As me, Cory and Shawn were talking in class, I noticed Topanga approach Minkus with a paper flower. "Stuart?" 

"Yes?" ha asked, reading his book. 

"Did you leave this paper rose on my desk?" 

"No."

"Oh."

Just as Topanga was about to walk away, Minkus put down his book. "Actually it isn't a rose. It's a camellia. In the language of flowers a white camellia means perfect loveliness. At least, that's what I've read."

"Well, then the person who left this for me must be a sensitive and caring soul," Topanga said before walking away.

I just smiled at their cuteness as Cory piped up, "Is it just me or is love blooming among the nerd set?" 

I nod as Shawn answered, "I don't know. The only time I've ever seen a look like that was just before Bambi's mother caught that bullet."

"What a movie they'd make."

"It's Minkus in Love," I joke as the movie title in a weird announcement voice.

Cory laughed before doing the same. "Watch what happens when 48 pounds of near-sighted geek meets 10 pounds of hair from a parallel universe."

"Ha!" the boys laugh. 

Topanga approached them. "I think people who judge other people by their outward appearances are shallow and ignorant and will have much to answer for in their next life."

"That may be the way it works on Remulak," Cory remarked. "But here on Earth you're a nerd, you pay."

The bell rang just as Mr. Feeny entered. "Good morning, class. I trust you all had a good weekend."

"I sure did. My mom baked brownies and my dad rented two monster movie videos," Cory said.

"My brother and I were there with them," I add.

"I sold blood," Shawn said. 

"This morning we have a guest lecturer," Mr. Feeny started. "The school board feels that since you're all starting the seventh grade next year it would behoove you to have an advanced taste of the experience."

Uh-oh. I looked behind me to see the one and only-

"Eric?" Cory questioned. 

"Cory?" Eric asked. 

"Mr. Matthews?" Mr. Feeny asked. 

"Mr. Feeny?" Eric walked to the front. 

As he did, I saw a gleaming look in Topanga's eyes as she watched him. I knew that look anywhere. I had that same look when I laid eyes on Eric Matthews.

"I thought the school said they were sending over good students," Mr. Feeny remarked.

"Nice," Eric chuckled. "The problem with smart kids is they all have goals to pursue. I'm just looking to get out of Algebra." 

Lucky me. Proceed," Mr. Feeny told him.

Eric looked at all of us. "Hi, kids, I'm Eric. I'm in the 10th grade at Adams High the school you'll all be going to next year." 

Minkus remarked. "At least all of us who pass."

"Hey, Minkus, pass this," Shawn called, and made a fart noise with his his armpit. I snickered in response under my breath.

"Please, class, give Mr. Matthews your attention," Mr. Feeny called.

"Matthews?" Topanga questioned. 

"Oh, yeah, I'm Cory's older brother," Eric told her. "I got the good hair." Don't disagree with that. "Anyway, next year you guys will be seventh graders or, as we upper classmen will be calling you phlegm balls. Now, there's gonna be a few things you're gonna need to know for survival on the mean streets of high school."

"Will the exam process be more rigorous?" Minkus asked. 

Eric nodded slowly in confusion. "Yeah, uh, Parties are gonna be a lot better, too because you can stay out later."

"All right!" me and Shawn cheered. 

"And, of course, cool clothes are a must."

"For that young detention sitter on the go,' Mr. Feeny said.

"Yeah. Uh, you're gonna want to know where the parking lot is, too because that's Where the most popular kids hang. And you're gonna want to hang with them unless, of course you want to look like a complete nerd," Eric laughed before looking to Minkus. "No offense, Mink."

"I have a question," Cory piped up.

"Who cares?" 

"This isn't like home, Eric. In here, when I raise my hand, you have to answer."

Eric looked to our teacher. "I do?" 

"I do, too," Mr. Feeny sighed.

"All right, now next year when you're 16 and driving to school would you be willing to give a ride to a certain few select phlegm balls?" Cory motioned to me, Shawn and himself.

"Do I have to?" Eric asked Mr. Feeny. 

"I wouldn't," he answered.

"Drop dead," he told Cory who face planted on his desk before sliding out of his seat causing me to chuckle.

"What do I owe you?" Mr. Feeny asked Eric once Cory was down.

*** 

At Cory's, me, Shawn and Cory were all doing homework at the dinner table. Topanga came in with a dish-

"I have some freshly baked brownies here I thought you might enjoy," Topanga said.

