Disclaimer: I do not own Girl Meets World, Boy Meets World, the characters, or events that took place in both shows. Only the events, plot, and OC characters in Don't Look Down are mine.

a/n: As promised, here is the second chapter!

Chapter Two

The presence of Joshua Matthews was not an unusual occurrence in the Hunter household. The twenty-three year old had graduated with his Bachelor's in Psychology two years earlier and promptly decided to take a well-deserved year off before pursuing his Master's. The original agreement was that Josh would spend that year working for Shawn, and then he would go back to school.

As it turned out, Josh was a natural born writer and was soon writing articles as good as Shawn's—if not better. Moreover, the kid had a hidden talent for photography. It became apparent about six months into the job that Shawn didn't really want Josh to leave, and Josh apparently didn't want to leave either.

And it seemed he wouldn't for a little while, considering that two years later, he still hadn't returned to school.

Not that anyone was complaining.

Because Josh was traveling half the time, Shawn made it a goal to offer the guest bedroom (AKA, Maya's old room) in their apartment whenever Josh was in town. "Just in case you get sick of staying with your loser brother," Shawn had said in explanation, only half-joking.

This meant Maya was abundantly accustomed to swinging by the apartment, on the few weekends she could, to find Josh lounging at the kitchen table with a cup off coffee and his laptop.

So she really didn't understand why Riley was making a big deal about Josh eating dinner with her and family tonight.

"Why am I making a big deal? Why am I making a big deal?!" Riley threw her hands in the air in what Maya could only imagine to be frustration and began pacing the expanse of the kitchen.

Rolling her eyes, Maya stuck her spoon back in her yogurt and continued eating. "Riles, he's at my parent's apartment all the time. He's basically Shawn's little brother and the son my mom never had."

"Maya!" Riley swiped her spoon away, leaving no room for the blonde to complain before she began talking again. "He just broke up with his girlfriend!"

"So?"

"So? This is your chance!"

Sighing, Maya shook her head at her best friend's antics. "Riley, you gotta stop this. The Josh and Maya ship has long since sunk into the depths of the Jersey River."

Riley's face fell. "Come on, Peaches, whatever happened to 'someday?'"

"We tried 'someday' and it didn't work."

And they did try. After Maya turned eighteen and it was established that the both of them still had feelings for the other, they did try. But Maya—the destroyer of all things good—let her insecurities once again rule over her logic, and Josh couldn't—and never should've had to—handle the emotional mess that was Maya Hunter.

So they very mutually decided to part ways weeks before she finished her first year at NYU. When asked, they blamed their split on life. Maya was overwhelmed with school, taking twenty-five-percent amount of credits higher than necessary to graduate early, and Josh was adjusting to his new job that forced him out of the city on an almost weekly basis.

But, deep down, Maya knew the break up was her fault. She wasn't ready to be in a relationship with someone she cared about so much, especially when she felt she didn't deserve Josh's care in return. She wasn't able to trust him, not like he wanted her to.

Yet, if anything, their relationship grew after their break up. Suddenly, without the pressure of someday, they were able to truly develop as friends. They texted, they FaceTimed, and sometimes he slept in her room at her parents' apartment and sent her pictures of him snuggling with her old teddybear. He became a source of comfort, making up for what Riley lacked in logic and what Farkle lacked in sentiment. In turn, she became one of his only constant friends in his recent restless lifestyle that sometimes involved no cell service.

Still, even after a year-and-a-half, Maya couldn't deny that her heart fluttered a little every time he gave her that lopsided grin, that her stomach clenched every time he uploaded a picture with or talked about a new girlfriend, or that she still thought about all the things they could have done differently.

But, similar to many other aspects of her life, Riley didn't need to know any of that.

But the brunette was not finished with her argument. "Did you ever think that maybe it's not that you guys aren't right for each other? That maybe the two of you just weren't ready? That maybe your someday just hadn't come yet?"

