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❛ ʟᴇᴀᴛʜᴇʀ & ʟᴀᴄᴇ​​​​​​​​​​. ❜ ° . ༄
- ͙۪۪˚   ▎❛ 𝐓𝐄𝐍 ❜   ▎˚ ͙۪۪̥◌
»»————- ꒰ ʟɪᴠᴇ ʏᴏᴜʀ ᴛʀᴜᴛʜ ꒱


❝ MY MOM CHOSE ME.
YOUR PARENTS ARE
STUCK WITH YOU ❞

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Three months ago

First days are always hard. Getting used to new classes, meeting new people, remembering the names of new teachers. It's a lot for anyone— even more so when that particular person has spent their whole life in another country. Miya and school had very rarely gotten along. This was supposed to be a fresh start, a way to make things better; to not have to deal with anything more pressing than trying to work with her Dyslexia instead of against it. The key word? Supposed to.

Every school has bullies. They might have different motives or intimidating tactics, but they are always present. Unfortunately, Miya knew this all too well. She was not the most confident person when it came to defending herself, so the girls— 'triple A' (because the trio's names all started with As) as she and Jonah called them— thought her an easy target. Luckily, she had her best friend to fight for her when she couldn't speak up for herself.

In this new school, she also only had one friend, Farkle. However, unlike Jonah, he had a bunch of other friends to hang out with, too. She was hopeful that they would become her friends as well, but it was only her first day. She hadn't spent enough time around them to know if they would like her— though from the little she had seen (and a lot she'd heard), it seemed like it would work out. Still, she didn't feel comfortable enough to ask them for help beyond getting her from class to class.

So, despite her new status as having a relatively big group of friends, she still felt rather alone. That, perhaps, was what the other girls of her class saw when they surprised her in the bathroom during lunch.

Miya had been enough situations with 'triple A' to notice the signs: girls lingering over the sink without actually doing anything, waiting for everyone else to clear out, standing by the door in case she tried to bolt. She tried not to appear rattled by this behavior, instead choosing to calmly wash her hands and then dry them with a paper towel. It was as she threw away her trash that one of the girls— a brunette wearing dark-rimmed glasses— spoke first. "So, you're the new girl, huh? Melissa, was it?"

"Miya," she corrected her softly.

"Whatever," the brunette scoffed. "Listen, we've got a proposition for you. Since you're new, you don't know the ins and outs of this school. The people to avoid, the politics, the lame-o teachers. We can help you out with that. How does that sound?"

Miya knew better than to agree right away. Her fingers tightened on the straps of her backpack as her gaze flicked to the other two girls— why were these cliques always in threes?— to assess the situation. They seemed like her backup and the brunette was the leader; the blonde hovered by the entrance to the bathroom while the other brunette leaned against the openings of the stall doorways.

"I. . . don't even know your name," the Asian girl decided was the safest response.

"Oh, of course. I'm Sarah, that's Darby and that's Clarissa." She pointed to the blonde and brunette respectively. "We're in your history class, not that you would ever notice since we're not allowed to talk."

Her brows furrowed slightly in confusion. "What?"

"That's right, you wouldn't know," Sarah commented derisively, tossing her curly brown hair in an indignant fashion. "The history teacher, Mr. Matthews? Well, according to him, the only students' lives who matter are his daughter and her friends. He's one of the worst teachers we have; I'm not even sure he has a lesson plan— it's just based on the whims of his airhead daughter."

Miya frowned at that, having realized that she was talking about Farkle's friends. "They're not so bad. My mom's really good friends with Mr. Matthews. They grew up together."

"Look, I didn't ask for your whole life story—" Sarah began, then she gasped, her hands flying up to cover her mouth. "Oh my god."

"What?"

"Oh my god!" she repeated. "You actually like those self-absorbed assholes?"

"Um. . . they're not so bad," Miya restated. It seemed like the best answer now that she was beginning to understand what these girls were getting at. "I don't know them very well, though."

Then, Sarah started to laugh. The other girls joined in, their laughter echoing against the bathroom tiles. Miya shrank away from them, wishing she'd kept her mouth shut. Once she'd finished, Sarah straightened intimidatingly. "Oh my god, I can't believe you're friends with them! Well, don't worry; I think we've caught you early enough that we can save you from their brainwashing. They're the ones you have to avoid, Mary. Everyone hates them, so you don't want to get wrapped up in that crowd— or else everyone will start hating you, too, and you wouldn't want that, would you?

"We're giving you a chance here," she insisted, stepping closer. "You don't want to be on the wrong side of things. Trust me. We can make your life a lot easier, Madison."

"Or," Darby added, her voice sickly sweet, "we can make it a living nightmare."

Clarissa leaned against the sink, examining her nails like the conversation bored her. "Your choice, really."

Miya's breath felt tight in her chest. She didn't like confrontation. She didn't like standing in the center of attention, especially not when it was for something like this. She wanted to tell them she didn't care about the school politics, that she just wanted to get through her day without any issues. But she knew it wouldn't matter. These girls had already decided what they wanted from her.

Sarah cocked her head, waiting for a reply. Miya forced herself to nod, her voice barely above a whisper. "I-I need to think about it."

Sarah's smirk widened like she had already won. "Smart girl. But don't take too long. We don't like to be kept waiting."

Darby pushed off the wall and Clarissa flipped her hair as the three of them moved toward the door. "See you around," Sarah dismissed her before they slipped out of the bathroom, leaving Miya alone.

The Asian girl waited a few long minutes to make sure they really had gone— and to let her breathing return to normal— before she left the bathroom. When she rejoined Farkle and his friends at lunch, he noticed her shaken expression and gave her a concerned look. "Everything alright?"

