"What took you guys so long?" Farkle Minkus asked as the trio got off the elevator on Riley's floor.

"We had to wait for Maya to say 'goodbye' to Josh!" Riley answered, smiling.

"Yeah, we practically had to pull her off of him!" Lucas joked.

"I see!" Farkle laughed. "Still turning into mush around him?"

"No! They're lying! We were having a practice date!" Maya said proudly.

"You didn't tell me that!" Riley squealed, grabbing her by the shoulders.

"Well, now you know!"

"Bay window! Later!"

Maya raised a flat palm up to her forehead and saluted her.

"C'mon. Let's head inside." Riley said, leading the group into her apartment. "Hi, Mom!"

Topanga Matthews turned away from the stove and smiled at the group. "Hi, guys!"

"Smells great, Mrs. Matthews!" Lucas said.

"Sucks up!" Maya accused.

"I am not!" He rebutted.

"Shut up, Ranger Rick!"

"Okay, we're going to have a nice dinner, you two." Riley scolded while rolling her eyes but the two continued to play their 'game' as they liked to call it.

"Want me to sit in between them?" Farkle asked quietly, noticing Riley's insecurity.

"Yes, please." She responded.

"You know there's nothing going on between them, right?" He asked, eyeing her. "Lucas is head over heels in love with you."

"I know," Riley said and then took a deep breath. "It's just that ever since the triangle…"

"Riles, that was two years ago. Maya would never do anything to hurt you, plus she has that whole thing with Josh. You have to let it go or you will never be able to fully grow with Lucas."

"I know. It's just hard." She gave him a sad smile.

"I'm always here if you need to talk."

"Thanks, Farkle."

"Dinner's ready!" Topanga called.

Everyone sat down at the table and started piling food onto their plates.

"Where's Josh?" Cory Matthews asked, taking a drink of his beer. Maya's cheeks reddened.

"He had plans. Said he'd be over tomorrow." Riley said, pushing her food around with her fork. She smiled when she felt Lucas' hand squeeze her knee. Lucas knew she was insecure and did his best to make her not feel that way; it annoyed him but it was the price one pays if they wanted to date Riley Matthews.

"Ah, gotcha!"

Maya felt her phone buzz in her back pocket. She pulled it out and smiled at the name. It was a text from Josh. Speak of the devil. She thought and opened the message.

And another great conversation in the bag.

She smiled, quickly thinking of something clever to say.

Miss me already, Boing?

She placed her phone in her lap and continued eating.

"So Auggs, how was school today?" Maya asked, trying to take her mind off of waiting for Josh's reply.

"It was good! I swear, third grade is going to be the death of me!"

"Everyone laughed. Buzz. Maya's heart jumped at the feeling.

"I'm sure you'll do great! Besides, Farkle can always help you!"

"Yeah! I can help it seem like Kindergarten." Farkle said, waving his fork around.

"Ugh! I don't want to think about Kindergarten! All that ABC stuff…I drank so much root beer, it was being to become a problem!"

Cory choked on his own beer and stared at his wife which everyone else laughed.

"Don't look at me!" She said, throwing her hands up. "You're the one drinking!" Cory rolled his eyes.

Maya took this moment to look at her phone. It was another text from Josh.

I always miss you when you're not around. Can I call you tonight?

Maya's heart skipped another beat. They hadn't talked on the phone yet. Someday was definitely getting closer. She sent him a response.

Yes, ten o'clock. I miss you, too!

As soon as she hit send, he texted back.

Speak then, Beautiful!

She blushed; he had been waiting for her response, she mentally pictured him rubbing the back of his neck, his tell that he was nervous. She put her phone back into her pocket.

"Do you guys want to go grab ice cream? Auggie?" Lucas asked. Maya caught Riley smiling at his act; she had told Maya she loved that Lucas always tried to include Auggie.

"Ice cream!" Auggie cried and hugged Lucas.

Lucas laughed and turned to his friends. "What do you say?"

They nodded. Maya looked at the clock on the wall. It was six thirty, she had plenty of time. Plus, she refused to be that girl that dropped her friends for a boy.

"Can we go now?!" Auggie asked, bouncing up and down in his seat.

"Calm down, Bubba." Cory said, placing a hand on his son's shoulder. "Let everyone finish, first."

He stared at Riley and her friends until they had all finished eating.

"Ready?!" He asked with a huge smile on his face.

"Yes, Auggie." Riley laughed. "We're ready."

0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o

Josh walked up the stairs to Andrew's floor. He was incredibly grateful that his friend decided to stay in the same dorm as he had last year. Andrew's room was two floors higher than Josh's. It annoyed him that he was a year younger than Andrew; freshmen had to live with freshmen. He and Andrew would be getting an apartment together the following year, but Josh already felt like he lived his him; he crashed on the futon in Andrew's room to avoid going back to his room and having to make small talk with his roommate.

