Val Meets Maya's Mother
I don't own Girl Meets World!
The next week, Val was still sorta mad at Riley but her sister was slowly earning her forgiveness. They were in art class that day working on drawing a bowl of fruit. Riley sat between her sister and Maya.
Farkle sauntered in "Why draw a bowl of fruit when you can draw a man?" He whipped off his bathrobe and Val shrieked, covering her eyes.
Riley and Maya both shouted "NO!" And shut their eyes too.
"Well, looky here. The male physique." The art teacher, Ms. Kossal, said.
"Why, thank you, art lady." Farkle bowed.
Val peaked through her fingers and saw that Farkle was not, in fact, naked. But was wearing a one piece striped bathing suit.
"Oh, honey." She muttered, pulled out her phone and took a picture.
"Hey!" Farkle said.
"Don't worry, I'm not gonna post it anywhere." Val said calmly.
"Why aren't we drawing Lucas?" Riley interrupted.
Ms. Kossal took a long look at the handsome boy "Because nobody looks like that." She grabbed Farkle by the shoulders and sat him down on a stool "Get used to this. Get used to this right now. When drawing a 'Farkle', start with the eyes." She instructed.
"I think the eyes should go straight to the gun show." Farkle flexed his "muscles."
Riley looked over at Maya's paper "Maya, you're supposed to concentrate on the eyes."
"See, you know what my problem is? I don't listen. By the way, you're drawing Lucas." Maya pointed her pencil at Riley's sketchpad.
"Oh. Well, that's the first time I've ever done that." Riley smiled.
Val looked over and flipped a page of her sister's sketchbook "Mm-hmm."
On it was a bowl with fruit that had Lucas's face on each fruit. Maya flipped to the next page and there was a drawing of Lucas riding a horse in a suit of armor.
"Do I need help?" Riley asked.
The girls on either side of her both nodded their heads violently.
"All right, I know these are works in progress, but let's see where we are." Ms. Kossal started walking around the room, looking at the artworks.
"Maybe we'll become famous artists. We'll go to Paris; drink coffee in outdoor cafes." Riley sat down on the edge of the table and pretended to drink from a cup "How do I look?"
Maya vocalized a tune as she started to draw. When she finished she held up a cartoonish drawing of Riley wearing a beret and sitting in front of the Eiffel Tower.
"Fine, make fun of me. I am a serious artist who belongs in Paris." Riley turned to Lucas who was walking by "Bonjour, Lucas."
Lucas spoke in French "(Hello, Riley. Maybe someday you and I will go to Paris together.)"
Riley stared at him in silent shock "Bonjour, Lucas." She said again.
"You two are adorable." Val leaned her chin on her hand "Really, truly, adorable."
Riley sat back down as Ms. Kossal walked by their table and said "Oh my gosh!"
"See? I am an artist. I am finally something." Riley grinned excitedly.
"Maya, Val!" Ms. Kossal exclaimed.
"What a life I'm having." Riley's voice turned dark.
"Maya. My goodness." Ms. Kossal said "This is brilliant!"
"Farkle's in a bird's nest!" Riley pointed out.
"It's a work of surrealism, Riley. It's how this artist's mind views the subject." Ms. Kossal explained.
"I'm a bird to you?" Farkle asked.
"No, you just...need to be protected." Maya said slowly.
"You love me."
"Leave me alone."
"And Val, this is simply beautiful!" Ms. Kossal placed a hand on Val's shoulder.
"Thank you, Ms. Kossal." Val smiled.
Riley looked over at Val's artwork. It was Farkle sitting on a throne, wearing a crown and velvet-looking robe lined with fur. The throne sat on top of the world and Farkle had a happy smile on his face. Riley groaned quietly. Why was Val so good at everything?
"Val, Maya, there's a school exhibit coming up. I want one of each of your pieces in it." Ms. Kossal commanded.
"What about my piece?" Riley tried.
Ms. Kossal paused, looking at the drawing before she looked back at Riley "That's a cute top."
Maya shook her head "No thanks, Ms. Kossal, I don't draw for other people to look at, but thank you."
