Riley Meets A Christmas Carol
I don't own Girl Meets World!
I want to start fleshing out Riley's character more (don't worry there will still be plenty of time for Riley bashing, her redemption arc is going to take a very long time and she will have some setbacks). This is an original chapter focusing on some of the most important events in Val and Riley's lives. That said...
WARNINGS WILL BE AT THE START OF EACH SECTION!
If any of these might upset or trigger you please either skip that part (I'll try to mark them all but let me know if I miss one or should alter them) or skip this chapter completely. Your wellbeing is important.
Okay, I think that covers it. Let's get started!
Holidays were Riley's favorite time of year, the colorful lights and cheery music made the whole world seem lighter. But this year was different. Maya still wasn't speaking to her, the rest of her friends were mad at her, the whole school hated her, and Lucas was still with Val.
Riley trudged home after school, the usually fluffy snow seemed more like mush with her sour mood. School might've been out for break now, but Riley wasn't looking forward to it. There wasn't anyone for her to spend the free time with. All she'd have this season was homework.
"I'm home!" She called out, knocking the snow off her boots as she came in.
"Hi Riley, how was school?" Topanga asked "Shut the door you're letting the heat out."
Riley shrugged "It was fine, where's everyone else?"
"Your Dad's still at school and Val went to pick Auggie up. I think she said they were going to stop by the cafe for hot cocoa if you want to join them." Topanga wheedled.
The holidays would be the perfect time for her daughters to work out their issues so their lives could regain a sense of normality. Topanga was going to make them talk o each other if it was the last thing she did.
Riley's expression darkened "No, thanks. I have a lot of homework to get done."
She rushed upstairs.
"You have the whole holiday to do your homework!"
Slamming the door behind her, Riley collapsed in the bay window. Her mother didn't understand, Auggie wouldn't want her intruding on his time with his favorite sister. With all she'd said and done, Val wouldn't want to see her either.
The bay window felt cold and lonely without Maya there. Riley dragged a blanket from her bed, wrapping it around herself like a burrito. It wasn't the same, but it eased the knot in her chest some.
Outside she could hear the people passing, rushing to finish their shopping before the stores closed for the day. Carolers across the street started to sing and Riley opened her window more to let the music float in.
"Val?" That was Auggie's voice, just below the fire escape "Can I ask you a question?"
"You just did." Val teased "Go ahead, what is it?"
"Is Riley a Sck-ooge?"
"A what?"
Auggie huffed "We watched a movie in class today, about a guy named Sck-ooge. He didn't like Christmas and was always mean."
"Oh, Scrooge?" Riley could hear Val biting back her smile "You watched A Christmas Carol?"
"Yeah!" Auggie agreed "Is Riley the Scrooge in our family? Because she's always mean?"
"Auggie," Val reprimanded before Riley could open her window and shout "That's not nice."
"But it's true." The little boy pouted "She makes you sad, she says mean things. That's not the Christmas spirit!"
"Even so. Did you watch the whole movie? By the end Scrooge learns his lesson, he treats others kindly. What's the first rule of life?"
"Treat others how you wish to be treated." Auggie recited.
"And the second?"
"Never say no to free stuff."
"Unless...?"
Auggie sighed "Unless it's not safe, like candy from strangers."
"That's right." Val laughed "Scrooge was visited by three spirits, the ghosts of Christmas Past, Present, and Future. They showed him how he'd changed over the years and what could happen to him if he didn't star to be nicer. Scrooge learned that the way he'd been was wrong and knew he had to change his ways, so he did."
"So Riley needs to be haunted by the ghosts of Christmas?"
"Riley's not Scrooge, Augs. She needs to figure it out for herself." Val finally opened the door "C'mon, it's cold. Wanna help me get started on dinner?"
Auggie's reply was lost to the wind as they headed inside, blissfully unaware that Riley had heard their whole conversation. She wasn't a Scrooge, Riley remembered some of the story and Scrooge had been way worse than she was.
