Author's Note: Thank you to those who have reviewed, favorited, and followed! Please don't forget to REVIEW, and enjoy! (Edited by Chereche!)

BTW: I'm excited for you guys to read the next chapter! It's probably sad, but I really liked writing it...so, I leave you with that! ;) Also, I've never written "young" characters before (Hope), so I hope-haha-it's not too terrible! I do babysit, so I have some knowledge of how kids "work", but again I've never written about a kid...

One more thing and I'm sorry for rambling on when I know you guys just want to read the story. Lately, I've had like a really hard time writing this story-stupid writer's block-so any encouragement/reviews would be SO appreciated. I'm not going to suddenly stop posting/writing of course, don't worry, but it's just getting kind of hard so yeah... Love you all though and thank so much for the wonderful support!

UPDATED: 1-4-17

Disclaimer: I don't own Girl Meets World, just the story!

Chapter Twenty-One: Reaching Out

Maya stared down at the photo and tried her best to resist the urge to rip it into bits. How did they even know all about her? This was too much and if she had been a weaker person, she would probably be crying right now.

It was a photo of her father with his new family, all smiles and laughter. No, it wasn't a big deal, but it was in the sense that it was penetrating an old wound. Maya absolutely hated it and her desire to reach out to her stepsister was diminishing with each second. Lucas had told her she should go see them, but she really didn't want to. After all, that little girl had to come from someone and it certainly wasn't her mother. How did you get past something like that?

"Whatcha' looking at?"

Maya snapped out of her thoughts and slipped the photo underneath her notebook.

"Hey, Josh," she smiled weakly.

"Hey, Ferret," he winked.

"That's a new one." Maya mused. "Is that from that one time...?"

"Oh, yah." Josh sat down next to her. "You sure did like to jump on my back."

She grinned sheepishly and started to put her homework away.

"What were you working on?"

"Ugh, some stupid geometry. I swear, I'm the worst geometrist there is," Maya groaned.

"That's not a word—"

The small girl waved him off. "Whatever...the point is I suck."

"Yah, I wasn't the best at geometry myself," Josh laughed.

She finished putting everything away, then slid off of her stool and began walking towards the door of the coffee shop.

"Are we going or what?" the girl called over her slim shoulder.

He smirked and followed her quickly.

They eventually made their way to the park, where they decided silently to stop and watch the ice skaters. Maya's gaze was fixed on a small blonde girl, who was clutching the arm of her father. She was slipping, but her hold was firm and the child was able to stay up - with a little help of course. Maybe that's what she had done wrong, she hadn't been able to hold on tightly enough and she had let her father slip through her fingers. Except she had been too young to have been able to control anything, so it wouldn't have made any difference. But, still the pair gained her attention and Maya wistfully watched them laugh and giggle as they spun in small circles.

Josh watched the girl beside him with interest. What was going on in her head right now? He could never tell though he wished he could. Josh knew that it was his duty to protect and make sure she was okay, and he felt like he was failing. Mainly because he had let her do the art museums. Yes, he had made his own decision, but it was a stupid one and if he could help someone else not make the same one, he would. But, how did he get her to see it? He didn't know if he could and if he was never able to, then at least he would be there to protect and be there for her...because she was important to him, just as much as Riley was.

"So, what's on the agenda today?" Maya leaned against the railing, still watching the ice skaters.

He turned and rested his back against it, letting out a sigh. "Are you sure you really want to get into mischief, right now?"

"Yes."

"You don't think we're being stupid at all?"

"What the heck?" she groaned and turned to look at him in exasperation. "Where's this coming from and how do I put it back?"

"I'm sorry, Maya. I just feel responsible for you, and what I'm dragging you into isn't good."

"Are you talking about the art museums?" she raised an eyebrow.

"Partially," he admitted.

"Wait a minute...who said you're responsible for me?"

"I did."

"Oh, really? And why is that?" Maya narrowed her eyes.

"Because I care about you and I need to make sure you're going to be okay," Josh shrugged. "You and Riley are important and you both need to be protected."

