Ari POV:
Lucas and I walk into class early the next day. He turns the desk around knowing everything is about to be awkward. I sit down on his desk and give him a quick kiss.
"Do you wanna go riding later?" I ask him.
"Yeah we haven't gone since we took Zay after our anniversary." He responds smiling. We continue to plan our after school date. As we talk Lucas pulls me to the edge of the desk and wraps his arms around my waist. I giggle and put mine around his neck.
"I love you" he says.
"I love you too" I respond and we lean in. We are so focused on each other that we didn't notice the bell had rung and everyone was coming in.
We continue making out and don't realize Mr.Matthews has walked in and started class.
Cory POV:
I walk into my classroom and see Maya lying on top of two desks, Riley outside with her face smushed you against the window, and Ari and Lucas hugging? I'm not sure but they are faced away from me and look like they are cuddling.
"You came into this place a bunch of young kids who didn't know very much, and now, look at ya. Young men and women ready for what's next." I start the lesson before turning to Maya "Snap out of it!" And then to Riley "Get in here!" I exclaim to them and Riley only makes a face.
"What are you doin'?" I ask Lucas but don't get a response. "Lucas?" I say a little louder but get nothing. I walk over and see Ari and Lucas in a very heated makeout session. "Ahhhhh" I exclaim causing them to pull apart gasping for air as they put their foreheads together.
"Love you" Ari mumbles to Lucas loud enough for me to here.
"Love you too baby" he responds giving her a peck.
"Get off of each other. And turn your chair around" I tell them and they do so. "Get in your seat" I tell Maya.
I turn back to the class before continuing the lesson on legacy. "Now, the most important thing you can do in life is to give people the reason to remember you. The people who do that are the ones we study in here. So, your last assignment from me and for yourselves is to figure out what you will give back." I say and then notice Lucas and Ari are smiling at each other.
"Hey!" Riley yells slamming her hands on the window. "You looked at her" she yells at Lucas.
"So?" He asks looking at Riley.
"Now you have to look at us to even it up" she responds.
"No I don't" he responds accidentally looking at both of them before turning back to Ari and shooting her a wink.
"You're real y dying out here huh bubs" Ari asks.
"Uh huh" he says before dropping his head onto his desk.
"What are you grateful for? Who do you want to remember you? Do something about it right now. Now get outta here." I ask the class before dismissing them.
Ari POV:
I see Janitor Harley and Lucas walk off . I sit down at the bench with Ms.Martinez my choir teacher. "I'm really gonna miss you and your class" I tell her.
"I'll miss you too, but all of you are going to go on a become someone great. I want you to promise me something" she says and I nod.
"Anything" I tell her.
"Never give up on your music. You have a wonderful voice Ari. Use it, share it with people."
"I will, I promise I will" I tell her before giving her a hug. "Thank you for everything"
"Thank you for letting me teach you more about the power of music. You were an amazing student Ari, and now you'll do better in high school. Congratulations on graduating Ari" she says as we stand before she walks off her to her classroom and I sit down.
"Hey baby" Lucas says sitting next to me.
"Hey bubs" I respond laying my head on his shoulder.
"Love of my life always" he says kissing my forehead.
"And forever the love of mine" I responds leaning up to kiss his jaw.
Lucas POV:
"You got one last lesson for the road?" Maya asks as we all enter the classroom and sit in our seats.
"Yeah, I do" he responds.
"Well, I've never said this before, but you have my attention." Maya says
"Good. This one's important. I've gotten to watch you guys become friends and I've gotten to watch you grow. You guys grew up so fast and I've been trying to teach you to keep your feelings inside." Mr.Matthews says.
"And you were right. Look at us." Riley says.
"You could just listen then there wouldn't be a square problem" Ari mutters and I throw her a reassuring smile.
"Only yours" I mouth and she smiles.
"Good" she mouths back.
"I was wrong. Your teacher was wrong. I can't keep you in this place. You've outgrown it. You guys are graduating to whatever comes next. Do you know why?" Mr.Matthews asks.
"No." Maya responds.
"You've earned it." He says.
"How do we know when we're ready?"
"The same way we know anything.Let's take one last test and see." He says and all of us groan except for Farkle Who of course let's put a small Yay, yes even my smarty pants of a girlfriend groaned at the mention of another test.
"I thought we were done." Ari says dropping her head and I let out a laugh.
"Are you even allowed to do this? It's the last day of school." Riley asks.
"I'm still your teacher. I can do whatever I want. Besides, this test isn't for a grade. This is a test to find out what you've actually learned here. Question one. What's the secret of life? Maya?" He asks.
"People change people." Maya answers.
"And for extra credit?"
"What 'us' does for them?"
"What does that mean?"
"How we help those who are less fortunate than us."
"And are you an 'us' or them?"
LI'm an 'us'. I'm very blessed. We all are."
"Question two. Sneak attack. Riley?" Mr.Matthews asks now turning to Riley for an answer.
"Pearl Harbor." She answers.
"And for extra credit?"
"Missy Bradford tried to tear our friendships apart. Lucas was new here and she tried to throw a sneak attack. I think that was the moment we all realized what we really meant to each other. The moment we all came together."
"Oh yeah. You told me about that. I almost flew up from Texas to deal with her myself" Ari says and I laugh.
"I handled it baby" I respond smiling at her and she blows me a kiss.
"Good. Farkle? Canada." Mr.Matthews asks Garkle now.
"Our greatest allies are the people right next to us." He answers.
"Good. Question four: forgiveness? Ari we never did hear how this went?" He asks Ari.
"Forgiveness gives us a chance to change history. It allows us to face our pasts and grow in the future. For my forgiveness project I forgave my dad." Ari responds.
"Why?" Maya asks. "You said he didn't leave what else is there?"
"Except he kinda did. My dad wanted to ride a bull in the rodeo. So he took a few lessons. He wasn't ready at all, but he got on. He fell off and hit his head hard, not even the helmet could protect him. He died in the hospital later that day." Ari answers and she starts to tear up. I stand and wrap her in my arms whispering sweet nothings in her ear.
"Lucas?" Mr.Matthews asks.
"I think I was the most changed by these people. I know that whatever I'm feeling, I can just tell my friends and everything would be okay." I answer before he asks a question.
"Will it?" Riley asks.
"I guess we'll see." I answer her.
"I thought we stopped." Maya says.
"I thought we were just friends." Riley says.
"Oh my god will you both just stop. He's told you time and time again. He chose already, you guys are the ones setting yourselves up to get hurt. Will you two get that through your heads?" Ari exclaims and Riley and Maya look at her shocked she would say something.
"Lucas? You're not gonna say anything?" Riley asks.
"No I'm not because she's right. I've told you a bunch of times. It's Ari always has been and always will be." I say before we sit down.
"And that's why your teacher was wrong. I can't hold you back from what you feel. Congratulations. You've all passed this test with flying colors." Mr.Matthews says.
"What happens now?" Farkle asks.
"Now you graduate, Farkle. You walk out of here with everything you've learned and you live life. You live it. You face whatever comes. This is gonna be the greatest test of your friendship yet." Mr.Mathews responds.
"Wow. I made it to high school." Maya says.
"We're gonna need some good teachers, Mr.Matthews." Ari says.
"Yeah.So, one last thing. How will the school remember you?" He asks.
"I have an idea." I say.
"What's our prank?" Maya asks.
"I have an idea." Riley says looking at Mr.Matthews.
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.