Distractedly, Riley pulled herself up and started to pace. Auggie thought she was a Scrooge, but she had to show him she wasn't. Val had said she needed to figure it out for herself, but maybe there was someone out there who could help her.
Dinner was subdued that night, Cory complimented the mashed potatoes, Auggie prattled on about his day, Topanga tried to make conversation, and Val made her usual musical references that Riley didn't get. She was so lost in thought that she didn't even notice when everyone else had finished and started clearing up.
"Riley, are you done?" Topanga asked, pulling her out of her head.
"Huh?" Riley banged her knee on the table as she jumped "Yeah, yeah I'm done. Sorry."
"You feeling okay, honey? You've been very quiet." Topanga pressed the back of her hand to Riley's forehead "You feel a little warm, why don't you do lie down? Have an early night. I'll take care of your plate."
Distantly, Riley nodded, pushing her chair back under the table and heading to her room. She slipped into her pajamas and under her covers, hoping that when she woke up, her mind would stop spiraling.
It seemed she'd only just closed her eyes and started to drift when a pillow smacked her in the face.
"Wake up." Why was Annie in her room?
"Mmph!" Riley groaned, pushing herself further under the blankets "Go away."
"No can do.I'm here to deliver a message." Annie chirped, thunking another pillow over Riley's head.
"What message?"
Thunder echoed outside "A warning! Change your ways Riley Matthews!"
Something about her tone made Riley sit up "Why do you care? You don't even like me. You're Val's friend, she's the one you care about, go throw pillows at her."
"Nope." Annie looked different, almost translucent "See, I'm not actually Annie, this was just the form I thought would get the most reaction out of you."
Riley flung a pillow back at her, only to scramble away when it passed harmlessly through her head.
"Uh, rude."
"What do you want?"
"I'm here to give you a heads-up. A thank you might be nice, but I'm not holding out hope." Not-Annie shrugged "Your brother made an excellent point today. You kinda are a Scrooge."
"No, I'm not!" Riley threw another pillow, this time it sailed through her left shoulder.
Unphased, Not-Annie kept going "We figured, this method worked for Ebenezer, and hey, if it ain't broke, don't fix it, right?"
"What are you talking about?" Riley threw up her hands in frustration "Mom! Dad! Help!"
"La la la they can't hear you. You're dreaming." Not-Annie sang "Look, you've made a real mess this year. I'm the one who's gonna tell it to you straight. If you don't start making changes, you're gonna lose everything."
"I didn't make the mess!" Riley scowled "It's Val's fault too."
"Is she the one being haunted right now? No! I didn't think so." Not-Annie rolled her eyes "Here's the gist, you're going to be haunted by three spirits tonight. The ghost of Christmas Past will come first, then Christmas Present, and Christmas Future. Got it?"
"It's still four days until Christmas though." Riley grumbled.
"Yeah, we've got better things to do on Christmas than deal with you. So, I'm gonna head out, you have fun with them, okay?"
Riley bolted upright in bed, trembling "Ghosts aren't real." She muttered "Ghosts aren't real."
The clock on her bedside table read one o'clock in the morning, way too early to be up. Sighing, Riley shoved her feet into her slippers and padded downstairs to get some water. She filled her cup and turned around, spraying water straight through the half visible forms of her parents.
"Ahhh!"
She coughed and spluttered, scrambling away from them.
The figure of Topanga smacked ghost Cory's arm "Told you that would scare her."
"Well how was I supposed to know?"
"Because I told you!"
"Help!" Riley screamed "Somebody!"
"That's not going to work, sweetie." Her Not-Mom shook her head "Now, come on, we don't have all night. We've got people to see and places to go."
"Up and at 'em kiddo." Not-Dad agreed "We're here to take you on a tour of Christmas past, and maybe, you'll learn something important along the way."
"I've gone crazy." Riley rubbed at her eyes frantically "I'm still asleep. I have food poisoning induced hallucinations. There is no way this is real."
