KATHERINE NEVER CARED if she was popular at all. It seemed like an overrated concept to her. She didn't want to spend so much time trying to be known by everybody. And she already felt anxious when people stare at her in the hallways, and they didn't even seem like they were judging her.

So truthfully, Kat knew she wasn't up for that role in school, and it hardly mattered to her anyways. She was already contempt in only being known by her friends and classmates.

However things would escalate as she and her girls would arrive at school today.

As they descended down the stairs to Cory's room, something catches Riley attention. "Look what's happening, look what's coming," she gestured behind them.

Maya's expression contorts slightly. "What's coming, crazy?"

"Invitations... to the seventh-grade parties. It's begun," Riley announces excitedly. "We could be party girls. I'm going to need a party-girl walk."

Inspired by her own suggestion, the Matthews suddenly launches herself into a flamboyant walk, her movements exuding confidence with each step, and a playful flare to it.

Kat grins uneasily as she leans into Maya's shoulder. "We're gonna get dragged into this, aren't we?"

"Yup, we sure are, sweetie-pie," Maya assured with a popping noise, patting Kat's shoulder.

As they approached Riley, she spoke again, "You know, there are going to be boys at these parties. But not just any boys. No, opposite-sex boys. They're the best kind."

Kat chuckled. "I actually think any kind of boys are revolting, but we'll just go with that."

"Yeah, Riles, you sound ready for this," Maya insisted in a phony proud tone.

"Oh, I am. And I may just be the first girl who crosses over from our side of the room to the..."

"Yeah, it's gonna be Maya," Riley and Kat interject in unison.

"Yeah, it's gonna be me."

Their attention veers behind them, spotting a pretty-boy hipster with invitations in hand, putting them into peoples lockers.

"You know what pretty-boy hipster is handing out invitations to?" Riley nudges Maya's arm.

The blonde does it back to her with a knowing smile. "A party."

Riley corrected her, "Membership cards to the popular club."

"Why can't you just let it be a party?" Maya grumbled.

"Because this is it, right here. This is where you go one way and I go the other way. You or Kat get the invite and either of you two will marry pretty-boy hipster and I end up marrying Anthony Delveccio and we buy things in bulk."

Maya's expression twists at her slight rant. "That doesn't seem like the future I want, honey."

"Mine either, Riles...I mean come on, do either of you see me stooping so low for a pretty-boy hipster?"

Riley and Maya share a quick glance before turning back with their answers. "Kinda, yeah."

Katherine's gaze tightens into a glare. "Sometimes, it's like you people just don't have faith in me or something."

Riley assures however, "We do. I mean, I feel like you two are gonna be popular. And I won't but I won't be bitter about it because it's you guys and I love you both." She brings them into a hug. "Bye-bye, guys," she says as they part from the embrace. "Bye, bye."

Eventually the pretty-boy hipster made it way by trio and hands an invitation over to Riley herself.

Of course, initially thinking it's meant for Maya, Riley pushes it towards the blonde, but he again, moves it to her.

She hesitates for a moment before accepting it, her excitement becoming known as she starts to shake in glee.

"Yay!...For me!" Riley exclaims before her face falls into a frown at Maya and Kat. "I know you guys didn't get one, but is it okay if I'm really happy?"

Maya insisted on her and Kat's behalf, "You go get 'em, tiger."

Riley beams as she walks away, leaving the two behind to reflect on what just happened.

"I love you, but... You're a lot of work," Maya remarked.

And with a smile, Katherine wrapped her arm around Maya. "Our girl sure is."

⤵︎

RIGHT AS CLASS was about to begin, Riley thought then that it was a good idea to tell her father about the party as he was writing down the topic for the day.

"Boom!" she exclaims, depositing the invitation onto his desk with a burst of enthusiasm.

Cory spun around, picking up the paper on his table. "You got invited to something?"

"So much for genetics, baby," Riley smirked.

"Ooo! Seventh-grade party. Yup, neither I nor Kat's dad got invited to these," Cory remarked at his past.