"Nothing I can't handle," she reassured him, seemingly successful in the casual tone she'd been aiming for since he returned to his conversation with Riley.

🌎🌎🌎

Two months ago

Why did it always happen in a bathroom? Miya wondered as Sarah and her friends not-so-subtly cornered her again after a few weeks had passed. During that time, they'd made pointed invitations whenever Farkle and his friends were around, whether it was to sit at their table or go to the movies with them. Miya usually pretended not to hear them as she moved closer to her best friend to use him as 'safety in numbers.' Now, though, it seemed like her trial period was up and they were ready for her answer.

"So, it looks like you've made your choice," Sarah observed evenly as she finished up in the bathroom once more. "I suspected you would; you seem like the spineless type."

Miya tensed. She didn't respond— not because she agreed, but because she knew anything she said would be used against her. Sarah sighed dramatically, crossing her arms. "You know, I really thought you'd be smarter about this. But I guess that was wishful thinking, huh? Then again, maybe I was giving you too much credit. It's not like you've got much going on up there, do you?" She tapped her temple. "What with your little. . . reading problem and all."

Miya's stomach dropped.

"I mean, how do you even get through the day?" the brunette mused with faux-thoughtfulness. "It must be so embarrassing, sitting there like an idiot while everyone else can actually read."

Darby laughed. "That would explain why she's always so quiet in class."

Miya tried to swallow down the lump forming in her throat. She reminded herself not to react, not to give them the satisfaction, but it was getting harder.

"And that's not all," Sarah went on, her voice turning sharper. "I did a little digging. Turns out, you're adopted." She sneered the word like it was something dirty, something to be ashamed of. "Bet that sucks, huh? No real family, no real place to belong."

Miya flinched, her breath catching.

Sarah's smile grew larger at the reaction. "Maybe that's why you're so desperate to fit in with those losers. But, newsflash? They're never going to see you as one of them. And honestly? You should've just gone back to where you belong. . ."

The Asian girl's whole body stiffened at the rude name Sarah tacked on at the end of her sentence. It wasn't anything she hadn't heard before, but it came as a shock nonetheless. The words hit her like a slap and she felt a cold dread creeping up her spine. Sarah's tone made it clear what she meant. And if there had been any doubt, the cruel glint in her eyes erased it.

Miya's mouth went dry. She knew she should stay quiet, should keep her head down like always, but the words burst out of her before she could stop them.

"But I'm not from China!" Her voice was louder than she intended, shaking slightly.

Sarah shrugged, completely unbothered. "Like it matters. You all look the same anyway."

Darby and Clarissa snickered, while Miya's face burned with anger and humiliation. Sarah leaned in slightly, her voice lowering but still full of venom: "this is only the beginning, Melanie. You had your chance and you made your choice. So get ready, because you're gonna regret it."

Miya's hands clenched into fists at her sides. Her breath was coming in shallow, uneven gasps. Every instinct screamed at her to run but she forced herself to stand still as Sarah and her friends strutted past her. The moment the door swung shut behind them, the brunette's shoulders sagged. She felt sick, her stomach churning just like it always had after a solo encounter with 'triple A.'

She should have spoke up for herself. She should have fought back. But all she could do now was grip the sink as she swallowed back the bitterness that rose in her throat and blink back the burning in her eyes.

🌎🌎🌎

They were right: whenever they caught Miya alone— and even when she was with her friends she heard their mutters— they made jabs at her academic prowess (or lack thereof) and her heritage. It was never more than verbal taunting, but that didn't make it hurt any less. She tried to persuade herself that it was no worse than what she'd endured in England, but in a way, it was. She hadn't communicated anything to Farkle or her friends about what was happening; a part of her felt that Sarah was right and they only cared about themselves. Not Farkle so much, but the others certainly.

But, she did what she had always done and essentially took it laying down. She shouldered her burden, making sure that she didn't bother the others with it. At least, it went on that way for some time until another new student joined the class. Miya didn't think she'd have a lot in common with Zay; he was funny, he fit in effortlessly and he had Lucas to back him up if he ever got into trouble. And besides, most people were too intimidated by Lucas to begin with to start anything with his best friend. It wasn't until Zay had been at their school for a few weeks that Miya realized he was more perceptive than he let on. He had a way of reading a room, of catching onto things others missed— like now.

As he rounded the corner on his way to his locker, he overheard something that he wasn't probably meant to hear. He recognized the voice as Sarah's, her sharp, abrasive tone carrying down the hallway. He was going to keep moving— he'd promised Lucas that he wouldn't make more trouble for him, after all— but as he got closer, he recognized the other girl with a jolt and he knew he couldn't stay out of it.

"Sounds to me like you're giving my girl Miya here a hard time," he spoke up, his voice light and easy but laced with something sharp underneath.

Miya's head snapped up just as Zay draped an arm around her shoulders, his grip loose but grounding. Sarah stiffened, her smirk faltering for the first time. The Texan let out a slow, exaggerated sigh. "Man, don't you get tired of running your mouth all the time? Seriously, Sarah, do you ever just. . . take a nap? Drink some water? Touch grass?"

Sarah rolled her eyes. "No one was talking to you, Babineaux."

"Oh, my bad, I thought this was an open forum," he shot back. "But hey, I get it. If I was as obsessed with Miya as you are, I'd probably be embarrassed too." He tilted his head mockingly at the other girl. "Just say you wanna be her and go."

His smart mouth was enough to make Sarah's face twist with irritation. "You're not worth my time."

Zay let out a mock gasp. "Oh no, please don't go, Sarah. I'll miss our deep and meaningful conversations!"

