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NEW FEELINGS {Eric Matthews}

Summary:

"๐‘ฐ ๐’Œ๐’๐’†๐’˜ ๐’๐’๐’•๐’‰๐’Š๐’๐’ˆ ๐’๐’‡ ๐’๐’๐’—๐’† ๐’–๐’๐’•๐’Š๐’ ๐’Š ๐’Ž๐’†๐’• ๐’š๐’๐’–"

โ‹†โบ๏ฝกหšโ‹†ห™โ€งโ‚Šโœฉโ‚Šโ€งห™โ‹†หš๏ฝกโบโ‹†

๐‘ฌ๐’“๐’Š๐’„ ๐‘ด๐’‚๐’•๐’•๐’‰๐’†๐’˜๐’” ๐’Š๐’” ๐’‚ ๐’‘๐’๐’‘๐’–๐’๐’‚๐’“ ๐’ˆ๐’–๐’š ๐’‚๐’• ๐’”๐’„๐’‰๐’๐’๐’ ๐’˜๐’‰๐’ ๐’‚๐’๐’”๐’ ๐’‰๐’‚๐’‘๐’‘๐’†๐’๐’” ๐’•๐’ ๐’ƒ๐’† ๐’‚ ๐’๐’‚๐’…๐’Š๐’†๐’” ๐’Ž๐’‚๐’ ๐’‚๐’” ๐’‰๐’† ๐’”๐’•๐’‚๐’“๐’•๐’” ๐’‰๐’Š๐’” ๐‘ฑ๐’–๐’๐’Š๐’๐’“ ๐’š๐’†๐’‚๐’“ ๐’๐’‡ ๐’‰๐’Š๐’ˆ๐’‰ ๐’”๐’„๐’‰๐’๐’๐’. ๐‘ฑ๐’๐’”๐’Š๐’† ๐’‚๐’๐’… ๐‘ฌ๐’“๐’Š๐’„ ๐’‰๐’‚๐’—๐’† ๐’ƒ๐’†๐’†๐’ ๐’ƒ๐’†๐’”๐’• ๐’‡๐’“๐’Š๐’†๐’๐’…๐’” ๐’”๐’Š๐’๐’„๐’† ๐’•๐’‰๐’†๐’š ๐’˜๐’†๐’“๐’† ๐’”๐’Š๐’™, ๐’†๐’—๐’†๐’ ๐’•๐’‰๐’๐’–๐’ˆ๐’‰ ๐’•๐’‰๐’†๐’š ๐’”๐’‚๐’š ๐’•๐’‰๐’†๐’š ๐’‚๐’“๐’† ๐’‹๐’–๐’”๐’• ๐’‡๐’“๐’Š๐’†๐’๐’…๐’”, ๐’†๐’—๐’†๐’“๐’š๐’๐’๐’† ๐’‰๐’‚๐’… ๐’†๐’™๐’‘๐’†๐’„๐’•๐’†๐’… ๐’•๐’‰๐’†๐’Ž ๐’•๐’ ๐’ˆ๐’†๐’• ๐’•๐’๐’ˆ๐’†๐’•๐’‰๐’†๐’“. ๐‘พ๐’‰๐’‚๐’• ๐’˜๐’Š๐’๐’ ๐’‰๐’‚๐’‘๐’‘๐’†๐’ ๐’˜๐’‰๐’†๐’ ๐’•๐’‰๐’† ๐’•๐’“๐’–๐’•๐’‰ ๐’„๐’๐’Ž๐’†๐’” ๐’•๐’ ๐’๐’Š๐’ˆ๐’‰๐’• ๐’‚๐’ƒ๐’๐’–๐’• ๐’•๐’‰๐’†๐’Š๐’“ ๐’‡๐’†๐’†๐’๐’Š๐’๐’ˆ๐’”?

๐‘ป๐’‰๐’Š๐’” ๐’”๐’†๐’“๐’Š๐’†๐’” ๐’Š๐’” ๐’”๐’†๐’• ๐’Š๐’ ๐‘บ๐’†๐’‚๐’”๐’๐’ ๐Ÿ - ๐‘บ๐’†๐’‚๐’”๐’๐’ ๐Ÿ• โ‹†โœงโ€โžท

โ‹†๐ˆ ๐๐จ ๐ง๐จ๐ญ ๐จ๐ฐ๐ง ๐š๐ง๐ฒ ๐จ๐Ÿ ๐ญ๐ก๐ž ๐๐จ๐ฒ ๐Œ๐ž๐ž๐ญ๐ฌ ๐–๐จ๐ซ๐ฅ๐ ๐œ๐ก๐š๐ซ๐š๐œ๐ญ๐ž๐ซ๐ฌ ๐š๐ฅ๐ฅ ๐œ๐ซ๐ž๐๐ข๐ญ ๐ ๐จ๐ž๐ฌ ๐ญ๐จ ๐Œ๐ข๐œ๐ก๐š๐ž๐ฅ ๐‰๐š๐œ๐จ๐›๐ฌ & ๐€๐ฉ๐ซ๐ข๐ฅ ๐Š๐ž๐ฅ๐ฅ๐’šโ‹†

Notes:

Hey i hope you enjoy this Eric Matthews fanfic. I wrote this because Eric deserves a good love story and the writers did not give him that when we know he deserved that and much more. I feel Eric would have got married and have kids but in Girl Meets World they used him as a plot point so it would be something that would happen off screen. Anyway, enjoy this Eric Matthews fanfic. You are in for a lovely ride!! so i hope you stick around.

