Meet-Cute
They're at Topanga's, which kind of seems like a weird place to have a party until you realize Topanga's has a readily available kitchen and much more seating then the Matthews house while still remaining free. So it's a win-win. Win.
It's another one of the parties that seemingly has no purpose - it's got something to do with finding Riley and Auggie's soulmates, probably, but if Riley was her soulmate, her dad would be enough to scare her off.
She supposes that's the idea, that maybe her dad thinks he can somehow affect fate by intervening before almost every meeting Riley has. It's sweet, honestly. Overbearing, but sweet. He even used to manage to edge in before quite a few of her introductions at school, which, Riley has to admit, was just impressive.
"Riley, come here," her mom calls, and her dad gives her mom a thankful smile that tells Riley he's interrogating yet another possibility and doesn't want her in on it. "Coming, mom."
Her mother is carrying an armload of boxes, and there's some on the table next to her. Her sleeves are rolled up, and Riley can catch the edge of her mother's scrawling soulmate text. She smiles at the words, sneaking a peek back at her dad for good measure.
( He's currently interrogating a tall, blonde boy who Riley thinks she recognizes from school. Lucas, maybe? All she can see is his butt. If it is Lucas, jokes on her dad - they were bio partners last semester, and his first words to Riley were can I get that for you, which, sadly, were not the magic words. )
"Riley, will you take these boxes back into the kitchen for me?"
Riley considers a but mom, but thinks better of it and scoops up an armload of boxes. "Thanks!" Her mother calls from behind her own stack, jogging back to the kitchen. "Sure!"
The boxes are awfully tall. Riley's a little bit worried she'll run headfirst into a wall, even though she's hyperaware of her movements and the way to the kitchen.
Thankfully, Riley makes it ( safely ) all the way back, letting out a sigh of relief as she stacks the boxes on the table before turning sharply on her heel and starting out of the kitchen.
She makes it maybe an inch before she smacks head on into something. Someone? Definitely someone. Said someone is now on the floor, along with Riley, quirking an eyebrow at her. "You alright there, honey?" The someone asks, and Riley becomes completely still. "Hey. You okay there?" The girl repeats, and Riley nods, mute. She knows what the girl said, because she's been looking at the words for seventeen years. Her ankle tingles long after the words have been spoken. "I'm great - fresh as a daisy. Bumbling as a bumblebee. All that jazz." She babbles, and the blonde stills for a moment, recovering in time to shoot back, "Well, you certainly are something." Riley sees the blonde reach behind her back to rub subconsciously at her shoulder, and Riley bites her lip. She'd always known words were in a different place for everyone, but something about her words being written across this girl's back makes her feel sort of special. Like she earned her place on this girl's body. Or, at least, she wants to.
Riley's face twists into something like an apology, and the blonde cuts her off before she can start. "Hey, no need, alright? You were, uh, bumbling as a bumblebee, right?"
Riley flushes bright red.
It occurs to her that they're both still on the floor, so she pulls herself up, and offers a hand to the girl. "Need some help?" She asks, willing her face to cool down. It doesn't work, especially once the blonde girl slips her hand into Riley's and holds tightly to gain leverage and get standing. "Um, Riley. Riley Matthews."
"As in Mr. Matthews' kid?" The blonde asks, and Riley finally laughs again. "Yeah, he's out there interrogating people he thinks might be my soulmate."
"Well," The girl says, and Riley notices their hands are still intertwined, "I hate to ruin your dad's day, but it seems you're pretty good at finding people yourself." The girl smiles and Riley smiles back - she can't help it. "Yeah. I guess I am." She mumbles.
"Oh, uh - Maya. Maya Hart."
"Nice to meet you, Maya." Riley says, dipping into a tiny bow.
"You too, Riles."
Riley melts a little bit. ( Is that possible? She considers asking her mom if melting is a thing you can do if you stare at someone for too long, or listen to them talk for too many hours. Well, Riley's always been a romantic. )
"So, is it time for me to meet your folks?" Maya asks, like they didn't just meet, and this isn't the craziest thing either of them has ever done. "Um. Yeah. Yeah, I think so. Is that how it works?"
"Well," Maya hums, "I think you show me yours. And I show you mine."
Riley blushes. She gets the feeling that's going to be a consistent thing with Maya. "Your f - your parents are here?"
"My mom, she works here. Katy Hart." Maya smiles a little bit. "My dad is a loose construct." She jokes, and Riley frowns. "Oh. I'm sorry."
"It's fine. I have my mom, and uh - I guess I have soulmate parents too now, is that how that works?"
Riley grins. "Anytime you want my parents, they're always available to be overbearing and teach life lessons."
"I'm holding you to that."