"So today we're partnering up for the project," Mr. Matthews said, and the class cheered before he added, "Oh, and I'm choosing the pairings."

Maya and Riley looked to eachother sadly, knowing they wouldn't be partners.

"Let's see, Maya and Zay, Lucas and Yogi, Riley and Farkle..."

Mr. Matthews kept listing names, but Riley had stopped listening. She was with Farkle? She groaned internally. Farkle would do all the work, leaving her with nothing to do and no influence in the project. Lovely, just lovely.

"So, partners, huh?" Farkle said excitedly, taking Maya's desk and dragging it closer to Riley's.

"Yep," She responded emotionlessly, tapping her pencil on the desk.

"So which parts do you want to do?" He asked. She looked up and narrowed her eyes at him. What was he trying to pull?

"Um..." she mumbled, trying to think of what she wanted to do. She hadn't even thought of it. "Well. Since we're writing a short story, what if we're both in charge of creating our own character, then we work on the scene together?" She suggested. Farkle smiled brightly.

"Sounds great!"

I wonder what he's up to... Riley thought, as she began the outline for her character.

***

"So, what is your character like?" Farkle asked Riley. They were sitting in her bay window, working on the project.

"Her name is Peaches and she's the princess of a beautiful kingdom in Dreamland, where she creates rainbows for all the children!" Riley said happily. Farkle thought about it, then nodded approvingly.

"That makes sense. I had a feeling she would be a princess, so I made sure my character would fit in the story. My character's name is Donny Barnes. He's a time traveling scientist sent to save the princess from a terrible beast," Farkle said smugly. Riley didn't like the fact that her character was so easily predictable.

"Well, maybe I want to change my character then," she said.

"Riley, don't change for anyone," Farkle said. "Being predictable means you have a consistent personality, which isn't bad. You're unique, Riley." She smiled at this, and they continued working.

***

They finished the scene and high-fived.

"I think that was great!" Riley exclaimed.

"I think it was... Okay," Farkle said.

"What's wrong with it?" Riley asked defensively. It had a happy ending. What more could Farkle want?

"Well, what if... What if Donny Barnes saves the princess, but they fall in love?" Farkle asked. Riley thought it through, and, seeing no reason to say no, nodded happily.

"That's a great idea!" She said excitedly, before she thought of something else. "But do you really think they would? They're so different. I mean, Donny Barnes is very scientific, and Peaches is full of belief and imagination. How could they ever fall in love?" She asked. Farkle sighed sadly.

"You're right... Even if Donny Barnes loved the princess, she'd never like him back," he said quietly. He sure was getting sad over two fictional characters. Riley didn't understand it.

"Why are you so sad about it?" She wondered innocently.

"I'm not!" Farkle lied. "It's just, Donny really really likes Ril-" he stopped and his eyes widened. "The princess. Donny really likes the princess!" Riley's own eyes widened in surprise. Was Farkle talking about... Her? Was he using their characters as a metaphor for him and Riley? He can't be... she thought. But what if...?

"And how is Donny so sure that the princess doesn't like him back?" Riley asked.

"Well you - you said - I mean, I don't-" Farkle stuttered, before taking a deep breath and looking back at Riley, running a hand through his hair. "I guess there's no point in keeping riddles anymore, is there? I... I really like you, Riley," Farkle admitted with an undeniably cute smirk. Then his face fell. "But I know you could never feel the same... You like Lucas. And that's - that's totally cool and I - I'm okay with that, you can like whoever you like, I just - I thought maybe - maybe you should know-" He blurted nervously.

"Farkle," Riley cut him off, grabbing his hand gently. He looked up at her. "I don't like Lucas anymore. It was so awkward, it just... It didn't work. I don't like him... I like you, Farkle."

"I kn- Wait, what?"

"I like you," Riley repeated, smiling. Farkle wrapped her in a hug, catching her off guard. She laughed lightly and wrapped her arms around him to hug him back.

"That makes me really happy," Farkle said quietly. Riley smiled.

"Me too."