It was one of those chilly autumn days that Maya loved. It was a Thursday evening that Maya had been working at Topanga's. Her mother, Katy, had decided to go back to school for nursing and now worked part time at the hospital in the city, leaving Topanga offering her job to Maya at the cafe. Maya loved the idea and agreed. She was so happy to finally be as close to independent as she could get. She always hated asking for money, because when she was younger her and her mom were not in the best financial state. Even though they have Shawn now, she felt that it was still too much to be asking for money. Now, though, she could earn her own money and spend it on whatever she pleased.

This particular day was rather slow. It must be the cold leaving people in their homes, Maya thought. Even though it was only fifty-five degrees out, it was rather cold coming from the eighty degrees that New York had weeks earlier. There was one table filled with a few students studying and then another taken by an elderly man reading a newspaper. Earlier right after school, Riley walked over with Maya, but left about an hour later saying that she had to meet up with Lucas at the library for a study date. Ever since then business had not been booming. The only thing there for Maya to do was stare out the windows watching the colorful leaves blow through the air, but even after some time she got bored of that and started doodling on a napkin.

She looked up as she heard the bell ring from the door opening. She saw four boys come in and take a seat at a table near the window. She watched long enough to realize that none of them were going to come order anything anytime soon, so she went back to doodling.

"Maya, you work hear now?" Maya heard a voice walking up to her. She looked up to find that it was Josh who had emerged from the group of boys she watched not long ago. She smiled at him in complete shock and happiness.

"Josh! Hey! Yeah! Yeah, I work here now. I started back in May, so it's been about four and a half months I'd say." She couldn't stop smiling. Maya had liked Josh for some time now, and hasn't seen in in almost a year. It was practically torture. She'd known he'd been busy with college, so he wasn't around too often.

"Well, congrats!" He said patting Maya's shoulder. "You'd think I'd come into Topanga's more often, saying that it is owned by my sister-in-law, and notice you working, but I guess never have time, and when I do it's only enough time to hit a local cafe by the university."

"Well you live a pretty busy life now, Boing." Maya really never let the boing thing go no matter how much it annoyed Riley. You're talking about my uncle for Pete's sake, Maya, Riley would say. "I guess you have to manage your time now that you're in the big world."

"You're about to taste the big world, yourself. Senior year now, right?"

"Indeed."

"Are you excited? Do you know what college you're going to? Have any idea what you're going to go for?"

"Way to nail me with questions."

Josh looked down rubbing the back of his neck. "Sorry. I just get excited about these things. I remember when I was a senior. Getting ready to graduate and head off into NYU to study psychology."

"You were always one to look into people." Maya thought back to the ski lodge days with him. He helped her, Riley, and Lucas solve the triangle that was never meant to be. He knew much about their friendship. Not everything, but enough to be able to put the puzzle pieces where they were meant to be, which Maya thought was just excellent.

"Yeah well, I guess you could say it's a talent," he joked half smiling to Maya.

Maya chuckled. "Well to answer your questions, yes I am excited, I've applied to a few colleges, but there's not one that sticking out mind that I must go to, and to wrap it all up I want to go learn to be a therapist. I've been through some crap, so why not help other children like myself get through their crap." Maya thought about this career choice ever since the middle of junior year, and thought that it would be a great fit for her.

"That's very interesting, Ms. Hart." Josh actually thought she would be a great therapist. He knew of her dungeon of sadness, and saw her fight through it. She really needed to share her secrets with the world. "I already know you'll be amazing."

"Thank you, Josh. I really do appreciate that." Maya couldn't stop smiling and neither could Josh. People have supported her in this, but for some reason she was grateful that he would back her up.

They both turned towards the crowded table of boys psssstsing loudly trying to get Josh's attention. "Oh, right they sent me over here to get orders."

"Oh shoot, yeah. That's why you came here." Maya was so caught up in her conversation with Josh that she forgot everything around her. She wasn't aware that she was working. She wasn't aware that she was in the café. She wasn't aware of anything besides the guy she liked standing right in front of her. "What can I get you?" Maya grabbed her notepad from her apron, took Josh's order, and rung him up. "I'll be out in a few minutes with all of the drinks."

"Thanks, Maya," Josh replied as he walked back over to his friends.

As Maya was making the warm beverages, she got to thinking about no other than Josh. She remembered that day at the Ski Lodge. He admitted that he liked her, and that they made a deal for someday. Did he remember that day? That deal? None of this had scrapped through Maya's mind recently. That last time she did see Josh was last year, when he was helping Riley study for the SATs. Their paths had never really crossed. Neither one of them spoke of the deal after they agreed upon it. What would happen now?

Maya finished up, placing all of the cups on a tray to bring over to the table. "Here ya go, Josh. Friends of Josh." She sat all of the cups down watching the boys scrummage through them figuring out which was who's. They all said thanks in illusion as Maya walked back over to the counter.

About forty-five minutes later, after serving three more people and doodling more on her napkin, Josh walked over. "We're about to head out, so I wanted to say goodbye before I left." Maya smiled at him and walked over to give him a hug. She wasn't sure if it was appropriate, saying that she hadn't seen him in a year, but he didn't reject it.

"It was good seeing you, Josh," Maya said as she let go and walked back around the counter.

"You, too." Josh smiled. "Oh, I forgot to ask you. Tomorrow is Auggie's birthday party, I just realized last night that I'm able to go. Will you be there?"

"Of course I'll be there. Did you forget that I practically live there?" Maya was clearly sarcastic about this.

"How could I not?" Josh laughed. "Well I'll see you tomorrow, then."

"Tomorrow," smiled Maya.

Josh walked off and waved to her as he walked out the door.

"Guess who I saw today?!" Maya came bursting through Riley's window nearly scaring her half to death.

"Ummm… Zac Efron?" Riley honestly had no clue who Maya could be so excited to have seen.

"Man, I wish. It was your Uncle Boing!" Maya screamed jumping over to Riley.

"Maya. Honey. Peaches. You have to get over this."

"And guess who I'll be seeing tomorrow?!" Maya was ignoring Riley's comment.

"Who?" Riley rolled her eyes, knowing exactly who it was.

"You're Uncle Boing! AAAHHH!"

Topanga and Cory jammed through Riley door. "Who's screaming in here?" Topanga asked concerned.

"Her." Riley pointed at Maya with a blank face.

"Me. Me. It was totally me." Topanga could tell how excited Maya was by her tone of voice.

"She found out that Uncle Josh is coming tomorrow."

"How'd she find that out?" Cory asked.

"I saw him today at Topanga's. Me. Me. I saw him with my own two eyes!"

"Well that's just wonderful," Topanga spoke sarcastically. Cory even rolled his eyes. Everyone in the family knew what Maya thought about Josh. At his moment Topanga decided that there was nothing to worry about in Riley's room, so her and Cory strolled off closing Riley's door behind them.

I'm so excited to be writing this story. I've been planning this for a while now, and am just now putting it all together! I've written some Joshaya fanfiction before. If you want to read it, it is called "Joshaya Clips", which currently has four moments about Josh and Maya. Definitely go check that out if you're interested.

I should be updating again by the latest Friday, but if I'm not able to I'm so sorry! If you enjoyed this chapter and where the story is going so far, please don't be afraid to follow, favorite, and leave a review; I love reading them!

~A