Chapter 1: Sweet 16
Maya Penelope Hart woke up on a fine day, she is hoping for this day to go well; after all it is her birthday. She prepared for the day, dressed up a little bit since it's her day. After that she left her house and went straight to Riley's.
"Hey Riles!" Maya greeted her best friend once she entered her bay window "Happy Sweet 16 Maya!" her cheerful best friend Riley greeted her handing out her gift "This won't get smaller everytime I open it right?" Maya asked curiously, she doesn't want to repeat what Riley did to her gift last year, although Riley's gift did made her sentimental "Of course not" she replied.
Maya opened her best friend's gift to her and find a thick sketch pad and a complete set of art materials. Maya was so shocked that Riley would give her something that expensive "Riles, this must cost you a fortune, I can't take this, there are much more important things that you could buy with the money that you spent on this" she told her friend still in a state of shock "Maya, I want you to take it, I know how great you had become, you already are an amazing artist and you just turned 16" Riley said sincerely holding her friend's hand "I want to support you in all you want to do, you know that" she added sweetly "But only when it is positive or the ending is positive" she added to not give her a wrong idea "Of course you do, you're Riley" Maya replied laughing.
They both went downstairs and ate breakfast and leave for school "I forgot to ask you something" Riley said once they entered the train "What is it?" Maya asked "What did Uncle Shawn and your mom did for you this morning" Riley asked curiously "Well I didn't really notice them this morning; after I am done preparing in my room I went straight out the front door" Maya replied honestly "Do you think they forgot that it is your birthday?" Riley asked "I don't think so, maybe; but I don't really care, I got my wish last year and it came true" she said happily "And even if they did forget, my mom and stepda- dad are always with me in our home everyday, together" she added "Still not used to calling uncle Shawn 'dad'?" Riley asked "No, but maybe in a few months I'll get used to it" she replied.
They entered their classroom and Maya was greeted by all of her classmates and friends. The day went as it usually is. After the last subject of the day, Riley told Maya that they should go to Topanga's before they go to her apartment.
"Do you remember my birthday last year when your dad came with my cake and keep saying things about me and Shawn's family but he did not know we're there?" Maya asked Riley as they reminisce last year's event "That was a really embarrassing moment for my dad but it is really funny to watch" they laughed as they walk to Riley's mother's bakery shop.
At Topanga's, Cory, Topanga, Shawn, Katy, and Auggie are decorating the place for Maya's birthday. "Cory your parents, Eric, Morgan, and Josh are coming right?" Shawn asked a bit nervous, he wants this day to be perfect for Maya "They are on their way" Cory assured him patting his back to calm him down.
"Katy, why does Shawn wants our whole family to be on Maya's birthday?" Topanga asked Katy as they prepare for the foods "Shawn wants to introduce Maya to his whole family as his daughter and he also told me that his brother is coming, I never even knew he had a brother" Katy replied "Jack is coming today?" Topanga asked surprised "You know his brother?" Katy asked "Of course I do, we all went to the same University" She replied "Well the bigger the bigger the family the better I guess" Katy said.
A few minutes later, the Matthews family came and they socialized with each other. Shawn introduced his wife to everyone; moments later, they heard the front door's bell ring, Cory took a peek on the door to see Shawn's brother "Jack!" he exclaimed then a lot of kissing and hugging happened, old friend united once more, and Shawn finally introduced his wife to his brother "You told me it's your daughter's birthday today Shawn, where is she?" Jack asked curiously looking for a baby girl "Let me rephrase that, it's my stepdaughter's first birthday with me" Shawn replied "Well it's a good thing that I still haven't bought a gift" Jack said relief, after few minutes Rachel came and the old friends/roommates reunited once more.
They talked and catch up when suddenly Farkle opened the door Smakle, Lucas, and Zay following him "Maya and Riley are almost here" Farkle said in a rush and they closed the lights and hid around the bake shop.
Riley and Maya are laughing when they reach Topanga's. They entered inside and Maya noticed how dark the place is, Riley opened the lights and right on cue everyone got out from where they are hiding "Happy Birthday Maya!" everyone greeted her cheerfully with confetti and a banner that says 'Happy Sweet 16 Maya!'. She did not know how to say or express her feelings right at that moment, she was so shocked to see a lot of people for her birthday. They all sang happy birthday while Shawn and Katy brought her two layered cake with a huge 16 on top of it. "Blow your candle now baby girl" Maya's mother told her "Make a wish first" her stepdad added.
