Josh Matthews, what are you doing to my head?, Maya thought as she ran a brush through her blonde locks. For the past few weeks, Maya and Josh have been hanging out together more and Josh have been flirting with Maya more. First it was something small and casual like you look nice today. But as the weeks progressed, his flirting was starting to become more oblivious. He kept calling her gorgeous and even though she like being called gorgeous by Josh, she also wondered why he was flirting with her all of a sudden. Last time she saw him, he made perfectly clear that he didn't have a romantic interest in her but now it seems he have changed his mind and always seem to be hitting on her. While her preteenager self would have celebrated about this, she was older and wiser now and she was definitely not going to waste time chasing after a boy who was too old for her and who was going to college pretty soon. She promised herself she would forget about Josh and move on and that was exactly what she intended to do.
After she brush her hair, she put it in a messy ponytail and after staring into the mirror one more time, left her apartment and headed straight to Svorski 's Bakery. Farkle had texted everyone earlier and told them to meet him at the bakery because he had a big announcement. Maya rolled her eyes when she got the text. The boy made everything a big announcement. She remembered when they celebrated Farkle's 700th A. That was awkward. When Maya arrived at the bakery, she saw Farkle waiting at their usual table and headed straight towards him. When Farkle saw Maya approaching, he smiled and gestured to the seat next to him. She gladly sat in it as she waited for Riley and Lucas to arrive. When Riley and Lucas arrived a few minutes later hand in hand, Farkle cleared his voice and started talking. ``As you know, I have called you in for a very important announcement.'', Farkle started off, raising his arms dramatically before putting them down. Lucas and Riley smiled at him while Maya rolled her eyes.
``Farkle, if you're here to tell us that you got an early acceptance to Yale or Harvard or some other Ivy League School, can you tell us now instead so dramatic about it?'', Maya said impatiently, ready to leave. ``Maya, don't be rude.'', Riley said, giving Maya a look. Maya simply rolled her eyes as Farkle continued. ``Now while this news isn't about getting accepted to college at an early age, it's still important. '' As soon as everyone looked at Farkle, he continued, ``This guy'', Farkle said, pointing both his thumbs at himself before continuing, ``got a girlfriend.''
The three friends stayed silent for a few seconds before bursting into applause, congratulating Farkle. ``That's great, buddy.'', Lucas said, clapping his best friend on the back. ``Yeah, I knew you would find a great girl.'', Riley said before nodding her head in approval. ``Does this mean you're finally over Riley and me?'', Maya asked as she looked at Farkle. Farkle nodded. ``Yeah. I mean Riley, you're with Lucas, and Maya, you like someone else, so I moved on.'', Farkle said. ``What do you mean I like someone else?'', Maya said, looking suspiciously at Riley. Riley avoided her gaze and Farkle laughed. ``You didn't think I knew about you still liking Josh?'', Farkle said, pretending to look hurt. Maya rolled her eyes. ``I'm over him okay. And even if I'm not, I'm going to get over him.'', Maya said, defending herself. ``Anyway, tell us more about your girlfriend, Farkle.'', Riley said, trying to lessen the tension by changing the subject. Maya looked gratefully at Riley before turning her attention to Farkle. ``Yeah, Farkle. And just so we know, this is a real girl right? Not a robot you made or a clone of me or Riles?'', Maya said jokily. Farkle rolled his eyes at Maya. ``Actually, it's a girl you all know. Remember Smackle?'', Farkle asked, looking at the group. Lucas and Riley's eyes widened in surprise and Maya almost choked on her bagel. ``YOU'RE DATING SMACKLE?'', everyone said at the same time. They looked at Farkle, trying to see if he was joking. When they saw he was serious, they all looked at each other. ``Farkle, why would you go out with Smackle, your archenemy? I thought you didn't like her.'', Riley said, taking a sip of her lemonade. ``Well, outside of school, we get along really well and I had a lot in common with her and somewhere along the way, I fell for her. Is that so weird?'', Farkle simply replied. Everyone looked at each other again before answering. ``Well, yeah. I mean you're usually so competitive with each other and you know, we never saw this coming.'', Maya