A.N.: Here's part 2! Happy new year! We're halfway through this story. Things will start speeding up a lot more now. Thanks for reading :)
Chapter Twenty- two, Barcelona, Part 2
"Holy moly, I'm freezing my bum out here," Josh murmured as he shivered uncontrollably.
Maya giggled. "I did tell you to keep your jacket."
Josh grinned. "What kind of Prince Charming would I be if I let you freeze your butt off while I stayed warm?" He joked. "Come on. Let's get back inside. Hopefully, we won't get kicked out again. Methinks that nurse doesn't like us very much."
Maya laughed.
They walked back in and headed straight for the elevator. Upon reaching the sixth floor, they immediately spotted Shawn chatting on his phone as he waited outside Amy Matthews' hospital room.
"Hold on Katy, they're coming now," He murmured before turning his attention towards them. "Hey. How's it going?" He greeted them.
"We're doing great, Dad. We're still together- in case you were wondering," Maya replied in a sassy tone. "I know that's not what you wanted, but that's what you're going to get. Nice try though trying to tear us apart. It didn't quite work this time around..."
"Maya..." Josh whispered her name. He was feeling uncomfortable by her antagonistic attitude towards Shawn.
Shawn observed them quietly for a moment before he responded. "Maya, your Mom wants to talk to you. She's on the phone."
Maya raised her eyebrows at him in suspicion for a few seconds before she grabbed his phone and went off to speak to her Mom.
Shawn turned his attention to Josh as soon as she left. "So, you decided not to break things off..."
Josh nodded. "Shawn, I know that's not what you wanted-"
"It's not about what I want, Baby Matthews. It's about what's best for our daughter...and also for you," He responded. "I mean, yeah, you're legally an adult now Josh, but in many ways, you're still a kid. And I get the sense, you don't really know what you're doing. Which is normal. Not many people know what the hell they're doing at 18 in anything. I sure as hell didn't. Lemme guess, you were all set to tell Maya that maybe you should cool things off for a little while and then date again later on, but then she convinced you not to do it...is that what happened?"
Josh sighed. "She was devastated, Shawn...I couldn't do it...I couldn't hurt her like that... And I also agreed with some of the points she made. I mean, I get what you're saying Shawn about us having rushed things, but it's kinda too late now to go back to playing the long game...so what we decided to do was to slow things down. We will follow whatever rules you give us Shawn. We're not going to do anything like what we did tonight ever again. I'll make sure of it."
"I've heard that before, Baby Matthews," Shawn retorted. "Just barely a week ago, when we were in my office, I gave you one last chance and you blew it, remember? How do I know you're not gonna screw up again?"
"I'm not," Josh replied. "I don't want to keep messing up Shawn. I don't want to keep ruining my relationship with Maya... and with you...I want to do better..." His voice trailed off.
Shawn nodded. "I get that Josh. But you're also a teenager. And Maya is still Maya...it's only a matter of time until something like tonight happens again...Part of being a parent, unfortunately, is making the hard decisions sometimes...with the hope that one day, the kids will understand and won't completely hate our guts...Katy and I are on the same page with this, Josh. We both decided that if you guys couldn't figure out on your own that perhaps you need to take a little break, then we would have to step in...so, you two no longer have our support to keep dating each other now. You can be friends. We don't have a problem with that. But this whole boyfriend, girlfriend thing? We're pulling the plug on it. You need to focus on college and figure some things out...you've been through a lot this past summer, Josh. I think it'll be good for you to spend some time on yourself. Maya needs to focus on school, and figure out who she is outside of being your girlfriend...not to mention, she doesn't need to be exposed to anymore nightclubs or college parties..."
"So, that's our final decision. I know it's not what you guys want to hear, but it really will be for the best. You guys can take the time to actually get to know each other, and also get to know yourselves- very important- before seriously dating again. You don't have to wait until Maya is 18. We're not being too strict on that. But we do think you should wait a little bit. So that's that..."