Yes, Maya thought, but, again, Riley didn't need to know that. "Josh and I had some good times, Riles," she admitted, "but we've done so much better as friends than we ever did as a couple."

"You can't compare the two!" Riley exclaimed, using the spoon she swiped from Maya to point at her accusingly. "Maya," her expression softened and her eyes fell, "you were dealing with a lot while you guys were dating. I know you blame yourself for how it ended—that it ended at all—and, yes, there were mistakes, but don't you think it's time you stop blaming yourself?"

Maya diverted her gaze to the kitchen counter, studying the flaws in the marble. "I thought I lost him when we broke up." She swallowed the lump in her throat, the familiar build of regret. "I was lucky he even wanted to be friends." Riley's hand crawled into her line of vision, covering her own. "I can't lose him, Riles."

"I know he doesn't want to lose you either," Riley assured, squeezing the blonde's hand comfortingly.

A solemn silence passed between the two friends, before Riley slid Maya's spoon back into her grasp.

"Well, I need to get ready." The brunette pushed away from the counter, turning in the direction of the hallway where the bedrooms were located. "Andrew will be here in an hour."

Maya plastered on a quick smile. Riley's boyfriend was a sore spot between the two of them. Technically, Andrew had yet to do anything to earn Maya's disapproval. He was a member of one of New York's most elite families, as well as one of Riley's classmates at Columbia. He was intelligent and charming, but, in Maya's few experiences with him, he was a little too proud of his status. Moreover, with every date that Riley came home from, every minute spent with her boyfriend, the brunette seemed just a little more unsure of herself and her decision to study medicine.

And Maya had a feeling it was more so due to Andrew's manipulation than Riley's feelings for him.

But the blonde had voiced her opinion one too many times for it to make much of difference anymore. "Have fun," she bid her best friend, watching her escape to her room. "And don't stay out too late!" she playfully called over her shoulder, then resumed eating her yogurt.

However, not even the sweetness of strawberry yogurt could cancel out the sour feeling in her stomach the thought of Riley's boyfriend always stirred.

Not to mention the guilt-ridden weight multiplying in her chest.

"Lucy! I'm home!" The words that left Maya's mouth were followed by the clumsy thumping of adolescent feet, before a little brunette with Shawn's eyes and Katie's nose flew into her arms.

"Mi-Mi!" Four year old TJ Hunter latched onto her big sister's neck, little legs wrapping around the blonde's torso.

Maya laughed—genuinely—for what felt like the first time in days. "My little dove!" She gently placed TJ back on her feet, bending down so she was level with her. "Let me look at you! You grew!" she exclaimed, smiling widely.

TJ nodded eagerly. "I'm four now!"

Maya chose to ignore that she was at her sister's birthday party and that TJ's birthday was over a month ago. She also ignored the fact that the little girl was still holding up three fingers instead of four. "No way! Last time I saw you, you were still a munchkin."

"Funny thing that," came a familiar voice. "Last time I saw you, you were a munchkin, too." Josh stood up from the couch, hands in his pockets, and gave her a playful once over. "And look at that—you still are."

Maya rolled her eyes. "Funny," she commented, but she was helpless the amused smile spreading across her cheeks.

"Mommy says it's rude to roll your eyes," TJ stated matter-of-factly.

"Then go roll your eyes at Mommy and tell her you learned from Uncle Joshie."

That was all took for the little girl to flee to the kitchen and show her mother what she learned.

Josh shot her a glare. "Your mom's gonna kill me, you know that, right?"

Maya snorted. "Please, if anyone asked her who her favorite child is, she'd tell them 'Joshua Matthews' in a heartbeat."

Josh chuckled, the façade dropped. He stepped toward the young woman and drew her into a familiar, friendly hug. "It's good seeing you, Maya."

Maya buried her nose in his shirt, inhaling his comforting scent, and sighed contentedly as he dropped an affectionate kiss on her hairline. "It's good seeing you, too, Josh."

