Small Town Girl (Farkle Minkus)

Chapter Thirty-One: Girl Meets LRMF

There was almost radio silence over the next two days. Nobody heard anything from and/or about Riley, Maya, or Lucas. Riley and Maya were in an awkward place, Lucas didn't know how he felt about either of them, Zay was in Texas with Vanessa, and Riley was still a bit angry with Farkle, leaving only Farkle and I to associate with each other. Not that that was a bad thing, but even couples like to have space away from each other every once in a while.

"So...what now?" Farkle asked. We were slumped on the couch in the basement, bored out of our minds without our friends around.

"We've done everything there is to do." I groaned, turning so that my head was in his lap. "I miss the others."

"Me too." I shot up, looking at him. "What?"

"Idea! What if we had a sleepover? We could invite everyone, have it down here!"

"Do you really think that's a good idea?" I nodded.

"It's a fact universally known that there is no deeper conversation than late nights at a sleep over. It'll be just what the gang needs. Get everything out on the table. I know you want to see Riley again."

"But I doubt Riley wants to see me-"

"You don't know that. Lucas is a given, since he lives here, assuming we can get him out of his room, so I've got Riley and Maya. Can you work on Lucas?"

"I can try." I nodded.

"Good. You do that, I'm going to get Riley and Maya." I got up, grabbing my bus pass and heading to Riley's place.

~~~

When I climbed in through the window, Riley was in bed, staring at the ceiling. I crawled in beside her, staring at the ceiling as well.

"What a stimulating conversation we're having."

"What do you want, Skipper?" She asked. I sat up.

"Whoa. Hey, I know you may be mad at my boyfriend, but do not take that out on me." She sighed, sitting up.

"Sorry."

"So, guess what you're gonna do?"

"What?"

"Pack an over-night bag. You're sleeping over." She raised her eyebrows. "Whether you want to or not, all the gang that remain in the city are having a sleepover. It's happening! There's no stopping it! Come on!"

"Skipper, no."

"You can't hide away in your room forever. It doesn't work that way with problems among friends. Get up. Get packing, I have to go recruit Maya." I walked back towards the window. When she didn't move, I called over my shoulder: "If you're not ready when I get back I'm bringing a water gun." She leapt up and I crawled out the window.

~~~

"No."

"Come on, Maya!" I begged.

"No! The whole point of a weekend is that I didn't have to deal with this until Monday."

"That doesn't relate to problems among friends, Maya. We're doing this. This is happening."

"I'm not going, Skipper." I sat down on her bed.

"Listen to me, woman. I love Farkle, I do. But We need our friends. There's only so much two people can do at our age before getting bored. We need you guys. So come on." She sighed.

"Fine. I'll do it for you."

"Thank you! Thank you, thank you! Ok, meet at Lucas's. See you then!"

~~~

I had everything set up. Sleeping bags by the TV, a small table with food  and various soda types. Everything was in order...except four of the five of us look miserable. Nobody said a word, and everyone refused to look at each other.

"ENOUGH!" I said, forcing them all to look at me. "Look at yourselves! You're friends, and you can't even look at each other! Look...it's always been the four of you, at least in my eyes. And that is a beautiful thing. Watching you guys grow up together, the friendship you have, and even having the privilege of being apart of it is a blessing that you cannot begin to understand. You guys have LRMF." (Pronounced Lurmf)

"Have what?" Maya asked.

"What is LRMF?" Riley threw in.

"LRMF. The ingredients of a good friendship. Loyalty, Reliability, Merriment, and Freedom. Loyalty, to show that they'll always be around. Reliability to know that you can count on them for anything and everything. Merriment, so there is never a boring day, and Freedom to be who you are, and for them to be ok with that?"

"Where did you get that?" Lucas asked.

"L-R-M-F. Lucas, Riley, Maya, Farkle. The four of you...are what makes up successful friendships, and you without even one of them, there's no chance in heck that friendship will last." I sighed. "Guys...I need LRMF. I can't do this without you guys. I can't." I said, my voice breaking slightly. "So...just, for one night. Can we just for one night forget everything that's happened and be friends again?"

"I'm in." Lucas said.

"Me too." Agreed Riley.

"I don't know what you're planning, but I'll play along." Maya said. I turned to Farkle.

"Farkle? Are you with me?"  He looked around at all of us.

"Of course. I'm always with you. All of you." I smiled.

"Then let's get this party started, shall we?"