Just to clarify, if you haven't watched Boy Meets World, Amy is Cory's mom and Alan is his dad.
Shoutout to Belle Goode, Prettypokie, .gallifrey, BarbyBBones, Jack Rusell and ausllyraura23 for reviewing and giving me your thoughts and perspectives on things. Thankyou soo much *hugs passed all around* Hopefully, the chapter answers your questions :)
The One-Up Game.
"I didn't want to wake up. I was having a much better time asleep. And that's really sad. It was almost like a reverse nightmare, like when you wake up from a nightmare you're so relieved. I woke up into a nightmare."
― Ned Vizzini, It's Kind of a Funny Story
Amy cleared her throat, breaking the stunned silence. Cory appeared behind Merissa, a goofy, happy smile on his face.
"Well, this is certainly surprising." She said, raising her voice.
"I love her, mom." Said Cory.
"It's not love. It's lust." Riley heard her mutter. Cory didn't.
Riley felt… she didn't know yet. That's what worried her. She should have been sad, or angry, or something. But right now, she just felt numb.
Lucas glanced at her, worried. He didn't let go of her hand.
Riley herself was looking at Topanga, noticing how her smile instantly disappeared and her eyes went dark. She chewed on her lip.
"I'm proud, son." Said Alan. Everybody could see that he didn't mean it. Except Merissa and Cory of course.
Topanga took a shaky breath and pushed the hair out of her face. She tried to compose herself, and gave Cory a small smile. "Me too."
"Really?" Cory raised an eyebrow. She nodded.
In the near corner, Auggie was tugging on Josh's sleeve and whispering, "What's going on?"
"Your dad and Merissa are going to get married soon." Josh whispered back. Not exactly the best way to put it. Auggie, however, didn't say anything, which surprised Riley.
"Riley…?" Cory looked at her expectedly. Suddenly, she felt everyone's eyes burning through her.
She shook her head slowly, screwing her eyes shut. She didn't want to make anyone upset. Didn't want to erase the smile on Cory's face. But she couldn't help it.
Pushing past Merissa and Cory, she ran out.
Before she could make it to her bedroom, she heard Lucas say, "I'll take care of this." and then heard his footsteps approaching.
She sat on the bed with her head down and her arms wrapped around her.
Lucas entered and crouched on the ground, facing her.
"Are you angry?" he asked, taking her hand and tracing circles on her palm.
"I don't know." She said in a small voice.
"Sad?"
She shook her head. "I don't know. I wish I did, but I don't." She closed her eyes, trying not to let the tears fall down her face. She didn't want Lucas to see her cry anymore. Not here. Not now.
"It's okay, Riley. There has to be a storm before the rainbow, remember?" She wanted to ask him how this storm could possibly be over. But she didn't.
She took a deep breath. "I just want to be left alone for a little while. Please?"
Lucas nodded. "Okay." He got up and kissed her cheek. "I'm here if you want to talk. You know that, right?" Riley nodded.
Once he left, the tears she was trying so hard to control just came pouring down. Somebody knocked on the door and she tried to wipe her face.
Maya came and sat down next to her. "You can cry, you know. I'm not stopping you." When Riley didn't reply she said, "I know how it feels, Riles. When you lose a parent to someone else. But things will get better soon. Don't forget that."
Riley rested her head on Maya's shoulder. "He doesn't love her."
"Maybe he does."
"No. He doesn't. He could have chosen anyone. But her? She's a stripper, for damn's sake! Not even his type."
"He obviously saw something in her, which is why—"
Riley shook her head. "No. He's just trying to make Mom jealous. That he can find someone better than her. They're playing a one-up game and it's ruining our lives." She choked on her words, fighting through the tears. "How can they not realize that?"
Maya put a hand on her back. "They will, soon."
"What if it's too late?"
And even Maya couldn't answer that question.
That night, Lucas and Josh stayed over in the other room, and Maya slept on the couch. Riley had offered her the bed, but Maya had declined.
Riley lay in bed, finally having figured out her feelings. It wasn't something she could control. But she was satisfied that she had at least figured them out.
She wasn't angry at her dad, she realized. She was angry at the world.
That ring to her, was like a promise. A promise that things would never get better. A promise to never dream of hope again.
Things had started looking up. Riley was finally happy. But then it all crashed down. Again.
Riley knew how selfish she was being. She had no right to be, just because her dad was marrying another woman, especially when some kids her age didn't even have parents at all.
But she had loved her parents so much. Her parents were the ones she looked up to. The ones she had drawn pictures of when she was six.
Now, ten years later, things would never be the same again.
For the first time in three months, that night was the one Riley gave in to the monsters.
Guys, see if you can guess the beginning of the next chapter ;) Best ones get shoutouts.