(See the end of the work for more notes.)

Chapter 1: ๐‘ฉ๐’‚๐’„๐’Œ ๐Ÿ ๐‘บ๐’„๐’‰๐’๐’๐’ - ๐‘บ๐’†๐’‚๐’”๐’๐’ ๐Ÿ ๐‘ฌ๐’‘๐’Š๐’”๐’๐’…๐’† ๐Ÿ

Notes:

(See the end of the chapter for notes.)

Chapter Text

Shawn and Cory are starting their very first day of high school, and Eric is starting junior year. This surprisingly is a year to be remembered that's for sure.

Amy and Alan are in the kitchen, they woke up bright and early, ready for work. Morgan is leaning against the kitchen island as Amy is pouring some orange juice into the cups ready for the kids when they finally would come downstairs.

'Cory, let's go! you wanna be late for your first day of high school?' Alan yelled Cory's name to get him to come down as he went and sat down on the kitchen table.

'Alan, don't yell at him, he's probably a nervous wreck' Amy handed Morgan a cup of orange juice.

'Hey, Mom! Hey, Dad! How ya doing?' Cory said as he quickly came down the stairs into the kitchen.

'Hey, Morgan, looking short' Cory turned to Morgan, joking, Cory always joked around with his little sister.

'Go back to camp, loser' Morgan turned away from him. Morgan had gotten sassier over the summer, she was growing up and was no longer the baby they once saw her as.

'Cor, you're not?'- Amy asked.

'A nervous wreck? No, because I know my place. I understand where I am in the high school universe' Cory seemed more confident and mature that he can take on the big world of high school.

'See, I'm starting off a nothing - a zero' Cory told his dad.

'A big booger' Morgan intercepted, she really was growing up and getting sassier by the minute.

'You know how you tell me, the earlier i do my homework, - the better i''ll know the stuff? -

'You've done homework?' Amy questioned as she continued to pour the rest of the orange juice into the rest of the cups.

'It's a metaphor.' Cory stated.

'But all summer long, I bugged Eric about what high school's gonna be like. And I took notes' Cory got out his notes that he had made over the summer.

'Ooh impressive.' Alan looked amused.

'Thank you' Cory said.

'So, how do I avoid years and years of abuse and humiliation?'

'Don't get married.' Alan joked as Amy smacked him on the head for making that comment.

'It's a metaphor' Alan copied Cory.

'All right, here's my plan. Today I make friends with the most feared and influential senior in high school - Harley Keiner. And in one master stroke i go from lowly first year victim, to Harley's most trusted advisor,' Cory proudly said talking to his dad. It seemed Cory had a plan for high school.

'Cor, as proud as i'd be to see you become Harley's toady footstool, you don't have to reinvent yourself for high school.' Amy told her son, hoping that he could understand that no one has to reinvent themselves and that it is better to be yourself.

'Yeah, really, relax. Go, enjoy it. You don't need a plan, nobody else has a plan' Alan took a sip of his coffee as Shawn walked in through the kitchen door.

'Cory, I lost my copy of the plan!' Shawn shut the door from behind him.

'I knew I shouldn't have left the old school. I was so cool in the old school. They had no right to pass me, i am an idiot!' Shawn was nervous for high school just like Cory was.

'See? Shawn's not reinventing himself.' Amy wanted to prove to Cory that nobody has to change who they are.

Alan looked at Shawn who to him looked different from the last time he saw him.

'Shawn are those sideburns?' Alan was now looking closely at Shawn who had sideburns on.

'You mean the ones on my face?' Shawn looked very happy with his new appearance.

'It's just that when you saw you yesterday, they weren't on your face, were they?' Amy walked towards the two teen boys, not buying Shawns act.

'Mrs. Matthews, you just can't accept the fact that Cory and I are growing up. And we're old enough now to buy our own hair', Shawn put his hands on Cory's shoulders and then released them as he realized that she had got him and he had been defeated.

'You've got a glue spot on your cheek' Amy rubbed Shawn's cheek to try and get the glue residue off.

'Oh OK, thanks' Shawn said.

'All right, look, we've got all the answers to high school right here. Having a big brother finally paid off' Cory opened his piece of paper back up again and showed it to his best friend Shawn.