"Hate to break it to you, but this is real, now shake a leg, let's go." Not-Mom held out her hand.
"Oh, no. I'm not going anywhere with you." Riley shook her head "I just need to go back to bed and I'll wake up and realize this was just a really weird dream."
Not-Dad moved closer "Sweetie, this is real. We're here to help you. You need to understand what's going to happen if you don't start to make some changes. We want you to be happy, this is how you do that."
Riley hesitated, warily watching her ghost mother "What happens if I go with you?"
"We're going back in time to visit your past, so you can see where you changed and so you can see things more clearly." Not-Mom explained "The only way to get through this and wake up tomorrow morning is to come with us."
Riley didn't get a chance to answer as Not-Cory knocked her forward, flailing wildly and catching her Not-Mom's hand. Suddenly, Riley wasn't falling anymore, she was weightless, being pulled out the window and flying down the street.
"Where are we going?" She shrieked.
"You'll see."
Warnings: sick character, hospitalization, fear of death, misplaced blame
When they landed Riley knew immediately where they were. The red 'Hospital' sign glowed like an omen in the darkness.
"I don't want to be here." She pleaded, facing the ghosts "Please, I don't want to be here. Take me away!"
She turned and tried to run, but found herself in the hallway of the pediatric ward. Memories flooded over her as she spotted her father, talking to a doctor, five year old Riley beside him.
She remembered this Christmas, Val had already been sick for four days. Cory and Topanga were worried, taking turns sitting at their oldest daughter's bedside feeding her soup, wetting her forehead, or trying to soothe her back to sleep. Riley had the same chest cold her sister had, but her fever had broken the day before. They'd brought Val to the hospital on Christmas Eve.
Riley cold see her mother and sister in the hospital room. Topanga rested her head on her palm, watching the slow rise and fall of her baby's chest. Each breath rattled her little body, she could hear every inhale and exhale. A nurse came in and checked her temperature, 100.8.
Higher than it had been an hour ago. Val shivered under the blankets, her frail five year old form shaking worse every time her fever rose. Topanga sighed, there wasn't much more they could do. Topanga felt helpless, she could convince a jury of a clients guilt or innocence with ease, she could make as much soup as her children could eat, she was a fierce Amazon warrior. But she couldn't make her daughter better through sheer force of will.
The door opened quietly and Cory came in, little Riley clinging to his side. Riley followed the shadows of her past through the door, breath catching at the sight of her sister dwarfed by the hospital bed.
"You need to eat, Topanga." Cory brushed his wife's hair to of her face "Go get some food, I'll sit with her."
Topanga shook her head "What did the doctor say?"
"It's pneumonia." Cory confirmed "It's-It's not good."
Topanga buried her face in her hands "She had a cold."
"I know."
"Is Vallie okay, Mommy?" Riley heard herself ask "What can I do?"
"It must have been so scary for you." Not-Dad said from behind her "Not knowing what was happening, not knowing if she'd be all right."
Riley balled her fists "She's fine."
"She is now." Not-Mom nodded "But she almost wasn't. It's not a small thing to almost lose the most important person in your life."
"Maya is the most important person in my life!"
"But she wasn't always."
"She is!"
"Your sister almost died." Not-Dad jumped in "You feel hurt and angry. Why?"
"I don't!" Riley shouted "I don't! Take me out of here!"
"Why such a strong reaction?" Not-Mom wondered "You feel like Val stole your parents."
"She did!"
"But what else?" Not-Dad asked "There's more to the story."
"There isn't!"
"Just tell us, Riley. It might make you feel better."
"I feel guilty!" Riley exploded "It's my fault she got so sick, I wanted to go outside and play in the snow before I knew she was sick. We had a snowball fight and two days later she couldn't get out of bed. It's my fault." She fell to her knees and started sobbing
"Riley," Not-Mom kneeled down so she was eye to eye with the girl "What happened wasn't your fault. You didn't know."
"Mommy?" Little Riley asked, reaching out for her mother.
