Maya: Hey guys, did you miss us?
Josh: We still got quite a ways to go after all
Art: Writers block takes a bit. As such my apologies for the Hiatus, and now for the an exciting continuation of the Prequel. As such, warnings included that this episode contains issues on drinking and religious themes.
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And now, for something a little different….
ABIGAIL ADAMS HIGH
Thup, thup, thup
Riley worriedly watched Maya give off numerous shots of her fist to the punching bag, Riley had watched her with great curiosity; Maya herself had never been one for the gym or very active. But here she was jumping between taking swings at the punching bag, reading Mere Christianity by C.S. Lewis, and had gotten done an hour ago with working on a fine canvas of fields in Ireland.
Uncle Josh really has inspired a new Maya
However this wasn't exactly true, not fully. Maya also had a good father in her life, Shawn Hunter, who through his own passion for photography, had pushed Maya to dive into her own passions. Today that was looking into both the faith of her Boing, and taking some steam off; because said Boing's best friend had been extremely off-putting.
Break it off with Josh
Think of what you might find and if you find it, are you ready for it?
Maya's fists hurt at this point, she knew Riley was watching so she couldn't show it; but after eighty six punches, her knuckles had begun to bleed under her gloves. She had enjoyed Enoch, she still did, but the comments he had left her with haunted the last few days for Maya.
Josh, just what has Enoch so protective over you?
Maya herself was angry, but the cocktail of emotions only had that as a base, it was paired with frustration and guilt because the missing five years between her and Josh had gone unknown, unspoken, and unthought of before Enoch brought it up in that speech. In her mind, Maya felt like she had already failed a test for this 'prequel' of a relationship she was in with Josh. She was about to break down when she heard the text notification go off on her phone, she picked it up out of her bag
Mom: Dinner in 20, so hurry home, love u
(Cool) Dad: Steak night kiddo! Hurry on home, we got table time! :)
Maya had a single tear escape as she let out a laugh, wiping it away she didn't know when Shawn had changed her contact for him, but it was just right for their relationship as father and daughter. She loved having a dad who messed with her, but also was always ready to give Josh a protective death glare at times. Table time was where they all chatted about their days, something Shawn had wanted to start as to be different from his lonely childhood; and Maya would be silent if asked but she loved it. As she walked towards Riley and the showers, she almost had a real giant smile on her face from the blessings she could count on. Riley didn't miss as she softly hugged Maya who remained silent for the time.
GRAYSON CEMETARY
The day rained, yet Enoch didn't care as he walked the graves; it was always time to visit her when he got back into town, however it more shocked him because he found someone already there before him
"Mr. Hathing?"
The old man before him was one who had seen military time, and had retired with later work in carpentry, like Enoch he too hadn't brought an umbrella. The man stood there in a wool black coat, a suit with tie underneath, all getting sopping wet, along with the grey slightly grown out hair trying to droop over his eyes
"Hey En" the man said in a low solemnly sad tone, it had been years since Enoch had seen this man and just as long since he heard that nickname "the years go by, don't they?" his eyes not leaving the grave stone
"They sure do sir" said Enoch "been nearly half a decade" he now had his eyes pass over the stone
"Word down the grapevine is that you were officially back in town so I figured you would visit my little girl eventually" said Hathing "Josh coming too?" Enoch wanted to tell him yes, more than anything. But in truth, it almost seemed like Josh had all but forgotten the girl. Enoch knew that wasn't true
"Well, I will say, for not visiting her" Hathing gestured at the sunflowers by the grave "she sure always has people who remember her"
"Are you still mad at us? mad at Josh?" Enoch asked, tightening his grasp on the cane, nervous for the answer
"I said things to that boy that no one, certainly no adult, should of pushed on a teenager" Hathing looked as if remembering a wound, one that still festered to this day
"I hope Josh gets to hear that from you himself" said Enoch, he began walking off before he heard a sigh and an "ahem" behind him
"my daughter loved you all" Hathing said "she was by no means a saint but we raised her in our church, and she came to represent Christ and when the time came she wanted to bring Christ to others" Hathing started walking toward Enoch "and when she found you Enoch, a brother to her, she found more boldness and collected others, she would round up your younger brother Micah, Joshua, Abigail, Jaden, and Sophie" he stopped before Enoch "she loved you all"
"sir?" Enoch couldn't find the point here
"Do you think my daughter was broken when she sought Christ? when she sought you all?" said Hathing, Enoch went wide eyed "she wasn't, she just wanted to talk with her maker, someone to listen, someone to love, someone with answers" Hathing put an hand on Enoch's shoulder, then patted it "Just because you have a cane, doesn't mean you are weak, just because someone seeks God doesn't always mean they are broken" Hathing walked past Enoch "I hope you are letting yourself grow En, til next time"
Enoch was left alone, in the cold, the dropping rain the only accommodation to himself with a memory coming up like the bitterness of bile
Only the broken seek God in my experience
Enoch hated many things, but it was pure frustration to realize how truly wrong he could be, and how talented he was at sticking his own foot deep in his mouth.
