girl meets world · riley matthews · family drama · new york city · coming of age · seventh grade · best friends · emotional · slice of life · christmas
The New York sky glows grey through the frost-framed windows of the Matthews apartment. The scent of pine and sugar cookies fills the air as laughter spills from the living room. Alan and Amy sit on the couch, their faces half-hidden as five-year-old Auggie and sixteen-year-old Joshua draw on Alan's cheeks with a marker. Cory hugs Shawn at the door, patting his back. "My favourite person is here," Cory says, while Topanga rolls her eyes beside him. Maya fidgets near Riley, her eyes darting to the door. "Any moment you should be here," she says, her voice hopeful. The bell hasn't rung yet, but the room holds its breath.