Val Meets Rileytown
I don't own Girl Meets World!
Val headed up the stairs to wake her sister for breakfast. She stopped outside the door and heard Riley.
"Cough, cough. Sniffle." Riley said.
"No, no, no, no." Maya had clearly entered the room just before Val "You can't be sick. I don't know how to do this life thing alone."
Val knocked and opened the door "What's wrong, Riley?"
"I think I have the foo foo plague." Riley lamented.
Val snorted at the name "Okay."
"You do?" Maya asked disbelievingly "And what do you take for that?"
"Foo foo medicine." Riley answered promptly "And it makes you really sleepy. 'Night 'night. Bye." She dove under the bedsheet."
Maya rolled her eyes and pretended to take out her phone "Okay, so I'm looking up your fake disease on the fake internet..."
"Can I have a sick day, please?" Riley shouted.
"It wants to know if you have a crushing weight on your chest. Do you have a crushing weight?" Maya asked.
"Yep. Crushing weight. Yep, yep."
Maya climbed on the bad and plopped down on top of Riley making her yelp and Val snickered.
"Oh, no! Oh, no! Maya, Val, I really do. I have the foo foos! It's like there's an elephant on my chest." Riley wailed.
Maya looked vaguely offended and Val had to clutch the doorframe to remain upright.
"I am at most a labradoodle." Maya corrected, pulling the blankets away from Riley.
"Maya, Val you have to get far, far away from me. I don't want you to catch this." Riley sat up.
"Thanks for the concern, but I've had my foo foo shots." Val joked.
"I know. That would be terrible." Maya climbed in bed with Riley and started to rub her friend's face and get the germs all over herself.
She rolled over Riley a few times and wound up on top of the now giggling brunette.
"Okay, now can we please go to school now and get out of Rileytown?" Maya asked, moving off of Riley.
Riley's smile slipped.
Maya looked around concerned "What? I just said, 'Can we get out of Rileytown-' Oof!"
Riley had shoved Maya harshly out of the bed making her land on the floor.
Val had stopped giggling "Riley, what's going on?"
"What is it with you? It's just a word I made up?" Maya asked.
"I know what it means." Riley stared angrily at the wall "It means that I'm goofy and silly and weird."
"It means you're unique." Maya corrected.
"I don't want to be unique." Riley's voice had gotten very small "I don't want anybody to notice me."
"Since when? Rileytown is where you live." Maya pointed out "We even made your own flag and national anthem, remember?" She grabbed the flag and waved it as she sang "Rileytown, oh Rileytown. Whee! Yeah that took up four days to write." She leaned the flag against the wall "Is this serious or are we having fun?"
Riley climbed out of bed and stared Maya down "You are a bully."
Val's jaw dropped.
"Okay, that's not fun." Maya frowned.
"I don't like being laughed at, Maya. Nobody likes being laughed at." Riley glared.
"I'm not laughing at you." Maya protested "Who's laughing at you?"
Riley stomped over to the door, bumping into Val on the way "You never should have come up with it, and you're a bully. Okay?"
She turned and left.
"What just happened?" Maya asked Val.
"I don't know, but...whatever it is, it's not good." Val muttered.
"She thinks I'm a bully?"
"I don't think so, not really." Val was quick to assure the blonde "She's upset about something. I don't know what, but we'll figure this out."
Riley had refused to speak all through breakfast and Val was more than a little worried about her twin. They reached the school and took their seats in their father's class. On the board was written "Conflict Resolution: Hamilton vs Burr."
Val squealed at the lesson "I love it!" And took her seat.
"In what ways do human beings resolve conflict?" Cory started class.
Zay raised his hand "Bring in the Mama."
"They talk it out." Farkle furrowed his eyebrows.
"They go to war." Lucas argued.
Farkle frowned "Why can't they talk it out?"
"They go to war."
"Oh, okay. You and me against Farkle." Zay patted Lucas on the back and they shook hands.
"They talk it out." Farkle insisted.
"They go to war!" Lucas yelled.
"Let's get him!" Zay agreed.
Val handed Farkle a ping-pong shooter and he started firing at the two Texans "You shoulda talked it out." He grinned.
Cory brought the class back around "Many conflicts escalate and do not end well. The story of Alexander Hamilton and Aaron Burr is a prime example. Anybody know what happened?"
