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Back to School

Lucas and I went downstairs to find Zay making pancakes. Josh was on his phone, all remnants of his hangover gone. Farkle and Riley were sitting at the table holding hands, talking. 

"Dude, I didn't know you knew how to make pancakes," Lucas said incredulously.

Zay smiled proudly, "There's a lot of things you don't know about me."

"Riley had to take him through a step-by-step, and this is his third attempt," Farkle called from across the kitchen, gesturing to the trash can full of burned pancakes.

Zay scowled down at the frying pan. Lucas and I burst out laughing and took our seats next to Farkle and Riley. 

Zay put a plate stacked with pancakes on the table, and I pulled one off the top, careful not to touch any others. 

"So," I said to Riley, "When are we doing your bachelorette party?"

She smiled, "Soon. A typical girl's night out?"

"Dinner, dessert, and shopping?" I said, "Of course."

"Does next weekend work?" She asked.

I nodded, unable to answer because of the huge amount of pancake in my mouth. We high-fived and Riley went back to her pancakes.

"What about us?" Josh asked, "Farkle, when and what are we doing for your bachelor party?"

"Nothing too crazy," I piped up, looking suspiciously at Zay, who was grinning wickedly.

"I was thinking just a run in the woods," Farkle said, shrugging, "Wolf form."

"Perfect," Lucas said, "No strip clubs, and minimal alcohol," Lucas looked pointedly at Josh, who was determinedly not looking at him.

"We can drive downtown," Riley said.

I nodded, "I need some new clothes anyway," I said.

"Quick question," Farkle said, "We've missed a good two weeks of school. What are we going to do."

"I'm glad you asked," Zay said, pulling his phone out, "Riley broke both of her legs, Farkle has a respiratory infection, Maya got a concussion, Lucas had to get thirteen stitches in his back, I got my appendix removed, and Josh got pink eye." He finished, sounded immensely proud of himself.

We all burst out laughing, except Josh.

"You gave me pink eye?" he cried indignantly, "Now everyone's going to think I crap all over my hands and rub them on my face!"

But that just made us laugh harder.

"We should go back soon," Riley said, "We have finals coming up, and I really, really, really need to graduate."

"Yeah," Farkle agreed, "You can't rule the world with a GED."

"So... how about... tomorrow?" I said.

"How about... today?" Lucas said.

"You can't make me," I said, clutching onto the chair, "Or else the chair's coming with me."

"Dang it," Zay said, "I like that chair."

Lucas laughed, but he let me off the hook. Riley and Farkle cleared the plates, and I leaned back in my chair. 

"I'm going to draw everyone up study schedules," Riley announced, "And if you all follow them, we will all do well on finals!" 

I groaned in unison with Zay, Josh, and Lucas. 

"Yay!" Farkle said.

Riley rolled her eyes and pecked Farkle on the cheek.

"Thank you for being excited, Farkle," she said.

"I love you, Riles, but there are some things I could never do- not even for you," I said, grimacing.

Riley skipped out of the kitchen, singing, "We're going back to schooo-ooool, we're going back to schooo-ooool."

I huffed.

We're going back to school.