window.

"Why aren't you up? We were supposed to meet at Riley's." Maya said.

"I'm sick. Can't go to school today."

"No, no, no, no. You can't be sick. Get up" Maya said.

"I think I have something highly contagious." Lollie said.

"You do? And what do you take for that?" Riley asked.

"Don't know it's highly contagious. 'Night 'Night. Bye."

Lollie pulled the covers over her face.

"Okay, so I'm looking up your highly contagious disease on the fake internet..." Maya said, "With all of these results you would be dead by now."

Lollie sat up in her bed and sighed.

"Can I have a sick day, please? You've guys have been to school without me before. What's the difference?" Lollie asked.

"The difference is, is that this is now and now we have school." Riley said.

"Look, I'm not going."

"We need you there. Okay, now can we please go to school now and get out of here Ollie?" Riley asked.

It was like something clicked, "What?"

"She just said, "Can we get out of here Ollie-" Maya was cut off.

Lollie laid back down in her bed, "I'm definitely not going now."

They wouldn't do this to her would they?

They are her friends, aren't they?

"What did I do?" Riley asked.

"My name is Lollie. Not lollipop or Ollie. It's Lollie or Winter, okay?"

"It's just a nick-"

Lollie sat back up, "I don't care what is."

"Lollie, are you okay?" Riley asked.

Lollie didn't say anything. She laid back down.

Maya looked around her room and saw all the book, "You know I've never seen someone with this many books. Why do you have so many?"

Someone knocked on the door and Noah came inside.

"Come on were going to be late."

Lollie sighed heavily.

She stood up, grabbed her bag, and headed out the window.
﹏﹏﹏﹏

"In what ways do human beings resolve conflict?" Mr. Matthews asked.

"Bring in the mama." Zay said.

"They talk it out." Farkle said.

"They go to war." Lucas said.

"Why can't they talk it out?" Farkle asked.

"They go to war." Lucas said.

"Oh, okay. You and me against Farkle and Noah." Zay said.

"I don't want to be in this." Noah said.

"They talk it out." He muttered.

"They go to war!" Lucas shouted.

"Let's get him!" Zay said.

Farkle pulled out two styrofoam ball guns and handed one Noah.

They continuously shot at Lucas and Zay.

"You shoulda talked it out." Farkle said.

"Many conflicts escalate and do not end well. The story of Alexander Hamilton and Aaron Burr is a prime example. Anybody know what happened? Lollie?"

Lollie hadn't said much of anything since she got to school.

"Lollie?"

She slouched in her desk when she looked at Mr. Matthews.

She had forgotten her hair ties at home, she played them with often. It made her less anxious.

So instead, she played with her fingers.

"Is she okay?" Mr. Matthews asked Noah.

Noah looked over at Lollie, "I don't know."

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

"In seventeen ninety-one, Burr captured a senate seat from Hamilton's father-in-law, which launched their rivalry." Mr. Matthews said, "Then Burr accused Hamilton of publicly insulting him."

Lollie's phone buzzed from her back pocket, she looked at the messages and sat her phone on her desk.

At this point it was a constant thing, she didn't even know how the person got her number.

"Lollie, no one should be texting you in class." Mr. Matthews said.

"I agree." She sighed, "I don't want any other nicknames, okay? I like my name how it is."

"I like Ollie. I like you and I like to say whatever I want." Maya said.

"I don't care what you like at this point." Lollie told her.

Maya was shocked to say the least. Her and Lollie hadn't argued or fought since they made up.

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

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

"Maybe you want to hear what happened to them first." Maya told her.

"Hamilton believed the duel wasn't morally right, so he fired his pistol in the air. Burr, believing he had been shot at, fired at Hamilton and killed him. So, why am I telling you guys a story about what happens when you fail to resolve a conflict peacefully?" He asked, "Lucas?"

"People get hurt." He said.

"What do we need to learn?" Mr. Matthews asked.

"I need to learn how to resolve a conflict." Lollie said.

"What's going on?" Mr. Matthews asked.

"She thinks we're bullies because we keep saying something she doesn't like." Maya said.

"A bully isn't someone who says something you don't like. A bully is someone who uses power and intimidation to hurt others. There's a big difference between having a conflict with a friend and having a bully. So don't just throw that word around." He said.

"There are other words you shouldn't just throw around, either." Lollie said.

"What?" Riley asked, "Like Ollie? It's a nickname, Lollie."

