"When you get here, you'll be 18 and he'll be 21."

"& He just may be smart enough to look at you differently."

"You ready man?" josh turned away from the mirror he was facing, his hairbrush was still caught on the front locks of his hair "Just a sec." he said to his roommate. During the three years they roomed together Eddie had learnt to get ready in a few seconds while josh took all damn day as his roommate liked to say.

"We're late as it, man!" Eddie yelled through the door. Josh continued to primp his hair "you scared all the good freshmen are taken?" he smirked. Knowing his good looks will serve him regardless of how late he shows up.

"ITS THE HUNT!"

"So?"

"It's freshman girls who just left their homes, they probably think that college is all about sex and getting drunk! We have one night before they figure out everything is a scam." Eddie explained, as if it was the most obvious thing in the world " it's better than Christmas." he added, ending his argument.

"Relax, I'm done, besides I'm not going tonight to meet girls." josh lied.

"Yeah yeah, you're going to look after your cute little niece and protect her from all the bad wolves cause you're such a good guy and she's such a good girl and-"

"Lets just go." josh rolled his eyes. he was going there to protect riley, she was the most innocent creature anyone could ever think of in the history of mankind, and anyone who would try to pull something on her will be going home with a knuckle sandwich.

Josh walked into the sorority house; it was indeed full of freshman students, innocent and unaware about the bitter truth about college life. His eyes skimmed the wide room, there were many students mingling. Boys were flexing and joking, while girls were giggling loudly and spilling their drinks accidentally on purpose, all as intended. Eddie nudged josh on his arm "psst.. see anyone you like?" he whispered.

Josh made a face before clearly stating that was he wasn't here to "Hunt" girls. In the middle of his speech Eddie interrupted him, claiming that josh's refusal to participate would only result in more girls for him.

"Oh, looky what we have there." Eddie pointed to a few boys who were huddled in a corner.

"Looks like we got ourselves a looker" Eddie smiled. "Pardon me my friend but this man just found his mate for the night." Eddie grinned.

Josh rolled his eyes, how could he be so primitive?

"Did you just say mate?" josh raised a brow.

"Hey, I'm thinking doggie style, what do you expect?"

"You are so disgusting."

"So they say." he smiled before joining the boys, circling the poor girl. Josh thought back to Riley and how miserable she would be in such a situation. Her innocence would attract these beasts like bees to honey; his heart began to race as he wondered if it was indeed his niece that was being hoarded by the now five men. Josh tried to pace himself as he walked to the pack, but he ended up demonstrating an awkward jog.

A familiar laugh came from the bunch and he was quick to push one of the strangers away "Riley are you o-" he stopped himself from completing the sentence. The laugh he heard was indeed familiar, except it didn't belong to Riley. No, he quietly remembers that it's been years since he heard this laugh, it would have taken him ages to match the face this with this particular sound, which would've driven him crazy. Thankfully, the girl was there in front of him, red cup in hand, dressed in a simple leather jacket with white blouse and dark jeans all sealed with leather short boots that she wore so well.

"M-Maya?" Josh stuttered, baffled that she was there in front him, all flesh, blood and bones. Riley told him that Maya had moved away back in sophomore year. He didn't expect to see here, in fact, he didn't expected to see her ever. Josh was surprised that he was even able to recognize her after nearly three years of not seeing her face; she was a bit taller, curvier, well adjusted, but her ocean blue eyes remained the same. He could truly understand what all the fuss was about.

"Uncle boing? Is that you?" Maya said, a little too loud, she flung her arms around him and trapped him in one of her hugs "I cant believe you're actually here!" she laughed, Josh unhooked himself from Maya.

"Maya, what are you doing here?" he really was confused as to why she came back to New York City. It wasn't because of him..was it? A more realistic thought concluded that she must've came here for riley, to help her celebrate her acceptance to NYU or something.

"I go here now, four years to go." Maya raised a glass and the boys cheered. Eddie nudged Josh "Uncle boing? You know this chick?" josh turned to looks at his friend before turning his eyes to look at Maya again

"Yeah, she's my niece's best friend." he explained

"Ex-best friend." Maya corrected, raising her cup once more, she waited to the cheer, but it never came, the boys surrounding her had seemed to lose interest once she admitted that she knows josh, in addition to seeing her throw herself at him. All except Eddie, who was even more confused by Maya's presence than Josh.

"So you are you two a thing?" Eddie asked, waving his finger between the two parties.

"No!" they both interjected at the same time. Josh tried to hide his feeling of offense to Maya's quick reaction.

"I mean I used to have a crush on him, but that was like a billion years ago." said Maya.

"Three years ago." josh corrected, a bit irritated.

