Disclaimer: I do not own Girl Meets World or any of the characters

Chapter 8

"So he got you that necklace for Christmas?" Riley asked, nodding her head at the heart shaped necklace around her best friend's neck.

"Yeah," Maya nodded and rested a hand on the heart. "I love that it has a little gem with my birthstone on it."

"He did a good job," Riley smiled. She knew her uncle had been looking for the perfect gift and she saw that he had succeeded. The necklace was absolutely gorgeous and looked like it belonged around Maya's neck.

"He did a great job," Maya smiled wide. "So, New Year's Eve is coming up now."

"Do you want to do a party?" Riley asked, raising an eyebrow at her best friend. She crossed her legs underneath her and rested her back against the wall of the bay window.

"I think we should," Maya said. "We haven't had a party on the roof in a really long time and it will be nice to celebrate with Josh and all my best friends. This is the first year that I am actually excited about bringing in the New Year."

"He isn't doing anything with his friends?" Riley asked. She knew that he had a lot of friends and was wondering how that might factor into the night.

"No," Maya shook her head. "A bunch of them went home for the holidays and won't be back by then."

"Then I say we do it," Riley nodded. "A small party with the ones who matter most."

"And we can invite a few of our classmates," Maya suggested. They had a couple of friends that weren't in their immediate group that would be fun to invite to the party. It would be a nice last party before they all graduated and went their separate ways for college.

"Sounds perfect," Riley agreed.

"You know what else sounds perfect?" Maya asked, an excited glimmer sparkling in her eyes.

"What?" Riley scrunched her eyebrows together. She knew that just about anything could sound perfect to her best friend.

"A milkshake!" Maya exclaimed.

"Seriously?" Riley laughed. "It's like ten degrees outside and you want a milkshake?"

"I can't help the cravings that my body force upon me," Maya shrugged innocently.

"You are something else Peaches," Riley chuckled and then stood up from the bay window. "Lead the way to milkshakes."

"You really are the best friend ever," Maya smiled at the brunette. She looped her arm through hers and guided the two of them out of the bedroom.

. .GIRLMEETSWORLD.

"Aw, you put the picture of the two of us in a frame," Maya gushed as she sat down on the computer chair in Josh's dorm room. He looked over from where he was standing in the doorway and smirked.

"I told you that I was going to," Josh said.

"It's sweet," Maya smiled at him. He walked over and dropped onto his bed, right next to where she was sitting.

"Well you look beautiful in it," Josh said. "It brightens my dorm room."

"You are so cheesy," Maya teased but couldn't help the pink blush that filled her cheeks. She lifted her feet up onto the chair and wrapped her arms around her thighs. "So, are you good with the New Year's Eve plans?"

"Yeah," Josh nodded. "That sounds like fun to me."

"If there are any friends that you want to invite then you are more than welcome to," Maya said. She didn't want her boyfriend to feel like he had to only hang out with her friends. She wanted him to feel comfortable and have whoever he wanted around as they brought in the New Year.

"Connor might be back in town by then so I will see if he is around," Josh said.

"Cool," Maya nodded. "As long as he doesn't bring those awful girls."

"He won't," Josh laughed. "If he brings anyone, it will be Amanda and she is much better when she's alone."

"As long as Elizabeth isn't there," Maya shuttered and then rolled her eyes. Josh nudged her leg with his foot and she looked up at him.

"We've already talked about her," Josh said. "Nothing ever happened with her. She liked me but I never felt the same way about her."

"Was there ever anyone else?" Maya hesitantly asked. The two never really talked about their time apart during their long game. It was something that they would have to address eventually but she always dreaded hearing about the women he dated. She wasn't sure it would be something she would ever be ready to talk about.

"No," Josh shook his head.

"Really?" Maya widened her eyes in surprise.

"Did you think I dated someone else?" Josh asked, raising an eyebrow at her.

"I didn't think that you would stay single for the three years we waited," Maya admitted. "I was sure you would date and put yourself out there."

"I went on a date once because my friends set it up but nothing ever came of it," Josh confessed. "Every time I looked at her or tried to think of a possible future with her, all I could think of was you."

"Josh," Maya whispered.

"I thought of calling off this long game so long ago but I wanted to give you the chance to find yourself," Josh explained. "I wanted you to know what you wanted and have the chance to date anyone you wanted."

"I never dated anyone," Maya said.

"What?" Josh widened his eyes. It was his turn to be surprised by her confession.

"I stayed single the entire three years," Maya admitted. "I never dated or was with any other guys. I waited for you."

"Wow," Josh whispered.

"Like I told you at the ski lodge, it's you Josh. It's always been you," Maya said.

"I feel like an idiot for waiting so long," Josh sighed.

"Don't," Maya shook her head. "In a way this was good. We were able to grow apart and now we can grow together. We know now that there is no one else in the world for us and that this is something real and special."

