Showtime

[Espi]

((Riley Parker's story continues from Getting Work Done))

"Ow, damn it!" Riley's mom Kris cursed as she stumbled over a garbage can on the floor, and nearly fell on her face carrying a bowl of popcorn. Blake stood and moved quickly over to her to make sure she was okay.

Riley looked over the back of the couch, and, upon mentally confirming her mom wasn't dead, turned back to the TV. Skylar, sitting next to her on her right, stood up and called out, "You okay, mom?"

Kris sighed. "I'm fine, sweetie, don't worry about it." She moved around the various clutter and trash on the ground and sat down to the left of Riley, who patted her on the shoulder and nodded solemnly. "Kris Parker, for your honor and bravery in Operation: Snack Food, I present you with the first piece of the popcorn."

Skylar reached over and plucked a golden kernel from the top and popped it into her mouth. Riley made an exaggerated gesture towards the air. "Goddamn it Sky." Skylar doubled over in giggles.

Blake sat down in his recliner on the right of Skylar. Aiming the remote, he switched the TV on and changed the channel. A Season 1 marathon, the first in freaking forever, was starting, followed by the Parker movie. Season 1 was her family's favorite, and while Riley didn't care for it much, it was improved by watching it with her parents and sister.

SOTF was important to Riley, in a lot of ways. It was what she spent most of her time working on; watching episodes, talking about it online, talking to friends about it, debating strategy and tactics. It was something she loved, and by now she couldn't imagine not being an SOTF fangirl.

It was important to Riley's life in other ways, too.

She just didn't know it yet.

((Riley Parker's story continues in SOTF: TV Version 2))