It was a week, the longest week of Maya's life when Riley didn't speak to her. A week of completely and utterly avoiding Lucas, of sitting in the back of the Mr. Matthew's class, of stopping at Riley's window only to find it locked. Riley wasn't speaking to Lucas either, but she forgave him soon. At least this wasn't a daily lesson in History class. Mr. Matthews let this life lesson go on without even acknowledgment.

While Maya and Riley, and Lucas and Maya finally returned to normal, Maya and Lucas were nowhere near. Maya stopped turned toward Riley in class. It was easier sitting straight, because the other option was catching Lucas' lips in the corner of her eye. It was all she could focus on whenever she saw him. Luckily the height difference made it easier to stare at his lips without anyone noticing. They were never in the same room alone; never got the chance to talk over what happened. Not that either of them needed to talk anything through, after all it meant nothing, it wasn't repeating over and over again in either of their heads.

Sadly it was impossible for her to get the whole thing out of her head, no matter how hard she tried. There was no one to talk to about it, she couldn't say anything to her best friend. After all, it was Maya reiterating over and over again that she was not and never had been interested in Lucas. And that was true…but there was something about that kiss.

Walking into the Matthew's household Maya flopped down onto the couch. She didn't bother to check with Riley to see if they were even going to be home. She rarely did. But as she laid on the couch Maya slowly began to realize the house was quiet, a little too quickly. Intrigued, she got up and started toward the bedrooms, her arms swaying at her side. Before she even turned the corner out of the kitchen, she bumped into a hard chest, stumbling backward.

"Maya what are you doing here?"

Taking a few moments to right herself, Maya looked up to meet the eyes of the guy that started it all. Sort of.

"Uncle Josh shouldn't I be asking that question? I happen to be here far more often than you."

"You make a very valid point, but are you aware that no one is home right? Auggie had something for school and the whole family went."

Frowning Maya walked back to the couch and sat down. Damn. She was hoping to have something to distract her today. Last night there had been a very vivid dream and something had to be done to remind her how much of a horrible idea that dream was. Staring straight Maya zoned for a moment until she felt the couch cushion drop slightly from movement next to her. Josh stared intently at the blonde girl next to him for a moment. None of this was the way she acted around him. Mind you they hadn't even seen each other since the incident in the dorm room. Well there was the moment he saw her kissing Lucas, but he knew she hadn't noticed him then. It would appear a lot had happened since the last time they interacted. The last time she jumped on his back stealing his acceptance letter.

"She forgot to mention it to me."

"You doing okay Maya? You seem a little…off."

The intent was good, the question was supposed to be supportive. Or something. But it wasn't exactly a question Josh had ever asked Maya before. Despite all her flirting, all her obvious interest, she was still his niece's friend. His younger niece's friend. Maya didn't say anything in response, she just continued to stare straight. Josh was at a loss, a silent Maya was not normal. Reaching up he grabbed his bean and pulled it slowly off his head, scrunching it up in his lap.

"Look Maya, I don't know how to say this, but…well…I saw you at the subway station. A couple weeks ago."

The start of the conversation was enough to pull Maya's attention away from the staring. Her eyes fell on Josh. She knew he saw, that was the whole point of this kiss after all. Never in her wildest dreams though did she expect him to bring it up, especially not to her.

"Oh, you saw when…"

"You kissed Lucas."

"Ah yes, that. I remember that too."

"I just wanted to let you know, I didn't say anything to Riley. I don't know what's going between you two, but I do know it's not my place to interfere. I mean I think you should…"

Maya held up her hand to silence Josh. Not for a moment did she think she'd be having this conversation with Josh. The whole kiss was just so stupid, it never should have happened. Still she was so surprised that Josh said nothing to Riley. It was one of the reasons Maya was so set on telling her best friend. Apparently she didn't have to say anything, she could have completely avoided the whole week of being without her best friend. Things could have never stopped being normal.

"Riley knows, I told her. It was just a stupid little kiss it didn't actually mean anything."

A smirk grew on Josh's face. Based on what he saw, that was not just a stupid kiss. It was one of the reasons he so abruptly left. The second he saw that kiss he felt like he was watching something very intimate, something he had no right witnessing.

"From what I saw that was not a little kiss, but if you say so."

"And how intently were you watching exactly Josh? Jealous?"

Josh's head tiled to the side as Maya made a very impressive attempt to change the conversation. It really was deflection at its best. Jealousy was not the factor, at least not really. For Josh he was just so use to the attention, it was odd almost, when the attention wasn't there. It wasn't that he wanted her interest, but it was the norm. It's how they interacted. It was different now. Even as Maya attempt to flirt with him, it wasn't the same. There wasn't the same emotion in her eyes as he was used to.

"You know the situation Maya. Besides if you like Lucas there doesn't necessarily have to be anything wrong with that."

"I didn't like Lucas, I mean I don't like him." Maya turned her head slightly so she didn't have to face Josh as she spoke. "If you must know I knew you were there, we both did. It was a stupid attempt to make you think I'd moved on so I'd be able to face you again after what happened in the dorm room. As you can see it didn't really work the way it was supposed to. Still can't face you."

Lucas was intended to prove that Maya was moving on from Josh, and now she needed Josh to prove that the kiss was nothing. After a moment passed she turned back to look at Josh, a faint smile on her face as she shrugged. The kiss needed to be nothing; Josh needed to believe her story. It was the truth, at the time. That was all it was.

"I'm sorry you thought you couldn't face me. If it does make you feel any better, I definitely thought you had moved on." Josh swayed on the couch, knocking lightly into Maya's shoulder. "Might still think you have."

Standing up Maya walked behind the couch, leaning forward she stuck her head right next to Josh's so their checks were touch. Her hand reached up and ruffled Josh's hair.

"Don't forget Uncle Bong I'm in it for the long game."

There wasn't the usual honesty in her voice when Maya spoke. It sounded almost like a line she'd repeated over and over again. Like it had lost all meaning. Like it was just the expected response. Maybe he was right, maybe she had moved on. Pulling up straight she patted Josh on the head then walked out of the apartment.