31. People Change People

May 15, 2016... Feeny's History class... Elizabeth was currently struggling with morning sickness, causing it hard to keep her pregnancy a secret. The only people who knew were Josefina—the great-grandma, Jack, Briar, Kris, and Jake—the grandparents, Piper—the aunt, and obviously the parents, Henry and Elizabeth-Lillian. But the thing that Elizabeth was most embarrassed about was the fact that her teacher Mr.Feeny knew.

More people from Elizabeth's past moved into town including a boy that Elizabeth was an acquainted with, Kyler Fisher. 

"Alright," stated Feeny, "are we finally ready to learn about what happened in Belgium in 1831?" Feeny said looking at Elizabeth, then some of the Texas kids started snickering in the back of the class.

"No!" Yelled Kyler.

"No?" Questioned Feeny.

"We've been through this over and over and over, and every time I get my hopes up something happens that hurts my little history-loving heart."

"Well...in 1831..." started Feeny.

"Yeeeeesssss?" Kyler said getting excited, "Wait, anything new gonna happen to you?" He asked Valarie.

"No changes, loving life."

"Anything new gonna happens to you?" He asked Jasper

"Nothing ever happens to me."

"Oh my gosh, this is it!" He said squirming in his chair.

"In 1831, Belgium—"

"What? Y'all started without me?" Stated one girl.

"Get ouuuut!" Farkel screamed, rising from his seat.

"Somebody in this room is going to be very surprised to see me." She said, shaking her finger.

"Is it me?" Asked Jasper.

"No sugar, but could you be any cuter?"

"Well, I can't say no to that?" He said blushing.

"Do you have a transfer slip miss?"

"Yeah, I do." She said handing him the file, "check out 'em grades, here let me sing them to you, D-D-D-D-D-D-F."

"I know that song!" One of the kids said.

"Samantha Phillipelli, from Austin, Texas."

Everyone in the class looked at Elizabeth, "what are you doing here Sam?"

"Waiting for a better reaction out of you first of all."

"Do you also get a weird feeling about those two?" Jasper whispered to Charlotte and she nodded. Samantha was instructed to sit right behind Elizabeth.

"Elizabeth do you know this Samantha?" Asked Henry.

"Yeah tell 'em, you know me good."

"How about we talk later, okay."

"Well, Miss.Phillipelli if you work out as well as Miss. Thornton, we're happy to have you." Stated Mr.Feeny.

"Wait what? Lizzie, you're doin' okay here?" Asked Samantha.

"What wouldn't she be doing okay here?" Asked Henry.

"Not currently on probation, no disciplinary actions, they just let you wander free?"

"Sit down!!!" Yelled Kyler. "Okay, the new girl is all settled so do it! Do it while I'm still tingley!"

"What is the secret of life?" Asked one of the quiet kids, "I'm sorry Mr.Fisher," he said wincing, "I know I'm not a Texan, but I have wonders too, what is the secret of life?"

Feeny smiled and shrugged, "don't do it!" Yelled Kyler, "put that eraser down and nobody gets hurt." Feeny placed the eraser on the board and erased it. Kyler put his head in his shirt and screamed while banging his head on the desk.

"What is the secret of life? People spend their entire lives trying to figure out the answer to this question." Feeny said, "Miss. Thornton, do you have an opinion on this?"

"Yeah, what do you got Moral Compass?" Asked Mitch.

"Ha, did you just call Elizabeth-Lillian Thornton your Moral Compass?" Sam tapped Liz and laughed, "he called you moral compass." Elizabeth turned around and gave her a look, Samantha put her hands in the air "okay."

"Something bad is happening Charlotte." Stated Jasper.

"Yeah, it occurs to me that you're telling us that Elizabeth was a little different back in Texas," Charlotte stated.

"A little!?" Stated Samantha, "what exactly do they know about you? I mean I don't want to say anything wrong, they know you have PTSD and anxiety right?"

"Yeah, now they do," Elizabeth said shifting in her seat.

"Oh my bad, look at you! You're obviously mentally scarred!"

"That's enough Phillipelli." Stated Regina.

"Whoa, Regina! When did you get here!?"

"I've always been here."

"So you know?"

"Of course I know! I was there!"

"You know what?" Asked Henry, he looked at Feeny and the Texas kids who averted eye contact. "Guys."

"Back in Texas—"

"Elizabeth," started Feeny, "are you sure?" She nodded.

"Back in Texas, I did something. I had to leave."

"It. Was. Great!" Exclaimed Samantha, "I mean they threw her out of the whole school!"

