BACK IN HISTORY, three words were already scribbled across the board as Cory tried to start a new lesson for the day. "The Korean War," he began, reading the words on his chalkboard.

"Genghis Khan," Farkle blurts out of nowhere.

Kat twists her head to him, a line forming on her forehead. "Genghis Khan isn't even Korean. He's Mongolian...He wasn't even apart of the Korean War-"

"Okay! We get it! You're also smart and pretty, okay!" Farkle cuts her off abruptly.

Taken aback by him, Kat just turned back to the board, a disturbed look on her face.

Suddenly, the door swings open. "Hello, Cory Matthews. I am so sorry for interrupting," a dramatic feminine voice announced.

Maya's expression instantly soured. "Oh no," she dreaded under her breath.

"Nothing to forgive, Katy. Class, this is Maya's mother, Katy Hart," Cory introduced.

"Mom, what are you doing? It was yesterday."

"Yesterday I was unable to attend your little job fair."

"Career day," Maya corrected.

"Yesterday I was trapped...In my vehicle..."

And once she started there, Kat immediately tuned out into her thoughts, knowing exactly what was about to happen.

See, Katy Hart was an aspiring actress, something that Riley and Kat knew since she tried to practice for one of her roles in-front of them.

So within the next two minutes, Kat found solace in the embrace of her own arms, waiting for Katy's melodramatic performance to come to an end.

When it finally did, she heard Maya speak. "She was auditioning for a soap opera," the blonde explained her mother's theatrics.

"Can you believe I didn't get it?" Katy asked.

"Yes," the entire class chimed in unison.

"Yes," Katy giggled. "I am an actress. Are there any questions I can answer for anyone?" Someone raises their hand. "Ah, yes, the Farkle."

"Why are you wearing a waitress outfit?" he inquired bluntly.

"Anyone else?"

Another hand shot up.

"Yes, the pretty, young man right there."

Kat giggled at the nice compliment; especially at the person she meant it to. "Ha! Pretty? More like sickly in my opinion."

Lucas shot her a glare. "Thanks, red," he retorted before redirecting to Katy. "Um, why are you wearing a waitress outfit?"

One of their classmates, Sarah, added, "My Dad says actors are just a bunch of people who never grew up."

Katy chuckled. "What does your Dad do?"

"He's a director," she revealed.

"Is he? Well, I'm sure your father never gave me a job either, which is the real reason I wear this outfit every day," Katy replied. "Well, I'll just be going now," she said before making her exit from the classroom.

Despite the chaotic situation, Kat couldn't shake the feeling of empathy towards Katy. She knew Katy had tried her best to be there, even if it wasn't at the right time.

And deep down, Kat understood that if Katy had all the time in the world, she would be there for Maya at every turn. She loved Maya that much, and Kat knew that.

Rising from her seat, Kat went out the door to go by Katy, with Riley following behind her.

"No, no, no. I shouldn't have come," Katy stammered with regret.

Kat shook her head. "No, don't be regretful. You showed up, Mrs. Hart. That counts for something."

"I showed up a day late. I couldn't even get that order right."

"But at least you came," Kat insisted, trying to lift Katy's spirits.

Riley stepped closer, adding her support. "I know that my Dad appreciated the effort."

Maya comes out the door then, greeting her mother with a weary smile. "Hi, mom."

"Hey, Maya," Katy greeted in return.

She approached her mother. "Could I ask you a favor?"

"Of course, anything," Katy replied.

Maya took a deep breath. "I think it's best for all of us when you focus on your auditions and chasing our imaginary father." She paused for a moment. "I do appreciate you coming today. And I'm not humiliated. I'm not. I'm..." Maya's voice trailed off, and she glanced at her mother for reassurance.

Katy offered a slight smile and nodded, silently acknowledging Maya's feelings.

"You okay?" Maya asked. Katy nodded, but the daughter sensed there was more to it. She gently grabbed her mom's hands and said, "Good," before leading her back to class.

Katy glanced at Kat and Riley. "Yeah, this is just how we are. For me to think any other way is just acting, and I'm not that good."

Kat sighed. "Look, although my situation is different from yours, I can tell that you do want to make the effort to be there for Maya."