The brunette scowled and spun on her heel, storming off. The second she was gone, Miya exhaled, shoulders slumping with relief.

"You okay?" Zay questioned the brunette, turning to face her fully.

She immediately forced a smile. "Yeah, it's fine. Nothing I can't handle."

Zay's lips pressed together as he remained unconvinced. "That's a whole lot of words for 'no, I'm not okay.'"

Miya shook her head but before she could try to deflect again, Zay's hands landed gently on her shoulders. He wasn't letting her brush this off.

"Miya," he addressed her, his voice softer now, "how long has this been going on?"

She hesitated, then finally admitted, "a while."

Zay's expression darkened. "And you haven't told anyone?"

Miya shifted uncomfortably. "I just. . . I didn't want to make a big deal about it. It's nothing I haven't dealt with before. Please don't tell the others."

He studied her for a moment, then sighed. "Okay, fine. But promise me something— next time this happens, you come to me."

Miya frowned. "Why you?"

"Because I get it."

Something in his voice made her look up again. He wasn't just saying it to make her feel better— he meant it.

"You're not the only one who's had people come at them for stuff they can't change," Zay offered. "I've had my fair share of racial crap too. Especially back in Texas." He scoffed. "You ever wonder why Lucas got into fights so much?"

Miya hesitated. "I assumed it was just a Texas thing."

"Nope. It was a 'defending my best friend' thing," he shared. "People said stuff. About me. About my family. And Lucas. . . well, he didn't take too kindly to that. I mean, I didn't make it any easier for him when I tried to. . . handle it myself, but still."

Miya was quiet for a moment. "I didn't know."

"Yeah, well." The Texan gave her shoulders a light squeeze before he let go. "Now you do. And now you know you don't have to deal with this alone, alright?"

Miya nodded, the weight on her chest feeling just a little bit lighter. "Alright."

🌎🌎🌎

"In what ways do human beings resolve conflict?" Cory asked the class one morning in late November. Conflict: Hamilton vs. Burr was written on the board.

"Bring in the mama," Zay called out.

He received strange looks for his answer and they quickly moved on with Farkle offering, "they talk it out."

"They go to war!" Lucas interjected energetically.

"Why can't they talk it out?" the genius wondered.

"They go to war," Lucas maintained.

"Oh, okay. You and me against Farkle," Zay chimed in and he and Lucas shook on it.

"Fine," Farkle declared. "Then it's me and Miya against you and Lucas."

Miya quickly lifted her hands in a placating manner. "I don't wanna be part of this!"

Lucas didn't seem to hear her as he exclaimed, "they go to war!"

"Let's get him!" Zay contributed eagerly, slamming his hands down on his desk.

Farkle pulled out a nerf gun and began to shoot ping-pong balls at the other boys until he ran out of ammo. Miya watched him pull the unexpected move with wide eyes. "Okay, maybe I do want to be a part of this."

"You shoulda talked it out," Farkle scolded his friends with a shrug. He turned to his best friend. "You wanted to be Switzerland. You can't join the war after it ends."

Cory resumed his lecture, unphased by their exchange. "Many conflicts escalate and do not end well. The story of Alexander Hamilton and Aaron Burr is a prime example. Anybody know what happened?" When no one raised their hand, he called on his daughter. "Riley?"

"Please stop picking on me," Riley requested.

"What?" her father questioned her.

"They had a duel. Burr killed Hamilton," Farkle answered.

Mr. Matthews nodded. He began to pace around the room as he continued, "in 1791, Burr captured a senate seat from Hamilton's father-in-law, which launched their rivalry. Then Burr accused Hamilton of publicly insulting him."

A ding! resounded in the silence as their teacher paused before his next sentence. Although Miya couldn't see Riley's expression from where she was sitting, she saw Maya glance at her best friend and frown with concern. Cory pressed his lips together at the interruption. "Riley, no one should be texting you in class."

She glanced at her phone and then set it down. "I agree," she conceded, turning to her friend. "I don't want you to say Rileytown anymore."

"I like Rileytown," Maya protested. "I like you and I like to say whatever I want."

"Now, Burr challenged Hamilton to a duel to resolve their conflict," their teacher informed them.

"Maybe that's what we should do," Riley snarked.

Maya's face took on a sarcastic expression. "Maybe you want to hear what happened to them first."

Cory ignored their discussion, instructing them, "Hamilton believed the duel wasn't morally right so he fired his pistol in the air. Burr, believing he had been shot at, fired at Hamilton and killed him. So, why am I telling you guys a story about what happens when you fail to resolve a conflict peacefully? Lucas?"

"People get hurt," he stated.

"What do we need to learn?"

"I need to learn how to resolve a conflict," Riley answered her father.

"What's going on?" Mr. Matthews wanted to know.

The brunette refused to reply, so Maya did for her, shaking her head. "She thinks I'm a bully because I keep saying something she doesn't like."

Miya lifted her head at the word. She knew Farkle had been bullied last year for being 'weird' but besides that, the group didn't seem to have those kinds of problems. Despite what Sarah claimed about the whole school hating them, no one actually did anything. But maybe she wasn't as aware as she thought she was.

"A bully isn't someone who says something you don't like," Cory advised them carefully. "A bully is someone who uses power and intimidation to hurt others. There's a big difference between having a conflict with a friend and having a bully. So don't just throw that word around."

"There are other words you shouldn't just throw around, either," Riley sniped pointedly.

"What? Like Rileytown?" Maya demanded. "The place where you live because you're there right now?"

"I asked you not to," the brunette pleaded. "Why do we have to keep on talking about this?"

