MUSIC CLASS

I'm the musician of our group, that's just how it is. Maya has a beautiful singing voice, yeah, but she prefers art. And Riley, well, she's just amazing at being herself, I've never met anyone like her, that's her talent.

I was fooling around with a melody on the piano during class when Maya walked over to me and sat by my side.

"Any instrument you touch you make magic with," she sighed dramatically, "If only I could do that."

"You have your art, I could never be as good as you," I point out. Mr. Lionel, our music teacher, comes up to me.

"Great melody you were working on Idina," he smiles, "Keep it up. I expect great things from you, great things."

ART CLASS

I sit at my desk, sketching. Art is my second favorite class next to music. Here I use visuals, there I use sounds. My favorite time of all is when I mold them together to form a cohesive collection. Bringing different mediums together are fun and unique works most will say. I just call it a daily activity. Ms. Kossal, our art teacher, looks over my shoulder to see how I'm doing with my work.

"Great job Idina, I love your symbolism portrayed through the most simple, but strikingly beautiful things as an eye and rose."

"Yeah, the eye is for seeing new life in everything, the rose is for blooming, and blooming is growth," she nods happily at my response, then moves down the line to Maya.

"Thank you for working on light and shadow, Maya."

"Yeah, I look around outside now. I watch the light move during the day. Thanks for teaching me that, Ms. Kossal," our teacher is taken aback by her response.

"I get emotional when I'm around talent," she says with a smile, before moving to Riley's desk and frowning as Riley brightly grins obliviously, "And now I'm fine. What did I tell you about only using purple?"

"Are we gonna do this again?"

"Why is everything purple?"

"Because you hide the purple from me and I find it!"

"Are you finger painting?"

"I believe you favor Maya over me.

"Oh, yeah? Well, let's explore that. Let's see if I have unfairly judged you. Today's assignment was the doorways of New York. You were asked to specifically focus on unique doorknobs and paint it from memory. You painted a cat!"

"It's a door."

"It's a cat."

"The whole thing's a door," she pretends to move her painting like she's opening a door, "Anybody home? Okay, I'll come back later. Don't let the cat out."

"Maya has something very special, Riley. She paints from a place that few of us are able to reach. And, Idina paints from a place of representation that few people are able to find the true meaning behind."

"That's because they have awful lives."

"We love it when we're reminded," Maya giggles.

"Take a look at Maya's work."

"I want to know what's behind that door."

"So does the artist... because I think it's been closed to her up until now."

"I'm gonna get you in that door, Maya."

"Oh, I know you are, Riley," Ms. Kossal smiles.

"Good. Because it's Maya's last painting," Maya whips her head to our art teacher.

"W-wait, why is it my last painting?"

"Well, it's your last one for me, you beautiful girl."

"What's going on?"

"Our school is running out of money. They're cutting art and music classes, effective after the next school board meeting."

"What? How will Maya learn? What comes after light and shadow?"

"And what about music?" I stand , "They get to choose what stays and goes? That's not right!" I huff and sit down, "Music is my life. Without music... I don't know what I'd do."

"What about drama?" Farkle asks from his desk next to Lucas and Zay, "My one-year suspension from not being able to audition for any of the plays ends on Tuesday. I'm gonna be Pippin!"

"And nobody better cut my ballet," Zay sassily adds as we all stare at him dumbfoundedly, "Yeah, that's right: ballet. That's why I'm so sinewy."

"Sinewy?" Lucas chuckles.

"Hey, you spend your time hitting baseballs, I spend my time lifting beautiful girls."

"Art, music... Drama, dance, all of it: gone." Ms. Kossal walks away solemnly.

"Music is the one class where there are truly no rules. The one class where I can express myself the one class... the one class that keeps everything from building up," I sigh.

"Maya? Idina?" Riley asks sincerely. Maya looks at her and shrugs.

"It's okay, Riles. Just another door closed."

HISTORY CLASS

"The Dark Ages-" Matthews started before being interrupted by a particular student.

"They're cutting art class-" Maya stood and shout.

"And music!" I followed.

"And you want to talk about the Dark Ages?" Riley asked confused. He motioned for us to take our seats, and continued on with his lesson plans.

"The Dark Ages was a time of cultural deterioration."

"What does that have to do with us?" Maya asked with a huff.

