Summer Daze
Chapter One | Forty-Eight Months.
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The cirrus clouds are purely white and wispy as they gradually drift across the sky, and the sun is radiant with the birds happily chirping; their wings graciously spread out, while they soar through the air, and Josh heavily inhales the whiff of the warm summer breeze. He's been awake for hours now, impatient to finally be seeing her again, and nearly losing his mind with each minute that goes by with her still not here. They haven't seen each other since he graduated from college, although she was just beginning her freshman year by the time he left, and they haven't talked within all time they've been apart until just recently.
Josh sighs, exasperated as he checks his watch for the umpteenth time. She's expected to arrive by two o'clock, and it's currently one thirty-seven in the afternoon. He's standing on the balcony of his apartment, view clear as he can see the parking lot from where he is, and evidently spot Maya once she appears. His stomach then harshly beginning to grumble; only have eaten breakfast since waking up. Josh didn't want to miss the chance of witnessing the blonde's beautiful face the second she steps out of the car, and meets gazes with him for the first time in forever.
Nevertheless, unable to control how hungry he is. Josh groans, cursing his empty stomach, and pulling the slide doors open before sauntering back inside. Afterward, rolling his eyes as he comes down the stairs, and walking through the living room to get to the kitchen.
He looks inside of the fridge, searching for the ingredients to make himself a sandwich and once it's complete, standing at the counter that overlooks the living room, and quietly chewing as he stares at his roommate irritably.
His mouth is grossly agape as he sleeps wildly on the couch, and snoring obnoxiously. He's wearing only a pair of boxers, exposing his defined six pack, chiseled muscles, and few tattoos. Meanwhile, still with the ring in his lip, and dark brown hair an unruly mess on top of his head.
Josh finishes a bite of his sandwich before leaving the rest of it on his plate, and walking back over to the cabinets located under the sink. He retrieves two pans, tip-toeing to the couch, and positioning his arms just right prior to loudly clanging the metal together.
A sharp thud blatantly reverberates, Josh plainly watching as he suddenly hits the floor after being startled out of his sleep. Marc grunts, cradling the back of his head, and squinting an eye open as he looks up at his roommate before quickly rising to his feet, and grabbing a fistful of Josh's shirt in his hand. "What the hell? I was still sleeping, you know."
"It's almost two o'clock in the afternoon. It's time you get your ass up, and do something with yourself." Josh grumbles, and snatching himself free of Marc's clutches.
Marc glares at Josh spitefully. "What do you care? I wasn't bothering you, was I?"
"Actually, yeah. You were." Josh says, and calmly moving back to the kitchen to continue his sandwich.
Elsewhere, Marc scoffs, and waving his hand dismissively. Him and Josh aren't necessarily friends, although they wouldn't call themselves enemies either. He'd been desperate for a place to stay, and when he found Josh's posters of a wanted roommate, he immediately jumped at the opportunity. However, if Josh realized earlier how much of a prick he really is, then he wouldn't have agreed so easily to have him stay with him; Marc merely masking his true personality long enough to get on Josh's good side, and it's only been a few years of them living together.
Marc moves a fair distance away from the couch, and briefly yawning before starting to stretch. He then ambles to the counter where Josh is, standing on the opposite side, and forcefully taking his sandwich to actively bite into. Albeit, Josh doesn't react as he's more than used to Marc rudely taking his things from food to clothes to money. He's like a helpless younger brother, but he never steals whenever he does take. Josh always knows whatever and whenever Marc 'borrows' from him, and has eventually grown to accept the way things are between them.
Another huge bite from an angle Josh hasn't already sunk his teeth into, and Marc looks at him curiously as he chews and swallows. "Are you still worried about that girl you're apparently supposed to be seeing?" Marc questions, and aiming to take another bite until Josh quickly snatches the sandwich back.
Josh takes excessive bites, one after the other, and voluntarily allowing Marc to have the rest, which isn't much. Marc gives him a death glare, and Josh smiles wickedly. "You're welcome," Josh teases, and then hastily becoming serious. "and she's not just some girl. We kind of have history, and I'm just excited to see her again after so long."
Marc pretends to gag. "Give me a break, Matthews. What kind of history could you two possibly have because as far as I'm concerned, you're the biggest stick in the mud I've ever met." He says chuckling, and opening his mouth to eat the final piece of the sandwich until horridly watching it fall to the floor beside his feet.
Marc's jaw is low, and hazel eyes wide as he slowly looks at Josh speechlessly. Josh grins. "Maybe not call me names the next time you're eating,"
"Fuck you." Marc spits, and marching into the kitchen to grab the cereal box sitting on top of the refrigerator. Josh watches him expectantly, closely looking as Marc grabs a bowl, pours in the cereal, but doesn't get milk. Instead, simply eating it dry with his hands like it's chips. Marc talks with his mouth full. "Have you and her ever dated?" he asks, genuinely interested, and Josh awkwardly tenses up.
