LJosh
"Dude, you're talking to yourself." Andrew reminds me while throwing a pillow at me.
"But, this has to work!" I exclaim, dramatically, as I jump up from the couch.
"Do I even want to know what you're talking about? Dude, I'm trying to watch this movie, can you please dial it down?" Andrew grumbles as he throws another pillow at me, but misses.
"She's at school, so its the perfect time to do it." I start to rant.
"Matthews, what are you going on about?" Andrew try's asking me again.
"Maya." I simply answer.
"Seriously Josh? I like the girl too, but you're obsessing." Andrew groans.
I shrug my shoulders before settling back down on the couch.
Maya
"Can we get some ice cream? I'm craving Rocky Road! Who's with me?" Riley excitedly asks Lucas and I with her best puppy dog eyes as we exit school together.
"Pumpkin, I am so there! What about you Huckleberry?" I ask Lucas, turning on my toes to face him, and also accidentally push Riley into the girl that's standing next to her at the same time.
"Why not, I could go for some ice cream after that exam." Lucas answers me with a shake of his head and catches Riley before she falls and hurts herself.
"Alright then, lets go! Riles and I will lead the way!" I declare as I grab ahold of Rileys hand again and as we both start to skip towards 75 East 4th Street to OddFellows for some special ice cream goodness.
It should only take roughly about a half hour to walk to OddFellows, but it takes the three of us an hour because Riley kept window shopping, and that slowed us down. And as we arrive, the ice cream shoppe is packed, so we wait outside until we
can fit inside. And after waiting for about fifteen minutes, the three of us got our ice cream. Riley got her Rocky Road, Lucas got S'Mores and I got myself some Mocha Coffee Crunch. And as soon as I step back out onto the sidewalk with Riley and
/Lucas, I spot Josh walking out of a jewelry store across the street with some girl that I do t recognize.
"Maya?" Riley calls out as I stand frozen on the sidewalk, watching Josh walk down the street.
I look over my shoulder at Riley and Lucas and then back across the street, but I don't see Josh and thatgirl anymore.
"Maya, are you coming?" Lucas asks me next.
I look down at my ice cream cone and shake my head. "I've got somewhere to be." I say more to myself before tossing my empty ice cream cone in the nearest trash can and walk off in the direction of Josh's apartment.
I ignore my two best friends shouting my name as I race through New York City. And by the time I reach Josh's apartment door, I'm slightly out of breath, but still full of adrenaline. I frantically knock on the apartment door until either Josh or
Andrew open it. As soon as Andrew opens the door to the apartment, I barge in and go looking for Josh. And I find him in his room putting away his laundry.
"Who is she? And what were you doing at some jewelry store with some girl I didn't recognize?" I demand.
"Maya, what are you talking about?" Josh questions me, turning to face me.
"Don't you pretend that you don't know what I'm talking about Joshua Gabriel Matthews." I cry out.
"Maya, I can explain. And really, full name?" Josh rebuttals.
"Josh, this isn't funny!" I stop to take a deep breath. "I didn't think you could ever hurt me." I finish with as I turn to walk out of his bedroom.
"Maya, wait!" Josh calls after me and takes ahold of my arm as soon as I reach the living room.
"Stop." I demand as I spin around to shake off his hold on me. "Josh, please. I really don't need this right now." I seethe with hot tears streaming down my face.
"Maya, if you would please just let me explain." Josh starts with as he takes a deep breath. "That girl I was with today was Andrews girlfriend, Charlie. And the reason why I was at a jewelry store was because I was picking out a graduation gift
for you and Riley. Charlie was with me because I needed a females opinion. Maya, I wouldn't dare try to hurt you in any way. You mean too much to me to loose you." Josh tells me as he tucks some of my hair behind my left ear. "I wouldn't risk doing
/anything that I knew that would upset you Maya. I am so sorry if you felt like I betrayed you. I never meant for you to feel that way. I wasn't even aware that you saw me and Charlie. I never saw you. Please, Maya, you have to forgive me." Josh explains
/to me while wiping away my tears with his thumb.
