REMEMBER WHEN I said that coffee rarely ever worked on Katherine Decker? Well, it was a rare occasion today as it was finally doing its job. Probably because her dad made her an extra cup, but evermore, the girl was soaring her way through the morning.

"Oh, how I feel like running all the way to school today!" Kat gleamed, skipping through the hallway to the Matthew's place.

Watching this; Kim, Maya, and Farkle were a bit perplexed at her hyper behavior.

"I-Is she alright?" Maya whispered to Kim on her left, arching a brow.

"Yeah, she seems-" Farkle stops mid-sentence, furrowing his, "Way hyper than usual. Well, way hyper than I've ever seen her, actually."

Kim shook her head. "My dad just gave her an extra cup of coffee today—also could've sworn I watched him put an extra packet of sugar in the second one, but I don't know," she shrugged. "Just let her be happy, please."

Farkle assured, "Of course. That's all I want for Kat, always."

"Same," Maya agreed, fist-bumping the boy.

Entering the Matthews' place, Kat lets her vibrant mood be known, yelling, "Hello, God Fam! How is your morning? My morning is bright and dazzling and I'm hopeful for life and everything it has set for me!" All while bearing the most illuminating smile ever.

The family shared looks to each other at the table before Kim and them came by. "Don't mind her. Coffee is doing its job today," the older sister clarified.

"Oh goodie! I love Coffee-Kat." Which was true, and was absolutely because she admired her hyper-ecstatic moods. But honestly, could you blame the woman? Topanga gestures to the table. "Anyway; Maya, oatmeal."

She shook her head. "No thanks, Mrs. Matthews."

"Oh—I wasn't asking."

When Topanga tells you to do something, it's an unspoken rule that you just don't question it—at all.

"Yeow." the blondie sighed.

Soon, the kids shuffled to the kitchen table as Farkle shuts the door behind them.

"Farkle, you too," Topanga included along.

"Thank you, but my mother already made me; eggs, home fries, wheat toast, marmalade and a strawberry shaped like a star," he confesses, sitting on the edge besides Riley.

Everyone at the table gawks at him, both intrigued and puzzled to hear that.

"I'm going to the Farkles's. Who's with me?!" Auggie asserted, rising from his chair.

Obviously, the mother wasn't gonna let this happen. "Sit down. Eat it, please." Topanga pointed to his bowl while sitting down herself.

"But it's still this," Auggie grimaced, gesturing to his bowl of plain oatmeal.

Straying the conversation from food, Cory spoke, "Hey, Auggie, guess what? It's Googly time."

"No TV at the table," the wife deadpanned.

"You're right, Topanga. This table is about the discussion of today's events only." He glances over to his (still) hyperactive niece. "Katherine?"

"I woke up. Ate some bacon and eggs, merrily drank two cups of coffee and now I feel like I'm on Cloud 9," the caffeine in Kat's body doing most (if not all) the talking.

Cory shrugs. "All caught up. Googly time!" he grins, snatching the remote to watch the kid's show.

Most mornings at the Matthew's residence lately were spent watching Googly, as it was Auggie's favorite show. Nobody minded it as they grew to love the show and its catchy theme song.

"Here comes Mr. Googly and his foogly boogly friends."

Suddenly, Auggie gets up out of his seat to turn off the TV they had by the table.

"Hey!" everybody shouts at him.

"I'm too old for Mr. Googly," Auggie revealed before bolting to the couch.

Kim bumps Kat's shoulder with hers. "What does that make us then? Ancient?!" she whispered, but all Kat did in return was shrug unknowingly.

"What?" Topanga blurts out as she shuffled to the couch with her son.

"But, Auggie, Mr. Googly's your best friend," Cory argued.

Topanga grabs the Mr. Googly stuffed animal from the couch and sat next to her son. "Auggie, I'm your foogly boogly best friend," attempting to imitate the cartoon character's voice.

Auggie softens his voice. "Can I tell you a secret?"

"Of course. You can tell Mr. Googly all your secrets."

"I have a new best friend now."