"The Dark Ages was the decline of the creative spirit of an entire continent. The Dark Ages is when they cut the art class at this middle school right now. And you, Maya Hart- yes, you, Maya Hart, the one I'm looking at right here- can't paint anymore."

"You know, a good teacher lets the students get there on their own,"

"So... Why were the Dark Ages dark, Pippin?"

"People lost interest in art and music because it was taken away from them."

"Well, I don't want that for Maya," Lucas starts in, "I want Maya to be happy."

"Hey, Maya, it looks like Lucas here's gettin' all fired up on your behalf," Zay smirks.

"Thank you, Lucas. But it's just an art class," she says trying to play it cool.

"I feel bad. They're taking away something you're very good at," he complimented in an angry tone.

"You've never said that to me before."

"I've said it."

"Yeah, but not, like straight to my face when you were looking at me. I can't remember you actually-"

"You're a great artist, Maya," Zay smirked at the two.

"Well, he lookin' at you now."

"You have a real talent. And I want you to be able to get better and share it with people."

"Now they're just lookin' at each other and not sayin' nothin'. Are they saying anything? No? Well, I wonder that they're thinkin'."

"I don't want them to take away your art class, Maya," Riley looks at us all

"Bay window! Bay window right in five hours."

"Who's gonna do something about our fine arts classes?"

"I'm sure that'll be Riley," Maya replies.

"Nope."

"Well, I know you guys would like me to step in here-" Matthews starts.

"Nope," Riley holds her hand up to her father, "This is bigger than you, dad. If they're gonna put us in the Dark Ages, then who's gonna get us out?"

"Funny thing about that. You know who did get us out? Artists and musicians."

"Of course, they did," I roll my eyes.

"Michaelangelo, Da Vinci... there was an explosion of creativity called the Renaissance. Maya, I would think you'd have something to say about that," this causes the spunky blonde to groan.

"Cut the art classes, don't cut the art classes. What have I ever been able to do about my life? And now my little purple friend will go crazy,"

"Yeah Riles," I add, "What's your big idea this time?" Riley shakes her head at us.

"Not this time, guys. You're the artist and musician, and I'm just the best friend," she looks at both of us, "This is your show this time, not mine," I raise an eyebrow at Maya.

"Well, I believe in things, now it's your turn," I look at Maya, "Whatcha gonna do about it, Peaches?"

THE MATTHEWS' APARTMENT

We sit in the bay window, and I'm staring at Maya and Riley, who are deadlocked in a 'Who's Gonna Break First' battle. Maya smirks at Riley.

"You think you're gonna outlast me? You think I'm gonna do something? You think I'd actually care about something?"

"I don't care what you care about."

"YOU'RE GONNA BREAK FIRST AND YOU'RE GONNA FIX THIS WHOLE THING SOMEHOW BECAUSE YOU CAN'T HELP YOURSELF!" Maya shouts.

"You know, for somebody who doesn't care, you are most certainly talking to me in all caps."

"I will never be a great artist," Maya sighs, wanting Riley's pity.

"You're probably right."

"You don't believe in me?"

"How can we if you won't?" I finally chime in.

"Well, I can't. You know? It's just 'cause you don't believe, don't get hurt."

"Yeah. Yeah, you're probably right," Riley agrees, but I know she's faking it, "Be safe. You're right, I'm wrong. Let's just go to a movie or read a book or see a play," Maya gives her the stink eye.

"You mean let's just go to art, or read some art, or see some art because movies and books and music are art? I do go outside, Riley. I watch the light move during the day. And you know what happens at 5:30? You turn to gold. Everything is more beautiful at the beginning and the end of the day, and I want people to see that. I want to capture that," Maya frowns, "I didn't mean to believe in something."

"I know you didn't, Peaches."

"But I do. And you two knew it. You knew this was in me."

"Yuppers," I smile.

"You did it. You broke me. I broke first. This is the first time this has ever happened!" she looks to Riley, "How close were you to breaking?"

"I almost died!"

"I'm so proud of you."

"Me too! Something is finally important to you."

"How come?" I ask Maya, "How come it's important to you?"

"Because I don't want to live in a world of stupid purple cats!

"We need a plan," I state, then look at Riley who wears a lightbulb above her head, "You got a plan?"