'Cor, sign this' Eric walked downstairs into the kitchen and handed his brother a piece of paper.

Today was the first day of his Junior year and appearances mattered. Eric was wearing a green jumper and cream trousers. Eric was always fashionable and being in Junior year it mattered even more, it was social status.

Eric sat down at the kitchen table, noticing that he did not have breakfast laid out for him. He snatched the bowl of his dad's and started to eat it.

'With regard to my brother, Eric Matthews, hereafter referred to as 'Oh, Great One,' I, Cory Matthews, hereafter referred to as 'insignificant speck,' pledge never to contact the "Great One", verbally or nonverbally, during any and all school hours, from this day forward, forever and ever. Amen' Cory folded up the piece of paper.

Eric smiled as he took a bite of his breakfast and was reciting the lines he had written of the piece of paper he had given to his younger brother Cory.

'Hey, nice to see you're looking out for your brother on his first day' Alan looked disappointed as he drank a sip of his coffee.

'Oh, Dad, word gets out i'm related to a seventh grader, i lose all my status. I mean, i might as well just strap on a tuba and join the band', Eric tried to tell his parents.

'So your social status means more to you than your brother?' Amy asked, confused.

'Oh, Mom, look, I don't like walking all over Cory any more than you do. It's just to keep up appearances.' It was Eric's junior year and to him appearances mattered as did girls and girls preferred someone with high social status.

'I mean, he's my brother. Of course I love him.' Eric stood up from the table and smiled as he leaned his head against Cory's.

Eric turned and went to the kitchen island and put his bowl on the table as he stood up to eat.

'Amy, Alan etcetera.' George Feeny, Cory and Shawn's teacher since fourth grade who also happens to be the Matthews family neighbour, opened the door and walked straight into the Matthews family kitchen.

'So Mr. Feeny, are you feeling any regret that you're losing us from your class?'

'No' Mr Feeny admitted.

'What can we do for you, George?' Alan asked him.

'There is a large, rusty object, blocking not only my driveway, but most of the light into my kitchen' Mr Feeny told them.

'That's my new car' Eric announced happily. Mr Feeny had been Eric's middle school teacher, not so much high school but maybe this year would be different.

'May I assume it moves?' Mr Feeny asked him politely.

'Sure, like the wind. Especially downhill' Eric continued to eat his cereal.

'Oh, you want me to move it? Eric noticed Mr Feeny staring at him as he ate his cereal.

'Well, we certainly can't count on anyone stealing it' Mr Feeny stepped outside, Eric following him as Eric needed to move his brand new car.

'You know, it just hit me. High school means we're through with Feeny' Shawn said, smiling.

'This is the greatest day of our lives.' Cory smiled happily.

Cory and Shawn went ahead and did their iconic best friend handshake.

'You know what, Shawn? - We're in high school now'

'Yeah, we do have to be cooler.' Shawn said as he and Cory did the same handshake except slower.

Amy was out, taking both Morgan, Cory and Shawn to school on her way to work. Alan had a few minutes to spare before he headed off to work so he was just drinking his coffee in the kitchen.

Eric had just moved his car and went back to the kitchen.

'You know he just doesn't appreciate the beauty of my car' Eric walked back into the kitchen and went into his room to grab his school bag.

Eric then came downstairs in the Kitchen.

'Eric what are you still doing here, you're going to be late for school. This is your junior year, you have to take it seriously, you can't be slacking off!' Alan yelled at him.

'Dad i will be fine, school doesn't start until another ten minutes. I will make it on time don't worry' Eric reassured his Dad.

'Look Dad, I know that you are worried about Cory's first day of high school but that doesn't mean you have to take it out on me' Eric landed his hand on his father's shoulder.

'Eric go to school!' Alan tried to shove Eric out the door.

'Fine but only because you asked so nicely' Eric smirked.

'I am -

'Don't you normally meet up with Jason, Josie and the rest of your friends before first before starts?' Alan asked his son.

'Yes - i do... fine im leaving but if Cory comes to talk to me im going to pretend that im an only child' Eric headed out the door, shutting the door on his way out.

Alan smiled as Eric went out the door, laughing and thinking of his kids.

๐‘บ๐‘ช๐‘ฏ๐‘ถ๐‘ถ๐‘ณ ๐‘ช๐‘ถ๐‘น๐‘น๐‘ฐ๐‘ซ๐‘ถ๐‘น

'This is it - high school. What happens to us now will determine our entire futures' the dorky brown haired boy said, his blonde best friend standing next to him.

'This is it!' Cory said as he and Shawn appeared, not noticing the two boys were there and they accidentally squashed them from the door.

'High school! What happens to us now will determine our entire futures' Cory happily smiled, announcing to the high school world that he, Cory Matthews is here.

