RILEY WAS talking to Maya and Sophia about Thomas not asking her to the Semi-Formal.

"It's this weekend. Thomas hasn't asked me to the semi-formal. We're Riley and Thomas, aren't we?" Riley asked.

"I don't know anymore." Maya said.

Sophia sighed, "Just tell us what to say."

"It's all over the front of my notebook. "Riley hearts Thomas 4-ever."" She read.

"What's on the back of your notebook?" Maya asked.

""Riley and Lucas, we're just friends.""

Sophia smiled, "Wow."

"Sweetie, what are you doing to yourself?" Maya asked.

"It's this weekend, and Thomas hasn't asked me to the semi-formal."

"We told ya. You got a problem." Sophia said.

"You did? Have I brought this up before?" Riley asked.

Sophia and Maya looked at each other.

Ten Months Ago

"It's ten months away, why hasn't Thomas asked me to the semi-formal?" Riley asked.

Maya and Sophia grabbed what we needed out of their lockers and slammed it shut.

"Aah!" They heard.

"Has Lucas asked you?" Riley asked.

"No Riley he hasn't. There's nothing but time. If Thomas doesn't ask you by the week before, I'll look at you like this, and say, "you got a problem." Stop planning your life so far in advance." Sophia said.

"I'm not. When the time comes, I want my ashes scattered over" Riley said but was cut off by Maya.

"Thomas. Is it Thomas?" Maya asked, "Yeah, We know." Maya said.

Five Months Ago

"It's five months away, why hasn't Thomas asked me to the semi-formal?" Riley asked.

"Duh, da-da, da-da, duh." Maya sang and Sophia slammed her locker shut.

"Aah!"

"Has Lucas asked you?" Riley asked.

"No, There's nothing but time. He doesn't ask you by the week before, I'll look at you like this, and say, "you got a problem."" Sophia said.

"You know, you two look at me like that a lot." Riley said.

"Well, you've got a lot of problems." Maya said.

"I do." Riley said.

Now

"Yes, Riley, you've had problems before, but you haven't had a Thomas problem until now." Maya said.

Sophia slammed her locker shut.

"Aah!"

"Why does he keep doing that?" Riley asked.

"Lockers, blackboard. Chalk, chalk dust. Your daddy." Sophia explained.

"How long are you gonna keep doing it?" Riley asked.

"Till he comes out." Sophia said.

Mr. Matthews came out with chalk dust all over him.

"Okay, I'm done!" Sophia said and ran down the hallway.

History with Mr. Matthews

"Semi-formal coming up. Young men and young women interacting. Mixing in a social situation. So, to avoid any casualties, I thought we could discuss etiquette." Mr. Matthews said, "Can anyone here tell me what etiquette is? No, you can't."

Farkle stood up and grabbed Maya, "Etiquette is treating people politely and with respect. Maya and I will demonstrate in a short play we put on before every dance. It's called, "no.""

"Miss Hart, would you do me the great honor of accompanying me to the semi-formal festivities?" Farkle asked.

"No."

"Etiquette. Thank you." They both said.

"We'll see you at the holidays for "a Christmas no."" Farkle said.

The class clapped for them.

"Okay, so the school board sent me this film. It's called, "He asked me, he asked me, he really asked me.""

"This is supposed to teach us how to act at the dance?" Thomas asked.

"They sent it. I'm showing it. You're animals." Mr. Matthews said.

"Oh, there's a dance, and you're planning to attend this dance that you never mentioned in my general vicinity, that dance?" Riley asked Thomas.

"Actually, I wanna talk to you about that-" He said but Riley cut him off.

"Go on."

"Psst. Talk after class." Mr. Matthews said.

"Have you no sense of anything?" Riley asked.

"Nope. Let's watch. Oh, what's this here? Well, enjoy the old-time picture show."

"Well, if it isn't our old friend, Billy. Last time we saw you, Billy, you were teaching us that our bodies go through strange and horrifying changes." The Narrator said

"Uck."

