A/N edit: so I initially posted this chapter and then took it down because I was unsure if this is what I really wanted to do, but I decided it is and I have a plan. Please don't give up on this story yet. Next chapter will be posted soon.

A/N: So this is officially the longest fanfiction I have ever written. And I hope I am not dragging it out, but I have plans and I just love writing Josh and Maya stuff cause they are adorable. Also please don't kill me for this chapter.

Chapter 9: I want to be with you

I told my parents I was going for a drive and then staying at the Matthew's place, so I wasn't technically lying to them, I was afraid they would say no. But I was Maya Hart, the rebel and all, I was going and no one was going to stop me.

I set up my GPS and started my music up and I was on my way. Driving to get out of the city was horrible, but once I was on the open highway it was so freeing. Granted I was nervous, driving by myself for the first time, but everything went as planned.

I didn't leave until about seven, so after one stop to pee at a gas station I arrived at the Matthew's house in Philadelphia around 9. I didn't want to block anyone's car in so I parked on the road and locked the doors. The lights were off in the house, and I didn't see Josh's car in the driveway.

How could I be so stupid? It's a Friday night, of course he wasn't here. I got back in my car hoping nobody saw me and closed my eyes. Where would a Matthew's hang out on a Friday night? Riley told me that her parent's favorite hang out as high-schoolers was gone, and I was at a loss. But I didn't want to wander around Philadelphia in my car as a first time driver so I got out again and walked into the Matthew's backyard. I would wait.

I looked up at the tree house, perfect. I climbed up and sat myself down in that tree house to wait. I wondered if Josh's parents would notice me, but with all the lights off it seemed as though they were already in bed.

I looked at my phone: 9:45. Should I call him? No, yes, maybe, I couldn't decided. I landed on no and continued to wait.

I fell asleep in that tree house when I heard someone saying my name. "Maya?" Josh was on the ground. I looked at my phone 12 am, shit.

"Hi," I said meekly as I crawled my way to the door. "Want to come join me?"

I wasn't going to make this awkward, I was going to talk to him. We needed to talk.

He climbed up and joined me, we sat side by side at the back of the tree house with our legs outstretched, his feet practically out the door. We were too big for this place, but it felt safe to me.

"Hi," I said again. He hadn't spoke since he said my name.

"What are you doing here?" he asked, he was understandably confused. The last time we communicated outside of leaving phone messages was New Year's Eve and now it's three months later, it's awkward to say the least.

"I got my license," I offered, "and you said you wanted to talk."

"I didn't think you would come here," Josh replied. "Happy birthday."

"Thanks," I looked down at my hands, "I can go, it's late and-"

"You're not going anywhere, I need to tell you something, and I miss talking to you." He put one of his hands on mine, and I looked into his eyes.

He was going to kiss me, and everything was going to be better. I knew it, he still liked me and the long game was still happening and it was going to be fine. Better than fine.

I leaned closer to him for a kiss, but he pulled away, "Maya-"

"Oh I see," I started to move toward the exit.

"No, Maya, I need to tell you something, and I need you to listen." I looked him, brow furrowed. What was happening?

"You kept saying you did something stupid on the phone, I thought it was just you being dramatic about New Year's Eve, because if that's the case it's fine I forgive you, we were drunk." I was rambling.

"I was stupid then Maya, but that's not why I need to talk to you, and my stupid actions a month ago led me to my trouble now." Josh was nervous, he didn't want to spit out whatever he wanted to tell me.

"Spit it out Josh, tell me what's bothering you. Did you fail a test? Did you crash a car? Did you start smoking cigarettes? Tell me Josh!" I couldn't take the suspense.

"I got a girl pregnant." What.

"What?" I couldn't breathe or think right now.

"The stupid thing a month ago, I slept with someone. I was angry, I was hurt, it was almost my birthday and I was lonely." Tears were welling up in my eyes.

"No, no, are you- are you sure it's yours?" All my chances with Josh were flying out the window and that's where I wanted to go to.

"Yeah," he looked down. "Maya, I'm so fucked. I don't even love her. We weren't dating, we just had sex once and now she is pregnant with my baby and I don't know what to do." He was crying, and it hurt me to see him like this, but he was killing my heart right now.

I hugged him, and I rested my head on his shoulder has he cried. We stayed like that, not saying a word for what seemed like forever.

"Maya, thank you," he said, looking up from crying.

"For what?" I hadn't done anything, in fact I'm probably the reason all of this was happening in the first place.

"Just for being here and not yelling at me," I smiled.

"Thank you for forgiving me and talking to me," I sighed, "this is really a terrible situation."

He nodded, "I haven't told my parents yet, I haven't told anyone yet."

"Does she want to keep it?" I wasn't against abortion, but I wouldn't choose it for myself.

He nodded.

"Do you want to date her? Do you want to be with the mother of your child?" My tears were gone and I was trying to help him think this through logically. I wanted to be here for him, because even if I couldn't be his girlfriend, I could be a friend. Josh seemed to really need a friend right now.

"I don't know, I don't know, I just- I wish this all never happened." He looked at me, he cupped his hand to my cheek. Perfect fit. "What I really want is to be in New York going to school and being with you. I want to be with you Maya, and it's like the universe is just forcing us apart."

"No one is forcing us apart. I will be with you Josh, you're my friend and my best friend's uncle. I'm not going anywhere," I reassured him, I wouldn't walk away no matter how much this hurt me because I cared for Josh, and I hated seeing him hurt like this.

"No that is not what I mean Maya," he was angry now, or at least becoming angry at the entire situation. "I want to be with you, I don't want to be with her. I didn't want anything with her, I wanted everything with you."

"You have a lot going on and I will support you," fuck this was killing me, I wanted to be with him too. But could I handle the stress of dating someone who had a baby on the way with someone else?"I want to be with you too, but I don't think that would be the best idea."

"But if we both want to be together why shouldn't we be?" he was being irrational, he was stressed beyond the breaking point, no thinking straight.

"I think that's a conversation for another day when we are all thinking straight and your parents know about the baby. When the dust on everything has settled we can definitely revisit that thought." God, I hated being so rational with my emotions, that was definitely not a trait I got from Riley, but the hope that everything was going to work out was from her, and I hated that too.

Josh nodded and yawned, I followed suit. I knew I could leave and walk away from this entire situation It didn't have anything to do with me, but I couldn't leave him. He was my soul mate, at least I wanted him to be and I was willing to find out.

We were both exhausted and we fell asleep in that treehouse together. Little did we know things were about to get really messy and this treehouse might be our last moment of peace and comfort.