"Because," Cory cut in, "the most powerful tool in the human being arsenal is the ability to solve conflict with words."

When Riley turned fully in her seat, Miya could finally see the uncharacteristically hardened expression on her face. Gone was her joyful smile and bright eyes; the corners of her lips stayed permanently turned down and her eyes were a dull, dark brown. "You think I'm goofy, silly and weird."

"No kidding," Maya commented dryly. "You're unique and wonderful, and I love it here in Rileytown."

The brunette stood up sharply. "I challenge you to a duel."

"Okay, you're not really understanding this at all," Cory realized. In a quieter voice, he implored the blonde, "Maya, please help her understand."

However, Maya had other ideas as she stood to challenge her best friend. "I accept. Duel to the death."

Cory threw his hands up in exasperation. "Thank you, very much."

When the bell rang to signal the end of class, Zay fell into step beside Miya as everyone else pulled ahead. "You okay?"

"Why wouldn't I be?" she queried.

"Well, you know. Everyone's making a big deal about what's going on with Riley but they haven't noticed what's going on with you," he pointed out.

Miya shook her head. "That's the way I want it. I don't need everyone to get worked up because of me."

Zay gave her a sideways glance, doubtful. "Uh-huh. And how's that working out for you?"

She merely shook her head and picked up her pace so they wouldn't be late for their next class.

🌎🌎🌎

That afternoon, they gathered at Topanga's. To the adult Matthews' relief, it was empty so the kids' antics wouldn't disturb anyone. Zay made two scoops of vanilla ice cream and put them each on a cone, which he handed to the girls' seconds: Lucas and Farkle. The boys had a towel draped over one arm as they stood on either of their partners' side.

Farkle adopted a country accent. "You will come back to me after the war, won't you, darlin'?"

Riley was in no mood for jokes. She held out her hand and ordered him, "just give me the ice cream, Farkle."

"Why are you my second, Huckleberry?" Maya wondered as she accepted her cone from him. "Shouldn't you be over there with Riley?"

"Well, it was decided that if things get out of hand, I was the best choice to. . ." he trailed off almost nervously. "Contain you."

Maya smirked at him. "Oh. You think you can?"

Miya sat off to the side in one of the tall bar chairs, letting her feet swing below her. She didn't really feel like participating in this particular group shenanigan. As much as she stood by her decision to handle things by herself, it didn't make it any easier to see everyone else make a big deal over Riley. She was pretty sure she knew what was going on, after all (being familiar with the brunette's odd behavior herself) but she didn't understand what everyone was getting worked up about.

To her, bullying was just a fact of life, just like the sky was blue and the grass was green. It wasn't anything to make a fuss over, just something to grin and bear.

"Yeah, but I'll probably pay for it pretty good," he reasoned. She wrinkled her nose playfully at him to confirm his guess.

The two girls took their places across from each other. Cory and Topanga stood behind the counter, a safe distance away to avoid being caught in the crossfire. The curly-haired man leaned towards his wife. "Why would you let them do this?"

Topanga shrugged. "Oh, it's a slow day and the ice cream expires tomorrow."

Riley and Maya walked towards each other and then stood back-to-back.

"Maya, as the one challenged to this duel, you get the first shot," Zay instructed them. "Alright, you'll take three paces, turn, and fire."

Farkle gave the brunet an interested look. "How do you know how to do this so well, Zay?"

He grinned. "Well, back in Texas, we call this a Wednesday. Ice cream ready." He counted out three paces for the girls, then declared: "turn. . . Fire!" He paused. "Wait a minute. Something's wrong."

Lucas and Farkle grabbed his shoulders and pulled him out of the way. He chuckled at his mistake. "Oh, that would have been bad. Fire!"

Maya hesitated only for a moment before she turned and handed her ice cream to Mr. Matthews. He smiled at her proudly. "That's the best way to resolve a conflict I ever saw." He gave the scoop an experimental lick. "This tastes one day before expired."

"Riley?" Topanga addressed her daughter. "Take a hint, please, so we can all be done with this."

The stubborn glint remained in the brunette's eyes as she walked forward. "This will be done when you treat me like an ordinary person who nobody notices."

Maya matched her step for step as she countered: "you're not. You're a sweet, weird little goofball and I love you just the way you are. Deal with it."

She held her arms out for a hug, which Riley disregarded. Instead, she took advantage of Maya's vulnerability and smashed her ice cream right in the blonde's face. Riley whirled on her heels and stormed out without a backwards glance. The cone fell from Maya's face with a plop, landing in a sticky puddle at her feet. Lucas rushed forward with his towel so she could wipe her face. She then scooped up the cone and reassured them steadily: "no need to contain me, Lucas. I'm fine."

Zay must have noticed Miya sitting off to the side because he wandered over to her as Maya processed what had just happened. He leaned comfortably against the high table.

"You know, if you swing your feet any harder, you're gonna launch yourself into orbit," he remarked, watching her legs move.

Miya huffed a quiet laugh but didn't stop. "At least then I wouldn't have to watch all this."

Zay smirked. "Yeah, they do tend to turn everything into a full-blown production, huh?"

The brunette's gaze flicked over to where Lucas, Maya and Farkle were taking their usual seats. "It's just weird."

"What is?"

She hesitated, debating whether to say anything, but Zay had a way of getting things out of her. With a sigh, she admitted, "they're making this huge deal over Riley. And yeah, I get it, she's upset. But it's. . . different."

Zay tilted his head. "Different how?"

Miya shrugged. "When I get picked on, no one throws a dramatic duel. No one gathers here to talk about it. It's just. . . life."

Zay studied her for a moment before saying, "you know why that is, right?"