"I asked you not to. Why do we have to keep on talking about this? Especially when I asked you nicely the first time." Lollie asked.

It wasn't like Lollie to argue or back and forth with Riley ever. She was always nice to her.

So for her to be mad at her now was shocking.

"Because the most powerful tool in the human being arsenal is the ability to solve conflict with words." Mr. Matthews said.

"Everyone already thinks I'm weird. Adding new nicknames to the mix isn't going to help." Lollie said.

"You're unique and wonderful, and I love our friendship."

Lollie sighed, "Then call me by my name."

"No." Maya said.

Lollie stood up, "I challenge you to a duel."

"Okay, you're not really understanding this at all. Maya, Riley, please help her understand." Mr. Matthews said.

"We accept. Duel to the death." They said.

"Thank you very much." Mr. Matthews said.
﹏﹏﹏﹏

Farkle stood in front of Lollie, "You will come back to me after the war, won't you, Darlin'?"

Lollie smiled at him, "Depends how long our war is."

Farkle could tell she's upset, even though she said something back, it wasn't something she would normally say to him.

She would joke back.

"What a second, Huckleberry? Shouldn't you be over there with Lollie?" Maya asked.

"Well, it was decided if things get out of hand, Noah and I are the best choice to... contain you two." Lucas said.

"Oh. You think you can?" Maya said.

"Yeah, but I'll probably pay for it pretty good." Noah said.

"You honestly think Farkle can contain Lollie? Have you met her?" Riley asked.

"Noah can calm her down but so can Farkle." Lucas added, "Her and Farkle are close."

"Why would you let them do this?" Mr. Matthews asked Topanga.

"Oh, it's a slow day and the ice cream expires tomorrow." She said.

Bailey stood with the two, she had taken notice in Lollie's change of behavior.

They were all back to back to back when Maya was scratching her back against theirs.

"What are you doing?" Riley asked.

"I'm itchy." She said.

"Maya, Riley, as the ones challenged to this duel, you two get the first shot. All right, you'll take three paces, turn, and fire." Zay said.

They all had two cones each.

"How do you know how to do this so well, Zay?" Farkle asked.

"Well, back in Texas, we call this a Wednesday." He said, "Ice cream ready one, two, three, turn, fire! Wait a minute. Something's wrong."

The boys moved him out of the way.

"Oh, that would have been bad. Fire!"

Maya and Riley give their cones to Topanga and Mr. Matthews.

Lollie still was holding her cones.

"That's the best way to resolve a conflict I ever saw. This tastes one day before expired." Mr. Matthews said licking the cone.

"Lollie, take a hint, please, so we can all be done with this." Topanga said.

"This will be done when you two treat me like an ordinary person who nobody notices." Lollie said.

She was basically gripping the cones.

"You're not. You're a sweet, weird little goofball and we love you just the way you are." Riley said.

"Deal with it." Maya said.

The two came in for a hug. Lollie took a step back.

Bailey sat up from the counter, "Lollie? Are you okay?"

Lollie looked down at her cone, hoping tears wouldn't come from her eyes.

She looked back up and her eyes were red.

"Are you okay?" Really made her break.

She looked back at Riley and Maya who's seems arms were still opened.

Instead of going in for the hug Lollie took the two cones and smashed them on their foreheads.

Lollie looked at everyone in the café and walked out.

Everyone was shocked.

"No need to contain us, we're fine." Maya said grabbing the towel from Lucas.

"How are you fine? You don't look fine." Noah asked.

"Because that's not Lollie at all. Something's really wrong. Mr. and Mrs. Matthews, Mrs. Parker... Lollie, Riley and I have a conflict. It won't teach us anything if you guys step in." Maya said.

"Okay. We're here if you need us." Mr. Matthews said.

"I know." Riley said.

"Why are you so calm?" Lucas asked.

"Because this isn't her. This isn't Lollie at all." Riley said.

"Well, what could have changed her all of a sudden?" Zay asked.

They all sat down.

"This is like when I always used to wear my turtlenecks and then there was somebody that didn't like that I- Oh, my Gosh." Farkle said.

"What?" Riley asked.

Farkle look at Lucas for quite awhile.

"What are you looking at?" Lucas asked.

"You gots to go." Farkle said.

"What?"

"We need more towels." He said.

"What?"

"Maya, Riley, needs more towels." Farkle said.

"I'm fine." They said.

"Get them more towels!" He shouted at Lucas.

"Okay."

"Yes, sir." Noah said leaving with Zay.

