Val Meets the Bay Window

I don't own Girl Meets World!

Something wasn't right.

Riley squinted as she looked around her room, trying to locate the "bad vibes" as Val would say. She pulled back her blanket, and her bed looked the same, some secret snacks hidden in the crevices. She peered under her dresser to find only old socks and dust bunnies. Her closet was full of clothes, her pens were arranged on her desk in a rainbow, and her pictures decorated her door as usual. Nothing seemed out of place.

But still, something just wasn't right.

Riley slumped down in the bay window and groaned loudly.

"Riley, breakfast is ready." Val knocked "Are you up yet?"

"Yeah, I'll be right down." Riley hesitated "Thanks, Val."

Val's footsteps stopped and Riley heard her turn back towards her room "Did you just thank me?"

Riley quickly opened the door to her twin's dumbfounded expression "I don't say it enough. Thank you, Val."

Val blinked, regarding her sister with suspicion "You're welcome, I guess."

Awkward silence ensued as the sisters struggled to find their footing. It was broken when Val's door opened at the other end of the hall and Maya came through.

"'Sup losers."

"I thought we talked about you coming through my window?" Val crossed her arms "Quit picking my locks."

"Quit making it so easy." Maya joked, nudging Val's shoulder "What's for breakfast? I'm starving."

"Pancakes and bacon are downstairs." Val rolled her eyes, looking back at Riley "You coming?"

Riley was about to say yes, when a thought struck her "In a minute. Uh, after breakfast, can we all talk? Like old times?"

Maya shrugged "Not like I have anything better to do."

Riley smiled, it was a start. She shut the door and quickly scanned her room again, looking for whatever it was that felt wrong. Everything was exactly the same as it always was and always had been. Maybe that was the problem.

Riley wasn't the same person she'd been before, she'd been vindictive and jealous and she was trying to change for the better. Val might not believe that yet, but Riley had an idea to prove to her sister that she really was different now.

Her eyes landed on the bay window. It had been a staple of her life for so long. It was where she and Maya had met, where they shared their secrets, the safest place in the world. It was still so important, but looking at it now, all Riley could think about was how they'd schemed against Val and Lucas.

If she was going to change, the bay window needed to change too. It represented who she was, it was time to make it represent who she wanted to be.

Bacon and pancakes were a staple breakfast at the Matthews residence. When she had extra time Val would make pancake art with Auggie, complete with crazy color, chocolate chips, blueberries, and the occasional marshmallow. This morning Auggie had requested blue pancakes and Val, ever the Percy Jackson fan, obliged.

"Any idea what Riley wants to talk to us about?" Maya asked, piling her plate high with food.

"Not a clue." Val snagged the syrup (also blue) from the cabinet "As long as it's not something that I have to deal with later."

"You've been following that train of thought for a while now."

"What's that supposed to mean?"

"Just," Maya hesitated "You're more blunt now. More sarcastic, almost snippy. It's not bad, I kinda like it. But it's weird."

Val shrugged "I hang out with Annie enough, I was bound to pick it up eventually. I guess I just got tired of letting people walk all over me."

"And by people you mean Riley and me, right?" Maya sighed "I'm sorry."

"We've done the apologies, you are forgiven. I should've been better at saying no, so that's what I'm trying to learn now." Val poured herself some juice and sat down.

"I just have one more question."

"Shoot."

"Why are the pancakes blue?"

"If you'd read the Percy Jackson books you'd understand."

Maya pouted "Why can't I just watch the movies?"

"Shhhhh!" Val pushed her finger in the blonde's face "There are no movies. We do not speak of them. Eat your pancakes."

"At least the bacon's not blue this time."

They finished breakfast and Val sent Auggie off to school before they returned to Riley's room. Val was hesitant to say the least, whatever her sister wanted it was sure to cause some drama.

Maya sat down across from Riley in the bay window, and for a moment, it was like she'd never left. In all the time she'd known Riley, this window seat had never changed. It was a constant in Maya's turbulent world, a fixed point.

Val did not join them in the bay window. She had little to no interest in whatever idea her sister was cooking up. Riley had been better lately, sure, but that didn't mean Val had forgotten the years of hate and pain her sister put her through. But she was trying, maybe Val could try a little too.

Maya broke the awkward silence "Why are you smiling at me like that?"

Riley had an unnatural grin on her face "I need to ask your permission for something."

