Riley and Maya were observing an older girl.
"Look at that ninth-grade woman. She's putting on makeup. We're going to be ninth-grade women someday." Riley smiled.
"This thing goes to ninth grade?" Maya asked, shocked.
The girl began to use an eyelash curler.
"Why that?" Riley asked, confused.
"Brings out your eyes," Maya told her.
"Why would I want to take out my eyes?" Riley asked.
"She's not taking out her eyes," Maya told her.
The girl brought the eyelash curler close to her eyes.
"And I think she is." Riley pointed to the girl.
"It's an eyelash curler. It doesn't even hurt." The girl gave her the eyelash curler.
"I have eyelashes." Riley smiled and took the eyelash curler.
"Watch this," Maya told the girl.
"Ahh!" Riley yelled as she began to crush her eye with the eyelash curler.
"Anybody else would stop," Maya told her.
"Ahh!" Riley yelled as she didn't stop.
Elliot came to them and saw Riley.
"Open it," Elliot demanded.
"Thanks, El." Riley smiled as she opened the eyelash curler.
"Yeah, okay." Elliot nodded.
"Yeah, okay." Riley gave the eyelash curler to the girl, and the girl left.
"Ladies and Elliot." Farkle came to them.
"Farkle" They greeted.
"School dance. I'm gonna put you both down for dance numbers one through all of them. We will alternate. You and me, me and you. When you are not dancing with me, you may not dance with anyone else. You may sit and wait until you dance with me again." Farkle smiled.
"Yeah, none of this is happening," Maya told her.
"Oh. Well, then may I have one dance with each of you?" Farkle asked innocently.
"Sure." Riley smiled.
"Ha! That's all I wanted. You just got played by Farkle." Farkel smirked and left.
Elliot chuckled and shook his head.
"So, save me a dance, Maya?" Elliot asked, hopefully.
"No." Maya shook her head.
"Please." Elliot smiled.
"No."
"Pretty please."
"No."
"Pretty please."
"No."
"Pretty Please with a cherry on top."
"If I say yes, will you stop asking?" Maya asked.
"Yes." Elliot nodded.
"Ok." Maya nodded.
Elliot smiled victoriously.
"Hey, guys." Lucas came to them.
"Go away." Elliot glared at him.
"Lucas!" Riley raised her hand.
"Hand," Maya instructed.
"Lucas!" Riley put her hand down.
"Grown-up voice," Maya instructed.
"Lucas, hello." Riley walked up to Lucas.
"Wait a minute your coaching her?" Elliot asked, shocked.
Maya smirked.
"Hey." Lucas smiled.
"Hey, hee-haw. Are you going to tick-tock shake your body time? 'Cause, you know, it's not a square-dance, so not gonna be a whole lot of do-si-doin." Maya smirked.
"Well, then I'm sure I'll have no idea what to do, and you can make fun of me." Lucas smiled.
"You're not playing this right!" Maya pointed at him.
"Well, that's certainly not my intention. I'll try harder next time." Lucas said amusingly.
"I will break you!" Maya threatened.
"Well, if that's what makes you happy, then I certainly can't wait for it, Ma'am." Lucas tipped an imaginary cowboy hat.
"Ohhhh!" Maya shuddered in annoyance.
"You going to the school dance, Lucas?" Riley asked.
"Thought I would. You?" Lucas asked.
Elliot pretended to throw up.
Lucas and Riley stared at him.
"You hear me?" Elliot pretended to throw up.
"You'll both be there. He'll be the one in the cowboy hat going like this." Elliot began to square dance.
Maya joined him.
The bell rang
"So, you goin' to class?" Lucas asked.
"Thought I would. You?" Riley asked.
They both went to class as onlookers cheered on Elliot and Maya.
"It isn't for you!" Elliot told them as both he and Maya stopped.
They still cheered.
"Okay, fine." Maya smiled and began dancing again.
"Ah, fine, what the heck?" Elliot began dancing again.
________________________________________________________________________________
Matthews Household
Auggie and Topanga were reading a book, and Elliot was eating a snack.
"Mom, can I ask you a question?" Riley walked in.
"You can ask me a question," Auggie told her.
"It's a girl thing, Auggie," Riley told him.
"Oh, boy." Elliot sighed.