Cory grabbed them. "Thanks for dropping them off."

Topanga pulled the tray back to her though. "I thought perhaps I could stay here and enjoy them with you."

Brownies. I am in. "Come on in, T," I say at the table. "Milk's in the fridge."

Once Topanga walked to the fridge, me and Shawn each grabbed a brownie. I bit into it, savoring the still warm treat. 

"Hey, not bad," Shawn told her once she grabbed the milk.

"My sister Nebby made them," Topanga said.

"Nebby? Don't you mean Debbie?" Cory questioned as he brought over glasses. 

"No, Nebby. It's short for Nebula. Nebula Stopthewar Lawrence," Topanga said as she handed me a glass of milk.

"Unique," I compliment, earning looks from the boys. "What?"

"So your parents thought, like, what Linda was already taken?" Cory joked. 

Morgan came downstairs, looking to Topanga. "Hey, cool braid."

"You like it? I can put one in your hair," Topanga said.

"You can?" Morgan asked, amazed. 

"Sure. Do you have some ribbons and a rubber band?" 

"Upstairs in my room." She looked to Cory. "You know, I'd like to see more of her and her," she looked to me, making me smile. "And less of him."

Once Topanga and Morgan were upstairs, Shawn looked to Cory with a smug look. "What?" our curly haired friend asked.

"Comes over with the brownies tries to get in good with your sister," Shawn answered.

"So?"

"So...Cory and Topanga sitting in a tree." Though I knew she was here for the other Matthews, I joined in. "K-i-s-s-i-n-g."

"No way," Cory chuckled. "Minkus wants her."

"And yet she's not over at Minkus' house unloading brownies."

"What are you saying, Shawn?" 

"Cory, it all has to start somewhere. See, Minkus gets squishy about Topanga. Topanga gets squishy about you. One day your solid as a rock the next day-Squish."

"Topanga does not have a squish on me," Cory said.

"Even if she does, there's nothing wrong with her," I state, getting weirded out looks from the boys. 

"Seriously?" they asked.

"Hey, I went to school in California with a bunch of Topangas. It's weird for you, but it's normal for me."

"She brought you brownies, dude," Shawn said. "Ipso facto, love-o you-o."

Mrs. Matthews came in. "Hi, guys."

Cory stood up. "Ah, reinforcement snacks."

"It doesn't look like you're starving to death."

Eric came through the kitchen door. "Hey," Eric greeted.

"Eric, your can runneth over," his mom told him. 

"Garbage again? I just took it out last week."

Morgan came down with Topanga. "Mommy! Mommy, look! Topanga made my hair pretty."

Mrs. Matthews looked at her daughter's hair. "She sure did."

"Yep. Brownies, braids she does it all," Cory said, handing the brownies back to Topanga and pushing her towards the door. "But, uh, now she has to do it all at home."

"Aw, I wanted more brownies," I complain to my friend.

"But I was hoping I could stay," Topanga said.

"Please, let her stay," I add.

"She can't," Cory told me. "We're over the legal hair limit of this room." 

With that, he closed the door on her. He opened it again, grabbing the brownies from her and closing the door again. "Meanie," I whine, standing up and grabbing another brownie from the tray.

"Well, that wasn't very polite," Mrs. Matthews stated.

"I can't afford to be polite, Mom," Cory said. "I'm polite-Squish."

"I hear a lot of men treat the women they love like that," Shawn commented. This caused me to giggle as I sat back down when Mrs. Matthews and Eric share a look.

"I'll kill you, Shawn," Cory said

"We got a little more girlfriend action going on here?" Eric asked.

"More?" I question.

"More as in you and Shawn not the only one-," Eric smirked at me.

I cut off Eric quickly, "So a little girlfriend action, Cor?"

"Yep," Shawn answered.

Cory stated, "No."

"Cory and Topanga," Morgan sang. "Sitting in a tree, A-B-C-D-E-F-G."

***

Back at school the next day-

"That was the worst macaroni and cheese I've ever tasted," Shawn said at lunch.

"And yet, you ate mine," I state.

"Indeed you are right, Ms. Cooper," Shawn said before looking to Cory. "You going to finish yours?" 

Cory handed Shawn his tray, but said, "You're a pig, you know that?" 

"Hey, I'm in a growth spurt. I need fuel."

