Hey people. I can't apologize enough for not updating, there really is no excuse, I just had major writer's block. But hey, I'm still alive. :) I thought of this concept and I love it. I hope you laugh and smile and feel as much as I did when writing this one. Enjoy!

Maybe it was when Maya smiled.

Maybe it was when she made him laugh so hard she couldn't breathe.

Maybe it was the time he didn't know what to do with her thoughts at the moment. Whenever she laughed, he wanted her to laugh more. Whenever she talked to him, he wanted her to keep talking. But those were just feelings. Were they?

Or maybe it was when they caught a bunch of Auggie's middle school friends playing truth or dare.

They were looking through the old time capsule on the couch in the living room while the kids were in Auggie's room playing games, Josh supervising them, and Corey and Topanga went to Katy and Shawn's so all four of them could pick up Auggie's surprise.

"Even if I wasn't there when you guys did this, I will so see all this." Zay laughed as Lucas shoved him.

Maya took out the picture of her, Katy, and Shawn. "Wow. Hope is for suckers. I remember that used to always go through my mind. Hope. It's what I have a little bit of now." She looked up and saw Zay and Riley on the verge of tears.

"Stop. Oh my god, really. Don't you dare cry. C'mon, don't. I was being all squishy and sentimental for one second. And you guys are acting like someone just proposed or something. I swear, when something actually worth crying over happens, I will give you the tissues." Maya sat back down and stuck her tongue out.

"I will try not to be sappy. For your being, Maya." He tipped his imaginary hat.

As Lucas took the paper from the box, his smile reached his eyes. "Ah, this is my transfer paper to New York from Texas. This paper is one of the best things that I have, because it gave me you guys, and I couldn't ask for anything better. I'm glad we are still us, still together. And I guess I got a brand new one?" Lucas reached behind his back and pulled out a large white envelope. In big bold blue letters, was 'Columbia University.'

Zay pulled out a mini confetti popper and popped it, the lame pieces of small streamers making the only sound in the room.

But soon Riley jumped up and clapped. "Isn't that wonderful? Veterinarian! Vet to the max! Congratulations!"

Farkle patted Lucas on the shoulder, "Mr. Freakface over here has officially registered to be my roommate. As always, he has to go and pump his muscles on animal care this time. Lame. Call me when you take over the world, that's when I'll be proud of you."

Everyone turned to Maya, who had an amused look on her face as she crossed her arms. Out of nowhere, her strong laughter took up the air. When she was done, everyone's faces were filled with horror, looking at her like she lost her mind.

Maya sat up, poise, and opened her mouth to speak.

Zay shrieked, "Take cover!" All of a sudden, Zay and Lucas dove to the ground, scampering behind the couch. Riley and Farkle held up the pillows over themselves.

"Why do guys think I'll be mad? What do you think I'm gonna do to-"

Synchronized, everybody peeked out and chimed in, "Kill him."

Maya pointed her finger in the air. "Ok, first of all, unless you said he wants to be a vet for some stupid reason, I wouldn't kill him."

Slowly, everybody started coming back out of hiding.

Just to mess with all of them, she added something extra. "I mean, I won't kill him, yet."

Lucas shuddered.

"Second of all, come out of your shelters."

When everybody went back to their seats, Maya continued.

"Don't expect me to say anything nicer than this." Even if she would never admit it never in a million years, Maya was truly happy that he followed his dreams.

Maya gave Lucas her best genuine smile. "I am proud of you, Lucas."

Zay gasped, "His name. You said his name. His actual name. Milestones people, this is a true moment right here."

The way she said his name, the way she smiled, the way she could say words with so much authenticity was what made him feel like his heart was racing out of his body and it wouldn't seem to come back.

"Thank you, Maya. It means a lot to me for you to say that. But, I need someone to help me pack up and move into Farkle's dorm. Zay or Maya?" He looked to the two of them.

Zay yanked out his phone from his back pocket and put it to his ear. "Oh. what's this? I just don't want to? Oh, well, thanks universe, you know me so well. What's that? Maya should do it? Oh, yeah I think that would be the best too. Okay, see you on the flipside, universe. Yeah, love you too." he tucked his phone back in his pocket.