She scoffed. "Well, apparently I need to remind you that I don't need help. I thought I made that perfectly clear 3 months ago."

"Don't do this, please. There's not reason for it and it just makes things awkward and annoying. In fact, let's just move on," Josh said.

"Nu-uh." Maya shook a finger in his face. "I need to clarify this...for the last couple of weeks you've been just fine with letting me do stupid things. Well, kind of, you still complained but you let me do them. What's changed?"

Good question.

"I don't know."

Liar. He did know...mostly. Josh was noticing Maya's little cracks getting wider and he knew it was only a matter of time before she broke. He was trying to help her before it was too late and doing reckless things wasn't going to help.

"Well, stop!" she exclaimed. "Now, we get to do things, because I don't care what you say."

"Maya—" He began in protest.

"Ssh." The blue haired girl put a finger on his lips. "I'm doing this with or without you."

"No. I'm not going to let you do something else." Josh shook his head.

"Okay, well goodbye," she shrugged and started trudging up the slippery hill.

He muttered something under his breath and ran after her. "I can't leave you alone."

"Yes, you can."

"No...and I just told you I wasn't going to let you do anything, but if you're so set on being stupid, I have to come with you to make sure things don't get out of hand."

Maya just grinned triumphantly.

He studied her and groaned as realization hit.

"You knew I was going to follow you."

"Obviously...I excel at blackmail, Uncle Boing." She threw her old nickname at him with a cute smirk.

Josh sighed heavily and turned his gaze to the top of the hill they were currently climbing. His mind wandered and he obliged its whims, letting himself relax.

Honestly, it was weird for him, too. One minute he was okay with pulling pranks with Maya and the next he was set on not allowing her to do so. Just 2 weeks ago, he had told himself it was alright to let her have a little fun...and now, he had completely changed his mind again. And he knew the reason, but it was still odd that he had changed his mind set so quickly in such a short amount of time...

She ended up leading him to a small store, where she quickly stalked to the candy section and grabbed a heath bar. Josh raised an eyebrow as she stuffed it into her pocket.

"Seriously? Stealing candy?"

"What? I'm hungry," Maya said defensively.

"I could just buy you something, you know."

"Yah, but this is much more fun."

Maya smirked and strode out with as much confidence as she had walking in. Josh trailed behind, slower than before. This was getting to be a bit much—no, it already was. And the worst part was that it was all his fault. He had encouraged this and now she thought it was okay to just steal because she could. Josh really wanted to say a bad word, but he figured Maya would pick up the habit and then he'd be the cause of another problem. And he didn't want that.

Stupid, stupid, stupid. Maya ran that word through her brain over and over. It perfectly suited the situation, so why not voice it? She shouldn't be here...it wasn't a good idea and was only going to end in disaster.

At that point, she had made up her mind to leave, but it was too late. Because just then, the door swung open and the woman from before smiled, immediately waving her in.

"Hi, honey. It's so good to see you." She closed it behind her gently. "Hope is really excited that you're here."

"Well, I couldn't say no," Maya said, with a forced smile.

The woman led her to a small kitchen and invited her to hop up on one of the bar stools.

"I'm really sorry, but I just realized I didn't give you my name before." She smiled apologetically. "It's Joy, by the way."

"I'm sorry, Joy and Hope?" Maya raised an eyebrow.

Joy laughed. "Yah, well that's what you get when you have parents who have optimistic views on life, I guess."

"I see," She said awkwardly.

Joy paused from her moving about the kitchen and placed her hands on her hips.

"Where is Hope? I would've expected her to come down—"

"Maya!" the little girl shrieked and burst through the doorway.

"There she is."

"Hi," the blue haired girl answered awkwardly. She never was that good with kids.

"Do you like my dress? I wore it because we're going to play princesses today!" She twirled around in her sparkly, pink dress.

"It's very pretty." Maya couldn't help but grin at the little girl's antics; automatically thinking of Riley. "A perfect fit for a princess."

Hope beamed. "I like her, mommy."

"Yah, so do I," Joy said adoringly, turning back to her oven.

