* I DO NOT OWN GMW*
Today was just another day of being a senior in high school. I had the same routine every morning. Riley and I would meet at school each morning at the same time in the same spot and would walk in together. It had changed a lot from middle school mostly because now we both had cars and because we weren't kids anymore. We both have grown up a lot since then and are a lot more mature. After putting on a small amount of makeup and putting small curls in my hair, I go to my closet and grab a navy tank top, my black longsleeve cover up, and skinny ripped blue jeans with black combat boots. After adding a few rings and a silver owl necklace, my phone dings showing a text from Riley.
"Hey change of plans, meet at my house. Explain when you get here" sending an ok I left without eating breakfast not wanting to be late. After Riley beeping me through, I walk through the door to see the Matthews family sitting at the table finishing breakfast. Walking in the room I toss my backpack and keys on the couch and make my way over to the table. I take a seat next to Riley as Mrs. Matthews places a plate of food in front of me. Thanking her I start to eat as Auggie finishes his story. All that is going through my mind is why Riley wanted me to come over here. Don't get me wrong I love her family they are pretty much my family too but what was different about today? After finishing breakfast I followed Riley to her room so she could explain.
"Ok so whats up?" I asked sitting in the window seat next to her
"What I'm about to tell you, you may not like. I don't know how you are going to react or feel about this but I didn't want you to be surprised" she shifted in her seat
"Riles just tell me"
"Josh is here" I felt my heart stop at the sound of his name. Sure I have seen Josh since that night but haven't said much to him.
"Oh. How long is he staying?" I asked keeping a straight face
"I'm not sure I just know he will be here today" taking a deep breath I lightly smile and get up
"Riley you don't have to walk on egg shells around this subject. He's your uncle and he's family. Can we please just go to school?" I asked making my way out the open door. Walking into the living room I feel all eyes on me. Rolling my eyes I am the first to speak
"You guys better not walk on egg shells around this too." I turn around looking at Riley come down the steps. Just as I say that I hear the door open and close. I see a smile on Auggies face as he gets up and makes his way past me. I walk over to the table not even turning around as I hear Mr. Matthews get up and say 'my brotha' while hearing a deep voice saying 'my brotha.'
"Uncle Josh" I hear Riley say as she hugs him. Still not turning around I hear him speak
"Maya" looking down I turn on my heels and face him. Glancing down at the suitcase and duffle bag the question of how long pops back into my head.
"Hi Josh" I say swinging my hands behind me stuffing them in the back pockets of my worn out jeans. Unlike the first time I met him he went in for the hug first. Hesitant, I slid one arm between his arm and torso placing my hand on his back. After a second I let go and could feel the uncomfortable silence in the room.
"Riley we should get going" I say letting both arms fall to my sides and brushing past Josh to grab my bag and keys. Reaching for the door handle I hear Riley
"Wait I forgot something" she said running to her room. Standing there playing with my keys I can feel someone starring at me and I knew exactly who it was. "Mom do you know where my shirt is?" I heard Riley yell from the bedroom.
"Oh sorry honey I threw it in the wash. You don't need it, it's fine just go to school" she walked up the steps to Riley's room yelling
"I have an extra one Riley. Let's go" I said looking up and making eye contact with him. The small smile planted on his face made the butterflies in the pit of my stomach practically fly right out of me. Trying to push my old feelings down as far as I could I looked away. Running down the steps and up to me, Riley threw her bag over her shoulder and made her way past me and out the door. Walking out of the door I look back for a quick second before shutting the door behind me. The car ride to school was silent. What I didn't understand was why Josh had all those bags and what he was even doing here. School still had a few months and he had a dorm at NYU. Pulling into school, we both got out and made our way to the front entrance.
"Maya" was all Riley could say before we made our way up to Farkle and Lucas.
"Just drop it" I said sitting down on the bench. Seeing Lucas kiss Riley out of the corner of my eye made me want it to be class even sooner. Riley and Lucas had been dating for 3 years now. They were going strong and were hoping to go to the same college next year.
"Drop what?" Lucas asked throwing his arm around her
"Josh is back"
"Riley!" I said throwing my arms up in the air. "I said drop it. Please"
"Are you ok?" Farkle asked placing his hand on my shoulder. Giving him a glare he removed his hand and scooted away a little. As the 5 minute bell rang I got up looking at my friends.
"I am fine can we just drop it. Thats what would make it ok." and with that I made my way to science class.
* TIME SKIP*
My last class for the day happened to be art. The only class I really love. But for once my mind was blank. Our project this week was to focus on something important to us. I had plenty to be thankful for and had so many important people in my life. So why was I having such a hard time with this. My mind knew exactly what I wanted to do, but my hands wasn't drawing. The entire class I sat there starring at the blank canvas knowing exactly what I wanted to draw but not actually doing it. After school I met up with Riley and we made our way to 'Topangas' restaurant. During the summer Riley and I started working there when my mom got a better paying job at another place. Changing into my shirt that had the restaurants name on the back I grabbed my note pad and started taking orders. After placing the plate of food in front of our usual customer, I hear the door ding.
"Welcome to Topangas, sit anywhere and I will be right with you" I say not even looking to see who it was. Knowing Riley was probably on her 'break' with Lucas I was in charge right now and was doing it by myself. Not that I mind because it is not hard at all. Walking behind the counter I grab a menu and lay it in front of the customer sitting at the bar.
"What can I get started for you? Water? Tea? Coke products?" I ask looking at my note pad waiting to write it down.