"I do, it's just-"

"You're busy, I get it. But I don't want you to think that just because you might've made a fool out of yourself that you shouldn't keep trying to be there for her," Kat said, stepping closer to Katy. "My dad is an amazing dad, and I'm so lucky to have him, but sometimes there are some things he can't come to, and I have to accept that because of the hectic job he does for a living...But if you can go to certain things for Maya, don't be afraid to."

Katy grinned. "I know, Kitty-Kat, but you or Riley can't fix this."

"Oh yes, we can," Riley chimed in, wrapping her arm around Kat's. "There's an art show here tomorrow night. You need to be there."

"Sure."

"I expect you there," Riley added firmly.

"I understand," Katy nodded before leaving.

Riley grins. "Don't disappoint us."

But in Kat's mind, she could already tell that things weren't necessary going to go their way. But she had hope.

And that was her downfall.

⤵︎

ART CLASS SOON came by with Riley taking center stage as the model for everyone to sketch.

"Our focus today is on capturing the subtle differences between drawing a woman's face versus a man's. Pay attention to the details, especially the lips," the art teacher instructed.

Turning to Maya, Riley insisted, "No matter what, don't get mad at me or Kat, okay?"

"I could never," Maya assured.

Kat slightly scoffs. "Wow, way to drag me under this bridge too, Honey," she remarked whilst sitting on Riley's right.

"To paint a young woman's lips, she needs to stop flapping them," the teacher continued.

Riley leaned towards Maya once more. "Because if I have any talent at all, it's this, so don't get mad at us."

"I could never."

"Because when the mouth is moving, it will affect all the sketches," the teacher remarked, seizing two sketchbooks from Kat's desk to illustrate her point. "And they all come out like this."

But she noticed Maya's however, as she was drawing Riley with these cute red hearts around her, deviating from the assignment.

The teacher went to her students side. "Except for this one..." she trails off. "You don't listen to a word I say, do you?"

Maya hesitates before replying, "Uh, it's not because I'm disrespectful."

"It's because you're an artist," she assured. "I'm glad you decided to display your work with Kat's. I got your note in my teacher's box."

Maya glanced at Riley and Kat, realizing what they were referring to earlier.

"That's the thing you're not supposed to get mad at," Riley noted with a chuckle.

"The exhibit starts at 6:00, you two. It's thrilling seeing both of your arts displayed, you both won't regret it," the teacher announced before exiting the classroom.

Maya approached Riley then with an amused smirk. "You don't listen to a word I say, do you?"

Riley stammered, "I-it's not because I'm disrespectful. It's because you're an artist."

Maya pouted slightly. "Yeah? Then let me paint you something." She grabs a stick of green paint and splatters it on Riley suddenly.

Kat's eyes widen, finding herself uneasily smiling. "Everybody!...Clear out, please," she urged, watching as they vacate the room, closing the door behind them.

Riley stood shocked for a moment before speaking. "Okay, Maya, I am your best friend and I will always do my best by you, no matter what you..." Riley trials off, grabbing a stick with red paint to boop Maya's nose. "Do."

Kat rolled her eyes. "Okay, guys, can you just stop before this gets worse?" she advised, as she went to stand in-between them

Maya grins before grabbing more green paint and splattering it on her, driving Kat to gasp softly. "And this is your fault for not stopping Riley, Kitty-Kat."

For a moment, Kat stands there, frozen. "Oh? I'm at fault for this?" she spoke, spitting out a chuckle. "Well... if I'm going to be blamed for something, I think I'd rather it be this."

She suddenly grabs some of the red paint with both her hands and plastered it onto Maya and Riley's faces.

Chaos erupts then as Maya retaliates with green splatters at the two, while Kat and Riley engaged in the war with red.

"Why can't you two just let it go?!" Maya exclaimed.

"We only wanted what's best for you!" Kat protested.

Their paint-fueled skirmish continued until their teacher returned, wide-eyed at the scene before her.

"Whoa!" she exclaimed, stunned.

They come to a stop as she walks over by them.

She first addressed the brunette. "Riley...This is the most authentic piece you've done all semester," she remarked, impressed. "Now clean it up...See you tonight, Kat and Maya," she added before leaving once more.

