Title: The Real World

Summary: The real world is harsh. Nothing like the world they knew. Now twenty-three and twenty-four, the gang learns how the real world works as they try to juggle jobs, family, and love in New York. Can they handle it? Or will they crumble and lose themselves along the way? Joshaya. Rucas. Other Pairings TBD.

Rating: T

Point of View: 3rd Person

Genre: Drama/Friendship

Chapter Title: The Real World Is Harsh

Disclaimer: I do not own Girl Meets World.

A/N: Here is another chapter! Please enjoy!


The door chime rang throughout the shop as Maya entered Sulkin's. It's modern interior giving Maya a sense of comfort as her eyes barely gazed over it. "Hey," she greeted as she passed Josh at the counter.

Josh just ignored her and continued to look at some negatives in his hand. Maya, perplexed about his behavior, just brushed it off and walked to the workroom in the back. Maya opened up her locker and threw her things in as Josh walked in. "Hey," Maya greeted again.

Josh walked right past her, not even acknowledging her presence. He walked to his locker, which was right next to hers and opened it as if Maya wasn't in the room. As soon as Josh opened it, Maya shut it closed. "Is something wrong?" Maya asked. "Did I do something wrong?"

Josh shook his head and started walking towards the workroom door. Maya ran in front of him, blocking the door. "If I didn't do anything wrong then why are you ignoring me? Is something going on? Do you need help? Please help me understand!" Maya pleaded.

Josh shook his head and whispered, "Just leave me alone Maya."

You know that feeling when you just can't breathe? Like you're suffocating? Like ocean waves are crashing over your head making it incredibly hard for you not to panic. Your heart skipping a beat from not excitement but fear. Fear of being left, fear of being a disappointment, or fear of disappearing off the earth. Maya Hart only felt those things in this moment. When someone she cared about with her entire being told her to leave them alone but Maya didn't show her emotions. She took a deep breath and replied in a shaky, low voice, "Fine." She stepped aside, leaving the door open for him to walk through. "I'll leave you alone."

Josh took one last look at Maya whose eyes held no emotion. They were empty. Their usual shining blue were gone. In its place were these gray lack luster eyes. Ones that he hated to see. No longer wanting to look at the heart he was breaking, Josh walked out the door literally leaving a broken Hart behind.


The twenty-one story building towered over people as they walked past it. Lansing International is one of the busiest technology empires in New York. Other than Minkus International of course. Farkle didn't want to work for his father. He was tired of trying to live up to his expectations. Farkle Minkus wanted to rule the world someday, but not under his father's watchful eye. So you could imagine all the arguments Farkle and his father had about his loyalty to the family company. So when Stewart Minkus showed up at Lansing International you could imagine Farkle's surprise.

Stewart Minkus walked through the pristine double doors of the building with a certain elegance as he walked towards one of the executives of the company waiting to escort him. "Hello Mr. Minkus. Mr. Lansing has asked me to escort you to our meeting today."

Stewart nodded. "Fine by me."

They approached the elevator and stepped. Once the elevator doors closed Stewart dropped his facade. "How are the wedding plans coming along? Everything alright?" He asked.

Farkle scoffed and stared ahead. "And how would you even know that? Last time I checked, you talked to me when you were telling me not to accept this job. Which was around what? Nine months ago," he pointed out.

"Because I wanted you to have the best job you deserve! And that's not just another executive position at Lansing International! How about the CEO position I offered you at Minkus International? It's still not too late."

"No thanks Dad," Farkle deadpanned.

"I thought you wanted to rule the world son! What happened to that? The ambition and drive you had, where is it?" Stewart investigated.

Farkle turned towards his dad and scowled. "I never lost it."

"Well then what about the world?"

"The world is still there and I'm gong to rule it. I just don't want to do it under you."

The elevator doors opened right as Farkle turned to face them again. "This way sir," Farkle said as he led Stewart towards the meeting hall. "I certainly do hope that we can come to an agreement on this business deal," he faked as he opened the door to the conference room.


The strong smell of coffee and whipped cream filled Riley's nose as she struggled to balance the coffee trays she was holding. "Ms. Mayer!" Riley called out as she stumbled into the room.

Ms. Mayer smiled and greeted Riley as she walked towards her briskly. "There you are!" She exclaimed. "Where's my coffee?" She asked.

"Right on top," Riley answered. Ms. Mayer reached for the coffee. "Do you think you could give me a hand? I think I might fall."

"No, no. You've got it. Just come to my office where you're done," Ms. Mayer said as she walked off.

Riley called for help again right before she tumbled to the floor.

Spilling coffee everywhere.


Riley emerged out of the bathroom stall with strands of hair hanging from her ponytail in disobedience as she washed her hands. Once finished, she looked up into the mirror and observed herself. Messy hair, coffee stains all over- this is not what she signed up for. Riley sighed and reluctantly left the bathroom to head to Ms. Mayer's office.