Having long since learned the habit Shawn seemed to have of popping in at the worst times, the two quickly pulled away. Even if they were just friends now, they were both aware that Shawn had a mental radar that allowed him to detect any boy touching his step-daughter.

They acted in good time, too, as moments after they parted, Katy's voice called them over to kitchen.

And if Shawn had a look of slight disapproval on face when they walked in together, then that was his problem.

"Shawn tells me you're working for the reincarnated Hitler these days?"

Maya didn't need to look at Josh to see his amused smile. Rolling her eyes, she clutched her mug of hot tea tighter in hopes that the warmth would spread to her limbs. It was a crisp October night, but not even chilly temperatures could stop her and Josh's longstanding tradition of heart-to-hearts on the fire escape by her old room.

"She's not Hitler," Maya defended weakly, then mumbled into her tea, "Attila the Hun is more like it."

Josh laughed, his shoulder shaking against Maya's. "That bad?" There was no need for an answer. "He's worried about you," Josh continued, the tone suddenly solemn. "Shawn, is. He says you're waisting your potential with people who don't appreciate you."

"Oh, they appreciate me plenty," Maya responded with a huff. "Apparently, I'm the first intern they've had who can make coffee runs in less than twenty minutes."

"Maya," Josh scolded, despite the humored grin his lips had spread into.

Sighing, Maya shook her head. "Can we not talk about this right now?" she all but pleaded. "Can we just pretend that I'm living out my full potential like everyone else is, and that my life does have some semblance of direction?" Her shoulders fell, her eyes dropping to her cup while her fingers traced the rim.

Josh nudged her shoulder with his, his own head dipping to catch her gaze. "Hey," he spoke softly, and even though he hadn't said anything yet, Maya felt the tension in her body easing. "You're young, Maya. You have your whole life ahead of you still." He slung a loose arm around her shoulders, "You'll be okay."

Maya nodded as if she believed him, because Josh had never lead her wrong before. "What about you?" she asked, desperate to get the topic away from her.

"What about me?"

"Josh," she whined, silently threatening to smack the smirk from his face. "Riley told me you and Ashton broke up."

Something seemed to deflate in the brunet, more discouragingly than depressingly. "She was looking at apartments."

"And that's a problem because…?"

"Because," Josh tilted his chin up in thought, "she wanted us to move in together." He paused, brows creasing. "And I didn't want that. And then when she asked when I would want that, I realized that I hadn't thought about ever wanting that."

Maya nodded once. "So you ended it," she finished for him.

"Well, she threw my motorcycle helmet at me and told me to get the hell out, so I'd say she ended it," he responded, appearing strangely amused by the memory. "But I wouldn't say I'm exactly torn up over the whole thing."

Maya giggled through a mouthful of tea.

A comfortable silenced blanketed them for a few minutes, save for the sound of New York traffic and the slight breeze.

"Can I ask you something?" Maya said suddenly.

"Shoot."

"Does Shawn say much about Mom?"

Josh peered at her for a moment, jaw ticking as it always did when he was mulling over his coming words. "Maya—"

"He does, doesn't he?"

Josh sighed, averting his gaze. "Listen, Maya," he turned back to her, "don't ever doubt that Shawn loves you, okay? And he loves your mom. It's just stressful, trying maintain a marriage and take care of a medically challenged little girl."

Maya leaned into his shoulder, huffing. "How long are you in town?"

"Few days."

She nodded, shutting her eyes. "Send me some pictures?"

Josh's lips pulled into a lopsided grin. "Only if you send me the sketches."

Maya shook head, smiling. It was tradition, now, for Josh to send Maya his first few unedited pictures of his trips. It started when she was positive she sketched Central Park from every angle and desired a change of scenery—literally. These days, recreating Josh's photos was some of the only real art she did.