"I can't." Topanga choked back tears "Cory, I-I can't."
Cory swept Riley up, taking her out of the room as Topanga started to sob, listening to the soft but steady beat on the heart monitor.
"Come on." Not-Mom said, taking Riley's hand again and brushing the tears from her cheeks "Let's jump ahead."
When Riley opened her eyes, she was met by the sight of her second grade self pulling an ugly sweater over her head. The bay window opened and Maya crawled through, her hat had a hole in it and her coat looked thiner than Riley remembered.
"Peaches!" Little Riley bounced over, wrapping her friend in a hug "Merry Christmas!"
"Merry Christmas, Riley." Maya returned the hug quickly before pushing her off "Okay, okay, enough mushy stuff. I've got a reputation, ya know."
Little Riley wasn't deterred and started pulling Maya downstairs "Mom said she's making snowman waffles for breakfast, then we can open presents!"
The joy in her eyes faded when she was greeted in the kitchen, not by her mother, but her grandmother. Riley swallowed the lump in her throat, she remembered this Christmas too.
"Grandma? Where is everyone?"
"Sweetheart, why don't you sit down?" Grandma pulled out a seat and Riley joined her at the table "Honey, your parents had to take Val to the hospital last night."
"What?" Little Riley's lower lip trembled "But-but it's Christmas. We're supposed to be together."
"She started having trouble breathing last night." Grandma explained, trying to soothe her "You know her lungs get worse in the winter. Don't worry, the doctors know what they're doing. Your sister is in good hands."
Little Riley didn't want to hear it, jumping up from her seat "They promised we'd spend Christmas together! They promised!"
"I know, sweetheart, I know." Grandma tried to give her a hug but Riley pulled away "This isn't something they could control. They'd be here if they could."
Maya stood awkwardly on the stairs, watching Riley grow more and more upset. She didn't really understand what was going on, but she hated to see her best friend so sad. Maya knew how to deal with disappointment, her mother forgot her enough, but she never wanted Riley to have to deal with it.
Riley finally wore herself out, collapsing on the couch crying "I just wanted us to spend Christmas together."
"They couldn't help it." Not-Mom laid a hand on the older Riley's shoulder "You know that now, don't you?"
"Yeah." Riley averted her gaze "Doesn't make it hurt any less."
"Wouldn't it have hurt more if Val hadn't made it?" Not-Dad asked.
*End Trigger Warning*
Riley jolted awake, her dim room all she could see.
"Just a dream." She whispered to herself "It was just a dream. Val's fine. I'm fine."
"No, you're not."
"AAAHHHHH!"
In the darkness, Riley hadn't seen the ghostly figure of her little brother standing by her pillow. She tumbled back, head over heels, falling out of bed. A tiny pair of eyes and a curly mop of hair peered over the edge at her.
"I guess you're the ghost of Christmas Present?"
"Uh-huh."
"Christmas still isn't for four more days." Riley complained.
"You think you're the only person I have to visit this year?" Not-Auggie put his hands on his hips "I've been doing this since October!"
Riley pushed herself up "Whatever, what do you want to show me? The sooner you do, the sooner I can meet the last ghost and get this over with!"
"Geez, impatient much?" Not-Auggie held his hand out "Fine, come with me."
Riley took his tiny hand and was once again pulled up through the air and found herself blinking in the winter sun outside Topanga's. Lucas and Val were walking in, arms laden with wrapped gifts. She pressed her face against the window and watched the scene inside unfold.
"Merry Christmas!" Val called, setting her pile down by the boot.
Farkle, Maya, and Zay were all waiting, also with presents to exchange. Farkle gave Val a hug while Zay and Lucas greeted each other. Maya stayed seated until Val reached out and embraced her too.
"Do I have to watch this?" Riley grouched.
"Yes."
"Want hot cocoa?" Val offered the table "My treat."