Riley adds before the room fell silent again, "Oh, one more thing... we invited your mom."

Maya handed over a bowl of purple paint to them. Kat hesitantly grabs it, and being her, she pours it first on Riley, then onto herself.

"Yeah—we deserved that."

⤵︎

WHEN THE ART show arrived, Kat felt a rush of nerves hit her all at once.

She and Maya have never having showcased their art like this before. But throughout the whole fifteen minutes she's been here, with her friends nearby, she's seen the way people were looking at her and Maya's drawings.

She saw the way it made people's eyes light up, like a flicker of them was impacted and changed at that moment, and Katherine couldn't help but feel fulfilled.

Thankfully, their teacher placed Kat and Maya's drawings side by side, easing Kat's worries about leaving her stuff unattended knowing Maya was nearby.

They watched as more adults approached their artwork, offering approving nods and a thumbs up.

As they walked away, Riley and their friends joined them.

"How's it going?" Riley inquired with a smile.

"It's going fine," Maya replied.

"What does your mom think?"

"She never showed up. It's just you guys."

Riley's eyes widens. "Are you telling me your mom never showed up?"

"No," Maya affirmed, only to spot the Matthews and Decker family entering the room. "But of course, you did."

"Hey, guys," Topanga greeted warmly, her eyes darting to Maya's artwork first. "Wow, Maya, you have some talent. Look at that piece."

"I bet it's got great mashed potatoes," Cory chimed in with a whispered joke.

"Yeah, Maya, I gotta say, you and Kat have the best art here... Not that I'm biased or anything," Kim assured, grinning guiltily.

Maverick chuckled. "Kim's right." He turned his to Kat, who stood proudly by her work. "This is beautiful, kid. I'm proud of you."

Kat beamed. "Thanks. I've been spending these past couple of weeks to improve my drawing skills, and now I kinda feel satisfied with where I'm at."

Farkle piped up as he stared Maya's artwork. "Look at that lady, why can you only see half of her?"

Lucas quickly covered Farkle's mouth and eyes, prompting him to sigh. "Oh."

Meanwhile, Riley's frustration about Katy's absence reached its peak, and she stormed out of the classroom.

Topanga frowned. "Where is she going?"

Kat assured, "Don't worry about it. She's just gonna try and—fix something."

Topanga nodded. "Well, I'm very amazed by both of you and your talents," she smiled to Kat and Maya.

The blondie grins in reply. "Thanks, Mrs. Matthews. It means a lot."

As the family and friends filed away, Lucas lingered behind, his gaze fixed on Kat's artwork, more intrigued by hers.

"That place looks familiar," he remarked, intriguingly pointing at the painting.

It left the color to drain out of Kat's face at that moment, mainly because of what her painting was. "R-really?" she wobbled out. "Because I actually highly doubt that you even know where this is since you've never—"

"Oh my god," Lucas interrupted her then, realization hitting him. "Kat, that's the park bench...the one where you and I had our first conversation."

Her brows furrow, and her heart halts a beat at the same time. "You—actually remember that place?" she spoke, her tone spiked in disbelief.

"Of course I do. I walk by there every time I go home from school," he replied, a small smirk tugging at his lips. "It seems I made quite the impression on you that day, didn't I?."

His teasing tone elicited an eye-roll from Kat. "Yeah, a horrible impression but, whatever."

He chuckled softly in reply. "I have to ask though, why did you paint that place?"

Shrugging, Kat tries to answer obliviously, "I... I don't know, honestly. I guess I just thought it was a beautiful scene to draw."

When in reality, that place held far more significance to her than she let on. But Lucas Friar didn't need to know the true answer to that question.

Again, he smirked, adding a raised brow to the mix. "You sure, red?"

Kat scoffs and playfully punched his shoulder. "Yes, I'm sure, Texas. Now go."

And with a soft laugh, Lucas walks away, but Kat halted him as a thought came to mind.

"Wait, Lucas," she called out.

He paused and turned back to her. "Yeah?"

She hesitates but persists with her question. "You know how yesterday you mentioned that maybe, someday we could go to Paris together?... Did you actually mean it?" Kat pursed her lips. "It's actually been one of my dreams since I was little to go there."