"I was stationed here and my parents requested a transfer here and settled down in Swellview because they like small towns and... nobody knew us--me here."

"I know her!" Samantha said, smiling broadly and raising her hand.

"Do I know you?" Asked Henry.

————

At lunch... "Deny it." Said, Henry.

"I can't?"

"Tell me that this Samantha kid can't just show up and say you're the Elizabeth that did all of that stuff."

"I can't"

"I like you, I wrote and performed a song for you just because I wanted to date you, so do you think it's right to not tell me who you are?"

"You know who I am. I'm Corporal Thornton in the U.S. Marines, I blew up an airplane, we danced and kissed in snow, I talk in Southern and Military slang in my everyday life, even though I KNOW NOBODY understands what I'm saying, who does that!?"

"Were you thrown out of school?"

"Yes."

"For nearly half of the year?"

"Yes."

"Deny it."

"I can't."

"You told me you wanted to be a Marine, you told me about your siblings, so why didn't you tell me about this?"

"It's not something I'm proud of. I thought that I could start over, but I was wrong you do something and that's the end of you."

"You think this is what I'm mad about, because of what you did?" Elizabeth gave Henry a look, "then I don't know you, and you don't know me."

"What are you acting like this!?"

"Because real friends talk to each other, and real friends listen. If you would've talked to me, I would've listened. Whatever you did, you could've trusted me with it, people who care about you are supposed to trust you with stuff."

—————

The next day in Feeny's class... "Al washes a car in 8 minutes, Fred washes the same car in 6 minutes. How many minutes does it take to wash a car together?"

"3 minutes 25.7 seconds." Stated Charlotte.

"Miss. Page, you're wrong." Informed Feeny.

"I've waited so long to hear that—" Said, Jasper.

"I'm sorry what did you just say?"

"You're wrong."

"I'm wrong!? You're a history teacher teaching English, Science, Math, whatever it is going on in this girl's life." He said gesturing towards Elizabeth-Lillian.

"You brought your mother here on career day!" Kyler said, now talking to Elizabeth.

"She's a respected Marine Major."

"My father said she should've been my mother!"

"Mr.Feeny teaches us a lot of stuff, he's opened minded that way." She said targeting her response towards Henry.

"He's open-minded because he knows who we are."

"Ooo he took us both out." Elizabeth started getting witty.

"Al washes a car in 8 minutes, Fred washes the same car in 6 minutes, how long does it take for Al and Fred to wash a car together?"

"He thinks it's math class somebody stops him!" Yelled Samantha, "you what's your name?" She asked Kyler.

"Kyler Fisher."

"What'd you call me!?"

"My name is Kyler Fisher."

"Who would do that to you?" She asked, shaking her head.

"Your assignment today is to wash a car together."

"With her?" Henry complained.

"Especially with her."

"And if you do it correctly you'll find the answer of 3 minutes 25.7 seconds." Intervened Charlotte.

"If you do it correctly, you will find the secret of life." Feeny corrected.

————

Later outside the gym... "Okay, the only people who washed a car in exactly eight minutes and six minutes is Henry and Elizabeth-Lillian." Stated Kyler.

"I'm not washing a car with her," Henry complained.

"Oh yes, you are! And you will wash it exactly 3 minutes and 25.7 seconds and I will go back to Feeny and yell HA!" Charlotte said getting aggressive, "now pick up that bucket." She told Elizabeth, "and you pick up that hose." She instructed Henry.

"Yes sir." Elizabeth saluted.

"And go!" Kyler said starting his timer, "no no no no no you have to work together! The equation doesn't work unless you work together!"

"Hey, I could use some water over here," Elizabeth told Henry.

"Oh, you want water, you could use some water," Henry said mischievously.

"Yeah..." Elizabeth answered nervously.

Henry blasted Elizabeth with water at full-speed. She rolled over the front of the car and ducked to avoid it, "tell me what you did at your old school!"

"Nothing, it—"

"Wash the car!" Yelled Kyler, "you're supposed to be washing the car, why aren't you washing the car!?" Henry squirted a little water at him as a threat, "okay." He said, raising his hands in the air.

"Okay, you want me to tell you, just give me the hose and I'll tell you... good boy," she said speaking to him as if he were a wild horse, "good boy... just give me the hose."

"Fine." He said handing her the hose and she smiled, "thank you."

She pointed the hose at him, "No, thank you." And she blasted him with water.

————

After two minutes of spraying water at Henry, "Wait, Elizabeth, I lost my contact lense."