Steaming mugs were soon in front of all of them as they started to exchange gifts. Farkle got a chemistry set from Val, a book from Maya, and Lucas and Zay had teamed up to get him an autograph from a scientist he liked.
Zay got a new cowboy hat full of chocolates from Lucas, Maya got him the new album from his favorite band, Farkle gave him a recipe book for barbecue, having bonded over the food in Texas, and Val gave him some new ballet slippers.
Maya got colored pencils and paints from Lucas and Zay, a guide for drawing certain styles from Farkle, and a set of oil colors and acrylics from Val. Lucas got a hat full of chocolate like Zay, a tradition between them it seemed. A book on horses and veterinary medicine from Farkle and a homemade coupon book from Maya, with offers ranging from 'No nicknames for a week' to 'I'll cause a distraction and get you out of whatever' making them all laugh. Val gave him a framed picture of them in Texas, just after he'd ridden Tombstone, with her in his arms, dipped back in a kiss.
Val opened her presents last, Farkle gave her some music books for broadway, Zay gave her a tiny gnome, decked out in a hot pink suit, styled after Legally Blonde. Maya gave her a handful of stickers she made herself from the Percy Jackson books, and Lucas had given her a simple gold necklace with a jeweled 'V' sparkling on the chain.
Riley watched jealously as Val swept her hair aside, letting Lucas clasp the necklace. It wasn't fair.
"Next!" Not-Auggie chirped next to her.
In a blink Riley was in the living room, her family at the table eating what must be Christmas dinner. Watching herself was eerie, as Riley's clone pushed the food around her plate grumpily before she stood up and tried to take it to the sink. Her foot caught on the chair leg and she tripped, spilling the remaining food all over Val.
Topanga slammed her hands on the table "I've had it! Riley, I don't know what's wrong now, but you are not going to ruin Christmas with it."
"I'm not ruining anything!" Riley protested "I just tripped."
"Mom, it's fine." Val tried to say, dabbing at her face with a napkin "It was an accident."
"It is not fine!" Topanga raged "The two of you need to work this out or so help me-!"
"Okay!" Cory clapped his hands "Can we talk about something else? Anything else?"
"No." Topanga was steaming "It's Christmas, I'm tired of all this mess and drama. You two are going to sit at this table until you work out your differences. Do you understand?"
"But, Mom-" Riley pouted.
"Do you understand?"
The twins sighed "Yes."
Time seemed to speed up, Riley watched as the rest of the family cleaned the kitchen, opened their gifts and went upstairs to bed. She and Val stayed sitting at the table.
Finally Val shifted "Look, I don't know why you hate me so much."
"Yes, you do." Riley spat.
"No, Riley, I really don't." Val looked so tired "And I don't care anymore. I can't handle another year like this, the constant back and forth fighting, you glaring at me every time I walk into a room, the tension. God, I can't take it anymore!"
"Well, maybe if you had just-"
"Just what? What could I have done differently? All my life it was what you was exactly how you wanted it. Every birthday party was the theme you picked, every year, every day it was all about you. And I never complained. I never argued." Val rubbed her temples "And now that I'm finally thinking about myself for once, you seemed determined to make me regret it. But guess what, I don't."
Riley was aghast "You don't?"
"I don't. I've gone through it all in my head a million times, but I still don't understand you and you pathological need to make me miserable. I never will, and I'm done trying. You've ruled my life, my world, for so long. Well, it's my world now. And you're not a part of it."
Val left the kitchen without another word, leaving Riley alone in the fading light.
Elsewhere, another Riley turned to the Ghost of Christmas Present "What does she mean?"
"She's done."
"Done with what? With me?"
"Yeah." Not-Auggie nodded "All you do is make her miserable, so she decided she doesn't want to talk to you anymore. If this is the path you follow, she will never speak to you again."
"But, Val always forgives me." Riley clung to the ray of hope "We're twins. She has to forgive me."
"No, she doesn't." Not-Auggie disagreed "Continue this way and you will be alone forever, no friends, no family, nothing."