"What? How come either me or Zay? Why not Riley? Or your roomie, Farkle? I mean it's not like they are going anywhere, how come-" Lucas put his hand over her mouth and gave her an apologetic smile,and that one look that says 'I'm-sorry-I-had-to-do-this-but-you'll-understand-later.'

"Hey Farkle, why don't you pull out your thing before Maya bites me. Please." Lucas removed his saliva-filled hand form Maya's mouth, Maya already punching his arm.

Farkle smiled as he pulled out his orange turtleneck.

"My fashion trends were always great." Farkle lightly laughed but still sniffled.

Riley reached into the box and scooped up her Pluto ball, then she snuggled under Farkle's arm, tears slowly coming down her cheeks.

"Pluto will always be a planet to me. I will always love you. Forget Mars. You and me, Pluto. What do you think?" Farkle smiled and sat up. He looked at Riley with intent and used his thumb to wipe away her tears.

"You and me. Pluto." Riley looked at him as if they were the only two people in the universe.

That was the look that made Maya shiver.

"Well, as far as I know, NASA isn't currently giving tickets to Pluto. So, how about Hawaii instead?" Farkle opened his jacket pocket and pulled out two plane tickets.

"Hawaii? As in paradise? As in beaches and palm

trees and just us? As in rainbows and sunshine for just the two of us?" Riley's facial expression was as if she found out she won a prize.

"I'm not sure about rainbows, but all the sunshine in the world for you. These tickets are for New Years."

Riley turned her head to Maya, Lucas, and Zay. "Did you hear that? Did those words just come out of Farkle's mouth? We are leaving in a week?" Riley threw her arms around Farkle, practically strangling him.

"Yeah, ew, no. I'm not here for the snuggle-bunny show. I'm gonna check in on Auggie." Maya walked away from the couch, going for Auggie's room.

As she went down the hallway, she saw Josh, standing by the door, arms crossed and eyebrows furrowed.

Just as she was going to open the door, Josh grabbed her arm, and put his finger over his lips. "Shhh. They asked me to step out for their secret game."

Maya put her ear to the door, hearing giggles and whispers.

She whisper-yelled to Josh, "I'm going in."

Josh shook his head back and forth. "You shouldn't."

"Oh, but I think I should."

"No."

"Totally."

While the two were both leaning against the door, debating about whether or not to go in, they leaned to hard and accidently pushed the door open, both falling flat on the ground.

The kids remained sitting in their circle, slightly startled that the two came into the room.

Josh quickly stood back up and dusted himself off, trying to play it cool, as if he never fell. He looked down at Maya who quietly laughed to herself. Josh offered his hand to her, and she took it, but as she began standing up, she put her foot out to trip him. He fell again making Maya laugh hard again, including the kids. It made her laugh so hard, she felt like she couldn't breathe. Instead of offering her hand, she plopped right down in the circle, next to Auggie, and half-hugged him.

"What are you ladies and gentlemen doing here?"

Ava, who was next to Auggie, whispered in Auggie's ear, "Should we tell her? She's a grownup, I don't think she'll be cool about it."

Maya pretended to look utterly offended. "Me? You see, you guys can tell me anything. I'm real cool. Don't worry about me, but him?" Maya pointed to Josh, who squeezed himself next to Ava and Maya. "Yeah, you shouldn't tell him, he's not that cool. He's-" Maya shot Josh a devious look. "He's old. He's really not cool."

Josh displayed a look of hurt on his face. "I am the coolest person ever. Take a shot, c'mon, whatever game you guys are playing, I will be the king at."

"Yeah, right. Do you really believe this guy, you guys? I will so beat you, not just the king of the game, but I will bring this whole place down. I got this, I promise you that I will do whatever it takes to win this thing." Maya put on her game face.

"Fine! We are playing Truth or Dare. And since you guys interrupted you will go last." Auggie raised his hands the air, declaring it.

The game went around the circle, some of the truths being very juicy and some of the dares being very intense, but one of Maya's favorites being when a red haired girl told the boy next to her who was the prettiest, and she was expecting him to say her, but he instead pointed at Maya.

When it came to Maya's turn, Ava smirked at her and said, "Kiss the person next to you."

