His Texas Girl// Lucas Friar

Girl meets Legacy Part 2

Ari POV:
We just finished the friendship bench. Maya painted swirls onto it, Riley did a purple cat, and I painted on the lyrics "You can count on me like 1 2 3" from Bruno Mars' song Count on me.
"It looks good" I say.
"Yeah it does" Maya says.
"Good job everyone" Riley says.
"We still have the tour group" Lucas reminds us and we all go to show the new students around. We show them around before heading back to the bench.
"And that concludes our tour of the big, bad John Quincy Adams Middle School." Riley says.
"Not so scary, right?" Maya asks the elementary kids.
"You guys are gonna do great here." I tell them.
"There's one more thing before you guys go." Farkle says.
"We wanted to give you something from our class to yours." Lucas explains before we all lift the tarp to reveal the friendship bench.
"We think one of the greatest legacies in life is friendship." Riley explains.
"And no matter what happens in your new school, friends always have a place where they can sit, and talk, and work things out." Lucas tells the kids.
"Because sometimes, life swirls you all up and knots people together for a reason. Is that what you're feeling?" Ms.Kossal explains before turning to Maya who nods at her question.
"And no matter what is going on you have friends to count on. They'll be there no matter what. That what you were going for" Ms.Martinez asks me.
"Yeah. But I don't want to just give you guys the lyrics. You need to be able to hear them" I say before Lucas hands me a ukelele and I start strumming.

"If you ever find yourself stuck in the middle of the sea,
I'll sail the world to find you
If you ever find yourself lost in the dark and you can't see,
I'll be the light to guide you
Find out what we're made of
When we are called to help our friends in need
You can count on me like one two three
I'll be there
And I know when I need it I can count on you like four three two
You'll be there
'Cause that's what friends are supposed to do, oh yeah
Whoa, whoa
Oh, oh
Yeah, yeah
If you tossin' and you're turnin' and you just can't fall asleep
I'll sing a song
Beside you
And if you ever forget how much you really mean to me
Everyday I will
Remind you
Ooh
Find out what we're made of
When we are called to help our friends in need
You can count on me like one two three
I'll be there
And I know when I need it I can count on you like four three two
You'll be there
'Cause that's what friends are supposed to do, oh yeah
Oh, oh
Yeah, yeah
You'll always have my shoulder when you cry
I'll never let go
Never say goodbye
You know you can
Count on me like one two three
I'll be there
And I know when I need it I can count on you like four three two
And you'll be there
'Cause that's what friends are supposed to do, oh yeah
Oh, oh
You can count on me 'cause I can count on you"

I finish singing and everyone starts clapping. "Count on your friends you guys" I say one last time.
"What's that?" Ms.Kossal asks seeing the purple cat.
"I think everybody should leave their mark." Riley explains
"We work very well together." Maya says putting an arm around Riley.

———graduation night———
"Look at this place" Lucas says as we stand with Zay.
"Different view than when we were growing up." Zay responds.
"Definitely" I say.
"Glad you're here with us, Zay. So, how was the formal?" " he asks.
"Oh yeah now that I remember" I say before punching his arm. "I said I wanted details if anything ever happened"
"Jeez woman. Vanessa likes me better now than when I lived there. Now, she all missin' me 'cause I'm gone. You know, I got this whole love thing figured out. Don't be there." Zay says while rubbing his arm.
"We were there before you." I say.
"Like three years before you" Lucas says.
"Don't be there" Zay says.
"But we wanna be there" Lucas says putting an arm around me.
"You would've been fine without me" we hear Mr.Matthews say.
"Looks like it's time" I say.
"I don't really see it that way, Dad." Riley says.
"None of us do." Maya comments.
"Thank you for teaching my daughter so well." Ms.Hart says.
"My pleasure." He answers.
"I don't think Farkle would've reached his full potential without you, Cory." Mr.Minkus says.
"Thanks, Minkus. He had a lot to live up to." Mr.Matthews responds.
"Thanks. That's why we want to see what he does."
"Of course, he will."
"I don't really think you understand, Dad." Riley says.
"What?" Mr.Matthews asks.
"Their class prank. Oh, you haven't heard about that?" Mrs.Matthews asks her husband.
"No. What'd they do?"
"Well, we started talking about legacy" Riley starts. "About what we left behind" Maya continues.
"And what we don't want to leave behind."
"What we wanted to take with us." Lucas says and Mr.Matthews nods.
"This is good." Zay says.
"We stole something from school." Maya says.
"You what?" He asks.
"This is good." I repeat.
"Well, put it back!" He exclaims.
"Nope. It's ours now. We captured the real John Quincy Adams mascot, and we're taking it with us." Farkle says.
"What did you guys do?" Mr.Matthews asks.
"We stole you." Maya says.
"We told you this was good." Zay and I say.
"What are you talkin' about?" Mr.Matthews says.
"I called up Uncle Jonathan and I told him that you had a lot more to teach us." Riley says.
"She got you promoted, Daddy!" Auggie says.
"Of course, the superintendent of schools didn't want to move teachers around for only one student, so there would have to be a lot of other people who thought you knew what you were doing." Mrs.Matthews says.
"So, the parents put together a little petition, got some signatures and we presented it to him. I was very convincing." Mr.Minkus says.
"How many parents?" He asks.
"All of 'em. We want our children to have the best." Ms.Hart answers.
"You're going to high school, Cory. Again." Mrs.Matthews says.
"We get to stay together." He tells us.
"You said you had a lot more to teach us. And now, you can." Riley says before we leave them alone.
I walk over to look at the sky. "I did it dad. I wish you could be here but I know you're up there smiling at me. I love you... 3000 dad. I love you 3000" I say and I swear I hear him respond as the wind blows causing tears to roll down my cheeks.
"He would've been really proud of you" my mom says coming up behind me.
"Yeah he would've" I say hugging her.