Disclaimer: I do not own Girl Meets World.
Six Weeks To Someday - Chapter 1
Leaving the Ski Lodge
Josh was helping Cory load the luggage into the bus as Topanga rounded up the class. The six friends stood in a circle off to the side, waiting until the luggage was loaded to board.
Riley and Lucas were standing impossibly close, their hands joined between them. Next to them, Farkle stood with his arm around Smackle's waist. Rounding out the circle was Maya and Zay, standing next to each other and taking in the couples around them.
Maya looked at Riley and Lucas (who were constantly sneaking glances at each other as they stood with their friends). She could not be happier for her friends. As she thought about the events of the weekend, and the events that led them there, a smile crossed her face. Not only was she happy for her friends, but the events of the weekend gave her more of something she had only recently discovered - hope.
"Great, now we have two lovey dovey couples to deal with," Zay said, rolling his eyes.
"Hey, we resent that!" Farkle replied, loosening his grip on Smackle slightly.
"We resent that completely!" Smackle chimed in.
"Well, while you two are resenting it, Beauty and the Beast haven't stopped looking at each other," Zay replied.
That snapped the new couple out of their trance.
"Oh, sorry guys. What were we talking about?" Lucas asked, looking around at the group.
"Oh, nothing." Zay said.
"We were just saying how ready we were to be back in the city," Farkle said, changing the subject.
Josh paused in helping Cory to observe the group. He was happy for his niece, and was (semi) confident that Lucas would treat her well. He had grown fond of the comedy provided by Farkle, Smackle, and Zay. While they could be serious when needed, they always kept things light. His eyes lingered-perhaps too long-on the small blonde who completed the group.
This weekend changed things for Josh. He had been battling his feelings for Maya since she spent Christmas with the Matthews family two years ago. Every interaction after that just left him more confused about his feelings and more intrigued by his niece's best friend. He was pulled from his musings by his sister-in-law.
"Alright kids! Bags are loaded and it's time to head out. Everyone on the bus," Topanga announced, standing by the door of the bus with a clipboard.
"So, sit with me on the ride back?" Lucas asked Riley.
Riley looked at Maya, silently asking for permission. They sat next to each other on every school trip.
"Oh, go ahead. Sit with Ranger Rick. I'll be fine," Maya responded with a laugh.
"Thanks, Peaches."
Josh watched the students board the bus from his seat in the front. Well, he was actually watching one student in particular. Their conversations this weekend were playing over and over in his mind. But he felt like they needed to have one more. He agreed to play The Long Game, but once they let go of each other's hands, he found himself wishing he had also agreed to Maya's 6-week suggestion.
"Hey Boing, Long Game?" Maya said with a smile as she stopped at his seat.
"Long Game," he responded, grabbing her hand and pulling her into the seat. "Sit with me?"
"Well, let me weigh my options. You...or Zay. YOU…or Zay. Yeah, I'll sit with you Boing."
"Good. I, um, I wanted to talk with you about something." Josh said, rubbing the back of his neck.
"Oh god. Seriously. We aren't even together and already you are pulling the dreaded 'we need to talk'." Maya said, attempting to pull her hand out of Josh's, who had not let go since he pulled her into the seat.
"No, no, no, no, no, no. It's not like that. I-gosh-"
"Okay, bags are loaded, all kids are accounted for, lets get the heck out of this place!" Cory yelled, frantically getting on the bus and falling into the the seat behind the driver with Topanga
Maya laughed at her teacher's antics as the bus started pulling away from the Mount Sun Lodge.
"So what-", "I didn't-" The two started saying to each other once they pulled onto the highway.
"Sorry, you said you wanted to talk. So talk." Maya said turning to him, preparing herself for the disappointment she thought she knew was coming.
"I told you I was playing The Long Game, and I am. But, after you walked away, I also thought about your 6-week suggestion. And I think we should talk about it."