"In every life there are landmarks. What are the historical markers of our lives?" Mr. Matthews questions, smiling at his class. Mirabel sat at her usual seat besides Lucas in her History class, listening to the lesson. "Most important first."

Riley speaks up excitedly. "Sweet Sixteen."

"No." Mr. Matthews told her.

Maya perks up next, her voice light and teasing. "Arbor Day!" Mirabel stifled a giggle at Maya's unexpected suggestion, her hand coming up to cover her mouth, though she couldn't quite hide the smile that tugged at her lips.

Mr. Matthews wasn't expecting it either and stares at the blonde with disbelief. "No. Even Sweet Sixteen is more important than Arbor Day." Maya pouted a little, not happy that her guess wasn't correct.

"Sweet Sixteen." Riley tried again.

"Arbor Day!" Maya chimed in quietly, cupping her mouth as if trying to disguise her voice, earning a few amused glances from the class.

"No." Mr. Matthews shakes his head. "Most important first."

"Sweet Sixteen is the doorway to our driver's license." Riley grinned, her tone hopeful.

"Arbor Day is the doorway to nobody knows what it is." Maya quipped.

"And college." Riley added.

Maya frowns at her. "You're going without me?"

Riley turns to face her with a reaassuring smile. "No, you're going to the little one next door."

Maya's face brightens. "Yay."

Mr. Matthews at this point looks annoyed, disappointed, and looks at Farkle for help. "Farkle."

"Birth." Farkle shrugged.

Mr. Matthews nods. "Okay, let's go with that because it's not what you said." He points at his daughter, who just smiled back at him. "What's next?"

Smackle chimes in eagerly. "I win the Nobel Prize for Physics."

"Smackle, we just got born." Mr. Matthews pointed out.

"Okay, I'll wait." Smackle replied with a smile.

"Our first birthday." Lucas interected, earning an approving look from Mr. Matthews.

"Okay, birth. So then, wecelebrate our birth every year. What's next?" Mr. Matthews inquired.

"I win the Nobel Prize for Physics." Smackle repeated.

"Not yet." Mr. Matthews sighed.

Smackle hits her desk with her fist with a glare. "Get to it!"

"Our first steps, our first words, our first day at school." Zay cut in, earning groans from most of the students in the class.

"Yay, the day I met Riley and Maya and Smackle and Lucas and Zay and Mirabel." Farkle interjected, gaining fond smiles from his friends. Mirabel found that sweet, mentally 'aweing' at his response.

Mr. Matthews smiles. "Okay, so, we get born. We learn to walk and talk. We meet our friends. Then what?"

Smackle grins, pointing at him. "You know." Mirabel giggled a little at the way she said that. It sounded like Smackle was determined she would win a Nobel Prize in the future and she had no doubt the smart girl would.

"Then we grow up and we're not little kids anymore." Lucas continued.

"And it went by fast, didn't it?" Zay commented.

Mr. Matthews nods in agreements. "It goes by very fast, Mr. Babineaux. Your adventures were my adventures not very long ago."

"Then we have our various coming of age ceremonies." Farkle chimed in.

"Oh, you mean like..." Maya started and Riley finished her sentence eagerly.

"I want us to have a Surprise Sweet Sixteen party."

"Riley, how is it a surprise if we all know about it?" Lucas asked, looking confused.

"'Cause we're gonna have it now while we're all fifteen and you're twenty-four." Maya teased, earning a playful eye roll from Lucas.

"Okay, everybody, make a big surprise face." Riley announced, gasping dramatically with some other students.

Zay looks at them weirdly. "Yeah, don't do that. And anyway, it doesn't matter. It doesn't count. I mean, it must have been a 'Sweet Sixteen' for a reason. Why? I don't care." He shrugged.

"Well, now, actually Zay brings up an interesting point." Mr. Matthews interjected.

Zay shakes his head. "No, I don't."

"Riley has an instinct to accelerate the clock. Why do you think that is?" Mr. Matthews inquired.

"Because I want a party." Riley beamed.

Mr. Matthews' face softens and he sends her a look. "Try again."

"Well, 'caues I agree with Zay. We are growing up very fast." Riley admitted after thinking it through.

Zay's eyes widen as he looks at her with surprise. "What? You agree with me?"

"Yeah." Riley nodded.

