She didn't know how she was supposed to feel, it had been so long since they'd seen each other. Eight months to be exact, and he had been abroad since then. He had had different experiences and met knew people. Who knew how much Spain had changed him. It was a completely different culture, famous for its incredible scenery and art scene; maybe he had out grown New York. That's not evening mentioning all the European girls he had probably met during his semester abroad. Not that she cared about that, she had Noah now and she was happy. She was way over her ridiculous crush on him. She was only nervous because the last time they had seen one another they had left so many things unsaid, she didn't regret what had happened, she wanted it, it was her choice, she was ready and she knew what was going to happen in the end. But what if Riley picked up on something? Their relationship was bound to change after what had gone down, how could it not? She never wanted to put Riley in an uncomfortable position. And what about Noah, were things going to change now? She was so happy with him and he made her really happy. God she had screwed up and now there was nothing she could do about it. So she waited, along with the rest of the Matthews family, for him to arrive from the airport. Amy and Allen had left over an hour ago so between the waiting and the 40 minutes it took to drive from JFK airport to The Matthews apartment in the Village, they should have been arriving any minute.

"So do you think he brought me any presents?" Auggie asked excited.

"I don't think he brought you any Sangria if that's what you're thinking kid" Shawn smirked.

"Shawn!" Cory chastised

"I was just hoping for a cool magnet for my locker"

"I'm just happy he's back," said Riley "I feel like he's been gone forever"

"Eight months is a long time" Maya mused.

"What's up family!" Josh burst through the door grinning. The room was suddenly filled with a chorus of hellos and chairs being moved as people ran over to greet the young man but the first to through himself into his uncle's arms was, of course, Auggie who ran so quickly towards the door Josh was barely able to register the oncoming boy before he launched himself at him. "Hey buddy how are you?"

"I'm good but fourth grade really kicked my butt"

"It happens to the best of us" Josh chuckled.

"Uncle Josh"

"Riley" he hugged back. "Maya" he then added just before they both leaned in to what could only be described as the most unsure and awkward hug in the history of humanity. "It's been a long time"

"Sure has"

"Well you look beautiful" He rubbed the back of his neck as he moved on to greet the rest of his family.

"Thanks"

"What the hell was that?" Riley groaned when he was out of earshot, "I thought you were over him"

"I am Riley, I promise"

"Maya, you have Noah now"

"I know"

"You need to get off this thing with my uncle Josh"

"There is no thing Riley"

"Maya that was awkward to watch"

"Things will never be normal between us; I once jumped on his back" she rolled her eyes convincingly "there is nothing going on other than the normal awkwardness that comes when you meet your ex stalker"

"You promise"

"I promise" her stomach suddenly plummeting after lying to her best friend.

"Then lets enjoy the rest of the party" and enjoy it they did, Maya managed to avoid actually having to spend time with Josh by making small talk with the rest of the family and thus no one seemed to notice the shift in their attitudes, that being said she did not feel comfortable, there was something about being in the same room as him after so long that putt her on edge. She decided she should probably retreat to the fire escape to get some air but of course, Josh had the same thought.

"Oh Sorry" he said as he came through the window "I didn't see you out here"

"It's okay," she mumbled.

"So how have things been?"

"Shouldn't I be asking you that? You're the one who's been on the crazy European adventure"

"Granada was pretty cool but I've missed the city a lot"

"This place is pretty one of a kind"

"That's for sure" he smiled "Listen Maya, we should probably talk"

"I actually have to go" she cut him off.

"What do you have a hot date or something?" he chuckled.

"Uh yeah actually"

"What?" he sat up suddenly "with who?"

"You remember Noah"

"The guy from my going away part? I thought you said that wasn't serious?"

"It wasn't back then; it's been eight months Josh"

"And does he know…"

"No of course not"

"Well that's nice; build your relationship on a lie"

"Go to hell Josh" she rolled her eyes.

"Was I even a factor in this decision?"

"What did you expect Josh, that I would just sit around and wait, you left not me! And you didn't even call"

"You weren't exactly calling me either"

"I didn't know that you wanted me to"

"Well I didn't know either"

"Well what's done is done"

"So you really think I'm the kind of guy that would do that and then not call"

"I don't think it Josh, you were that guy"

"I did call; as soon as I landed and you never got back to me so I guess you were too busy with your boyfriend"

"It's in the past Josh, so let's just move on"

"Noah's here peaches" Riley poked her head out of the window.

"Hey you're Riley's uncle Josh right?" Noah shook Josh's hand as he came back in.

"Dude you're a college freshman, you can call me Josh"

"Yeah right sorry" he chuckled "it's the uncle thing"

"Well we got to go" Maya started, sensing the tension between the two "Bye Riles, bye Uncle Josh"

"That's not what you used to call me," he mumbled clearly annoyed.

"Goodbye Josh" she closed the door.

Later when she was on the subway, on her way back from her movie date with Noah, her mind couldn't help but wonder back to that night eight months ago. It was Josh's going away party and the entire family had had dinner together but after the meal all the young adults had moved to Josh's apartment were Drew had sprung for some beer and Josh seemed to be turning an eye to his sixteen year old niece's drinking. As it turned out she wasn't the best drinker and passed out after only two red cups which was why she was currently being helped home by Lucas. Before he knew it, the clock had long struck past midnight and he and Maya were left alone.

"Isn't it a little past your bedtime" he joked.

"I wanted to stay behind and give you a little going away present"

"How would your new boyfriend feel about that?" he joked.

"We've been on two dates and you have had way too much to drink" she joked back.

"I've only had two beers now give me my present" he poked her side.

"Okay" she smiled "just don't get your hopes up it's nothing out of the ordinary. Here" she handed him a new case for his phone, which had been painted to detail the Greenwich Village skyline at dusk. Orange smeared into blue covering grey buildings to create what Josh could only define as absolute beauty.

"Maya, you made this?" he began "this is so beautiful" he hugged her "thank you"

"It's nothing, it's just so you remember home when you're taking pictures of all those insane monuments in Europe"

"As if I could ever forget the city"

"Seriously" she shoved him playfully "don't forget me when you're gallivanting all over the Mediterranean"

"Maya" he looked into her eyes "I could never forget you, don't you know that?" and before she knew what was happening they were kissing and falling back on the couch.

Okay, she thought, there was no point in thinking about the past now, she needed to focus on her amazing boyfriend that did not need to know this story. It was unfair of josh to do this to her, he had left, and he DID NOT call, how dare he lie about that. She's spent weeks hanging onto her phone for dear life and nothing but that didn't matter now, she had Noah now.

Okay so there goes the first chapter of my new story, this will be a lot shorter than my last story if everything stays to plan it will be five chapters long. As always please leave a review and let me know what you thought.