"What's going on?" Maya asked.

"Of course she loves you two. Of course she's weird and unique. Of course she likes the nickname. That's what we all love about her." He said.

"So what's the problem?" Riley asked.

"Somebody doesn't." He said.

"What?" Maya asked.

"Lollie doesn't want to be her because she feels like a nothing. Because a bully makes you feel like a nothing. A bully took something I liked about myself and made me feel bad about it." He said.

Farkle looked over at Noah who stood at the counter.

He nodded an okay towards Farkle.

He sighed, "Lollie doesn't read as well as we do. She's dyslexic."

"But why would she think we would make fun of her for that?" Maya asked.

"We're her best friend. Why is she yelling at us?" Riley asked.

"Because I think she's trying to get you to hear her." Farkle said.

"Hear what? Why does she keep talking about a bully if she knows We're not- Oh, no." Maya stopped herself.

She grabbed Riley by the arm and pulled her out.

"What? They're gone?" Zay asked.

"Yep."

"Well, what are we supposed to do with these towels?" Lucas asked.

"They're not for Maya or Riley." Farkle said.

"Well, who are they for?" Lucas asked.

"They're for you." Farkle said.

"What?"

Farkle grabbed Lucas' arms and tied them to the counter.

"Farkle, what are you doing?" Zay asked.

"Don't- mistake my size and demeanor for a lack of crazy because I got it and I'll use it. So stay where you are. I care for her just like you do." Farkle said.

"Okay."

"I am your best friend and I need you to trust me."

"Uh-uh. I'm his best friend." Zay and Noah said.

"I'm his best friend!" The two argued.

"If you were his best friend, you'd know to tie him up right now."

"Look, I'mma just do it. I don't need an explanation." Zay said.

"I'm gonna tell you something bad and I need you to not turn into Texas Lucas." Farkle said.

"Farkle, nothing is going to turn me back into that."

"Something's happening to Lollie."

"What?"
﹏﹏﹏﹏

Lollie laid in her bed it was pretty much dark inside her room.

She had locked her window knowing Maya and Riley would try to come inside.

"Lollie, open the window." Maya said.

Lollie still just laid there.

"Lollie please."

She sighed wiping her face and went towards the window.

She unlocked it and lifted it up.

"We have something to talk about, you and us." Maya said.

"I don't like it when we fight." Riley said, "We're going to be your best friend for the rest of your life. We're gonna have some conflicts along the way."

"What will we do?" Lollie asked.

"We will work them out. We'll always work them out because we're friends. And if things get rough, maybe we'll throw some ice cream at each other, but we'll still be friends because that's what reasonable people do." Maya said.

"So we have no conflict anymore?" Lollie asked.

"No. Now we have a new one. Why wouldn't you come to us?" Riley asked, "How could you not come to us if someone is bullying you?"

"I'm humiliated. I didn't want to let you guys see me humiliated."

"You thought it would just go away?" Maya asked.

"Mm-hmm. It's getting worse."

"You know what the difference is between a conflict with a bully and a conflict with a friend?" Riley asked.

"What?"

They slid over and hugged her.

"You're the worst bullies ever."

"We know." Riley said.

"Lollie, the bullies just... doesn't strike fear into the hearts of anybody." Maya said.

"I called you guys a bully and I ice creamed you. I'm really sorry."

"It's okay."

"Will you get back at me for the ice cream?"

"Oh, yeah, and you're never gonna see it coming."

"Couldn't you tell me just before you were gonna do it?" Lollie asked.

"No, Honey. That would hurt my enjoyment."

"I'm sorry I took everything out on you."

"It's okay. You had to take it out on somebody. I'm glad you felt safe enough to take it out on us. And we're sorry we didn't hear what you were trying to say earlier." Riley said.

"Well, I will never go at you again." Lollie said.

"No, it's okay. We can take it. Let it all out." Riley said.

"I'm better now."

"Oh, yeah. I'm sure you are." Maya said,"That's good."

The three of them sat in silence until Maya said something.

"Hey Ollie-"

"Stop saying that! Okay! I'm sick of it!" Lollie shouted and stood up.

"I don't even know if you two are my friends anymore! You have all of the Noah stuff going on and I don't know if your using me to get closer to him just like other people did." Lollie said.

She continued, ""You can't read. That's sad. I'm sad for you. Why can't you read, are you stupid? Why do people like you I don't understand? Is that why the teachers don't call on you? Because you can't read? Ollie. You can't read Ollie." I'm tired of this? Okay?"