"You think I don't know about girls?" Auggie asked.
"Okay, I'm at a certain age-" Riley began.
"I don't care." With that, Auggie left but really was eavesdropping on the conversation.
Riley and Topanga stared at Elliot.
"Oh, I'm staying I wanna see how this plays out," Elliot told them.
Riley and Topanga nodded.
"You're at a certain age?" Topanga asked.
"You had to know this was going to happen," Riley told her.
"I know a lot of things are going to happen. Which one is this?" Topanga asked.
"Makeup," Riley stated.
"Oh, good." Topanga smiled.
"I can have some?" Riley asked.
"No." Topanga shook her head.
"Why not?" Riley asked.
"Well, because makeup leads to other things that-" Topanga began.
"We have our first school dance on Friday night," Riley informed.
"And we're there." Topanga nodded.
"What's the difference between daytime makeup and nighttime makeup?" Riley asked.
"No difference. Because you're not wearing any." Topanga told her.
"What about when I do?" Riley asked.
"When we decide that you're at the right age to start wearing makeup-" Topanga began.
"Friday?" Riley questioned.
"No. You might find that you prefer a more natural look during the day. Some women prefer to go a bit bolder at night. You are not allowed to hang out with those women." Topanga told her.
"I wanna paint my face!" Riley smiled.
Elliot chuckled.
"Wait. The dance is on Friday?" Topanga asked worriedly.
"You're doin' that thing with your voice." Elliot came to them.
"But Friday is the last night for the Coney island cyclone," Topanga told them.
"But it's our first dance!" Riley whined.
"And dad takes us to ride the roller coaster a bunch of times, right?" Elliot asked.
"Your father thinks of it as a tradition," Topanga told them.
"I want to go to the dance," Riley whined.
"How bad is this?" Elliot asked.
"Your father thinks of it as the reason he wakes up in the morning," Topanga told them.
"Maybe he won't remember it this year." Riley smiled.
"Let's hope so." Elliot nodded.
"Three days till cyclone day!" Cory cheered as he came in.
"When's my birthday?" Topanga asked.
"A hundred forty-eight days from cyclone day," Cory told her.
"Good luck to you too," Topanga told them.
"Daddy!" Auggie ran in.
"Auggie! Hey! Tell me, stuff!" Cory picked up and put him on the counter.
"Riley wants to wear makeup," Auggie informed.
"Oh, we got a little spy in the house," Elliot smirked.
"Don't call him a spy. He is not a spy." Cory defended Auggie.
"I am a spy. You made me a card.' Auggie said, showing his 'Auggie is a spy card.'
"All right, he is a spy. And guess what? He's working for me. And he just got promoted." Cory gave Auggie an 'Auggie is a super spy card.'
"Superspy!" Auggie cheered.
Everybody chuckled.
"Dad." Elliot began.
"Yeah?" Cory asked.
"Dad?" Riley stood up and hugged Cory.
"Hey, superspy, tell me stuff," Cory whispered to Auggie.
"Riley and Elly want to go to the school dance on dun...dun....dun ....cyclone night," Auggie told him.
"Oh. Wow. It's the same night?" Cory asked.
The twins nodded.
"I understand. I understand completely. I'm sorry you two will have to miss the dance." Cory told them.
"Try again," Topanga told him.
"I'm sorry you two will have to miss the dance," Cory repeated.
"Nope, same thing." Cory shrugged.
"But it's our first dance, dad," Elliot told him.
"Oh!" Cory held his chest in agony.
"Oh, boy." Topanga sighed.
"No, no, I'm down with this. Yeah, I said that." Cory smiled.
"Dad, when it comes to this stuff, I don't think there's anything you can teach me," Riley told him.
"Oh!" Cory held the other side of his chest in agony.
"Oh, boy!" Topanga sighed.
"We're growing up, dad. You need to let us go." Elliot told him.
"Oh, boy!" Topanga sighed.
"Goodbye!" Cory pretended to faint.
"You both are breaking him!" Auggie yelled.
"You were a great father to me when I was a kid. Don't take this the wrong way, dad, but there are just some things that mom can naturally teach me. Like, what do you know about makeup?" Riley asked.
"I know it's what you're going to have to do with me. Both of you do." With that, Cory left.
