Thanks for all the awesome reviews, follows, and favorites everyone! :) This was probably the longest chapter I have ever written (I debated splitting it into two but I didn't want to drag out the ending of the triangle any longer) so please enjoy. It does feature 2 Ski Lodge Part 2 scenes: the Who Belongs with Who game and Josh and Maya's first conversation so it took some time to edit because I wanted to get it just right. However, I tried my best to incorporate Josh's POV, added an original scene, and some Joshaya fluff so hopefully it's not too boring to read. Please enjoy! Also feel free to check out my new story Wild Side the prequel/companion to this one if anyone is interested in Josh's back story. As always read and review.
Watching the girls talk, Josh made his way down the stairs meeting Lucas at the bottom. He was no expert, but judging by the intense states Riley and Maya were giving each other he hoped they were making progress. Turning to Lucas they both nodded before sitting down at the fireplace unsure of what to do let alone say.
"So are we going to talk to each other?" Lucas asked.
"Yup. So you've chosen between Riley and Maya?" Josh asked in return.
"Yeah I did," Lucas answered before turning to face him. "Now I got a question for you."
"Ok, but before I answer you, it who'd you pick?" Josh asked curiously. He had inkling it was Riley, but he wanted Lucas's confirmation just to be sure.
"No," Lucas denied shaking his head.
"Ah come on," Josh whined as the cowboy shook his head. Lucas was true to his word. He was relentless.
"What does it mean that Riley spent the whole night talking to some other guy?" demanded Lucas as Josh turned away to look at his niece. Even though Lucas may not have told him who he chose, judging from his behavior he figured it was Riley. Smirking he decided to mess with the cowboy since he didn't tell him the truth.
"Well it could mean Riley's not interested in you anymore," Josh replied turning back to face him. Watching the alarmed expression on his face, Josh held in a laugh as the cowboy tried to contain himself.
"It could mean that?" Lucas asked insecurely an upset look crossing his face.
"Boy you are insecure for a western hero," Josh observed as Lucas rolled his eyes in annoyance.
Okay not a smart move. I should try to reassure him. "Look," Josh began only to be cut off by another guy.
"Or it could just mean she just enjoys talking to someone," pipped up a voice as a boy Josh assumed was Evan walked up them. So this is Evan. Josh pondered as he eyed the boy feeling the cowboy besides him bristle. Yup this is definitely Evan. Josh concluded.
"I don't like that you know anything," Lucas spoke up glaring at Evan jealously dripping from his voice before adding. "I wonder what you guys talked about?"
"I told her what I wanted to do with my life," Evan answered.
"Ah no she loves that," Lucas said in defeat as Josh held in a laugh.
"I've never told anyone before," Evan admitted troubling the cowboy even more.
"She loves that too," Lucas groaned even more troubled.
"What did you tell her?" Josh asked curiously. He knew part of why his niece liked Lucas was because he revealed his secrets to her. Maybe if Evan's secrets weren't so personal Lucas wouldn't have anything to worry about.
"I told her I wanted to be a Sherpa," Even admitted proudly as Josh inwardly groaned.
"Ugh, no don't do that," Josh said quickly dismissing the idea. He didn't know why Lucas was so troubled. The guy had nothing to worry about. There was no way Riley was interested in the future Sherpa.
"I like helping people get to different places they never thought they could go," Evan admitted as Josh digested this piece of information. Ok so the guy wants to do something he's passionate about. Not bad, but still a weird career choice.
"Is that a Sherpa guide book?" Lucas asked gesturing to Evan's book.
"This. This is a game we're going to play. We've had it behind the counter for years. I'm going to read some questions from this book. It's called the official guide to who belongs with who," Evan explained as he sat down on a couch.
"The book is going to tell us?" Riley asked as she and Maya joined them coming back from their talk from the bay window.
"No," Cory interrupted startling Josh. When did he even come into the room? Why was he always sneaking up on them? "I remember that book. That book is evil. The first question is if you could change anything about your mate into one animal what would it be? And the only answer is the falcon," his brother explained in his over dramatic nature.
"How do you know that?" Maya asked.
"Because I am the falcon!" Cory exclaimed striking into a falcon like pose.
"Of course you are," Riley said not really believing his words.