Zay gasps. "Okay, yeah, that was fun." He realizes. "Hey, but watch this surprise face." He gasps dramatically and loudly, then grimaces. "Okay, only one was fun."

"Okay, so there it is freshmen. You guys are all gonna be sixteen or seventeen in your junior year." Mr. Matthews states. "You're gonna be thinkin' about where to go to college."

"Stockholm University so I can be nearby to pick up my Nobel Prize." Smackle smirked.

Farkle turns in his seat to look at his girlfriend and nods. "We'll talk."

"We'll talk in Swedish." Smackle sassily retorted.

"Okay, Smackle has her life worked out. What about the rest of you? Are you better off letting life surprise you or is there a way to be ready for whatever is gonna happen?" Mr. Matthews questioned.

Lucas glanced over at his girlfriend with concern. She had been quiet for most of this lesson, normally she would chime in to at least answer questions, but she hadn't said much. She was fidgeting with the necklace he had gotten her the night before as an early birthday present since her Sweet Sixteen is coming up and he noticed her distracted, absentmindedly twirling the pendant. Her gaze was distant, her mind seemingly elsewhere. Lucas shifted in his seat, catching her eye, but she offered him only a small, tight-lipped smile before quickly looking down at the desk. He could sense that something was off. 

As everyone talked about their upcoming birthdays, their futures, she seemed lost in thought. He could see the unease in her eyes, and it made his heart tighten with concern. Lucas gently nudged Mirabel's foot with his, trying to get her attention. She looked up at him, but the small, tight-lipped smile she gave him only made him more concerned. He could see that something was clearly bothering her, though she was trying to hide it. 

He frowns and leans a little closer, lowering his voice even further. "Mirabel, what's going on? You've been really quiet today."

Mirabel shifted in her seat, still twirling the necklace around her finger. She opened her mouth, as if to say something, but then closed it again, her eyes flickering with hesitation. She didn't want to burden him with whatever was weighing on her, but the more she tried to ignore it, the heavier it felt.

"It's nothing, really," She said softly, not fully convincing him. "'M fine." She mumbled, but her voice lacked the usual confidence. Lucas wasn't buying it. He had seen enough of her moods to know when something wasn't right.

Lucas sighs. "We're talking about this after class, Bel." He said firmly, his voice soft but determined. Mirabel met his gaze briefly before looking away again, not wanting to make a scene but clearly uneasy with the idea of opening up. Lucas could tell she wasn't ready to talk, but he wasn't going to let it slide. He gently gave her foot another nudge, a silent reminder that he was there for her.

Mirabel knew that Lucas cared deeply, but she wasn't sure how to express what she was feeling. Her mind was a tangled mess of emotions—at that moment, it felt easier to keep it to herself rather than open up. She leaned back in her seat with a sigh, looking over at Riley when she asked her father a question.

Riley looks at him with confusion. "How would that be possible?"

"By looking at the landmarks of our lives so far. Have they prepared you for what's gonna come next? Happy Sweet Sixteen, everybody. Your assignment is to tell me what's gonna happen next."

****

When class was done, Mirabel packed her bag quickly and tried to get out of class as fast as she could, hoping to avoid the inevitable conversation with Lucas. However, it was too late, and she found him already waiting outside the classroom. The hallway was filled with students milling around, eager to leave, but he was leaning against the wall, watching her intently with crossed arms and concern written all over his face.

"Mirabel, we need to talk." He said softly, his eyes searching hers.

She avoided his gaze, knowing that he was only worried, but she couldn't shake the feeling that whatever she was going to say would somehow make him mad. "I don't want to talk about it right now, Lucas. I'm sorry, but I just can't. Please." She hated the pleading note in her voice, but she didn't want to risk getting into an argument.

"Why not?" He frowned, taking a step closer.

Mirabel's grip tightened on her bag, her shoulders tense. She knew he meant well, but the words seemed stuck in her throat, unable to form. "I'm just not ready."

Lucas shakes his head. He couldn't understand why she wouldn't want to talk about whatever was bothering her. But, if she didn't want to talk, then he wouldn't force her. But that didn't mean he was going to drop the issue entirely. "Alright, but I'm here for you when you're ready," Lucas sighs. "I'll see you at lunch, okay? I love you, mi sol." He kissed her cheek and squeezed her hand, then headed off down the hall, leaving her with her thoughts.