"Mom?" Elliot questioned.
"That went better than I thought." Topanga smiled.
________________________________________________________________________________
History Class.
Cory was passing out papers.
"Friar..."
"Farkle...."
"Hart...."
"You...." Cory glared at Riley.
"You..." Cory glared at Elliot.
"Dad, we didn't..." Riley began.
"Ferp!" Cory silenced her.
"But-" Elliot began.
"Ferp!" Cory silenced him.
"Okay." Elliot sighed, and the twins went to their seats.
"Well, guys, I've got your test results on Darwin to give back to you. And, uh, I'm pleased to see some of you have evolved since the last quiz." Cory tried to joke, but nobody laughed.
"Ha!" Farkle laughed after a moment.
"Thanks, Farkle." Cory sighed.
"Well, you were drowning, sir," Farkle told him.
"Ms. Hart..." Cory gave Maya her test paper.
Riley and Elliot saw Maya's upset face.
"Mr. Friar, nice work." Cory gave Lucas his test paper.
"Thank you, sir." Lucas smiled.
"Mr. Farkle." Cory gave Farkle his test.
"A number seven hundred. Huzzah!" Farkle cheered.
"You and you..." Cory gave his children their test papers while glaring at them.
"You okay?" Elliot asked.
"He gave me an 'F.'" Maya told them.
"What?!" Elliot asked, shocked.
"That's nuts. You're a solid 'D' student." Riley defended Maya.
"Mr. Friar, I took particular note of your position that evolution does not preclude the existence of how did you put it? " Cory asked.
"A guiding hand that has your best interest at heart," Lucas told him.
Maya raised her hand.
"Yes, Ms. Hart?" Cory asked.
"You failed me," Maya stated, upset.
"Why don't we talk about this after class," Cory told her.
"What's there to talk about? You failed me. You think I'm a failure. There's nothing more for you to teach me." Maya stood up and gave back her test paper.
"Oh, come on! Both of you gotta say that?" Cory asked, looking at Riley as well.
Maya walked up to the front door.
"What, you mean I lost all three of you?" Cory asked the trio.
Maya was about to walk out of class.
"Maya! You do not walk out of here." Cory said sternly.
Maya just stared at him and walked out of class.
Riley raised her hand.
"Go," Cory told her.
Riley grabbed Elliot's hand, and they walked out of class.
Everybody else raised their hands.
"No!" Cory shook his head.
________________________________________________________________________________
Hallway.
Maya was cleaning out her locker.
"Redecorating your locker?" Elliot asked, hopefully.
"Nope. Cleaning it out." Maya told him.
Maya held up a stick.
"You want one? 'Cause it's the last one you're gonna get." Maya told Riley.
Riley eagerly nodded.
Maya put the stick in her locker and soon out came cotton candy.
"Maya, it's just one 'F.'" Riley told her.
"It's not about the paper, Riley. Your dad failed me." Maya told her.
"Yeah, I know. And Riley and I are not going on the cyclone. We failed him. Can't we just call it even?" Elliot asked, hopefully.
"No. We can just call it I'm leaving." Maya picked up her stuff.
"Maya, I know you. You'll make a big deal about this, pretend to leave school forever, and you'll be back by gym class." Riley told her.
"No, this time I mean it," Maya told her as she began to leave.
"All right, Maya. I'll see you tomorrow." Riley smiled.
"No. You won't." Maya told her.
"You'll pick Elliot and me up at 7:00." Riley smiled.
"Elliot and I." Elliot corrected.
"I won't be there. " With that, Maya left.
"I don't think she's coming to Riles," Elliot told her.
_______________________________________________________________________________
Cory was frowning as he kept on watching the cyclone video.
Topanga was reading a book.
"Hold me, daddy! Daddy, hold me!" Riley yelled.
"What if we die!" Elliot yelled.
"I've got you two," Cory reassured them.
"Daddy!" Riley yelled.
"I don't want to die!" Elliot yelled.
Auggie came up to him.
"You okay, buddy?" Auggie asked.
"I lost my first son and the two most important girls in my life." Cory sighed.
Topanga looked up with a shocked expression.
"How ya doin'?" Topanga asked.
"Still got that one." Cory shrugged.