Josh felt his heart racing as he thought of what Maya's reaction was going to be once she heard Shawn and her Mom's decision.
"Shawn, please...is there any way you guys could reconsider your decision? Maya...she's...she's going to hate this..."
"I know," Shawn sighed. "Unfortunately, we can't always do what makes her happy, Josh. We do think this is the best course of action for her and for you. You may not see it now, but eventually, you will..."
"Shawn...this is all my fault," Josh responded in a desperate tone. "I'm the one who falsely accused her of cheating on me...and I'm the one who took her to a nightclub...I'll do anything as punishment...I'll wash your car everyday, I won't let her come into my apartment, I'll let you know every single time I hang out with her what we're doing and where we're going and if you don't approve, then we won't do it...I'll do anything Shawn...but please, don't break us up...it's just going to make everything worse and it's going to make Maya completely miserable...please don't punish her because of my mistakes...she didn't do anything wrong..."
"Josh- you've got it all wrong. We're not trying to punish you or Maya," Shawn explained. "We've simply realized - based on the mistakes that you made- that you guys aren't ready now for a relationship. We think it will do you some good to take a break from dating. So, that's what we're trying to do- for your sake and for our daughter's. We know you guys are going to hate this right now - but like I said, I think you'll come to appreciate this one day Josh when you and Maya are going strong together. Trust me."
Oh God...Josh thought in immense frustration as he brushed his hand slowly through his hair. How in the world had his entire night transformed into an unbearable nightmare? It was the kind of nightmare that he desperately wanted to awake from but felt himself completely powerless to free himself from its gripping, haunting hold...
He thought of how happy and relieved he and Maya had been just a few minutes ago when they had both agreed to stay together... and now, that feeling had completely dissipated. In just a few seconds, everything had come tumbling down like a house of cards...and there was absolutely nothing he could do about it...
Without Shawn and Katy's support, he knew there was no way their relationship would survive...he wanted their support...he needed it...he didn't want to be sneaking around with Maya behind their backs...and he certainly didn't feel comfortable encouraging Maya to disobey her parents...that's not the kind of boyfriend he wanted to be...Shawn and Katy were family and he wanted to respect them...
There had to be a way to convince them to change their minds on this issue...there had to be something that he could do right then and there to save their relationship...his mind raced as he desperately thought of a solution...
Hi Josh, congratulations! You have been selected as one of the finalists for an all paid for, completely expense free study abroad, language immersion program in Barcelona, Spain for the second semester of your Sophomore year...
Where are you from, Selena, if you don't mind me asking?
Barcelona, Spain...
You wanna get together with some college chick who looks like Selena and go to Barcelona and have an adventure together?! Is that it?...
It was a long shot. He didn't know if it was going to work. It was risky...but it was the only idea he had in that moment which he knew could change Shawn's mind...he was desperate...so he gave it a shot...
"Um...Shawn...I might have an idea...maybe we could all reach some sort of compromise here so that everyone will be happy..." He stated nervously.
Shawn raised his eyebrows at him curiously. "Ok, you have my attention Baby Matthews. I'm listening..."
"Um ok..." He paused for a moment to gather his thoughts before he continued speaking. "I got an offer, recently, for a study abroad opportunity in Spain for next year...I still have to interview for it so I'm not sure if they'll even pick me but...if I get it, I'm gonna be studying in Barcelona for my Spring semester. I'll be gone for like three or four months...Um, to be honest with you Shawn, I wasn't going to take the offer...but, if me going away for a few months will convince you...and Katy...to reconsider your decision about me and Maya...then I'll do it...so, the deal is that, you guys will still support me and her being together, but she will also get some space from me since I'll be gone for a few months...what do you think Shawn? This way, everyone gets what they want...you know what I'm saying?"
Shawn thought about his idea for a few seconds before he responded.
"It sounds like a great opportunity, Josh. What are you going to be studying over there?"
"Photography...and I'll also be continuing my Pre-med classes and also working on my Spanish," He responded.