Topanga's eyes go completely round. "Oh really? Who would that be?"

"I don't wanna tell you who she is."

The mother tears her eyes away in shock, while her family exclaims, "She?!"

Auggie leans over to the stuffed animal. "I've said too much."

Peering back to him, Topanga inquired, "Okay, why don't you tell Mr. Googly all about your new best friend, and none of us will listen?"

Doing as told, everyone's heads shifted away from the couch, acting like they weren't hearing a thing, which was a total lie.

Auggie still said what was on his mind. "I'm this many. I'm done with you now," raising five fingers up to the stuffed animal, "Goodbye." And swiftly, he picks Mr. Googly up and shoves him off to the side.

At her brother's actions, Riley pouted. "They grow up so fast..."

"So fast." Kim fake sobs into Kat's shoulder as the younger sibling soothingly caresses her head.

⤵︎

     ROAMING THROUGH THE HALLS of her middle school, the caffeine was still driving through Kat's system, making her livened self be known to everyone else around her.

While walking to history, Kat spilled her mind out, "You know, I've spent so much time lately worrying about whether things are going to change for the better, but I haven't taken the time to notice that things already have been better." She turns sideways while keeping up with her girls. "I mean, look at me! I have friends and a wonderful family, and now I get to hang out with my favorite people every day. There isn't anything to be worried about, right?"

Maya nods. "Yup, you are right, Kitty-Kat. You are happy and thriving right now, okay? There's nothing to be-" she halts as she peeks inside the classroom.

Then suddenly, Maya abruptly spun around to push Kat into the lockers beside them, with her hand covering her eyes.

"W-woah! What are you doing?!" Kat yelped out.

"Yeah, what are you—Oh! Oh, dear god no!" Riley questions before doing what Maya did, only to be left with regret. "Oh yeah, no, no, no going into that classroom today, Kat."

"What?! Why? Guys, d-did I just enter a portal of darkness or something?...Oh wait, never mind." She swats Maya's hand away from her eyes. "It's just Maya being weird." She chortles. "But seriously, was that necessary? And why do you two look so uneasy?"

It was because they were uneasy, super—uneasy.

"Oh, we just really don't think you should come to class today, you know, because-" Riley steals a glance at Maya, trying to think of excuse on the spot. "Because my father isn't coming to school today. Uh, he got sick and told me he wasn't going to work."

"Awww, bummer, am I right?" Maya says, acting all bummed out.

"B-but we literally saw him get a candy from the snack machine by the lunchroom?" Kat frowned.

Maya darts to Riley as she whispers, "Why does your damn father have to get his candy there anyways?!"

"I don't know!" Riley mumbled back, just as frantic as her.

Kat blinks at them. "I don't know what's happening, but why are you guys acting so strange?"

The two sigh together. "We just don't want you to go inside class right now," Maya replied.

Kat tilted her head like a confused dog. "What? Why?"

Riley places a hand on Kat's shoulder. "We just don't want you to get—angry, honey."

Of course, the brunette already knew she was bound to be such an emotion eventually, but she was just trying to delay the inevitable.

Kat narrows her olive gaze at them. "Guys, do you really think what's inside this classroom is gonna make me-" and as she brushed past them to look inside, that's when she saw it.

It, being Missy Bradford, talking to Lucas.

Aka, the devil, trying to whammy her preppy, devil-like self way into this life.

"Angry," Kat finished her sentence seconds later.

What a sight before her. Two people she despised at this school. One somewhat grew to tolerate, the other she didn't.

It made her confused. She was annoyed, but there was also this fire in her heart that was boiling her being. Something she felt was familiar, yet foreign at the same time.

Turning back around, her livened expression diminished into a plain one.

"You okay?" Riley questioned with a frown.

Kat nods. "Yeah...yeah, why wouldn't I be? I mean, it's just him talking to another girl. He's allowed to do that.

"Yup... He sure is."

She looks back inside, her face contorting this time. "I just—can't believe he'd stoop so low to Missy freakin Bradford, of all people."

