Val Meets Home Again

I don't own Girl Meets World!

Previously

"Ahhh!" Lydia squealed when she opened the door "You made it!"

"I told you I would." Val laughed "What's on the agenda for tonight?"

"We decided to do mega makeovers." April grinned "We're gonna look so good when we're done. Especially with your help on the makeup. I can barely do mascara."

"Let's get this party started!" Jenny shouted.

Present

Lydia and Jenny pulled Val into Lydia's room and started pulling out various articles of clothing. They tossed the shirts, skirts, and shoes behind them making April and Val duck and dodge to avoid the flying clothing.

"Watch it!" April joked "We're right behind you!"

"Sorry." Lydia laughed "Didn't mean to hit you."

"Who's going first?" Val asked.

"You! You're the newest and the youngest, you're going first." Jenny grinned and pushed Val in front of the vanity.

"Okay," Val agreed "No need to twist my arm."

"Lydia is gonna start on your makeup, and April and I are going to find you some fabulous clothes."

Lydia grabbed Val's cheeks and studied her face for a moment before releasing her "I know just what to do." She declared.

"Nothing too drastic, okay?" Val requested.

"Don't worry, you'll look great, and if you don't like it we can try something else." Lydia assured her.

Lydia rummaged through the drawer until she pulled out a large makeup case. She opened it and pulled out the makeup she would use. Lydia had a lot of makeup, Val had to admit, and she really hoped she knew how to use it.

When Lydia had finished Val's makeup, she turned to try and get a look in the mirror, but April grabbed her shoulders "Nuh-uh, you get to see when we're all done and not before."

Jenny held out an armful of clothes and sent Val into the closet to get changed. Val rolled her eyes but put on the clothes anyways. The shirt was a little lower cut than she was used to, but it wasn't indecent. The skirt was a short cute jean style with a zipper up the front. She glanced at the shoes, they were two inch high blue wedges with sparkles on the sides.

When Val came out of the closet, her new friends gasped.

"Oh, my God! Val! You look amazing!" Lydia shrieked.

"I love it!" Jenny cried.

"At least they didn't make you look like a sl-" April teased.

"Shut up, April!" Lydia laughed and pushed her friend off the bed.

"Can I see what I look like now?" Val asked.

"Oh, sure." Lydia giggled sheepishly "Come here."

She shut the closet door, there was a full length mirror on the back and Lydia turned Val to face it.

"Wow!" Val gasped "I-I look so different."

It was true, her hair was curled, her makeup was dark and dramatic, and her clothes clung to her body in a very pretty way.

"Is different good?" Lydia asked nervously.

"Absolutely." Val grinned "I love it!"

"Great! It's my turn!" Jenny bounced up "Val, can you do my makeup?"

"Sure, how do you want it done?"

"Give me something sparkly and pretty." Jenny laughed "I don't really care, just as long as I'm glowing."

"Got it."

The girls were up all night laughing and joking around.

"You've got to let us take you shopping before you leave." Lydia told Val "You've got such a great body and you're hiding it."

"Well, I've got some money put by, and if I talk to my parents, they'll let me buy some new things." Val said thoughtfully "I guess I can go shopping, but I'm not spending too much money."

The three girls squealed and squeezed Val in a hug. Josh drove up outside and came up to the door.

"Val, your cute cousin is here!" Jenny said, being the first to notice him standing at the door.

"Shut up, Jenny." Val laughed.

"Come on in, Josh." Lydia opened the door "Val, you can keep the outfit from last night, it doesn't fit me anymore anyways."

"Thanks, Lydia!" Val grinned "Hey, Uncle Josh, what do you think?" She twirled, showing off the new outfit.

"You look amazing, Val." Josh complimented.

"Doesn't she?" April poked Val's side making her laugh.

"April!"

Two weeks passed with Val messaging her old friends, hanging out with her new friends, attending school with Josh, and generally having a good time. She got to go shopping, and learn about what high school was like. Overall, it had been a very fun, exciting, and drama free two weeks.

But, Val was missing her parents, Annie, Lucas, Eric, and of course Auggie. They video chatted every night, but it just wasn't the same. So she decided, int might be time for her to go home. She was still mad at Riley, but she knew she was in a better place than she had been when she first came to Philadelphia. It was time to go home.

When the Topanga came to pick her up, Val was sad to say goodbye to her new friends, Uncle Josh, and Grandma and Grandpa, but she was excited to see her old friends, and Auggie again. The one thing she worried about was how they would see her, now that she was dressing differently, wearing a little more makeup, and was bolder and less afraid to say what she was thinking.

Val had to keep reminding herself that, they were her family and if they loved her, they would accept the changes to her appearance and understand her feelings.

As Topanga drove her daughter home, she couldn't help but notice how different she seemed. It wasn't a bad difference, in fact, Topanga was glad in a way. Val seemed more willing to stand up for herself and that would hopefully mean Riley wouldn't be able to push her sister around as much.