Maya closed her eyes and blew her candle, everyone clapped and cheered. She hugged her parents "I can't believe you did this for me" Maya told them smiling widely "It's more of your dad's idea" her mom said "Well I want to properly introduce my daughter to my family" Shawn told her "Thank you" Maya said hugging Shawn "…dad" Maya added. Shawn cannot hold his emotions so he just hugged her tight. "Oh, by the way I want you to meet my brother" Shawn said releasing her from his hug and ushering Jack to come to them "Maya this is your Uncle Jack, Jack this is my daughter Maya" Shawn introduced them to each other, they both said their hellos then Rachel passed by them and Shawn called her "Maya this is Rachel, we went to the same University but she's a year older, she's your Uncle Eric and Uncle Jack's roommate, and your Uncle Jack's ex" Shawn introduced Rachel plus embarrass his brother "Did you really have to add that?" Jack asked "As your brother, yes I do" Shawn laughed "So this your daughter?" Rachel asked Shawn "Yeah" Shawn replied proudly "It's nice to meet you Maya" Rachel said shaking Maya's hand; they talked for a bit before they separated.
After partying for almost an hour Topanga said that it is time for presents. She receives countless of presents from everyone except for one person that she always has her eye on. They haven't talked since she entered Topanga's; she's not usually nervous but every time she see Josh since after they went home from Mount Sun Ski Lodge she started to become more nervous around him. She was seated at the sofa talking to Riley but when Riley noticed Josh approaching them, Riley made a lame excuse to leave her.
"Hey" Josh greeted "Hey" she replied "So you're sixteen now" Josh sat next to her giving her his best smile, suddenly Maya's nervousness is gone and the old Maya came back "You know Boing, we are currently just two years apart right now" Maya smirked at him, Josh chuckled as he remember what she said at the Ski Lodge.
"We can now finally hold hands" he smiled and intertwined his hand with hers "Someday" she whispered to herself while looking at their intertwined hands "What?" Josh asked "Nothing" Maya replied.
"Oh by the way, I haven't gave you my gift yet" Josh said "You don't have to give me anything" Maya said then Josh released her hand to get a small box from the pocket inside his jacket "Here open it" he told her while giving Maya his gift, she opened the small velvet jewelry box to see a ring inside "Josh?" Maya asked, her heart is pounding so much that she swore everyone in the room could hear it.
Josh took the ring out of the box "This is my promise ring for us" Josh said holding the ring to her, the small engraved writing outside the ring 'Someday' and 'Josh + Maya' engraved inside. While Josh was showing her the ring, Maya noticed that Josh is wearing the same ring on his left ring finger "This our promise ring for our someday, that is why I have my own" he told her when he noticed that she saw her ring "And I want this promise to be our secret" he told her "Why?" she asked curiously "I don't know, I just want our relationship a secret to everyone so when we become official, they would all be surprised" he laughed "Plus Shawn and Cory would bite my head off if they found out I am courting you so when you're finally 18 you could finally be my girlfrie-" with that Josh shut his mouth before he could continue what he is suppose to say and possibly add some plans for their future.
"What was that?" Maya smiled teasingly about his little slip up, he covered his blushing face from embarrassment "You know what this will lead to Maya" Josh said still blushing "I know, I just want to hear it from you" Maya smirked at him.
He looked at her lovingly, 'this brave young lady would be his girlfriend someday' he thought to himself. "What are you looking at Boing, is there dirt on my face?" she asked, Josh snapped out of his trance "No, no, there's no dirt on your face" he replied "Then why do you keep staring at me like that?" she asked "I just got lost in your eyes for a bit" he told her honestly "Stop that" she said blushing "Stop what?" he asked smiling at her "You being all handsome and cute" she told him a bit frustrated "Well I can't do anything about it, this is my face" he teased her then suddenly Josh noticed how their faces are from each other, he looked around if anyone else noticed, he sighed in relief when he noticed that everyone else are busy partying.
Josh coughed awkwardly "Let's go back to the ring" he held her left hand and slipped the ring on her ring finger "Fits perfectly" he told her looking at her eyes "I can't wait for 'someday'" he added and kissed the back of her hand.
