(Authors Note: Maya, Riley and Lucas are 18 and Josh is 21)
I was weary about coming to this party because of the first party(my first college party, if you want to call it that) here at NYU. Riley convinced me that this time will be different and even though I have my doubts, I'm willing to try to havea
good time. So far, I've downed a few beers and danced with Riley once before Lucas swept her away for a slower song. Which is perfectly fine.
While sipping on my fourth beer, some kid with hair that looks as if it formed into an afro from lack of grooming, has me with my back against a wall while he talks about saving the environment. I'm trying my hardest to be interested in what this kidis
saying, but I can't focus on anything that's coming out of his mouth once I eye Josh, Rileys uncle, come towards us. God, he looks so hot in his fitted black shirt and dark jeans.
"Excuse me, but that's my girlfriend you're talking to, so please, back off." Josh tells the guy who's been boring me to death for the past half hour.
Wait! Did Josh just refer to me ashis girlfriend? I quirk an eyebrow at Josh, but a smirk forms on my lips.
"Your girlfriend? She never said she has a boyfriend." Afro kid says turning to face Josh.
"You never gave me a chance to say a word." I mutter, but the guys don't hear me.
"Yes, and I'm rescuing her from you. So, Maya, shall we?" Josh takes my hand and leads me away, but before we even take a step, Josh places his hands on either side of my face and puts his lips on mine.
"Whoa, I was not expecting that." I get out once Josh lets me breathe again.
"You weren't expecting a kiss from your handsome boyfriend?" Josh asks loud enough so that "Afro kid" can hear him and dramatically putshis hands on his hips.
I furrow my eyebrows, but decide to play along. "Where have you been all night my sexy knight in shining armor?" I flirt back while slipping my arms around Josh's waist and I turn my head just in time to make eye contact with Riley across the room.
My body stiffens as I lock eyes with my best friend, but for some reason I still don't want to let go of Josh. I'm not sure how much time has passed before I feel my hair being tucked behind my ear and a kiss planted on my forehead. I turn my attentionback
to Josh and find myself getting lost in his eyes.
"Everything okay, Maya?" Josh softly speaks as he brings my arms from his waist and holds my hands in his.
"Want a beer?" I ask instead, redirecting the question with a lopsided grin as I drag him into the kitchen. And several beers and a couple of shots later, Josh and I are all over each other while dancing.
Upon opening my eyes, I find an arm draped on my waist. A wave of panic hits me as I shift my body to finding Josh sleeping next to me. Oh no! We didn't...
"Morning gorgeous." Josh softly speaks while opening his eyes and smirking at me.
"Uhhh, hi Josh." I sheepishly say back as I start chewing on my lower lip. I then abruptly sit up without thinking and the blanket that was wrapped around my body falls off, exposing my naked upper half.
"Maya, everything okay?" Josh asks me while sitting up inbed himself.
"Did we have sex?" I blurt out while clutching Josh's blanket to my chest.
Josh lets out a low chuckle. "You don't remember?" He asks me as he reaches for my hand.
"No." I answer with a shake of my head. "I mean not really. Last night got kind of fuzzy for me. I remember some things." I start to ramble.
Joshs expression softens at my nervousness. "Maya, you don't regret last night, do you?" He softly asks me.
I look straight into Josh's beautiful blue eyes and manage a small smile. "No. I mean yes. No, I don't regret doing it with you, I just mean that I regret not really remembering all of it." I stop to take a few deep breaths before proceeding totry
to explain myself. "Like I said, things are kind of fuzzy. I remember the party last night, but then everything gets hazy. I can remember your touch and feeling amazing, but that's all." I try to clarify as best as I can.
"Maya, breathe." Josh soothingly instructs as he squeezes my hand in his. "Just take your time about last night. I know things moved pretty fast between us."
"That's just it. Things have moved almost too fast for me between us Josh. Not that I haven't fantasized about this moment, I just didn't think that it would happen this soon." I tell Josh as I let go of his hand and slowly slip out from the blanketsand
start to gather my clothes to put back on.
"Maya, please don't go." Josh begs of me, his voice sounding small. "I'm sorry. I'm sorry everything between us got rushed. Please, don't let me regret the amazing moment we shared last night together. I don't want you to feel like what we sharedwas
a mistake. I don't want to feel ashamed for us sleeping together. We can talk about this. Maya, don't go." Josh calls out to me while reaching out for me.
I stop getting dressed after I manage to pull on my jeans and bra, and then turn to see Josh with a dejected look upon his face. "Please, don't look at me that way Matthews." I whisper, so close to tears now. I go to sit on the edge of his bed,my
back facing him, my handsare gripping onto the bedsheets. I try taking a deep breath to calm my nerves, but it doesn't work and tears do start to slide down upon my cheeks.
"Maya, talk to me." Josh tries once more and I feel one of his hands come in contact with my shoulder.