"Yeah, I don't think so, Ms. Kossal. Thank you though." Val said "I just draw for myself."
"I'd appreciate you thinking about it, okay?" Ms. Kossal told the two.
Farkle got up and headed for the door.
"Where are you headed, Farkle?" Riley asked the genius.
"Gym class. That should go well, right?"
Riley stormed into the Matthews apartment "They've been lying to you, Auggie." She sat down at her place at the table "Your artwork would not hang on a single refrigerator outside this apartment."
Val followed her sister in "You're being overdramatic."
"You said I was a little genius." Auggie turned to their mother accusingly.
"Oh, you are a little genius." Topanga hugged the little boy.
"You said I was a little genius." Riley pointed out.
"Well, I only had Val to compare you with, honey."
"Maya and Val are going to be a famous artists and everybody speaks French but me." Riley cried.
Auggie began to speak in French "(My sister Riley. You're a very simple girl and people like you.)"
"You are going to change the world with your brilliant mind." Topanga hugged her son again.
Riley glared at her mother.
"You have a such a cute top." Topanga said quickly.
Cory looked up "Are there any more of these mashed potatoes?"
"That's what your thinking about right now?" Riley asked, incredulously.
"Riley, this whole 'what-am I-good-at' thing? I've been there my whole life. It's a waste of time. You know what's not a waste of time?" Cory held up his spoon "Mashed potatoes. You know why? They never let you down. They're the best in the world at what they do. So don't be mashed potatoes, because they're better at that than you could ever be."
"How are you helping me?" Riley asked.
"Can I eat a meal?"
"What about you guys? Do you have any talent? Did I inherit anything from you two?" Riley begged.
Topanga snorted "Should we tell her?"
"You think they're ready?" Cory giggled.
"Your father has a gift for-" Topanga began.
Riley interrupted "Gimme! Gimme. I'll take anything."
"-Close-up magic!" Topanga finished.
"Hah?"
"That's right. He's a close-up magician. Yay." Topanga waved her hands in the air slightly.
"What is a- What is that?" Riley spluttered.
"What is that? Oh, I don't know." Cory stood up and walked over to Auggie "Maybe it's a little something like...I go over to this guy over here-" He patted Auggie's shoulders "Hi. How are you? Good. And then I ask a little question like, Hey! Where's the salt? Anybody seen the salt?"
Auggie looked around the table "I don't see the salt, Daddy. The salt's gone."
"Is it, Auggie? Is it gone? Or is it-piddly-pobbly-pa-poom!" Cory wiggled his fingers as if he were performing magic.
Auggie reached into his pocket and pulled out the salt "What the...?"
"That was already there." Riley said.
"I swear, Riley. I swear!" Auggie slammed his hands on the table.
"Do it right now with the pepper." Riley tried.
"Pepper? Nobody could do pepper." Cory rolled his eyes "Peppery-poppily-pa-poom!"
Auggie took the pepper out of his pocket "Why aren't you famous?!"
"See? He's very good. You come from a very talented family." Topanga told her younger daughter.
"Close-up magic? Really? What am I supposed to do with that? Mom, could you please help me out with something that I could actually use? Do you have a talent?" Riley begged.
Topanga snickered.
"Does she?" Cory asked "Does she? Your Mom-"
"Don't you dare." His wife warned.
"Your Mom's hips don't lie!" Cory burst out.
"Cory Matthews!" Topanga shouted teasingly.
"Whoo-hoo! Do it, mommy!" Auggie cheered.
Topanga crossed her arms "No, no, no. No, I am not gonna do it." She stood up "All right, fine. I'll do it."
"Okay, do it! Yeah!" Val called, laughing.
"It goes a little something like this" Topanga put her hands on her hips and moved them in a circle "Ay yai yai yai, ay yai yai yai, ay yai yai yai, ay yai, ay yai yai yai."
Riley slammed her head down on the table. Val patted her sister's back.
Their father stood up and copied his wife's movements "Hey, Riley, pa-poom!" He wiggled his fingers magically.
Riley took the salt out of her pocket making Val laugh.