As much as he enjoyed hanging out with Andrew, he really just wanted to see Maya again. He knew he'd see her tomorrow and that they had agreed on talking on the phone tonight but it wasn't good enough or soon enough. He wanted to see her and her beautiful blue eyes that he always found himself getting lost in. He knew he had to be patient, but something in him told him he never wanted to be away from her again.

He finally reached Andrew's floor and pulled the door open, walking into the hallway. He walked down the small hallway, all white walls with posters—advertising sporting events, Greek life, and club meetings—and dark blue carpets. He saw Andrew's door was open and walked inside.

"Hey, Dude." Josh said as he walked in. Andrew Thomas was laying on his bed, throwing a basketball in the air.

"Hey, Man." Andrew replied, catching the ball and sitting up. "What's up? How was your exam?"

Josh plopped down on the green bean bag in the corner. "Feel confident. Hoping for at least a B."

"Not too bad. Chem hasn't been your best subject." Andrew said and threw the ball at Josh.

"Amen. Thanks for your help on it." Josh laughed, catching the ball.

"No problem."

"Where do you want to eat? And it better be some place good; I gave up a home cooked meal at Cory's and spending time with Maya!" He joked, secretly wishing he was with Maya.

"Ah…did you see the Mrs. today?" Andrew smirked.

"She's not the Mrs.! But yes, I did."

"Not yet, she's not!" He raised his eyebrow. "Just ask her out already."

"Shut up and in due time!" He smirked. "Where are we going?"

"What about that pizza place on Waverly?"

"Yeah. Walk or taxi?" Josh asked.

"Eh, decent day. Let's walk." Andrew said, hopping up from his bed and walking towards the door. Josh took this as a cue to get up and did; following Andrew out the door.

"Are you staying at my place tonight?" Andrew asked as they walked down the stairs.

Josh laughed. "You know, I'm glad no one is around or they'd think we're gay."

Andrew laughed as well. "You've got that right, but hey, it's New York."

Josh rolled his eyes. "I'll probably stay at yours. I'm supposed to talk to Maya tonight and I don't want Schnoopaloop to ruin it. Are you still going over to Charlotte's?"

"Yeah, I'm staying there. Do you want my key and you can just have my bed tonight?" His friend asked him as he pushed open the door leading to Greenwich Street.

"If you don't mind, that'd be great!"

"Of course. No Maya in bed though!" Andrew slapped Josh on the back, teasing him.

"Funny. We won't be doing that for a long time!"

"Well, you can make out and what not, but nothing more." He said, laughing at the blush on his friend's face.

"We haven't even kissed yet." Josh said. He started thinking of what it would feel like to kiss her. He reluctantly shook the thought from his head…it had to be special because Maya was special. It couldn't be rushed because he wanted her forever—not just a little moment in time.

"Just ask her out already! You're ready. You know she's ready. Just do it. The long game has to end eventually."

Andrew was right. Josh knew it couldn't go on forever; but he didn't want to mess it up. She still had a year to go until she got to college and he had no idea where she was going. Sure she had gotten an interview at NYU and he was ecstatic about that but he wanted her to choose to go there because she wanted to, not just for him. He knew that had to be one of their next conversations but after what Andrew had said, he couldn't help but think he didn't want to waste any more time playing this game.

0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0

"Ice cream, ice cream, we all scream for ice cream!" Auggie sang, holding onto Lucas' hand as they walked towards the ice cream shop. Auggie knew that nine year olds didn't need to hold someone's hand as they walked on the side walk, but he absolutely adored Lucas and Farkle, just like he did with Josh, and would always switch between the two. Maya always jokingly made fun of them for it but they didn't care—both only children, the boys looked at Auggie as their little brother and wanted to enjoy it before he grew out of it.

"We get it, Peanut! You're excited!" Maya laughed as she followed the guys.

Riley pulled her best friend back and made her walk slower.

"What happened with Josh?" Riley asked. "I don't think we'll have time for the bay window tonight, but I want to know!"

Maya laughed, "Okay, what do you want to know?"

"What did you mean by 'practice date'?"

"Well, he asked if him buying me tacos made it a date."

"He bought you tacos?!" She squealed.

"Yes, he knows the way to my heart." Maya playfully gasped and grabbed her heart.

"Okay and…?"

"I asked him if he wanted it to be a date and he said yes and no."

"Rude..."

"No! I get it. He said it wasn't what he pictured as our first date and he wanted it to be special since we've waited for so long. So we called it a practice date."

"That's great! You're one step closer!"

"I guess I should thank you for telling him where we'd be!" Maya said, glaring at her and then smiling.

"I didn't think he'd show!" She said playfully. "But I'm glad he did!"

"Me, too!" Maya smiled. Riley back; her insides roared with happiness for her best friend. She had been wanting a chance with Josh for years and now she was really on her way to getting it.

o0o0o0o0o0o0o0

Hey guys! Hope you enjoyed this chapter. Thank you for all the reviews. Let me know what you think, as always constructive criticism is appreciated!

Xoxo,

Little Rose Potter