TWO UPDATES IN ONE DAY WHAT

This one is super long! -Lauren

Chapter outfits: www dot polyvore dot com slash cgi slash set?id=204791783

Warning: underage drinking.

THREE: GIRL MEETS THE NRC (NEW RILEY COMMITTEE)

Charlotte and Jasmine helped Riley get settled into the bay window in their dorm, which wasn't really used as a bay window normally. It was used as an extra table, because there wasn't a cushion on it. Jasmine had to retrieve it from her closet so that Riley wasn't sleeping on hardwood.

"Really guys," Riley said once it was all finished, "this is too much."

"Honestly," Jasmine replied, "it's not too much at all. You deserve it."

Riley dropped her head. "It's kind of hard to understand how."

Charlotte sat down next to her. "Don't think about it, or at least try not to. Let them miss you, for once."

Riley smiled. "I'll try."

"Now," Jasmine said, picking up one of Riley's duffels, "what are you going to wear to Josh's party tonight?"

"I'm not really sure," Riley admitted. "What do you guys even wear to something like this?"

"Something hot, but not too sexy because Josh will kill you because his brother will kill him," Charlotte advised. "Let's take a look at what you brought."

After about fifteen minutes, they settled on a red lace top that Riley had bought one day in Soho when she'd gotten lost in the vintage stores by herself. Not even Maya knew she'd bought something so revealing for herself. "You look really hot, Riley," Jasmine exclaimed.

Riley blushed hard.

They decided against any of the bottoms Riley had brought with her, so Charlotte lent her a pair of her white high-waisted shorts with laces at the sides, and Riley wore her combat boots to complete the look. "I look like I'm ready to sell myself," she said at her reflection in the mirror.

"All the college guys will be falling over themselves to get to you," Jasmine said, grinning.

Riley's mouth fell open as she shook her head vigorously. "No! My dad will actually kill me and Josh."

Charlotte grinned. "No posting pics, Riley."

They set to work on Riley's makeup and hair, and once they'd finished, Riley didn't even recognize herself. "Wow," she said, raising an eyebrow.

"I know, right? Our best work yet," Charlotte said happily. "I'm taking a picture."

"No posting!" Riley panicked.

"Relax, it's for our psychology project," Charlotte teased. "How is a person perceived when their appearance is dramatically altered? How are they viewed, and how are they treated?"

"Okay, fair enough," Riley said uncertainly. "I think Josh is going to kill you. And don't you two have to get ready?"

"We still have an hour," Jasmine said. "So we'll get ready now."

So Riley sat at the bay window scrolling through Instagram, noting all of her friends' posts from the cape. She knew there had to be plenty of unread messages on her phone, but she didn't bother to check. She was happy to see they were still having fun. Her phone buzzed with a call from her mother. "Hi mom," she said when she answered it.

"Riley, I wasn't expecting you to answer," Topanga said, surprised. "Are you getting settled in?"

"Yeah, I'm staying with a couple of Josh's friends, they have a bay window that I'll be sleeping on," Riley said.

"Great honey! What are you going to be doing tonight?" Topanga asked.

"Well, we're going to work a little more on Josh's project, actually, and then there's a small party, but please don't tell dad," Riley said in a rush.

Her mother laughed. "I won't breath a word, sweetie. He's frolicking with Shawn in the cape, right now."

"Oh, mom, I'm sorry," Riley said, giggling, "but I'm sure he'll calm down once you've gotten back to the cottages."

"I admire your confidence in him," her mother replied dryly. "So you'll update us tomorrow?"

"Of course," Riley said. It had been one of their few stipulations for her going to NYU. "How did everyone take the news?"

"Not very well at first, but..." her mother sighed. "I'm really sorry, sweetie, I think they've forgotten about it."

Riley sighed. "I knew they would."

"I had no idea it was this bad," Topanga continued. "I really feel like I should say something. Your father hasn't even told Shawn about it."

"He hasn't?" Riley asked, shocked.

"No, because he knows how much this means to you," Topanga said. "We're always going to protect you first, even if it doesn't seem like it."

Riley smiled, because hearing her mother say those words made her feel a lot better than she'd felt in recent memory. "Thank you, mom."

"You don't want him to tell Shawn, do you?" Topanga asked.

"I don't if he can't trust Shawn to keep his mouth shut without saying anything to Katy or Maya," Riley admitted. "Because the last thing I need Maya to hear is that I'm sick of being her friend."

