I am terribly sorry for the long wait everyone. I planned on updating after my first round of exams, but then school just got tougher with lengthy reading assignments and then I had to deal with another round of exams so I am terribly sorry guys. I'll try much harder to update as soon as I can in the future. But on another note, thank you all for the kind reviews and feedback! You guys are truly the best! :) I hope you guys enjoy this chapter, it took a while to work on due to school and making sure it flowed pretty well. As always please read and review. I'll try my best to update this story again and work on "Wild Side" as soon I can. Enjoy! :)

Maya raised her eyebrows in alarm at the familiar brunette tapped Josh's shoulder as he turned around gasping at what he saw. She didn't expect the girl to get up to talk to him, but as she came into full view, she loosened up. She had a feeling she had seen her somewhere before. But where was the question as she studied her pretty face.

"Jasmine!" he exclaimed as Maya relaxed instantly glad that Josh had put a name to the familiar face. It was Jasmine from the NYU party she had crashed a year ago with Riley. She had been not only one of the coolest older girls Maya had met, but also the biggest cheerleader for her and Josh. Unlike everyone else who had discouraged her crush on Josh, she actually encouraged it and wanted to help get Josh to reach an understanding with her. Maya smiled up at Jasmine as Josh got up from his seat and gave her a side hug. Smiling at the embrace, the brunette looked at her then Josh slowly trying to put the pieces together between the two of them. Feeling her cheeks heating up, she ducked her head from the older girl's knowing look. It seems like everyone knows something is going on between us. Maya mused watching her crush pull away from their friend.

"Hey Josh. Hey Maya," she replied pulling away from Josh's hug to give Maya one as well. Baffled by older girl's actions, she relaxed returning her the embrace. Just as Maya had remembered, Jasmine was still as nice as ever. It was good to see that some things didn't change.

"What are you doing here?" Josh asked sitting back down as the brunette pulled away from her hug with Maya a smiled gracing her face.

"I'm here eating breakfast with my boyfriend. It's the closest pancake place by NYU and the best one at that. If anything, what are you doing here? I thought you were still in Philadelphia?" Jasmine explained gesturing to her boyfriend who sat a few feet away from him. He gave a curt nod as Maya nodded back taking in his demeanor. Sure he was tall, buff, and handsome but he also looked intimidating in comparison to Jasmine who was so outgoing and slender. She began to wonder why someone so bubbly was with someone so quiet.

"I go to NYU now. I was a senior last year," Josh answered as the brunette nodded in understanding.

"Ah I forgot. It's probably because I never see you around," Jasmine concluded as Josh chuckled.

"It's a big campus," Josh offered as she laughed before resting her gaze back on Maya.

"So Maya what about you? What's new with you?" Jasmine asked her gaze settling back on her. Flustered Maya opened her mouth to reply as Jasmine's boyfriend stood up and joined them amusement dancing in his eyes.

"Jasmine, give them a break. They didn't even have breakfast yet," her boyfriend said a smile on his face as Maya watched Jasmine roll her eyes at him. Now I see why they're together. Maya thought noticing how their eyes never left each other's once they made contact. They compliment each other so well. Watching their silent and flirty exchange, she instantly concluded that they were adorable together.

"Breakfast schmekfast, that can wait. I haven't seen them in forever! I have to know what is going on between them," Jasmine exclaimed as Derek rolled his eyes at his girlfriend before turning to face Maya.

"Things are going great actually. I started high school about 2 months ago with my friends and my mom is engaged. Things are looking up," Maya replied answering Jasmine's question watching the brunette nod in understanding as a sly grin appeared on her face as she noticed Josh once more. She didn't intentionally mean that things were looking up between her and Josh, but it seemed like Jasmine had taken the liberty to come to her own conclusions which were true.

