So this idea popped into my head while writing Chapter 6 and 7 of my other story "Was it the Person or the Moment." (don't worry I have the chapters planned out and written for that one. Another update should be coming soon) I knew what I wanted Josh to go through before Ski Lodge in my story, I just didn't imagine another story to come from it. This story will be a prequel to that one and will follow what Josh went through. I hope you guys enjoy. Please read and review.

"I like you."

Normally those would be the words any teenage boy would be dying to hear, but considering the circumstances he was in Joshua Matthews wished he never heard those words.

Trying to focus to his History teacher's words, the seventeen-year old tried to tune in to the Pearl Harbor lecture but alas his mind kept on wondering to those words: "I like you."

Josh sighed giving up on his teacher's lecture as he let his mind wander to those words. It had been 2 weeks since he heard those words from Maya Hart. His plans for that night were to make friends with the college girls that his friend from NYU introduced him to so he would fit right in when he started college in the fall. He wouldn't admit it to anyone, but he was nervous. He wanted to fit in and make a good impression so he wouldn't be alone trying to navigate through college. He knew he didn't adjust well to change and was doing everything in his power to prevent it. However, as the night went on his plans for adapting did not go through. Instead, the pint sized blonde and his niece crashed the party where the blonde declared how much she liked him.

He tried to brush it off and told her the next day he would start looking at her differently, he just didn't expect for it to happen so soon.

It was really brave of her to do what she did. Josh thought. She put herself out there even though the odds of me pulling out the "three years older than her card" were pretty high. Heck the reasons why she described she liked me were spot on. How did she know that I drove all the way Philadelphia to New York just to read my unopened letter in front of my brother so if I got in he'd be proud? How did she know I always make time for Auggie despite him being a little kid? How did she know that I liked the fact he looked up to me since I never had anyone look up to me? And how did she know I'd walk Riley and her home? How did she know that's the type of guy I am?

Shaking his head in hopes of trying to dislodge his thoughts, he tried to remain calm to stay rational. He was seventeen and she was fourteen. It was wrong. She was in eighth grade and he was a senior in college. It wasn't right, it wasn't natural yet he found a strange sensation overcome him whenever he thought about her. It was a feeling he couldn't quite describe and it scared him. How was he supposed to deal with this? How was he supposed to go through life as if nothing had changed?

Staring at the clock trying to will time to go by faster, he let his mind wonder to the brief conversation he had with Maya when he walked Riley and her home.

*beginning of flashback*

"Maya hold on a sec," Josh called out to the blonde before she was about to follow her best friend through the window to her apartment. "I want to talk to you."

"Why?" Maya asked as she paused outside of Riley's window. A curious expression was etched on her face as the perky brunette poked her head out the window wearing a similar expression. It appeared his request had caught both girls off guard.

"Yeah why Uncle Josh? You're not going to lecture her are you? Hasn't she been through enough?" Riley exclaimed as Maya groaned her head hung in embarrassment.

"Riley!" Maya exclaimed as Josh chuckled at their antics. It appeared the blonde was just as embarrassed as him from the whole ordeal that occurred that night, yet he found himself wishing his niece would've lightened up on Maya. It was a tough night for them both. They both deserved a break.

But why do I care? Josh wondered and shook his head turning back to the two best friends. "Relax Riles, I'm not going to lecture her. Can I just talk to her, please?"

"Okay fine, but no monkey business!" Riley said eyeing her best friend as she retreated further from her room out of earshot as Maya rolled her eyes at her comment and Josh opened his mouth to object. Why did his niece even begin to think that monkey business would occur between them? Nothing would happen. He just wanted to talk to her.

"Okay Josh as nice as it is being alone with you, what do you want? Shouldn't you be heading back to the NYU shin dig you were at?" Maya asked defeat in her voice. Josh pursed his lips taken back by her response. Usually she was a ball of energy, but with her blue eyes dull he found himself wanting her sassiness to emerge.

"What no Boing?" he teased watching a small smile appear on her lips. That's the Maya I know he thought before continuing. "And yes I will head back there soon, I just wanted to say it was pretty brave what you did back there."

"Really?" the blonde asked intrigued as a sparkle emerged in her eye. She leaned against the stair railing outside Riley's apartment window eyeing him before continuing. "Because from where I was standing you seemed mortified the whole thing was happening."

