The story of Maya and Josh

The gang is in their 20s

The story of Maya and Josh or boing as she so affectionately calls him dates back to when Riley and Maya were six. It was Josh's ninth birthday and with Riley declaring Maya her honorary sister she naturally came along.

It was love at first sight or more like push for Maya. Well more like defending Riley's honor when Josh was trying to show off for his friends and slightly pushed Riley down. And with her clumsy legs she fell right over angering Maya.

She smiled at Riley helping her up and turned towards Josh pushing him down and sitting on him until he apologized. He didn't so she stayed on him until Eric came out. Eric finding it pretty funny snapped their picture and made Maya help Josh up resulting in her dropping him again from feeling a weird sensation she never felt before shoot up her arm.

She knew he had to have felt it too since when she helped him up a second time he looked at his fingers touching them to his face. During his party she would watch him and if he ever caught her she would cross her eyes and stick out her tongue.

Over the years Maya finally figured out what the weird sensation was. It wasn't weird at all it was magical in her eyes. Something she never felt with anyone in her life apart from Riley but that was a whole different feeling.

Everytime Maya would see him it's like her brain went to mush and she got crazier and crazier around him. So much so that she always got weak in the knees and would jump on his back.

She thought she felt it with Lucas in middle school entering into a triangle with Riley. But she quickly figured out those feelings were of the annoyance variety. Everytime he held her hand to even something out or talked she wanted to pour a smoothie over his head.

No. The only one that gave her those crazy toe curling heart fluttering feelings belong to none other than Joshua boing Matthews. She was over the moon with crazy happiness when he told her in high school he play the long game but somewhere along the lines he stop.

Resulting in Maya giving up the thought of a someday with him. Until her twenty first birthday a day they shared a first kiss. But unfortunately for her Josh pretended it never happened. So Maya being Maya took that kiss along with him and stuff them deep down in her dungeon of sadness and moved on.

Which brings us to last summer when she was taking an art/photography class. Everything was going good she had met a guy the same age as Josh in her class that didn't care about age. She was finally happy with a guy who although didn't give her that magical tingling feeling he was there for her.

Everything was perfect until Josh joins the class doing everything in his power to distract her and tell her that the guy she was with wasn't the right guy. Maya tried ignoring him which just resulted in Josh trapping them in a closet. Arguing with her until she snapped saying who was right for her then.

He didn't respond just kissed her sending her over the edge of sanity. Everything she felt for him came rushing back which was something she wished never happened. Since after that they broke apart just as his girlfriend opened the door rescuing them.

Now here she was becoming that gooey sappy romantic she always made fun of with her friends. She had told Riley what happened and how she didn't know what to do since Josh was still with that girl and that she broke up with the guy she was seeing.

Riley told her maybe she should finally tell him how she felt about him and if he didn't make a move or tell her he felt the same she could finally move on. Have the closure she so desperately needed. So Maya did just that instead of talking she was going to write her feeling down hoping he understood.

But she never sent the letter to him. She was going to She had muster all the courage she could and knocked on his door letter in hand. But his girlfriend answers in only a sweater asking if she could help her. Maya shoved the letter in her pocket when Josh appears behind her asking what she was doing there.

She lied and said Riley had told her to meet her since she was going to be at his place and when Josh called Riley Maya thought for sure she was caught. But Riley being the loyal best friend apologies and says she forgot to tell her she changed where they were meeting.

Maya smiles at the couple walking down the street and ripping the letter in half tossing it in the trash. Swearing Riley to ring power to never bring it up which she never did.

Maya sat in front of her easel and sighed she didn't know what was wrong with her. It's the yucky love stuff that has you all crazy Hart. She thought to herself flicking purple paint at her canvas.

It had been a couple of weeks and although was still a little heartbroken she managed to find some closure or attempted to. She met with Riley at the bakery telling her she was in a rut.

And the only way to get out of it was to completely cut Josh out of her life until she knew her heart was protected from getting smushed like a grape. Riley gives her a small smile telling her she would stand behind her with whatever she wanted to do and her uncle was an idiot.