Maya hummed a chuckle. "Yeah, that's sure what this is about," she said, sarcastically.

Kat continued to watch them from afar, her mind still confused on what she was feeling.

Judging by what she's known about Missy, she should've expected that she'd find her next victim in Lucas. He was the new boy in town, a shiny golden toy to be played with. He was an easy target for a girl like her.

But something about them together made Kat feel indifferent, and her head to get dizzy. She just couldn't pinpoint why.

She sighs as she spun back to her girls. "It's time like this that I wished the world was just us three, you know?"

Maya wraps her arm around Kat and Riley's shoulders and smiled. "Then it is, sweetie-pie."

⤵︎

     "SNEAK ATTACK. DECEMBER 7TH, 1941." Cory begins his new lesson. Today he was teaching them about the tragedy, also known as Pearl Harbor, which was also written on the board behind him.

While among his students, Kat was actively trying not to get a headache from looking at the travesty behind her.

Aka, the Devil interacting with Texan Jesus, still.

"A date which will live in infamy," Farkle spoke up.

"Ugh, Dating," Kat spoke distastefully. She knew that wasn't the type of date he was talking about, but considering the chaos behind her, Kat was growing displeased.

Maya turns to her. "You alright, sweetie-pie?"

"I kinda feel like my head is about to explode, but thanks for asking."

The blondie's face lightens up sarcastically. "You're welcome."

Kat rolled her eyes again before she put her attention back to her uncle.

"It was another sunny day in paradise before the sneak attack that changed everything," Cory says.

"Do you like the movies? Dark at the movies," Missy sought to know, letting a laugh slip through her lips.

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

"Mm, scary movies? I get scared at scary movies. You'll take care of me though, right?"

Clamping her eyes shut, Kat suddenly felt the random urge to smash her head against the table.

Is Missy really being that helpless to win his attention? God, she is pathetic. She thought.

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

"Just you and me, Missy?" Lucas asks, continuing their side conversation.

"Just you and me, Lucas." She goes up to his nose and gives it a boop, saying it as well.

If Kat wasn't boiling like water then, she was now, and it was not about to look pretty if she stayed in class any longer.

She raises her hand then, catching the attention of her teacher.

"Katherine? Anything to add to the sneak attack?" Cory asks.

She throws him a phony smile in reply. "Would love to, but I think I'm coming down with a headache." She palms her hand on her forehead and groans. "Owww, it hurts."

Cory's face falters in confusion. "W-what happened? You were hyper-child on the way here? What boiled you down to—this?" he questions.

Maya reluctantly points behind her, and quickly he understands what was draining her mood, seeing Missy and Lucas looking at each other, acting all lovey.

He sighs. "Yes, Kat, you may be excused."

She puts her hand down. "Forever?"

The godfather shook his head. "Nu-uh, you have to come back to class at some point. You just have to."

Kat groans again before hurrying out of class, not wanting to bear another second being in that room anyway.

To his daughter, Cory gestures her to the door. "Riley, go and make sure she's gonna be alright."

Of course, she listens, rushing to her best-friend's side outside. "Kat, wait!"

"Riley." She stopped and spun to the girl. "Just go back to class, please. I'm fine."

She shakes her head. "No, you need someone to talk to, and I'm here right now for you."

"But I don't want to talk to you right now, Riley," Kat deadpanned, and immediately regretted her irritated tone.

Her mind was at war right now, and in situations like this, Kat always isolated herself. Sure, it was a bad habit, but that's how it's been for a long time.

"Look, I-I just... I just need to walk alone, okay?"

"No, I want to come with y-"

"Riley, just let me freakin walk alone, please, for the love of god!" she shouted, her words coming out like a poison she didn't realize was boiling up in her until now.

Again, she regretted it, but she also kind of didn't, and that was the worst part.

"J-just leave me alone," she scoffs before running out on her, leaving a conflicted Riley Matthews in the middle of the hallway.

⤵︎

     AFTER HISTORY, KAT found herself sitting inside an empty locker, hugging her legs into her chest, a sullen expression sealed on her delicate features.