He stared at her drinking in her words. Although she held a point, he was embarrassed, he was sure he wasn't horrified by her actions. When he told her that she liked him, he was in awe that someone as young as her could put herself out there even with the chances of rejection high. Though to be fair I didn't reject her I just pointed out the age difference. He thought before shaking his head. What was wrong with him? Was he losing it?

"I wasn't mortified by the whole ordeal," Josh began as he collected his thoughts. "Yeah I was embarrassed, but honestly I was amazed. How can someone as young as you be so sure of yourself? Even I can't do that." He confessed feeling small then and there. He found himself secretly envying her for her confidence.

"Okay I'll give you the benefit of the doubt and believe you about you not being mortified," Maya began as she took a tiny step forward towards him. "However as for me being sure of myself, that's who I am. I may not be as old as you but I know what I feel. When I feel something I'm not going to ignore it. But as for you not being sure of yourself, are you kidding me? You're like the most secure person I know."

Josh sighed finding himself taking a step towards her as well. Even though he was flattered by her pep talk he just couldn't believe it. He felt his guard slipping as he poured his insecurities out to Maya. "Just because you're older doesn't make you secure. On the outside I may seem like I am, but on the inside not so much. Honestly the whole point of tonight was for me to fit in and know some people before I went to college. And honestly you did a better job of making friends with Jasmine, Charlotte, and Andrew than I did. You impressed them. I envy you for that confidence you have," he admitted shyly.

He watched as a familiar sparkle returned in her eyes and he found himself relieved that she was her old self again. "Well here's a tip Boing," she smirked smiling up at him. "Believe me be yourself, the you that I like, and you'll be fine. Just don't doubt yourself, I know it's hard to do, and you'll have them as friends in no time. Trust me. Who knows maybe those girls will be more than just your friends," she finished a slight hint of jealously in her voice. He smiled at her words and found his heart lurch at her gesture. Even though she liked him, she still wanted to best for him.

How could someone be so selfless? He thought staring at the blonde before. Feeling his heart lurch again, he found himself wanting to do the same for her. "Thanks Maya and just so you know they both have boyfriends. Andrew is with Charlotte and Jasmine has a boyfriend named Derek. You have nothing to worry about," he reassured her as she gasped trying to contain herself. Even the confident Maya Hart had her moments.

She's so cute when she does that. He subconsciously thought as the moon shined on her honey blonde hair and her blue eyes twinkled. He found himself meeting her gaze, leaning towards her as she did the same. Without even questioning anything, he brushed a stray piece of hair behind her ear earning him a questioning look from the blonde. Just as he was about to open his mouth to say something Riley called out from the window, "Is everything all right out there?" causing the pair to break apart, their hearts racing at the sudden interruption and what could have happened between them.

"Yeah we're fine," Maya stammered as Josh tried to regain his composure. He didn't know what happened but he found himself wishing Riley hadn't called out to check on them. What is wrong with me? He wondered as he turned his attention back to the blonde who was currently eyeing the window.

"I better get going," she murmured as Josh felt his heart drop. Even though he knew it was getting late, he still wanted to talk to her.

"Yeah," Josh half-heartedly agreed heading to the stairs. He had a shin dig to head back to after all. He couldn't stay here all night. "Take care of yourself Hart."

"You too Matthews. Remember what I told you," Maya said as she swung one leg through the window prepared to head inside.

"Yeah I will. Thanks Maya," Josh replied thanking the blonde once more staring at her.

"You too," Maya said holding his stare before she disappeared inside the room shutting the window behind her. Giving the window one last glance, he went down the stairs wondering what had transpired between them just then.

*end of flashback*

It was that moment, along with the events that happened that night and the following day, that made Josh begin to question his feelings towards the blonde. Even the next day when they talked while Riley, Cory and Topanga were in the room and they pretended nothing had happened between them last night, he found himself promising her he'd look at her differently. There was something about her that made him want to keep thinking about her which frightened and delighted him. Even though she was the coolest girl he knew, he had to keep his emotions in check. He couldn't risk getting into anything that would complicate where he and the blonde stood.

The bell rung signaling the end of the school day startling the brown haired teen. Thank god. Josh praised as he collected his things and filed out of the classroom with his classmates. He just hoped whatever life had in store for him would help him keep his feelings in check. He needed a distraction and was hoping for one at whatever cost.