Riley walked in quietly and waited patiently as Ms. Mayer finished her phone call, which sounded very serious. "No!" she argued. "If you actually think you're going to steal any of my writers then you are sadly mistaken. So don't call my office ever again."

Riley flinched as she slammed the phone down. Finally noticing Riley after a minute, Ms. Mayer started speaking. "Good. You're here. I need you to do something very important."

Riley's eyes brightened. "Really! Oh my gosh thank you! I was a bit worried that I would never get to write an article, but I see you've had a change of heart. I've had a ton of ideas for the magazine. Like-"

"I'm gonna stop you right there. You are most definitely not writing an article. I want you to go help Tracy with her topic for this week. Give her an idea," Ms. Mayer ordered.

Riley quieted like a mouse and lost all hope. "Yes ma'am," she whispered. "I'll get right on it."


Lucas stared at his textbook as he looked at all the highlighted words. "I am never gonna pass this mid term," he groaned.

"I can help you," a voice peeped from behind him.

Lucas turned around his chair and looked around the cafe for the source of the voice. "Who said that?" he asked.

A girl with lightly wavy red hair and brown eyes smiled at him. "Me. I'm Rebecca. I'm taking the same mid term. I just can't get through chapter five and by the looks of it you're stuck on four. Which I might add is the absolute easiest."

Lucas smiled. "Well Rebecca I might just take you up on that offer. Come on we should start."

Rebecca picked up her stack of books and sat down next to Lucas. "So, where should we start?"

"I was thinking chapter one. You can never be too safe," he joked. He flipped open his book and read, "The anatomy of an animal," he began.

The pair studied for hours on end going over all sorts of vocabulary and diagrams. It wasn't until about ten o'clock when the cafe was closing that Lucas looked at the time. "Wow. We've been here all day studying," he said astonished.

Rebecca looked at the time and laughed. "Yeah. We have. I guess I should study with you more often. I think I might actually know this stuff."

Lucas laughed. "Yeah same. I should get going though. Still have class in the morning."

Rebecca laughed. "Yeah. Can I have your number? For studying purposes of course," she explained.

"Sure. You're a pretty cool person Rebecca. I guess I'll see you in class tomorrow."

Lucas left the coffee shop with what he thought was a new found friend.


Maya sighed as she took her things and closed her locker. While scrolling through her feed on Instagram, Mason walked into the locker room and spotted Maya. "Hey," he greeted as he went over his speech in his head.

Maya looked up and gave him a soft smile. "Hi."

"So," Mason began as he walked forward. "I've been meaning to talk to you about something."

Maya put down her phone and smiled. "Do you think this can wait a bit? I've had a long day."

"Really?" Mason asked. "If you want we could talk about it," he said hoping that it would give them a chance to talk.

Maya shook her head and adjusted her bag. "Nah I'm good but thanks for the offer." She walked towards the door and turned around to face Mason. "Thanks," she whispered.

"For what?" Mason asked as he turned around to face her.

"For not telling me leave you alone. Some people just don't know how it affects others. Not even people you thought cared," she described.

Mason walked over to Maya and hugged her tightly. "I would never," he promised.

They pulled apart from the hug and smiled at each other."I guess I'll see you tomorrow. Bye Mason," she said softly right before she left the work room.

Maya left the work room leaving Mason alone once again. "Yeah I was just wondering if you wanted to go out sometime soon," he mumbled. "I'm so stupid!" he screamed.

Maya poked her head back in the room with a concerned face. "You okay?"

Mason quickly tried to play it off. "Yeah. Just taking a good scream?" he said, unconvincingly.

Maya laughed and walked back out. As soon as he was sure she was gone, Mason smacked himself in the head. "I must really be an idiot," he mumbled under his breath.


"We have a fine selection of flowers, caterers, and musicians for your wedding Mr. Minkus. Are we going to wait for your fiance?" The wedding planner asked innocently.

Farkle shook his head. "Unfortunately not but please do continue," Farkle advised.

The wedding planner droned on and on about the different types of flowers and arrangements the pair could have for their wedding, but the only thing Farkle wanted was his wife to be, not the empty chair next to him. "Please excuse me for a moment," Farkle said abruptly.

Farkle stood and walked outside the building for some air. He just paced and paced as he thought about the empty chair that was next to him. Suddenly, he stopped pacing and took out his phone. "Pick up," he mumbled.

"Hello?" the voice answered.

"Please tell me you know what type of floral arrangements she would like," Farkle pleaded.

The voice on the other line sighed. "I'll be there in fifteen minutes."

Farkle just smiled and hung up the phone. He walked inside and sat back down in his chair happily. "I take it that your bride will be joining us?" The wedding planner inferred.

"Something like that," Farkle mumbled.

Soon enough she showed up and filled the empty side beside Farkle. "Thanks for coming," he whispered in her ear.

"No problem," she whispered back.

"Hello!" The planner greeted. "You are?"

She held out her hand shook the planner's. "Missy Bradford."


A/N: I hope you all liked this chapter! Please review and show others my stories!