𝐋𝐄𝐀𝐓𝐇𝐄𝐑 & 𝐋𝐀𝐂𝐄 ━ girl meets world²

11│I'M A MAP OF THE WORLD AND THE ONES BEFORE

▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅

❛ ʟᴇᴀᴛʜᴇʀ & ʟᴀᴄᴇ​​​​​​​​​​. ❜ ° . ༄
- ͙۪۪˚  ▎❛ 𝐄𝐋𝐄𝐕𝐄𝐍 ❜   ▎˚ ͙۪۪̥◌
»»————- ꒰ ɪ'ᴍ ᴀ ᴍᴀᴘ
ᴏғ ᴛʜᴇ ᴡᴏʀʟᴅ ᴀɴᴅ ᴛʜᴇ
ᴏɴᴇs ʙᴇғᴏʀᴇ ꒱


❝ UNFORTUNATELY, PEOPLE
HAVE ALWAYS FEARED THE
OTHER ❞

▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅▅

"The Statue of Liberty, the Great Lady of New York has been speaking loud and clear since 1885," Cory lectured his students during history class a few weeks later. "Anybody know what she's trying to say? Maya?"

Farkle glanced over at the blonde, whose mischievous smile curled on her lips slowly. Knowing that whatever was going to come out of her mouth was going to be. . . less than educational, he offered, "should I just talk?"

"No, I'm sick of people thinking Farkle's smarter than I am!" she objected.

Riley giggled to herself. "Here comes fun."

"Name one thing about the Statue of Liberty that you know that I don't," Maya ordered.

"She was a gift of friendship from. . ."

"Cathy," Maya interrupted him.

He gave her another chance. "We got her right after. . ."

"Cathy didn't want her anymore."

"What does she stand for?"

Maya continued with her Cathy character: "because Cathy took her chair."

Farkle chuckled at her replies, commenting, "boy, that Cathy, huh, what a hoot."

"She's not real, genius. I made her up," the blonde told him in a duh tone. She scoffed, believing she'd won. "I'm so smarter than you."

"You are. You really are," he teased her.

Miya raised her hand, catching Cory's attention. "Yes, Miya?"

She looked over at Farkle as she answered his questions. "The Statue of Liberty was given to America as a gift of friendship from France. She was built to celebrate one hundred years of America's independence and the alliance between France and America. She stands for liberty and democracy. I know things," she finished proudly.

Farkle's expression softened, his eyes filling with quiet admiration. "I love it when you know things," he breathed out, almost in awe.

Miya blushed, ducking her head but unable to hide her grin. "It's not that impressive. It's not, like, calculus."

"Doesn't matter," Farkle said easily, leaning closer with that lovestruck smile that made her forget everyone else in the room. "It's you. Everything you say sounds impressive to me."

Riley's 'aww' made him jump, a flush creeping up the back of his neck as he remembered they were in class. He'd been so awed by Miya's knowledge that he momentarily forgot they had an audience. He quickly turned to face forward again, hoping that Mr. Matthews would resume the lesson quickly. Thankfully, he did, allowing the two flustered teens to regain their composure. "Exactly right, Miya. Excellent! Welcome to Cultural Week, people. The school is throwing a cultural fair to celebrate who we are and where we came from. Anybody here taking part?"

It was Nigel's turn to raise his hand. "My grandma's gonna have a booth at the fair, Mr. Matthews."

"That's great, Nigel," Cory told him. "What culture will you be celebrating?"

"She was originally from Cambodia. She escaped and lived in the Philippines, then she came here," he explained.

Riley turned to Maya, whispering, "did you know that about him?"