Riley had never said anything like that aloud, but she'd definitely harboured those thoughts for several months now. "Do you really feel that way?" She heard her mother ask quietly.

Riley exhaled. "I do. I've felt that way for months now. I'm no longer important to her. So why should I keep trying when I've obviously stopped getting through to her? I'm hoping my time here this week can open my eyes a little more, see what's out there for real. The good and the bad. It's all I've ever wanted for ages now, and I'm finally getting it."

"I'm glad, Riley, because every person needs to experience this in their life," Topanga agreed, "and the younger you do it, the better. I'm very proud of you for being so independent."

"Thanks," Riley said quietly.

"But I do think you still need to talk to them. They need to know the effect their actions have had on you."

"I know," Riley admitted.

"But for now, just go have fun, all right?"

"I will," Riley said, smiling.

"I love you, sweetie."

"Love you too, mom," Riley said, and she really did mean it. She was starting to feel a lot better with her parents finally in the know. She didn't know why she hadn't come to them sooner. "Bye."

"Good bye, Riley."

When she hung up, she noticed Jasmine and Charlotte had come back into the main area. "Who was that?" Charlotte asked curiously.

"Just my mom, checking in," Riley replied. "Are you guys ready?"

"Yeah, let's go," Jasmine said, grinning. "How many guys do you think you'll pick up tonight?" she teased.

"No," was the first word out of Josh's mouth when he saw Riley. "Go change."

"No way," Charlotte said, following Riley in. "She looks great."

"Exactly, that's the problem!" Josh said, throwing his hands up. "Where did you even get those clothes?"

"I bought the top, and these are Charlotte's pants," Riley said sheepishly. She turned to the girls. "Maybe I should change."

"No time," Andrew said, coming over. "Party's almost here. That's a nice look you're wearing, Riley. It's been a while since I've seen you look this happy."

Josh had to agree. He hadn't seen his niece genuinely smiling in months. But here she was, wearing clothes that might attract at least six guys at once and result in both of their deaths, feeling confident and happy. Relaxed. No longer angry. "Fine," he conceded. "But I hope you're not planning to be in any pictures tonight."

"Relax, Josh, I've got our cover. It's for our psych project," Charlotte said.

"Plus, I told my mom we were working on the project," Riley added.

"And Char posted a picture of the three of us, talking about us working on the project," Jasmine finished.

"And my mom knows about tonight's party, so if she sees any pictures, she'll diffuse the Cory bomb before he blows," Riley continued.

Josh shook his head. "I'm dead."

"How about a picture?" Jasmine suggested. "For the project." She organized them into a pose, where Charlotte was in between the two boys and they were all carrying Riley, who was the dolled up test subject, and snapped a couple of photos. "This will be fun," she said, grinning.

"Can I see?" Riley asked, and once she did, she approved it to be posted. For once, she didn't care about the potential ramifications it might have on her friendships. The caption was fairly harmless too: jas_lang: Hard at work on our psych proj!

"You look hot," Josh observed, grinning at Charlotte.

"Aw, thanks," she said, grinning.

"Get a room, you two," Andrew groaned.

"Are you two dating?" Riley demanded.

"We kind of are," Charlotte said, blushing.

"Yes, we are," Josh clarified.

Riley's eyes had practically disappeared into her hairline. "Wow, that's awesome!"

"I know I have that whole weird thing with Maya, but someday isn't anytime soon," Josh said.

Riley laughed. "I don't expect you to not date anyone else while you keep your idiotic promise to her."

"You think it's idiotic?" Josh was surprised.

"I do, and I always have," Riley sighed. "You give that girl too much hope."

"Well, she's dating Lucas, so maybe she's forgotten about me by now," Josh said.

"Do you really want that?" Charlotte asked.

Josh shrugged. "I don't really know."

"Okay, people are going to show up any minute and we need to start mixing drinks," Andrew called. "Who's going to help?"

"I'll help," Jasmine volunteered, following him to the kitchen. After a quick kiss with Josh, Charlotte went after them. Josh looked at his niece. "Are you sure you want to do this?"

"I am," she said confidently. "I've never been more ready."

Riley was very careful with her alcohol consumption throughout the night. She never had more than two drinks in an hour. Besides, it was her first time drinking and she didn't want to end up in the hospital with alcohol poisoning. She was halfway through her third beer and chatting with a couple of Josh's friends, Julia and Mason. Julia was a dance major and Mason was studying biomedical sciences. She couldn't help but ask them a couple of questions about university life and applying for colleges, because she was in the middle of waiting for responses from schools.