"That's because you two were losers, back then," Kat interjects with a mischievous grin, earning a scowl from Cory. "Oh, don't be mad that I'm right."

He shakes his head. "Good for you, Riley. I'm proud of you... Boy-girl party?"

"Yup."

"You can't go," the father-daughter says together to each other's faces.

Maya seizes the moment to speak up, "May me and Kat approach?"

"Hurry, please," they spoke together again as they turned to them.

Together, Kat and Maya rose from their seats to stand beside Riley.

"We're gonna keep your young'un out of trouble, sir," Maya assured.

"Hart, you are trouble, and Kat's not going to stop you from causing it because it's you."

Kat responds with a smitten smile. "You know me so well, Uncle Cory."

As the exchange continues, Cory takes on a more serious tone. "Why would I want my young'un anywhere near the same party you two are gonna be at?"

"You wouldn't," Maya replied. "Say it. You know you wanna say it."

"You can't go if they're invited," he declared.

Maya and Kat point to Riley as she reveals, "Neither of them are invited."

"Then you may go," Maya smiled.

Riley wrapped her arms around Maya and Kat's shoulders. "Thanks, Dad's."

Kat takes charge, addressing the class. "All right, good day, everybody. Class dismissed."

But just as the students start to rise from their seats, Cory interrupts with a firm command. "Sit down!"

"Sit down!" the trio echoes, mimicking Cory's tone before seating themselves once more.

Cory begins his lesson then, "So there's this guy Damocles who really really wants to be king. One day he gets an invitation to come sit on the throne and actually hang with royalty."

Riley interjects, pointing an accusatory finger at her father. "No!"

Maya turns to Riley, a smirk playing at the corner of her lips. "'Sup, Riles? Pop's lesson hitting a little close to home?"

"Nope, what he's saying has nothing to do with me. Yes, I've been invited to hang with middle-school royalty, but nothing bad could happen," Riley reassures herself confidently.

"I'm sure you're right," Cory assured. "Farkle!"

"When Damocles sat on the throne he noticed a sword hanging over it, help up by a single tiny thread," the student answered.

"Maya," Cory prompts.

"Be careful what you wish for," she replied.

"Why? Kat?" Cory turns to the red-haired girl.

Kat sighs before folding her fingers together. "Because being what other people want you to be is just a sword hanging over your head."

"Good," Cory concludes, returning his focus to daughter. "Riley."

"Nothing to do with me," she assures once again, punctuating her statement with a peculiar hand gesture.

Maya and Kat follow suit, mimicking Riley's gesture funnily too.

⤵︎

AFTER SCHOOL, KIM and Kat decided to spend the afternoon at their Aunt Svorski's bakery—a place of haven that held a special place in Kat's heart since they moved.

Sometimes, instead of heading to the library, Kat would find solace in her aunt's bakery, where the food was always free for family.

The aunt soon comes to their table with their order. "Okay, my famous milk chocolate brownies with cookie dough on the side for Kitty-Kat," she announces, placing the treat beside Kat. "And Kimberly's beloved blueberry muffin."

At the moment, they were doing homework together but were delighted by the slight distraction.

"Thank you, Aunt Svorski," Kat smiled.

"Oh, it's many thanks to you two," her aunt insists with a comforting rub on the shoulder. "I like it when you both come here together, makes the place feel like home. Because that's what this place has been to me for the past forty years."

Ever since their grandma, Gemma, moved to Philadelphia to start her own family, their aunt decided to start hers in the form of a bakery in New York. She built this place as a way of remembering her roots. Well, mostly only the good parts of it.

What started as a friendship that bloomed from a summer trip to the Ukraine, turned into sisterhood for their grandma and great aunt. Initially, they met at a bakery and bonded over their love for bulochki, which Gemma had only found out from that trip alone, and tea.

One thing led to another, and Gemma suddenly found her at their summer house doorstep one day, saying her family kicked her out because she had disobeyed them by hanging out with Gemma.

