XXX

During at lunch time, Danielle had received a quick message from Izzy explaining that she was going to Topanga's cafe to meet Riley's mother.

She may or may not have cornered Mr Matthew's during a lesson with certain freshmen in his classroom.

Cory barely had time to process Danielle's sudden entrance before she spoke .

Crossing her arms. "Why did I just get a text from my aunt asking why she's being forced to go to Topanga's Café to meet your wife?"

Cory blinked. "Oh... so she got the message?"

Danielle narrowed her eyes. "So you knew about this?"

"Danielle, my mom just wants to meet her," Riley cut in, sighing like this was the most obvious thing in the world. "It's not a big deal."

"Not a big deal?" Danielle echoed, turning her glare to Riley now. "She practically interrogated me at dinner, and now she's summoning Izzy?" She scoffed. "I don't like it."

"You don't like what?" Maya asked, grinning. "That someone's taking an interest in you?"

Danielle shot her a sharp look. "I don't like being analyzed like a science project."

Cory held up a hand, trying to regain control of his classroom. "Look, Danielle, I don't know exactly what my wife's plan is, but I do know she means well. She probably just wants to talk to your aunt, get to know the person who raised you."

Danielle chewed the inside of her cheek, still feeling suspicious. Izzy wasn't exactly a people person, and the idea of her sitting down with Topanga Matthews of all people made her skin itch.

"She could have at least warned me first," Danielle muttered.

"Would you have let it happen if she did?" Maya asked knowingly.

Danielle glared at her again but had no good response to that.

Cory sighed. "Listen, if you're that worried, why don't you go to the café after school? See for yourself what's going on."

Danielle hesitated, not liking that she was being put in a position where she cared about this. But at the same time... she did care.

"Fine," she muttered. "But if she freaks my aunt out, I'm blaming you."

Cory put his hands up in surrender. "Duly noted."

Danielle rolled her eyes, then turned to leave. Before she stepped out, she cast one more glance at Maya, who was still watching her with that annoying little smirk.

"See something you like?" Danielle shot at her.

Maya just leaned back in her chair, unbothered. "Yeah. You freaking out."

Danielle groaned and walked out, already dreading whatever Topanga Matthews had planned.

--

The sharp ring of the bell echoed through the hallways, signaling the end of the school day.

Danielle barely waited for her classmates to start filing out before she grabbed her bag and headed straight for the doors. She didn't bother looking for William, Lilianna, or Brooklyn—she had somewhere to be, whether she liked it or not.

Her steps were quick, purposeful, but the whole walk to the parking lot, she felt her stomach twisting with unease. She still didn't like this. Topanga Matthews was too involved for someone who barely knew her, and Danielle wasn't used to that.

As she reached her car, she pulled out her phone, tapping out a message to Izzy:

Elle

You at the café yet?

It took a moment before she got a reply.

Busy Izzy

Yeah. She's not scary, you know.

Danielle scoffed, unlocking her Bugatti Chiron and sliding into the driver's seat.

Elle

Yet. I'm on my way.

She didn't know why she was rushing. It wasn't like she was invited to this meeting. But the idea of Topanga interrogating Izzy—of her aunt having to sit through a conversation about her—made her foot press just a little harder on the gas.

The drive to Topanga's café was smooth, but Danielle's grip on the wheel was tight the entire way. She wasn't sure what annoyed her more—the fact that Topanga had arranged this meeting without telling her, or the fact that Izzy had actually gone.

Pulling into the parking lot, she spotted Izzy's car immediately, parked neatly near the entrance. With a sigh, Danielle turned off the engine, grabbed her bag, and stepped out.

The café was warm and inviting as always, the scent of coffee and baked goods filling the air, but Danielle barely registered it as she scanned the room. It didn't take long to find them.

Izzy sat at a table near the window, looking perfectly at ease, sipping on what Danielle assumed was her second cup of coffee. Across from her, Topanga was speaking, expression composed but sharp—like she was carefully choosing her words.

Danielle rolled her eyes before making her way over, sliding into the seat next to Izzy with an unimpressed look. "You rang?"

Izzy smirked over the rim of her cup. "Didn't have a choice, apparently. Your favorite person here insisted."

Topanga didn't seem fazed by Danielle's sarcasm. She simply folded her hands on the table, giving Danielle a knowing look. "You don't like surprises, do you?"

Danielle scoffed. "Not when they involve my guardian getting dragged into a conversation she didn't sign up for."

"I think I can handle myself," Izzy cut in, glancing between them with amusement. "And for the record, I'm enjoying the free coffee."

Danielle exhaled, crossing her arms as she turned back to Topanga. "Alright, let's hear it. What's this really about?"

Topanga leaned forward slightly, her voice calm but firm. "You're not as good at hiding things as you think."

Danielle's jaw tightened, but she forced herself to keep her expression neutral. "I don't know what you're talking about."

Topanga gave her a small, knowing smile. "Sure you don't." Then, after a beat, "How was dinner the other night?"

Danielle blinked, momentarily thrown off. "What?"

"Dinner. At our house."

Danielle hesitated, suddenly aware of Izzy's curious gaze flicking between them. She shifted slightly in her seat. "It was fine."

Topanga hummed, like she already knew that wasn't the full answer. "You looked a little out of place at first."

Danielle huffed a small laugh. "Well, yeah. I don't usually do big, family dinners."

Izzy glanced at her with interest, but Danielle didn't meet her gaze.

Topanga, however, softened. "That's kind of what I wanted to talk about."