"High school huh?" she asked glancing back and forth between Josh and Maya once more. "High school is great. You grow up, start to experience the world, and get ready for college. A lot of things change during that time which is apparently happening right now," she finished gesturing towards them and eyeing Josh taking Maya back to the words of wisdom she had told her at the NYU dorm party. "And maybe just one day he'll be smart enough to look at you differently". She repeated in her head stealing a glance at him. Never did she expect that those words would ring true so soon.

"I don't know what you're talking about," Josh sputtered out nonchalantly playing with Maya's hand across the table in an attempt to calm down and she discreetly played a game of footsies with him under the table. She had to admit it was pretty cute to see him get flustered and act like nothing was going on.

"Then how come you're basically holding Maya's hand and are playing footsies with her?" Derek asked smirking causing Maya to freeze as Josh's hand rested on top of hers. They were busted.

Noticing how their hands were, Jasmine squealed grabbing Derek's arm in excitement as Maya attempted to jerk her hand back in embarrassment only for Josh to grab it and firmly hold it on the table. Despite being caught, Josh didn't seem to care as he patiently stared at Jasmine waiting for her next outburst as he calmly ran a thumb over her hand.

"I knew it! I knew you liked her back! But the question is for how long? And when did this start happening?" she asked gesturing to them as Maya bit her lip a waiting for Josh's response. This situation for them was fairly new, but she was curious to know how long he did like her. He told her he started questioning his feelings for her last year, but was it possible that he had started liking her long before then? She wondered flipping through memories of them over the past 2 years in her head.

"Well this has been going on for about a few days. It's kind of a long story. And as for me liking her, it has been a long time coming. I just had to get my head out of my ass first to come to terms with it," Josh replied honestly his eyes landing on hers for his second reply as she found herself melting at his words. So he did like me a lot longer than he let on, it wasn't just last year. She thought giddily feeling butterflies erupt in her stomach once more. She watched in amusement as Jasmine squealed once more pleased by his response.

"This is great! And as for that story I have to hear this. Can we join you guys?" she asked as Derek objected playfully.

"Jasmine give them a chance to breathe and relax a little," Derek said as she nudged him hushing away his words.

"Yeah it's fine," Josh replied turning to meet Maya's gaze. "Is that alright with you?" he asked as she nodded brightly at the couple.

"Yeah, the more the merrier," She agreed watching as Josh got up and slid into the seat next to her as the brunette haired couple sat down across from them.

Feeling Josh's leg next to her she relaxed, as Jasmine began to pry for information as Josh filled her in on what had happened to him for the past year. She didn't mind the extra company but she found herself getting nervous hoping she was making a good impression. It's a miracle that Josh returns my feelings, but being out in public with him is a different story. I can't do anything that can possibly that can make him change his mind. She thought noticing that Derek was studying her as she watched their friends catch up from the corner of his eye.

"What?" she asked nervously meeting his green eyes as he broke into a grin chuckling instantly confusing her. What did she do now?

"Just relax. You're doing fine he's clearly smitten with you," he reassured her in a low tone nodding his head at Josh who every so often checked in on her.

Maya blinked at him surprise taken aback by his words. She was surprised someone so serious could see right through her, but then again stranger things did happen. "Well that's easy for you to say you're in a secure relationship you're supposed to say stuff like that. Anyways I'm sure that you didn't have to pin after someone you weren't sure that didn't like you," she replied brushing off his comment.

"You wanna bet?" he asked raising an eyebrow mischievously. "Not all secure relationships start off that way you know. Jasmine and I may have been together for awhile, but I pretty much spent a majority of the time wondering if she liked me back before asking her out," he admitted as Maya stared at him taken back.

"Really?" she asked in disbelief doubting his words as he nodded earnestly. Evidently, looks were deceiving.

"Yeah apparently I come off as intimidating," he joked as Maya held in a laugh feeling guilty for thinking those thoughts as she waited for the older teen to continue. "But yeah. I scared people off including her, but it wasn't until I let my guard down that I began to make some progress and move forward," he explained as she nodded in understanding. She had overestimated him. It turned out they won't so different after all.