'Are my sideburns on straight?' Shawn turned to Cory, touching his fake sideburns that were on his face.

'Shawn, what are you worried about? Look, it's just a school. There's no lockers, there's a class and a kid in his underwear', Cory was under the impression that the difference between middle school and high school was that the school was bigger.

'They took my clothes! -

'Who?' Cory asked, seeing a boy around his age-naked, with no clothes.

'Seniors.Seniors took my clothes' the boy with no clothes looked embarrassed.

'Why?'

'Just 'cause I'm a new guy.'

'Well, I'm a new guy' Cory said.

'Well, good luck to ya' the naked teen boy left.

'Uh, Cor?' Shawn looked at his best friend nervously.

'No, no. Don't worry about it. He must've had it coming. He must've done something -

'Hey! -' Frankie Slammed Cory outside the lockers

'What did I do?! Cory asked, scared.

'You were almost in my way' Frankie glared at him.

'You're Frankie Stecchino, right?' Cory asked as he looked at the list of people on his list that were on his paper.

'Yeah, how'd you know?'

'Strong territorial sense.'

'We are just looking for our homeroom, you know?' Shawn nervously said to both Frankie and Joey to try and get out of the situation.

'It's in there.' Said Joey.

'In there?'

'Right there.'

'Thank you. Thank you very much. Hey, I'm the first one here' Shawn went inside his locker, anything was better than getting punched by bullies on the first day of high school.

'Why was you almost in my way?'

'You know, if I was in my homeroom, I wouldn't be anywhere near your way.'

'Huh? -

'I think he's saying, that if he was somewhere else, he wouldn't be here' Joey told Frankie.

'What? You saying I'm gay?' Frankie said confused.

'No. No, I didn't say that.' Joey put his hands up in defense.

Cory opened Shawns locker and told him that they could go now, Shawn was unsure as he felt safer in his locker as what just happened right now was scary.

'Hi' Topanga approached Shawn and Cory.

Shawn and Cory hugged her, as she made them feel safe, feels like something from the old world of middle school and not this scary world of high school.

'Summer was very good to you' Shawn looked at Topanga, hitting on her.

'Yeah, well, at least what I grew is real' Topanga ripped Shawn's fake sideburns off his face and he screamed, 'Ouch!'.

'That's homeroom. I checked the list, we're all together. Room 218. We have Mr. Turner.' Topanga told them.

๐‘ฌ๐‘น๐‘ฐ๐‘ช'๐‘บ ๐‘จ๐‘น๐‘น๐‘ฐ๐‘ฝ๐‘จ๐‘ณ ๐‘ป๐‘ถ ๐‘บ๐‘ช๐‘ฏ๐‘ถ๐‘ถ๐‘ณ

'Eric hey' Jason approached him near the lockers, with a happy smile on his face.

Jason was always cheerful. Jason and Eric had been best friends since they both were three years old - almost for fourteen years. They both met at the playground in the sand pit. No other boy had wanted to be Jason's friend because they thought he was 'too cheerful', Eric on the other hand had decided that he liked that Jason was cheerful and so they built their very first sandcastle together. Even since that day the two of them had been best friends. They went to the same kindergarten school, elementary, middle school and now were together at high school.

'Hey Jason' He patted his best friend on the back.

'Hey guys' He turned his head to say hi to the rest of his friends.

'You guys ready for the first day of school? To enrich our minds full of knowledge' Jason smirked at his friends.

'Oh shut up!' Eric told his best friend annoyingly.

'I was kidding - are you ready to finally be able to take girls out on dates in our own cars? ' Jason laughed.

'Now that's more like it' Eric elbowed Jason to the side.

'Hey it's not just you guys, i plan to by the end of the year to have a girlfriend that i'm fully committed to' Noah one of Eric's best friends said to him, standing against the lockers looking at both Eric and Jason. While he is not his number one best friend as Jason is he is still a close friend of Eric's and has known him since they were seven years old.

'Commitment? Your joking' Carter nudged Noah. Carter is another friend that Eric has known since they were seven. In fact both Jason and Eric met both Carter and Noah at the age of seven at the playground and thus the friendship group had been formed Just like Jason and Eric had known each other since they were three, so did Carter and Noah.

'I'm with Carter on this. I mean commitment please, you don't really want that, you may think you do but you really don't. Once you commit to a girl forever she drags you down the hole and you can never be free of her, you're stuck with her for life' Eric placed his hand on his friend's shoulder.

'Is that what you want? What's wrong with going from girl to girl, it's just a bit of fun. Nothing serious' Jason lightly laughed at his friends.

'I want more than just fun guys, i want an actual relationship' Noah said to his friends, honestly.

'God you're a disgrace to the male fraction of this very high school' Eric shook his head, rolling his eyes at Noah.

'I'm with you on that buddy!' Carter fist bumped Eric.