"I love you," Josh said. He reached out a hand and pulled Maya onto the bed with him. She let out a shriek and then giggled when he flipped them so that he was hovering over her. He leaned down and placed a sweet kiss on her lips. It was a kiss that sent fireworks and chills from her heart to her toes. He pulled back and then brushed his thumb underneath her eye, smiling softly at her.

"I love you too," Maya whispered. She kissed him once more and then flipped it so that he was lying right next to her. She cuddled into his side and rested her head on his chest, listening to his heartbeat. It was comforting and she knew it was beating so loudly right now for her.

. .GIRLMEETSWORLD.

"Sit," Riley pointed to the spot on the bay window and then placed her hands on her hips. Josh looked at her like she was insane but took a seat at the bay window any way.

"What is going on right now?" Josh asked.

"Hush!" Riley pretended to zip her lips shut and he raised an amused eyebrow. He decided to play along and pretended to zip his lips along with her. "So you are now dating my best friend."

"What?" Josh laughed.

"Uncle Josh!" Riley exclaimed.

"Right sorry," Josh zipped his lips again and laughed. He placed his hands in his lap and waited for her to continue.

"As I was saying," Riley said and then shot him a look. "Maya is my best friend in the world and an incredibly special person. She doesn't always see it but everyone who loves her does. If you hurt her, I swear you will regret it. I may be happy all the time but not when it comes to a hurt Maya. She deserves to be happy and she really loves you. Don't hurt her, Uncle Josh."

"Can I say something now?" Josh asked.

"Yes you may," Riley nodded and then walked to sit with him.

"I am completely and utterly in love with Maya. I have never felt this way about any other person in the world. All I want in the world is to see her happy and I intend to make her happy for a long time. I promise I won't hurt her. Seeing her hurt kills me and I would never want to see her that way," Josh explained.

"You really love her?" Riley asked. She could see it in his eyes that he really did. She had been around true love her entire life and she was in love herself so she knew what it looked like. Seeing the way that Josh talked about Maya, she knew that was real love. The adult, forever kind of love.

"More than anything Riley," Josh promised.

"Then my job is done here," Riley smiled.

"You can be pretty intimidating when you want to be," Josh said.

"I channeled my inner Lucas," Riley laughed. He laughed along with her and shook his head. He really loved his niece.

. .GIRLMEETSWORLD.

"You should invite Josh to movie night," Farkle suggested.

"What?" Maya raised an eyebrow and then closed her locker.

"Yeah," Riley agreed. "This Friday, he should come to our Friday night movie night."

"Are you guys sure?" Maya asked.

"Why wouldn't we be?" Smackle asked, leaning against one of the lockers.

"Because that is our tradition," Maya said.

"But Josh is your boyfriend now which means he is included in these kind of things," Lucas said.

"Josh is officially a part of our group," Zay added.

"Just like any girl Zay decides to date in the future," Riley teased her friend.

"Nice try sunshine," Zay smirked in her direction.

"What's going on?" Maya asked, looking between the two of them.

"Riley thinks Zay has a girlfriend," Lucas explained.

"Why would you think that?" Smackle asked.

"Have none of you noticed a change in him?" Riley asked.

"No," Farkle shook his head. "He's as weird as he usually is."

"Thanks dude," Zay rolled his eyes.

"I'm tell you, Zay has a girlfriend!" Riley exclaimed.

"Keep telling yourself that sunshine," Zay smirked.

"So, what do you say?" Lucas asked Maya. "Invite Josh?"

"Sure," Maya nodded. "I will see if he wants to come."

"Sweet!" Zay exclaimed. Maya smiled to herself and looked at her best friends as they jumped into another conversation. She loved how much they accepted Josh and how they wanted to include him in their group. She felt like everything in her life was finally falling together. She was finally happy.

. .GIRLMEETSWORLD.

"Have you started thinking about colleges?" Josh asked, lacing his fingers through Maya's. The two were walking to Riley's apartment that Friday night for movie and pizza night.

"What?" Maya looked up at him and shot him a confused look.

"Well you are a senior," Josh said. "It's around the time that seniors usually start making college decisions."

"Oh yeah," Maya nodded and then looked down.

"What's wrong?" Josh asked, squeezing her hand.

"I'm just not sure what I want to do for college," Maya explained.

"Do you not want to go?" Josh asked.

"I want to go," Maya said.

"Then what's the problem?" Josh asked.

"I actually wanted to talk to you about all of this," Maya said. Josh stopped the two of them when they got right outside of Riley's apartment building and pulled them over to the side.

"What is it?" Josh asked.

"I have been thinking a lot about what I want to do for college and where I want to go. I have been thinking about the best school for my future in art and just where I see myself in the future," Maya explained.

"And?" Josh asked.

"How would you feel if I went to NYU with you?" Maya asked, letting the question linger. She saw Josh stare at her in clear surprise and she bit her lip. As she waited for his answer, she felt some doubt creep up in her stomach. Was he going to think that they were moving too fast? Would this be too big of a step in their relationship for him?