Old Soul, Young Heart
Chapter Two, Expectations.
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The car is absolutely silent as they ride together en route for the blonde's apartment, and not even with the radio on to help soothe the awkward quietude. Albeit, Maya couldn't remember a single moment she'd been alone with Josh ever since he started college. By that time, she'd still been in high school, and soon with a melancholy ache growing in the center of her heart the second she realized how less and less often he would come around.
From constant complaints about his annoying roommate to eventually enjoying the perks of campus life, Josh would only show his face during holidays, birthdays, or occasional family dinners. Meanwhile, Maya merely left to wallow in the presence of the girlfriend he would consistently talk about if he didn't just bring her along, and frequently with the thought to tell him to shut up. But of course, she would never do that.
Long and curly ebony hair, the body of a supermodel, and expressive blue eyes that could trap you in a trance with just one glance—Maya's jealousy violently overriding as she knows she could never compare. However, secretly ecstatic that there seems to be 'trouble in paradise', and anxious for Josh to hopefully talk about it.
Josh turns one more corner, pulling up in front of the apartment building, and shutting off the engine as he parks next to the curb. He sits back in his seat, glancing toward Maya, and noting the taut expression on her face. "Maya, what is it?"
The sincerity in his voice causes Maya to look up at him. She shrugs. "I don't know. I guess I'm having second thoughts…"
"C'mon, Maya," Josh pleas, nervous of the chance that the blonde will change her mind. "I don't want to force you into anything, but I really want you to come with me. Is there something you want to talk about?"
"No." Maya says with a shake of her head. "I just don't think it's a good idea."
"Maya, it's literally just the two of us traveling to Georgia together, and staying in my best friend's lake house. Where's the harm in that?" Josh interrogates, and Maya clenches her fists.
She shouldn't try being alone with Josh with the immense feelings she has for him as it'll only cause her heart to break into a million pieces. He's stated on more than one occasion how he doesn't quite like her the way she likes him, and a vacation where it's just the two of them is basically asking for an unrequited romance story.
Maya puts her hand on the door handle, ready to get out. "I've made up my mind, Josh. Just go on your trip without me." She says, and quickly slamming the door shut behind her before Josh even has the chance to protest.
"Maya!" Josh yells, although she can't hear him as the windows are up, and she's already on her way inside. He then bangs his fists against the steering wheel, while tightly grinding his teeth together. Meanwhile, the accidental honk of the horn frightening a stray cat as it scurries across the the street.
He doesn't understand what the problem is. Josh is finally out of the strong clutches of his once girlfriend, and now with the hope of a distraction to help ease all his frustration. Maya is honestly the epitome of wild and carefree, but apparently refusing to spend any time with him in fear of something he hasn't a clue about. Josh's eyes then catch glimpse of something sitting on the passenger seat, and he looks to see that it's the picture Maya took of him from earlier.
Josh reluctantly picks it up, closely studying it, and admiring how simple yet artful the photo appears. He's sure Maya didn't mean to leave it behind, although now with an excuse to follow after her.
Josh unbuckles his seatbelt, and dashing to the front entrance of the apartment building where he rings the bell correspondent to the two best friends' apartment. "Who is it?"
"Riley, it's me! Can you let me in?" Josh asks frantically, while his heart erratically pounds inside of his chest.
"Josh? Sure, one second," Riley says, pushing the button to buzz him in, and Josh wastes no time sprinting up the stairs to their apartment. He's prepared to knock on the door, although Riley's already got it open by the time he reaches the doorway. Josh briefly stares at his niece before peering past her into the apartment for any sight of Maya, and Riley looks at him incredulously. "Hey, is everything okay?"
"Yeah, yeah everything's fine. Hey, is Maya around by any chance?" Josh asks, hoping to fool Riley, and feign as if he didn't see Maya just a few seconds ago.
She arches an eyebrow, while looking at Josh inquisitively. "Um, yeah. She actually just got back."
"Can I see her?" Josh urges, and noticing as Riley tenses up.
She glances over her shoulder into the apartment before looking back at her uncle with an awkward facial expression. "No."
"No? What do you mean? Why not?"
"She's in the bathroom right now. I think she's taking a shower," Riley responds, and for some reason, Josh's cheeks grow hot.
A vivid image of Maya's petite figure completely naked and exposed, while surrounded by steaming, warm water, and droplets lingering along her smooth skin truthfully has his insides starting to quake, and anxiously swallowing as he tries to erase the forbidden picture from his mind.
Instead, sheepish as he nervously rubs up and down the side of his arm. "Well, can I still come in? I could just wait for her to finish." Josh conveys, confused as to why Riley still has him standing in the hallway like he's some stranger that just got done going on an awkward date with her roommate.
They're family last time he checked.
"Uh…" Riley stammers, and Josh looks at her curiously. "What do you even need her for? Maya didn't seem in the best mood coming back, so I don't think now is really a great time to talk to her."
Yeah, except I'm the reason she's in a bad mood, and that's why I need to talk to her. Josh cogitates, and soon diverting his gaze. He didn't mean to upset Maya with his persistent notion of getting her to travel with him, feeling responsible for the sour mood she's presently in.
Josh stares at the floor as he says, "Please, Riley."
There's a hopefulness in his tone, and Riley purses her lips. The only reason she's being resistant is because she knows her best friend like the back of her hand, and Maya's got her 'I'm upset about Josh' face on. Riley knows this without even having to talk to the blonde, and Josh subsequently showing up at their front door only confirms her suspicions. He may be family but Maya is too, and letting Josh in is merely the calm before the storm. Maya obviously wants to be left alone—or at least away from Josh—and Riley will do whatever she can to follow through with her friend's silent request. "You have her number, right? Just call her tomorrow. I have to go—" Riley murmurs, attempting to close the door in Josh's face until Josh stops it with his hand.
