Girl Meets 23

9 (Riley)

-New York City, USA-

Riley and Josh had been at her parents for almost twenty minutes and she was beside herself with excitement. She couldn't sit still, constantly checking her phone to see if Maya had messaged her in twenty seconds since she last checked it.
"She should be here any minute, she texted me that she was on her way ten minutes ago," Riley announced lifting herself off her seat in the living room to begin pacing around the room.

"We know Riley, you told us when you got the message!" Corey, Riley's dad, said in annoyance "and again five minutes ago!"

"This is how you behave when Shawn comes over," Topanga laughed at her husband. Her dad and Maya's step dad had grown up together, very similarly to how they had, and were the best of friends. Sometimes the Matthews family would joke that Corey was basically married to Shawn as well as Topanga.

"Honestly, you're worse when Shawn's coming" Auggie butted in making everyone laugh in agreement.

"That's different, it's me and Shawn" Corey said innocently with a shrug, joining Auggie and Josh on the couch. "Seriously though, Riley calm down she'll be here before you know it"

"Yeah, the people down stairs are going to complain because of your pacing" Auggie said teasing her. Nothing brought her teenage brother more joy than making fun of his big sister.

"They're not going to complain" she fired back sticking her tongue out as she slumped down into her seat. She kept her focus directly on the front door. Suddenly her phone dinged and Riley practically flung herself out of chair to read the message. "Oh my god! Oh my god!" She shrieked and Auggie covered his ears "She's here! Maya's on her way up!" By this point she was jumping up and down.

"Now they might actually complain," Auggie whispered not so quietly to his father. And out of the corner of her eye she saw Josh straighten up in his seat. The next few moments flew in a blur of excitement and suddenly the door handle started to twist and everyone's attention turned to the door once again. Riley's jumping intensified as the door started to open and there she was. Maya! She looked just as Riley remembered and the tears involuntarily starting streaming at the sight of her beautiful short blond blue eyed best friend.

"Did you freaks miss me?" Maya asked with the biggest grin and Riley hurled into Maya's arms, almost tossing them to the floor. The two girls where both crying now in their embrace. Not only did Maya look the same but she smelt the same. Maya had a edgier darker look than Riley did but she always smelt like sweet jasmine flowers. The two broke apart for a moment and looked into each others eyes and then hugged again without saying another word. This hug was soul healing and the longer they stood there the weight of the world felt so much lighter. All felt right in the world again now they were together.

"Alright my turn!" Riley's mother said breaking up the two girls. Riley stared at her friend for a second longer, just taking Maya in, and then stepped aside to let the rest of her family have their moment with her. "Oh Maya I missed you so much!" Topanga pulled Maya into a motherly hug. Riley decided, in the meantime, to grab some water. All that jumping had tired her out a little, Josh seemed to have lingered back in the kitchen while the rest of the family took turns asking Maya questions about LA.

"Where's the DJ?" Josh asked in a slight whisper obviously not wanting to be heard. Riley almost spat out her water in surprise , she'd forgotten all about Caleb coming. She was just so excited to see Maya.

"Josh." She replied shortly at his dig about Caleb's career choice. He gave her an unapologetic shrug in reply "but it is a good question," she said looking back to Maya. But rather than speculating with Josh in the kitchen about it, and feeding into whatever weird energy he was giving around the whole Maya/Caleb situation, Riley decided to make her way back to her best friend.
"Ok everyone, I'm stealing her until dinner," Riley announced grabbing Maya's hand and started dragging her towards her childhood bedroom. "Bay window! Bay window right now!"