He stares at the floor bashfully. "Well, no. Never. But she's always had kind of a crush on me." Josh admits, and Marc quirks an eyebrow, gazing at his roommate incredulously.
"Wait," he says, swallowing. "how would you rate this girl?" Marc replies ignorantly, and Josh looks at him perplexed.
"What do you mean, like on a scale? Haven't you learned back in middle not to do that shit with girls,"
"No—Yes. I mean, how attractive is she…in your opinion." Marc clarifies, and Josh grows silent as he tries to visualize Maya, although as her eighteen-year-old self. "Like is she beautiful…stunning…gorgeous…or just pretty."
"She's…" Josh tapers, cheeks hot, and knots tightly twisting inside of his stomach. "Why are you even asking me this?"
"Because it doesn't make sense that you would know that she likes you and are apparently excited to finally be seeing her again, but never actually dated her."
"It's a lot more complicated than that." Josh murmurs, and shamefully diverting his eyes away.
Marc arches an eyebrow skeptically. Until recently, Josh had never even mentioned liking anybody, let alone having a girlfriend. Now he's blushing, nervous, and antsy, and Marc can't help but wonder if he can somehow use it to his advantage. He smirks. "I see…You're hoping this girl still has feelings for you." Marc responds, and Josh sneers.
He quickly shakes his head, denying the absurd accusation. "That's not what's happening."
"Oh, come on, Joshua. Why else are you stumbling over your own two feet at the thought of seeing her again? You didn't realize your feelings then, and now you want to pour your heart to her, and hope she's desperate enough to say, yes." Marc taunts, and Josh rolls his eyes. It isn't that he's wrong, but hearing it out loud, Josh knows how selfish and ridiculous he may sound.
Josh swiftly exits the kitchen, intending to get far away from Marc as possible, and going back out to the balcony to continue waiting for Maya. However, not even fifteen seconds later, and Marc follows him outside, standing beside him as they gaze out at the atmosphere in front of them. It's quiet, neither eagerly wanting to talk to each other, but Josh quickly becoming agitated by the sound of Marc's incessant chewing as he crunches his dry cereal. He glares at him bitterly.
"Oh, there she is!" Marc suddenly shouts, and pointing a finger down at the parking lot.
Josh rapidly looks down, frantically searching for the blonde, but only seeing a random brunette instead, who also lives on the same strip. He stares at Marc, frustrated. "You're an asshole."
Marc chuckles. "That's your own fault. I don't even know what she looks like," he defends, and Josh doesn't attempt to protest considering he does have a point.
He sighs, folding his arms onto the banister, and Marc profoundly gazes at his profile. "What are you two going to do when she gets here?"
Josh simply shrugs. "I don't really care what we're doing as long as she's…" he tapers, silencing himself from saying something potentially embarrassing.
Nevertheless, Marc smirks knowingly. He bounces his eyebrows. "You can't fool me, Matthews. I know you were going to say something cheesy like, 'As long as we're together, then I'm happy'." Marc laughs, openly taunting. However, Josh doesn't react as he's too occupied with the fascinating sight in front of him.
Josh's mouth noticeably hangs open, lips slowly becoming dry, and eyes excessively blinking as he mentally questions whether or not they're deceiving him. "Maya…"
"What?"
"Maya…she's here!" Josh exclaims, and running off of the balcony, leaving Marc utterly speechless and confused.
He glances back down at the parking lot, a large Moving truck pulling up in front of the building as well as a shiny black sedan where a petite girl gracefully emerges from the driver's seat. Marc raises an eyebrow, intrigued.
Meanwhile, Josh hurriedly dashing down the stairs of the apartment building, and weaving pass corners until finally reaching the front door, and recklessly pulling it open. Josh heavily pants, chest rising and falling, and blue eyes glued to the statuesque girl standing only a mere few feet away from him. A black suede fedora sits daintily along her head, and the white, button-up shirt dress she's wearing with an elastic neckline, exposing her shoulders stops a few inches above her knees. Elsewhere, the plain stiletto black sandals, flaunting her nicely pedicured feet.
Maya's eyes subsequently meet Josh's, and gently wiggling her fingers at him. "Hey, Boing." She waves, smiling, and that's all it takes for Josh to lose his mind.
His perfectly white teeth on full display, and sensing the pitter-patter of his heart as he sprints toward her. Josh affectionately wraps his arms around her waist, lifting her off of the ground, and spinning around blissfully; content as the tune of Maya's beautiful laughter fills his ears.
Josh then softly sets her back down, his hands lingering on her waist, and smiling at her uncontrollably. Maya's hand grazes his cheek, caressing it gingerly, and Josh's face instantly turns pink. "I take it you must've missed me," she teases, and Josh nervously chuckles.