"Do I have a plan? Gee, I only have about nine of them. And each plan has a little sub-plan and each sub-plan has a little baby plan. And Oh! Do I have a plan," without even finishing her thought, she grabs one arm that belongs to Maya and one that belongs to me, and drags us out of the bedroom to the kitchen where her mother and Auggie are, "MOMMY!" she shouts. Her mother sighs, knowing what her daughter is screaming about.

"I'm sorry, girls, I got nothing this time," this causes Maya to frown.

"But you're supposed to be our fierce amazon warrior!" she shouts.

"It pains me to say it, but the schools only get so much money every year. It's not a legal issue. They can spend it on whatever they see fit."

"Are you telling us to give up?" Riley quietly asks.

":What I'm saying is that you have an opponent. Your opponent is thinking logically."

"And if we think logically," I sigh, "We're gonna lose the creative arts."

"Okay, but are they right?" Maya honestly asks, "Are academics so much more valuable than the arts that we should just let them do this to us?" Auggie finishes his hippopotamus he was drawing and lights up as he sticks it on the refrigerator. He turns to us with a bright smile covering the majority of his face.

"Do you guys like it?" he asks.

"I do, Auggie. I love it," his big sister grins.

"No one should take it away from you," I ruffle his hair.

"Someone's going to take it away from me?" Auggie worriedly asks.

"No," Maya growls, "Let's get 'em!" Auggie grins.

"Maya, I'm really proud of you for deciding to do something about your future," Topanga beams.

TOPANGA'S CAFE

"Well, you are harder to watch than usual," Zay stands, trying to encourage the low spirits within our group, "I mean, all broken and pouty and stuff. Lucas used to call me in Texas and tell me about you guys. You were legends," he walks to Farkle, "The genius who's loyal and kind," he goes to Maya, "The blond beauty." I raise an eyebrow

"Lucas talks about himself like that?" Maya asks, not understanding what Lucas has said about her, as he's tinted a red shade.

"He was talking about you."

"Oh," she bluntly replies, until she looks at Lucas realizing his compliment of her, "Oh."

"He said you were all full of fire," Zay goes to Riley, "And who could forget the pretty brunette who never gives up on anyone or anything? Because no sacrifice is too big for her friends. And Idina," he starts coming to me.

"Howdy stranger," I smirk.

"I've known you for years, a girl who's fiercely loyal, who let's creativity drive her and gives off strength when it feels like there's none. But you've all given up. Where's the fire? Because I don't see any of it. You know what, Lucas? These aren't the people you told me about."

"Yeah," Lucas replies, "Except you've been here long enough to know that they are."

"Einstein said 'We cannot solve our problems with the same thinking we used when we created them'," Farkle says. 

"Yeah. We all need a different kind of thinking," Zay says.

"Well, what's another way to think?" Riley asks, looking at Maya and I.

"We're trying to save the creative arts," Maya starts.

"Why can't we start thinking creatively?" I conclude. Maya nods with approval, as she and I high-five, having come up with a plan. Riley smiles at us.

"There's my little artist and musician."

NEW YORK CITY SCHOOL BOARD MEETING

Maya, Lucas, Riley, Farkle, and I sit in back, coats covering our interior outfits. Zay sits in the front, he's next to speak after Riley's Uncle Jonathan, the superintendent.

"I'm asking you to slow down before this vote becomes final. Once these cuts are official, then art and music and drama and dance... they're gone. I mean, is that really acceptable? It's not too late to do the right thing here. Thank you, Chairperson Sanchez."

"Thank you, Superintendent Turner," Chairperson Sanchez replies, "That was a lovely, impassioned speech. Let me just check and see if it changed any of the numbers," she pretends to look at the charts, making me roll my eyes, "No. I'm afraid not. Our next speaker is Mr. Isaiah Babineaux. Mr. Babineaux?" Zay stands and walks up to the mic.

"Hello, chairperson. Thank you for seeing me."

"You're welcome, Mr. Babineaux. We are happy to see a young representative of our school community, who is, I trust, going to address us with great respect for our process."

My friends and I stand, as we walk to the front, and come in a singular row with Zay in the middle at the mic.

"No. That's not what's gonna happen," Zay smiles, "We couldn't reach you with logic, so we decided to think... differently."

We stand in a single line in the front of the room, as a united front. Farkle, myself, Maya, Zay, Lucas, and Riley is how we are arranged.  Except for Zay, we all pull off our jackets, tossing them aside.