"Oh my gosh Henry I'm so sorry," she said scanning the ground for it with him, he got up and grabbed the bucket of soapy water. "Wait...since when do you wear contacts?"

She stood up, and that's when he dumped the bucket on her head, "you were the first girl I ever truly liked and could see a big future with, that is a big deal for me, are you worth it? Tell me that you're worth it?"

"Yes." She said with the bucket on her head, she took it off and they smiled at each other.

"You two have completely ruined this experiment for me! You went well over 3 minutes!" Yelled Kyler

"By how much?" Asked Henry.

"A day! And you still haven't even dried the car yet!" The couple smiled at each other, Elizabeth grabbed Kyler by his shoulders, and Henry grabbed him by his legs, then they used him to dry the car. "Okay, I think it's dry now."

————

The next day in class... "Al washes a car in eight minutes, Fred washed the same car in six minutes, how long does it take Al and Fred to wash the car together?" Feeny asked again, "Miss. Page, Mr.Fisher?"

"They were whipping towels at each other! And I was like 'the cars' not even dry yet guys!' And they were like 'jfwrjwjbvbbbvkqkvv whaooooooooooo hlvbqkbvbwvkbkwbk BOOM!!!'" Kyler said making the sound effects of yesterday.

"So not 3 minutes and 25.7 seconds."

"I was wro."

"You were what?"

"I was wro."

"Well, it takes a big person to admit when they were 'wro.'" Feeny said, "there is no right answer to this equation, except on paper, except in a math class, which this isn't."

"So is there an answer in life?" Asked Elizabeth-Lillian.

"Ahhh, and there we have arrived at the secret," Feeny said.

"Elizabeth's secret?" Asked Henry.

"Bigger than that." Stated Feeny.

"Henry sometimes things come out when they're supposed to come out," Elizabeth said.

"As long as you are who I think because I think a lot of you," Henry told Elizabeth.

"I used to be different than I am now."

"What happened?"

"I came here."

"And there's your answer," said Feeny, "there's the secret of life. People change people. No matter what happens, learning from the people you care about is more important than learning on any page, that's why I let you talk in here sometimes, that's why it's interesting." He said looking at the faces of his pupils. "Miss. Phillipelli would've appreciated that if she were here." He said pointing towards the empty desk, "where's your friend Miss. Thornton?"

"I don't know, I can't always be responsible for her."

"Sure you can, but maybe in a different way now."

"Look, Sam's mouth gets her in trouble, she thinks she's tougher than she is! And she's MY friend and I care about my friends." She looked at Henry, "Henry you understand that better than anyone, what was I supposed to do!" Henry looked down, "sorry I got mad, I'm working on it okay."

—————

Out in the hallway... "So I'm new here, you know? Trying to fit into my own crowd, you know?" Sensing my own people, you know?" She asked the school's female bully, "I sense you know what I'm talking about." She said smacking her on the back. "I'm not in my extra math class right now because right away I knew I didn't fit in with these car washers, you know I sense you're that way too. You know what? I'm gonna roll with you now." She smacked her on the back again, "you're welcome." The girl angrily stood in front of Samantha, "oh no not again." She said when she saw that familiar look, the bully pinned her up against the lockers, "And I'm up in the air. LLLIIIIIIIIZZZEEE!!!!!" She yelled through the school.

—————

In Feeny's class... The yell echoed through the school and into the classrooms, "oh no not again." Elizabeth said, shaking and hanging her head. "I gotta go, sir." She said, rising from her seat.

"Elizabeth," Feeny said.

"I'm okay sir." She said heading for the back door.

"Elizabeth." He repeated.

"I'm okay sir," she reassured, "if I manage not to come back expelled, you all have changed me." And with that, she left.

"Mr.Feeny?" Henry asked, Feeny, looked at his student and left the classroom, Henry, Charlotte, and Jasper also followed.

—————

Out in the hallway... "I did it again." Samantha said when she saw Liz, "I'm sorry."

"It's okay Sam, get out of here." The person put her down and leaned back against her, Elizabeth stood right in front of her, the bully released the pressure between her and Samantha and made a clicking noise with her tongue telling her to leave, and she left keeping her distance from Elizabeth and the bully.

"Are you kidding me, I had a neck in my hand, I miss it. You're my new neck." She said pointing at Elizabeth-Lillian.

"So I'm assuming you're the one, they got one in every school. So in this school, you're the—"

"Yeah, I'm the one." She said.

"Feeny, are you going to stop this?" Asked Henry.

"No, not yet."