'Hey where's Josie and the girls?' Eric asked his friends, wondering where they were.

'Oh, I see them' Jason said, looking behind him to the far corridor.

'Eric is this going to be the year that you and Jos-

Eric interrupted Carter who was looking at him.

'No and i know what you're going to say but that's not true okay. This is the year that me, Eric Randall Matthews is going to finally fall in love' Eric said smiling as his friends looked at him confused.

'For a month. I will commit for a month and then i'm gone off to the next!' Eric gave his friends the thumbs up.

'Oh' Carter, Noah and Jason said.

Josie was with her two best friends, Emma and Amanda as they approached the boys by the lockers.

Josie walked into school wearing a brown sweater vest with a white tennis skirt and a light brown plaid jacket. For accessories she wore two rings on both middle fingers and a necklace, all were family heirlooms- family was important to her. Josie was a typically simple and stylish girl. She never did anything special with her hair, she just left it down and would always put her favorite white or blue, depending on the day, headband on.

Even though Josie was 'Popular' she never let that define who she was. At the end of the day she was Josie.

Josie, Emma and Amanda had been best friends since they were three, they met at a playground (different to the one Eric met Jason at) and the three of them had been best friends ever since.

Even though they are a trio, third wheeling was not a thing, nobody got jealous or petty, they all treated each other equally which is what made their trio work. When Josie met Eric and Jason when she was six she introduced her best friends to them and they all became a big friendship group and then when the boys met Carter and Noah, the friendship group became an even bigger friendship group. They have all been together since kids.

'Hey guys, what are you boys talking about?' Emma asked.

'GIRLS!' the boys yelled at them, laughing.

'Of course, nothing new then' Emma glared at them.

'Okay i want your opinion girls. Is it so wrong for me to want to have a relationship that i commit to because Eric and the others think that it's wrong' Noah asked the girls for advice.

'No i think it's only natural to want a proper relationship. Don't listen to the boys they are bafoons' Amanda patted Noah on the shoulder.

The boys rolled their eyes.

'Come to us for advice, don't go to the boys' Emma tucked a piece of hair behind her ear.

'Why?' Eric asked.

'You guys know nothing about women, you all go from girl to girl - especially you Eric. You boys are idiotic players!' Josie laughed.

'JOSIE!' Eric looked at her, appalled.

'It's true. Can't have a real relationship if you won't commit' Josie admitted.

Lily Thompson and Kaleb Thompson who were siblings approached them.

'Hey guys, summer was good to you all' Lily said as she stood next to Jason as she eyed Eric.

'Hey Josie' Kaleb Thompson smiled at her.

Eric and Josie both looked uncomfortable. This always happened.

'Hey. Bye' Josie walked away with the girls, heading to the next class.

'God every single summer since first grade she has been getting hotter and hotter, tell me boys how have you not fallen for Josie Collins. She's hot' Kaleb said with his dreamy eyes.

'Haven't really thought about that' Eric looked at his friends who looked just as uncomfortable as he was.

'Well i have class now but i will see you guys later' and like that Kaleb left with Lily following him from behind.

'Every single time. Every single time. He is such a moran!' Eric told Jason.

'How long is he going to keep this act up. He knows that we don't like him right' Jason rolled his eyes.

'We have been telling him that since first grade!' Carter sighed.

'And his sister Lily, the girls have been telling her they don't like her since first grade too. Also what is it with her constantly hitting on you Eric, all the time?' Noah asked him.

'I don't know man.'

The bell ran so the boys all quickly hurried to class.

๐‘ด๐‘น. ๐‘ป๐‘ผ๐‘น๐‘ต๐‘ฌ๐‘น'๐‘บ ๐‘ช๐‘ณ๐‘จ๐‘บ๐‘บ

'OK, I'm here for homeroom. I'm here for English and I'm here anytime you just wanna talk.' Mr Turner announced to his class.

'Cool' Cory commented.

' Did I say you could talk? You trouble, Matthews? You the guy who's gonna bring down the new teacher?' Mr turned asked, proudly.

'No, sir, that would be Shawn' Cory outed his best friend.

'Now, if Shawn is real trouble, Shawn is really gonna try to avoid making eye contact with' Mr Turner turned towards Shawn.

'Hi, Shawn'

'How ya doing?'

'So, Shawn, buddy You know anything about The Odyssey?' Mr Turner said, challenging him.

'Yes, I do' Shawn did not know anything about it.

'Yeah, besides that it's a book' Mr Turner looked at him and then back to the class.

'No, I don't.'

'OK' Mr Turner was at the front of the class..

'Who knows what "odyssey" means?' Mr Turner asked as he noticed Topanga putting her hand up to answer the question.

'What's your name?' He asked, curious of what she has to say as she was the only one engaging in the discussion.

'Topanga' She told him.

'Topanga' he said.

'It means a difficult journey' Topanga told him.