Val's hand shot up and she practically leapt out of her seat.
"No, honey, we don't have time for you to preform the whole musical." Cory shook his head.
Val pretended to pout and sat back down.
"Riley?" Cory asked.
"Please stop picking on me." Riley looked up from her notebook.
"What?"
"They had a duel. Burr killed Hamilton." Farkle swooped in and answered the question.
"In 1791, Burr captured a Senate seat from Hamilton's father-in-law, which launched their rivalry." Cory told them.
"Further down, further down, let's meet the newest Senator from New York. New York..." Val hummed.
"Then Burr accused Hamilton of publicly insulting him." Cory continued.
Riley's phone rang and she pulled it out to check the message she'd received.
"Riley, no one should be texting you in class." Cory scolded his younger daughter.
"I agree." Riley lowered her phone and looked over at Maya "I don't want you to say 'Rileytown' anymore."
"I like Rileytown." Maya protested "I like you and I like to say whatever I want."
"Now, Burr challenged Hamilton to a duel to resolve their conflict." Cory steamrollered on.
"Maybe that's what we should do." Riley scowled.
"Maybe you want to hear what happened to them first." Maya pointed out.
"Yeah, I'd listen to the whole story if I was you." Val agreed.
"Hamilton believed the duel wasn't morally right, so he fired his pistol in the air. Burr believing he had been shot at, fired at Hamilton and killed him. So, why am I telling you guys a story about what happens when you fail to resolve a conflict peacefully?" Cory asked and Lucas raised his hand "Lucas?"
"People get hurt." Lucas answered.
"What do we need to learn?" Cory asked.
"I need to learn how to resolve a conflict." Riley said immediately.
"What's going on?"
Riley stayed silent.
Maya spoke up "She thinks I'm a bully because I keep saying something she doesn't like."
"A bully isn't someone who says something you don't like. A bully is someone who uses power and intimidation to hurt others. There's a big difference between having a conflict with a friend and having a bully." Cory explained "So don't just throw that word around."
"There are other words you shouldn't throw around, either." Riley glared at Maya.
"What? Like Rileytown, the place where you live because you're there right now?" Maya argued.
"I asked you not to!" Riley's eyes were filling with tears and her face was red "Why do we have to keep on talking about this?"
"Because the most powerful tool in the human being arsenal is the ability to solve conflict with words." Cory explained.
Riley ignored him "You think I'm goofy, silly, and weird."
"No kidding." Maya deadpanned "You're unique and wonderful and I love it here in Rileytown."
Riley stood up sharply "I challenge you to a duel."
"Okay, you're not really understanding this at all." Cory turned to Maya "Maya, please help her understand."
Maya stood up and faced Riley "I accept. Duel to the death."
"Thank you very much." Cory sighed "Val? A little help?"
"Where are you having this duel? 'Cross the river in Jersey? Everything is legal in New Jersey." Val joked then turned serious "No, really, guys, a duel isn't a good idea. I think it's kind of a strange way to try and resolve a conflict."
"I challenge you to a duel too!" Riley shouted.
Val closed her eyes and counted to ten "Riley, you're my sister. I'm not going to duel you."
"Then admit defeat."
"What're you after here?" Val asked.
"What?"
"What do you get out of my 'losing' a duel I'm not even fighting?"
"Then maybe everyone will see that you're not as great as you act." Riley glared.
"Riley, I'm not great. I'm me." Val groaned "I will support you in whatever you need, but I'm not fighting you!"
"Fine." The bell rang and Riley stomped out of the class.
The group convened at Topanga's Bakery after school. Zay scooped two ice cream cones and handed one to Lucas and the other to Farkle, who were both holding towels.
Farkle turned to face Riley "You will come back to me after the war, won't you, darlin'?"
"Just give me the ice cream, Farkle." Riley sighed.
Lucas passed Maya her own cone.
"Why are you my second, Huckleberry?" Maya asked "Shouldn't you be over there with Riley?"
"Well, it was decided that if things get out of hand, I was the best choice to...contain you." Lucas explained awkwardly.
"Oh. You think you can?" Maya smirked.
"Yeah," Lucas nodded "But I'll probably pay for it pretty good."