She couldn't believe she could fit in the damn thing, but here she was, feeling like a human embodiment of anger.

However, a guilty sensation was stuck in her chest as well. Which was clearly due to the attitude she gave to Riley earlier, and honestly, Katherine didn't know what to do. She didn't mean to almost blow up at the Matthews, but it happened.

She hardly couldn't help it. After spending so much time solving her problems—without wanting anyone's help, Kat was still trying to be open up to people's help. Especially from those who cared about her.

Sounds of footsteps trail up to her locker then. "Hey, Kat," she hears Farkle greets to her.

She sighed. "Hi...Sorry guys, I just needed to be somewhere quiet and alone."

Maya frowns. "Really?"

"Yeah...I feel like if I have to deal with Brunette Devil and Texan Jesus again, I think I'd have to get headphones to drain out their annoying voices from my ears."

Riley looks at her friends. "Sometimes I wonder how a person like her can be so nice yet...so brutal."

"Me too, sweetie." Maya patted her shoulder.

Farkle sighs. "You want me to get you your brownies or cookie dough—or even both after school?" he suggested.

Kat's heart softens at his words. "Although I appreciate that, you don't need to. I just feel horrible." She finally gathers up the courage to apologize. "I'm sorry for earlier, Riley. I didn't mean to be so mean to you."

"It's fine. I mean, if I were in your shoes, I'd be just as mad as you are too. Look-" Riley plasters an angry expression on her face, one that the two beside her didn't think was as intimidating as she might've thought it'd be.

"Yeah—drop the face, sunshine," Maya advised, to which Riley listened. "But yeah, we don't blame you for feeling like that, Kat."

She thinks about it. "I just—I don't know why I'm feeling like this. Both of them are people I don't particularly like. But why am I so mad whenever they're together?"

Riley shrugged. "Maybe it's because you don't like them together."

"Oh please, I couldn't care less about that," Kat scoffed, oblivious to what Riley was trying to insinuate. "Maybe it's because I can deal with Lucas, but not Missy. I mean, have you seen the girl?"

Missy suddenly walks up to them then. "Oh, there you are. I've been looking for you," she says to Kat.

Her voice was like knives to the Decker's ears, and god did she sort of wish they'd kill her right about now.

The three glared at her as Kat groaned. "I didn't mean it like that, Universe."

Missy spoke again. "You're not upset with me, are you? Because I didn't hear that you and Lucas were together or anything."

Kat's face went foul at the assumption. "What kind of brain do you have to assume that me and cowboy were ever together, Bradford?"

"Hmm, yeah, that's what I thought. I just wanted to make sure. 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?"

Of course Missy knew that Kat wasn't dating Lucas, she was just trying to provoke a reaction. Unluckily for her, Kat wasn't going to let her have one, even if the urge to do unlogical things was tormenting her system.

"I loathe you," both Riley and Maya snarled together with a fake grin.

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

Kat chuckled to herself. "Look, Missy. Are you trying to find a bone in me that cares about this? Because I really don't. What you should be trying to find is your way to next class. Hopefully, you can annoy some other boy of your liking rather than me and my friends."

She hears Missy scoff before watching her preppy footsteps walk away from them.

"Guys..."

"Yeah?" the three outside her locker say.

"Would you let me live here?"

"No."

"Well...damn."

⤵︎

      THE ANGER KAT had throughout the whole school day had eventually followed her, even on her way home.

It was evident while the Decker family had dinner today, which was Chinese takeout food as Maverick had a busy day at work. They could feel her annoyed mood radiating around them, and it was a bit concerning.

So Kim, having enough of her sister's bitter mood, was about to drag her to Riley's place to talk, but when they made it to the door, Riley and Maya were already about to knock.

Now here they were, sitting at Kat's bay window, as she was laying her head on Riley's lap, letting her massage her hair.

"Why can't you just admit it, Kat? You don't want Lucas to be with Missy!" Maya exclaimed.