"Uh-huh." Maya narrowed her eyes "Sure. Whatever you want."

Riley's smile became more genuine "Ever since we were little kids, you would always say 'Whatever you want.' Even before you knew what it was."

"That explains a lot." Val mumbled "Never agree to anything before you know what you're getting yourself into."

"You got a good thing going there. Don't blow it." Maya warned.

"Maya, you don't know what you're getting yourself into. Remember when I first asked you if we wanted to be friends?"

"Did I take it on? Yes. Am I still here? Kinda."

"You can't just say yes this time." Riley shook her head "This one's different."

"Different! Different as can be!" (1) Val hummed.

"I want to completely change-"

"Your hair." Maya finished confidently.

"You want to change my hair?" Riley quickly ran her hand through her chocolate locks.

"I think you could use something once." Maya shrugged.

"Be cute in a braid." Val mused, distractedly.

She hadn't changed her hair drastically since she'd gone to stay with their grandparents in Philadelphia. Maybe she could message Lydia, April, or Jenny, they'd taught her some cute styles during their slumber party.

"I want to completely change-"

"The way you dress." Maya guessed.

"What's wrong with how I dress?"

"Manners? Charm? They're no way to impress. So forget the inner me, observe the outer! I am what I wear and how I dress." (2) Val laughed "There's nothing wrong with how you dress, Riley."

Riley took a deep breath "I want to tear down the bay window."

"You shut your face."

"Oh boy." Val flopped backwards on the bed.

"It's time." Riley scooted closer to her best friend "We're changing. I'm changing."

"We're not." Maya denied.

"Maya, all the most important things in our lives are changing. The bay window is one of the most important things in our lives. It's changing with us. It's time."

"They're singing 'Happy Birthday' you just want to lay down and cry. Not just another birthday, it's 30/90!" (3) Val sang softly, eyes fixed on the ceiling.

Maya put her hands on Riley's shoulders "Riley, look at me. Some things mean too much to us to ever change. I don't want this place to ever change. Look at me and tell me you understand that."

"Maya, it's time."

"Then no." Maya pushed Riley up and out of her seat "You don't have my permission for this. This place has always been my sanctuary from the storm. It never mattered what was going on outside these windows. When I sit here with you, I'm safe. We're not changing that."

"You looking forward to high school?"

"We still don't know that's gonna happen!" Maya shouted.

"As long as I'm tutoring you, it's happening." Val sat up "You don't need my permission for this. I don't care if you change the window or not. Why am I here?"

Riley turned to look at her sister "You're an important part of my life, Val. I don't want your permission, I want your input."

Maya was ranting in the background "'Change fills my pockets with pennies of uncertainty.' Remember that? Remember when you said that? You stink at change. You hate change. Why would you want to change? Stupid change. Some things should never change, like the bay window! Like my math grade! Like Val's musical references I don't understand! I know she's made at least three and I have no idea what any of them mean. Like Farkle coming in through the window saying 'Ladies!' I don't want any of that to ever change."

Farkle poked his head through the window "Hey."

"Why do things change, Farkle?" Maya deflated.

"Because things grow." Farkle crawled through and sat down next to the blonde "Did you know that every seven years, your body grows a whole new set of cells? Every seven years it's like you're a whole new person."

"Mr. Norton taught us that in science." Riley recalled.

Maya crossed her arms "Well, I'm exactly the same person I was when I was seven. I'm exactly the same person now that I'm fourteen and I'll be exactly the same person when I'm 21."

"Except that you're not." Val leaned forward "Seven years ago, hell seven months ago, you would have made Farkle do that math for you. Seven years ago we barely tolerated each other. I can think of a million things about you that are different now, just like there's a million things about Farkle, or Riley, or me that are different now."

"Look a how much we've all changed, Maya." Riley gestured around the room "It's nothing to be afraid of, Maya. We're changing the bay window."

"You're changing the bay window?" Lucas appeared in the doorway "Didn't see that coming."

"How did you get in here?" Val teased as her boyfriend sat down next to her "I didn't hear you knock."

"Your window was open." Lucas wrapped his arm around her shoulder and pressed a quick kiss to the top of her head.

"Look what you did." Maya grumbled "You made Hee-Haw show up out of nowhere."

"Yeah, how does this affect you, Lucas?" Farkle frowned "You didn't grow up with us."

"I was just gonna invite Val to Topanga's before school." Lucas shrugged "I just know this place has a lot of special meaning to you guys."