They finally reached their apartment building and made their way up the stairs. Val paused before reaching for the door handle.

"You okay, Val?" Topanga asked.

"I'm fine." Val nodded "Just a little nervous."

Topanga reached over and pulled her daughter into a tight hug "It'll be okay. Don't worry."

"Thanks, Mom." Val smiled, tears pricking the corners of her eyes "I really hope you're right."

She stepped forward and opened the door. Inside was Uncle Shawn, arms crossed and glaring angrily at Riley and Maya. Auggie heard the door open and dashed down the stairs to see his big sister and mother standing there in confusion.

"VALLIE!" Auggie shouted "You're back!"

He ran into Val's outstretched arms and wrapped himself around her as she knelt down to his level. Auggie could smell a sweet, flowery perfume coming off her and buried his face in her hair. He'd missed her so much.

"Oh, Auggie!" Val laughed "It's good to see you too!"

"Val?" Shawn questioned "You're back?"

"Hi, Uncle Shawn, yeah, I'm back." Val glanced over at Riley and Maya who were both gobsmacked by her appearance.

"Hi, honey." Cory was the next person to engulf Val in a bear hug "I'm so glad you're back."

"Cory, what's going on?" Topanga asked, noticing the guilty expressions of Riley and Maya "What happened?"

Shawn stepped forward "I think I can explain. Unless you girls want to?"

Riley and Maya shook their heads.

Shawn cleared his throat "So, these two ran off last night and rode a bus all the way to my place, thank God I'm in New York for a while, and told me this story about how Riley was upset that she'd gotten in trouble and how it was all Val's fault. Of course, I knew this wasn't true, because Cory had called me after Val left and told me everything. They said Maya was suspended because she was trying to bully Val and the school wasn't buying her 'I was defending my friend' story."

"I'm sorry, what was that about bullying my daughter?" Topanga looked outraged.

"Mom, let him finish." Val gently placed a hand on her mother's arm "Go on, Uncle Shawn."

"Thank you, Val. Anyway, I called Cory and he drove over to get them. There was a really serious scolding. I've never seen him look so much like Feeney in my life! Then Cory told me you were coming home today, Val, and invited me over to greet you."

"Riley, you're grounded for six weeks for sneaking out and lying to us and for continuing this behavior." Topanga sighed "Maya, I'm recommending the small punishment for you. I'll be calling your mother."

Maya rolled her eyes "I wasn't trying to bully her. I just wanted people to like Riley again."

"Maya, they have good reason not to like her now. And they have plenty of reasons to dislike you too. After this, I'd be surprised if anyone liked either of you until you redeem yourselves and earn forgiveness."

Val's calm tone surprised everyone, but the words she said shocked them more. She hadn't said anything untrue or said it in a mean why, but the fact that she was standing up for herself was a new thing.

It was then that Cory and Shawn actually took in her appearance. Winged eyeliner, tinted lip-gloss, a v-neck shirt that scooped a little lower than usual, and blue jean shorts, her hair was tied up in a high ponytail.

"Wow." Annie's voice came from the doorway "I can't believe it. You finally stuck up for yourself!"

"Annie!" Val turned around and was crushed into a hug by her best friend.

After a long hug, Annie pulled back and studied her friend's outfit "Looking good!" She exclaimed.

"Thanks, why don't you look good?" Val gestured to the ugly bruise forming on Annie's forehead "What happened?"

"Ask the blonde."

Val's eyes widened in realization and she rounded on Maya "I'm sorry, you did this? How dare you?"

"I'm-"

"Don't talk. Don't talk to me. Don't talk to my friends. Don't talk." Val grabbed Auggie's and Annie's hands "Grab a bag and help me unpack please?"

They both nodded and Val passed Auggie the lightest bag, Annie got a medium sized one and they both carried the luggage upstairs.

Val moved in so she was nose-to-nose with Maya "If you ever pull a stunt like that again, I'm going to make sure you regret it." She warned "If you mess with my friends, you mess with me. Got that?"

Maya nodded quickly. Val nodded back once and went upstairs.

"Wow." Shawn said "She's really grown up, hasn't she?"

That night Val messaged Lydia, April, and Jenny about what had happened that day. They were shocked by her sister's treatment of her and outraged at Maya's audacity and rudeness. The four girls texted for a while before Val decided she had to put her phone away and get some sleep if she wanted to be alert for school tomorrow.

Word count: 1829 words
Please don't forget to comment, vote, and add to your reading lists!

I'm so sorry for the long wait. I've had really bad writers block and some awful anxiety. Hopefully it's better now and I won't be as freaked out. Thank you all for the support over the last few months, I'm grateful or everyone who has read and commented on or voted for this story. It means so much to me. 💜💜💜
Love always,
The Author