"I'm hangin' on." Topanga smiled.
"Well, I will always be here for you, daddy. Me and you, together forever." Auggie smiled.
"Thank you, Auggie. But you know that's really not the way it works, right?" Cory asked.
"I know." Auggie nodded.
They both groaned at the same time.
"Aw, my two sad, little men." Topanga came to them.
"I'm not really sad, I'm just doing it for him," Auggie whispered.
"I know," Topanga whispered back.
"You got this?" Auggie whispered.
"I got it," Topanga whispered back.
Auggie left.
"You got it, Topanga? Are you gonna make this all better? Did you know how guilty I felt when I found out the Elliot was being ignored by us for seven years of his life?" Cory asked.
"I felt guilty too ." Topanga nodded sadly.
"From that forward, I promised myself that I would give them an equal amount of love," Cory told her.
Cory played the video.
"I'm okay, I'm okay, I'm okay. Hold me, daddy! Daddy! Hold me! Daddy!" Riley yelled.
"I don't want to die!" Elliot yelled.
Topanga closed the laptop.
"We always get the very last ride of the season. And I know once we stop going, we're never going back." Cory told her.
"Honey, it's just for this year," Topanga told him.
"No. Topanga, this is exactly how traditions end. Once we got moving on that ride, you should've heard them: Whee! Ahhh! Whee! The best part was right before the big drop. I mean, you're going up, and it starts slowing down, but you know what's coming. The twins started leaning closer to me, they put her arms around me and hold on. What else is ever gonna be like that?" Cory asked.
"Life," Topanga stated.
"Oh, besides that." Cory scoffed.
"Cory, their first dance is hardly the end of your relationships with them," Topanga told her.
"She said I have nothing left to teach her. Our daddy-daughter story is over." Cory pouted.
"And Elliot he told me to let him go. Our father-son story started late and its finishing early. The twins Maya, gone. They moved on without me. They got married. Maya and Elliot married first. They have children now. They live in California, by some other roller coaster." Cory was on the verge of tears.
"Please. You know, no matter what, you are always going to be there. I mean, even if all someone wants is a little bit of alone time, which is normal, you are there. Always. California." Topanga sighed.
________________________________________________________________________________
The next day
Bay Window.
The twins and Maya were sitting.
Maya was on her laptop.
"You made your point, okay? You didn't come to school today, and your teacher is really upset with you." Riley told her.
"He's not my teacher anymore. I now attend a prestigious online academy." Maya told her.
"Welcome to the Frank Mantucci on da computer school, where you get out of it what you put into it. And what you need to put into it is 400 dollars. Gimme." A guy with a sketchy Brooklyn accent demanded.
"You paid for that?" Elliot asked, shocked.
"Free trial. I took the test to see if I qualify for the free trial." Maya told him.
"Maya, it's a scam! They take anybody." Riley told her.
"Congratulations!" The guy began.
"I got in." Maya smiled.
"You are the first person to ever fail Frank Mantucci on da computer school test. How'd you do dat?" The guy with the sketchy Brooklyn accent asked.
"How'd you do dat?" The twins asked in the same accent in unions.
"We asked 'Name?' You didn't put nuttin'." The guy continued.
"Well, at least you were smart enough not to give them your name." Elliot tried to make her feel better.
"It's not that I'm smart enough," Maya argued.
"Then what is it?" Riley asked.
"Maybe sometimes I'm not so proud of who I am," Maya told them.
"How's it going in here?" Topanga asked.
"Mom, tell Maya to come back to school regular school," Elliot told her.
"Hm... so you two don't like this, huh?" Topanga asked.
"Of course not! Maya always comes to school with me! She always picks me up at 7." Riley told her.
"Like a tradition?" Topanga asked.
"Yeah! Oh..." Riley realized.
Elliot gasped.
"You know, even though you're a mother, that was creepy good," Elliot told her.
Topanga nodded.
"So, Maya doesn't show up like she's supposed to and how does that make you two feel?" Topanga asked.
"Oh my God." Elliot sighed.
"Oh..." Riley sighed.
"You both have to go to him. He feels bad. You both have to go to your father." Topanga told them.
"I feel bad. Will he come to me?" Maya asked.
"No. He's your teacher." Riley told her.