"I couldn't help but notice your boots," Said Elizabeth, "back in Texas we appreciate a nice pointy boot," then she kicked her foot and pinned the bully against the lockers with her arms pinned to her side, "and they'd win a fight really quick unless someone knows to put their seal on the soft part where all their toes are."

"Ow."

"Now I know you would really like to throw a punch, but the way I see it I got both your wrists and I'm as strong as a horse, I don't work at it I just am."

"The way I see it, the only thing that matters is what happens when you let go." Said the bully.

"Yeah, I know It'd just be easier to just start taking shots at each other. But I'm gonna tell you something, and you really need to hear this. In the end, you're gonna be the one on the ground, and I'll be the one who walks away. But I'm gonna do you a favor, and let you keep your reputation," she said, raising her hands and walking away backward, "and I'll like it if you let me keep mine. Otherwise, we're gonna be twenty-five and still be in high school, you want that?"

"I am twenty-five." She said and walked away.

"So I could've taken her," Samantha said.

"Sure, why do you keep finding yourself in situations like this?"

"Well, I know you got my back." She sat down on the ground and looked at Elizabeth.

"So what are you doing here Sam?"

"Well, maybe I miss my friend, okay, maybe I had a friend in Texas, and she moved away, so I convinced my entire family to pack up everything—"

"Your Mom got a transfer," Elizabeth said, cutting her off.

"Yeah same as you."

"I'm glad you're here Sam, but I don't want to be the same person you knew back in Texas."

"Yeah, I don't think you are anymore." They wrapped an arm around each other and walked back into Feeny's class.

Charlotte stepped forward, "People change people."

"The secret of life." Said Feeny.

—————

Later that night... Feeny was invited over for dinner, "I can drive Mom, Dad, and Feeny crazy in eight seconds." Elizabeth said out of the blue.

"I can drive Mama, Daddy, and Feeny crazy in six seconds." Amanda argued, "how long does it take Mandie and Lizzie-Anne to drive Mommy, Daddy, and Feeny crazy together?"

"You guys feel like a movie?" Asked Jack.

"Love to." Agreed Briar Rose and Feeny nodded.

"Hey!" Yelled Elizabeth.

"What!?" Said Amanda.

"You guys just can't walk out in the middle of dinner before they drive you crazy!" Said Topanga.

"Yes we can," started Briar Rose, "you see we weren't allowed to do that when we were kids, that's why we became parents."

"What do you call that?" Asked Peter.

"The secret of life." Stated Feeny. They all looked at him confused, "there are lots of them."

—————

10:00 p.m... Elizabeth was having trouble sleeping, she had something on her mind and she couldn't get it to stop, the baby. She laid on her back and stared up at the dark ceiling, she closed her eyes and remembered when she lived in Texas, how she would just stare at the glowing stars on her ceiling. She took a deep breath and placed both of her hands on her bare, flat stomach.

"Hey baby," she said, "it's me, your Mama." She laughed at the thought, "I have no idea what I'm gonna do, I mean, there's a part of me that wants to keep you, and I know that your Daddy does too, despite what he says—he's a terrible liar!" She said, raising her whisper's volume a bit. "But there's another part of me that thinks keeping you would be selfish. Because I want to give you your BEST chance, and there's a part of me that thinks it wouldn't be with me." she began to choke up a bit. "But whatever happens, I want you to know that you'll always be loved and that if I decide to give you up I want you to know that you'll always be mine and Daddy's firstborn, nothing will change that. And I also want you to know, that I'm not going to try to get rid of you before you're born and that I'll NEVER put you in harm's way, now and in the future," she began to choke up some more, "because I want you to know that I love you very much." She smiled remembering Feeny's words, "I guess you're one of my secrets of life now, you're one of the people that's gonna change me."

Little did she know that her father was walking by the moment she struck up the conversation, and heard the whole thing. When she finished, he smirked while walking away, "sometimes your healing comes from tears."

So what do we think about Samantha? P.S. she's David's daughter (spoiler alert—not really). So Elizabeth-Lillian has finally accepted her pregnancy! And she knows that Henry is lying to her about what he wants, but what does she want!? As always, I'm not a talented writer. I got today's plotline from an episode of Girl Meets World. 'Girl Meets the Secret of Life.' I DO NOT OWN GIRL MEETS WORLD. NO COPYRIGHT INTENDED.

Shawn Mendes as Kyler Fisher Stefanie Scott as Samantha Phillipelli

Girl Meets the Secret of Life-https://www.dailymotion.com/video/x41v84q

The fight-https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=f9EX7vA8tr0