"I'll take a water" looking up at the shaggy brown haired customer I see Josh. Great. Just what I needed. I pause before turning around to grab a cup and some water
"There you go" I smile lightly setting the cup on the coaster.
"Thanks Maya" he starred at me so long I can feel the hole being burned through my skull. Standing there for a few minutes I wonder what to do next.
"I'll let you look at the menu for a few minutes and be back to take your order" and with that I walk off to serve my other customers. While talking to customers, I glance over at Josh and watch him closely. I can feel my feelings for him coming back even after all these years of being away from him. After a few minutes I made my way over to Josh.
"Hey" I said standing across from him
"Hey" he smiled setting the menu down looking at me.
"So what can I get you?" I asked pulling out my pen and flipping to a new page in my book.
"I will take the #3 well done no onions" he said sliding the menu over to me.
"You got it" I smiled grabbing the menu and putting it back under the counter
"How are you?" he hesitantly asked shifting in his seat. Putting my book and pen down I placebony elbows on on the counter leaning forward.
"I'm doing good" I blankly said looking at the counter. After a few seconds I look at him. "How are you doing?"
"Great actually. I finished college early and will walk with my class in a few months"
"Josh that's awesome congratulations!" I excitedly stood and hugged him from across the table throwing my arms around his neck. After a minute reality hit me and I realized what I had done. Awkwardly letting go I grabbed my pen and note pad. "Let me go put this order in. It should be out shortly." and with that I walked away. While it was slow I made my way to the bathroom and splashed some water on my face. As I was drying my face Riley came in.
"Hey I saw Josh was here and figured you would be in here." she said leaning against the wall.
"Riley everything is fine. I don't want you to worry nothing is going to happen between us. I know that. Nothing's changed since the last time I saw him. I'm still 3 years younger than him that's never going to change." I ranted throwing the paper towel in the garbage.
"Maya I'm not worried about that. The whole reason I told you about Josh coming back was because I know you are more mature now. If you like Josh still then you do whatever feels right. And to be honest I would love for you to be an actual part of our family with the name and everything. I didn't tell you this when we were younger but I always wanted you guys to end up together." she smiled placing a hand on my shoulder. Hearing her say that made a small smile appear on my face.
"Thanks Riles. That means a lot" I quickly hugged her before making my way back out to the front. Placing Josh's food in front of him, I think to myself what it would be like if Josh actually liked me. Then it came back to me. 3 years. That's always going to be the problem.
"You have really grown up maya" Josh smiled at me
"Thanks Josh that means a lot" I smiled looking over at Riley who was gesturing me to ask the big question.
"So..." we both said at the same time. Laughing at each other we both said "You go first" looking down laughing I leaned against the counter. Before either of us could say anything a customer made his way over to the empty chair 2 seats down.
"Hold that thought"
"Hey cutie"
"Hey Justin you want the usual?" I asked trying not to be sick by him calling me cutie. Justin is a kid from my school who comes in every Monday and sits in my section. Everytime he comes in he calls me cutie and I go with it because he gives me a great tip. Placing his drink in front of him I tell him his order will be out in a minute and walk back over to Josh.
"Who is that?" Josh asked looking over at Justin
"That's Justin. He comes in every Monday around the same time. He goes to my school"
"Why did he..nevermind" he looks away. I walked around the counter and stood next to him
"Call me cutie? I don't know he probably has a crush on me but he gives a good tip so I go with it" I whispered closely to him and walked away with a smile. Josh being back made everything better somehow and made it fall back into place. After Josh was finished with his meal he stayed for a little bit knowing I got off soon. After Lucas begged Riley to go to the movies with him, I told her to go and that I would close and lock up. With Josh being the only person left inside I locked all the doors except one and started putting away the clean dishes.
"You want me to do anything?" Josh asked standing up from his seat looking around at all the empty tables
"No that's ok I just have to wipe down that table and then I'm done" I said walking over to the table and cleaning it off. "You do know Riley left a little bit ago with Lucas right?" I asked while wipping down the table.
"Yes I know. I just figured since she's not here I should wait until you were finished. Just so you weren't alone" he walked over to the windows shutting them
"Oh, we'll thanks but I can take care..." before I could finish he inturrupted
"I know maya I'm just being nice" he said leaning against the locked door
"Well thanks" I said turning the lights off and walking toward the door with my bag and keys in my hand. Setting the alarm and walking out the door, I lock it and start walking to my car with Josh next to me.
"Well I will see you later then I guess" I said unlocking my car
"Maya whenever you're free we need to talk" right as he said that I could feel my stomach sink and my palms get sweaty.
"About what? There's nothing to talk about" I said trying to put whatever he was talking about off
"I have some stuff I want to say but it's late so not tonight" he said pulling his phone out of his pocket checking the time.
"Ok well I have Wednesday off we could talk after I get off school?" I said throwing my bag in my car
"Ok it's a date see you then" and with that he got in his car and left. After making it home I immediately called Riley.
"Hey Maya what's up?"
"Josh just said he needed to tell me some stuff but said to tonight because it's too late so I said we could talk Wednesday on my day off and he said it was a date and left. What does that mean?" I asked pacing back and forth in my room.
"Maybe he likes you and wants to tell you that" she shrieked excitedly through the phone.
"Riles, he just got here. That couldn't be possible. And I wouldn't count on it" I plopped down on my bed not having the energy to freak out anymore
"Let's just wait and see"
"Alright night riles" I said hanging up the phone and crawling into bed. Hopefully tomorrow will be better. But like I said before...hope is for suckers.
PLEASE LET ME KNOW WHAT YOU GUYS THINK! MY FIRST GMW STORY:) hope you guys like it!