"He doesn't have to," Elliot told her.
"But he will." Topanga smiled.
"What?" Maya questioned.
"He doesn't have to, but he will." Topanga nodded.
"Why?" Elliot asked.
"Because he's always there," Topanga told him.
Cory came in, grabbed Maya's hand, and left.
"Always." Topanga smiled.
________________________________________________________________________________
Matthews Household.
The Kitchen.
Maya was sitting at the table, and Cory was in front of her.
Elliot and Riley were watching from a distance.
"Read it," Cory demanded.
"I don't want to do this, Mr. Matthews." Maya began getting up.
"Sit down," Riley demanded.
"You can't tell me-" Maya began.
"She just did." Elliot cut her off.
"Thanks," Riley said as both she and Elliot sat by Maya's sides.
"Go ahead," Cory told her.
"Darwin animal studies were thought to be when he travels he took on the boat with the Beatles." Maya read.
"Are you kidding me?" Elliot asked in disbelief.
"Does he have to be here?" Maya pointed to Elliot.
"What were you trying to do?" Cory asked.
"I tried to write it like I was smart," Maya told him.
"You are smart," Riley told her.
"What did you mean to say?" Cory asked.
"Darwin studied animals," Maya informed.
"What kind?" Cory asked.
"I don't know," Maya told him.
"She does know," Riley told him.
"I don't know. You think I know what I don't know?" Maya argued.
"I think you know more than you don't know, but you don't know that!" Riley argued.
"You know what?" Maya challenged.
"What did Darwin study?" Elliot repeated the question, annoyed.
"Birds," Maya informed.
"There you go," Cory told her.
"Really? I got that one wrong." Riley admitted.
"You want to be smart, Maya? Say what you mean. I understood that perfectly, and you're correct." Cory told her.
"That's all I had to say?" Maya asked.
"What was the name of his boat?" Cory asked.
"The Beatle," Maya informed.
"It's The Beagle." Elliot corrected.
"It's a tiny difference, but an important one. Because if you know it, Maya, you don't fail." Cory told her.
"I want to not fail," Maya told him.
"What kind of birds did he study?" Cory asked.
"I don't know," Maya told him.
"You do." Riley insisted.
"Finches," Maya asked.
"And what else?" Elliot asked.
"Finches and mockingbirds," Maya informed.
"Yes." Cory nodded.
"Yes." Riley nodded.
"How did you know she knew?" Cory asked.
"I know she listens to you," Riley told him.
"I listen to you," Maya told Cory.
"Then you won't fail and then neither will I," Cory told her.
"How about some Turkey sandwiches?" Topanga asked as she came in.
"Darwin didn't study turkeys. He studied finches and mockingbirds. His boat was The Beagle." Maya informed.
"And for extra credit?" Cory asked.
"Galapagos. The islands he studied were the Galapagos." Maya informed.
"Because she listens to me." Cory smiled proudly at Topanga.
"Hey, Maya. Watch this." Cory turned Maya's F into an A.
"You're giving me an 'A'?" Maya asked, shocked.
"No, I'm giving you a 'C+.' But I want you to see how easily an 'F' can become an 'A.'" Cory told her.
"Nothing to be ashamed of anymore, Maya," Riley told her.
"My dad doesn't live with-" Maya began.
"It's okay." Elliot cut her off.
"He's got this new family-" Maya continued.
Riley and Elliot both held Maya"s hands.
"Maya, you don't have to-" Topanga began.
"I do have to. I have to be able to talk to you. If you give me an 'F,' if you decide I'm not worth working on-" Maya continued.
"Maya, take a look around you. We're all here for you. Does this look like we think you're not worth working on?" Cory asked.
"I just don't want to fail, Mr. Matthews. Thank you." Maya took her paper.
"I don't want to go to the dance! The dance doesn't matter to me at all!" Riley began babbling.
"Yeah! I want to go to the cyclone with you more than anything in the world!" Elliot exclaimed as Riley nodded.
"You both are going to the dance," Cory told them.
"Hooray!" Riley cheered.
Elliot winked at Maya.
"I'm going to chaperone." Cory smiled.
"What?!" Elliot yelled.
"What's that mean?" Riley raised her hand.
"Hand," Maya instructed.
"What's that mean?" Riley asked, putting her hand down.