I turn my body to face Josh and just stare into his eyes that are almost too heartbreaking to look at. "I'm so confused Josh. I don't know what to think. We hardly get to see each other that much because of school. And I know that we're playingthe
long game and that one of these days, we'll have our someday. But last night, it felt entirely different. It didn't feel like we were playing some game when you came to my rescue and then kissed me. It still didn't feel like a game when you broughtme
over to your apartment with you." I confess with a sniffle here and there.
"It felt different for me too. It felt all too real and I can see why you're confused. When I saw that guy talking to you last night, something inside of me was triggered and Igot jealous. I knew that you could handle yourself, but something insideof
me told me go over there and get you away from that guy. I subconsciously and drunkenly made the decision to take you here with me. I wasn't thinking that things would go as far as they did. Maya, the last thing I want to do is cause you any distress."Josh
explains while holding onto one of my hands with his and wiping away my fallen tears with his other.
"You were jealous?" I ask with the tiniest of smiles that I can muster up right now.
Josh lets out a chuckle and a smile to match my own. "Of corse I was Maya. That guy with all of that hair trying to hit on you? It drove me crazy seeing him talking with you." Josh informs me as he takes both of my hands in his and stares back ontomy
eyes, mirroring me.
My small smile grows into a grin at Josh's words. "You really like me Boing. You like me so much that it drives you crazy when some other guy is trying to hit on me." I tease him as I dare to dart out my tongue at him.
Josh lets out a quiet laugh and brings my hands up to his mouth to plant a kiss on the back of one hand. "You drive me crazy Hart." Josh tells me with a grin of his own.
I let out a giggle from Josh's lips touching my hands. "You drive me wild Matthews. I don't know whyI had my doubts about you." I say as I situate myself to being held in Josh's arms and nuzzle my head on his bare chest.
"I drive you wild?" Josh asks me and I can tell he's got an amused look on his face just by the tone of his voice.
I bob my head up and down as I turn my head to look up at him. "Oh, yes." I croon with a playful smirk on my lips.
"Care to elaborate?" Josh challenges me with his eyebrows arched.
I feel my cheeks flush red as I come up with my answer. "Well, you already know why I like you and that it's not just some silly school girl crush." I say in a more serious tone. "But what drives me wild, is that sexy confidence you carry with you.I
don't even think you're aware of it, and that's what makes it all the better. Like you, I've gotten pretty good at reading people." I allow myself confess.
"Thank you Maya, I was waiting for someone to take notice." Josh flirts back, placing a kiss on my cheek.
I giggle again and then place both of my hands on either side of Josh's face and kiss his lips. "You're welcome." I say softly and Josh holds my hands in place as we kiss again, but this time, he takes it deeper.
"Are we okay?" Josh innocently asks once we break our kiss.
I place my lips back on his again for a quick kiss. "Yes. We are okay." I answer with a genuine smile.
"Good. Well, what do you say to some coffee and something to eat?" Josh suggests just as I feel my stomach rumble at the mention of food.
I nod my head and jump off of his bed in excitement. "Yes!" I squeal as my feet make contact with the floor.
Josh shakes his head at me while getting out of his bed and starts walking towards me with a big smile on his face. "Correction, you are crazy." He jokes.
I give Josh a playful glare and then proceed to blush as I take notice of the lack of clothing he's wearing. My heartbeat quickens while I can't stop myself from staring at his body. Josh takes notice of this and takes full advantage as he movescloser
to me and grabs a hold onto both of my hips and starts to squeeze them lightly. I brake out of my daze, giggling and squirm out of his hold on me.
"No fair! You had me distracted!" I pout while poking at Josh's chest with my finger and he just laughs at me as he catches my hand to stop me.
"Oh, I think it's totally fair Miss Hart. Now, come on, I'm starving." Josh says he puts an arm around my shoulders and leads me into his kitchen.
"Aren't you going to get dressed?" I question him once we reach the kitchen counter.
Josh looks himself up and down and then shakes his head with a smirk. "Do I make you uncomfortable Maya?" Josh asks me while dramatically striking some ridiculous pose.
I quirk an eyebrow at him while shaking my own head. "I think we're past the uncomfortable stage Joshua." I reply and to prove my point, I run a hand down his chest, stopping at his stomach, but my hand lingers there.
"I see that now." Josh huskily says and I can feel his eyes on me while I stare at his chest. "And you're staring again." Josh points out with a laugh.
I look up, feeling my cheeks burn. "Oops. I guess I just can't help myself." I reply, playing coy.
"I don't think you can." Josh teases me with and starts running a finger across my stomach, causing goosebumps to appear on my skin.
"Now you're staring." I whisper as both our eyes lock together.
"I can't help it, gorgeous." Josh whispers back, still tracing my skin with his fingertips.