"High school's coming up. We're changing." Riley looked around at them "Look around, guys. This is a little girl's window. It needs to change with us. And I'm glad you're here too, Lucas. I have something I need to say to you."

Val and Lucas visibly tensed, remembering the last time Riley had wanted to talk to the Texan.

"We can go if you want." Val whispered "We don't have to stay."

Lucas chewed on his lip nervously "No, it's fine. What is it, Riley?"

"I owe you an apology. I haven't been treating you like a person or respecting your relationship with Val. I was jealous and what I did wasn't okay." Riley hung her head "I've apologized to Val, but I haven't apologized to you yet. I want the new bay window to be that start of a new friendship for all of us. I'm really sorry, Lucas."

Lucas stared at her, lost for words "I don't know what to say here. I really wasn't expecting this."

"I can't be seven years old my whole life. What's important now is who I'm, who we are going to be."

"You are not touching this bay window." Maya insisted

Riley reached out and tore one of the curtains down. Maya stared at her, completely speechless.

"Okay." Val stood up, pulling Lucas by the hand "I'm not involved. See you at school."

Farkle quickly blocked the door "Please don't make me deal with this alone? I'm begging here."

"You don't have to be involved either." Val pointed out with a pout.

"We need at least one mostly reasonable person involved."

Val had to concede, Farkle made a good point. They'd all seen the carnage when Riley and Maya were left to their own devices, and if they were fighting it would be worse.

"If this blows up in my face, I'm blaming you." Val turned to Lucas "I totally understand if you want to go, I can meet you at Topanga's and we can walk to school if you'd rather leave?"

"You're gonna need a third mostly reasonable person if you want to outvote them." Lucas sat down on the bed "I'm sticking with you. Always."

Val didn't try to hide her smile as she joined her boyfriend. Farkle looked incredibly relieved, though it was short lived.

Maya had regained her ability to speak and started spluttering furiously "You...What...How dare...What is wrong...You are the...Why would...Why did...Riley!"

"Girls? You're going to be late." Topanga called up the stairs "Riley, you had better be awake."

"Oh thank god, it's an adult." Val sighed "More mostly reasonable people."

Cory walked past Riley's door, struggling to tie his tie. He made it to the top of the stairs, paused, and slowly backed up to the room. Val and Lucas were sitting on the bed, entirely too close for his comfort, Riley had torn one of her curtains down, Maya looked shellshocked in the window seat, and Farkle was in-between the two girls as a physical barrier.

Cory blinked "TOPANGA!"

Topanga barreled up the stairs "Who is it? Who's dying?"

She took in the sight before her.

"You want the long version or the short version?" Val asked.

"Short version?"

Val pointed at Maya "Riley wants to change the bay window. Maya no-likey."

"Long version?"

"We're growing up." Riley explained "I think the bay window needs to grow with us. I want it to reflect who we are now, not who we were."

"How could you let her do this?" Maya was finally able to string a sentence together "Did you know about this?"

"I didn't." Cory raised his hands in surrender "I swear I didn't."

"Riley, this is your favorite place in the whole world." Topanga reminded her daughter.

"I'm just a teenage girl rearranging her room."

"Uh-uh." Topanga raised an eyebrow skeptically "Tell me what's really going on here."

"Just because we're going to high school, she thinks we should destroy our childhood." Maya complained.

"Okay, you know this raises an interesting question." Cory clapped his hands "Who here knows-"

"Stop." Riley and Maya shouted him down in unison.

"What?"

"You were about to teach us something, weren't you?" Riley accused.

"...No?"

"Sure you were." Lucas laughed.

"Schools doesn't start for another hour, Dad." Val teased "You can't stop yourself."

"You need help, Matthews." Maya agreed.

"I wasn't going to teach you anything because you already know this one." Cory insisted "People get comfortable with what's familiar."

"Yeah." Topanga sat down next to Maya in the bay window "And when you get too comfortable, you don't allow yourself room to grow."

"The worst thing you can do is fold your arms and refuse to accept what's gonna come anyway."

Maya pointedly crossed her arms and glared.

"Honey, it's totally okay that you want to create space for new memories. Let's just keep the old memories somewhere safe. You may decide that you want to visit them again later." Topanga tried to offer a compromise.

"See, Maya, one of us is completely fine making room for the new." Riley said pointedly.