The next day was career day at school and Riley was still in a bad mood.
Their father stood at the head of the classroom "All right, future history makers. Welcome to career day. Now there are a lot of ways to make your mark on the world."
Topanga walked in "Hi, Riley. Hi, Val."
"Oh great, Shakira is here." Riley rolled her eyes and looked over at Maya "Where's your mom?"
"She won't be coming." Maya sighed.
"But she told you she was coming." Riley protested.
"Yes, she did."
"Riley, leave her alone." Val leaned over to her sister "She doesn't have to tell you anything."
"Okay, guys, our first guest today is a lawyer, and I likes her." Cory leaned on his desk "Hey, lawyer lady, how's about we go out sometime? I get off work every day at 3:15...Except Tuesdays. I got playground."
"So I am an attorney. I got here through a lot of hard work in school. By the time I was your age, I had 350 'As." Topanga smiled proudly.
There was a knock on the door.
Riley whipped around "Your mom- There she is."
Cory opened the door and Stuart Minkus strode in.
Cory gasped "Minkus."
"Topanga!" Minkus grinned.
"Stuart." Topanga acknowledged.
"Topanga!" Stuart repeated as he walked over to his son.
Farkle looked at Stuart "Father."
"Farkle." Stuart wrapped his arm around his son's shoulders.
"Wait a minute." Lucas put up his hands, stopping everything.
"Yes?" Farkle asked.
"He's your father?" Lucas looked so confused that Val started giggling uncontrollably.
Stuart put his face next to his son's "Look at us."
"Your name is Farkle Minkus?" Lucas was stunned.
"Don't wear it out." Farkle smiled.
"I don't know how you could." Lucas twinkled.
"How do you look so cute?" Val sighed.
Stuart walked to the front of the classroom "Sorry I'm late, everybody. I had helicopter problems, 'cause I have a helicopter. Do you have a helicopter, Cory?"
"Nope. Do you have a Topanga, Minkus?"
"Nope, because she chose you. I run Minkus International, I have a helicopter, and she chose you." Stuart sighed.
Topanga stepped forward "Stuart, please. Aren't we a little too evolved to still be competing with each other?"
"Of course." Minkus laughed.
Topanga joined in "Of course."
"Go!" The two adults shouted together and raced to their children.
"Between the two of us, Riley and I have 1260 'As. Ha!" Topanga bragged.
"That's remarkable, Topanga. Between the two of us, Farkle and I have 1261." Stuart smirked.
"Ha!" Stuart and Farkle did the Minkus Laugh.
Topanga whirled around and glared at her husband.
"I- I had to, Topanga. He's a lot smarter than I am." Cory exclaimed.
"Forgetting someone, Mom?" Val teased.
"Oh, right. Sorry honey. Between the three of us, Val, Riley and I have 1,389 'As. Ha ha!" Topanga cackled "And they're both taller than me. They've been taller than me since the day they were born!"
Stuart adjusted Farkle's posture making him look taller. Still not as tall as the two girls, but taller.
"Well, very nice. Good for you guys. So this is what Career Day is really all about." Cory chuckled.
"Yeah, I love it every year." Maya said sarcastically.
Cory leaned down in front of her "I'm sorry, Maya. Maybe your mom just got a little busy."
"Are you okay?" Riley asked her best friend.
Maya sighed "I'm always okay." Riley grabbed her hand and pulled her up to stand next to herself and Val "Yeah, thanks."
Minkus and Farkle came up to the girls"So these are the two ladies you tell me keep chasing you, huh?"
Val quirked an eyebrow "What am I? Invisible?"
"Please." Farkle whispered.
"Fine." Val sighed and stepped back.
"Yes, sir. It is us." Riley said.
"Not doing it." Maya said loudly.
Val and Riley both elbowed her.
"Yes, sir, it is us. We hope that one day one of us will be lucky enough to become the future Mrs. Farkle Minkus and have a lot of baby minkii." Maya said flatly.
"Why won't you guys show your art?"