'Yes, it does. An epic journey. About a guy just trying to get home alive. In fantasy worlds, with characters who have these ancient notions - about loyalty and heroism.' Mr Turner explained holding the book.

'Yeah, who wants to read that' Cory seemed uninterested in the topic discussion.

'Yeah, apparently you do. What is that, X-Men?' Mr Turner grabbed Cory's copy of a Comic book.

'I don't know X-Men when I see it? It's a great issue, wasn't it?'

'You read X-Men?' Cory looked at his teacher, shocked.

'Do I read X-Men? Fantasy worlds, epic heroism Yeah, I read X-Men. In fact, let's all read X-Men. Your assignment is to read The Odyssey and this issue of X-Men' Mr Turner announced to his students.

'Finally! A cool teacher.' Cory was surprised to have a cool teacher like Mr Turner.

'My friend, Mr. Matthews, will lead the discussion on the similarities and the differences' Mr Turner looked at Cory, he had been defeated.

'Feeny with an earring' Cory told Shawn who agreed.

๐‘ช๐‘ถ๐‘น๐‘น๐‘ฐ๐‘ซ๐‘ถ๐‘น

'Uh Earth Science. Let's go' Shawn said to his best friend as he looked at his time table.

'I don't have Earth Science. I've got History' Cory told him as he looked at his own time table.

'You mean-

'We're gonna be separated?-

'No! Shawn' Cory yelled, upset that he would be separated from his best friend.

'No! Cory!' Shawn yelled, he and Cory always had the same classes as each other and now they were being separated.

'So, Friday, Dylan's parents are going out of town and -

Eric was leaning against the top of the school bench, just above it and was talking to some of his friends that were here but he was mid way through a conversation when we was interrupted by his brother Cory.

'Hey, Eric!' Cory jumped up as he approached Eric.

'You know me?' Eric questioned, trying to act like he doesn't know Cory even though he is his brother.

'I heard of you. Eric Matthews, right? Cool junior. Only child. Yeah, everybody's heard of you. Even insignificant specks like me, who are having the worst possible day of their lives.' Cory begged Eric for his help, he just wanted his older brother to help him out as he is having the worst first day of high school ever, this is not how he imagined his first day of high school to go.

'I don't care.' Eric pushed Cory lightly to go away.

'Thanks. See ya' Cory looked at him, feeling defeated and disappointed. Cory turned away and walked away from his brother.

'Hey Eric' - Josie said as she approached Eric and their friends.

'What? did i just not say that i don't care-

'Oh hey Josie what's up?' Eric smiled at her. Eric had thought it was his brother and didn't bother to look.

'Nothing'

'Wait eric wasn't that your broth-

Eric pulled Josie to the side, near the lockers so no one could hear them.

'I don't want anyone to know im related to a seventh grader' Eric told her

'Why?' Josie asked, not understanding the situation

'Because i'm mr popular guy, i dont want to loose my status' Eric told his best friend, trying to make her understand.

'So popularity is more important than helping out your one and only brother?' Josie was shocked.

'Of course not hes my brother' Eric couldn't believe that, that is what she thinks of him.

'Yeah well popularity isn't all that its hyped up to be' Josie said.

'What do you mean?' Eric was confused.

'It just means maybe being popular had its cons' Josie sighs, sometimes he did not make any sense.

'Look Josie i know what i'm doing' Eric looked at her closely.

'Yeah well we'll see. See if at the end of the day if you still even have a brother. Before anything, hes your brother Eric. Be that for him otherwise what good are you' Josie turned against the lockers and walked away from him, heading to her next class.

Eric stood there silently and then went back to sit with his friends, he still had five minutes before his next class started.

'What was that about?' Jason asked him, curiously.

'Nothing. Josie being Josie' Eric reassured him.

๐‘ช๐‘จ๐‘ต๐‘ป๐‘ฌ๐‘ฌ๐‘ต

'George?'

'Mm-hmm?' Mr Feeny looked at him.

'You really think I'm a groovy teacher?' Mr Turner smiled, he wanted to make a good impression as it was his first day.

'I think, Mr. Turner, it shall be an interesting school year' Mr Feeny turned and walked away.

Eric is at one of the tables in the Canteen with his friends Carter, Jason, Noah, Josie, Amanda and Emma. He is also sat next to two girls he met just today that he flirted with.

'Well, you got off to a rocky start, but at least you made it to lunch' Shawn said comforting Cory.

'Yep, my last meal' Cory looked down at his sad plate.

'Chicken. How appropriate' Shawn said.

'You know, I wish it'd been macaroni and cheese Because when Harley punches me and I puke on him, it makes a bigger mess' Cory felt defeated, this is not how he had planned his first day of high school to go.

'Good thinking. Here's better thinking - ask your brother for help' Shawn pointed at Eric.

'I can't. I signed that contract' Cory looked down sadly.