Miya glanced at him warily. "Why?"

"Because you don't let them."

She frowned. "What's that supposed to mean?"

Zay gestured toward the others. "Riley's so outgoing that when something is wrong, it's obvious right away. She makes it impossible for them to ignore. But you? You keep it to yourself. You hide it. And I get it, Miya— I really do— but you can't blame them for not showing up when you won't let them know you need them."

Miya opened her mouth to argue, but she couldn't find the words. He wasn't wrong. He tapped her hand with his fist. "Come on. Let's go over there. You don't have to tell them about it but maybe hearing how they'll handle this will make you change your mind."

She sighed and reluctantly followed him over, taking her usual seat between Farkle and Lucas. The genius was explaining: "this is like when I always used to wear my turtlenecks and then there was somebody that didn't like that I. . ." He froze. "Oh, my gosh."

Farkle stared at Maya with wide eyes. Lucas looked back and forth between them. "What are you looking at?"

"You gots to go."

"What?"

"We need more towels," Farkle announced urgently.

"What?"

"Maya needs more towels."

She waved off his concern. "I'm fine."

"Get her more towels!" he snapped.

"Okay!" Lucas exclaimed.

Zay saluted him. "Yes, sir."

The pair rose and went to behind the counter to go to the kitchen. Farkle switched seats so that he was sitting in Riley's spot, closer to Maya. She watched him warily. "What's going on?"

"Of course she loves Rileytown," he began. "Of course she's weird and goofy and unique. That's what we all love about her.

"So what's the problem?" Maya wanted to know.

"Hmm, I wonder," Miya muttered sarcastically under her breath. It's not like there's someone right here who knows exactly what's going on, she finished in her mind.

Neither Farkle nor Maya heard her as the genius responded, "somebody doesn't."

"What?"

"Riley doesn't want to be her because she feels like a nothing," Farkle continued. "Because a bully makes you feel like a nothing. A bully took something I liked about myself and made me feel bad about it."

"Wow, what a revelation," the Asian girl murmured, unable to keep herself from rolling her eyes. "I wonder who else has felt like that?"

"But I'm her best friend," Maya protested. "Why is she yelling at me?"

"Because I think she's trying to get you to hear her," Farkle mused.

Maya shook her head. "Hear what? Why does she keep talking about a bully if she knows I'm not. . . one. Oh, no."

She pushed herself to her feet and grabbed Miya's wrist, tugging the girl up with her. The brunette let out a startled noise, not having expected the sudden change of motion. "C'mon, Miya. Riley's gonna need all the female support she can get."

The blonde determinedly pulled Miya out of Topanga's. Miya tried to resist her but she was surprisingly strong for her shorter height. Great, she thought, not without some bitterness, a special intervention just for Riley.

Just then, Zay and Lucas came back with the towels. Lucas had told him he'd grab them, but Zay insisted that they should bring extras— though what his best friend didn't know was that he had tying up someone else in mind. They were taken aback to see that both girls were no longer there.

"What? She's gone?" Zay inquired.

"Yep," Farkle confirmed.

Lucas held up the towels he'd brought. "Well, what are we supposed to do with these?"

"They're not for Maya."

The Texan glanced at his best friend. "Well, who are they for? And why did you bring extra?"

"They're for you," Farkle informed him as he pushed the taller boy back between the counters. He glanced at Zay. "Good thinking bringing extra. We'll need the strength."

". . . Right," he drawled. "That's why I brought them. For Lucas. Totally."

"Then who are they for?" Farkle questioned him as he tied Lucas to the towel bars.

"A. . . surprise," he replied with a grin.

As the genius finished up with Lucas, watched as Zay ducked under the other boy's arm to get to the employee side of the counter. Then, he straightened Farkle out to mimic Lucas' position. Utterly confused, Farkle made no effort to fight him as Zay tied his wrists to the second towel bar that was right underneath the first.

"I get Lucas, but why are you tying me up? I already know!" he objected.

Zay stood back to check his handy work. "You don't know. . . everything, and I know you can get just as crazy even if you don't have Lucas' size or demeanor."

"That does not make me feel reassured," Farkle commented.

"Good. It wasn't supposed to," the brunet remarked. "This has been going on long enough. Something's happening to both of your lady friends."

Although Farkle was also friends with Maya, instinct told him that Zay wasn't talking about her. Both his and Lucas' expressions hardened. "What?"

🌎🌎🌎

Riley was sitting alone in her darkened room when Maya and Miya crawled through her window. They took their seats on the bay window as the brunette smiled bravely at them. Maya took Riley's hands in hers. "We have something to talk about, you and us."

"I don't like it when we fight," Riley told the blonde.

"I'm—" Maya glanced at the Asian girl next to her. "We're going to be your friends for the rest of your life. We're gonna have some conflicts along the way."

"What do we do?"

The Hart squeezed the other girl's hands reassuringly, feeling the familiar warmth and electricity zipping up her arms as she did so. "We will work them out. We'll always work them out because we're. . . friends. And if things get rough, maybe we'll throw some ice cream at each other, but we'll still be friends because that's what reasonable people do."

"So we have no conflict anymore?" Riley queried hopefully.

Maya shook her head. "No. Now we have a new one. Why wouldn't you come to us? How could you not come to us if someone is bullying you?"

Tears glistened in the brunette's eyes. "I'm humiliated, Maya. I didn't want to let you see me humiliated."

"It's not just that," Miya spoke up quietly. To her disbelief, the two girls actually turned to her with worried expressions. She forced herself to continue, having thought that they wouldn't hear her. "It's also a feeling of helplessness, like there's no one to turn to because you don't want to bother them with your problems since everyone's already dealing with their own."