"Okay I believe you. But how do you stop feeling like you'll mess up all the time even if they reassure you, you won't?" she asked thinking of the promise Josh made to her last night. She did believe him, she just didn't trust herself. Although they weren't officially together and probably wouldn't be for a while, she found it harder to brush off the "hope is for suckers" mantra that was drilled into her brain.

"You take it one day at a time," he began studying his hands sighing as if he was relieving his past struggles. "It isn't easy but eventually you'll get to the point where you'll stop doubting yourself. Also keep in mind that he just isn't your boyfriend, he's your best friend too. When you build a strong foundation based on friendship, it makes starting a relationship easier," he confessed.

"Thanks for the advice, but I'm sure we probably won't get into a relationship for a while. We're playing the long game-" Maya began as Derek laughed cutting her off as she stared at him perplexed.

"What?" she demanded as Derek pulled himself together before speaking.

"Long game? Yeah that's not going to last very long. Maybe for a year or two but not very long. Especially with the way he can't keep his eyes off of you," he explained as Maya turned her head slightly to sure enough meet Josh's gaze. Laughing she watched as Josh gave her a confused look as Jasmine and Derek exchanged knowing glances. Maybe Derek is right. I do have nothing to worry about. She mused as she struggled to find the words to say.

"It's nothing," she reassured him holding in her laughter once more as Josh threw an arm around her as she relaxed into his embrace. Maybe she could get used to this.

"If you say so," he teased as red headed girl bounding towards them a notepad in hand out of breath.

"Sorry for the wait guys we're currently short on staff right now. I'm Cat I'll be taking care of you all today," she explained before her eyes lit up noticing Josh. "Oh my god Josh hi! I almost didn't recognize you," the petite waitress exclaimed waving to him as Josh chuckled waving back.

"Well this is turning out to be quite the reunion," Josh joked gesturing to the couple before them and the red haired girl.

"I didn't know you were so popular," Maya teased not all jealous by the red haired girl. With his arm around her and the way the waitress began to smile at her she had a feeling she was no threat to her at all.

"I'm not. I just happen to have a few friends on campus who all happened to be here today. Oh yeah by the way, Maya this is Cat, a friend who's in most of my classes, and Cat this is Maya my-" Josh began only to be interrupted by the cheerful girl.

"Your girlfriend? The girl you couldn't stop talking to me about? Did you finally work things out?" she asked hopefully as Maya turned to look at him questioningly. Does Josh tell all his friends on campus about me? She wondered slowly giving him a quizzical look.

"We're actually playing the long game," Josh began to explain a blush creeping up on his cheeks as Cat cut him off.

"Yeah that's not going to last very long," she stated as Derek pounded his hand on the table agreeing with her.

"That's what I said!" he exclaimed causing everyone to laugh

"Why don't you just announce it to the whole world?" Josh joked trying to hide his flaming red cheeks unable to do so.

"Can't they already know. It's obvious," Cat replied as everyone laughed once more as Maya tried to comfort him. He wasn't ashamed but she found it adorable that he got so flustered when they assumed they were together. "Anyways can I get you guys any drinks? Are you ready to order?" Cat asked changing the subject.

"We are," Jasmine said. "What about you guys?" she asked.

"Yeah I am, are you Maya?" Josh asked as she nodded touched that he was always asking for input or thoughts. She liked it. Getting a pen, Cat wrote down their drink and food orders before whisking away to get their drinks which Maya found herself grateful for since she desperately wanted the vanilla latte she had just ordered.

"So I bet you're glad that you went on that Ski Lodge trip despite all the teasing you're getting huh?" Jasmine asked noting his red face.

"Yeah I am. I have no regrets," Josh replied honestly sharing a glance with her once more.