She was balling.

""Stop being who you are. Learn to read.""

"Okay." Maya and Riley said.

Lollie sighed as she tried to calm herself down, "I'm fine."

"I'm not. How long?" Maya asked.

"A few weeks. This has been going on a few weeks."

"We got you."

"I tried dealing with her. She's not a reasonable person. How do I handle this? I don't know how to handle this." Lollie asked.

"Not alone." Riley said.

"But I thought I was supposed to learn how to resolve a conflict."

"You have a bully!" Maya said.

"And I have conflict?"

"You are incredibly screwy." Riley said.

"And I'm screwy, and I have a bully, and I have a conflict? What a tough day Ollie has had."

"Okay. So now we know three things. First, we are your friends because if we weren't we wouldn't be here right now talking to you." Maya started, "Second, you are going to stay exactly who you are." Maya said.

"What else?" Lollie asked.

"We don't think Lucas will."
﹏﹏﹏﹏

"So, I wanted to make sure you were tied up because I know how you were in Texas and I was worried about what would happen when you found out about what someone was doing to Lollie and got angry. " Farkle said.

"Did he do the right thing, Zay?" Noah asked.

"No."

"What did I do wrong?"

"Well, you used towels." He said.

"What should I have used?" He asked.

"Ah, it wouldn't matter." Zay said.

Lucas freed his right arm just as quickly as he removed his left.

"Well, look at dat." Noah said.

Lucas walked out of Topanga's most likely heading towards Lollie's place.

"It's been my experience that when it comes to protecting his friends, nothing can hold him back." Zay said.
﹏﹏﹏﹏

Riley, Maya and, Lollie barricaded the window hoping it would keep Lucas out.

"Okay. This oughta hold him."

Lucas then broke through the stuff barricading the window which made the girls back away.

"Why would you not tell me about this?" He asked.

"I should be able to fight my own battles, Lucas." Lollie said.

"No, you shouldn't. And you don't have to, Lollie. That's the point of having friends. And did you really think there was anything you could put in this window to keep me from helping you? I'm your boyfriend and I would help you no matter what."

"We don't like it when you get like this. Tell him, Maya." Riley said.

"Um... Lucas, pick up that bed with one arm." Maya said.

Farkle and Noah then walked into the room.

"Lollie, you wouldn't let me keep this kind of stuff to myself." Farkle said.

"You think we're gonna let you?" Noah asked.

Zay walked with a bowl of cereal, "So what? You guys just come through the window and that's okay? I don't like it. Impolite. Oh, and I took some cereal. You're out of milk... now." He said.

Lollie slightly laughed at him.

"I don't think it's right that Lollie's always the first one to come help us but doesn't come to us when she needs help." Lucas said.

"Okay. I'm sorry. I should have told you. I just didn't want to put this on you."

"We're friends. We can figure out anything." Farkle said.

"You know dads gonna find out soon."

Lollie sighed, "He can't find out Noah."

"Why?"

"Because he's-"

"He's going to lose his mind." Finn said.

Finn walked inside the room and looked at Lollie.

"Why didn't you tell me?"

"The same reason I didn't tell anyone else. What if you were dealing with someone who-"

Lollie stopped herself when her phone buzzed.

She walked towards her bed and picked up her phone, "Who just won't stop?"
﹏﹏﹏﹏

Mr. Matthews walked towards Lollie's desk, "I want to talk to you. I know there's something going on."

"Do you want me to tell you what it is?" Lollie asked.

"Do you want to, Lollie? Because so far, you haven't told me, and I respect that."

"Respect that you respect me."

"It ain't good." Maya said.

"Yeah, I figured. But you two on it?"

"Yes." Riley said.

"And you're on it?" He asked Lucas.

"Yep."

"The right way?"

"We'll see."

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

"Yes, sir."

"Farkle?"

"Everything will be okay, Mr. Matthews. It always is."

"You're her brother. Is everything actually alright?"

Noah took a look at Lollie, who sent him a sad smile.

"Everything is always alright. Especially when Lollie is always by your side."

"Yeah, why do you suppose it always is? Zay? It's on the board." Mr. Matthews said.

"The first one." Zay said.

Friendship.

"That's right."

"And then you're going to tell us about the second one." Zay said.

Growth

"I am."

"Yeah, I know how this goes." Zay said.

"There's nothing more valuable than 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. That's because there's so much out there that makes it's way to you guys so much easier now."