"You're doing a good thing, Lucas." Val smiled "Thanks for doing this."
"Anything for you." He whispered to her making her blush.
Riley and Maya squared up and stared each other down.
From behind the counter Cory leaned down to whisper to Topanga "Why would you let them do this?"
"Oh, it's a slow day and the ice cream expires tomorrow." Topanga shrugged.
Riley and Maya stood back to back and Maya started to wiggle against Riley.
"What are you doing?" Riley questioned.
"I'm itchy." Maya smiled.
Zay walked in front on Maya "Maya, as the one challenged to this duel, you get the first shot. All right, you'll take three paces, turn, and fire."
"How do you know how to do this so well, Zay?" Farkle asked curiously.
"Well, back in Texas, we call this a Wednesday." Zay moved away from Maya "Ice cream ready? One...Two...Three." He stepped in between the girls as they moved away "Turn...Fire! Wait a minute. Something's wrong."
Val reached forward and pulled him out of the way "Goofball." She muttered.
"Oh, that would've been bad." Zay grinned "Fire!"
Maya glanced down at her ice cream then turned and passed it off to Cory.
"That's the best way to resolve a conflict I ever saw." Cory wiped and imaginary tear and licked the cone "This tastes one day before expired."
"Riley, take a hint, please, so we can all be done with this." Topanga pleaded.
Riley stepped forward "This will be done when you treat me like an ordinary person who no one notices."
"You're not." Maya disagreed "You're a sweet, weird little goofball and I love you just the way you are. Deal with it." She held her arms out for a hug.
Riley stepped forward and smashed the cone on Maya's face.
"Oh, my God!" Val whispered.
Riley stormed out, stomping on her sister's foot as she left. The ice cream slipped off Maya's face and Lucas hurried forward to pass her a towel. Maya wiped her face and picked up the cone.
"No need to contain me, Lucas. I'm fine." Maya smiled tightly.
"How are you fine? You don't look fine." Lucas shook his head.
"Because that's not Riley at all. Something's really wrong." Cory and Topanga started to leave but Maya called them back "Mr. and Mrs. Matthews...Riley and I have a conflict. It won't teach us anything if you guys step in."
The Matthews parents shared a look "Okay." Cory agreed reluctantly "We're here if you need us."
"I know." Maya nodded.
The group moved over to their normal seats and Lucas asked the question that was on everyone's minds.
"What are you so calm?"
"Because this isn't her." Maya shrugged "This isn't Riley at all."
"Well, what could have changed her all of a sudden?" Zay wondered.
"This is like when I always used to wear my turtlenecks and then there was somebody that didn't like that I..." Farkle's eye's met Val's as he trailed off.
"Oh, my gosh." Val whispered in horror.
"What?" Maya asked, lost.
Farkle and Val stared at Lucas, a million thoughts running through their minds.
"What are you looking at?" Lucas asked.
"You gots to go." Farkle declared.
"What?"
"We need more towels." Val said quickly.
"What?"
"Maya needs more towels." Farkle agreed.
"I'm fine." Maya shrugged.
"Get her more towels!" Farkle shouted.
"Okay!" Lucas got up.
"Yes, sir and ma'am." Zay saluted.
Zay and Lucas headed into the back to find more towels and Val and Farkle sat down next to Maya.
"What's going on?" Maya asked nervously.
Farkle glanced back to make sure Lucas and Zay weren't coming back yet "Of course she loves Rileytown. Of course she's weird and goofy and unique. That's what we all love about her."
"So what's the problem?" Maya questioned.
"Somebody doesn't." Val bit her lip "I can't believe I didn't realize this."
"What?" Maya narrowed her eyes.
"Riley doesn't want to be her because she feels like a nothing." Farkle explained.
Val continued "Because a bully makes you feel like a nothing."
"A bully took something I liked about myself and made me feel bad about it."
"But why would she think I would ever do that?" Maya wondered "I'm her best friend. Why is she yelling at me?"
"Because I think she's trying to get you to hear her." Farkle sighed.
"Hear what?" Maya was growing impatient "Why does she keep talking about a bully if she knows I'm not-Oh, no."
"Well, I think she's got it." Val sighed "Let's go help Riley."