Riley, Maya, and Val were sat in the bay window after school and Riley was desperately trying to get her friend and sister to explain their reasoning to her.
"Because I'm- I'm fine believing that nothing much is going to happen for me. Otherwise I'm full of hope. You hope for things, you get disappointed." Maya sighed.
"What reason could your mom have for not showing up, Maya? You're right; I did expect her." Riley crossed her arms angrily.
"And I didn't. See? Only one of us is disappointed." Maya explained.
"And only one of us will never let this go. You know that." Riley stood up.
"I don't expect out of life what you expect, Riley." Maya stayed sitting at the bay window.
Val sighed, she knew this would turn into the Riley and Maya show. Still, someone needed to be the voice of reason.
"What do I expect?" Riley asked.
"You expect...good things. You expect people to keep promises and people to show up." Maya shrugged.
Riley frowned and sat back down "You don't?"
"Riley, I'm not one of those dreamers like you."
"If your mom saw your art, doesn't it make sense that she'd be proud of you?" Riley prodded.
"Yeah, it makes sense to you. Riley, you need to be okay with this. Do you understand that finally something is beyond your control? Look, I know you can't control your twisted need to fix people's lives." Riley fixed Maya's jacket "I'm begging you." Riley brushed Maya's hair behind her ear and moved her hands so they were sitting on top of each other.
Riley then looked at Val, who sighed "I'm not showing my art and you're not telling Mom or Dad."
"Why not?" Riley whined.
"Because then they'll make me show a piece and I don't want to."
Val stood up and left the room. A smile spread across Riley's face.
"Oh, no." Maya groaned.
The next day, in Cory's class, they were learning about...
"The Korean War."
"Genghis Khan!" Farkle shouted.
Cory's face scrunched up in confusion "What?"
"I just wanted to see what would happen." Farkle shrugged.
The door swung open and Katy Hart, Maya's mother stood in the frame.
"Hello, Cory Matthews. I am so sorry for interrupting." Katy said, leaning on the doorframe.
Maya paled "Oh, no."
"Nothing to forgive, Katy. Class, this is Maya's mother, Katy Hart." Cory smiled.
"Mom, what are you doing?" Maya asked "It was yesterday."
"Yesterday I was unable to attend your little job fair." Katy grinned like a Cheshire Cat.
"Career day." Maya groaned.
"Yesterday I was trapped... in my vehicle... in the rushing flood waters of the mighty Colorado river! To make matters worse, I just found out I was about to have a baby any second. So I crawled myself through the sunroof and I said, "Let's do this thing." Then I commenced to deliver my own baby until finally I heard that wonderful, magical sound." Katy made a weird popping sound then mimicked a crying baby "'Mama? Are you my mama?'"
"Maya?" Val asked.
"Soap opera. She was auditioning for a soap opera."
"Can you believe I didn't get it?" Katy scowled.
"Yes!" The class as a whole responded.
Katy gave a false laugh "Yes. I am an actress. Are there any questions I can answer for anyone?" Farkle raised his hand "Ah, yes, the Farkle."
"Why are you wearing a waitress outfit?" Farkle asked.
"Anyone else?" Katy said quickly.
Lucas raised his hand.
"Yes, the pretty, young man right there."
"Yeah, thanks. Um, why are you wearing a waitress outfit?" Lucas asked and Val threw a wad of paper at his head "Hey!"
"Hey, wonder boy? Shut up." Val hissed "She obviously doesn't want to answer that question."
A girl in the back, Sarah, spoke up "My dad says actors are a bunch of people who never grew up."
"And what does your father do?" Katy chuckled.
"He's a director." Sarah said, pleased with herself, only to get hit in the face with another wadded up ball of paper "Hey!"
"Is he? Well, I'm sure your father never gave me a job either, which is the real reason I wear this outfit every day. Well, I'll just be going now." Katy sighed and left the classroom.
Riley stood up and followed her into the hallway.
Val stayed in her seat for a moment before Maya got up and made for the door. Val sighed, got up, and trailed after her.
"Hi, mom." Maya said, stepping into the hallway, Val two steps behind her.
"Hey, Maya." Katy tried to smile.