"So you're fair game?" Eddie asked, a wild smirk on his face

"Fair as flowers." Maya offered, raising her cup, hinting that she was in need of a re-fill. To that, Eddie nodded eagerly before stepping in and offering to fill up her cup. As Eddie walked towards the drink's table, josh took the opportunity and grabbed Maya by the arm "can I talk to you for a second? Over there?" he said quickly, gesturing towards the kitchen. Maya raised a brow, and she stood there in silence for a good three seconds before sighing and nodding.

"So what do you wanna talk about?" Maya asked as she walked into the kitchen, there were a few open pizza boxes; she helped herself with a slice, and offers one to josh as well. He politely declines with a "no, thanks."

"Maya, what are you doing here?" he asked seriously.

"I told you I go here now." Maya answered, a bit insulted by his implication that she was lying. Josh shook his head Maya, "when did you come back? I mean, didn't you move to Alaska or something?" to his dismay, Maya laughed. Josh could tell that the girl in front him was a bit tipsy, he contemplated whether or not he would repeat what he said once again. Nevertheless Maya downsized to a few giggles before answering him.

"Alaska? Is that what riley told you, oh that's a good one!"

"What is your talking about?"

"I'm guessing she didn't tell you?"

"Tell me what?"

"Like I said before, Riley and I are not a thing, not since a long time ago.." Maya nodded looking into the distance, sarcastically wiping away an imaginary tear and even adding a fake sob.

"You and riley broke up?" He said, his tone louder than necessary. "Why?"

"Look, if she didn't tell you about it, maybe its best you ask her, not me." Maya shrugged. "Well I better get back, your friend looks lost without me." Maya nodded towards the stairs where Eddie looked for her as if he was following an imaginary string, too bad he was only desperately looking for her.

"That's the other thing." josh grabbed her by the shoulders "you need to stay away from that guy." josh said sternly.

Maya let out a laugh "excuse me?" she said, astonished.

"Like I said, he's no good for you, he only wants to get you into bed."

"And?.."

"And..?" josh raised a brow "that's not what you want.." he explained slowly, it wasn't what she wanted, was it?

"Oh" Maya lightly smacked her forehead, josh felt a flow of relief go through his body, she really didn't know how to hold her liquor. "I totally forgot to make my own decisions, good thing you're here to tell me what to and what not to do." Maya explained.

It took a josh two full seconds before he realized she was sassing him, his face turns a light shade of red "Maya I'm not kidding, he really just wants to sleep with you." josh said again.

"Of course he does." may raised a brow "it's just that kind of party" josh was left with a blank, Maya took in his face and sighed, "look I appreciate the concern, but I really don't need you help or anything like that." she offered,

"But-" before he could say anything Maya ruffled his hair, the hair he spent an unreasonable amount of time on to make it looked just right. Maya smiled "don't worry about me, I'm a big girl. I can take care of myself." she lifted her arms to show off her non-existing muscles. Josh couldn't help but laugh at her hulked facial expression.

"Uncle josh?" Josh turned to see riley standing, looking confused and hurt.

"Riley." josh awkwardly smiled. "There you are." For some reason it felt like he was doing something wrong.

"Im gonna take off, see you later." Maya nodded at him before calmly walking out of the kitchen, barely acknowledging riley.

Josh was walking riley to her dorm room, apparently running into Maya was exactly the sign Riley needed to end the night. He thought back about Maya telling him that riley had lied to him about their breakup. He wanted to ask, he really did, but riley had a sour expression that he really didn't want to engage with.

As riley reached her dorm she turned around to meet her uncle's eyes and sighed, "thanks for walking me to my room uncle josh, you really didn't have to. she said, with a tiny smile "And..sorry to make you end your night so early".

Josh made a face "Are you kidding? I was dying to get out of here and you're just the perfect reason, so in a way I was actually using you to get what I want." josh scoffed.

Riley offered him small laugh, "All right I'll take it/" She opened the door to her room and stepped in, josh was just about to head to his own dorm when riley had taken a step back.

"What did you and Maya talk about?" she asked, josh was still facing Riley's back, perhaps she didn't want him to see what kind of face she was making. Josh rubbed the back of him neck. He should tread lightly.

"Nothing, we just caught up on some things And stuff "Things and stuff?

"Oh."

Josh cleared his throat "yeah."

"Did she say anything about me?" the way she asked the question, was if she was afraid of the answer.

Josh shook his head before realizing that riley couldn't see him. "Not really.", he lied "I just told her to be safe and stuff" to that, riley scoffed.

"Well, goodnight." was all she said before walking in and closing the door behind her.

Ok now it was killing him, he really wants to know what happened between the two of them.

"Good night, Riley."

AN:

Not much to say other than it was fun coming up with this concept of Maya, Riley, and josh at the same college.

Both positive and negative comments are more than encouraged.