Josh was sitting in his dorm room, studding for his last final, when a loud knock made him lose his trail of thoughts. He rushed to the door and opened them to find an angry Maya on the other side.
-Even from his grave, he's making my life miserable. – Maya yelled as she walked past him to enter his room.
-What's going on? What did he say in his will? – Josh asked worried.
-He left me a letter. – Maya showed him a piece of paper she held in her hand. – He told me he loved me and that I was special and how he regrets everything. And then he told me he sent my paintings to the The Florence Academy Of Art. – She paused. – In Florence. In Italy. Without my permission. – Her eyes filled with tears. – He knew me for all of what? Three weeks and he thought that gives him the right to decide for me? He thought he knew me? He wanted to be a father to me so little that he would rather deal with me after his death? He doesn't get to be a parent now. He doesn't get to decide for me.
Josh walked over to her and hugged her. She cried in his chest.
-Why is this making you so upset? – Josh didn't understand.
Maya broke free from his hug. She sat on his bed and Josh sat next to her. He looked at her worriedly. Maya looked straight ahead of her. Silent tears rolled down her cheeks. She took in a deep breath.
-I was fine. Finally I was dealing with everything. I had a picture of him as a guy who just couldn't deal. I thought he left because he wasn't ready. And I will never approve of that but I was starting to get it. I understood it. He couldn't tell me one nice thing when he was alive. He never told me he loved me. He had to use a metaphor to tell me he was proud of me. A poorly constructed metaphor, if I might add. But he signed the adoption papers. He let go of me and I thought he know, just like I did, what kind of father he was. But he was delusional. He wrote in this letter everything he couldn't tell me in person. And he thought it will be okay. He thought that I would smile that my daddy loved me and it will somehow magically erase the last 12 years of my life.
She looked at Josh.
-And it's not enough. I hate that he thought it would be enough. He left me enough money to pay for the tuition and live comfortably in Italy for four years and he thought that that made him a dad.
Josh understood now. He put his arms around her tightly and held her in his arms.
-Do we hate him now again? – Josh asked supportively.
-I don't know yet. – Maya wasn't sure how she feels. – I'll let you know when I figure it out.
-I'll be here when you do. – He kissed her forehead.
-Did you get in? – He asked after a while.
-In the art school? I don't know. I haven't opened the letter.
-Why not?
-It's one of the most prestiges art colleges in the world. Of course I didn't get in. And even if by some strange stroke of luck I did, it's in Italy. I'm not going to Italy. – Maya concluded.
-Can I open it? – He asked, still curious.
-Sure. Go ahead. – She took the letter out of her bag and handed it to Josh. He open the envelope and started to read the letter. Maya wouldn't admit it but she was curious to know too. The Florence Academy Of Art accepted based on the submitted work only. They didn't care about the grades or the country of origin. Maya wondered if maybe, just maybe she was good enough to get in. but she quickly shook off that thought.
-Holly crap. – Josh let out.
-What? – Maya asked anxiously. – What is it?
Josh looked at her.
-Not only did you get in, but you got a full scholarship. – Josh exclaimed excitedly.
Maya heard the words but she didn't understand them.
-I got in? – She was still in shock.
-Yes. – Josh jumped off of the bed in excitement. – You got in. – Then he remembered what that meant for her. What that meant for them. There is no way Maya could pass up on an opportunity like this. Which meant she had to go to Italy. Maya realized it too.
-Oh. – Josh said and sat back down next to her, with the letter still in his hands.
-Oh. – Maya said too. They both sat next to each other in complete silence for the next few minutes, neither one of them wanting to be the first one to say out loud what both of them knew.
XXXXXX
Maya left Josh's dorm room without the clear idea of what she was going to do. She was confused. On the one hand, she didn't want to go Italy and leave her life behind. Leave her friends and leave Josh. On the other hand, it was Italy and one of the best schools for art in the world. How could she not go? But how could she not stay?
She came home to see Shawn and Katy happily unpacking their wedding gifts. They were laughing at something Katy said when they heard Maya come in. Katy knew something was wrong the second she saw her daughters face.
-Oh, baby girl. What happened? – Katy stud up to hug her daughter.
Maya told them about Kermit's letter and her acceptance to the college of every artist's dream.
-You're going to Italy? – Shawn asked.
-I don't know what I'm doing. – Maya was confused.
-But you have to go. It's the motherland. You have to go to the motherland. The birth place of renaissance and Botticelli, da Vinci, Michelangelo, Petrocelli and so many other great ones. You do not walk out on an opportunity like this one. – Shawn spoke with fire as only a fellow artist could. He understood what this meant for her talent.
-It's not that simple. – Maya told him.
-I know you have your friends here. And Josh but it's just four years and you'll come back every break and we'll come visit you. And if in any moment you think that is too much for you, you can always come back. – Shawn assured her.
Katy was quit up until this point.
-I don't want her to go. – She said. – I don't want my baby girl on another continent. It's too far away. NYU has a great art program. I don't see why she can't just stay with us for a little while longer.