"How can I change this?" Riley felt tears start to prick the corners of her eyes "I don't want to be alone."
But the ghost had faded from view. Behind her, a shadowy figure cleared their throat.
"Ahem."
Riley whipped around, the ghost of Christmas Future, a being wrapped in a dark cloak, reached for her with a thin hand. Heart pounding, Riley took the offered hand.
She found herself in a warm, beautiful living room. Pictures covered the walls and gingerbread was cooling on the stovetop. Inching closer, Riley saw Val and Lucas in each photo. One wearing gradation robes and hats, one on a beach splashing in the waves, one of them in a pottery class, a familiar blonde next to them. Pictures of them riding horses, reading books all tangled up together, and kissing. In so many photos, they were kissing.
Thee doorbell rang, making Riley jump.
"I'll get it!" Val, older, but still very clearly her sister glided into view and opened the door "Farkle! Smackle! I'm so glad you made it!"
"Wouldn't miss it for the world, Val." Farkle hugged her "Are we the first one's here?"
"Annie's upstairs." Val shook her head, taking their coats "Rummaging through my closet."
"You have nothing to wear!" Annie's voice called down "Smackle, come help me!"
"Yes, my sharp eye for colors and patterns will be useful." Smackle handed Val a bag and headed upstairs "Merry Christmas."
"Merry Christmas." Val laughed "Lucas got out of work late, but he's on his way. Zay is picking Maya up and Auggie and Ava decided the roads were too bad, so they're staying home."
Maya rushed through the door "Is he here yet? Did it happen? Did I miss it?"
Zay came through lugging Maya's art supplies "You could help, you know?"
"I didn't want to miss it!"
"He's not even here yet!"
"Oh. Well, I hear Annie calling me, I better go help." Maya fibbed, grinning as she raced upstairs.
"Miss what?" Val asked, suspiciously "What are you up to?"
"Nothing." Zay yelped "Hey, look gingerbread." He shoved a cookie in his mouth.
Val hummed disbelievingly "Mm-hmm, okay. Farkle?"
"It's your Christmas surprise." The genius folded immediately "But that's all I'm saying!"
A knock interrupted the interrogation "Is that my surprise?" Val asked, opening the door.
Standing on the stoop was Riley. Her breath caught as she watched the cheerful smiles fade from everyone's faces.
"What do you want?" Zay asked.
"I was, uh, I was hoping I could spend Christmas with you guys." Riley stammered "You know, like old times?"
Val didn't say a word, she just shut the door in her sister's face. Riley watched as her future self turned and shuffled away.
Inside Farkle ushered her sister to the couch "You okay?"
"I feel like a terrible person." Val whispered "Shutting out my twin, on Christmas? What kind of monster am I?"
"Val, you've tried to be nice to her for years." Farkle sighed "She never accepted it, she made your life a living hell. She's crossed every line and now she has to deal with the consequences. Sticking to your decision to cut her out of your life doesn't make you a monster."
"But she's all alone and I just-"
"Val." Zay knelt in front of her "She drove you to the edge, you stopped talking to her because she couldn't grow up and deal with her feelings. You did the right thing."
Lucas flung open the door "I saw her leaving." He rushed to Val's side "Are you okay?"
Val turned her face into his sweater "I'm okay. It's not an easy thing to do, never speaking to her. I don't know how I feel anymore. She looked so lonely. And she's still my little sister."
Lucas shushed her, brushing her hair back gently "She made her decisions."
"I know."
"I don't want you to get hurt again."
"I know."
"Val!" Annie's voice echoed through the house "Hurry up! We found you an outfit!"
Val brushed the tears from her cheeks "I better go." She kissed Lucas quickly "Take the tray out of the oven when it goes off for me?"
Lucas nodded, watching her head upstairs before her turned back to his friends "I don't know if I should do this."
"Not again." Zay groaned "Man, you've had the ring for two years. Just ask her already!"
"You told me you were going to propose when you finished college." Farkle accused "You both graduated seven months ago. She's going to say yes."