From what she told Gemma, her family was emotionally abusive, always yelling at her for the most minor inconveniences, and having the worst temper at all times. There wasn't even a day in her childhood when she wasn't yelled at for something, even if it wasn't her fault. And that's one of the main reasons why she was always so reluctant to go home after they hung out.

She just wanted to never go back, until the day came in which she wasn't welcomed back. Not that she ever felt welcomed anyway.

But because of that, and with great initial reluctance to the idea from Gemma's parents, she was taken in by the family at 15.

The rest of it—is merely history.

Kim's grin mirrors Kat's sentiment. "We know, Auntie."

"Ah, anyhow, how's your grandma and your father these days?"

"Grandma Gemma is still her vibrant-spirited self. And dad's been good, but he and his co-workers have been very busy with a recent case."

The aunt nods and went by Kim asking, "And how's your mother as well? Is she better?"

At first, Kim appears a bit uneasy about the change of subject subject, but Kat steps into talk. "Mom's fine also," she assured.

Aunt Svorski grins and pats Kim's shoulder affectionately. "Well, alright. I'll let you two enjoy your food and your work." Her parting words carry a gentle reminder. "Continue to do good in school, okay?"

Kat nods. "Yes, Auntie. We know."

And with that, Aunt Svorski leaves their table.

Peering back at her sister, Kat was now the one with concerned expression to her. It prompts Kim to ask, "You alright?"

Kat flickers her gaze to her. "I'm fine, Kim. Remember? I'm back to being alright with Mom now."

"I know that but-" Kim pauses, pursing her lips. "It still seems like you're sad about something."

Kat's gaze wanders around the room then, sullen-covered in her eyes. "It's just—I can't believe she might lose this place, Kim."

It became recent news to them that their aunt might be losing the bakery, and god was it devastating to the three Deckers.

Kim gently places her hand atop Kat's, offering some comfort in the moment. "I know you're worried about that, but there's nothing we can really do about it. Dad said business has been slow, and even if he tried to pitch in, it wouldn't be enough."

Kat's eyes drift to the ground until she feels Kim's hand intertwining with hers.

"But I promise you that Aunt Svorski will be alright, no matter what," Kim assured.

"How do you know that?" Kat queries, uncertainly.

"Because..." Kim takes a moment to think of her answer, before sighing. "Because I have faith that things work out in the end...you should have some too, sis."

Kat manages a weak grin in response, her worries momentarily eased by her sister's unwavering belief.

"Oh hey!" Kim suddenly exclaims, her attention shifting to the entrance.

Kat follows her sister's gaze and spots Auggie and Topanga walking in. "Hey guys!" she greets as she and Kim make their way to them.

"Kitty-Kat and Kimmy!" Auggie exclaims as they approach.

He wraps them in a hug, and they happily returns the affection. Then, without warning, Kat scoops Auggie up into her arms. "Now what are you and your mommy doing here?"

"I dragged us here because I like this place and Mrs. Svorski," he smiled.

Kat mirrors his smile. "Me too, little man."

Before they can continue their conversation, Aunt Svorski's voice rings out from across the room. "Auggie!"

As Kat sets him back down, Auggie's face lights up. "Muffin!"

Aunt Svorski corrects him gently as she walks towards them, "It's not muffin. It's bulochki," before placing a plate down on her table. "I baked just for you, little man."

She approaches Topanga and gives her a warm hug. "Ah, Topanga. Sit, darling."

But Topanga hesitates, "Mrs. Svorski, it's very nice to see you. I'm afraid that we won't be able to stay," she says, gesturing to take Auggie away.

"But I love her!" Auggie interjects, before turning back to Mrs. Svorski. "Pinch my cheeks, do it."

She obliges, but the mood shifts as she shares her concerns. "40 years here, now they try to push me out."

"I know that," Topanga reassures her.

"Yeah, you can't put a price on a good neighborhood place where people come and they sit and they talk," Aunt Svorski laments.