"Why are you helping Riley? After everything that's happened? She didn't believe you when you told us you were getting bullied." Maya reminded Val.
"Because she needs support. And I don't care if she hates me right now. I'm going to be there for her. Now move!" Val grabbed Maya's hand and dragged her out of the bakery.
Riley was sitting in the bay window, she had tears rolling down her cheeks and was staring resolutely at the ground. Val climbed through the window followed closely by Maya.
"We have something to talk about, you and me." Maya said.
"I don't like it when we fight." Riley whimpered.
"I'm going to be your friend for the rest of your life." Maya pointed out "We're gonna have some conflicts along the way."
"What do we do?"
"We will work them out." Maya blinked back tears of her own "We'll always work them out because we're friends. And if things get rough, maybe we'll throw some ice cream at each other, but we'll still be friends because that's what reasonable people do."
"So we have no conflict anymore?" Riley asked hopefully.
"No." Maya shook her head "Now we have a new one."
"All of us." Val joined in "Riley, why wouldn't you come to one, or both of us? How could you not come to us if someone is bullying you?"
Riley bit her lip "I'm humiliated. I didn't want to let you see me humiliated, Maya. And Val I thought you wouldn't help me, because I didn't believe you when you were getting bullied."
"I will always help you, Riley." Val whispered "We are twins, we have conflicts just like any friends but we will always find a solution, and I will always help you if you need it."
"You thought it would just go away?" Maya asked.
"Mm-hmm." Riley held back a sob "It's getting worse."
"You know what the difference is between a conflict with a bully and a conflict with a friend?" Maya asked.
"What?"
Maya didn't answer, she and Val simply reached over and pulled Riley into a tight hug.
"You're the worst bully ever, Peaches." Riley sighed.
Maya had to laugh "I know. Peaches the bully just...doesn't strike fear into the hearts of anybody."
"I called you a bully and I ice creamed you." Riley muttered "I'm really sorry."
"It's okay." Maya assured her.
"Will you get back at me for the ice cream?" Riley asked nervously.
"Oh, yeah, and your never gonna see it coming." Maya nodded.
"Couldn't you tell me just before you were gonna do it?"
"No, honey. That would hurt my enjoyment."
Riley paused "I'm sorry I took everything out on you."
"It's okay." Maya insisted "You had to take it out on somebody. I'm glad you felt safe enough to take it out on me. And I'm sorry I didn't hear what you were trying to say earlier."
"I'm sorry too, Riley." Val closed her eyes "I should have put two and two together quicker. I should have seen the signs and realized what was going on."
"Well, I will never go at you again, Maya. And, Val I don't blame you for not realizing. I hoped I could handle it on my own, like you did."
"Riley, I didn't handle it on my own." Val shook her head "I had my friends there to support me when I got low."
"And you can take it out on me anytime." Maya smiled "I can take it. Let it all out."
"I'm better now." Riley frowned.
Maya raised an eyebrow "Oh, yeah. I'm sure you are. That's good. Rileytown."
Riley exploded "Stop saying that! People shouldn't make fun of other people. What did I ever do to you?" She stood up "You exist. You exist, and you're weird, and you get in the way of where I'm looking, so stop being weird and stop being happy. Nobody should be as happy as you. Stop being who you are... Or I'm gonna put my foot in your weird, stupid face."
"Okay." Maya whispered.
Riley broke down in gut-wrenching sobs "I'm fine." She choked out.
"I'm not." Maya was crying too "How long?"
Riley didn't answer.
"How long, Riley?" Val asked, tears streaming down her own cheeks.
"A few weeks." Riley wept "This has been going on a few weeks."
Val and Maya stood up and hugged Riley again.
"Riles, I got you." Maya whispered.
"We got you." Val agreed.
"I tried dealing with her." Riley said as they guided her back to the bay window and sat down "She's not a reasonable person. How do I handle this? I don't know how to handle this."
"Not alone." Val told her.
"But I thought I was supposed to learn how to resolve a conflict."
"You have a bully." Val pointed out.
"And I have a conflict?" Riley asked.
"You are incredibly screwy." Maya blinked though the tears.
"And I'm screwy, and I have a bully, and I have a conflict?" Riley repeated "What a tough day in Rileytown."
"Okay. So now we know two things." Maya said calmly "First, you are going to stay exactly who you are."