๐‘ฌ๐‘น๐‘ฐ๐‘ช'๐‘บ ๐‘ป๐‘จ๐‘ฉ๐‘ณ๐‘ฌ

'You got a car, the new Mustang?' the brown haired girl who was sat next to Eric touched his arm to speak to him.

'Yeah. Uh only a little older and a little bigger. It's the new Mustang-Buick' Eric was trying to sound like he can afford a big expensive car, to keep up with social status.

'Psst! Oh, great one' Shawn approached Eric's table.

'What are you doing here, Shawn?' II'm just calling him that. I don't know that his name is Shawn or anything' Eric did not want to be seen with any seventh graders.

'Well?' Eric demanded an answer from Shawn.

'OK, it's about your brother' Shawn whispered to Eric so that no one else could hear.

'It's school hours. I have no brother' Eric knew what was coming.

'Yeah, and at 3:00, you'll really have no brother' Shawn walked away from the table.

'Make this quick' Eric went and got a drink from the water fountain that Cory was standing against.

'Help!' Cory panicked.

'How could you possibly get into this much trouble in one day?' Eric was annoyed on how Cory managed to fall into trouble this easily.

'It didn't take me a whole day' Cory's first day of high school was not what he had planned.

'All right, look last bell, head straight to the nurse's office. Tell them you're sick. You have to have Mom and Dad come and pick you up' He told his brother.

'Won't I look like a coward?' Cory asked him.

'Yeah, you will. So why don't you fight him?' Eric asked. Harley then came into the canteen and everything seemed more clear to him.

'And the nurse's office is where?' Cory wondered.

'Do not attempt to recontact me' Eric walked away and went back to his table where all his friends were at. The two girls he had flirted with were now gone, they had both promised him a date soon though.

'I don't get it, why don't you just help your brother out?' Josie was playing with her food as she looked at Eric.

'Josie we have been over this, he's a seventh grader and i'm a junior. I don't want my popularity staus to vanish' Eric took a bite of his food, turning his head away from her.

'He's your brother Eric!' Josie yelled.

'I know- I know. Well what do you expect me to do, to what fight Harley when he tries to beat up Cory because i'm not g-

'Yes! because you know what i call it? i call it being a good older brother' Josie walked away with her tray, handed it on the stack of dirty dishes and left the canteen.

'Do you think i'm being that harsh by not helping my little brother?' Eric asked his friends who all took a bite of their food, not looking at him.

It became more clear to Eric on what he had to do.

๐‘ช๐‘ถ๐‘น๐‘น๐‘ฐ๐‘ซ๐‘ถ๐‘น

'I was looking forward to high school. I had a plan. I gave you a chance to change your whole future, and not be a guy who beats up on kids who are smaller than you, for the rest of your life' Cory stood up against him.

'You're giving me that chance?' Harley asked.

'Yeah'

'Well, here I stand at the crossroads of my life. Yet, I am what I am, and I must kill you. Aren't you gonna run or whine or something?' Harley was confused, his victims usually ran out of fear of him.

'No. I am what I am, too. I'd rather be dead than be the school coward for the next six years' Cory thought that today was an utter disaster.

'You done?' Harley said, annoyed.

'Guess I am' Cory admitted.

'Guess again!' Eric was walking and he jumped up in front of Cory to face Harley.

'What are you doing here?' Cory was surprised, he thought that Eric didn't want to be associated with a seventh grader.

'I have no idea' Eric was surprised as here he was standing in front of Cory and looking at Harley.

But I do know that I'm not gonna stand by and let you beat up somebody that I don't even know at all' Eric tried to make himself sound cool but Harley was not buying it.

'OK, OK, he's my brother' Eric admitted, he finally did what he thinks is the right thing - protecting his little brother.

'Oh - This is your brother? -

'Didn't he just say that? Did he not just say I'm his brother? - Just how stupid -

'Cory, don't provoke' Eric covered his hand over Cory's mouth so that Cory wouldn't provoke Harley further.

'Well, how sweet. A chance to wipe out the whole Baboon family' Harley began to grab a hold of Cory to pound him, Eric tried to Push him off - to try and protect Cory.

Mr Turner was standing there and so they all stopped fighting.

'Who the heck are you?' Harley said.

'Oh, I'm your worst nightmare. I'm a teacher' Mr Turner walked towards Harley.

'Oh, a teacher. No wonder I don't recognize ya. What do you teach?' Harley had never been caught before.

'English Lit and kick boxing. What seems to be the problem?' Mr Turner asked, noticing how everyone was stiff and tight.

'Nothing. We were working it out' Harley answered.

'Actually, it looks like you're about to pound this kid into the ground. See that's a problem for me. Cause if one of my students gets killed the first day- I look bad. People start to talk, I get a reputation . I'm careless with students, you know? So do me a favour, don't kill my student' Mr Turner told Harley as he smirked.