"Well that's good. You guys really are cute together. I'm sure whenever you guys do get together it will go well for you both," Derek admitted as Josh stared at her once more in deep thought.

"Thanks and yeah," Josh trailed off in lost thought as Cat returned with their drinks. Taking a sip of her latte from her mug Maya wondered what Josh was thinking as Jasmine started up a new conversation causing her to turn her focus to the older brunette.

The rest of their breakfast went by smoothly as they caught up while eating their pancakes. Maya could see why Josh had proclaimed the Pancake Factory had the best pancakes in town as she took a bite of her strawberry chocolate chip short stack, they were to die for. Finishing up her meal, she downed the last of her latte as Cat passed them the checks which Josh and Derek discreetly paid as Maya pouted at Josh.

"What?" he asked nonchalantly as Cat took up the checks and left as Maya shook her head at him in disapproval.

"I could've paid for my meal you know," she pointed out as Josh smirked at her.

"Well I thought it would be nice to return the favor. You did pay for my coffee yesterday after all," Josh offered as Maya chewed her lip considering his words. It was true, she had done so.

"I suppose that's fair, but it's a meal which is more expensive than a cup of coffee-" Maya began to objected as Josh gently shushed her.

"Maya relax, I told you I got it. If you want we can take turns paying," Josh proposed as she nodded at his proposition liking the idea of them hanging out more like this. That it just wasn't a one-time thing.

"Besides the guy usually pays on first dates," Jasmine pointed out smirking over her mug as Maya playfully glared at her.

"It's not a date," she pointed out catching Josh's face lost in deep thought yet again. Wondering what was wrong she was just about to question it when Derek coughed "Not yet" smirking at them as well.

"Well regardless, I'm leaving a tip," she announced pulling a five-dollar bill out of her purse and setting it on the table. Growing up with a mother who worked as a waitress, she knew how much tips meant to her and decided to return the favor. And besides. She thought setting the bill under her coffee cup. Cat is a sweet heart. It's a miracle that all of Josh's our friends are so nice and supportive.

"How generous," Josh noted smiling warmly at her as the rest of the gang followed suit placing dollar bills on the table under their mugs.

"I know good service when I see it," Maya replied as Cat returned with their receipts instantly beaming at the sight of the money.

"Wow guys you didn't have to," Cat began touched by their actions as Maya smiled. She knew she had done the right thing.

"But we did. It was her idea actually," Josh pointed out gesturing to her as Cat smiled at her gratefully.

"Yeah I probably wouldn't have left anything," Derek joked as they all laughed as Cat wiped tears of gratitude away from her eyes.

"Seriously guys thank you. Please come back again real soon," Cat said once more before settling once more on Maya. "Especially you. Josh was right about you, you are amazing," Cat finished as Josh blushed furiously as Jasmine and Derek "awwwed" at Cat's statement. Maya stared at her crush incredulously surprised by the way he talked about her when she wasn't around. He was surprising her more and more each day.

Saying their farewells, they got up to leave the restaurant making their way outside back on the city sidewalks. The sun had climbed higher into the sky as they casually stood outside the building planning their next move.

"So what now?" Derek asked as he casually threw an arm around Jasmine as she snuggled deeper into his shoulder.

"What do you mean?" Josh asked as his hand grazed against hers in an attempt to hold it.

"Like what do you guys want to do next?" Jasmine offered as understanding crossed their faces.

"Umm I don't know we didn't really plan anything more. Josh?" Maya asked turning up to the beanie clad teen who shrugged meekly in response. They had only planned to get breakfast, they hadn't thought that they might want to do anything else afterwards.

"Don't worry, it gets easier planning out dates," Derek teased as Jasmine rolled her eyes at her boyfriend's antics. Maya shook her head in disbelief at his words, but the thought of going on dates with Josh lingered in her head. Stealing a glance at him, handsome as ever, she found herself wishing that the day would come sooner much to her surprise.