"How do we fight that?" Lollie asked.

"Well, now we turn to growth. Rely on each other. Grow together. But sometimes you have to grow by yourself. But whatever it is that makes it's way to you, it's just shadows from your intimidating world. Don't live in the shadow. Your growth can help you get back into the sun."

"Thanks, Matthews."

"Sarah, Darby, Jade, Yindra, Wyatt, Jeffrey, Haley, Nate, Yogi, Dave, and Clarissa, know there are lots of groups of friends in here and I know you guys go through stuff, too. Your math teacher helps you guys out, right? And relates Algebra to your lives? You guys okay? Learn from each other. Continue to grow. And always know that I'm here for you." Mr. Matthews said.

And with that the bell rang.
﹏﹏﹏﹏

"I know what Mr. Matthews says is right, but, Lollie, if you want me to, whoever this is, I will take care of it for you." Lucas said.

Lollie sent him a smile, "Thank you, Lucas. No."

"Riley, Lollie, and I got this." Maya said.

"Thank you, Maya. No." Lollie said.

"Lollie, we're only trying to help." Noah said.

Lollie smiled, "I know. Thank you, Noah. No."

"Okay, good. You're gonna face this one down, but how?" Zay asked.

"You know what she sent me?" Lollie asked, "A video of me trying to read and of course I couldn't read it well. She's been filming me... and now she says she's gonna send it to the whole school."

"I'm sorry Lollie, but maybe you should let people know." Maya said.

"They don't know need to know everything I do. Neither do you, Maya." Lollie said.

"What?" Riley asked.

"No- Yes, I do." Maya said.

"Deep in the heart of Ollie, in the darkest secret corner of Ollie. I go to the library and try to read the hardest books there. I, of course, can't read all that well, so I stumble over words and reread words I also just can't read it, but I try... and try I try really hard."

"I think we know what happened." Farkle said.

"Somebody caught you..." Lucas started.

"And that's what she's sending to the whole school. Well, maybe it's not so bad-" Riley started.

"I read out loud at the library and I get frustrated when I can't read it. So when I'm mad at myself I'll complain about how I can't read for about twenty minutes."

"It's bad. It's really bad." Maya said.

"But I try."

"Somebody doesn't love this?" Lucas asked.

"What do I do?"

"Uh... you look at your friends... and you realize that no matter how deep Ollie goes, we'll all be right behind you. Now go get her." Riley said.
﹏﹏﹏﹏

Lollie stood up as she stood up, "Thanks for meeting with me. I know you probably have something to say. You always have something to say. But now, it's my turn to talk. You need to listen. You need to watch."

"I'm Lollie and I'm dyslexic and I like to read, but I didn't know it would be a problem for you. So, I'm sorry? I guess? But you won't stop me from reading. I just wanted you let you know that. I know I beat on myself because I don't know how to read, but you should try to be me for a day or anyone for that matter, because it's hard be me or anyone because don't know what that person is going through. I'm odd and I'm weird but I'm trying and trying really hard."

Lollie's classmates appeared behind her.

"My mom reads to me, my dad reads to me, my sister reads to me, and my brother reads to me. It's me understand more. It's hard not being able to read as fast as others but I try."

Lollie faced the others, "I'd like to thank everybody who helped me get here... My friends. Because true friends let you be who you are. I'd also like to thank you. Because this was hard. But I've grown today, So, thank you."

Lollie looked up and saw the girl walking away, "Where are you going?"

"Look, Lollie, the farther away she goes, the smaller she gets." Riley said.

"She does, doesn't she."
﹏﹏﹏﹏

"We did good." Topanga said.

"Friendship and growth." Mr. Matthews said.

"What comes next?" Riley asked.

"I don't know, but whatever it is, I know you'll handle it." Mr. Matthews said.

"Here we are at the Lollie Book Club after party, where we've been having ice cream. Because I challenged Maya and Riley to a duel, and then I ice creamed them, and then Maya said she'd get me back, And I'd never see it coming?" Lollie questioned.

"Is that why we're having ice cream?"

Lollie said and looked at her mom, "Well that's going have to wait another time."

"Why?"

"I have to read with my mom today. You can come if you want?"

Maya and Riley looked at each other, "We'd love to."
﹏﹏﹏﹏

Word Count: 4309

Episode: Girl Meets Rileytown or whatever it's not about Riley obviously.

Pages: 64

1-800-273-8255 call if you need anything.