"Let's play," Maya agreed meeting his gaze. He slowly nodded at her. Maybe the game could be fun. Maybe he would learn a thing or two from it.
"Let's find out who belongs with who," Riley pipped up.
"Don't do it!" Cory warned them. "Nobody do it. "
Without listening to him Josh found him and the others sitting on the couch prepared to play the game.
"Man no one ever listens to the falcon," Cory whined as Zay, Farkle, and Smackle rushed into the room to join them. "You all deserve what you'll get," Cory finished shaking his head before exiting the room.
Here's hoping your wrong brother. Josh thought as Evan began to read from the book.
"Question number one," Evan began.
"If you can change your mate into any one animal," Riley cut in only to be interrupted by Evan.
"It's not even the same question," he pointed out.
"Why not?" Maya asked in frustration. The game hadn't even begun and she was already getting tired of it. Josh could relate because he was feeling the exact same way too.
"Because this is 'who belongs with who: the next generation.' This question is for you guys," Evan finished gesturing to them around the room.
"Oh," Riley spoke up delighted as Josh pursed his lips. Was she that naïve? Maybe he should've listened to his brother.
"The most important part of any meaningful relationship is A. Romance," Evan read off the book.
"Yes," Riley agreed. "Romance. Isn't that the whole point of a relationship?" Riley asked.
"It says any relationship, it just doesn't mean you guys and Lucas," Farkle pointed out.
"Yeah. It could mean relationships with your friends," Josh agreed shooting Maya a look noticing she was unusually quiet. He hoped everything was alright.
"So if the answer isn't romance, what else do you got?" Riley asked.
"B. Adventure," Evan replied.
"Yes adventure. Break the rules," Maya smirked knowingly raising an eyebrow at Josh. Josh smiled back before turning his attention to the cowboy who spoke up next to him.
"You don't have to break the rules to have an adventure," Lucas pointed out.
"What do you have against breaking the rules Ranger Rick?" Maya asked curiously as Josh listened as well. Even though his motorcycle days were over, he couldn't live life by design all the time.
"It's who he used to be Maya. It cost him a year of his life. Maybe he's learned something," Zay explained as everyone studied the cowboy. Like Maya, Lucas was held a year back. However, judging from the upset look on the cowboy's face Josh had a feeling it had to do with breaking the rules and not from a rough upbringing like Maya.
"Read the other choice," Farkle demanded changing the subject.
"How do you know there is one?" Evan challenged.
"In multiple choice there are always the answers that are the closest. But then there are the correct answers and as soon as you hear it, you know it's right," Smackle answered as Farkle finished for her.
"Yeah I don't think we've heard the right answer yet. So I know that the most meaningful part of any relationship is C," Farkle proclaimed.
"Yes one for us. Now move onto the next question," Smackle happily said.
"Can we please hear what C is?" Lucas asked.
"C. Conversation," Evan read from his book.
"Ding!" Smackled exclaimed jumping out of her seat to meet Farkle in a high five that turned into a hug. "Even better. I love these now," the genius said smiling up at her boyfriend.
"How come?" Maya asked gazing at the couple in a whole new light.
"Because Smackle and I have had so many good conversations now that I think she trusts me," Farkle explained as Josh found himself relating to Farkle's words. After all the conversations he had with Maya he trusted her, trusted her enough to turn define what they were if he got a moment alone with her.
"I do," Smackle agreed as the couple sat down.
"I like these too," Farkle added once they were seated as Zay attempted to join in on their hug.
"So the most meaningful part of a relationship is talking to each other," Riley said trying to register what she just witnessed.
"And with the right person sometimes you can talk all night," Evan added causing the cowboy to get fired up once more.
"Yup. Maybe so," Lucas said tightly glaring at the boy. "Whelp. If ya'll will excuse me I'm going to go over there and maybe I don't know kick a tree." The cowboy got up and stalked outside quickly unable to catch Riley's alarmed expression and she watched the cowboy walk off.
"If ya'll would excuse me, I'm going to go over there and maybe I don't know save a tree," Zay said excusing himself from the group to follow his best friend.
"Question number two," Evan began getting everyone's attention. "How do you know if you love somebody?" Josh froze and found himself eyeing Maya subtly. The game had jumped from zero to a hundred real quick.