"But today, we're here to talk about the biggest night in a young person's life. The semi-formal. Billy's been looking forward to it all year. Isn't that right, Billy?" The Narrator said, "Whoa, whoa, whoa, slow down, Billy. Because you know who hangs out at dances? Your old friends Polio, Typhoid, and the Devil."

"He's mean." Billy said.

"Now, let's meet your best gal, Sally, who, since you're a gentleman, you asked to the dance at least ten months in advance." The Narrator said.

"Billy gets it." Riley said.

"Billy's dead and all of his friends are dead too. Except one. No, wait, now he's dead too." Maya said.

"It does seem like relationships are a little more complex now than they were in the nineteen fifties." Farkle said.

"I just wanna be asked to the dance." Riley said.

"You wanna go to the dance?" Farkle asked.

"No."

"Oh, you've seen my play."

"Meet Sally. She's a good girl.
Sally's dreaming of her handsome prince sweeping her off her feet."

"Did he ask you, Sally?" The Narrator asked.

"He asked me, he asked me! He really asked me!" Sally said.

"You and me, Sally. Front of the notebook, baby."

"Because everybody knows the semi-formal is the dance that determines the rest of your life." The Narrator said.

"Oh, there's nothing like a beautiful gown that makes you feel like you're in a beautiful gown." Sally said.

"How you enjoying the picture show, Sally?" Sophia asked Riley.

"Life is so much simpler in black and white."

"Look how Billy holds the door open for Sally so she won't develop unsightly arm muscles. Now that's etiquette." The Narrator said and the short movie was cut off.

"Yikes. Okay. So, can anyone here tell me if they possibly learned anything from that?" Mr. Matthews asked.

"Yes. Time to make some choices, Billy. Simple enough for you, Billy?" Riley asked.

Hallway

"You know what I think? I think he's waiting until the very last minute, and then he's gonna do the big ask." Riley said.

"Sure, he is." Sophia said.

"First, there'll be balloons in your locker." Maya said.

Riley opened her locker and saw balloons in her locker.

"Ooh!" She said.

"Then, people will hand you roses until you have a big bouquet." Maya said.

A whole bunch of people came and gave Riley flowers.

"What the?" Sophia asked.

"Keep making things happen!" Riley said.

"Okay, uh disco ball?"

"Music?"

"Yogi on skates!" Sophia said and Yogi rolled by.

"Drop a banner, and then Thomas is right there next to you." Maya said.

"Riley-" Charlie said but Riley cut him off.

"Yes, yes! I would love to go to the semi-formal with you!" She said turning around.

Charlie, in Sophia's eyes, wasn't as bad as people made him to be. People saw him as the creepiest person around but he was just trying to get the girl but in the weirdest ways.

"Good. I was hoping you would." He said.

"Meet Riley, a swell gal who finds herself in quite the pickle!" Sophia said in the weirdest voice.

"What will she do? What will she do?" Maya said.

"When we last left our hero, she said she'd go to the dance with Charlie Gardner." Sophia said.

"That's me."

Sophia sighed, "Oh, Charlie."

"I can't believe that you actually said yes. I waited because I was sure Thomas was gonna ask you, but when he didn't, I just figured there was a problem. So, I asked you because I think a girl like you deserves to be swept off her feet. So, I asked you because I think a girl like you deserves to be swept off her feet. I was gonna ask Sophia but she's going with Lucas." Charlie said.

"Uh-oh." Maya said.

"What do I do?" Riley asked getting up.

Riley looked at Sophia.

"Sophia please?"

Sophia looked down and smiled at Riley.

"Charlie," Sophia started.

Charlie looked at Sophia.

"The disco ball, banner, and the flowers, and the Yogi on skates is actually all mine because you're going to the Semi-Formal with me and not Riley." Sophia smiled.