"Grown-up voice," Maya instructed.
"Lucas, hello." Riley smiled.
"What's that mean?" Cory asked, confused.
"I told you to not coach her!" Elliot scolded Maya.
________________________________________________________________________________
The dance
Farkle and Riley were dancing at the moment.
"What are you waiting for Matthews, dance with me," Maya told Elliot.
Elliot smirked and took Maya's hand.
Suddenly tango music began to play.
They danced, and the spotlight was on them. (The same dance is done in Another Cinderella Story)
"You're amazing," Maya said breathlessly.
"I know," Elliot smirked.
________________________________________________________________________________
The dance.
Elliot decided to sit this one out.
Maya was dancing with Farkle and Riley was dancing with Lucas.
Lucas was wearing a cowboy.
"You're a really good dancer, Lucas." Riley smiled.
"Thanks, so are you." Lucas smiled.
"Look, everyone's copying us," Riley said, looking around.
Farkle dipped Maya underneath Lucas.
"The hat's just for El and me, isn't it?" Maya asked
Lucas nodded.
"You actually put thought into our little game, don't you?" Maya asked.
"I actually do." Lucas pulled a rose out of his hat and placed it in Maya's mouth.
Maya shuddered in annoyance.
Farkle placed the rose in his mouth and shuddered back.
Soon the song ended.
"Well, guys, it looks like the night is winding down. We hope you all enjoyed the dance. But before we go, I notice some fathers have arrived to pick up their daughters. I wonder if we might have one last dance. A father-daughter dance." Cory smiled.
Cory made his way to Riley, Elliot, and Maya.
Riley and Elliot stepped out of the way.
"May I please have this dance?" Cory asked Maya.
Maya took his hand, and they began dancing.
Elliot and Riley walked up to them.
"Looks like maybe we have a new tradition," Riley told him.
"That's okay. Traditions are supposed to evolve. Just like children. Sometimes children just need What was that again, Mr. Friar? " Cory asked Lucas.
"A guiding hand that has your best interest at heart." Lucas smiled.
"I don't want you to let me go. Ever." Elliot told him.
"Good because I won't." Cory smiled.
"There's still a whole lot. I need you to teach me, dad." Riley told him.
"Thank you, Riley." Cory smiled.
"There's still a whole lot. I need you to teach me, too." Maua told him.
"Hey, he's our father," Riley said, pointing to herself and Elliot.
"Whatever you say." Maya smiled.
"You do know that you're our father, right?" Riley asked, pointing to Elliot and herself.
"Yeah, I'm your father. Thank you, kids." Cory smiled at them.
"How's that for make-up?" Elliot asked.
"Perfect." Cory smiled.
Elliot stepped out of the way as Riley, Cory and Maya danced
________________________________________________________________________________
Matthews Household.
The family was having breakfast.
"Riley, I never want our daddy-daughter story to end," Cory told her.
"Neither do I, dad." Riley smiled.
"Elliot it's bad enough that our father-son story began late. Do not finish it early." Cory told him.
"I won't." Elliot smiled.
"Both don't end or finish. In any good book, you turn the page, and there's another chapter." Topanga smiled.
"Daddy, since Riley and Elly are too big for you, maybe we could do something every year," Auggie said innocently.
"Of course, Auggie. What do you have in mind?" Cory asked.
"You and me. A singles cruise to Alaska." Auggie said, determinedly.
"Well, I guess some traditions are meant to change." Topanga chuckled.
"Sup, goofballs? Hey, Riley, Elliot, 7:00." Maya came in.
The twins grabbed their bags and left.
"And some should always remain the same." Cory smiled.
________________________________________________________________________________
Chapter 4: Failure: Has Multiple Meanings.
Failing a test, failing a parent, failing children, failing a student are four very different things, but all have one word in common 'Failing.'
Everybody fails at something at one point in their lives. The question is, how do you come back from that? Fail a test = work harder, fail a student = talk it through, Fail a child = don't worry they just want you, fail a parent = you can apologize because, in the end, they love you. Which one of these failures did you go through and how are you going to fix this?
________________________________________________________________________________
Elliot's childhood: being ignored for seven years will be later on explored in the series.
Edited with the help of Riptide_son_of_none