"I'm here until Tuesday. Wanna get together Monday night?" Josh raised a single eyebrow, his tell of uncertainty. "You don't have classes on Mondays, right?"

For as long as she had known Joshua Matthews, his well-hidden awkwardness and shyness would never fail to amuse Maya whenever the traits made their subtle appearances. "I work until five. How 'bout I head here at around six? I think Mom and Shawn are taking TJ to an appointment in New Jersey and they're spending the night down there," she added pensively, then jumped back in lightly, "I'll bring the takeout."

Josh's uncertain expression softened with the large smile on his face. "This, Hart," he slung a loose arm around the blonde's shoulders, "is why I love you."

I love you, not a sentiment Josh was ever hesitant towards using, but it nonetheless caused Maya's heart to skip a beat whenever she heard it from his mouth.

"I know," she murmured, leaning her head against his shoulder. She dearly hoped he couldn't read the emotions running through her heart and mind. Then again, maybe she wanted him to know what she was thinking.

Riley could always read Maya's mind, there was no questioning it. But even if Riley knew her best friend better than anyone else, it seemed—in recent years—Farkle was always the one to catch Maya at her most conflicted times.

"Josh is back, right?"

Maya had just shut the door behind her when she heard Farkle's voice.

The rest of the apartment was dark, quiet. If she remember correctly, Riley was spending the night with her boyfriend.

As for Farkle, he sat patiently at the kitchen table, clearly invested with his own internal battle. "You have that look on your face," he continued, "the 'Josh-is-back-and-my-heart-is-conflicted' look."

Maya pursed her lips, nodding slowly. "I'm impressed." She trudged her way to the kitchen, dropping her messenger bag—the worn-out leather one she'd had since high school graduation—on the counter, before she plopped across from Farkle at the small table. "Riley came up with the name?"

"Duh."

"I thought so." Shoulders hunched, a heavy laden sigh fell from her lips. "He and his girlfriend broke up," she relayed, though she imagined Riley had already gotten around to alerting Farkle of the most recent "Joshaya development" as the perky brunette referred to the situation.

Farkle nodded once, forearms resting on the tabletop and his hands folded atop each other. "I know Riley is all gung-ho for the two of you, and I get that Josh is a great guy, but, Maya…" In traditntal Farkle fashion, he paused, obviously searching for the most diplomatic response. "I don't want to see you get hurt again. I can't watch you get hurt again, not like that."

Maya dropped her head, gaze diverting to her lap where her fingers twiddled with the loose threads on her sweater. Her and Josh's breakup fell at a rather dark time of her life. The stress she went through, the decisions she made, were by no means a result of their relationship, but she certainly used the emotional toll of the breakup to avoid confronting other problems in her life.

"Are you okay, Maya?"

"Yeah, my boyfriend and I just broke up."

"You missed class today."

"I'm reeling from a relationship."

"You're grades are dropping."

"I just need to get over this breakup."

That being said, she knew the breakup was a catalyst of sorts in the chain of events that lead to her, as some would say, downfall. If not the breakup, something else would have triggered it. A bad grade, a nasty comment, even an argument with Riley. As it turned out, Maya and Josh just always had bad timing.

"You know there were other things at play," Maya reminded Farkle carefully, returning her gaze to his concerned one.

Farkle tilted his head in thought. "I know, Maya, but there are other things at play now, too." He reached across the table for her hand, gripping it worriedly. "I just—we almost lost you last year. I'm worried that if we lose you again, we won't get you back."

Maya lowered her eyes, burdened by a sudden yet returning onset of guilt. "I'm stronger now, Farkle." She exchanged a grim smile with the genius, squeezing his hand reassuringly.

"I know." Farkle pulled away, then stood to his feet. "You're the strongest person I know."

Maya shut her eyes in response.

Lies.

"Goodnight, Maya," Farkle bid, sauntering off to bed without another word.

In response, Maya was silent.

Was there anything she could say in her defense? Probably not. There never was.