Disclaimer: I do not own Girl Meets World or any of the characters
Chapter 8
Maya was sitting on the couch and holding a mug of hot coffee in her hands. She blinked a couple of times and lifted the blanket over her legs to keep herself warm. She all of a sudden felt really cold. She was shaking but the hot beverage in her hands was doing an awful job at keeping her warm. She reached over to the side table and grabbed the frame that held a picture of her and Aaron. He was about two years old in the picture and he was smiling wide. He was always the happiest little boy in the world. His smile could light up a room. Every time he smiled, he looked more and more like his dad.
She winced as she thought about his dad. After she told Josh that she never completely moved on from him, he completely blanked. He just stared at her and seemed completely lost for words. He was staring at her like he had never seen her before in his life. He made some quick excuse about needing to be home and then quickly rushed out of the apartment. Maya watched as he went and felt her stomach drop. Everything was going to be awkward between them now. It was going to be difficult for the two of them to not be awkward around each other now.
"I'm here!" Riley rushed into the apartment and Maya winced slightly as the apartment door slammed shut behind her. The noise seemed to startle Riley too because she winced and then smiled apologetically at her best friend. "Sorry."
"It's okay," Maya shrugged. She placed the mug on the table as Riley walked over and took a seat with her.
"What's going on?" Riley asked, raising an eyebrow at her best friend. "Are you sick? You look a lot paler than usual."
"Do I?" Maya asked and then rested her hands on her cheeks. They felt cold to her.
"What's going on?" Riley asked and then she widened her eyes. "Did something happen to Aaron?"
"No," Maya shook her head. "Aaron is perfect as always."
"Is it Aaron's dad?" Riley asked, knowing that this must be what was upsetting her best friend.
"I messed up," Maya sighed.
"What did you do?" Riley asked. "Is this still about you not telling him about Aaron?"
"No it's not that," Maya said. "I sort of gave him the impression that I'm still in love with him."
"How did you do that?" Riley widened her eyes. She knew that Maya had always been in love with Josh but she was surprised that she told Josh that.
"I told him that I've never fully moved on from him," Maya said.
"You did what?" Riley asked. "Why would you do that?"
"We were talking about marriage and stuff and he told me that he always thought we would be married. I said he couldn't say that kind of stuff and then he asked me if I still had feelings for him," Maya explained. "He said he needed closure so that he could completely be with Kaylie."
"He's engaged though," Riley scrunched her eyebrows together. "How is that not being with her completely?"
"He told me that he can't set a wedding date," Maya said. "He said that he has always had a hard time fully giving himself to Kaylie because of me."
"Oh," Riley mumbled.
"What do I do?" Maya asked. Her face and tone both expressed the same emotion, desperation for help.
"What do you want to do?" Riley asked. "Do you want to fight for Josh? Do you still want to be with him?"
"I can't ruin his relationship," Maya sighed. "After all I've done to him already, it would be so selfish of me to just come in and ruin his relationship."
"Does he know about?" Riley asked, raising an eyebrow instead of finishing her statement. She saw the look on Maya's face and knew that her best friend knew exactly what she was talking about.
"No," Maya quickly shook her head. "I don't know how he would."
"Are you going to tell him?" Riley asked.
"I don't know," Maya shrugged. "I really don't."
. .GIRLMEETSWORLD.
"Hi daddy!" Aaron waved as he rushed down the steps from school. He quickly ran forward and threw his arms around Josh.
"Hey buddy," Josh smiled.
"What are you doing here?" Aaron asked. "Where's momma?"
"I'm picking you up from school today," Josh said. "Your mom thought it would be fun."
"Cool!" Aaron exclaimed. Josh squatted down in front of his son and smiled at him.
"What do you want to do?" Josh asked. "Do you want to go to the park?"
"Yay!" Aaron cheered. Josh smiled at his son and stood up before reaching out to grab his hand. Aaron quickly grabbed on and walked in pace with his dad, chattering about his day. Aaron's eyes got wide when he saw the park and he quickly rushed towards the slide.
"Be careful!" Josh called out. He grabbed his son's backpack that he tossed on the ground and walked to sit on a bench near the playset.
Josh watched his son slide down the slide and then laugh as he ran to do it again. It brought a smile to his face because he looked so happy and carefree. Josh remembered being that age. He remembered having no cares in the world and enjoying the beauty of the world. Aaron seemed so pure and innocent. He didn't need to snap a picture on his phone because this was a moment he would always remember in his mind. This was something he would never forget. His son looked like he was on top of the world.
As he watched Aaron play on the swing set, his mind wandered off to Maya. He had been unable to get the blonde out of his mind since their previous conversation. She had never fully moved on from him. Did that mean he was the last guy she ever dated? Had there been no other men in her life since their break-up five years ago? What did this mean? Did she want to be with him again? Was she going to try and ruin his relationship with Kaylie? He had to stop himself from thinking about it any further. All of these questions were making him dizzy and confusing him.
He loved Kaylie. He really did. He loved her with all of his heart and wanted to be with her. She was kind, sweet, beautiful, driven, and just an all-around good person. She made him laugh without even trying and made the bad days seem not so unbearable. He always felt a little resistant though. There was always a part of him that compared her to Maya. He didn't mean to do it but he just couldn't stop himself from going there. Maya was such a big part of his life and someone he knew he would always love. Now, looking at Aaron, he knew that there was a part of his relationship with Maya that would never truly be over. They created something that made their love deeper than they thought possible.