Sophia turned and faced Riley and took the flowers.

"Really?" He asked.

"Really." Sophia smiled.

"I really appreciate the Yogi on skates."

"Yeah, I had to teach him." He said.

"Aah!" Yogi screamed.

"But there's only so much time in the day."

"I just remembered something, I can't go." Sophia said.

She didn't know what she was doing anymore.

"You can't go with me?" He asked.

"No, I can't go with anybody." She said, "I can't go with anybody because I just a dog and cat and my Nana is gonna be out that night so I have to watch them both that night."

"What Sophia will realize immediately is that Topanga can watch her cat and dog while she's at the dance." Maya said.

"Can't Mrs. Matthews watch your pets?" He asked.

"She can't she's going out and that's why my Nana is going out cause she's got to watch Auggie." Sophia said.

"Well, there's no coming back from that." Maya said.

"Uh, yes, yes, there is, Maya, because, see, my dog and cat don't get along already and I have to watch them cause the cat might mess with the dog and I have a ferret that might eat them both, it's like a Tom and Jerry thing." Sophia said, "And so my Nana promised Topanga that she would babysit Riley's little brother, Auggie because nobody had asked me to the dance."

"I'm so proud of us. She's obviously had a good bad influence." Maya said.

"Well, Sophia has gotten herself out of this mess, what could possibly go wrong now?" Riley said.

"Oh, you can't go to the dance?" Lucas said from behind.

"Unbelievable!" Sophia said.

"Well, you two must have a lot to talk about. But before I go, I'd like you both to know that I don't regret asking her, well after she offered but I did it because I know you're the type of person who would give up the dance to help your Nana and your pets out." Charlie said picking up Yogi and walking away.

"Uh, let me understand this, Sophia asked you to the dance?" Lucas asked.

"I was gonna ask her but after she told me Riley was going with Thomas she thought we could go together because, see, you didn't ask her." Charlie said, "And I'm sorry, but do you need more than ten months?"

"Charlie, you may not know this, but Sophia and I kinda have an unofficial thing going."

"Yeah, but I've been tracking this thing all year, and I've seen both sides of Riley's notebook made for the both of you."

"You let him see the notebook?" Lucas asked.

"It was only one time." She muttered

"You have a notebook made for us?" Sophia asked.

"It's was only one time." She repeated.

"So, what happens now?" Lucas asked.

"Guess that'd depend on Sophia, wouldn't it?" Charlie questioned.

"Close your mouth, Sophia." Riley said.

"Well, I'll leave you guys to it." Charlie said and everyone clapped because he picked up Yogi or they saw what just happened.

"I just naturally assumed that we were going together." He said.

"What?"

"I thought we were going together. I should have asked."

"What?" Sophia repeated.

"I'm sorry you can't go." He said walking away.

Sophia said down on the bench, "Do it for me."

"Unbelievable!" They both said.

"And now this." Maya said.

Bay Window

"Help me." Sophia asked.

She walked into Riley's room where her two friends were already dressed.

"I got nothing." Maya said.

"Help me!" Sophia said again.

"This one's a doozy." Riley said.

There was a knock on the door and Mr. Matthews and Topanga came in.

"You've been in here six hours." Mr. Matthews said.

"We don't hear any talking." Topanga said.

"The bay window's broken." Sophia said.

"What's up?" Topanga asked.

"I got asked to the semi-formal." Sophia started.

"Oh, Lucas got around to it?" Topanga asked.

"No, Lucas assumed we were going. I was helping your daughter who end up getting asked by Thomas later and I'm apparently going with Charlie."

"Gardner? I like him. Little quiet, so far." Mr. Matthews said.

"So, why aren't you dressed?" Topanga asked.

"Because I kinda made up a story and said I couldn't go." Sophia said.

"And Lucas overheard, and now Sally's in a pickle!" Maya said in that new voice of hers.

"What is that? What are you doing? What is that?" Topanga asked.