The front part of my hair is pulled to the side with a yellow flower, I wear a sky blue maxi dress with multi-colored flowers dispersed across the fabric, along with black and silver bangles lining my wrists. Farkle wears an outfit that looks like one of those old newspaper boys, trying to look like Pippin. Maya wears a beautiful long red maxi dress, with little pink flowers scattered down it. Lucas wears a completely black suit. Riley has her hair in a side bun and wears a classic black top with a purple and maroon patterned maxi skirt.

"Oh. Super. Okay. Wait a second. What exactly are you gonna do?" all of us start doing this 'Bum Ba Bum' tune as Farkle, Maya, Riley, and I step to the side, letting Zay and Lucas take charge.

"Oh, Mr. Friar," Zay sing-talks.

"Yes, Mr. Babineaux," he sing-talk replies as well.

"I like this room."

"This is a nice room."

"So what do we do to a room if we want to kill the-"

"A-R-T-S, arts?"

"We do this..." Zay and Lucas, along with the help of me and my friends, who have stood off to the side, start to take the portraits off the wall.

"Gentlemen, what are you doing?" Chairperson Sanchez asks.

"The same thing you're doing to us," Lucas says as he removes the last painting from the wall.

"Not as interesting a room anymore. Get the picture?" Zay says, stepping back as Riley takes the floor.

"A dance to the loss of purple!" Riley shouts, taking her purple scarf off and doing a happy dance... until Lucas takes the scarf from her hands, causing her to frown and end her dance on a sour note to prove her valued point. As Riley steps back it's our co- ringleader's turn, Maya's.

"My name is Maya Hart. This committee relies on charts and graphs. I have information to add to them."

"Please share it with us, Ms. Hart."

"You want numbers? The United States Ranking in Math, Science and Reading has done nothing but drop for the past 50 years."

"Your proposal?"

"Get rid of 'em."

"Cut Math, Science, and Reading?"

"Why not? We really stink at 'em. But you know what we're number one at? Movies and Music! People all over the world are inspired by our creativity. But hey, I don't wanna get rid of anything. You started it."

"My hands are tied."

"Yeah, it's so funny. Everyone keeps saying that, but they're not," I come up behind Maya, being a co-ringleader and taking a stand.

"Look at 'em. The texture, the color, the way they feel when you make a connection with another human being. Your hands are free. You just think they're tied."

"I'm afraid you're out of time. We have a long list of speakers on the list Today and we need to be getting back to them. Topanga Matthews."

"I yield my time to these children."

"Uh...Cory Matthews."

"Yield."

"Gabriella Kossal."

"Yield."

"Super. Okay. Wouldn't now be a good time for an adult point-of-view?"

"Yield," all the adults simply reply.

"Oh, come on!"

"The adults have failed them," Mr. Matthews simply replies. We go back to our scheduled programming. It's Farkle's turn with a little assistance from Lucas.

"Oh, Mr. Farkle?"

"Yes, Mr. Freakface?"

"Although you are a scientist, we are also told that you have great creativity."

"Why, yes. I sing and dance and am the greatest Pippin the stage has ever seen."

"May we see some of it, please?"

"No, you may not! There are no longer plays or concerts in this school. Instead, I shall perform for you 'A List Of Prime Numbers'," Farkle gently taps the mic, "Two. Three. Five. Seven. Eleven. Thirteen."

"Okay, okay. I think we get your point, Mr. Farkle."

"With all due respect, Chairperson Sanchez, I don't think you do. And like I said, I can also do this," Farkle tap dances, but then stops, "Seventeen. Nineteen. Twenty-Three," he taps dances once more, and then elaborates on his overall point, "Creativity feeds science, and science feeds creativity. That's what you're missing because you're not thinking creatively. Thank you," He backs up, but as he does he takes my arm and twirls me. Lucas comes to the front, catching Farkle's twirl of me.

"Ms. Jennings, I am told that you can sing," Lucas says.

"I can warble a tune," I shrug my shoulders.

"Would you do us the great honor?" Zay gestures to the mic.

"I'd love to," I kindly smile as Farkle brings me a guitar.

(Voice Claim: Maddie Wilson)

https://youtu.be/-DMd5526jPE

I know that I'm running out of time

And I'm wishing they'd stop tryna turn me off

I want it all,

And I'm walking on a wire, trying to go higher

Feels like I'm surrounded by clowns and liars

Even when I get it all the way

We can get 'em running, running, running...