said, taking another bite of her bagel. Lucas and Riley nodded in agreement with Maya. ``Well do you approve or not? Because I'm not going out with her if you don't approve of her.'', Farkle stated. The whole group thought about this for a moment before answering. ``Yeah, she seems to care about you a lot and we all know that she loves you too much to ever hurt you.'', Lucas said, turning to Riley and Maya. Riley nodded and Maya gave Farkle a thumbs up. Farkle smled before getting up to hug them all. ``This is a special occasion, so let's celebrate with lemonade and all the sweets you can eat.'', Maya sad, gesturing to a waiter to come over. Riley looked worrily at Maya. ``Maya, we can't afford to eat so much.'', she stated, her voice full of concern. Maya rolled her eyes. ``Riles, your parents are co-owners of this place so I think we can get away with free food.'', Maya said, before looking at the menu in front of her. Riley shook her head, not agreeing with Maya but at that moment, Maya didn't care. Farkle has announced that he had a girlfriend and they should give him a feast of his favorite desserts. ``What will you have?'', the waiter asked as he arrived at their table. They all ordered lemon squares and fruit smoothies. As soon he disappeared, they talked more about how Farkle got together with Smackle. All throughout the conversation, Maya couldn't help but feel left out now since all her friends all were in relationships and she wasn't. She didn't let it show though. She smiled politely while taking bites out of her lemon squares.
May tossed and turned in Riley's bed, trying to fall asleep. She failed and she got out of the bed, trying not to accidently knocked Riley out of her bed. She did that once and Riley wouldn't talk to her for a week.
Maya headed straight to the kitchen to make herself some tea. As the tea was brewing, she headed towards the bay window in the living room and looked out.
She liked watching New York at night. Everyone was asleep except for the few late night workers or people returning home from work or wherever they came from. The city was nice and quiet except for the occasional car honk or police siren.
She got out her sketch book and started to draw. When she was finished, she looked down at what she drew. She drew a bunch of city buildings against a starry night backdrop with a full moon hanging above the apartment buildings. It wasn't as good as her favorite artists but it was good enough for her so she signed her name at the bottom before returning to the kitchen.
When the tea was done brewing, she grabbed a teacup from one of the cabinets and pour herself a cup of tea. Right before she took a sip, someone called out to her. ``Maya, what are you doing up so late?'' Maya turned to see Josh half asleep half-awake leaning against the countertop. His hair was messy and obviously screamed bedhead but he still looked cute to Maya. STOP IT! YOU'RE SUPPOSED TO GET OVER HIM, REMEMBER? AND YOU'RE NOT OVER SOMEONE IF YOU THINK THDEY LOOK CUTE WHEN THEY'RE A SLEEP DEPRIEVED ZOMBIE!, she reminded herself.
``I might ask what you're doing up so early too. You're the only one who has to go to school in a few hours.'', Maya said, smirking. Josh rolled his eyes before heading towards Maya. ``I asked first, Hart.'' he said, standing very close to Maya. Maya felt herself shaking but tried not to show it. ``If you must know Matthews, I couldn't sleep and decided to make some tea.'', Maya said, holding out her cup of tea to show him evidence of the reason she was awake. ``Now what about you?'', she asked, turning the spotlight on him.
He shrugged. ``You know, sometimes I like to get up in the middle of the night just to watch New York sleeping peacefully.'' Maya's mouth dropped open. Maya never thought Josh would rise up out of bed at 2 in the morning to watch New York at night. ``Me too.'', Maya said softly, sipping her tea.
He smiled at her and she smiled back, forgetting her pact of moving on for a second. Then she remembered and tried to get herself together.
``Want some tea?'', Maya asked, holding up her cup of tea. He shook his head before heading to the coffee machine. ``I'm not much of a tea person; I really prefer coffee.'' Maya nods then tries to find something else to talk about. But there wasn't much to talk about. What does a fourteen year old girl discusses with a seventeen year old guy at 2 in the morning while drinking tea and coffee?
The silence between them was comforting and Maya was relieved that there was no awkwardness. They sat at the kitchen table for a while, sipping their tea and coffee respectively.