Mirabel watched him leave, her heart heavy with guilt. She wanted to confide in him, in someone about what she was going through, but she just couldn't bring herself to do it. Not yet. Not until she could make sense of the chaos swirling around in her mind. Her shoulders slumped as she started to walk down the hallway, her head bowed low and her steps slow and heavy. She just wanted to go home, curl up under the blankets, forget about the world, and have some peace. 

But even as she thought about escaping, she knew that ignoring the feelings wouldn't make them go away. They were only growing, pressing on her chest like a weight she couldn't shake. Mirabel made her way to her locker, her mind still a whirlwind of doubt and confusion. She could feel her phone vibrating in her pocket, but she ignored it, not ready to deal with any more distractions. She needed some time alone, but the more she tried to push the thoughts away, the louder they seemed to get.

As she fiddled with the combination lock, a familiar voice called out to her from down the hallway. "Mirabel!" It was Riley, jogging toward her with a bright smile. "Hey, you okay? You've been quiet today. More than usual."

Mirabel glanced up at Riley, forcing a small smile in return, though it didn't quite reach her eyes. "Yeah, I'm fine. Just tired, I guess." She said, her voice faltering slightly.

"Are you sure? You know you can talk to me if something's bothering you, right?" Riley placed a hand on her shoulder, her gaze soft and filled with concern. She could tell that something was definitely off, but she didn't want to push too hard.

Mirabel takes a deep breath, trying to gather her thoughts and calm her racing mind. "I know, and I appreciate it, really. It's just..." She trailed off, the words catching in her throat.

"Hey, it's okay," Riley said reassuringly, giving her shoulder a gentle squeeze. "Take your time. I'm here for you, okay?"

Mirabel nods, grateful for Riley's support. "Thank you, really. I'll talk to you about it later. Just not right now. I'm sorry, Riley." She managed a weak smile, then turned and headed off down the hall, her footsteps heavy. Riley watched her go, worry written all over her face. Something was definitely wrong, but she didn't know what. She could only hope that her friend would open up soon and let her in. For now, though, all she could do was wait and be there for her.

****

At lunch that day, Lucas had waited by his and Mirabel's usual spot where they meet up to head to lunch together. But this time, she didn't show up. He kept glancing at the door every few minutes, wondering where she was. He pulled out his phone and texted her, asking if she was alright. No response. His eyebrows furrowed with concern. She would always at least give him a brief reply, even if she didn't want to talk about what was on her mind. This time, however, the lack of response was concerning.

Lucas sighed and stood up, heading to the cafeteria to get his lunch. He knew that Mirabel often liked to spend lunch in the library or in an empty classroom when she wanted some alone time. If she was avoiding him, he wasn't going to push it. But he couldn't help but worry about her. There had to be a reason why she wasn't opening up. Whatever it was, it had to be pretty big.

When lunch ended, Lucas still hadn't heard from Mirabel. He texted her again, asking if everything was alright and if she would go with him and the others to Topanga's like they ususally did to work on homework. He finally got a reply from her, her reply being a simple 'Sorry. Can't. Got a lot on my mind. Gonna stay at school to clear my head.'

That was the most he got out of her and it was better than nothing. But it only made him worry even more. Lucas felt a heavy knot in his stomach after reading Mirabel's text. He knew her well enough to understand that "a lot on my mind" wasn't just a passing concern—it was something deeper, something weighing on her in a way she couldn't bring herself to share.

He stared at his phone for a moment, debating whether to push her again, but he knew better than to pressure her. Mirabel wasn't one to open up easily, especially when she was struggling. He just hoped that, eventually, she would feel ready to talk to him about whatever was going on. The rest of the day felt like a blur for Lucas. Every time his phone buzzed or vibrated, he hoped it was Mirabel reaching out, but the messages were mostly from the group about homework or weekend plans. It wasn't until the end of the school day that he decided to visit the library, just in case she was hiding away there like she sometimes did when things got overwhelming. Lucas pushed the doors open and peered inside, his eyes scanning the shelves of books, the empty tables, the dim lighting. At first, he didn't see her, but then he spotted a familiar figure curled up on a sofa in a quiet corner of the library.

It was Mirabel, her head bowed and her knees tucked against her chest. She was so wrapped up in her thoughts that she didn't notice him standing there, and it wasn't until he took a step closer that she finally looked up. Their eyes met for a brief moment, but it was long enough for him to see the tears welling up in her eyes, threatening to spill over.