"What else?" Riley asked.
"I don't think Lucas will." Val groaned
Lucas had been tied up by Farkle and Zay while Farkle explained what was going on with Riley. He was glaring angrily at the boys in front of him.
"So, I wanted to make sure you were tied up because I know how you were in Texas and I was worried about what would happen when you found what someone was doing to Riley and got angry." Farkle explained, trying desperately to keep his cool, he turned to Zay "Did I do the right thing, Zay?"
Zay shook his head "No."
"What did I do wrong?"
"Well, you used towels." Zay began "And you told him Val is going to help Riley, and he's definitely still at least a little mad at how Riley treated Val."
"What should I have used?" Farkle asked, focusing on the first mistake.
"Ah, it wouldn't matter." Zay shrugged.
Lucas reached down and ripped the railing he was tied to from under the counter, taking a chunk of the wood with it, then repeated the process with his other hand.
"Well, look at dat." Farkle's eyes were huge.
Lucas walked out of the bakery, dropping the railings, wood, and towels on the floor as he made his way to the Matthews residence.
Zay sighed "It's been my experience that when it comes to protecting his friends, nothing can hold him back. And, while Riley and he aren't exactly friends right now, he knows Val cares about her, and he cares about Val. What hurts her, hurts him."
Riley and Maya were stacking all of Riley's possessions in front of the bay window. Val was passing them more and more items.
"You know he could just use the door, right? Or come in my window and use the door?" Val pointed out "Or, heck, he could even use the other window! Why are we only stacking stuff in front of this one window?"
"This oughta hold him." Maya ignored Val's argument as she placed a last box on the pile.
Just as she stepped back, everything came toppling down and Lucas crawled through the window.
"Seriously?" Val laughed "Well, I should have seen that coming."
"Why would you not tell us about this?" Lucas asked.
"I should be able to fight my own battles, Lucas." Riley tried.
"No, you shouldn't. And you don't have to, Riley. That's the point of having friends." Lucas sighed "And Val, did you really think there was anything you could put in this window to keep me from helping you?"
"We don't like it when you get like this." Riley sassed "Right, Val?"
"Speak for yourself, I think it's very attractive how protective you are." Val smirked and Lucas blushed.
"Tell 'em, Maya." Riley tried again.
"Um...Lucas, pick up that bed with one arm." Maya requested, almost dreamily.
Lucas looked very uncomfortable and looked at Val for help.
Val smiled "Take it easy, blondie. He's not a pet."
Farkle crawled through the window and stumbled his way around the piles of junk that were scattered on the floor "Riley, you wouldn't let me keep this kind of stuff to myself. You think we're gonna let you?"
Zay opened the door to Riley's room with a bowl of cereal in his hands.
"See! How easy was it to walk through a door?" Val laughed.
"So what?" Zay asked, looking around at the assembled group "You guys just come through the window and that's okay? I don't like it. Impolite. Oh, and I took some cereal. You're out of milk...now."
Val laughed "I'll put it on the grocery list."
"You're right." Riley sighed "I should have told you. I'm sorry. I just didn't want to put this on you."
"We're friends. We can figure out anything." Farkle assured the brunette.
"But what if you're dealing with someone who-" Riley's phone buzzed, interrupting her question and she looked at it "Who just won't stop?"
The next day found them all in Mr. Matthews' history class. Written on the board was 'Friendship and Growth.' Cory stood behind his desk, looking at his students with concern written in every feature.
Finally, the silence got to much and he spoke up "I want to talk to you."
Riley, Maya, and Val looked up.
"I know there's something going on."
"Do you want me to tell you what it is?" Riley asked nervously.
"Do you want to, Riley?" Cory asked "Because so far, you haven't told me, and I respect that."
"It ain't good." Maya said softly.
"Yeah, I figured. But you're on it, Maya, Val?"
"Yes." Maya nodded.
"You know I'll always help when someone needs it." Val agreed.
"And you're on it?" Cory pointed to Lucas.
"Yep." Lucas grit his teeth.
"The right way?"
"We'll see."
"The right way, Lucas." Cory urged "You know why? Val?"
"Because Aaron Burr might have won his duel by killing his rival, but he never held office again and he'll forever be known for that one bad thing he did." Val reached out and put a hand on Lucas's shoulder.