Cory, Topanga, and Val all burst out laughing.

"'Kay." Cory snorted.

Riley frowned "You guys are laughing?"

"Oh yeah." Topanga nodded, leaning against the window frame to stay upright.

"Is it because I'm so right it's funny?"

Val rolled off the bed, giggling uncontrollably "In inches, in miles, in laughter, in strife." (4) She wheezed.

"Well, then why are you laughing?"

"Just a funny little memory we've put away." Cory wiped a tear away.

"Let's take it out and visit it, shall we?"

"Memory! All alone in the moonlight!" (5)

Flashback

Seven year old Riley and Maya were sat on the couch, watching Cory run around in a panic. Val was as cool and calm as ever, following her father, picking up the items he dropped and putting them in the duffel bag. Topanga had beaten them to the car, despite being heavily pregnant and in labor.

"Why are you doing this?" Riley whined "Am I not good enough?"

"You're okay." Cory answered distractedly "Topanga?"

"I like the way things are. Why do we need another baby? We just need Mommy, Daddy, Val, Riley, and Maya." Riley pouted, sliding down between the couch cushions.

"I lost her." Cory started hyperventilating "Only I could lose a pregnant Topanga!"

HONK

"Mommy's in the car." Val reminded him "Breathe Daddy."

"Right, right." Cory took the hospital bag from his oldest daughter "Thank you, sweetie. Don't move, girls. Mrs. Svorski's on her way up."

HONK HONK HONK

"All right! We've all got things going on!" Cory rushed out the door, planting a quick kiss on the tops of his daughters heads.

"You're gonna be a big sister." Maya tried to comfort her best friend "You're gonna be like Val."

Riley's scowl deepened "Why do things have to change? Why do I have to share my parents? I don't want another sibling."

Val rolled her eyes silently and headed to the kitchen. Maybe Mrs. Svorski would teach her a Ukrainian recipe today, and they could bring it to their mother when she had the baby. At seven, she wasn't allowed to use the oven but she could get out the ingredients and the mixing bowls.

Riley was not happy about the newest addition to their family, but Val couldn't wait. She'd spent hours talking to her new little brother or sister, practicing her reading and singing. Maybe this sibling wouldn't resent her like Riley did.

She'd stopped paying attention to Riley and Maya's conversation, until she noticed that Maya was crying silently in her sister's arms.

End Flashback

"Yeah, that's the day I decided change wasn't a good thing." Maya huffed.

"Sometimes it is, Maya."

"I don't want to go to high school."

Riley frowned "Why not?"

"I don't want things to change. It's always been us. You, me, Farkle, and Val." Maya looked around desperately "Things change in high school, what if we change too much? What if we drift apart even more?"

Riley sat down next to her friend "We won't. That couldn't possibly happen."

"You don't know that!" Maya exploded "How could it possibly happen that the bay window would change? How could it possibly happen that people just leave?"

"Maya, sometimes change is good. It leads to a wonderful growing up. Don't you want to be big girls?" Riley tried to put her arm around Maya's shoulders "We'll wear makeup and go to parties, but we'll still be best friends. That's never going to change."

"No!" Maya shrugged her off "This was the first place that I ever thought was safe. Even if my whole world changed, this place never would."

The room fell silent. Maya's world had always been built on shifting sands. The bay window was her sanctuary, her oasis, loosing that in the middle of this fight with Riley was making her whole world crash down.

Riley watched Maya's shoulders shake. She wanted to change the bay window, she wanted it to grow and represent the new version of her, the better version. But Maya wanted it to stay the same so badly.

Riley glanced at her sister, Val was leaning against Lucas who was scrolling on his phone. Occasionally he'd tilt it towards her and she'd huff a little laugh at whatever he showed her. They were...cute together. The green eyed monster in her chest grumbled at the thought, but Riley pushed it down.

She needed things to change, she was changing, she'd waited so long to change. But for Maya, maybe she could wait a little longer.

"Then we'll put it back." Riley decided "We'll put it back, Maya."

Maya had tears dripping down her cheeks "Riles," Riley's heart swelled at the nickname "I know it's not just the bay window we're saying goodbye to."

Farkle put it together first "It's us, right? You think you're gonna say goodbye to us?"

"Maya, we're not going anywhere." Val smiled and started humming "If you're ever in a jam, here I am. If you're ever in a mess, S.O.S. If you're so happy you land in jail, I'm your bail. It's friendship, friendship, just a perfect blendship." (6)

"You make so many references." Lucas teased, nudging her.