"Mrs. Svorski..." Auggie trailed off, as she was still pinching his cheeks.

"Yeah, okay," she replied before sitting down, with her grandnieces by her side. "Big-deal-frozen-yogurt people want place. Contract say no raise rent. Yogurt lawyer say loophole. Yogurt lawyer's scum of earth.

Auggie chimes in, "Mommy's a lawyer," he points out.

Kim offers a reassuring smile. "She sure is. The best one we all know."

"Mhm," Aunt Svorski murmurs, breaking the somber moment. "Three weeks I haven't seen you, Topanga."

As Topanga takes her seat, she expresses her remorse. "Mrs. Svorski, I feel terrible about this."

"Oh..." Aunt Svorski trails off.

"Tell the joke," Auggie insisted, trying to lighten the mood.

Mrs. Svorski reassures Topanga, "I know it's not your doing."

Auggie spoke again, "Is not Ukrainian bakery."

"It's my-krainian bakery," Aunt Svorski quips, pointing to herself with a playful grin.

The Decker siblings and Auggie share a chuckle at this, but his laughter fades when he notices his mom's lack of amusement. "Why aren't you laughing, mommy?" he asks, puzzled.

Topanga explained to the older woman, "I work for a very big law firm. I don't have a say in which cases we represent."

"Maybe so, maybe not so," Mrs. Svorski replied. "You tell those big-deal lawyers Mrs. Svorski hopes they fall in their own loophole."

"Don't you worry. My mommy will take care of everything. Right, mommy?" Auggie reassures.

Kat and Kim exchanged concerned glances then, as they knew the weight of the situation settling heavily upon them.

If only Auggie truly knew.

⤵︎

SHE JUST HAD to be dragged to this, didn't she?

It was ten after six, and Kat found herself accompanying her Uncle Cory and Maya to drop off Riley at the party she was invited to.

As Riley danced her way to the door, her father and friends watched in bewilderment. "Well, looky here, teacher daddy, nothing hanging over my head except this here halo of popularity," she proclaimed, glancing at her friends. "And yay for you two, my best friends, for watching me with a smile."

Kat and Maya smiled, though Maya's was slightly forced. "Yeah, I'm smiling, I'm watching," she assured.

Just then, the pretty-boy hipster from earlier strolled into the hallway and breezed past Riley to enter the party, leaving her to shake away her anxiousness.

"All right, all right. Half-hour, you can stay. I'm waiting right here," Cory advised.

With a dramatic flourish, Riley raised her pointer finger and pressed the doorbell, turning back to her companions with a smile.

But Cory had a change of heart as he darts to the two others. "I changed my mind. I want you two in there. Protect your friend," he instructed urgently.

Kat shrugged apologetically. "Sorry, Uncle Cory. Can't do that. We both weren't invited."

"Why is that exactly?"

"About to find out, sir," Maya smiled, then turned Cory to face the door. "Smile. Watch."

Suddenly, the door swings open to reveal Farkle. "Greetings, fellow partygoer."

Riley's face twists slightly. "Farkle?"

Kat's expression brightens. "Understanding what we mean, Uncle Cory?"

"Oh yeah. I'm smiling real big," Cory grins, clearly amused by the unfolding scene.

The only other girl in the room chimes in, "I'm a female, Farkle," before attempting to strike a cute pose.

"You getting this yet?" Maya asks with a smile.

Riley gestures towards the pretty-boy hipster who's still present. "But pretty boy... pretty boy's still here," she points out.

"She really has no idea," Kat chuckles.

And to Riley's surprise, the pretty-boy hipster takes off his coat, revealing that it was two people in one.

Cory can't contain his laughter. "That's the greatest thing I've ever seen in my life," he wheezes, pointing at them.

Riley spins around to her father and friends. "It's a geek party!" she exclaims, the realization dawning upon her.

Maya smiles broadly. "I know, honey."

"Everybody welcome Riley," Farkle declares before the rest of the nerds around them start to talk and move in a robotic manner.