We can get 'em running running, running...

Just like fire, burning out the way

If I can light the world up for just one day

Watch this madness, colorful charade

No one can be just like me anyway

Just like magic, I'll be flying free

Imma disappear when they come for me

I kick that ceiling, what are you gonna take?

No one can be just like me anyway

Just like fire

And people like to laugh at you cause they are all the same

See I would rather we just go our different way than play the game

And no matter the weather, we can do it better

You and me together forever and ever

We don't have to worry about a thing about a thing

We can get 'em running, running, running

We can get 'em running, running, running

Just like fire, burning out the way

If I can light the world up for just one day

Watch this madness, colorful charade

No one can be just like me anyway

Just like magic, I'll be flying free

Imma disappear when they come for me

I kick that ceiling, what are you gonna take?

No one can be just like me anyway

Just like fire, fire, fire

Running, running, running

We can get 'em running, running, running

So I can get it running

Just cause nobody's done it

Y'all don't think I can run it

But look, I've been here, I've done it

Impossible? Please

Watch, I do it with ease

You just gotta believe

Come on, come on with me

Oh, what you gonna do?

Oh, what you gonna do?

Oh, what you gonna do?

Oh, what you gonna do?

Just like fire, burning out the way

If I can light the world up for just one day

Watch this madness, colorful charade

No one can be just like me anyway

Just like fire, burning out the way

If I can light the world up for just one day

Watch this madness, colorful charade

No one can be just like me anyway

Just like magic, I'll be flying free

Imma disappear when they come for me

I kick that ceiling, what are you gonna take?

No one can be just like me anyway

Just like fire, fire!

Running, running, running

Just like fire!

"That was lovely," Chairperson Sanchez replies as the room claps.

"Want an encore?" Farkle asks coming behind me, as the panel eagerly nods yes.

"Yoink," Zay takes the mic, and Farkle unplugs my acoustic guitar.

"Sorry," I say to the board, "No more music."

"Chairperson Sanchez, with respect, you seem uncomfortable. Could that possibly have to do with your background?" Zay asks.

"I'm sure I have no idea what you're talking about."

"Oh, let me be more specific. Where did you do your undergraduate work?"

"Princeton."

"Oh, good school. Good school. What'd you study?"

"I don't see how these questions are relevant to today's proceedings."

"Oh, you were an art major!" Zay shouts making the crowd gasp and me smirk with satisfaction.

"Yes, Mr. Babineaux. I have a degree in studio art."

"Does it hurt a little?" Maya asks.

"It does. Especially since one of the paintings you took down was mine."

"Chairperson Sanchez, got a favorite book?" Lucas asks.

"Bridge To Terabithia."

"Unread it," Maya commands.

"Favorite movie?"

"The Wizard Of Oz."

"Un-watch it," I now command.

"Well, you've just taken away my whole childhood, haven't you?"

"When does it happen?" Maya asks.

"When do you stop being able to think creatively?" I add.

"When do you get your hands tied?" Riley questions.

"We don't want that to happen to us," Lucas says.

"You went to a great school. I'm sure all of you did," Zay shrugs his shoulders.

"You're very smart. You know this is the wrong way to think," Farkle says, making the chairperson look down in shame.

"You didn't ask me who my favorite artist is. It's Picasso. Do you have a favorite artist?" the leading lady asks Maya.

"All of them. Everyone who ever tried... including you."

"You know, Picasso painted a masterpiece called 'Guernica'. Adults going to war on horses with swords. Except for one horse who was horrified at what the adults were doing. He's horrified because he knows it's wrong. I've always loved that horse. And when I was as young as you, I made a promise to myself that if I ever go to war, I would never forget 'Guernica' and the horse that knew better. Thank you, Ms. Hart, for reminding me."

"No. Thank you. I love learning about art. Would have never known about 'Guernica' if someone didn't care enough to teach me."

"I can't promise an immediate solution, but I can promise you that we can try and think differently. To think as creatively as these students. Thank you all for coming. This meeting is adjourned. Ms. Hart?"

"Yes, ma'am?"

"Please hang up my painting."

"Yes, ma'am," Maya smiles at her. She and I hang the painting, before looking around the now mostly abandoned room and fist bumping.

"We have something to believe in now," I grin, as blonde smiles at me.

"Yeah, we do."