"You understand?" Cory asked.
"Yes, sir." Lucas nodded.
"Farkle?" Cory looked over to the genius.
"Everything will be okay, Mr. Matthews. It always is." Farkle sounded like he was trying to convince himself more that the teacher.
"Yeah, why do you suppose it always is?" Cory pointed to the other Texan "Zay?" Zay looked up, confused "It's on the board."
"The first one." Zay guessed.
Cory had to chuckle "That's right."
"And then you're gonna tell us about the second one." Zay grinned.
"I am."
"Yeah, I know how this goes."
"There's nothing more valuable than friends when you have to go through life. But even if your friends aren't around, even if you're all alone, there's always someone to turn to. A parent or a teacher." Cory said pointedly "It's okay to ask for help. That's because there's so much out there that makes its way to you guys so much easier now."
"How do we fight that?" Riley asked, setting down her pencil.
"Well, now we turn to growth." Cory pointed at the board "Rely on each other. Grow together. But sometimes you have to grow by yourself. But whatever it is that makes it's way to you, it's just shadows from your intimidating world. Don't live in the shadow. Your growth can help you get back into the sun."
"All we see is light for forever, 'cause the sun shines bright for forever, we could be all right for forever this way..." Val hummed softly.
"Thanks, Dad." Riley's eyes were slightly wet.
Cory looked around at the rest of the class "Sarah, Darby, Jade, Yindra, Wyatt, Jeffery, Hailey, Nate, Yogi, Dave, Clarissa, Annie, I know there are lots of groups of friends in here and I know you guys go through stuff, too." He paused "Your math teacher helps you guys out, right? And relates algebra to your lives? You guys okay?"
The students nodded.
Annie piped up "I mean, I wouldn't object to learning about actual history once in a while instead of listening to Val singing the historical musicals, but yeah, I'd say we're all good."
Cory laughed "Learn from each other. Continue to grow. And always know that I'm here for you."
The bell rang and the class started to gather their books. Val stood up and walked over to her father.
"I know you're more worried than you're letting on." She whispered "But I promise, I will let you know the second I think we can't handle things. And Riley is never going to be alone for a moment. We're all here for her."
"I trust your judgement, sweetheart." Cory wrapped an arm around his eldest's shoulders "You're a good kid."
"Love you, Dad."
"Love you too, kiddo."
After school they met at Topanga's Bakery to discuss what they should do. Val was lobbying for getting an adult involved, but Riley and Maya were hesitant.
"I know what Mr. Matthews says is right, but, Riley, if you want me to, whoever this is, I will take care of it for you." Lucas interjected.
"Thank you, Lucas. No." Riley shook her head.
"Riley, Val, and I got this." Maya put a hand on each girl's shoulder.
"Thank you, Maya. No." Riley repeated.
"Okay, good." Zay leaned forward "You're gonna face this one down, but how?"
Riley slowly held up her phone "You know what she sent me? A video of me being goofy...doing the stuff that I do. She's been filming me...and now she says she's gonna send it to the whole school."
"Oh, Hell no." Val tried to stand up "This has moved from bullying to stalking. We're getting an adult involved."
"Val..." Riley pulled her sister down "Just wait a second."
"Honey, I hate to break it to you, but the whole school already knows you're goofy." Maya shrugged.
"They don't know everything I do." Riley's face got very nervous "Neither do you, Maya."
"What?" Maya looked around confused "No-Yes, I do."
"Deep in the heart of Rileytown, in the darkest secret corner of Rileytown...I can't believe I'm finally telling you. Once a week...on Friday afternoons..."
"Oh, no." Val knew what this was.
"When the halls are empty..." Riley continued "I have an awards ceremony."
"I think we know what happened." Farkle sighed.
"Somebody caught you..." Lucas was struggling to hide a smile.
"And that's what she's sending to the whole school." Maya closed her eyes and groaned "Well, maybe it's not so bad-"
"Sometimes I pretend I'm not there to accept, so French Riley accepts in my place." Riley blurted out.
"It's bad. It's really bad." Maya nodded.
"Bonjour." Riley said in a terrible French accent then went back to her normal voice "What do I do, Maya?"