Maya laughed as she felt a renewed sense of something she wasn't sure of but she was ready to move on. Riley suggested they celebrate the moment with smoothies and cake not knowing someone overheard their conversation.

Maya spun for Riley showing her the dress she had bought for her upcoming date. She was excited which was unexpected but she hadn't seen Josh in a month and a half and she was feeling okay with that.

"Peaches that dress is gorgeous." Riley tells her over FaceTime. Maya smiles looking towards her front door when she hears the doorbell. "Okay that Vince I'll call you later with the details. Bye."

She hangs up grabbing her purse and coat opening her front door not seeing anyone but a bouquet of Lilys and a note with her name on it. The handwriting looked familiar but she couldn't think of from where she seen it before. Before she has a chance to open the letter Vince shows up with roses.

She goes on her date but she wasn't really in it since she was thinking about the note finally figuring out who's handwriting it belong to. "This was fun I hope we can do it again." Vince tells her kissing her cheek as they walk to her door.

She smiles telling him she would call him and goes inside her apartment. She takes off her coat and shoes seeing the flowers and note still where she left them. She takes her hair out going to her fridge pouring herself some wine.

She sits on her couch grabbing her sketch pad but couldn't help glancing at the counter. "Stop looking at me." She tells the flowers and note. She downs her wine putting her cup in the sink and taking the note to bed with her.

She put it on her bed as she changed into her pajamas wanting and not wanting to open it. She stands at the end of her bed with her hands on her hips tempted to call Riley but seen it was way after midnight and she knew huckleberry wouldn't wake her up. Not after the last time and Riley threw up on him after midnight margaritas.

Maya picked up the letter putting it on her desk and went to bed. At least she tried but could hear the letter calling her name. She sits up turning her light on and grabbing and opening it.

"Okay I got here as quickly as I could just had to give Lucas a little squeeze before I came over." Riley tells her smiling as she opens the door. "Gross riles I don't need to know what you and ranger rick do in the morning."

Riley blushes shaking her head at Maya hitting her with a pillow. "Okay so why did you bay window me over here?" Riley asked as Maya hands her the letter. "Go ahead read it." Maya tells her as Riley seen who it was from.

Maya,

I know what you want to say that day you came to my place. I'm not ashamed to admit I seen you toss something in the trash and went and got it. I didn't know that's how you felt or at least I didn't want to admit I didn't know.

But I do and I feel the same way always have I was just to big of a moron to let myself feel something. I remember those tingles too I always get them around and only you.

I also heard what you said to Riley at the bakery.

If you still feel something for me and I'm not to late meet me at the bakery tomorrow at seven. I'll be waiting.

Josh

Riley folds the letter back up looking at Maya and then at the time. It was still early and she had to admit she was still rooting for her uncle to wise up. "What are you going to do?" Riley asked as Maya chewed her nail.

She didn't know what she was going to do. On one hand a part of he was ecstatic he felt something for her and another part wasn't. She just wasn't sure what part would win out in the end.

Josh looked at the bakery door everytime he heard it open. His heart sped up everytime he seen a head of blond hair walk by or walk inside thinking it was her. He looks at his watch and seen it was six forty five and no sign of Maya yet.

He sighs looking down at his smoothie swirling his straw in his cup. He was so lost in his thoughts he didn't see someone sit across from him. He looks up and couldn't help smiling at her. "This doesn't mean what you think it means." Maya tells him trying to not smile.

Josh chuckles nodding his head inching his hand closer to hers that was on the table. "What does it mean then?" He asked touching her pinkie with his. Maya looks down at their hands and bites her lip.

"Well it means I was in the mood for a smoothie and this place has excellent ones." She smiled letting him move over to her side of the booth. "So where do we go from here?" He asked brushing the hair back from her face and cupping her cheek.

"Well that depends?" Josh smiles looking at Maya. "On what?" He whispers moving closer to her lips. "On if you plan to hurry up and kiss me boing."

He chuckles and whispers I can do that right before kissing her.

First time writing something like this for Maya and Josh hope you enjoy.