perfect | riarkle

Scene 7

A few days later, LUCAS and FARKLE are walking in the school hallway, entering stage right. RILEY enters, walking alone, stage left. When LUCAS sees her, he stops abruptly.

LUCAS: Farkle, I— I've got to go. I'll see you later.

(LUCAS quickly exits the way he came from, leaving a perplexed FARKLE and a saddened RILEY. FARKLE rushes over to RILEY.)

FARKLE: What was that about?

RILEY: Oh... um... Lucas and I broke up.

FARKLE: Oh. Riley, are you okay? I'm so sorry.

(He takes her by the arm and pulls her stage left, by the lockers, as if to get her out of harm's way. RILEY stops, then speaks.)

RILEY: Don't be. I broke up with him.

FARKLE: What? Why?

(RILEY starts tearing up. Admitting it makes her feel horrible.)

RILEY: Because I treated him like dirt! I was horrible to him and all for—

(RILEY cuts herself off before admitting it to his face.)

FARKLE: (prompting) For...?

(RILEY widens her eyes, which dries her tears.)

RILEY: (panicking) No one.

FARKLE: No one?

(RILEY realizes she's been caught, looks away, clenches jaw)

FARKLE (CON'T): Riley...

(FARKLE touches her arm. RILEY looks at his hand touching her. Her hands shake. She shakes her head and stamps her foot, frustrated. Finally, she blurts it out.)

RILEY: You, Farkle!

FARKLE: (calmly, but taken aback) You... broke up with Lucas... for me...?

(RILEY stares at him, knowing there's no way out.)

RILEY: (turning away) I have to go—

FARKLE: Riley!

(His grip on her arm tightens slightly. She turns back, defeated. FARKLE pushes RILEY against the lockers and kisses her in that iconic Corpanga way. When they pull apart, the hand he was holding her arm with slips into her hand.)

RILEY: Farkle...

FARKLE: Riley.

RILEY: But...

FARKLE: It's you Riley. It's always been you.

RILEY: But you always said you loved Maya, too.

FARKLE: I'll always love Maya; she's one of my best friends. But it's always been... different with you. Of course, I didn't know it at the time...

RILEY: What about Smackle?

FARKLE: I don't know if you remember, but you were the one that told me to date her. And, you know, it worked, but it wasn't right.

RILEY: Oh.

FARKLE: What about Lucas?

RILEY: (cringes, then answers) I was always so obsessed with that relationship I couldn't see what was right in front of me. (a pause) I'm sorry.

FARKLE: Don't be.

RILEY: (smiles) Farkle?

FARKLE: Yeah?

RILEY: Will you go out with me?

FARKLE: (smiles widely) Yes.

(They look at each other, smiling for a few seconds.)

FARKLE (CON'T): But not yet.

RILEY: What?

FARKLE: Lucas. You guys just broke up. And he's still one of my—one of our best friends. We can't do that to him. Just... wait a few weeks...?

RILEY: (falling harder for him) Sounds... great.

(She kisses his cheek.)

RILEY (CON'T): I'll see you in a few weeks, Farkle.

(RILEY exits, going down the stairs behind them. FARKLE stays in place, absorbing everything that's happened. RILEY stops, looks back at him, and smiles to herself.)