Riley blinked at her, not expecting her to understand. "Yes. How did you know?"

The Asian girl let out a faint scoff. "What, you thought you were the only person in the world to ever be bullied? Trust me, at my old school, there were these girls that never left me alone. If it wasn't for Jonah, I. . . I don't know where I'd be."

Riley's expression softened. "You do understand. I'm so sorry, Miya. I had no idea."

"It's okay. No one did, really. It's not something that's easy to talk about," Miya reassured her.

Realization seemed to strike Maya, the awareness dawning in her blue eyes. "How are things at this school for you, Miya?"

It was like a great weight of relief crashing into her that finally— finally, someone was acknowledging her problems. They did care. She wasn't alone, just like Zay had promised her. "They're. . . not much different," she admitted.

"Why didn't you tell anyone?" the blonde demanded.

She gestured between herself and Riley. "Why do you think? I just. . . I don't know you guys as well as I know Jonah; I didn't want to ask a favor from you—"

"But it's not a favor," Riley corrected her. "Not when it's between true friends. That's what they're for."

Maya smirked a little at her best friend. "Hey, Riles?"

"Yeah?"

"Are you starting to see where you're sounding a bit like a hypocrite?"

The brunette gave her a small smile. "Yeah. I'm really sorry. I called you a bully and I ice creamed you." A nervous look appeared on her face. "Will you get back at me for the ice cream?"

"Oh, yeah, and you're never gonna see it coming," Maya teased her.

She leaned anxiously away from the blonde. "Couldn't you tell me just before you were gonna do it?"

"No, honey. That would hurt my enjoyment." Maya glanced at the Asian girl with a small smile. "I could ice cream you, too. I wouldn't want you to miss out on the fun."

Miya's eyes widened. "No, thank you! I didn't do anything to deserve that!"

"Oh, but you did," the Hart chuckled, releasing one of Riley's hands to wrap it around the other girl's shoulders. "You didn't come to your friends when you had a problem. That's a pretty big crime, in my opinion."

The brunette couldn't help but let out a quiet giggle, a smile tugging at her own lips at her delight in being included. Riley's amusement didn't last and she sobered again, the tears reappearing, as did the guilt. "I'm sorry I took everything out on you."

"It's okay," Maya comforted her, retaking both of her hands. "You had to take it out on somebody. I'm glad you felt safe enough to take it out on me. And I'm sorry I didn't hear what you were trying to say earlier."

"Well, I will never go at you again," Riley vowed.

"No, it's okay. I can take it." She turned so that she could also address Miya. "You both can. This isn't something anyone should have to deal with alone."

"I'm better now," the brunette insisted.

"Oh, yeah. I'm sure you are," Maya retorted disbelievingly. "That's good. Rileytown."

"Stop saying that!" Riley begged her, the tears finally spilling out of her eyes. "People shouldn't make fun of other people. What did I ever do to you?" Her voice changed, sounding almost like an echo as she stood up and recited: "you exist. You exist, and you're weird, and you get in the way of where I'm looking, so stop being weird and stop being happy. Nobody should be as happy as you. Stop being who you are. . . or I'm gonna put my foot in your weird, stupid face."

Maya was crying now, too. Her voice was shaky as she murmured, "okay."

"I'm fine," Riley tried to convince them as she broke down into sobs.

"I'm not," the blonde responded. "How long?"

"A few weeks," she confessed. "This has been going on a few weeks."

Miya was tempted to roll her eyes, but she refrained; she knew this wasn't a competition— even just a few days would be enough to warrant tears. Instead, she shared quietly, "try a few years."

Maya pulled the Asian girl to her feet for the second time that day and they went over to Riley, wrapping their arms around her in a group hug. The taller brunette buried her face in Maya's shoulder as she wept, "how do you handle it?"

"Well, I thought the best way to do it was alone," the Asian girl admitted, looking between the two girls. "But now I'm starting to realize that's not the right way at all. You know what a bully doesn't have that we do?" When Riley shook her head, she continued, "friends. Real friends, who will fight for you when you ask them to and comfort you when you need it. They may have friends, but odds are, it's because they stay out of fear and not genuine love. So that's what we need to overcome this."

The Matthews girl sniffed as she tried to control her tears. "But I thought I was supposed to learn how to resolve a conflict."

"You have a bully!" Maya exclaimed.

"And I have conflict?"

The blonde shook her head fondly. "You are incredibly screwy!"

"And I'm screwy, and I have a bully, and I have a conflict?" Riley repeated tearfully. "What a tough day in Rileytown."

"Okay. So now we know a few things. First, you are going to stay exactly who you are," Maya stated.

"What else?"

"I don't think Lucas will." She looked over at Miya. "But what I don't know is how Farkle's gonna react when we tell him the news."

🌎🌎🌎

Lucas tugged against the towel bars, his strength already testing the knots. "Zay, let us go."

"Not until you both listen," Zay demanded. "I know you all care for Riley and we should help her, but she's not the only one who's fighting this battle. Miya? She's been hiding in plain sight. You guys are so focused on Riley, you're missing that Miya is going through the same thing."

Farkle blinked, something heavy settling in his stomach. "Wait. . . Miya? She's being bullied too?"

Zay nodded. "Bingo."

Lucas clenched his jaw, frustration evident. "Then why didn't she say anything?"

"Oh, I don't know," Zay countered with mock thoughtfulness. "Maybe because Riley's been getting all the attention? Maybe because no one's even asked her? Maybe because she doesn't think anyone would care?"