After a while, the silence becomes uncomfortable and Maya tried to find topics to discuss with Josh. ``So how's the college program?'', Maya asked, really curious of what it was like. Josh thought for a moment before replying. ``It's definitely harder than high school and there are so many rules restriction that it's hard to believe people calls it freedom from the parents. I mean my mom doesn't scream at me if I didn't the paper the exact way it was supposed to be written. The professors are tough and many of them seems to suck your soul out with their eyes.''
Maya laughed at that, trying to imagine what these professors were like. ``Once, my math professor gave me an F on a test because I forgot to show how I solved one problem at my math homework. Freaking one!'', he says, throwing his arms out in front of him for dramatic emphasis.
Maya giggled at Josh's dramatic behavior. He shoots her a look. ``Hey, you're going to be going to college in four to five years so don't laugh. Okay?'', he said, shooting Maya a look. Maya looked down at her hands ashamed. She never thought of going to college.
it seemed to be a waste of time to her. She wanted to travel the world when she graduated high school not go to another school for four more years. ``I don't think I can get into college.'', Maya admited, her voiced laced with embarrassment. Josh lookedat her astonished. ``Are you kidding me Hart? You're one of the smartest people I ever known and trust me I don't know many intelligent people.'' Maya blushed at the comment but brushed it aside. ``Face it Josh. Colleges are looking for the very best. You know people with straight As and many extracurricular activities and did community service. I get straight Ds and the only club I'm in is art and I never done community service. Besides I don't like how they only seem to act like they're a big deal like if you don't get into this college, you're not the best student for any other. You know?'', Maya said, sipping her tea. Josh thought about this for a second then said, ``You know you're right about that. I mean it's hard enough for kids to apply to college but the rejection letters really hurts a person's ego. I mean it's like saying they're not good enough. But there're got to be a school out there for you. Maybe you can go to art school or something?''
Maya shrugged. ``I'm only fourteen and still in middle school. I'll worry about this when I'm a junior in college which isn't for a long time. So moving on, tell me the perks of college.'' Josh then talked about frat parties, more freedom to do whatever you want, you can arrange your schedule so you can go to classes at 10 in the morning and get Fridays off.
Soon they were talking about Maya's summer plans, which consists of hanging out with Riley, Farkle, Lucas, and Smackle doing whatever they felt like. Then the topic changed to random stuff like why modern movies had too much blinding bright colors or what was the point of a flat iron if you barely have time to use it.
They were having such a great time just talking to them that they didn't realize that time flew by fast and that soon it was 7 in the morning and Topanga came into the kitchen to make breakfast before heading to work.
She was surprised to see Maya and Josh were up so early but decided to ask questions later. ``So what do you guys want for breakfast?'', Topanga asked, causing the two teens to jump from their seat and stare at Topanga before turning to see the time on Josh's watch. ``Shoot, I got to head out. I'll just take a banana. '', Josh said, grabbing a banana from the fruit bowl before heading out the door.
Topanga turned her attention to Maya. ``So how long have you and Josh been up?'', she asked, raising her eyebrow. Maya blushed. ``We been up since 2 in the morning.'', she replied sheepishly.
Topanga stared at Maya for a long time before responding. ``And what did you do last night?'' Maya's eyes widened at what Topanga just suggested.
``No, Mrs. Matthews, it wasn't like that. We just talked about college and you know life that's all.'', Maya said; trying to explain to Topanga that nothing happened.
Topanga stared at Maya for a second longer before putting a plate of chocolate chip pancakes in front of Maya. ``After breakfast, I want you to head straight to bed and get some sleep. You look tired.'', Topanga said, her voice full of concern.
Maya was like a second daughter to Topanga so she made sure Maya was well cared of. ``Will do, Mrs. Matthews.'', Maya said, stuffing the pancakes in her mouth before heading to Riley's room to get some sleep.
Topanga simply stared at Maya as she exited the kitchen, a smirk on her face. She and Josh would make a cute couple, Topanga thought before making herself some coffee and heading straight out the door to get to work.