I take in deep breaths as I gather my thoughts on how to respond as I look into Josh's eyes. And as I am about to open my mouth to speak, there's a knock on the door to Josh's apartment. I can hear the voices belonging to to his parents coming from
/the other side of the door.
"Shit. I completely forgot about dinner." Josh mutters as he hits his forehead with the palm of his hand. "I should probably let them in." Josh says to himself as he walks over to the door.
And now I'm just left standing awkwardly in the living room as Josh and his parents talk about where they should go out to eat for dinner.
"Maya, would you like to join us?" Amy Matthews asks me with a heartwarming smile.
"Are you sure I wouldn't be intruding?" I ask back.
"Not at all. We insist that you join us." Allen Matthews tells me as as he wraps an arm around his wife's shoulders.
I look at Josh and he's got an uneasy smile on his lips, but is nodding his head. So, I nod my head as well. "Okay." I accept as I walk towards Josh and take ahold of his left hand in my right hand.
Josh
I can't believe that I forgot my parents were coming over, but I also wasn't expecting Maya to show up either. We settled on eating at Carve and I wish I could say I'm having a good time, but I just feel nervous and guilty. And I haven't even done
/anything wrong.
"Josh, son, are you okay? You've barely touched your dinner." My mom comments.
"Yeah, I'm fine. I guess I'm just not as hungry as I thought." I say as I take a gulp of my coke.
"Excuse me, I'm going to go to the bathroom." Maya speaks up as she gets up from her chair and walks off, leaving me alone with my parents.
"So, you and Maya seem to be pretty close." My dad suddenly mentions.
"Uh, yeah. She's been through a lot lately and I'm just trying to be there for her." I say as I feel my cheeks start to get warm.
"I heard about Maya's father. How is Maya holding up?" My mother asks of me.
I take a bite of my waffles I ordered. "She's doing better." I tell my mom.
"And I'm back. I think I'm going to order a smoothie. Anyone else want one?" Maya says as she rejoins us.
"So, how come you two aren't dating?" My dad blurts out and I can't tell if he's being serious or not.
I look at Maya, who has just dropped her fork on the floor and her eyes staring at her French toast, with her face looking a little pale. I look back at my father with my face turning hot.
"I think she's a tad young." My mom mutters, but we all heard her.
"And that's my cue to leave. Thank you for dinner Mr. and Mrs. Matthews." Maya says in a rush as she gets up from her chair and walks out of the restaurant.
"Thanks a lot mom. Maya was already upset with me once today, what's one more time. Thank you for dinner guys, I think I'll just go back to my apartment." I tell my parents as I get up to leave.
"I'm sorry son, it's just how I feel. I like Maya. I do. I just think that she's not the one. I'm sorry Joshua." My mom tries to justify herself with, but I'm not having it.
"Mom, just stop. I'll see you guys at Cory andTopangas Friday." I curtly say as I turn to make my way out of the restaurant.
The moment I step outside, I dial Maya's number so I can try to apologize about my mom being so rude.
"Hi Josh." Maya answers on the fourth ring and she doesn't sound too happy.
"Maya, I am so sorry about what my mom said at dinner." I start with.
"I know, but can we just talk about this later? I'm exhausted from today and all I want to do right now is go takea hot shower, climb into my bed and go to sleep." Maya cuts my apology off with.
"Okay. Sweet dreams Maya." I reply with defeat as I reach my apartment door.
"Goodnight Josh." Maya says right before I hear the line go dead and all I hear is silence.
So, I enter my apartment, greeted by silence as well. Andrew's working late tonight and mentioned about going to Charlie's place after, so that leaves me alone for the night.
Authors Note: I know it's been a long time since I've updated this story, and thank you, all who've sent me reviews and who have been supportive about the long delay. I've been plotting this chapter in my head for awhile and it didn't
transfer
onto paper exactly as it was in my head, but I may like this version better. My brothers weeding was amazing! And I'm adjusting to my new job schedule finally. The next chapter will be graduation day and I've already been planning it out and I think
it's
going to be told in various points of view through out the chapter. As always, please review! :)