The heavy thing in Farkle's stomach twisted. His hands curled into fists as an unfamiliar heat surged through him. It wasn't just anger— it was something deeper, something protective, something that made his chest tighten at the thought of Miya feeling like she had to deal with this alone. He was a logical person, not just brute force like Lucas, but in this moment, he was ready to tear apart any obstacle that stood in the way of getting to her. "Oh, man."

"You two charge in, ready to protect Riley, but if you really wanna help, you need to start paying attention to Miya, too," Zay finished sternly.

Fueled with righteous anger, Lucas pulled at his restraints. It didn't take much force for him to tear the towel bars clean off their mounts, little puffs of dust emitting as he yanked the plaster free. Farkle tried to do the same, but he simply didn't have the other boy's muscle. He strained at the towels but they didn't even budge.

Zay smirked at him and ducked under the genius' arm as he followed Lucas out the door. Alarmed, Farkle shouted after them: "oh, come on! Guys! Guys? Don't you dare leave me here!" When it became clear that they weren't coming back for him, he yelled to the empty restaurant, "fine! Me and my crazy will just have to figure this out ourselves!"

🌎🌎🌎

Meanwhile, the girls decided to make a barricade after Maya made her announcement in the hopes of keeping Lucas back (no one was really concerned about Farkle reacting aggressively.) All of Riley's stuff was piled up in front of the windows in a haphazard tower. Just as they put the last item on top, the entire heap toppled over. They scrambled to get out of the way of the falling stuff as Lucas climbed through the window.

"Why would you not tell me about this?" he inquired forcefully.

"I should be able to fight my own battles, Lucas," Riley protested.

"No, you shouldn't," he countered. "And you don't have to, Riley, Miya. That's the point of having friends. And did you really think there was anything you could put in this window to keep me from helping you?"

"That's kind of the realization I had earlier," Miya shared. "Not-not about the window thing, but the part about having your friends help. We were just talking about that."

"We don't like it when you get like this," the brunette informed him. "Tell him, Maya."

But the blonde was more impressed by the way he'd bulldozed through their makeshift wall. She pointed to Riley's mattress. "Um. . . Lucas, pick up that bed with one arm."

A few seconds later, Farkle crawled through the window, too. Lucas gave him a surprised look. "How did you get free?"

"Physics, baby! I told you I was crazy!" His grin faltered as he turned his gaze on the girls. Without saying anything else, he crossed the room and wrapped Miya in a tight hug.

She stiffened against him for a second, completely stunned. In all the time that she'd known him, she had pretty much always been the one to initiate contact, making sure to ask him first. The only times she'd ever hugged him were either saying hello or goodbye at the airport. However, after getting over her initial shock, she hesitantly hugged him back, burying her face in his soft hoodie.

"I'm your best friend, 'Nacci," Farkle murmured, just loud enough for her to hear. "You're supposed to tell me these things. Why didn't you?"

Miya hadn't expected to hear his voice crack as he spoke the question. It made her understand Riley's guilt and the reason why she'd started crying; her own eyes had stayed dry, having been used to experiencing this— crying didn't make anything easier or fix the problem. But now, she felt a faint prickle behind her eyes as she began to comprehend how wrong she'd been.

"So, what?" Zay's voice made them pull apart as he appeared in Riley's doorway. "You guys just come through the window and that's okay? I don't like it. Impolite." He shook his head and scooped up some cereal from the bowl he was holding. At their strange looks, he explained, "oh, and I took some cereal. You're out of milk. . . now."

"I don't think it's right that Riley's always the first one to come help us but doesn't come to us when she needs help," Lucas stated. "And it's not right that Miya felt she couldn't ask us for help, either." He met her gaze evenly. "We're you're friends too, Miya."

"Okay. I'm sorry," Riley apologized.

"Me, too," the Asian girl agreed. "Thank you for telling me that."

The brunette sighed. "I should have told you. I just didn't want to put this on you."

"That's what we're here for. We can figure out anything," Farkle declared.

Riley's phone dinged! and she glanced at the screen, her expression falling. "But what if you're dealing with someone who just won't stop?"

🌎🌎🌎

The next day, their History class's chalkboard read Friendship – Growth. Mr. Matthews stood solemnly behind his desk, his hands resting on the solid wood before him. He gazed at his class with an uncharacteristically serious expression on his face. "I want to talk to you. I know there's something going on."

Riley toyed with the pen in her hands. "Do you want me to tell you what it is?"

"Do you want to, Riley?" he returned. "Because so far, you haven't told me, and I respect that."

"It ain't good," Maya replied as he straightened and walked around his desk.

"Yeah, I figured," he allowed, meeting her gaze. "But you're on it?"

"Yes," she confirmed.

"And you're on it?" Cory addressed Lucas.

He nodded. "Yep."

"The right way?" he pointed out.

"We'll see."

"The right way, Lucas," Mr. Matthews repeated. "You know why? Because Aaron Burr might have won his duel by killing his rival, but he never held office again and he'll forever be known for this. You understand?"

"Yes, sir."

"Miya?" Cory followed up with her. "Is there anything you want me to tell your mom?"

She shook her head, smiling softly at her friends who sat in front of her. "Not this time, Mr. Matthews. I have my friends to help me."

"Good," he approved. "Farkle?"

"Everything will be okay, Mr. Matthews," the genius reassured him. "It always is."

"Yeah, why do you suppose that is?" the curly-haired man inquired. "Zay? It's on the board."

The brunet nodded to the front of the room. "The first one."

"That's right."

"And then you're going to tell us about the second one."

Cory chuckled at his answer. "I am."

Zay leaned back confidently in his seat. "Yeah, I know how this goes."