"You know what?" Maya asked annoyed catching Josh's attention. "I'm through playing games. I wanna talk to you," she finished standing up.
"Who?" everyone asked as Maya walked to the couch Josh sat at, grabbed his hand as whisked him away with her He turned around briefly catching Riley's happy expression at the sight of them together before turning his attention back to Maya. Apparently, like him, she was getting tired of the games as well.
Pulling the brown haired teen like a rag doll, Maya dragged Josh to the bay window and they sat down facing each other alone which is what he wanted from the very beginning.
"Tell me what you know right now," Maya demanded facing him as he pursed his lips. The sassy Maya was back. But was she ready to what he had discovered from his conversation from Riley?
"I'm a lot younger than my brothers and sister," Josh began.
"So they don't have a relationship with you either?" the blonde asked teasingly as Josh glanced at her amused by her antics. He knew what Maya was getting at but before they good talk about that, they had to deal with a bigger problem first.
"I know what you're getting at Maya and we will get to that. And to be fair I never mentioned that this time," Josh spoke up hinting his feelings to her. "But as I was saying, I spent a lot of time just watching them."
"So far we're just talking about you and me," Maya teased as Josh found himself smiling.
"Stop it," he demanded. "Stop being so cute and trying to change the subject," he finished smiling back at her.
"No," Maya flirted back her eyes dancing as he pursed his lips trying to hold in his laugh. He had to get their conversation back on track or else he would sit there forever with her arguing over silly things.
"I've learned to be pretty good at observing people. Understanding what's going on with them," Josh began trying to get the conversation back on track. He watched Maya briefly eye his lips before focusing her attention back on him. "Are you sure you're ready to hear this?" he asked eying Maya carefully.
"Right now," Maya demanded.
"Even if it was bad for me?" Josh asked knowing what would happen once he told her his findings.
"Right not," Maya pressed on. The girl just wouldn't give up.
"What I observed about you," Josh began looking deep into her blue eyes before continuing, "Is that you are the best friend that anyone could ever have." He paused thinking of Cory and Shawn and the similarities in friendship Maya and Riley shared. They wear inseparable and would do anything for each other. With this in mind he found himself feeling silly for ever pushing her away.
He watched as Maya's eyes widened at what he told her as he continued on his heart swelling, "Maybe it's because your dad left, maybe it's because you've never felt that love, but it's given you the greatest capacity of love that I have ever seen." He finished resisting the urge to kiss her then and there. With her eyes on the brink of tears and her gazing at him lovingly it proved to be quite the challenge.
"Say that again," Maya said timidly after what seemed like forever.
"Why you didn't understand it?" Josh asked frowning. He thought he made his findings clear enough for the blonde to understand.
"No. I understood it. Say it again. Say it fifty times. Say it in French," Maya demanded cutely as Josh shook his head flustered. He should've known.
"You heard me the first time," Josh murmured knowingly.
"I did. Thank you, but you're wrong. It's Riley that's the best friend you could ever have," Maya admitted.
"I know. What I've also noticed Maya is that you've cared about Riley so much for so long the moment she decides to care about somebody else," Josh began.
"Lucas," Maya interrupted realization dawning on her face.
"You need to protect her. Just as she did for you," Josh finished hinting at the secret Riley had kept from her.
"I know why she did that and I get it. But how could I do that for her?" Maya asked unsure. "What you're saying makes sense I just can't remember what I did to protect her in the first place."
"You did what you did to see if he, Lucas, was safe for her," Josh answered.
"Yeah but how? How could I possibly do that?" Maya asked still unsure of what he was getting at.
"Well let's see, you lose yourself and you become like her so you can know him like how she knows him. What a great way to see if he's good enough for your best friend," Josh answered watching as Maya slowly nod her head in confirmation. She understood him. She had pretended to like Lucas to see if he was good enough for Riley. It was a hard case to crack, but now that he had the answer and observed Riley and Maya's relationship he was certain this is what Maya had done for the brunette.
"I was protecting her?" She asked him once more to be sure.
He nodded as he answered her, "Yes and she would do the same for you."
"She did. She kept a secret from me to make sure I didn't get hurt. Also she brought me back," Maya answered relief washing over her face.
"And now that you're you?" Josh asked hoping she'd saying the words he's being for her to say since he found out about the "triangle" at Topanga's.
