A/N: Hello everyone! So I must say, I absolutely love Girl Meets world and most importantly I love the potential I see in Josh and Maya IF ONLY this show wasn't on Disney Channel which, let's face it has some strict rules. In this story, Four years after this chapter Maya is 19 which will make Josh 22. I'm comfortable enough with this 3 year difference. Also a prewarning, I feel like this story will take on a more serious note than Girl Meets World the show actually does. If you are a Joshaya shipper, then this story is for you. Please, if you enjoy this story review, follow, and favorite. Ever since I watched Girl Meets the tell tale tot I was cooking up ideas for a Joshaya fan fiction in my mind. So here's the start of it!
Four years earlier
It had been four months since Maya found out her mother had finally been offered the opportunity of a lifetime, an acting gig out in Los Angeles.
Shawn and Katy had hit it off fairly well after that first date they went on which now felt like a lifetime ago.
He had been around for the past 3 years.
Even when he did travel to do his work, he was never gone long…she felt safe enough with him to know that he'd never abandon them.
Katy and Shawn adored one another, Angela was right all those years ago when she questioned if Katy was 'the one' for Shawn.
Maya's life was nearly perfect.
Shawn was an amazing father to her, and she loved how much he loved her mother.
Nearly perfect; that was the best way to describe her life, it would be perfect if she could have just gotten the guy, but that ship had long set sail.
She knew what she felt, and that feeling never went away.
Maya just learned to move forward in life, without hoping for Joshua Matthews to be a part of it.
Her locker hung open, and she stood before the mess inside of it.
She had one of those magnetic mirrors, and she caught a glimpse of herself right when she went to shut it.
She paused, and stared at the face in the mirror.
Maturity had begun to hit her, and her body had begun to develop from a child, into a young adult.
After all it was the end of her freshman year of high school.
She had her blonde hair in a messy side braid that reached her lower back only because she refused to chop of her long hair.
She wore a little makeup, enough to where it was noticeable, but not enough to where when she washed it off she looked like a completely different person.
She hadn't grown in height, not that she planned on that happening.
She wore a turquoise sundress that complimented her eyes with a cream pair of wedged sandals.
"This is it, the end of our freshman year, and the beginning of my new life." Maya spoke to herself in the mirror.
Closing her eyes, she exhaled slowly.
Her heart ached at the thought of leaving her best friend and the Matthews' family whom she loved so deeply.
Not to mention Farkle, Lucas, and even Zay.
But she couldn't stay behind, there was no way.
"Hey, happy last day of school." Riley said coming up behind Maya just as she slammed the locker door.
"I'm not sure if happy is the best word." Maya said, a sad smile forming on her lips.
Riley remained silent, putting her arm around her best friends shoulder.
They walked out of the school together, not wanting to think about how much things were about to change.
Riley had been going on and on about her plans for summer, and how she didn't want to think about how different it would feel without Maya there.
Maya tried her best to tune her out; she had 48 hours before the flight.
She wanted to enjoy these last days with her favorite people.
Riley opened the door to her apartment with a huge grin on her face, Maya was so wrapped up in her thoughts that she jumped at the sudden shouting.
"Surprise!" They screamed in unison.
Maya paused, taking in the scene before her.
A huge banner hung in the kitchen that said; 'We'll miss you Maya!"
They had plenty of beverages and food and all of her favorite people where there.
She scanned the room with a bittersweet smile on her lips as she admired everyone there, then her eyes found his.
"Josh." She muttered soft enough for only Riley to hear.
Riley nudged her a little. "He's been kind of down ever since he heard the news."
Maya only nodded at Riley's statement.
Her heart was hammering in her chest just at the sight of him.
That ship has sailed, over and done with. She told herself.
She needed to focus on all of the people here to say goodbye to her.
She made her way around the room, giving each person a hug.
She danced and laughed, ate and conversed; She did her best to enjoy herself, but couldn't help but steal glances at Josh who's facial expression held nothing but confusion, and frustration.
The later it became, the more the crowd dwindled.
Riley was spending time with Lucas, so Maya decided to sneak away.
She climbed out the bay window, and sat on the fire escape looking out at this beautiful city she would miss so much.
"Hey." She had been so wrapped up in her thoughts, she never heard Josh come sit down next to her.
This was exactly what she had wanted to avoid.
She didn't know how to tell him.
"Hey you." She said, and couldn't help but smile.
She turned her head to look at him, and Josh was completely focused on her.
She realized then that nothing had been the same since that night her and Riley snuck out to that college party he was at, how could something that happened such a long time ago still be affecting them now?
She had kept her distance, no sense in being a glutton for punishment and hearing the same thing, letting it break her heart over and over again.
"So, Los Angeles huh?" Josh ran a hand through his too perfect hair.
Maya swung her feet back and forth, resting her forearms on the railing.
"Yep, I guess that's my next stop." She didn't know how to lighten the mood, at all.
She could hardly look at him, she already missed him and he was sitting right next to her.
Josh let out a breath that Maya could have sworn he had been holding since he asked her about L.A.
"Why didn't you tell me Maya?" He said softly, no longer looking at her and looking out at the bright lights of New York instead.
"Why would it have mattered?" She said on the defense.