"There's nothing more valuable than friends when you have to go through life. But even if your friends aren't around, even if you're all alone, there's always someone to turn to," Mr. Matthews advised them. "A parent or a teacher. It's okay to ask for help. That's because there's so much out there that makes its way to you guys so much easier now."

"How do we fight that?" Riley wanted to know.

"Well, now we turn to growth. Rely on each other. Grow together," Cory instructed the class. "But sometimes you have to grow by yourself. But whatever it is that makes its way to you, it's just shadows from your intimidating world. Don't live in the shadow. Your growth can help you get back into the sun."

"Thanks, dad," the brunette remarked.

Miya thought about her teacher's words. Your growth can help you get back into the sun. During her entire academic career, she had never once stood up for herself, too afraid that it would make things worse. She had lived a lot of her life in the shadows. Perhaps, in a way, she'd agreed with what those girls had mocked about her. But now she knew, more than ever, that she had friends. She had people who would support her no matter what. Even if she made mistakes or the bullying got worse, they would be there to help her through it.

She thought that she might be ready to feel the warmth of the sun at last. To not be afraid to speak up in class. To not be afraid to read aloud. To not be afraid to walk the hallways alone. Her hands shook slightly as she tore a piece of her lined paper free from her spiral notebook. She wrote a quick message on it, only four words long. She scrunched it into a ball and tossed it forwards so that it hit Sarah's desk.

The brunette startled and looked around to see where it had come from. When her gaze fell on Miya, the Asian girl gave her a little wave, causing her lips to pull into a sneer. Still, she smoothed out the message and read it, giving her reply in a short, sharp nod.

🌎🌎🌎

Riley decided to confront her bully by holding an awards ceremony for herself— the same scenario that was being weaponized against her. She was prepared to do it in front of the whole school so she could face her fears on her terms, not anyone else's. Miya had chosen to do something similar, though less public. She'd told Sarah that they needed to talk. She hadn't specified when or where, but today was the day. Her friends lingered around her as emotional support.

"Are you sure you don't want us to come with you?" Farkle double-checked. He was, of course, proud of her for making the decision to stand up for herself, but after she'd told him everything, he was almost feeling more worried for her than she was.

She gave him a reassuring smile. "Thank you, but no. This is something I have to do. This is my 'growing alone,' like Mr. Matthews taught us." They nodded and she met everyone's gazes individually as she added, "but could you stay here, just in case? Until it's over?"

"You got it," Zay promised. "We won't move a muscle." Lucas reached up to scratch his nose and he hissed, "dude, no moving!"

"But my nose itches!" he objected.

"Deal with it," the brunet ordered definitively, and his best friend dropped his arm, disgruntled. He wrinkled his nose to try and relieve his itch instead, making the Asian girl smile.

She took a deep breath and turned away from them, slipping around the corner to where she knew Sarah was putting her books into her bag for the weekend. Miya's heart pounded as she stepped forward but she kept her posture straight and her expression calm. She wasn't scared of Sarah— or at least, not as much. The girl had spent three months making her feel small, but Miya refused to let her win.

Sarah barely glanced at her as she stuffed the last of her books into her bag. "Oh, it's you," she sneered. "I was beginning to think you chickened out after sending me that note. What do you want?"

Miya folded her arms. "Yeah, well, I didn't. We need to talk."

Sarah snorted. "So you said. I hope you're not wasting my time in trying to convince me that those losers aren't all full of hot air."

Miya ignored the jab. "About you leaving me alone. About how I'm done letting you make me feel like I'm less than you. Because I'm not."

Sarah raised an unimpressed eyebrow. "Oh, really?"

"Yeah, really." Miya took a step closer, voice steady. "You act like Riley and her friends are embarrassing, but they're. . . well, they can be, but that's part of their charm. They actually care about people, which is more than I can say for you."

Sarah scoffed. "Please. They're freaks."

"No matter what they are, they're a hundred times better than someone who spends her time trying to tear people down," the Asian girl retorted.

Sarah rolled her eyes. "I didn't tear you down, Miya. You came that way."

Miya felt her stomach tighten, but she refused to let it show. "That's where you're wrong. I was insecure. You saw that and latched onto it like a coward. But guess what? I'm not insecure anymore."

Sarah arched a brow, giving her a once-over. "You sure about that?"

Miya lifted her chin. "Yeah, I am. I'm not ashamed of who I am. Not of my reading difficulty, not of where I come from, and definitely not of being adopted." Her voice grew stronger. "My mom chose me. Your parents are stuck with you."

Sarah flinched. It was small— just the briefest flicker in her eyes— but Miya caught it.

She pressed on. "You don't have any power over me anymore, Sarah. So if you even think about bothering me again, I won't be handling it alone." She straightened confidently. "I have people who care about me. And I will get their help to put a stop to this once and for all."

For the first time since they'd met, Sarah looked uncertain. It wasn't fear— more like the realization that Miya wasn't going to be an easy target anymore. But she masked it quickly, scoffing as she slung her bag over her shoulder.

"Whatever," she snapped. "You're not even worth the effort."

And just like that, she turned and walked away.

Miya exhaled, tension slowly melting from her shoulders. She had done it. She had stood up to Sarah. And though the other girl hadn't been particularly impressed, she hadn't argued either. That was enough.

She turned the corner and was immediately met with a whoop from Zay. "That's what I'm talking about!"

Miya let out a startled laugh as he swung an arm around her shoulders.

Lucas gave her a nod of approval. "You good?"

"Yeah," she admitted, feeling a weight lift off her chest. "I think I am."

Maya smirked. "So, now it's time to party?"

"Ice cream party, here we come!" Riley exclaimed, pointing a finger towards the doors to the school as they made their way out and to the city.