A/N: Hello all! After some serious writer's block and trying to find time to finish chapters, i'm back! I'm sorry for taking so long but I appreciate all of the feedback and support that everyone has shown this story. I adore Maya and Josh, and I don't want to give up on this story. Once again, a sincere thank you to all of you who continue to support me as well as this story!
Disclaimer: I do not own Girl Meets World
The voice was familiar, and when Josh turned around to look, he saw the silhouette of a girl sitting on the bench near the door to 8th and Common; She got up off of the bench, walking toward Josh.
Josh knew who it was before she even stood up.
It felt like forever since he'd last seen his niece.
He observed Riley, seeing the maturity in her eyes, she wasn't his kid niece anymore.
"How long have you been here, Riley?" He asked.
"Long enough to witness that entire mess that just happened." She met Josh's eyes, all seriousness in her tone. "What are you doing Uncle Josh?"
"I have a girlfriend...Riles." He felt like saying that made him feel like all should be excused and forgiven, but it wasn't that simple.
"Yeah, who's not Maya." Josh furrowed his brows, listening to his niece; her mentality was still wise beyond her years.
"The girlfriend after her won't be Maya, and the one after that won't be Maya...none of them will ever be Maya if you don't tell her how you really feel." She placed a comforting hand on her uncle Josh's shoulder.
"Sometimes, destiny puts us in situations that could give us the moment we've been praying for, she's here Uncle Josh...after four years. Maya's back." Riley said to Josh, and she was right.
"Relationships always tend to complicate things, and i care about her way too much to lose her, Riles." Riley shook her head, history finding it's way back to them.
"Now who's protecting who?" She folded her arms across her chest, Josh furrowed his brows, a little puzzled.
"You're so afraid of losing her, you're afraid to take a chance." Riley inhaled sharply, chin up. "I'm going to go talk to Maya, if that's okay...what's her dorm number?"
Josh didn't react how Riley expected him to, He knew Maya and Riley were no longer the same Riley and Maya from beyond the four years that had passed, they weren't the same Riley and Maya from childhood.
He also knew it was taking a lot of courage for Riley to convince herself to go speak to Maya, and he couldn't help but assume he was the reason why she wanted to. "Her residency number is 201. What are you going to say to her?"
Riley took off in the direction of campus; "Not sure yet." She said, walking further and further away from Josh.
Josh inhaled, raking a hand through his hair like he did anytime he was frustrated. He really screwed up this time.
Riley wasn't listening to anything rational her mind was trying to tell her at this point in time, her heart told her she needed to talk to Maya, not only for her uncle but to try to mend how broken their friendship truly was.
Maya fumbled with her keys, trying to get into her dorm. As much as she hated to admit it, she was a wreck.
Four years or not, Maya's heart always held hope that they would finish the long game.
Maya transferring to NYU seemed like it was the Universe's way of throwing her and Josh back into orbit together...but maybe she was wrong.
She finally got the door open, hurrying inside; she shut the door and sat on her bed keeping her composure as best as she could.
She needed to pull herself together before Ronny came home.
A light knock sounded at the door, startling Maya somewhat. Maya pushed herself up off the bed, and answered the door.
She stopped breathing for a minute as she processed who she was now face to face with.
Her mouth was slightly agape, unsure of what to say, or what to do.
"Hi Maya, can we talk?" A small flame ignited in Maya's chest...after four years of disintegrating contact, Riley Matthews was standing in her door way.
What did they possibly have to talk about? Maya held the door open a little wider, nodding for Riley to step inside.
Riley shut the door behind her, but before she could turn back around she felt the bitter lash.
"What are you doing here Riley? What could we possibly have to talk about?" Maya paced the room, and Riley stood with her back against the doorway.
Maybe this wasn't such a good idea, but she was already in too deep now. "I need to talk to you about Josh."
Maya scoffed, shaking her head and folding her arms across her chest. "He's the last person i want to talk about."
Riley nodded, pausing before she began again, hoping to let Maya blow off a little bit of the steam. "I witnessed what happened between the two of you tonight outside of 8th and Common. He was a total idiot for that, but that doesn't mean you should do anything out of spite."
Maya shrugged; "I'm not doing anything out of spite, Josh made it clear to me tonight that it was time to move on..." Maya sat on the edge of her bed, the tears clouding her vision.
"I don't understand why this hurts so bad...when he was never even really mine." the tears fell, and Riley couldn't help herself; she went to her old friends aid, wrapping her arms around her shoulders.
Maya didn't fight it, she hugged back with no hesitation. The pain was real. Maya's pain hurt Riley, that's one thing that clearly hadn't changed.
"You love him, right?" Riley said softly, ending the hug to focus on Maya.
Maya looked at Riley, nodding her head slowly. "You know I love him, I always have."
Riley nodded. "I know, but have you ever told Josh? I mean really told him?" Maya was shutting down again, Riley saw it in her face.
"It doesn't matter anymore Riley." The conversation was cut short when Maya's phone rang.
She pulled it out of her back pocket, a little hesitant on answering it at first. "Hey, Ashton...what's up?"
Riley mentally rolled her eyes, This guy wastes no time, way to go uncle Josh.
"Do I want to go out to dinner on Friday?" Maya's eyes met Rileys, and Riley had no problem mouthing the word No.
Maya didn't need much time to convince herself. "Friday sounds good Ashton, 7pm?" She smiled.
Riley couldn't really hear much on his end, but from the looks of it Maya was going to dinner with Ashton Friday night.
This is going to be a tough situation to get back from Uncle Josh.
A/N: Annd, that's a wrap! You may have come across a few spelling and grammar errors, i apologize for those, I'm very tired. I hope you all enjoyed this chapter. I'm trying my best to brainstorm and pre-write chapters that way i don't get stuck. It's also all about time for me, and when i can find it. I don't want to leave you guys hanging, I'm so sorry it took so long. I'd appreciate some feedback from you all, tell me what you think, how i'm doing, how angry you are at me for taking so long...ya know. lol