A smile spreads across Lucas' face. "Yeah. Maybe, someday, we'll go there together."

And though she tried with all her might to stop herself, she grinned, more brightly than she wanted to. "Maybe, someday," Kat echoed.

She wasn't even aware of her heart fluttering at the possibility as well.

And Maya, whom they both forgot was there, watched them both with a knowing smirk.

Oh, Katherine was becoming more screwed, and she wasn't even realizing it for herself.

Sign #5. He wouldn't mind going to Paris with me, someday...

⤵︎

WHEN RILEY RETURNED, Kat and Maya could immediately sense that she was going through a tough time. But before they could address it, the Matthews and Decker family returned to their exhibit, just as the event was nearing its end.

But before she does, the Matthews and Decker family come back by the two artists then as the exhibit was close to closing.

"You guys really don't have to stay," Maya assured.

"Are you kidding? We love supporting the middle school art scene," Cory insisted.

"Yeah, we even bought a drawing," Topanga chimed in, revealing the artwork she got. "You have to wonder who this silly, little weirdo is."

It was a drawing of a girl with her mouth being wide open as it covered almost all of the drawing.

Riley walked in then to reveal herself to be the subject of the drawing. "Aw... It's our silly, little weirdo," the mother gleamed, wrapping an arm around her.

Kim also shows them a drawing of her and Kat, hugging each others their sides. "I even bought one of myself too," she smiled.

The sister grins back. "I didn't even intend for that one to be posted up for sales."

"But I saw it anyways, sis," she assured. "This is going right up on my wall...next to my One Direction posters."

Kat placed a hand on her heart as she pouted. "I'm absolutely honored to be put next to such guys. Truly."

Maverick shook his head at them both. "I still don't get the hype between those...boys."

Kat pats her dad's shoulder, grinning. "And I don't think you ever will, Dad."

Riley turned to her parents then. "Thank you for staying with them, guys."

Cory smiled. "Always."

And with that, the families bid their farewells, leaving Riley, Kat, and Maya behind.

"I couldn't get her to come, and I'm very disappointed," Riley confessed, distressed.

"I know, you expect too much," Maya replied matter-of-factly.

"This is hard on me," Riley grumbled.

Kat puts on a fake frown for her sake. "You need a hug, honey?"

Riley nodded, allowing them to pull her into an embrace, hoping it'll help her in a way.

As they part from each other, Riley turned to the blonde then. "Maya, I was wrong."

However, she shook her head. "No, Riley, you were right."

"I'm very confused," Riley faltered in reply.

Maya peered back to her drawing. "I showed my work. People liked it. It made me feel like I could be something someday," she said, glancing at Kat. "How about you, Kitty-Kat?"

Drawing a quick glance at her drawing, Kat grinned fondly. "I also kind of feel like a changed woman too, sweetie-pie." She dives more into her inner thoughts, "I mean, you and I saw how people looked at our art, how it much impacted them, big or small—it made me feel complete, like I'm doing my job in this world."

"You guys are... or you will be now," Riley assured.

Maya smiled gratefully. "Thank you, Riley."

"You're welcome." Riley walked over to a nearby table and grabbed a styrofoam plate to bring by them. "Do you guys want half a tuna melt?"

Maya accepted it with a smile, knowing this was her mother's doing. "You know why she gave this to you?"

"Why?" Kat asked.

"She knows it's my favorite thing there. She knew that you two would share with me."

"I'd be happy to give you the whole thing," Riley offered.

"Yeah, I mean, tuna is tuna," Kat shrugged, also not opposed to Riley's idea.

"I know you two would," Maya replied, knowingly. "I'll be just fine sharing with my girls."

And with that being said, they sat down together, with Maya opening the plate to let Riley and Kat take the first bites before eating together in peace.

lani's talking!

just wanted to say, im not trying to make it Kat's main thing to be art like it is with Maya. it's just something that her and Maya share, like how her and Riley share the same need to help others out. though,

kat will be more of the mediator later in the trilogy 😁

anyways, hope y'all are enjoying the story! and truly, thank you for all the love and support you've given it :))

byeeeee <3