He forces the door to stay open, and bringing his face close to Riley's as he whispers, "This is important. If Maya wants me gone, then I'll let her tell me herself. Now please let me in, Riley." Josh hopelessly demands.
Riley glowers at him. "I said, no Josh. Just leave her alo—"
"You don't even know what this is about, Riley. I need to talk to Maya, and I'm not going anywhere until I do." Josh says dauntingly, frustrated with the strange way Riley's being.
She then tries to push him back. "Trust me, I'm doing her a favor. She doesn't want to see you right now, Josh."
"How do you know what she wants?"
"Because I'm her best friend!"
"And that means you get to make decisions for her now?"
"No, but—"
"Enough." Maya asserts from her position in the middle of the living room. She's standing in a robe with her arms folded and hair tied up into a messy bun as water drips from the loose strands delicately framing her cheeks after splashing some water onto her face, and Josh soon opens the door wide enough to glance inside; him and Riley both looking at the blonde speechlessly like a deer caught in headlights. "Let him in, Riles."
"Are you sure, Maya?"
"He's your uncle, Riley." Maya groans. "Stop acting like he's not to be trusted."
"I'm only trying to protect you." Riley says sincerely, her brown eyes starting to glimmer with tears.
Maya smiles. "I know, honey…but I don't need protection from Josh." She says with certainty, and Riley shamefully bows her head. Maya then fixates her gaze back to Josh. "C'mon. We'll talk in my room." She says calmly, and leading the way down the hall to her bedroom.
Josh quickly follows after her, and shutting the door behind himself once he walks inside. He then peers around Maya's room as it's been some time since he's last seen it.
Posters of The Beatles plastered to her walls, a corner for all her art supplies, photographs of pictures she's taken hanging up from string and clothes pins with lights—including her collection of photos she's taken of Josh with or without his consent—and a queen-sized bed with a yellow comforter set adjacent from the doorway.
Josh follows her over to the bed, sitting down beside her, and Maya hugs her legs to her chest as she lifts her feet off of the floor. She hadn't really taken a shower, although planning to until she could hear the ruckus of Riley and Josh arguing outside, and no longer wanting to be the focus of their fight. Maya understands Riley's reluctance when it comes to Josh because she's been around all while Maya's been hopelessly chasing after him only to get repeatedly turned down time after time again, and later given false hope after their moment at the ski lodge. She sighs. "I had a feeling you'd come up to see me…I kind of left that picture behind on purpose." She admits, and Josh blushes as he briefly looks down at his shoes, the photo still in his hand since first picking it up in his car.
He smirks. "You must've known that wasn't the end of our talk then," Josh presumes, and Maya looks at him bashfully.
The whole thing had been a setup, unbeknownst to Josh, hoping he would chase after her, and prove just how passionate he claims to be about having her come along with him on his road trip to Georgia. She doesn't know how much Tess is still involved in his life, but if Josh fights for her company, then Maya will at least have some idea regarding the couple's status. "Yeah, well…we both know I can't resist you no matter how much I'd like to." She mumbles, while a swarm of butterflies zealously flutter around inside of her stomach.
Josh's heart skips a beat. "Then why are you acting weird about this?"
"Because…" Maya pauses. She can either lie or tell the truth, and both choices seem unbearable considering everything that's happened. "One of us will be expecting something after this trip, and I'm sure that person doesn't want to put themselves through an inevitable heartbreak when all of that can be prevented right here, right now."
"Maya…" Josh mumbles, and Maya looks away.
She takes a deep breath. "Trust me, you don't know how much going on a vacation with you would mean to me, but—"
"Then stop thinking about it." Josh states, momentarily silencing Maya. "You're overthinking this too much, and it's not necessary. Let's just go, have a good time, and come back to New York together in a couple of weeks. I really want to do this, Maya, and I want to do it with you." He confesses, causing Maya's heart to jolt.
She looks deeply into his eyes, and then down at his lips, although only for a second. "Will you help me pack?"
"If it means you're coming, then yes." Josh smirks, leaning close, and wrapping his arms around Maya as he embraces her.
She blushes, feeling stiff as a board to be this close, but hugging him back nonetheless. They haven't ever hugged prior to now, Maya feeling as if she could literally die in his arms, while Josh enjoys the subtle aroma of her watermelon scented shampoo. He's looking forward to this just as much as she is, and if something happens to sprout after all the time they spend together, then Josh will not push her away.
Maya isn't the only the one with expectations for this trip, and it won't be long until she realizes it.
PLEASE REVIEW, I love reading all of your comments!
Now I apologize right now if the story seems kind of boring or if the plot is moving slowly, but we're still in the beginning stages of the story. I already have chapters 3-5 written, and I would say that once we get to Chapter Four that things will finally start to get interesting. The Suspense aspect of the story will pick up, and I just hope you guys like what I have planned.
Recap:
1. Maya briefly changes her mind about traveling to Georgia with Josh.
2. Josh has an argument with Riley, who's trying to keep Maya away from him.
3. Maya hints that she's hoping for something more with Josh after their trip.
Author Replies:
somuchlovexoxo: I've watched the WHY video so many times, so it only made sense that it was on my mind when I thought of this story, lol. As for Tess, well…let me not spoil anything ;)
Lili: Thank you! I try :)
Grace: Thank you, the compliments are always refreshing.
Troyler 4 Eva: Glad you're loving the story, it means a lot :)
Thanks to everyone that read, reviewed, and followed. Much appreciation!