"Are those cookies?" the young girl asked, interest piqued.

"M-hmm." Her mother brought the tray out. "But you have to finish your lunch first, sweetheart."

"I don't want to." Hope's demeanor went from bubbly to pouty in 2 seconds flat.

"Maya, would you mind getting the princess to eat her carrots?" She called from the counter.

"Um, well I'm not that great with little kids..."

Joy slid her oven mitt off her hand.

"Don't worry, honey. She'll listen to you...it's just because I'm her mother. I'll bet you money she'll eat them if you convince her."

Maya reluctantly took the plate of carrots and walked over to the small table, sitting next to the dejected child.

"Hey, Hope."

"Hi, Maya," she smiled sweetly.

"How do you feel about eating carrots, huh?"

"No. I don't like them."

Maya did her best over dramatic sigh.

"That's too bad," she said, popping one into her mouth.

"Why?" Hope asked suspiciously.

"Oh, it doesn't matter." Maya waved her off. "You obviously don't want them, so I'll just get all the magic for myself."

"What magic?!" The little girl's eyes widened.

"I don't think you want to know."

"I do!"

"Okay, then. It just so happens that these carrots," Maya waved one in the air like a miniature, orange wand. "Will turn you into a princess."

"Ooh!" She snatched it out of her hands and bit it with enthusiasm.

"See, was that hard?" Joy called, watching the scene with a big smile.

Maya blushed and fiddled with the edge of her shirt. Hope finished her bite and then looked at Maya, a frown creeping back onto her face.

"Nothing's happening."

"Oh, really?" The older girl placed a small tiara she had luckily found nearby on her head. "You look like one to me."

Hope giggled. "I like these magic carrots."

"Yah, they're pretty good."

Once the smaller girl had finished her vegetables, Joy brought over a plate of cookies and some glasses of milk. They all sat at the the table, laughing and enjoying the ridiculous statements made Hope.

"You know, I like dipping my cookies in milk!" she stated, doing said action. "I like it when it gets soggy."

Maya cracked up. "You'd be the first person I've ever heard say that."

"Well, have you ever met a princess before?" the small child asked solemnly.

"No."

"Well, only princesses say that. And I'm a princess, so I like soggy cookies."

Maya turned to Joy.

"She's cute."

"Isn't she?" Her mother smiled down at her daughter.

And it was in that moment where Maya forgot all about her father and where she was at. Because that scene was just 3 people having a good time, not caring about who they were and why they were there.

Unfortunately, it was ruined when her father walked in through a small door she hadn't noticed before then. He stopped at the edge of the counter and furrowed his brow as if trying to tell if it was really his daughter. Maya noticed him at the same time he did and her grinning face darkened.

"Hi, Maya," he leaned against the counter.

"Hi, dad," she responded as coldly as possible.

"I didn't realize you were coming over." Kermit looked pointedly at Joy.

Hope hopped out of her chair and ran to embrace him.

"She's here to play princess with me, daddy!"

"Yah?" He picked her up much to her delight. "Are you guys locked in a tower like Rapunzel?"

She giggled. "No. We're going to a ball this time!"

"Hmm. Now, what princess went to a ball? Was it Ariel?" he pretended to think it over.

"No!" she shrieked. "Like Cinderella!"

"Oh, yah," Kermit smiled and set the small girl down.

Maya had watched the whole exchange and it hurt a little, seeing him do the things he should have done with her. This wasn't to say she wasn't glad Hope was going to grow up with a father, but she happened to share the same father...and he sure had messed up the first time.

Joy was watching the two with hidden concern and she payed Maya extra attention, as she discreetly studied her behind her glass. The girl was hiding her emotions extremely well, but she could tell she was hurting. Her own heart ached for her, as she had grown up in a similar family and she still carried around her own hurt. But, unfortunately it was nothing she could fix and she only hoped that Hope might be a bridge that connected the two. And who knew? It could benefit both of them in the long run, after all.

"What do you want for Christmas, Hart?" Jazz asked mockingly.