She scoffs out a breath. "Maya, how many times do I have to tell you that I could care less about who that mess of a boy is with? Seriously."

Riley raised a brow. "So you're fine if Missy starts to hang out with us more if she goes out with Lucas?"

"Oh, are you kidding?!" Kat shot up from Riley's lap and sat tall. "That woman is the devil with brunette hair and the attitude of a helpless animal." Riley and Maya send her both a look, driving Kat to calm herself down. "But like I said, whoever Lucas wants to be with is his business, not mine."

Maya narrowed her eyes. "Okay, well imagine this; Missy and Lucas start dating, and they're walking around the hallways, holding hands, smiling, laughing. They continue dating, then next year comes by and they come back with promise rings to each other. And everyday they're behind you, talking about how much they love each other and how perfectly the rings fit their hands and they-"

"Okay, okay fine! you broke me! I cannot stand the thought of them like that! Gosh!" Kat exploded, more aggressively than she meant to. "Jesus Christ, Maya, how long were you going to take it to?"

A cunning smile grew on her lips. "Until marriage."

Kat tilted her head. "You're insane."

"You love me."

She lets out a defeated sigh. "I do..."

Basking in this win, Maya happily smiles as Riley nudges her. "Told you she'd break before tomorrow."

Kat's brows raise. "You two had a bet on me?!"

Maya assured with a hand on her shoulder, "It was a playful bet, sweetie-pie. I thought it'd take you a week. I had more hope in you. I'm kind of disappointed, honestly. "

She couldn't believe her friends, but she also wasn't surprised. "Okay, well, what do we even do now then?"

"You can steal him away," Riley suggested with a calm smile.

"And why would I do that? I'm not interested. In fact, I am so uninterested that I'd rather set myself on fire before even thinking about the possibility of ever being interested in him."

The two stare at her, a bit startled at her words. "Again...so brutal," the brunette commented.

"Well, think of it this way; if he becomes interested in you, then he'll lose interest in Missy, and because of that, Missy is now out of the equation," Maya explained.

"But I don't even want to be a part of the equation in the first place, Maya!" Kat huffed out. "I mean, why can't someone else flirt them away from each other?"

"Kat, who our age even knows how to flirt?"

And just like that, Farkle suddenly comes by the open window, greeting them with his usual line. "Hello, ladies."

Kat's face livens at the sight of him. "Farkle, you were out there?"

He crawls inside her room and sits next to Maya. "I'm always out there."

Of course, Kat knew not to take his statement so literally, but still, she was relieved to see him. "Farkle, you're the biggest flirt in seventh grade."

And also the biggest flirt she personally ever knew, if anything.

Farkle smirked. "Why, thank you," he replied.

Kat goes to ask the pressing question, "Can you help us take Missy out of Lucas' hands?"

He nods. "I would do whatever you asked me."

"But I thought you loved her?" Maya chimed in.

"I love the three of you. I want you happy," Farkle assured.

Kat sends him a warm smile. "Thank you." And as a token of her thanks, Kat went over to Farkle and kissed him on the cheek, leaving the boy to go limp and fall to the ground.

Yup, Missy Bradford had no chance whatsoever.

lani's talking!

here's a reminder that I feel like is necessary: these people are still children, and are in middle school :)

see, i feel like a lot of people tend to forget the age of characters, especially when it comes to young teens. like not all teens have the maturity of an adult at the ripe age of thirteen through fifteen.

that's why i feel like in many ways, this show is really good at showing the journey of growing up and becoming more mature as life goes on, with the experiences that life throws their way.

yes, like I said before, this show can also be cheesy, but it's also a Disney show so can y'all cut it some slack 😭😭

ALSO I saw this one tiktok of that men who wouldn't participate in the "I hate my girlfriend" trend and they put Lucas and someone in the comments said he def would....are y'all okay?? like did we watch the same show ?????

anyways, thank you all for reading and supporting this book. i feel like writing this book is healing my childhood considering I loved this show sm growing up. but genuinely, I hope you're enjoying the story, and I will see you all later!

byeeee <3