"Where did you apply?" Mason asked over the music.

"Here, Columbia, Northwestern, UMass, for psychology," she admitted. "Like niece like uncle, I guess. I've always liked the idea of working with people to solve problems." She felt slightly guilty in saying that, though, because when she had problems, she didn't like opening up to anyone. That's why she wanted to be a psychologist so badly. She wanted to help those in her position, people who felt like there was no one out for them. She was leaning towards becoming a psychotherapist, but she was open to any job in the field.

"Awesome," Julia said. "The world needs more of you guys."

It was amazing how at ease Riley felt amongst Josh's college friends. She'd had some nervous jitters at first, but she found the transition seamless, at least socially. She knew the academic transition would be enormously difficult. Thankfully, she didn't have to deal with that quite yet.

"Don't look now," Mason said. "I think there are a couple of guys who've got their eye on you."

"Seriously?" Riley sighed. "Do I need to sic my uncle on them?"

"I think you should, these guys aren't any good at all," Julia advised. "Huge players, and they've gone through almost every girl on campus. They won't care that you're underage."

"I can't believe Charlotte and Jasmine thought it'd be a good idea for me to attract guys, especially ones that are legally adults," Riley groaned.

"Maybe they just wanted you to see what the real world's like," Julia said. "Because men are pigs, especially this one." She elbowed Mason hard.

"Ow," Mason snapped. "I am not a pig."

"Really? How many girlfriends have you had? I lost count at thirteen." Riley had to laugh at that.

"Okay, okay, so I like girls, big deal," Mason defended himself.

"Give it up, Mace, you go through women like men go through condoms."

Riley couldn't help but start laughing again. "You guys are hilarious," she managed.

Mason opened his mouth to respond when he noticed one of the men move towards them. "Riley, you'd better get out of here and find Josh. One of them is coming over here now."

Riley glanced over her shoulder. Tall, dark hair, great physique, but way too old for her. No matter how much alcohol was running through her veins, she was in no mood to socialize with someone who just wanted to get in her pants. Why was she wearing such a bright colour? "Thanks, it was great talking!"

"Bye!" they both called after her as she squeezed through a bunch of people and disappeared.

Riley pushed past a startling amount of people before finding Andrew. "Where's Josh?" she shouted.

"Making out with Charlotte," he sighed.

"Someone's following me and I need your help, since Josh is so conveniently incapacitated."

Andrew snapped to attention. "Of course," he said. "I've got your back, Riles."

Sure enough, the tall brunette who'd followed Riley found her minutes later. "Back off, dude," Andrew said immediately once he approached them.

He held up his hands in defeat. "Relax, dude, I'm just here to talk to her."

"And I'm here to tell you to back off." Riley couldn't help but feel protected by Andrew, and she was extremely grateful to have found him.

"Is she yours?"

"She's off-limits," Josh said from behind him.

Tall, dark, and handsome turned around to see Josh standing there with his arms crossed. Charlotte was with him, and Riley was certain they'd been getting busy together. She couldn't help but smile. Her uncle was definitely a different person around his friends.

"You should leave," Charlotte added.

"I'm not scared of you, Matthews," he retorted. "You either, Carter," he said, turning back to Andrew.

"You're going to leave, right now," Josh said, walking past him to stand next to Riley. "Or you'll be sorry."

"Josh, please don't," Riley said quietly. "Don't do something you'll regret."

"It will be fine, as long as he leaves." Josh turned back to him. "Go."

"I'll be back," he warned, before disappearing in the crowd.

"Are you all right?" Josh asked immediately, turning to his niece.

"I'm fine, don't worry. I found Andrew before he found me," Riley explained.

"Good," Josh said, giving her a hug. "Maybe it's time you went back to your bag and changed," he said, glaring at her outfit.

Riley laughed. "I think you're right. I'm thinking long sleeves, and pants."

"I agree," Josh said, "and I'm speaking as your uncle now. Go to bed, Riley, I'll see you in the morning."

"I'll walk you back," Charlotte said, "just in case that creep tries to follow us."

"Thanks," she said gratefully. She gave Andrew and Josh hugs before following Charlotte out of Josh's dorm. Despite how the evening had ended, her first college party had been so much fun, and she couldn't wait to see what the rest of the week had in store for her.