Maya smirked. "I don't know...some spray paint would be nice."

"Here ya' go," she grinned and tossed her a purple can.

They were in their 3rd art museum and she still didn't know how they managed to take care of the security cameras and sensors. Honestly, it was kind of impressive despite the circumstances.

"You want some, Huckleberry?" Maya raised her eyebrows at the stone faced figure beside her.

"Nope, I'm good."

Jazz leaned down to whisper in her cousin's ear. "What's up with him?"

"Beats me," she shrugged. "It's Ranger Rick, so who knows?"

Lucas crossed his arms and remained planted in the spot he had stood in for over an hour now. Maya continued her painting over a painting, before growing annoyed and turning to Sundance.

"Will you tell me what's going on?"

"Oh, like you tell me what's going on with you?" He wasn't in the mood today.

"What the heck! I'm just trying to be nice, Heehaw." She rolled her eyes and turned back to her stupidity.

"Look, Maya," he lowered his voice, so no one would overhear their conversation. "I know I went with you once, but this is so bad."

"I told you not to come," she retorted. "You insisted."

"Because I needed to protect you."

"Why does everyone think I need protecting?" Maya asked frustratingly. "First Josh, and now you...I don't need this, you know."

"Wait, when were you hanging out with Josh?" Lucas narrowed his eyes.

"Wow, calm down Cowboy. And it's none of your business."

Jazz took that time to address the whole group and interrupting their argument, much to Maya's relief. Lucas didn't share her feeling.

"Okay, it's time for the last wing of the year!" she grinned. "Let's go."

They all headed stealthily down the hall and into a big room with no apparent theme. She headed over to a small painting of a cat and some regal lady, with Lucas trudging behind her slowly.

Maya sprayed over the cat's white paw and feeling his eyes boring into her back, wrote Huckleberry on the lady's forehead. He scowled and rolled his eyes when she turned around to grin at him.

"How do you find any of this amusing?"

"Oh my gosh, what is up with boys this week?" She threw up her hands.

"What's that supposed to mean?" he asked suspiciously.

"Like seriously, you guys are worse than girl's mood swings...last month you didn't put up half the fight you are now and you even vandalized paintings. Tonight, you're giving me all this crap and won't touch a can of paint."

"Just because you're making this decision, doesn't mean I have to make the same one."

"I know! I told you not to come!"

"I came for you!"

She fought the urge to throttle him.

"Shut up. We already knew you're here only out of obligation, but I don't need to hear it."

"Maya, you know that's not true."

"No, what I know is that you just said you're only here to protect me...I'm merely a problem that everyone needs to fix, or another chore to check off their list. I guess I should be used to it, but whatever..."

"Okay, now hold on a minute." Lucas looked very concerned. "You're not just a problem."

Maya shook her head and moved on to the next painting. Her brain immediately tuned out Huckleberry's words, as she stared at the piece of art. Oh, this was going to be an interesting one to destroy.

She took out her red spray paint and covered the father in the painting, until he was nothing but a big, blob. The painting was of a father and his daughter, sitting on a porch, staring out at the rain. They were hand in hand and the girl was leaning adoringly on her father's shoulder. By painting over him, she was disconnecting the two and strangely it felt right...and yet not at the same time.

"...are you even listening?" Lucas threw up his hands.

"No," she whispered.

"I give up. I just give up." He shook his head in disbelief.

"Sorry," Maya said quietly.

He lifted his head. "Did you just apologize?"

Maya didn't answer. There were too many things going on her head right now to think clearly. What was this emotion she was feeling? It had occurred as soon as she had vandalized that painting and she wasn't sure where it was coming from. Was it guilt? Anger? Sadness? No, it wasn't any of those...it wasn't a numbness either. This time it was a raw and painful feeling, that seemed to tear at her heart and her mind. What was this?

And it was then that Maya realized she was breaking and things were about to seep out of her mask...Shawn had been right: at this point it was too late to stop it. But, she wasn't giving up. She would keep her mask on if the world was falling apart...even if it was crumbling right before her eyes and slipping right through her trembling fingers.