"Hey, darlin'." He whispered, moving to sit beside her. He didn't say anything else, didn't ask what was wrong, didn't push her to talk. Instead, he simply wrapped an arm around her and pulled her close, letting her lean against him.

They sat there in silence for a while, the only sound being the steady beat of his heart, the gentle rhythm soothing her frayed nerves. Mirabel sighed, shifting closer and burying her face against his chest. The steady warmth and strength of his presence grounded her, reminding her that she wasn't alone. He leaned over to kiss the top of her head, murmuring reassurances and letting her know he was there for her. He could feel her body trembling slightly, and he instinctively tightened his hold on her. He couldn't imagine what was going on in her head, but he knew that whatever it was, it was causing her pain. 

All he could do was be there for her, and that's exactly what he was going to do. Mirabel's internal turmoil had been brewing for weeks, and the weight of it all was finally pressing too hard. She'd tried so hard to hold it together, but now, sitting there with Lucas by her side, the walls she'd built began to crumble. Lucas stayed silent, his presence a quiet reassurance that gave her the strength she needed. He understood her well enough to know that pushing her to talk would only make things harder. Instead, he held her close, his arm around her shoulders steadying her as her emotions came in waves.

Mirabel takes a shuddering breath and let out a quiet, almost inaudible, but he heard her. "Thank you." She wasn't ready to explain everything, not yet. She wasn't even sure if she understood it herself. But Lucas's patience and gentleness reminded her that she didn't have to go through this alone. She wasn't ready to confide in him fully, but his support made her feel, for the first time in a while, that maybe she could.

Lucas smiled softly and pressed a gentle kiss to her forehead. "Anytime, mi sol." He held her close, his arms a safe haven. Mirabel let out a shaky breath and buried her face against his chest once more, letting his heartbeat calm her frazzled nerves. He stayed quiet, giving her the space she needed, while also letting her know he was there, fully present and unwavering. The comfort of his embrace was all she needed in that moment—a grounding force that helped her start to find her bearings again. 

Mirabel felt a slow warmth spreading through her chest, not from any solution or words of wisdom, but simply from the knowledge that she wasn't facing this on her own. There were times when the heaviness of life became too much, but in moments like this, it was easy to remember that there were people who loved her and would never let her fall. She would need more time, but with Lucas by her side, she had a sense that things would get better.

"Aren't you supposed to be with our friends at Topanga's doing homework?" Mirabel realized, furrowing her eyebrows. Though she hoped he wouldn't leave. 

Lucas chuckles softly, though it lacked the usual humor. "Yeah, I guess I should be," He said, but his tone remained calm and steady. "I was planning to go, but...Honestly, I rather be with you right now. They'll understand."

Mirabel's heart swelled a little at his words, a mixture of gratitude and guilt stirring inside her. She didn't want to pull him away from his friends, but she also couldn't deny how much she needed him in that moment. The warmth of his embrace, the quiet understanding in his eyes—it was exactly what she needed, even if she couldn't yet express everything she was feeling.

"I didn't mean to make you stay," She said quietly, her voice thick with emotion. "You can go if you want. I'll be fine."

Lucas shakes his head, his fingers gently threading through her hair. "I'm not going anywhere, Mirabel. I'm serious, rather be with you. Especially when you need me." She smiled softly, feeling the weight of his sincerity. In that moment, she realized that Lucas had never been the type to just offer empty words or superficial comfort. He truly meant it. And she wasn't alone. She wasn't going through this alone.

"I love you." She mumbled into his chest, a faint smile forming on her lips. Lucas felt his heart skip a beat at the sound of her voice, soft and gentle like a summer breeze. He smiled, his expression softening.

Lucas felt his heart swell at her words, the weight of them settling in a place deep inside him. It wasn't just the words themselves but the vulnerability behind them, the trust she had placed in him by sharing a piece of her heart even though she wasn't ready to share everything.

"I love you too," He whispers back, his voice steady and sincere. He brushes a strand of hair from her face, his touch tender and gentle. "You don't ever have to go through anything alone. Not as long as I'm here."

Mirabel closed her eyes for a moment, the warmth of his words and his presence wrapping around her like a blanket, easing some of the heaviness that had been weighing her down. She wasn't sure what was ahead, but at least in this moment with Lucas by her side, she didn't feel so lost.

A/N lucas & mirabel <3