Maya hesitated and looked around "Uh...you look at your friends...and you realize that no matter how deep into Rileytown you go, we'll all be right behind you." She put a hand on Riley's shoulder "Now go get her."
Zay looked over to Val "How did you know about the awards ceremony?"
"I found out in third grade. I've never told anyone that I caught her giving herself awards for the good things she does. Because I'm proud of the good things she does. She's not perfect, but then again, nobody is. Perfection is unattainable. But if giving yourself awards motivates you to do more good things, I see no problem with it." Val shrugged "You're not going to get an award for everything in life, so maybe giving yourself a few, isn't a bad thing."
Riley was sitting on the bench outside the history classroom. Footsteps approached and she looked up. Then moved to the middle of the hall.
"Thank you for meeting me. I know you probably have something to say. You always have something to say. But now, it's my turn to talk. You need to listen. You need to watch. Welcome to Rileytown. I twirl around when I'm happy."
Riley twirled.
"I dance by myself."
She did a funny dance.
"Because that's who I am. And if I do something good, I give awards to myself so that maybe I'll do something good again. And you're not going to stop me by showing everybody your little video that shows everybody that I do it because I'm going to show everybody right now."
Maya and Val led the whole school, all of their friends, their acquaintances, and the people they didn't know very well at all, out to watch Riley.
"Welcome back to the Riley awards." Riley said in a loud announcer voice "And now, your host, British Riley!"
"Hi, British Riley." Maya wiggled her fingers at her best friend.
"And now, the biggest award of the evening." Riley said in an awful British accent "This here award is for not only facing your fear, but doing it in front of everybody you know in my awful accent."
Riley mimed opening an envelope.
"And the winner is...Riley!" Riley used her regular voice for the next part "I'd like to thank everybody who helped me get here...my friends. Because true friends let you be who you are." Riley looked over at Maya, Val, Lucas, Farkle, and Zay then back at her bully who seemed to be shrinking in on herself "I'd also like to thank you. Because this was hard. But I've grown today. So, thank you."
Riley's bully turned tail and ran down the hallway.
"Hey, where are you going?" Riley asked.
"Look, Riles," Maya moved froward to wrap an arm around her friend "The farther away she goes, the smaller she gets."
Riley sat at the counter of Topanga's with her father eating ice cream. Val was on the loveseat with Lucas's arm around her shoulders and her own bowl of ice cream with two spoons that she and Lucas were sharing. Farkle and Zay were in the armchairs laughing.
"We did good." Riley held up her cone to her father.
"Friendship and growth." Cory nodded.
"What comes next?"
"I don't know, but whatever it is, I know you'll handle it." Cory grinned.
Riley moved over to join her friends "Here we are at the Riley Awards after party, where we've been having ice cream. Because I challenged Maya to a duel, and then I ice creamed her, and then she said she'd get me back, and I'd never see it coming." Riley trailed off as horror crossed her features "Is that why we're having ice cream?"
Val and Lucas looked over to where Maya had a cone with six huge scoops of ice cream on it. She took an innocent lick as she glanced up at Riley and a devilish smirk spread across her face.
Riley looked pleadingly at Val who snorted and stood up "Alright, Blondie, you wanna ice cream her, you...do it when I'm not here." Riley looked at her sister, betrayed "I'm kidding! No ice creaming her."
"Aw, you're no fun." Maya pouted and licked the top scoop then crinkled her nose "When did this expire?"
"In about six hours." Val laughed "At midnight."
Word count: 5589 words
Hey everybody, I'm back! I really missed writing and having something to fill my time other than schoolwork. I want to thank you all for the sweet comments I got on the last "chapter" you all really helped me get through it.
I am pleased to report that I am officially concussion free, for now (we'll see how long that lasts, I'm so accident prone it's not even funny). I'm still dealing with a touch of some kind of PTSD with crossing streets, but I'm doing so much better. My roommate no longer has COVID and I was fortunate enough to not get it.
I hope to get back to writing as quickly as I can but it might take a bit to get back in the swing of things. So for now I'd like to wish you all a happy thanksgiving.
Please don't forget to comment, vote, and add to your reading lists! Also please stay home, stay safe, stay healthy, wear a mask, and wash your hands! #BlackLivesMatter
I love you all,
The Author