The teenage girls in the room erupted with complaints about how it's unfair ony Maya got a chance to kiss Josh.

Josh registered what Ava just said and began giving a rant on how their generation was so freaky and creepy to grownups.

"See how uncool you are being right now Josh? Now listen people, I made a promise that I would do whatever to win this. So, let's make a deal. If I do this, I win this. Straight up. I claim the crown and in return, we will never speak of this again, so your parents don't ground you for being mini weirdos."

"Hey, wait, so I don't even get a chance to win? I don't get a say in this? They're my lips! Don't I have a right?" Josh tried to find any way out of being kissed in front of a bunch of pre-teens.

"A right for what, exactly?" Maya argued back

"The right for-for-for, for the kisses I recieved." Josh thought he stumped Maya, he thought that was a pretty decent recent not to get kissed.

Maya ignored what he just said and yanked him up from the circle and stepped towards his face but it was hard because he was about a solid half foot taller than her.

She slapped both hands on both of his face and started going in

"Are you sure we shouldn't just keep this PG? Like a hug or something?" Josh let the worry take over, losing his cool. Maya found it slightly adorable that he began freaking out.

She leaned forward, the space between them closing.

At some point, Josh found his eyes closing and his lips being slightly perched out.

Maya shook her head, silently laughing.

There was really no space left between their lips, so Maya went closer and…

She swiftly shifted his face to the side and then kissed him softly on the cheek.

Josh's eyes popped wide open when she whispered in his ear. "PG enough for you, honey? Now, play along."

She turned away from Josh and faced the kids, who looked beyond stunned.

Maya then bent forward, making her face twist in pain.

"Ow! Oh my gosh. Jesus Christ. I can feel it's feet digging into my stomach! The baby already started!" Maya rubbed her belly, shouting in agony.

When Josh realized what Maya was doing, he tried not to laugh, but played along.

"Oh goodness! I should have never kissed you! You're pregnant! Now I'm going to be a dad and I will have to care for a baby! What will I do? This is all your fault! You made us kiss! You guys will parent this child too!" Josh threw on a frightened face and even managed to make his finger tremble when he pointed at all of them.

The kid's faces were priceless. Josh and Maya had never seen more terrified faces then those kids.

Auggie yelled, "I'm too young to take care of a baby! I'm still a baby!"

They all screamed and ran out of the room.

Once they all left, Josh fell on his knees and his smile broke open so wide, an uproar of laughter and soon he was gasping for air. They couldn't hold it in anymore. Maya cackled, waves of laughs coming out. She clutched her side, her body feeling small pains from the burst of laughter devouring her. The two howled their exploded laughter over and over again.

Five minutes later, they could finally calm themselves. But then, they were both laying on the floor, looking up at the plastic-star filled ceiling. But as Josh wiped the tears from his face, his smile still hurt his face. His phone rang and he stood up but when he saw who was calling his smile quickly dissolved.

He picked up, and Maya couldn't hear much, just a voice that sounded quiet and in need.

Josh's tone sounded like he didn't really want to talk to whoever was on the other line, but the person must've pleaded because soon Josh gave on on fighting to stay and said that he'd be with them soon and hung up.

By the time he was done, Maya already was up off the ground.

He walked to the door and turned back, giving her a half-hearted smile.

"I want to thank you for making me laugh today. I can't even remember the last time I laughed so hard."

Maya waved him off. "Hey, thank yourself for laughing, it's just me who thought of scaring the kids like that. God, we probably scarred them for life, but that was the funniest thing ever. Thank you for playing along, I've never met someone who can actually play along with my jokes, especially when it's kiss related."

"Well, yeah whenever you need it just tell me just call me." Josh opened the door and began to walk out.

Maya didn't mean it seriously when she asked, "Which one? The kiss or the laughs?"

"Both."

Cliffhanger to the max! Hey hey guys, I really hope you enjoyed this chapter, because I was in the car listening to the radio until this idea came upon me and I began writing this immediately. This is my first ever chapter with more than a thousand words and I'm oh so very pround. I love it, I'm pretty sure it's my favorite by far. Tell me what you think. Once again, thanks so much for reading and I will try to update as soon as possible.

Have a wonderful new year!

Katie :)