Girl Meets Plus One || BOOK 2

We Meet Mr. Squirrels 2.0

IDINA

"Current events. Somebody tell me what's going on in the world," Cory addresses the class.

"All the news is about the elections," Lucas replies.

"So are all of the commercials," Farkle adds.

"Why should we care about the elections when we don't get to vote?" Maya asks.

"Who else feels that way?" We all raise our hands, "Well, that's a shame because this world's gonna belong to you soon. You guys are supposed to be optimistic. Future leaders. You don't get cynical until high school."

"Well, then why don't you elect people who care enough to make things better?" I bluntly reply.

"I like to think I do every time I vote. But the truth is I'm not responsible for the quality of people running for office."

"So how are these people even chosen?" Riley asks.

"Well Riles, the parties, the Republican and Democrats choose the best candidates they can come up with," I reply.

Suddenly Eric bursts through the front door of the history classroom, panting, making my jaw drop. I haven't seen him in a few weeks, and to be honest I've really missed him, but I didn't expect him to just waltz into my history class!

"I am running senator the grape state of New York. And I need your votes!" He shouts out of breath.

"Kids don't vote," I chuckle, and his eyes widen.

"Everybody close your books. It's the end of the world," Cory jokes with a serious tone.

"I'm really dizzy. I've done this in every classroom," he says grabbing onto Cory for support. I smile at him, and say something just loud enough for my friends to hear but not him.

"Welcome back Eric. Some people have missed you here..."

TOPANGA'S CAFE

"So they plucked me off the street and they hustled me into a limousine like I was fancy," Eric starts. Riley, Maya, and I sit on a bench across from him, separate by a table while Lucas and Farkle listen from the chairs next to us.

"Who was in the limousine?" I ask.

"The bow tie man with the big glasses. He was a whisperer, right? He was one of these whisperers. He came up to me he was like," then he screams, "'Eric, you are the only one that has a chance to defeat senator Jefferson Davis Graham in the primary!'"

"That's not a whisper, Eric," Cory observes.

"I also don't know what a primary is!"

"Well, the primary is the first election where the voters select each party's candidate. Then the winners of the primary run against each other in the general election to see who goes to Washington," Farkle enlightens. Eric leans down next to him with wonderment.

"Are you a robot?"

"I'm a real boy," he says shakily.

"Birth certificate?" Cory asks.

"Still looking," he glumly replies. I grab his hand.

"Don't worry Farkle, I think you're a real boy," I smile and he grins back.

"Eric, Davis Graham is a six-term senator," Cory points out.

"Eric, you don't have enough money to run against him," Topanga adds.

"Eric, the bow tie man said he would help me with all of that," Eric mocks with an answer.

"Eric, you can't beat this guy,"