"Yeah, well, those of us who sit near you don't like the exhaust fumes."

"Yeah, let me know when you're going to start that off again so I can cover my nose," I add.

Topanga came over to our table. "Oh, look. Here comes the future Mrs. Cory Matthews," Shawn teased causing Cory to cover his face with a comic.

"Hello, Cory," Topanga greeted.

"Cory's not here," Cory tried.

"My sister rented a videotape I thought you might be interested in seeing."

"He left. You just missed him."

"Godzilla Goes to College," Topanga said in a tempting tone.

Me, Cory and Shawn all share a look. "Whoa," Shawn said. "That's the one where Godzilla scarfs down UCLA."

"Yeah." Cory removed the comic. "When can we borrow it?" 

"You can't. It's my sister's tape. She said I can't let it out of my sight," Topanga answered.

"Okay, what time should we be over at your house?" 

"Our VCR is broken. I'll have to bring it to your house."

All right, how about 4:00?" 

"That will give me time to get home and get ready."

"Get ready?" Cory questioned. 

"I mean get the tape," Topanga corrected. Oh, it's all just to see Eric. "That's all. Bye."

Once Topanga was gone, Shawn laughed at Cory, "Oh, man, she's got a thang for you."

"What do I care? All I want from her is brownies and videos."

Minkus came over to our table, glaring at Cory. "You maggot."

"Huh?" Cory asked. 

"All these years pretending to be my close friend."

Cory's eyes doubled in size. "Close? As in Philadelphia is close to Neptune?" 

"All so you could get to her."

"Her, Topanga? I don't think so."

"Oh, please. The whole school's talking about you two."

"Can't blame the school. Cory and Topanga would be cute together," I speak up.

"No, they wouldn't," Minkus corrected immediately.

I raise my hands in surrender. "Okay, sorry."

"What? I ate a couple brownies. I said I'd watch a video," Cory stated. 

"Aren't you forgetting the trip to Acapulco?" Minkus added. 

"What?" Cory looked to Shawn. 

"I embellished," Shawn shrugged.

"Of course you did, Shawny," I chuckle.

"You know me too well, Betts," Shawn said, throwing his arm around my shoulders.

Minkus leaned closer to Cory. "Do you really care about her or are you just doing this to humiliate me?" 

Cory sighed. "I give up. Take it, Shawn."

Shawn stood up from his chair, holding Minkus's head in a grip. "Minkus want to play walnut?" Shawn asked. 

Minkus didn't move, but all he said to Cory was, "Your bodyguard can't be with you 24 hours a day, Matthews. Be afraid. Be very afraid." Shawn let him go, but before Minkus exited he turned to Shawn. "I've got two words for you: Antiperspirant."

"That's 3 Words," Shawn tried to correct.

"What's going on here?" Cory asked. "I don't want girls to like me."

I scoff offended. "Hey, I'm your friend who likes you," I speak.

"I mean girls to like-like me. Why is everything changing?"

Shawn picked up a book off the table with a grin. "Hey, Topanga forgot her notebook. Want to trash it? I got a little macaroni and cheese left." Shawn took his seat beside me.

"Naw, she'll probably think it's some type of love code," Cory said.

"And that's totally disrespecting a girl's privacy," I add, but Shawn opened it anyway.

"Oh, why do I have to be so attractive?" Cory complained in a voice causing me to laugh.

"Oh, look," Shawn started. "It's a heart with a name doodled in swirly things. 'Mrs. Matthews'." 

"Give me a break," Cory sighed.

"Mrs. Topanga Matthews," Shawn went on, flipping to a knew page. "Mrs. Eric Matthews." 

"Would you get off my-" Cory started before catching on, looking at the notebook. "What?"

*** 

The next day at school-

"There are strange things done in the midnight sun. By the men who moil for gold. The arctic trails have their secret tales. That would make your blood run cold. The northern lights have seen queer sights. But the queerest they ever did see. Was that night on the marge of Lake Lebarge I cremated Sam McGee," Mr. Feeny read.

"Cool!" Cory exclaimed.

"Now Sam McGee was from Tennessee. Where the cotton blooms and blows. Why he left his home in the South to roam around the Pole, God only knows." 

"Burn him!" Cory cheered. 

Someone kocked on the door. I glance at Eric. "Mr. Feeny? Um, may I come in?" 

"Of course," Mr. Feeny answered.

"Uh, could I speak to your class?" 