TOPANGA'S
A rogue grunt escaped the lips of Zay as he took a sip of the strawberry fruity freeze he had gotten up front as Topanga's; thankful a certain brunette golden boy wasn't working. Seriously, what did Maya see in him? Wait, he had only made that offer to Maya as her friend, right? Zay just didn't want her to be alone while waiting for her Boing and their "someday"…..right? Zay kept telling himself that he had to be making a big deal out of nothing, but still couldn't even stand seeing a picture of them together (the latest one having Maya leaning her head on Joshes shoulder, falling asleep with the tag "great best friend's uncles, greater personal pillow"). The thud of the phone being stuck down on the table caused a few nearby high schoolers to jump, Zay gently gestured a sorry
"It never gets easy to see some creep around a nice girl is it?" Zay looked up, a hooded man before him "I mean, he looks a bit older than her, and she seems like she could be being manipulated"
"I'm sorry, do I know you?" Zay looked quizzically at the figure; the figure appears to be a young man, maybe Joshes age, a gray NYU hoodie on, the NYU in white, black pants, with slip on black shoes, pale skin, and the only distinguishing feature a gold rimmed black leather strapped wrist watch on his left hand, it's glass cracked diagonally left from right.
"Just a concerned citizen, but hey maybe my concern is nothing, maybe Josh is good for this blonde"
Zay didn't even have time to respond as the man left as just as fast as he had entered
THE MATTHEWS APARTMENT
Josh grunted slightly annoyed, but let it slide into a light chuckle as he realized how ridiculous he looked; his shirt was stuck just above his head as he tried to take it off carefully, the shirt being the victim of a misstep of the Matthews in mechanics. To make a story short, the result had one of Joshes favorite blue flannels splattered with mechanical oil. As he tossed the shirt in the hamper (he'd note this was bad idea later), Josh moved over to the mirror. To say the years had been kind to Joshua Matthews would be a stretch, to say it all had been pleasant might move a stretch into a tear. He had a muscular physique but a small layer of fat remained over his abdomen along with a mark and a memory that wouldn't let him be at peace
The sound of screeching metal, the sparks of the black motorbike's collision with the road; the headlight of the bike looking at him like glazed over eyes of the dead
A women calling for help, a man checking with Josh if he was conscious; Josh had never regretted being awake more
He could of sworn past the scathed leather and whiskey on his breath Josh was seeing his own organs, the smell of iron so strong as red rivers flew all around him
the feeling of stinging brought Josh back to the present, he had sub-consciously started pushing in on the scar, he grunted again "could this day get any worst?"
Then he heard the door to the apartment open behind him, he didn't even need to look to see who it was
"Uh, hi gorgeous" Josh let out a nervous chuckle while growing his own smile about the situation. Maya couldn't resist taking a peek, but her eyes met not Joshes body, but rather the large scar that went over the left side of his abdomen. Josh was suddenly met eye to eye with the baby blue eyes of Maya, a feeling like electricity running over both of them as Maya's fingers traced over the scar
"My" Josh let out her nickname as if he himself was holding something back, his eyes not locking with hers, but she gently stroked his face
"look at me Josh"
Joshes eyes locked with Maya's, hers were empty of everything but concern for him and seeking for answers "What happened?" her hand came to rest on the scar, her face so close to his
I want to taste your lips
Josh shook his head, and Maya held back a soft smile of her own, Josh couldn't help but wonder if she had the same thought. A built up sigh came from Josh while he slid on a new navy blue shirt as he took Maya's hand in his own "come with me", Maya was taken aback by the softness in his voice here.
HUBI'S STORAGE UNITS
The clouds were dark grey, a rising storm; yet it was the the sign that had Maya's attention
Hubi's Storage Units: Temporary Housing for Homes
The sign was faded and old, a dying blue in comic-sans like font; an orange house shape with cartoony eyes and toothy smile baring outstretched arms and legs in a silly striding-like gesture represented the businesses. Maya wanted to craft a joke but suddenly felt a deep pit sink in her stomach as she watched Josh just walk past it without a glance, the emotion on his face recognized by Maya as pondering or deep in thought. Josh was struggling to find the words to explain everything to Maya, he wanted to be open to her but feared just how this might go. Both worried about the other, but remained speechless as they walked the silent sections of the storage units.
Storage 158A
Josh stopped walking now, his eyes looking at Maya with an unspoken apology and a begging for understanding as he put they key into the lock and clicked it unlocked.