"Daddy!" Aaron cried. He snapped out of his thoughts and looked over, his heart racing in panic at the sight. Aaron was lying on the floor and had tears running down his face. He quickly stood up and rushed over to where he was.
"Aaron!" Josh dropped to his knees by Aaron's side and placed a hand on the little boy's arm. "What happened? Are you okay?"
"I fell off the slide," Aaron whimpered. Josh inspected his son and for the most part he seemed okay. Then he noticed a scratch on his knee and blood running down his leg.
"Oh buddy," Josh made a face and helped his son sit up.
"It hurts daddy," Aaron brushed away a tear and then looked up at his dad. His eyes were full of tears and his face was one of pure misery.
"How about we go get you cleaned up and a Band-Aid?" Josh suggested.
"Okay," Aaron agreed. Josh lifted his son into his arms and then stood up with him. He took him to one of the public bathrooms and sat him on the sink.
"You know," Josh said as he damped a paper towel and gently started to clean the scratch. "I think you're going to be okay."
"Really?" Aaron whispered.
"Oh yeah," Josh nodded. He took a Band-Aid out of his pocket and gently placed it over the cut. "See, all better."
"Thanks daddy," Aaron smiled. Josh reached out and brushed the remaining tears off of Aaron's face before smiling at him.
"You know when I was little I fell and got a scratch on my leg too," Josh said.
"Really?" Aaron widened his eyes.
"Yup," Josh nodded. "It was bleeding and I cried so much."
"Did you get a Band-Aid?" Aaron asked, looking down at his own leg.
"I did," Josh said. "My daddy fixed my leg just like I did for you."
"What did he do after he put the Band-Aid on your leg?" Aaron asked.
"He took me for ice-cream," Josh smiled.
"Can we get ice-cream?" Aaron asked, his eyes wide and a smile on his face.
"What's your favorite flavor?" Josh asked.
"Chocolate with sprinkles!" Aaron cheered.
"Then a scoop of chocolate ice cream with lots of sprinkles coming up," Josh said. Aaron clapped his hands and threw his arms around Josh's shoulders.
"Let's go!" Aaron pointed towards the door. Josh lifted his son up in his arms and carried him in the direction of the exit. He smiled at the excited look on the little boy's face. He could definitely get used to moments like this.
. .GIRLMEETSWORLD.
"Here you go," Farkle said. Maya accepted the mug he was holding and smiled at him.
"Thanks Farkle," Maya said.
"When is little man going to be home?" Zay asked.
"Before dinner," Maya said. "Josh texted me that they were getting ice cream and then he would be back."
"The two of them seem to be getting along really well," Smackle said.
"They seem like best friends," Riley added.
"They are," Maya smiled. "Aaron has really taken to him."
"And how about you? Do you still like having Josh around?" Lucas asked.
"I don't really have a choice," Maya said. "It's nice having him here though. Especially seeing how great he is with Aaron."
"What's his fiancée like?" Smackle asked.
"She seems really nice from that short conversation I had with her," Maya said and then took a sip of her coffee. "I think Josh said she works at the hospital. As like a nurse or something."
"So she's a good person," Zay raised an eyebrow.
"Apparently," Maya rolled her eyes.
"I bet she doesn't have your sassy, rebellious nature though," Lucas smirked.
"I don't think anyone has Maya's rebellious side," Riley laughed. "She is one of a kind."
"Hey!" Maya protested. "I have mellowed out since I had Aaron. I don't break the rules anymore."
"Now you make the rules," Farkle laughed.
"What can I say?" Maya shrugged and then smiled. "Motherhood has changed me for the best."
"That it has," Riley agreed. "Even though you were pretty amazing before."
"You have to say that," Maya smirked. "You are my best friend."
"I don't have to say anything," Riley insisted.
"Speaking of dating," Smackle added.
"No one was talking about dating," Farkle said and raised an eyebrow at his girlfriend.
"I know," Smackle shrugged. "I just wanted to ask Maya if she has any interest in it."
"Jeez Smackle," Maya raised an eyebrow. "Way to single a girl out."
"I'm kind of curious too," Lucas chimed in.
"Huckleberry!" Maya shot him a look and he shrugged.
"It's been a while since you've been on a date," Lucas said.
"You make me sound like a prude," Maya said.
"Not a prude," Zay said. "We are just concerned friends."
"Yeah," Farkle nodded. "It can't be easy seeing all of us in relationships."
"We only want what's best for you and Aaron," Riley said.
"This feels like an intervention," Maya raised an eyebrow.
"Who is the last person you dated?" Farkle asked.
"You know who the last person I dated was," Maya said.
"Was it really him?" Lucas asked.
"Yes," Maya nodded.
"Alright," Riley said as she noticed Maya starting to get uncomfortable by the conversation. "Maybe we should change the subject."
"Yeah," Smackle agreed. "The two of them have clearly moved past it so there is no need to talk about it anymore."
"It's okay," Maya insisted. "It wasn't even a bad break-up. The two of us are still best friends."
"True," Farkle nodded.
"I'm really the last person you dated?" Zay finally asked.
"Yes, Zay. You were really the last person I ever dated," Maya said. It was at that exact moment she looked up and saw Josh standing in the doorway with Aaron. She hadn't even heard the front door open and by the looks on her friends' faces, they hadn't either. She wondered if he heard their conversation. She looked at his face and by the look he was giving her, it was obvious he had. Josh heard every word.
