Girl Meets Senior Year

The Talk

Riley walked down the stairs from her bedroom to the living room to find her mother curled up in the arm chair flipping through a case file.

"Mom?"

"Yes, Riley?" Topanga asked without looking up.

"Is Dad here?"

"No, he took Auggie and Ava to the park. Did you need him?"

Riley let out a sigh of relief. She didn't want him anywhere around during this conversation. "No, I was hoping I could talk to you though."

"Of course, sweetie. Just let me finish this last page."

Riley sat on the couch and brought her knees up to her chest. She sat there waiting until her mother finished reading.

Topanga flipped the page she finished, and looked up to her daughter smiling. "Sorry about that. I have to have this case ready for trial by Friday. How's it going, honey?"

"Well I've been thinking. And I'm, we're both, 18 so this is legal. So as a lawyer you don't need to worry about any law breaking."

"Well thank you for taking my job into account, Riley." Topanga had to suppress a laugh. "What's wrong?"

"Mom, how did you know you were ready?"

"Ready for?" Dawning crossed over Topanga's face followed by shock. "Oh. Ready ready." She closed her binder and placed it on the coffee table in front of her.

"Yeah. Ready ready."

"Actually your father and I waited until our wedding night."

"Oh. Maybe I should talk to Aunt Morgan then."

"No," she insisted. "I am happy you came to me, Riley."

"You sure?" Her voice was timid.

"I'm sure," Topanga gave her a reassuring smile. "Do you think you're ready?"

"I've been thinking about it for weeks. I want to be ready."

"I think you'll know you're ready when there really isn't any other alternative for you. When you actually hurt at the idea of not being that close with the person you love."

"I can't imagine spending my life without her."

"That's not the same, sweetie."

"I know. This growing up stuff is really hard, Mom."

"I know it is. I went through it too. Just be grateful you didn't go through a celery phase like your father."

"A what?" Riley stared at her.

"Nevermind. Is Maya ready?"

"Yes. She has been."

"I can't imagine she would be pressuring you into this."

"No! Of course she isn't. She told me if I'm never ready then it just doesn't happen. She said she would wait for me forever."

"Then why the rush? You two haven't even been together a year."

"We've been together since we were five," Riley corrected her.

"Oh my god. You're us."

"What?"

Topanga went on, "You and Maya. You aren't Cory and Shawn. You're Cory and Topanga. Or maybe you're Cory and some weird Shawn Topanga hybrid. Either way just like your father and I you found your soul mate when you were a little kid."

"And stayed together for the rest of our lives," Riley added smiling. "I'm definitely ok with being you and Dad. I can't think of a better couple to emulate."

Topanga moved to sit next to Riley on the couch and embraced her in a hug. "If you're emulating us that means you're waiting until you're married right?"

"Mom!"

"Kidding. Sort of."

"Mom, I have one more question, and it's even more awkward."

"Oh boy," Topanga replied hesitantly.

"We've been over sex in health class. I know how it works..." Riley paused, "with boys."

"Oh boy," Topanga said again.

"How does it work when it's with another girl?"

"Oh boy," she said once more.