He might've missed her more than he thought. "I guess so…" he moans, and Maya winks. Afterward, Josh intaking a long glance at the young girl for the first time in four years.
For starters, she cut her hair; Maya's golden locks still very vibrant and vivacious, but now shorter. Her skin also appears flawless, and eyes seemingly more blue than he previously remembered.
Josh feels as if he's floating on a cloud, stunned by how much more gorgeous she's become in a course of forty-eight months.
Maya then slightly leans to her side, peeking at the building behind Josh, and quickly beginning to smile. "This is it?"
Josh briefly glances over his shoulder. "Yeah, this is where you'll be living. Excited?"
"Extremely," Maya beams, walking around him, and practically skipping up to the door before hastily stopping in her tracks. She turns back around, facing Josh, and he's calmly standing with his hands in his pockets. "Aren't you coming?" she invites.
Josh's eyes widen. "Really?" he asks breathlessly, but no chance of a response as the blonde zealously runs back to grab his hand, and pulling him along with her.
She stops in front of the door, and unlocking it with the key she removes out of her purse. Once inside, absently squeezing Josh's hand as the breathtaking sight knocks all the wind out of her. Polished hardwood floors, marble countertops, spotless white cabinets and drawers, freshly painted walls, a fireplace, and rooms big enough to hold twenty people or more.
Maya slowly turns back to face Josh; completely at a loss for words. "You're amazing,"
"If you say so," Josh smiles, and Maya gently shoves him.
"I'm serious. I don't think there's anything I can do to repay you for doing this for me." Maya murmurs, modest as she graciously attempts to thank Josh because without him, none of this would be possible—a townhouse in the perfect part of Orchard Park where she can get to and from work with ease, and next to her crush, no less.
Josh shrugs, humble. "It's okay, you don't have to. I would do anything for you." He admits, blushing, and suddenly stiff as Maya tightly embraces him.
"Riley lucked out having you as an uncle…" she mumbles, arms around his neck, and chin on his shoulder. Maya senses as Josh reluctantly wraps his arms around her waist, inhaling her hypnotic scent, while savoring even the slightest touch from her. Maya looks up at him, smiling wide. "Thank you, Josh."
"Anytime." Josh replies, and the moment leisurely shifting into one of intensity, both he and Maya gazing deeply at one another, while still encased in the other's hold.
Josh shyly licks and parts his lips, and eyes steady as they refuse to look anywhere other than Maya's mouth; her lips plump and glazed with a fruity chap-stick. He starts to lean forward, highly aware, and soon with the realization that Maya isn't trying stop him. His lips nearly touch hers, a mere graze, and breath hot as the rapid beating of his heart temporarily subsides. Josh lightly puckers his lips, eyes closing, and aiming to fully execute the kiss until clapping and the feel of an audience breaks the two of them apart.
Maya and Josh quickly separate, and glancing behind them where Marc and the movers look at the couple curiously.
Maya's cheeks notably flush, although Josh appears candidly angry as he stares at his roommate maliciously. "I'm sorry, did we interrupt you two, Joshua?"
"I'm going to kill you…" Josh grits through his teeth, pointing a finger, and roughly grabbing Marc's wrist on his way out the door.
Maya looks at the pair of boys incredulously, an eyebrow raised, and noticing as Marc tenderly waves at her. She hesitantly waves back, and closely acknowledging his appearance—gray sweatpants, flip flops, and no shirt.
"I'm Marc, by the way. Welcome to the neighborhood!"
"Shut up," Josh groans, shoving him back outside, and turning back around in the doorway to face Maya. He looks at her apologetically. "See you later?" he asks, hopefully. Maya nods her head, and biting her bottom lip as she smiles. Josh returns it. "Tonight?"
"Okay," Maya agrees. Meanwhile, Josh is internally jumping for joy.
"I'll call—"
"Hurry up, Joshua!" Marc yells from the sidewalk, and Josh rolls his eyes.
He waves at Maya one final time. "I'll call you," he whispers, and gesturing a phone with his hand before ultimately getting out of the movers' way.
Josh walks up to Marc, who's presently standing with his arms crossed. He stares at Josh pitifully. "Something is seriously wrong with you," Marc declares, and Josh looks at him questionably.
"Why?" he asks, but Marc doesn't respond. Instead, walking back into their own place, which is conveniently next to Maya's, and Josh closely follows behind him.
While Marc is playing mind games, Josh isn't willing to allow anything to ruin his mood as the thought of almost kissing Maya is still fresh on his brain. His time with her will come soon enough, although the only question now is when…
Regardless, he's impatient until the moment he gets to see her again.
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Recap:
1. Josh is living in Orchard Park, NY with his roommate, Marc.
2. Maya moves in next door.
3. Josh plans to see Maya later tonight.
Thanks to everyone that read, reviewed, and followed. Much appreciation!