"I'm never stopping. Cheese souffle!"

"Listen, Sophia, I'm disappointed you felt you had to make up a story." Mr. Matthews said sitting at the window.

"What's wrong with Charlie?" Topanga asked.

"Nothing. It's just, he's kinda-"

"Swell!" Maya said

"I just had this vision in my head about how the semi-formal was supposed to go." Sophia said.

"Thomas would ask, the dress I would wear, the corsage he would give me." Riley said talking about herself.

"Sophia didn't do anything wrong." Maya said.

"No?"

"No."

"I think she's just confused about how she feels." Maya said.

"How am I supposed to feel, Maya?" Sophia asked.

"I like Thomas, don't I? You were me. How did I feel when you were me? What are me and Thomas? Just tell me what to say and I'll tell Sophia so she'll understand her feeling towards Lucas." Riley said.

"You know something. Tell us." Sophia said.

"Go to the dance." Maya said.

"I can't. They're gonna punish me because in this world they are like my parents." Sophia said.

"Go to the dance." Topanga said.

"They're not gonna punish me." Sophia said.

"Actually, we kinda are." Mr. Matthews said.

"How?"

"Well, Lucas and Charlie are both gonna be at the dance. You need to face them, Sophia. You've got choices to make."

"Oh, boy. All right, I'll go. What color goes with shame?" Sophia asked.

Semi-Formal

"Riles, look, big turnout." Maya said.

"Good."

"Maybe there's a chance I won't run into either of them." Sophia told them.

She turned around and saw the both of them.

"Oh, this is my punishment. Your parents are smart."

"Hi."

"Riley, dance?" Thomas asked he
her.

"Absolutely."

"Sophia, dance?" Farkle asked.

"Absolutely."

"No, no, no, no, no, no, no. Sophia's busy. I'll dance with you." Maya said.

"That works for me. You're Riley, Maya, or Sophia."

Sophia walked up to the both of them.

"I owe you both an apology."

"If we didn't know who you really are, Sophia, then maybe you would." Lucas said.

"You don't owe me anything." Charlie said.

"So, you guys are both just gonna let me off the hook?"

"Mmm not really." Lucas said.

"Well, then what are you gonna do?" Sophia asked.

"Well, see, I talked to Charlie, 'cause, you know, I thought he should have known better than to ask you to this dance."

"Yeah, but when I explained the whole "Ten months, five months, week before the dance" thing was kinda disrespectful."

"Well, no, Charlie. I think what we came up with is that it wasn't so much disrespectful as it was an assumed understanding between my friend Sophia and me that we would, you know, naturally go to this dance together."

"Which is when I said that the semi-formal deserves a little extra effort, like balloons and roses and Yogi on skates."

"Yeah, well You know what? I gotta give you points for that. That was a good one."

"Thanks, man. After I saw you put her on a white horse, I knew I had to bring it."

"What is going on here?" Sophia asked.

"I really like this guy, Sophia. He's all right.

"Yeah, new friendship."

"Thanks to you." They said walking away.

"Wait a minute! What do I do here?" Sophia asked.

"Oh, well, that's up to you, Sophia."

"Yeah. Why make it easy for you?" Charlie said.

Sophia sighed, she knew she had to talk to Mr. Matthews.

Sophia found him and just started to speak.

"I thought it was either gonna be the front of Rileys' notebook or the back of the notebook, but now there's another guy. Adults have it easy, Matthews. All you decide is what's for dinner and what to put the thermostat at."

"Ninety-two, That's why all the polar bears left. I'm the one who global warmed them." Eric said.

"Wait, who are you?" A man asked.

"Hi, I'm SophiaAnn."

"What are you to him?"

Sophia just stood there, she looked down at the ground and then back at the man.

"Goddaughter, she's my goddaughter." Mr. Matthews said.

Sophia smiled, "Yep, that's what I am. Hi."