"Could I ask you a favor?" Maya asked.
"Of course, anything."
Maya took a deep breath "I think it works best for us when you go on your imaginary auditions and chase our imaginary father. I appreciate your coming, I do. And I'm not humiliated. I'm not. I'm- I'm okay. You okay?"
Katy nodded.
"Good." Maya turned around to head back to class and Val stepped out of her way, placing a hand on her friend's shoulder as she passed her.
"Yeah, this is just how we are. For me to think any other way is just acting, and I'm not that good." Katy muttered.
Riley stepped forward, looping her arm through her sisters "We were raised by Topanga and Cory Matthews. They're maniacs. They'd walk through an avalanche for friendship, for the sake of family. I got that from them. I got a talent. How about that?"
"You can't fix this, Riley." Katy sighed.
"Oh, but she'll sure try." Val grimaced.
"Yes, I can. There is an art show here, tomorrow night. You need to be there." Riley told Katy.
"Sure." Katy said.
"We expect you there." Riley smiled.
"I understand." Katy said over her shoulder as she walked away.
"Don't disappoint us!"
"Hey, Riles, cover for me for a few minutes?" Val asked.
Riley nodded.
"Thanks." Val dashed after Katy "Ms. Hart! Please wait."
Katy stopped and looked back "What do you need?"
"I need to tell you something." Val looked her friend's mother deep in the eyes "I know you think you're helping Maya by keeping your distance but you're not."
"Excuse me, but I don't think it's your place to tell me how to parent my daughter."
"Maybe not, but I'm gonna anyways. Maya is going places, and if I know my sister she's gonna be with her every step of the way."
"See, she's better off with you and your sister."
"No, she's not. Yes, we love her and she and Riley complete each other in a really scary way, but you know what? She misses you. Maybe she doesn't always show it in the best way, but she loves you to pieces and she wants to see you more. You wanna help your daughter and my best friend go places? Then be there for her. That means being a constant support for her journey and her goals. No more being late or excuses." Val finished with a sigh "Just think about it, please?"
Later in art class, the class was drawing Riley.
"Drawing a woman's face is different than drawing a man's. Look for subtle differences. The lips are different." Ms. Kossal touched Riley's face as she spoke.
"No matter what, don't get mad at me, okay?" Riley said anxiously.
"I could never." Maya said.
"What did you do?" Val asked.
Ms. Kossal closed her student's mouth "To paint a young woman's lips, she needs to stop flapping them."
"Because if I have any talent at all, it's this, so don't get mad at me." Riley pleaded.
"I could never."
"What did you do?"
"Because when the mouth is moving, it will affect all the sketches. And they all come out like this." Ms. Kossal held up two pictures of Riley with a giant mouth "Except for these two. You two don't listen to a word I say, do you?"
"Uh, it's not because I'm disrespectful." Maya said nervously.
"I'm just drawing from memory." Val shrugged.
"It's because you're artists. I'm glad you both decided to display your work. I got your notes in my teacher's box." Ms. Kossal smiled.
"That's the thing you're not supposed to get mad at." Riley grinned.
"The exhibit starts at 6:00. It's thrilling seeing your art displayed, you won't regret it." Ms. Kossal walked out of the classroom.
"You don't listen to a word I say, do you?" Maya said.
Riley kept grinning nervously "I-It's not because I'm disrespectful. It's because you're an artist."
"Yeah? Then let me paint you something." Maya picked up a brush and painted Riley's face green.
The class, and Val, scurried out. In the hallway, Lucas walked up to the fuming Val.
"You okay?" He asked.
"No." Val ground out "My sister has betrayed my trust again and I'm pissed."
"Why? She gave you a chance to display your art, which is really good, by the way."
"I know, but I didn't want to display my work. The fact that she did it without my permission is what is upsetting me." Val groaned.
"Oh." Lucas frowned "So you're upset that she's not being considerate of your wishes?"
"Exactly. And now I have to make a new piece. That's gonna take forever." Val groaned.
Riley and Maya came out of the classroom covered in paint.
