"So tell me it again," Blake said to Riley. The two of them were sitting on the roof of Riley's apartment building, gazing at the stars and out at the city in front of them. New York truly was the city that never slept. Riley didn't think she'd ever seen something so beautiful than her hometown at night.
"Maya thinks she still likes Josh," Riley repeated. "She's not sure what to do. She doesn't want to hurt Lucas though."
"How does she think she still likes him?" Blake asked curiously. "Maya was so done with him two years ago when I first met you guys."
Riley took a bite of her sandwich and chewed thoughtfully. Swallowing, she filled the silence. "She thought she was. Maybe she never really got over him. In middle school, she didn't have a typical schoolgirl crush on him. She was pretty much in love with him. You don't get over your first love that easily."
"Does she know that she loved him?" Blake asked.
"No, but that's what I always felt anyways. It was obvious that Josh was never that into her though, so she gave up. That's not the same thing as getting over someone." Riley leaned her head on her boyfriend's shoulder. "I was never in love with Lucas, I just liked him a lot. It made it easier for me to get over him."
"Do you love me?" Blake asked quietly.
Riley looked up at him. "I don't know. But I do really like you."
Blake smiled at her. "That's all I need to hear."
-GMW-
Maya sat on her bed, typing away at an assignment for Mr. Matthews' history class. It was a research presentation on a past American hero. Apparently, Mr. Matthews was given the same assignment when he was in school, and had wanted to do it on a fictional character from Star Trek, and then wanted to write his report on Shawn. Typical.
"Knock knock," Shawn Hunter said, poking his head in her bedroom door. "Can I come in?"
"Seeing as you're already in, go on ahead," Maya said, ceasing her typing to look up at her surrogate father. He and Katy weren't dating anymore, but he still played a vital role in her life. "What's up?"
"Maybe I should be asking you that," Shawn said, taking a seat in her armchair. "Your mother told me that you're reconsidering options for college?"
"I got into three schools, Shawn," Maya reminded him. "There's going to be some debate."
"I thought you were sold on Columbia," Shawn replied.
"Riley got into Julliard," Maya told him. "Full scholarship for dance." She frowned. "Why couldn't I have gotten a full scholarship? That would make my decision so much easier."
"You can still go," Shawn said. "Just apply for a bursary."
"I did, and I've been rejected four times now," Maya sighed, reaching over for the rejection letters on her nightstand. "My financial situation isn't as bad as other applicants, apparently."
"You're working two part-time jobs, Maya. That combined with what your mother can afford to fund your tuition isn't enough. And seeing as your mother won't let me contribute..." Shawn scowled. "I don't see how you could've been rejected."
Maya picked up one of the rejection letters and read it over again. "I can still afford college, Shawn. It's just not a route my mother nor I would like to take."
"And what route is that?" Shawn asked her cautiously.
Maya set the letter back down on the table and looked him in the eye. "My father."
-GMW-
Joshua Matthews sat in his dorm at NYU and looked out at the cityscape. He was in his third year at university but something was still missing. He remembered his weird interaction with Maya Hart the other day. It bothered him that she didn't say anything to him.
"You thinking about something?" his roommate Andrew asked him. Josh and Andrew had known each other for years, ever since Josh's first party at NYU that Riley and Maya had crashed. Thinking about Maya made Josh smile. There was something about that girl that wouldn't quit.
"Not really. I just can't believe that my third year is almost over," Josh replied, trying to play cool.
"Yeah, I mean, I graduate this year. This is kind of huge," Andrew said, grinning back. "Getting that diploma, I can't even imagine the feeling."
"I've still got a couple more years," Josh admitted, knowing that he was in a five-year program instead of a regular four-year one. "But I guess it'll be worth it in the end."
"It will," Andrew promised. "Then, your life really starts."
Josh stared out at the city again, deep in thought. His phone buzzed. He tore his gaze away to look at the new message:
From: Niece
Hey Josh! You coming over for dinner tomorrow night?
Hurriedly typing back a response, Josh told Riley that he was still planning to come over for Auggie's birthday dinner (which was a surprise).
From: Niece
Maya & Lucas are coming too. That's not going to be a problem, right?
Josh rolled his eyes, picked up the phone and called her. "Riley, why would that be a problem?" he asked when she picked up, not bothering to say hello.
"I'm just making sure, because things are out of sorts lately. Maya's not in the greatest place right now, and she just needs you to stay out of it," Riley replied, and there was a scuffle on the other end.
"What do you mean?" Josh asked, confused. "I didn't even butt in!"
"Ignore Riley, you're not the problem, Josh," Maya's voice came through the phone instead. "She's just trying to protect me. Believe me, I don't need any more protecting." The last part, he assumed, was said to Riley.
"Why, what's happening?" Josh asked, concerned.
"She just didn't appreciate running into you unannounced," Riley said again.
"I was just shocked," Maya insisted, and Josh figured he was on speaker now. "I wasn't expecting it."
"Yeah, but I've never seen you not have a comeback of any sort ever," Josh said. "I was worried I did something wrong."
"You didn't," Maya sighed. "I'm sorry it came across like that."
"So I take it you and Howdy are still together?" Josh asked.
"We are," Maya said uncertainly. "And you are interested because...?"
"It's really nothing," Josh tried to cover up his tracks. "I just figured there was tension because Riley asked whether you and Lucas coming tomorrow was going to be a problem."
"It was more of Lucas than Maya," Riley told him. "You're so busy at school nowadays that he's kind of replaced you."
"Excuse me?" Josh managed. He was no longer the cool uncle?
"Yeah, 'cause Lucas is over all the time, he and Auggie have really bonded," Maya admitted. "It's not your fault."
"That's why I wanted to make sure you wouldn't cause trouble," Riley said. "You're not going to get territorial, are you?"
"Why would I?" Josh asked genially, but inside jealousy had begun to burn and spread to the rest of his body. "I'm in the middle of an assignment right now, Riles. I'll see you guys tomorrow?"
"Yeah, see you," Riley said, and hung up. Josh released the fist he hadn't even realized he'd been clenching.
"You all right, man?" Andrew asked uncertainly.
"I'll be fine," he muttered, returning to his photography project. "I'll be fine."
