Chapter 1

The night was colder than it had been when he first walked to the college. But Josh still felt obligated to see his niece and her friend home safely. And though Maya was playing coy and staying a step ahead of him, doing her best to ignore his presence he still saw her sneaking a glimpse at him every couple blocks. Josh felt flattered that someone liked him so much she would risk getting in trouble just to see him. Then there was Riley, who also risked getting in trouble just to help a friend out. Josh couldn't help but wish he had friends that dedicated to him.

Maya's house was closer than Riley's. Riley took a few steps back from Maya's doorstep as Josh gave her an awkward hug. "Thanks for coming out. It's nice to know someone cares about me so much that they would take such a risk." Maya decided not to point out that she snuck out almost every night and instead embraced his hug.

Then just as Maya was starting to feel sad that the hug had to end eventually she turned and walked in her house saying "Yeah whatever, I was headed that direction anyway," making sure to close the door so Josh couldn't see the tears rolling down her cheeks from what could only be one of the happiest moment of her life.

"She likes playing hard to get huh?" Josh jokes with Riley as the two of them continue up the block.

"That's Maya for ya." Riley just shakes her head smiling. "She would never let you see her real emotions."

"Well she's definitely got a good head on her shoulders. She'll make someone a good girlfriend one day." Josh glances over his shoulder and catches Maya watching them through the window. Though the curtain quickly closes soon after.

"Don't you mean she'll make you a good girlfriend," Riley jokes lightly punching him in the arm. Josh blushes but doesn't respond, instead glancing one last time back at Maya's house as it became more distant. And though faint he could tell the curtain was parted again, as Maya took one last glimpse as well.

The rest of their walk was uneventful and as they got back to Riley's bay window Josh still hadn't said a word. He would never admit it to Riley right now. But for some reason he couldn't get Maya out of his head. How dedicated she was to him. How could he be so foolish as to not like her.

"Thanks again for walking us home Josh," Riley says as Josh climbs through the window as well. "Just please don't tell on me for going out. I really was just looking out for Maya."

Josh nods, "Don't worry I won't tell them. I've snuck out a few times, it's part of growing up." There was a short pause then Josh points behind Riley into the darkness. "Can't promise he won't tell though."

Riley was confused but turned to where he pointed. Much to her surprise there was her brother, Auggie, sitting up in her bed. A mischievous smile written across his face as he let out a cackle of laughter. "Oh no."

"Hahaha Riley's been a bad girl. Riley's been a bad girl." He begins to chant though not very loud at first. But by the second or third time he repeated the phrase Riley began to fear her parents would hear.

"Shut up." Riley demanded but this just made it worse. Auggie started throwing the pillows Riley had stuffed under the covers to the floor while still chanting the words 'Riley's been a bad girl!'

Auggie was about to scream the words at the top of his lungs. But Josh spoke before he could. "Ok Auggie, what do you want?" There was a nervousness to his voice, he knew he should have called his brother the instant he found Riley at the college. But he didn't, instead he decided to try to sneak them back home. Cory was not going to be too happy with him either if he found out.

Though Auggie was young, he caught on to Josh's insecurity. And once again laughed "Hahaha! See Riley, Josh knows when someone has the upper-hand. He then reaches under the cover and reveals a small piece of paper."

"Hey! That looks like a page from my diary!" Riley gasps and moves to retrieve the paper. But Auggie easily evades her.

"It was a blank page actually, now its my list of demands" Auggie retorts handing the paper to Josh. "Though I did get bored and read some of your diary..." He makes a gagging face. "BORING!" Then laughing again he adds "Though last Thursday's entry was interesting. You know the one about you and Luc..." This time Auggie couldn't evade Riley as she tackled him covering his mouth.

"My diary is my thoughts for my eyes only!" Riley was furious, her brother was now blackmailing her, and he had read her diary! Auggie squirmed beneath her but she did her best to hold onto him and keep his mouth shut...

Auggie soon wriggled his way out though and stood up once more. He didn't scream this time, but he did look Riley directly in the eyes and say "I guess tonight wasn't the only time you were a bad girl huh Riley?" Her faced instantly turned dark red as she began to regret this night more and more. Then she lunged to attempt to tackle him again, but missed as Auggie jumped back onto the bed.

"What happened last Thursday?" Josh asked looking up from Auggie's list of demands.

Riley turned her gaze towards Josh now, he could see the dread in her eyes. He felt bad that he asked now realizing she really didn't want whatever it was to come out. "Just tell me what this little brat wants..."

Josh took the hint and returned to the list. "Well first off it says he wants ice cream for breakfast every morning. And that you have to do his homework for at least a month." Josh laughs as he continues down the list of demands, each getting more bizarre. "Oh he also wants you to buy him a miniature zebra for Ava."

"Oh come on!" Riley says loudly before covering her own mouth worrying she might wake her parents herself. "Seriously?"