"Wow. That's awesome," Shawn retorted with a proud smile. "Congratulations, Josh. I'm curious though...you said you weren't going to take the offer. How come? Seems to me like this isn't the kind of offer you pass up on as a college student. Know what I mean?"
Josh sighed. "I guess, I just didn't think it was the right time to do something like that..." He replied. "I was thinking about everything that happened in the family over the summer and of course I also thought about Maya and how she would react if I was to go away for like four months...so I don't know...I just didn't think it was the right time..."
Shawn nodded. "Interesting you say that Josh...it's kind of like how we don't think it's the right time for you and Maya to be together...do you understand us now, Baby Matthews?"
Josh nodded. "Yeah, I do. But Shawn-"
"Hold it," Shawn cut him off. "I know what you're going to say, Josh. We don't need to keep going around in circles. It's been a long night and I'm tired. You want us to give you guys a chance to prove us wrong. I get it. I hear you. And I think we might have a deal here. I know you don't think it's the right time for you to go to Barcelona next semester, Josh, but I think this is going to be really good for you. Sometimes, it helps to get away from everything...to clear your head and to gain a new perspective on things...it's opportunities like these that force you to grow and also help you discover yourself- who you are, what you're passionate about, what you like, what's important to you in life- you're gonna discover all of that and more...So, as you can probably tell by now, I'm highly encouraging you to do this. I can't think of anyone in the family who wouldn't support you going Josh. And if Maya is an understanding girlfriend- which I'm sure she is- then I know she will support you as well. Have you told her about it?"
Josh shook his head. "Not yet. I wasn't planning on telling her since I had already decided not to go..."
"Oh. Well, you should tell her. And I really think you should go," Shawn encouraged him. "I think you need a trip like this, Baby Matthews, to take care of yourself. But obviously, you should discuss it with your Mom and the rest of the family and see what they say. If your Mom approves you going- I really don't see that being a problem- then yes, we have a deal Josh. Katy and I will give you and Maya one more chance to prove us wrong. We will continue to support you guys dating right now. But if you screw up again Josh, I think you know what the consequences will be...we've given you way too many chances already-"
"I know," Josh retorted. "Thanks Shawn. I'm gonna get my act together. Thanks a lot for giving us another chance."
"Alright. So you're gonna let me know what happens with Barcelona?"
"Yeah, I will. Thanks."
"Ok great. Cory's in there with your Mom. You can go in. I'll wait out here for Maya."
"How's she doing now, Shawn?" Josh asked him in a slightly worried tone. "Is everything ok?"
"Yeah. She's good. She's on the IV. She's sleeping now. If everything is good in the morning when the doctors check in on her, we'll bring her home. Clearly, we're not ordering from that Chinese place again. I knew there was something funny about the way it tasted," Shawn shook his head.
"I'm gonna stay with her tonight," Josh informed him.
"Oh, that's not necessary Josh," Shawn responded. "Cor and I will be here. We're taking shifts. You and Maya should get some rest. You've obviously had a pretty interesting night. Make sure you drive safely."
"I don't think I can sleep comfortably at home Shawn..." Josh replied. "Not when I know she's here..." His voice trailed off as he glanced around at the white pale walls of the hospital floor. In that moment, he was flooded with vivid memories of the past summer...memories that still haunted him sometimes in his dreams...
Shawn observed him quietly for a moment before he patted him gently on his shoulder.
"You can stay Josh. I'll drive Maya home. I'll let her know that Katy and I are giving you guys just one more chance- and that's it. I'm not gonna mention Barcelona though. That's between you and her to discuss that. Sounds good?"
Josh nodded. "Yeah, sounds good."
"Ok. Goodnight Josh."
"Goodnight Shawn."
Josh started heading towards his mother's room.
"Baby Matthews," Shawn called out to him softly. Josh immediately turned back around to face him.
"She's going to be fine. It's the stupid food she ate. Try not to drive yourself crazy tonight, ok?" Shawn reassured him with a soft smile.
Josh simply nodded in response before entering the room.