"But she's upset tonight."
"That's exactly why you should do it tonight! Make her happy!" Zay pointed out.
"Cowboy chickening out again?" Maya asked, returning "You've got five minutes to decide while Annie contains Val."
"It's not the right time." Lucas pulled thee ring box from his pocket "I don't want to make her more upset."
"Lucas." Maya shook his shoulders "I've known Val a long time, she loves you. Just ask her. Tonight. It's the whole reason we're all here, to see you get down on one knee and ask her to marry you."
"I know, I know." Lucas ran his free hand through his hair "I just, I don't know. I'm nervous."
"If you don't propose tonight Annie's gonna kill you." Farkle offered.
"That's really not helpful."
"I know. But it's a fact."
"What's a fact?" Val had returned in a dark green sparkly dress, her hair done up in a way only Annie could pull off so quickly.
Lucas shoved the box back in his pocket "Uh, that the gingerbread is delicious?" He offered weakly.
Val narrowed her eyes playfully.
Riley watched as the group all sat down to dinner, chatting and joking with each other. They seemed so comfortable, so happy. Lucas was going to propose to her sister. Oddly, the thought didn't make the green eyed monster in her chest as angry as it once would have.
Riley tuned back in when Lucas pulled out the box and knelt down "Valencia Matthews, you are the light of my life. Ever since I saw you on that subway car I knew you'd be important to me, I'd never have guessed just how important. You've supported me through the ups and downs, held my hand when I was scared, fought for me when I didn't know what to say. I am the happiest man in the world just to know you. Val, will you marry me?"
Her hands clutched to her mouth, holding back tears, Val nodded "Yes, oh my god, yes!"
Riley's cheeks were wet too. The most important day of her sister's life, and she wasn't there for it.
"Spirit!" She shouted "Please! Please tell me what to do! I don't want to be alone! I don't want Val to be miserable! I want to be her sister again! Please!"
But the spirit was no longer there.
Riley awoke with a shriek, the early morning sun falling across her bedspread.
"Riley?" Val knocked "Are you okay? I heard you scream."
Quickly, Riley pinched her arm, she was awake. She let out a breathless laugh "I'm fine!"
"Oh-kay then."
"Val wait!" Riley pulled her door open "Can I talk to you?"
The hesitation was painfully clear on Val's face but she nodded.
"I-I'm sorry." Riley blurted out "I don't want to fight with you anymore. I want to be better. I want to be there when you graduate and get married and everything!"
"Whoa, who's getting married?"
"You and Lucas are, in the future!" Riley rushed on "There were these ghosts and I saw the past present and future and I want you to be happy. I want to see you be happy."
"Riley, I-"
"I know, I've done a lot of really bad things, but, Val I want to be better. I want us to be sisters again." Riley grabbed Val's hands "And I'll work for it! I know you can't forgive me now because I haven't earned it, but I will! Just please give me a chance?"
"I, Riley, I don't understand. Are you okay? Did you hit your head or something?" Val bit her lip "I don't know if I can trust this."
"You can." Riley promised "I'm going to fix it, you're my sister and I love you and I'm sorry for everything I've done to hurt you."
Val's eyes darted around the room wildly "I-I need a minute."
She raced from the room, shutting and locking her door behind her. Riley wouldn't let this discourage her, she had to make it right. But on approaching the door, she thought, Val had said she needed a minute, maybe the best thing to do, to start proving her words, would be to listen to her sister.
So Riley, for the first time in her life, stepped back.
Word count: 5356 words
I had no idea where this was going as I wrote it so I'm sorry if it seems choppy. Once again, Riley's redemption arc is going to take a VERY long time. This is the beginning of her learning how to make amends.
I'm on a bunch of cold meds writing this (struggling this Christmas).
Merry Christmas! Happy holidays! Thanks for reading! Please don't forget to comment, vote, and add to your reading lists! #BlackLivesMatter #FreePalestine
Love,
The Author