"Oh, my God." Val sighed "What is wrong with you two?"
"Val?" Riley asked.
"Yes, Riley?"
"Are you mad at me?"
"What do you think?" Val raised an eyebrow "Riley, I told you I didn't want to display my art. Why would you do this?"
"Because you're my sister and I love you?" Riley tried.
"Right now, I don't really care."
And Val walked away.
That night at the showcase Maya sat next to her picture, Val on her other side with her picture. A couple parents came up to them and both girls smiled at them. Then Riley, Lucas, and Farkle came up to them.
Riley smiled "How's it going?"
"It's going fine." Maya said.
Val turned away from her sister.
"What does your mom think?" Riley asked but Maya gave her a confused look "She never showed up?"
"It's just you guys." Maya shrugged.
"Are you telling me your mom never showed up?" Riley frowned.
"No. But of course you guys did." Maya pointed to the twins parents.
Topanga came up to Maya's painting "Hey, Maya. Wow, you really have some talent. Look at that place."
"I bet it's got great mashed potatoes." Cory said wistfully.
"Look at that lady, why can you only see half of her?" Farkle said quickly then Lucas wrapped his arms around the smaller boy's face "Oh."
Riley rushed out of the room.
"And Val, this piece is simply gorgeous." Topanga smiled "Who's the dancer?"
Her picture was of a dancer in a single spotlight doing an arabesque.
"No one important." Val sighed.
"You guys really don't have to stay." Maya tried to tell Cory and Topanga.
"Are you kidding? We love supporting the middle school art scene." Cory smirked.
"Yeah, we even bought a drawing." Topanga held up a drawing of Riley with her mouth wide open from class "You have to wonder who this silly, little weirdo is." Riley walked up beside her mother and opened her mouth wide "Aw... It's our silly, little weirdo."
"Thank you for staying with Maya." Riley hugged her mother.
Cory smiled "Always."
Cory took Topanga by the hand and led her away.
"I couldn't get her to come and I'm very disappointed." Riley walked up to Maya.
"I know, you expect too much." Maya told her best friend.
"This is hard on me."
"You need a hug, darling?"
Riley nodded and Maya wrapped her in a tight bear hug.
When they pulled away Riley still looked sad "Maya, I was wrong."
"No, Riley, you were right." Maya patted her on her shoulder.
"I'm very confused."
"I showed my work." Maya shrugged "People liked it. It made me feel like I could be something someday."
"You will be. You are now." Riley told Maya.
Maya smiled lightly "Thank you, Riley."
"You're welcome. Do you want half a tuna melt?" Riley asked, holding up the box.
"You know why she gave this to you?"
"Why?"
"She knows it's my favorite thing there. She knew that you'd share with me."
"I'd be happy to give you the whole thing."
"I know you would." Maya looked at her painting of half her mother "I'll be just fine with half."
Val sat with Auggie on her lap, looking at her painting.
"It's pretty, Val." Auggie hugged his sister "Who's that dancer?"
"That's me, Auggie."
"You dance?"
"Sometimes." Val shrugged "Call it a hobby."
"Well, I think it's beautiful." Auggie squeezed his big sister "I'll see you at home."
He hopped off Val's lap and walked back to his parents. Val sat there for a few more minutes, staring at her portrait. She took a deep breath and sighed. She knew she'd told her parents that the dancer was nothing, but she wasn't.
Annie and Eric came over and sat down next to her.
"You okay?" Annie asked, putting her arm around her friend.
"I'm always okay, Annie. Thanks for checking though." Val smiled, tears pricking the corners of her eyes.
Eric reached up and wiped her eyes as the tears spilled over "Hey," He whispered "Your art is beautiful and so are you. You are a talented dancer, artist, and person. I think you're really great."
"Thanks, Eric, Annie." Val dabbed at her eyes "You guys are the best friends a gal could ask for."
"Yeah," Annie flipped her hair "We know."
"I love you guys." Val said softly.
"We love you too." Eric wrapped the smaller girl in his arms "We love you too." He kissed the top of her head.
Word count: 4226 words
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Love,
The Author