A chill sent a morbid spark up Maya's spine
In the center of the room was a slim black motorcycle, Maya let a whistle escape her lips, she heard a light chuckle from Josh as he walked forward
"Maya, this is Loss" he said gesturing to the bike, but then just swiftly moved over to a little workbench he had in the storage unit as well; Maya could only compare it to friends that hadn't talked since last time where they had a big argument, she and Riles even had a few at times; but lighting and thunder always came back to take on the storm.
"It's been awhile since you rode" Josh turned his head just enough to see Maya, not the bike "yeah, it's been quite awhile"
"But why—" Maya walking around the bike finally saw the other side, from what was a smooth side that was clean and neatly in order, the other looked like someone had attempted to crumple it up and throw it out, then take it out and save it
"When was this" Maya's eyes were wide, she knew how easy one could die in a motorcycle accident, she was the type to see numerous videos online of crashes. She never would of thought Josh would be one of them
"Triangles new year"
"Excuse me?!" Maya turned her face, a twister of emotions gathering in her; fear, anger, worry, depression, and twisting together in a deadly mix "Where? When? Why did no one call me?"
"My, let me tell you everything" Josh had taken the time talking with her to move closer to Maya, and suddenly she felt the warmth of his hand meet her face as he comforted her
FLASHBACK
It's New Years Eve, it's New Years Eve and Josh Matthews is hit with misery; Enoch had sent him a text earlier sending his regards, and yet what hit Josh wasn't his best friend being absent. What had hit hard, was hearing his mother talk on the phone with Corey about how Maya was now apparently crazy about the cowboy, Lucas was his name.
Josh groaned at even thinking of the guys name, Lucas had the height, the morality, but more importantly he was Maya's age; what if he liked Maya back? What if Josh had to see them together? Why did he care this much about his nieces best friend?
Was he…..jealous? No, he was three years older than her, he was applying to college and she was working her way through high school
And yet, she had passions, she had a maturity, she had a feistiness and stubbornness that kept her strong when she needed to be; she was beautiful even when she was angry
Oh
Oh no
Joshua Matthews was in—-really really liked Maya Hart; was he sick? Was he a criminal for this crush? Josh feared he was a groomer at this point; and it was this thought that had him first grab his keys for Loss. But the idea of crushing on a girl three years younger than him
She could have a guy her age, a guy who could be there in her classes, a guy who could….be healthy for her
The click interrupted Joshes thoughts, the sound of a liquor cabinet being jimmied sub-consciously by none other but himself; the whiskey went down like fire, scorching his jealousy, but just maybe his soul too. Another and another, til it stops but one thought goes through his head
I'm gonna tell her, I'm gonna tell Maya
It all is a blurry mess, getting on Loss, the cool winter night air meeting the drunk-heated flesh of Josh as he zooms past car after car (the occasional horn making itself known). But his eyes get heavier and heavier, one of his hands slips. Then so does the bike itself, and suddenly Josh feels pain; pain in every part of his body. There is a woman screaming, a guy calling 911, Loss is on its side, and Josh thinks he might just die tonight as Maya is on his mind and his gut is spilling out.
HUBI'S STORAGE UNITS
"I woke up to my parents 12 hours later, then the rest of the family informed, then visiting later" said Josh, he took a green pill bottle out of his pocket which read Midaphren "this helps me when I get the rare PTSD attacks from it" he turned back to Maya, who had a face Josh rarely saw in Maya, it was fear
"Josh, I would have never known you were coming for me"
"My-"
"I could have lost you and never known"
"My-"
"No, even if you had, worse if you had made it, I might of rejected you and destroyed the long game myself" said Maya, then Josh watched the one part click in her mind; the part he hoped wouldn't yet
"You're family knew" Maya said, looking him dead in the eye "Riley knew"
An awkward silence fell over them, as they stared each other; one very angry, the other hoping she would understand
"My-" Josh said, but Maya cut him off by putting her finger to his lips "Josh, this isn't between us…I just need time" she turned around and walked out of the storage unit, Josh shocked at the calm demeanor in the moment by Maya but suddenly heard her yell "and I need to talk with Riles" Josh shook his head, his thoughts lost on the blonde girl walking off
This is the long game, the good times with Church Sundays, the bad times with motorcycles and mishaps, this is the prequel of a story worth telling
Maya had just made it out of storage when she got the text
Boing: Hey, gonna let you have the space, but when you need me; I gotta take care of business back home in Philadelphia, so it might be a bit. Please try and play nice gorgeous
Maya weakened a little at the nickname and the thought that Josh wanted to keep her updated but she needed to focus
Time to talk with Riles
TO BE CONTINUED
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Who is the mystery grave? How does she relate back to Enoch and Josh? How will it go with Riley? Who was the man that talked to Zay? Stay tune for next time on Three Little Rules, with the exciting conclusion of the Prequel! As such comment and review.