"Oh, hi, SophiaAnn, it's a pleasure to meet you."

"What is it like having a daughter, man?"

"How do you like two people differently?" Sophia asked.

"Jack, you wanna know what it's like having a daughter? Why don't you take this one?"

"Oh, buddy. Well, um okay, there was once this girl who had to make a choice between Eric and me. She liked me as a boyfriend." Jack said.

"And she liked me-" Eric started.

"How? How did she like you?" Sophia asked.

"She liked me as a brother."

"Are you two still friends?" Sophia asked Jack.

"You know what? I haven't seen her in a really long time."

"Are you two still friends?" Sophia asked Eric.

"Yeah, we talk all the time. She and I are still great friends. Keep your friends around as long as you can. That's the best choice you can make."

"Matthews? I don't get how that has to do with me. I know I like Lucas and I know I didn't want Charlie to feel bad."

"Sophia, you got a lot to think about. Why don't you go dance with your friends?"

Sophia smiled and walked towards the others.

"Hey, everybody." Eric said, "You all helped to get me elected, so I wanted to do something a little bit special for you. So, ladies and gentlemen, all the way from Kangarootown, Sheppard."

"Hey, guys, we're Sheppard.
Now, everybody grab your dates and hit the floor!"

"Hi." Sophia said dancing with Lucas.

"Hey."

"Why did you assume we were going to the dance if we're not officially together?" Sophia asked.

"I don't know."

"Why would you make a big deal about it if we're not officially together?"

Charlie jumped in front of the two, "Why would you make such a big deal about her asking me if you're not officially together?"

"Yeah, no, I don't do that." Lucas said.

"Why would you be dancing with me if you're officially a huckleberry?" Maya asked.

"No, I'm not dancing with you." Lucas said.

"How you doin'?"

"I hate to break it to you, cowboy, but you're still dancing with me, and Sophia's dancing with that guy."

"I'm sorry everything didn't work out as planned, Charlie." Sophia said.

"Hey, I'm here, and we're dancing." He said.

Sophia smiled, "We are."

"We're all dancing." Maya said.

"We're all friends." Thomas said.

"What else is there to figure out?" Lucas asked.

Somehow Lucas and Sophia ended back with each other.

"Hi."

"Hey."

The dance ended some time ago but Sophia was still there, just waiting on her ride.

"Hi." Lucas said.

"Hey."

"What are we?"

"I don't know."

"Well, I like you."

"I like you too."

"So why can't date?" He asked.

That was a drastic change in conversation for Sophia.

"All that's happened today, the only thing on my mind now is you and Charlie."

"Why did you go to the dance with him? Do you like him?"

"I went with him for Riley's sake she didn't think Thomas was gonna ask her and no I don't like Charlie. I learned something today that I've probably shouldn't have learned about my friends, but give me a week or two and I'll let you know everything."

"Promise?"

"Promise."

"No, you've got to pinky promise."

Sophia gave him a half-smile, "I pinky promise."

She latched their fingers together.

"Sophia, your Nana is here." Mr. Matthews said.

"Stay safe Hopeman."

"Stay safe Friar."

Matthews House

"I'm senator Eric Matthews, and this is my niche, Riley."

"Hi."

"And her friends, Mayonnaise and Sweet Potato."

"You're not even trying anymore." Maya and Sophia said.

"When I was a kid like them, there used to be polar bears all over New York City. But now, because of "uh-oh, we broke the earth," these bears have been forced to move to places their travel agents told them were colder, but aren't anymore. Help me make the right decisions. Let's make the world cold where it's supposed to be. It's the warm thing to do. This message is brought to you by my heart." Eric said.

Word Count:3385

Updated on: December 23rd, 2018

charlie gardener was not a creep and if you thought so i hate you.

charlie liked riley and lucas was a bum like shut up

literally no charlie gardener slander y'all hate him and for WHAT

goodnight/morning/afternoon to all of y'all

See ya soon