'Could I take you?' Harley asked.

'Nah' Mr Turner laughed softly.

'But I could've taken the kid though'

'Good for you'

Harley then left. For the first time he failed to pound a kid to the ground,

'So, Odysseus, looks like you may get home safely' He reassured Cory.

'Thanks Mr Turner. I'll see you tomorrow' Cory said

'Read the book' Mr Turner told him as he left.

'I lived it' Cory admitted. He and the characters weren't so different after all.

'Hey, Eric, I want to tell you something' Cory turned towards his brother.

'What do you want to say to me?' Eric asked him.

'Thanks for being my brother' Cory smiled at him, Eric had finally came through and was a good older brother - he protected him.

'Do I know you?' Eric pointed at Cory as he joked.

The two brothers smiled at each other. Eric patted Cory on the back and left the hallway.

Eric walked away and saw Josie peeping out from the wall outside the classroom.

'When did you get here i thought u left by now' Eric asked her, curious if she had seen what happened.

'I was but i didn't want to go without seeing you be a good older brother' Josie admitted.

'So you saw all that?' Eric asked.

'I did'

'Let me tell you - you were great' Josie smiled at him.

'Thanks. I just realized he is my younger brother and if anyone is going to protect him then it has to be me, besides no one gets to kill my brother except me. Only i can' Eric joked.

'Glad you realized it' Josie laughed.

'Also it would be pretty interesting to see you kick harleys butt' Josie admitted.

'You think i was hot protecting cory don't you?' Eric said trying to sound intimidating and seducing.

'No' Josie said.

'Anyone else would have said yes' Eric rolled his eyes.

'I'm not anyone else. I'm one of your best friends' Josie folded her arms.

'You think i could win against Harley?' Eric moved his hair out his face

'Erm.... yeah okay' Josie looked the opposite direction of him.

'So thats a no?' Eric wondered.

'What do you think?' Josie laughed, patting him on the back.

'It's a no' Eric put his hands up.

'See you tomorrow Eric' Josie waved goodbye to him.

'Bye Josie' Eric waved goodbye to her and walked away.

๐‘ด๐‘จ๐‘ป๐‘ป๐‘ฏ๐‘ฌ๐‘พ๐‘บ ๐‘ฏ๐‘ถ๐‘ผ๐‘บ๐‘ฌ - ๐‘ณ๐‘ฐ๐‘ฝ๐‘ฐ๐‘ต๐‘ฎ ๐‘น๐‘ถ๐‘ถ๐‘ด

'Ladies and gentlemen, moms, dads and weasels I give you the man who said he didn't have a brother. The man who said he didn't know me. Eric "The Great One" Matthews!' Cory announced as him and Eric entered the front door, greeting their parents and their little sister Morgan.

'Aw, some goon at school was trying to pick on Cory. Just because he's bigger than him' Eric told his parents as him and Cory leaned against the Couch.

'What happened to social status being more important?' Amy asked her son.

'It was but Cory's my brother, i will always look out for him'

'I decided that social status doesn't matter, Cory does though. And Josie also helped me to realize that' Eric admitted, smiling at the thought.

'Of course she did. She has always helped you to see things you couldn't even when you guys were six. She's good for you and you know being best friends with someone for eleven years - i always thought that- well with you both are growing up and starting to develop feelings - could there be a possibility that -

Alan had interrupted Amy.

'Amy sweetheart what are you getting at?' Alan asked, confused,

'Oh you men never get anything!' Amy folded her arms.

'What? weird' Eric was confused.

'Anyway so i protected Cory against Harley who was picking on him just because he's small. Don't you hate that? I hate that!' Eric said as he turned to Cory and patted him on the back.

'I know, I hate that too' Cory said in agreement as he sat down on the couch and grabbed the remote to try and change the channel that was on TV.

'Who asked you, speck? Give me this' Eric hit Cory on the head as he grabbed the remote from him.

'Hey, I'm watching that' Alan smacked Eric on the head as he grabbed the remote from him.

'What?! I'm just trying- '

Eric had turned to his father.

'Hey, don't hit the kids' Amy smacked him on his head.

'Oww!' Alan said as Morgan grabbed the remote from him.

'Hey, everybody be quiet. I'm trying to watch TV' Morgan yelled, trying to get everyone's attention. They all looked at her in silence as they looked at the TV.

'That's power' Morgan said as he noticed everyone was now looking at the TV in silence.

Notes:

Thankyou for reading!! Your support means the world to me. Eric deserves to be loved and i'm glad to give him exacly that. He's my favourite Boy Meets World character ever and he owns my heart. Happy Eric is my favourite Eric. I LOVE Josie so much!! And i just had to put Jason in it as he is under appreciated, he is Eric's first best friend and in my opinion the better best friend. Thank you for the support and love :)

xo - Jen