"Ava likes zebra's, she told me to get her a zebra." Auggie shrugs his shoulders adding, "I don't know where to find a zebra."

"Like we do?!" Riley picks up the biggest pillow she can find and tosses in Auggie's direction. "Where are we going to find a zebra?"

"That's not my problem." Auggie begins laughing once again. He was like a hyena that just wouldn't shut up. Though a pillow to the face stopped him momentarily. "Find me a zebra or I find mom!"

Josh decided he should be the voice of reason. "Ok Auggie, lets be serious. We can't get you a zebra. There's no way I can talk Topanga into feeding you ice cream for breakfast. And if Riley does your homework you won't learn anything."

Auggie's arms were now crossed and he had a sour face. "You keep digging yourself deeper. If you can't do what I want, then I'm gonna just have to tell."

"How about this," Josh says kneeling down to Auggie's eye level and pulling out his wallet. "How about I give you twenty dollars and I don't tell your parents that you were trying to blackmail your sister for a pet zebra."

Auggie's face scrunched up as if he had eaten a lemon. "You drive a hard bargain," he snatches the twenty from Josh's hand, "but that sounds like a deal." He then turns and walks out the door mumbling to himself "I still have to find Ava a zebra... or she's gonna kill me!"

Riley and Josh laugh as the door shuts behind Auggie. "Wow I'm glad that's over with!" Riley says falling back onto her now destroyed bed. Pillows and blankets were strewn across the room from chasing Auggie. She was tired from the walk home, but now she was definitely ready for bed after all that running around. "Think I'm going to go to bed after I pick up this mess."

"Here I can help clean up." Josh offers and picks up two pillows from the floor.

"Oh its ok. You probably have a long walk back to the college to talk to those girls..."

"I don't think I'm going to go back. I'll see enough of that place next semester when I'm going there. As for the girls, they aren't really my type anyway." Josh tosses a giant blanket onto the bed, covering up Riley as well. She gets out from under it easily enough and begins evening it out across the bed.

"So does that mean someone else is more your type?" Riley was now grinning. "Like maybe... Maya?"

"Umm uhh... No. Of course not. I just don't think those other girls were right for me." He stammers trying to sound natural. Though even he could hear his nervousness. "Anyway I'll probably just sleep on the couch. Cory said I could crash here if I didn't stay at the college." He then turns and heads for the door attempting to get out before Riley asked any more questions.

Riley decided to not tease him about Maya, but she could tell there was something he wasn't saying. Instead she walked him to the living room to say good night. But much to both of their surprise Shawn was asleep on the couch. "Oh yeah I forgot Shawn was hanging out with Dad earlier." Riley comments as Shawn began to snore.

"It's alright, I can sleep on the floor. Just need a good pillow." Josh responds and gestures towards Riley, "Think I could borrow a pillow?"

"Sure," she says and the two walk back to her room. Once back inside Riley shuts the door and suggests "If you want we can just share my bed." It was almost comical the look Josh gave her, Riley really knew how to make things unknowingly awkward.

"I don't know if that would be a good idea. If your mom or dad came in they might get the wrong idea..." Josh responds nervously.

"Oh come on, there's nothing wrong with it." She jumps onto the bed and bounces slightly. "Plus it's a whole lot better than the hardwood floor."

She did have a point her bed would be much better than the cold hardwood floor. But if Cory came in and saw them... A pillow hits him in the face. "Come on Josh, stop being so weird."

"Ok, ok. But only because you insist." He says and removes his shoes. "Just make sure you stay on your side," he jokes.

Riley laughs, "I will. As long as you don't hog all the covers." She then opens her a drawer and removes some clothes. "I'll be right back, going to change into my pajamas." She then leaves and heads to the bathroom to change leaving Josh alone in her newly made bed.

Thoughts began to race through his head of the night. Like how Maya had come all the way to NYU just to see him. Like how he was starting to maybe actually have feelings for her. He then moves as far to one side of the bed as he can. And like how he was now about to share a bed with her best friend. Now a new thought popped into his head, what if Maya found them in the morning. Would she take it the wrong way?

It didn't take Riley long to change and she soon emerged through the doorway. All thoughts of Maya were washed from Josh's head when he saw Riley. She had a loose tank-top on and some short pajama shorts. He was at a loss for words. She was beautiful. Then he was disgusted with himself, having such thoughts about his brother's daughter. He rolled over to look away, but couldn't as next to the bed was a mirror showing her reflection coming towards the bed.

"Night Josh." Riley says innocently as she slips beneath the same covers, and she made no effort to stay towards her side and instead ended up more towards the middle.

"Good... night." Josh says nervously as he felt her body heat near him. What had he gotten himself into? Perhaps he should just go sleep on the floor after all. But he didn't get up, instead after everything that had happened that night he quickly fell asleep.