"Be my guest."

"This better be good, Eric. He was about to toast this guy," Cory said.

"So, uh, a couple of days ago I pretty much covered the big high school picture but, uh, I left out one little tiny detail. You've all known each other since like, kindergarten. But next year there's gonna be maybe 9 or 10 other sixth grade classes from different schools making up your seventh grade class and you're not gonna know all those kids. A lot of them are gonna think differently than you."

Minkus asked, "What do you mean?" 

"Well, do you smoke cigarettes?" 

"No."

"A lot of kids in your new school will .A lot of them are gonna try to pressure you into it. They're gonna tell how cool it is to smoke.You want to be cool, don't you?" 

"More than you could ever know."

"Maybe you'll smoke."

"I don't think so."

"Why not?" 

Because according to New England journal of Medicine smoking reduces lung capacity leads to emphysema and causes heart attack and lung cancer."

Eric looked to Topanga. "Well, what if she thought it was cool? Then would you smoke?" 

"In a heartbeat," Minkus quickly answered.

"Welcome to the world of peer pressure. So he smokes." He looked to Topanga. "Do you think that's cool?" 

"I think anyone who smokes is a disgusting pig," Topanga answered.

"I'm trying to quit," Minkus outbursted.

"Well, it's not that easy. Minkus. There's all kinds of pressure. I mean, what about alcohol?" 

"Could you use somebody else as an example, please?" 

"Sure." Eric pointed to Cory. "What about alcohol?" 

"What about it?" Cory asked. 

"What about drugs?" 

"Hey, calm down, Eric. We're not into that stuff. All we like is baseball and comic books," I say.

"Yeah, that's what you like now. But that's going to change just like you're changing schools. Just like you're going to start feeling a lot of new stuff inside you you're not really gonna understand." 

"How do you know?" 

"Because you're growing up. Some of you have already started," he glanced at Topanga. 

***

At lunch, Cory, Shawn and I watched Minkus ripped off pedals off a paper flower.

"Look at him," I said.

"The love bomb has blown his head off," Shawn stated.

"This is big. This love thing could kill us if we let it," Cory turned to us. "You, Betty and I have to make a deal right now. Let everyone else go nuts." 

I didn't notice Shawn staring at me, but shook Cory's hand and then Shawn's.

"We stay the same," Shawn agreed.

"Forever."

"Excuse me," a girl approached our table. "I'm new here.How do I get to the principal's office?" 

Shawn looked to us with an awed smile.

"We have a deal," Cory reminded him. "We have a deal. Betty latch on."

Cory told me causing me to grip Shawn's hand tighter.

Shawn looked to the girl. "The principal's office? I've been there a million times. I know exactly where it is. I'll take you."

Shawn got up and tried to walk away, but I kept my grip on him. "Cory, help!" I yell as my chair was getting pulled back.

Cory gripped my hand and the table with the other. "We have a deal! We have a deal!"

Shawn managed to pull us up out of our seats, dragging him with us.

***

Later, Minkus was teaching us french in Cory's room, but I was having a hard time-

"Monsieur Minkus if we could understand what you were saying we wouldn't need your help for the French test," Cory told the boy.

"Pardonnez moi," Minkus said. "I will speak English. You will please answer in French. The chicken."

I read off my book. "Le poulet." 

"Le poulet," Minkus corrected with the accent before looking to Shawn. "The frog." 

"La green oil," Shawn tried.

"La grenouille," Minkus corrected again before looking to me. "The dog."

I glance at my book. "Le chien."

"Très bien, Mlle Cooper," he complimented.

Shawn scoffed beside me. "Minkus, come on. There's 10 letters here and you're only using 5 of them."

"Au contraire. The final 'E' is silent. The double 'L' Is like the Spanish 'Ye'. And the diphthong creates a 'W' sound." Minkus closed the book. "It's very simple."

"No, Minkus, you know what's simple?" Cory asked. 

"Frog," Shawn agreed, closing his book as Eric came in. "Yeah, the f-r-o is pronounced 'Fra'."

"And the 'G' Is like the English 'Ga'."

"Why can't these French guys just speak English like normal people?" 

"Who cares how the French talk?" Eric asked. "I like how they kiss."

"Wait a minute. They kiss differently, too?" Minkus asked. 

"Let me put it this way, children. The tongue is not silent."

Catching on, all of us said, "Eeyeuw!"