Chapter 7

Corey, Shawn, Topanga, and Josh were all sitting at a booth at Topanga's. Corey and Josh were on one side of the booth and Topanga and Shawn on the other side. The group sat silently. Josh was looking down while Shawn was staring intently at him.

"So you want to date Maya?" Shawn asked, finally breaking the silence.

"Yes. I do," Josh said looking up to meet Shawn's stare.

"Now, why would a 19 year old guy want to date a 16 year old girl?" Shawn asked.

"Because I love her. I'm crazy about her and I get along better with her than I ever have any girl my own age. Our age doesn't matter," Josh replied.

"She's living a whole different life than the one you are, Josh. You're in college and she's still in high school. She still has so many milestones in her life that she needs to go through that you have already done," Shawn said.

"I know. I get that and I'm not going to hold her back from anything. I want her to be the best at whatever it is that she wants to do. I want her to live her life to the fullest and experience everything that the world has to offer her. I promise I'm not going to stand in her way. I'm going to stand right beside her and help and support her in everything that she does," Josh said.

"Do you really love her, Josh?" Corey asked looking at Josh.

"I do," Josh nodded.

"Does she love you?" Shawn asked.

"Yeah, she does," Josh said.

"But how can you know? She's only 16. How can a girl who's 16 be in love?" Shawn asked.

"The same way two kids playing on the monkey bars can fall in love and end up getting married some day," Topanga said looking at Corey.

"But you two are different. You're freaks," Shawn said.

"Well, maybe Maya and I are different," Josh said.

Shawn sighed and stayed silent for a few minutes.

"You know, Josh, I still remember when you were born," Corey said.

"You do?" Josh asked.

"Yeah, I think we all do. You were born six weeks early and had to be put in the ICU because you were having respiratory problems. The doctors didn't even think you would make it but by some miracle you did. Even as a baby, you had the will to live. God saved you for a reason and I always knew that you were going to make a difference in our lives in one way or another. Maya is really special to us, Josh. She's been like a daughter to all of us. Life has hurt her more than anyone should ever be hurt and we just want to make sure she doesn't get hurt but I trust you. I would trust you with my life and I trust you with her but it's not my decision that matters," Corey said.

"She won't get hurt with me. At least not if I can help it. That's the last thing I would ever want to happen. She's special to me too," Josh said now looking at Shawn.

"Alright. Let's go," Shawn said as he stood up from the table and walked out of Topanga's. Corey, Josh and Topanga followed him out and the group walked back to the apartment.