𝐋𝐄𝐀𝐓𝐇𝐄𝐑 & 𝐋𝐀𝐂𝐄 ━ girl meets world²

1│NEW HORIZONS

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❛ ʟᴇᴀᴛʜᴇʀ & ʟᴀᴄᴇ​​​​​​​​​​. ❜ ° . ༄
- ͙۪۪˚  ▎❛ 𝐎𝐍𝐄 ❜   ▎˚ ͙۪۪̥◌
»»————- ꒰ ɴᴇᴡ ʜᴏʀɪᴢᴏɴs ꒱


❝ MAYBE THERE IS
SOMETHING WE'RE
SUPPOSED TO SEE HERE ❞

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Summer was over far too quickly in Miya's opinion. Once school had let out, she'd gone back to England to spend the next few months with her mom. During that time, she'd had lots of visits from her friends thanks to Stuart Minkus' private jet. Sometimes they came as a whole group, or it was just Maya and Riley, or just Farkle, or just Zay and Lucas. Either way, their efforts made her happier than she could say, having feared that they'd all but forget about her if she wasn't directly involved with their lives. She also got to catch up with Jonah a lot as his semester abroad had ended at the same time the school year had. All in all, it was one of the best summers she'd ever had.

Now, as the new school year came upon them, her usual anxieties began cropping up once more. Some were made worse because they were going to a whole new school and new expectations and classmates. Others weren't as bad as they normally were since she was starting the year with a bigger group of friends than she ever had before.

She was still living with the Minkuses considering her mom refused to step foot in the U.S. unless there was some kind of dire emergency. She didn't mind, especially since she'd missed seeing Farkle every day. Miya was glad that they could keep the same routine from last year and commute to school together, her boyfriend's presence steadying some of her nerves. They met up with the rest of the group outside of the building, having decided they'd all walk in together so they could, as Riley put it: 'make a statement of solidarity against the stereotype of friendships falling apart in high school.'

It didn't fully quell the buzz of worry that permeated her thoughts and she didn't say much as the group chatted around her. She took comfort in Farkle's hand holding hers— the only PDA he was comfortable with. She understood and was grateful he was even willing to do that with her, especially in this kind of situation. They were waiting for the newer, final member of their group: Smackle. Miya wasn't super thrilled that she was going to school with them this year. She always felt intimidated by the other girl's intelligence and it didn't help that she was painfully aware of Smackle's crush on Farkle, even though she knew her boyfriend had chosen her. Smackle just served as a reminder of everything Miya wasn't and everything she felt Farkle was missing out on.

Sure enough, the young genius appeared seconds later. She looked just as polished and self-possessed as Miya remembered. Her stride was purposeful, unbothered. She zeroed in on the group and lifted her hand in a short wave.

"Greetings," she addressed them, adjusting the strap of her backpack. "I trust your mornings have been statistically average?"

Riley grinned. "Above average now that you're here."

The knot in Miya's chest stayed coiled tight. She shifted, allowing her inner thoughts to push themselves into the world. She began to pull her hand out of Farkle's grasp, wishing she could disappear into the sidewalk. Because what if this summer, these past few months, had been a fluke? What if now was when Farkle woke up and realized he'd be so much better off with someone of his own intellectual caliber? What if, even after all his assurances, he finally saw what everyone else already seemed to know: that she didn't belong in his world?

Farkle sensed her starting to pull away. He'd been the one to tell her about Smackle joining them for high school. He'd made sure to tell her as soon as he'd found out, not wanting her to feel blindsided by putting off the uncomfortable conversation. She'd appreciated his honesty and the plenty of months she had to come to terms with the circumstances. But now they were here, and practice was always different than preparation. He could practically feel her shrinking in Smackle's presence. He knew that verbal reassurance could only do so much. That was why the saying was 'actions speak louder than words.' So, when he felt her start to slip her hand out of his, he tightened his grip.