He turned his attention to her, furrowing his brows.
"I don't know, I guess I feel like if I knew that this was planned months ago, I may have been able to mentally prepare myself." He said to her.
"Don't do this Josh, not tonight." She sighed.
"I'm not doing anything…I'm just- I don't think I'll like how it's going to feel without you here." He muttered.
Maya faced him, gazing at his gorgeous features.
She heard his voice crack, she didn't imagine that.
Was Josh actually going to miss her? Why now?
The anger she felt wasn't necessarily meant for Josh, it was because of the whole situation in general. "How long did it you us to get back to 'normal' after the NYU party incident? The reminder of my feelings for you at the beginning of my Freshman year during the trip to the Ski Lodge?" She hissed.
"We made a promise, Maya." That was all that Josh could say.
"We need to face the fact that the long game...it's unrealistic. You've always looked at me as 'your niece's little friend Maya.' and that is why i'm sure you'll be fine without me."
Josh clenched his teeth so hard Maya saw his jaw twitch.
"You're right Maya; from the way you make it sound, we hardly know each other…my bad for-" He paused, clearly not comfortable enough to finish his sentence.
The anger was morphing into irritation.
He was beating around the bush, and she couldn't stand that. "For what Josh? I would like just for once to know how you feel."
He looked at Maya, completely silent.
"Oh right, the truth is the same at the end of the day...no matter how many promises we make. I'm too young for you, not mature enough for you, I barely even know you….right?" Maya was beyond frustrated.
Why did she have to feel this for someone who would probably never return the feelings? Not that it mattered anymore after tonight.
She stood up, not even wanting to go back inside; she made her way down the stairs of the fire escape.
"Come back Maya, I just wanted to have another good conversation with you. Once your gone, those won't happen." Josh said.
Maya turned around, tears stinging her eyes and her fists clenched. "About what exactly; because right now I just want to leave."
Josh threw his hands up in frustration. "Let's talk about how you've avoided me for the past year! About how you were content with leaving here without even uttering a goodbye to me! You talked to everyone in that apartment tonight but me!"
The tears sat on the rims of her eyes, and she stared at him. "What I do shouldn't bother you Josh. I don't know what you want me to say. Do you want me to tell you how real my feelings are for you? How much I'll miss you and that's why I didn't want to say goodbye because I'd drop everything and stay for you if that's what you wanted. It's not a crush; I've said that to you before… But a relationship between us will never happen and I've accepted that! Avoiding you made it easier for me to deal with that reality. Not having to tell you goodbye was for the best."
Josh got up, making his way to Maya.
He stood right in front of her; grabbing her hand and lacing their fingers together. "We're friends Maya, or at least I thought so."
I pour my heart out and he pulls the friends card into the mix?
Maya scoffed, shaking her head at that statement. "We're not friends Josh, I'm your niece's best friend, and besides I have enough friends."
Josh flinched at those words; it was a mental slap to the face.
"Don't leave like this, I don't want you moving to L.A. with us on bad terms." Josh exhaled, raking his hand through his hair again.
"Does it really matter? I'm moving Josh…bad terms, good terms. It won't make a difference." Maya mumbled before pulling her hand from his grasp and walking away from him and down the stairs of the fire escape.
Josh's eyes chased after her, and if he never experienced real heart ache in his life, what he was feeling now was definitely it.
Maya spent her last day with Riley, they did their normal routine of hanging out at Topanga's, met up with Farkle, Zay, and Lucas at the local park, and finally ended the night at the Matthews so she could spend some time with her other family.
Maya hadn't been herself since that night with Josh on the fire escape, and it really crushed her heart that he wasn't at The Matthews apartment when it was her last day in New York.
She told herself it was for the best, but that didn't make her any less angry or hurt.
"I'm really going to miss you guys." Maya muttered, pulling all of them in for a group hug.
"We love you Maya, and we always will. We're not going anywhere. You know where to find us if you need us, go and make something of yourself, find a passion and pursue it, but never forget where home is." Corey hugged Maya tightly as tears fell from her eyes.
She nodded, wiping the tears from her cheeks.
"I love all of you." She smiled, hugging Riley one last time.
The front door opened, and the guest was an expected one.
"Shawny!" Corey held his arms open, giving his oldest, and greatest friend a hug.
"Hey Core." Shawn smiled, enveloping his best friend and hugging him tightly. "I'll miss you buddy."
Corey smiled; "I'm gonna miss you too bud, but it's all coming together like it's supposed to. Don't forget, we're only a phone call away."
Shawn and Maya looked at one another, the reassurance helped them become confident.
"We love you guys." Both Maya and Shawn said as they walked out the door of the Matthews apartment.
The cab was already curbside, and the two climbed into the back.
Maya looked out the window before the cab drove off, and caught sight of him.
Her heart sank to the pit of her stomach.
Josh stood frozen on the steps that led up to the Matthews, His eyes locked with Maya's.
He gave her a sad half smile, lifting up his hand to wave goodbye to her.
She lifted up her hand to the window, resting it on the glass.
She kept her eyes on him until the cab pulled off and he could no longer be seen. Good-bye, Josh.
A/N: I hope you all enjoyed, this chapter was fun to write! please review, follow, and favorite!