Danielle tensed. "If this is some concerned adult talk, you can save it. I'm fine."

"I don't doubt that." Topanga's expression was unreadable. "But just because you're fine on your own doesn't mean you have to be."

Danielle stilled.

She felt Izzy shift beside her, but she didn't look away from Topanga, who was still watching her with that sharp, unreadable look—like she was seeing through her, and not just at her.

For once, Danielle didn't have a quick response.

Danielle hated this.

The way Topanga looked at her like she already had her figured out. The way Izzy, who normally found everything amusing, was suddenly quiet beside her. The way she could feel the weight of the conversation pressing against her chest, making it harder to act indifferent.

She shifted in her seat, leaning back slightly and forcing a smirk. "That's a really nice sentiment, Mrs. Matthews, but I think I'll stick to what I know."

Topanga didn't look surprised by her response. If anything, she looked... patient. "You can keep pretending you don't care, Danielle, but the truth is, you do."

Danielle clenched her jaw, but Topanga wasn't done.

"You wouldn't have stayed for dinner if you didn't," she continued. "You wouldn't have sat with Riley and Maya in the bay window. You wouldn't have let Maya come to your house when she showed up uninvited."

Danielle's nails dug into her palm. "I don't see how any of that concerns you."

Topanga exhaled, her expression softening. "It doesn't. Not really. But I know what it looks like when someone's trying to keep themselves at a distance. And I also know what it looks like when someone wants to belong somewhere but doesn't know how."

Danielle felt a sharp pang in her chest. She swallowed it down.

Izzy, who had been quiet this whole time, finally spoke up. "I take it this is about more than just dinner?"

Topanga gave her a small smile. "I think Danielle has a lot more people looking out for her than she realizes."

Danielle forced a laugh, but it was hollow. "I don't need people looking out for me."

"Maybe not." Topanga tilted her head. "But that doesn't mean they won't."

Danielle hated that she didn't have a response to that. Hated that her mind went straight to the way Maya had nudged her at dinner, the way Riley had so easily included her in their space, the way Topanga, of all people, had just sat across from her and seen too much.

She needed to get out of here.

Pushing her chair back slightly, she glanced at Izzy. "Are we done here?"

Izzy looked at her carefully, then at Topanga. "That's up to you."

Danielle exhaled sharply before turning back to Topanga. "I appreciate the concern, but I don't need it."

Topanga didn't argue. She just nodded, like she already expected that answer. "Alright."

That was it? No more prying? No more unsolicited advice?

Danielle hesitated, then stood up. "Good talk, Mrs. Matthews."

Topanga gave her a small, knowing smile. "Anytime."

Danielle rolled her eyes before glancing at Izzy, who was watching her like she was trying to figure something out.

"Are you coming, or are you staying for another free coffee?"

Izzy smirked, finishing off the last sip in her cup before standing. "Well, since you offered to drive me..."

Danielle sighed, already heading for the door. "You're impossible."

Izzy chuckled, following her out. But before they left, Danielle dared one last glance back.

Topanga was still seated at the table, watching them go, her expression unreadable.

Danielle didn't know why, but it made her stomach twist.

She shook it off and pushed open the door, stepping into the cool afternoon air, letting the conversation slip away behind her.

The drive home was quiet.

Izzy didn't push. She didn't make any teasing comments or pry for details. She just let Danielle sit in whatever storm was brewing in her head.

Danielle hated that it almost made her want to talk. Almost.

Instead, she tightened her grip on the steering wheel, her nails pressing into the leather as she pulled into the long driveway of their house. The gates had already opened automatically, and she drove in, parking neatly before shutting off the engine.

Still, Izzy said nothing.

Danielle sighed, finally turning her head. "Go ahead."

Izzy raised an eyebrow. "Go ahead with what?"

Danielle shot her a flat look. "You've been holding back some 'I told you so' or a speech about how I should be making friends or whatever. Just say it and get it over with."

Izzy smirked. "I was actually going to ask what you wanted for dinner, but now that you mention it..."

Danielle groaned, leaning back against the headrest. "I walked right into that one, didn't I?"

"You really did." Izzy unbuckled her seatbelt, still watching her. "But honestly, I think Topanga said enough."

Danielle scoffed, shaking her head. "You're all acting like I've had some big life revelation just because I stayed for dinner."

Izzy hummed. "Maybe not. But you're thinking about it."

Danielle rolled her eyes and stepped out of the car, ignoring how accurate that statement was.

They walked inside, the silence stretching between them until they reached the kitchen. Izzy leaned against the counter, watching as Danielle opened the fridge without any real intention of grabbing anything.

"I meant what I said," Izzy added after a beat. "I don't think you need people. You've always been good at being on your own. But I also don't think that means you have to be."

Danielle stilled for half a second before grabbing a bottle of water. "Is this your way of telling me to hang out with the Matthews more?"

Izzy shrugged. "This is my way of telling you to stop running from things just because they feel different."

Danielle twisted the cap off, taking a long sip before speaking. "Noted."

Izzy didn't push for more. She just nodded, stepping away from the counter. "Alright. Now, what do you want for dinner?"

Danielle exhaled, relieved at the change of subject. "Anything that doesn't involve another life lesson."

Izzy grinned. "No promises."

Danielle huffed out a laugh, shaking her head as she followed her aunt toward the living room, letting herself—just for tonight—relax.

---

"Fuck!" Danielle yelled into her pillow when realisation dawned on her that she had spoken to the blonde today.