"We could go to Central Park? We could sit around for a while catch up more," Jasmine offered as Maya found herself nodding in agreement along with Josh. It was too beautiful of a day to pass that opportunity up.

"Alright it's settled. Let's go then," Derek said leading the way with Jasmine as Maya fell into step besides Josh a coy smirk on her face. She had some things she had to talk to him about.

"So you talk about me to your friends when I'm not around huh?" she asked as Josh tugged his beanie lower onto his head trying to hide his face.

"That depends. Yes if it's cute or no if it's creepy," Josh replied a small smile on his face.

"Oh it's definitely creepy Boing," Maya sarcastically remarked as Josh gaped at her feigning shock.

"Very funny Hart," Josh replied pursing his lips before he continued. "But yeah I do, if that's okay," he responded as her heart fluttered as his words.

"Yeah its better than okay," she agreed trying to keep her cool as his hand slipped into hers a habit she never got tired of no matter how many times he did so.

"I was hoping you'd say that," he said smugly his eyes dancing before hers as she found their pace slowing down even more.

"Why?" she breathed out her breath hitching in her throat under his intense stare. Giving him her undivided attention, she watched as he opened his mouth to say something only to be interrupted by the couple in front of them.

"Hate to break up the party love birds but we do have a park to go to," Jasmine called out to them blocks away with Derek at her side.

"Right," Josh called out to her as Maya looked down in disappointment, upset that her moment with Josh was ruined.

"I guess we better keep up with them then huh?" Maya joked as they made their way back to their friends. She didn't want them to continue to tease them even though she secretly liked that everyone was referring to them as a couple.

"Yeah, but don't worry we'll talk later," Josh reassured her as her heart raced once more it was like he could read her mind.

Minutes later, they arrived at Central Park and settled down on the grassy knolls under a tree as they relaxed and talked catching up even more. Despite Josh, Derek and Jasmine being older than her, she really did fit right in with them just like she did with her Riley, Lucas, Zay, Farkle, and Smackle.

Except friends don't hold your hands. She mused glancing down on Josh's hand on top of hers as the breeze blew around them lifting her hair. Nor do they keep on sending you flirty looks. She silently added as she paid attention to Jasmine's story as Josh kept on giving her flirty glances.

Maybe Derek is right. Maybe I do have nothing to lose. She thought leaning against Josh who was not at all bothered by her actions. Maybe our someday won't last-

Hearing voices unable to finish her thoughts, she turned away from her friends and found a couple across the park arguing. Focusing in on them, she saw the couple before her glaring at each other their voices raised in the heated discussion they were having. Feeling a lump in her throat, she swallowed instantly reminded of the times in her childhood when her mom and dad would argue. Memories of them raising their voices at each other and yelling plagued her mind as recalled all the times she sat against the door with her hands over her ears in a desperate attempt to block out the noise. Her childhood had been tough, and the couple across the park was a reminder of that. She couldn't recall a particular time when her parent's marriage had started falling apart, but nonetheless it unraveled before her very eyes without a warning.

Stealing a glance at Josh, she noticed him laughing at the conversation he was having with Jasmine and Derek and wondered if the same would happen to them if she got together with Josh. Would they be happy and last? Or would it all just fall apart? Even though she had hopes, was it really worth hoping for something that had no guarantees?

Blinking back tears she noticed the couple began to shove each other as bile began to rise in her throat. Is it really worth the risk? She thought as Josh turned to her trying to get attention.

"Hey Maya," Josh began as Maya closed her eyes trying to block out his voice just as the couple started to walk away from each other. She needed to be alone. She couldn't talk let alone face him in the current state she was in. Feeling Josh's concerned stare in her direction, she got up and ran off despite Josh's protests. Even though moments ago she was hoping their friendship would snowball into something more today, she found herself wishing for the opposite. She couldn't risk losing him and was willing to do whatever it took to keep him in her life. Even if it meant hurting both of them in the process.