-Honey. – Shawn hugged his wife. – She is not a little kid anymore. We can't hold on to her forever. She has to decide for herself what her future will be.
-There is something else I didn't have time to tell you. – She paused to swallow a huge lump in her throat.
-Something happened on your wedding day. – She didn't know how to tell them. – Okay. Remember when I told you that Riley gave me this flower ring?
Shawn nodded.
-I lied. – They looked at her surprised. – Josh gave it to me. We're engaged.
-You're engaged? – Shawn yelled.
-Kind of. – She said.
-What? – Katy yelled too.
-You are too young. This can't be happening. I'm going to kill him. – Shawn declared.
-Are you pregnant? – Katy asked.
-Pregnant? – Shawn exclaimed. – I think I'm having a heart attack.
-I am not pregnant. Relax. I just love him and he loves me. And we are only engaged. We are not getting married until at least after we are both out of college.
-Are you sure you are not pregnant? – Katy asked again.
-I am sure. – Maya assured them.
-Okay. – Katy said with a calmer voice. – Still, he can't be the defining factor. You have to choose what's best for you. Not what Josh or we or anyone else wants.
-You have to decide for yourself. – Shawn agreed with Katy.
-And as much as it breaks our hearts, we'll be here for you, no matter what you decide. – Katy assured her.
-It's really hard. – Maya told them.
-No one said growing up is easy. – Shawn added. – But I believe in you. I know you'll make a right choice.
-I need a bay window. – Maya suddenly said.
-We don't have a bay window. – Katy reminded her.
-Bay window now.
XXXXXX
-You are not going to Italy. – Riley told her best friend as they were sitting on the bay window in her room. – We were supposed to go backpacking through Europe together. You can't go by yourself. That's not fair.
-You are right. – Maya agreed. – I can't go without you.
-No I am not right. I am selfish. – Riley said. – You have to go.
-What about Josh? – She asked.
-My uncle loves you. And he will wait for you. I know he will. And in the meantime, I will keep an eye on him.
-I don't know if I can do it.
-Do what? – Riley asked.
-Go to Italy without him. I don't know if I can take it. – Maya told her best friend.
-So you can leave me but not him? – Riley was a bit disappointed.
-I know I will always have you. No matter where we end up you will always be my person. That is never going to change.
-So I'm a sure thing? – Riley asked fake hurt.
-Yes you are. – Maya answered, amused.
-You will always be my person too. – Riley said and hugged her person.
-Is there any chance there is Florence in the US and that you got accepted there? – Riley tried one last time.
-Sorry peaches. We are out of luck.
-Can we stay like this for a little while longer? – Riley asked.
-We can, but my neck is starting to cram. – Maya complained.
-You are leaving for Italy, push through it. – Riley said.
-I haven't decided yet. – Maya reminded her.
-Yes you have. –Riley said. She knew Maya better than Maya knew herself.
-I am really going to miss you Rails. You have no idea. – Maya almost cried.
-My best friend is going to be the best artist of our generation. – Riley said with a faint smile.
-And my best friend is going to be the second greatest teacher that ever lived. – Maya retorted.
-I'm going to miss not having him as a teacher in college but there is no way he's coming to Italy. – Both girls laughed.
-Right? – Maya asked not convince.
-There is no way. – Riley said. – He's probably coming to NYU with me and Lucas.
XXXXXX
-I can't stay. – Maya told Josh.
-And I can't ask you to. – Josh said back. They were sitting in his dorm room again, but this time Maya knew what she wants to do.
-I am just not that girl. I can't be. I can't stay for a guy. Even if that guy is the love of my life. And I can't give up on this opportunity. I have a real chance to do something that will make me proud, to make something of myself. I love you. But I have to love me more. – Maya explained.
-And I would never forgive myself if I am the one that held you back. – Josh said.
-What happens now? With us? Are we still engaged? Are we still together? – Maya asked, dreading the answer.
-I don't know. – Josh said. – I don't want to lose you. But I don't know how we can keep ourselves sane while I am over here and you are over there.
-So maybe we do have a song after all. – Maya said. Her voice was low and sad.
-I thought you said that song isn't about a break up. – Josh reminded her. They both thought of the song they listened to on their road trip.
-I thought you said it was.
-Maybe I was wrong. – He said. – You said it yourself. That kind of love doesn't just go away. I will never be able to breathe without you. I love you so much.
-I love you too. But what if something happens? What if distance gets to us and we end up hating each other? I never want to hate you.
-I could never hate you. – Josh promised her. – Even if you rip my heart out I will still love you.
-So we are doing the long distance then?
-I guess we are. – Josh said.
-Wow. You don't even know the language. – He remembered.
-I'll learn. – Maya told him.
-With some hot guy named Pedro that has olive skin with flawless curls and calls you Bella? – Josh asked.
-No. Pedro with olive skin and flawless curls will never compare to Josh Matthews with great hair and perfect smile, who makes me smile and loves even the worst parts of me.
-He sounds like a great guy. – Josh joked.
-The best.