"I do it more when I get put in stressful situations." Val shrugged unconcernedly "It's easier to use someone else's words than thinking of my own."

"Would you really bail me out of jail?" Maya asked.

Riley glanced at her sister, together they nodded "In a heartbeat."

Maya bit her lip "What if you're wrong? What if you change the bay window and then we change and then we go to high school and we're not friends anymore? We met in this bay window, Riley. It's our place where we share our hopes and dreams."

"It'll still be here, peaches. It's not going anywhere and neither am I."

"But what if this bay window is the whole reason we're friends and when it changes..."

"Maya." Riley took her best friends face in her hands "Do you really think you could do anything to get rid of me? Do you really think there's a force in this world that could make me not want to be your friend anymore?"

Maya met her gaze "No, not even if I wanted you to."

"Do you want me to?"

"What?"

Riley took a deep breath "I wasn't a good friend to you, Maya. I made bad decisions and I hurt you and Val and Farkle and Lucas. That's my fault. I'm sorry. I'm trying to be better. I'll do whatever you want. If that means we can't be best friends anymore, I'll understand. But I'll never stop caring about you like a best friend should."

"No." Maya shook her head "I'm the one who says 'Whatever you want.' That's my line."

"You are a good friend, Maya."

"Not always." Maya's eyes darted to the bed where Val was watching "I'm not always a good friend. Are you sure you don't want to cut me loose? I'm a lot of trouble."

"You're going to get us into trouble and I'm going to get us out." Riley reminded her "Then Val is going to sing Chicago while she bails us out of jail."

"Pop! Six! Squish! Uh-uh! Cicero! Lipshitz!" (7)

"See!" Riley laughed.

Maya couldn't stop herself from laughing too "They'll end up arresting her too."

"Then I will be like Max Bialystock and Leo Bloom and introduce my fellow inmates to the joys of musical theatre." (8) Val poked Lucas in the side "Then Lucas will come bail us out with his Texas charm."

They all dissolved into laughter and for a moment it was exactly like it had been. Only better.

"I don't want you to leave." Maya finally broke "I'm not, I'm not sure I can be best friends again, not yet anyway. But I don't want you to leave. Is that okay?"

Riley smiled "Whatever you want."

"And," Maya hesitated "You can change the bay window if you want. I give you my permission."

"Are you ready for this change?"

"Whatever you want. I know you're really trying."

Riley held out her hand "I can't wait to see what's next. I hope it's good."

"Promise me we'll always be together?" Maya took her hand.

"We will always be together." Riley promised.

"Then it's good."

Val poked her head into her sister's room after school "I brought you those old curtains and some pillowcases for the window, if you want them."

"Thank you, Val." Riley grabbed the box "These'll work great."

"Do you remember how I told you to put your confidence into being yourself?" Val asked suddenly.

"Yeah." Riley blushed "I was trying to be Maya. I was so sure I knew who I was. Guess I didn't really have a clue, did I?"

"We're kids, Riley, none of us know who we are yet. But you know who you want to be. That's something."

"I don't have a clue who I want to be." Riley shook her head "You, you know exactly where you're going. You're gonna be president or something, you're gonna change the world."

"So are you, sis." Val put her hands on Riley's shoulders "It's not about what you're going to do in the future. It's about who you're going to be."

"I don't understand."

Val smiled "You're smart, Riley. You'll figure it out."

"Will you help me if I need it?"

"Some things are meant to be, the tide turning endlessly, the way it takes hold of me, no matter what I do. Some things will never die. The promise of who you are, your memories when I am far from you." (9)

"Is that a yes?"

"I'll always help you when you need it. You don't even have to ask."

"Thank you, Val."

References:
1- Different As Can Be, A Very Potter Musical
2- My Strongest Suit, Aida
3- 30/90, Tick, Tick, Boom
4- Seasons of Love, Rent
5- Memory, Cats
6- Friendship, Anything Goes
7- Cell Block Tango, Chicago
8- The Producers
9- Some Things are Meant to Be, Little Women

Word count:4317 words

Hey y'all. This chapter's a little shorter but I think it's cute. Riley is still not forgiven but she is learning and trying and making amends. Please don't forget to comment, vote, and add to your reading list! #FreePalestine🍉🍉🍉

Love,
The Author