"I don't like Lucas like that," she admitted as Josh felt his insides jump for joy. The triangle was officially over now. All they had to do now was to get the right people together.
"How do you know?" he asked.
"I only went out with him one time. I poured a smoothie over his head," Maya admitted as he held in a laugh.
"In a cute romantic way?" Josh asked as Maya quickly shot that idea down.
"No! In a he's so nice I wanted to mess him up kinda way!" Maya said excitedly before finishing, "He's perfect for Riley. I know because when you're Riley it's hard not to like him. That was the first thing I found out."
"When you were Riley?" he asked fear in his voice slightly insecure.
"Yes," Maya said giving him a reassuring look. "But now that I'm me…" she trailed off looking at him deeply.
"How do you feel now?" he asked matching her gaze.
"I feel like if you know me at all, then you'd know the last thing I'd want to do is want something that's Riley's," Maya admitted.
"Why?"
"Because I love her. I always have and she loves me. We would never take from each other and there's nothing that could ever happen that could change that," Maya finished.
"Good. You know that's a real adult way of thinking," he praised her.
"Thank you Josh. But why is this bad for you?" Maya asked referring to what he said earlier.
"Because it isn't Lucas who you like and you remember who you are now. I-" Josh stammered before realization dawned on the blonde beauty's face once more.
"That conversation is the most important part of any relationship, and that you and I just had another amazing one," Maya pointed out her eyes lighting up once more as Josh looked away blushing. He came to the conclusion then and there that he couldn't get anything past her. Not that he wanted to anyways.
"Josh?" Maya asked after a few moments.
"What?" he answered turning back to face her.
"Why have you let me hold onto your hand this entire time?" Maya asked pulling their hands from the bay window seat to reveal them firmly clasped in one another's.
Josh opened his mouth dumbfounded, not sure what to say. He hadn't even noticed that he was still holding onto her hand when she pulled them to the bay window. It just felt so natural he didn't even question it. And after last night when he told her his story, holding onto her hand made him feel safe, a feeling he didn't want to let go of just yet. He wanted to explore it and see where it would take them.
"I don't know," Josh admitted gazing at their hands in astonishment. "I don't know everything. That is what I would've said a year ago. Things are different now and now that they're different I didn't even notice you were still holding onto my hand because it felt natural to me." He finished staring at Maya who was left speechless at his words.
"Josh," Maya began unsure what to saw as they found themselves leaning in as they had done the night before.
"Ahem!" spoke up a voice causing the teens to jump apart from each other as they gazed up at Riley who wore an amused expression on her face.
"As much as I love romance, I don't want to see my best friend make out with my uncle in front of me. Especially when I want to sit at the bay window. Not to mention there's this triangle that needs to be officially solved," Riley began noticing their interlocked hands,
Josh smiled sheepishly at his niece as Maya looked down her face reddening. So much for setting a good example for my niece he thought before Riley spoke up once more. "However from where I'm standing, it seems like the "triangle" is not a triangle."
"You're right Riles," Maya spoke up. "And if you give me about 10 minutes you should have Bucky Mc Boing Boing right next to you. Now if you'll excuse us. We have a triangle to officially end." Without another word, Maya grabbed his arm and dragged him to the other side of the lodge leaving a confused Riley behind.
What is she up to? Josh pondered as they finally came to the doorway by the fire place. And how come she called Lucas Bucky Mc Boing Boing? I thought I was the only Boing in her life. "I thought I was the only Boing in your life?" Josh teased voicing his thoughts as they stood in the doorway.
"You are the only Boing in my life. I only called Lucas that because I used it as an insult towards him, with you it's a compliment. I'll stop calling Lucas Bucky Mc Boing Boing if it makes you feel better even though seeing you jealous is kind of hot. But right now," Maya paused just as Josh was about to protest him being jealous, because he clearly wasn't, they noticed Lucas had come back inside and was standing by the front desk. "I have to give my blessing to a certain cowboy to date my best friend. Just give me 5 minutes and we'll have our conversation okay?" Maya finished squeezing his hand before she took off to talk to Lucas.
Hiding behind the doorway, Josh smiled as the blonde dragged the cowboy to the fireplace to talk. The triangle was finally ending just as nature wanted. And within a few minutes, he and Maya would finally talk about their relationship.