Cory is still chuckling. "Honey, stay an hour. Stay a week, stay forever. Just enjoy," he says, pushing her further inside. Then, he went back to Kat and Maya. "Hey, you know what would make this just perfect for me?"

"Have you noticed the lightsabers hanging from the ceiling precariously over your head?" one of the geeks asks, pointing up to the many lightsabers.

Then, as if on cue, one of the lightsabers collapses and stops just above Riley's head.

She scowls at her predicament. "Damocles."

The three at the door start to snicker together.

"There it is!" Cory laughs heartily.

Kat manages out a weak smile. "Enjoy your stay, honey. You'll definitely need it."

⤵︎

ONE OF THE many things Kat hated about her anxiety, was the fact that it made her restless on many nights she didn't want it to.

Like tonight, Kat couldn't sleep. Well, for obvious reasons of course, but she couldn't even calm her mind down. So there she was now, sitting on the ground, knees to her chest, and her head to her kneecaps.

She wasn't having a panic attack. She knew the difference between just being anxious and a full-on attack. She was in control of her breathing, and she wasn't necessarily spiraling out of control, but it was hard to wind herself down from the nerves.

It sucked on her part. Considering the week she's been having, and carrying all this worry on her shoulders, Kat felt a whole other level of horrible.

Not even knowing it, her father opens the door to her like this. "Kat?" he frowned.

She peeks her head up and sighs. "Hey," she replied softly. "It's eleven p.m, shouldn't you be sleeping?"

His head tilts. "I could say the same to you, but I can't for obvious reasons," he assured but kept his frown. "You alright?"

Kat bit her lip as her eyes fell to the ground. There was an urge to say yes, but knowing she wasn't, and the fact that she was trying to open herself up to help from others, Kat knew she should be honest.

"No," she replied, shaking her head.

With a sigh, Maverick then brought himself by her, sitting next to her the same way she was. "Wanna tell me what's on your mind?"

Kat hesitates, her gaze fixed upon the ground as she struggles with what to say. "I'm just—" she began, "I'm just scared at the moment."

"Of what?"

"Of....Auntie Svorski losing the bakery."

Part of him knew she would say that. It was one of the more potent things the Decker family had been worrying about all week.

His frown deepened as he looked down too. "I know you're scared of losing the place, Katherine. I am too," he said at first, "But there's not much that we can do in this situation. I'm already helping her pay rent for her apartment, as well as ours. There's only so much I can do."

Kat nodded in understanding. "I know, I know, I just...I just wish there was something I can do to help. Instead of just going there and knowing that there's a possiblity that it'll turn into some stupid frozen yogurt shop."

She shakes her head, chuckling slightly at the thought. "I mean, who the hell needs a frozen yogurt shop around here? It isn't that hard to take the train somewhere to get one. A-and if anything, I think frozen yogurt is super overrated too. Ice cream is just so much better in opinion, and will forever be superior because atleast it isn't trying to steal my freakin Aunt's place anyways, god!"

She stops then, knowing she'd unintentionally brought herself into a ramble. Especially about something that wasn't true.

She actually liked Frozen Yogurt, and didn't really think it was stupid or overrated, but perhaps it was the fact that she was going to lose an important part of her childhood, that made her so mad about it.

"I'm sorry. I'm just really mad," she confessed remorsefully.

Her father sighed again, understanding her turmoil. "I know. I am too. Don't worry."

In the ensuing silence, Kat stole a glance at him. "This has all been—a lot for me lately."

"I know it has," Maverick replied, his arm encircling her shoulders as Kat already found her head on his shoulder. "But I'm always here for you, Katherine."

She offered him a weak grin in return. "Thanks, Dad."

"You're welcome, kid."

lani's talking!

at this point, i genuinely can't watch gmw without being like "where's my girl?" like she's so engraved into me LOL

anyways I'm gonna make these little end notes shorter bc god do I ramble a whole lot when I do them HROSFJOD

but as always, thank you all for the love and support you've given this story, it means a lot to me :))

byeeee <3