Author's Note: This is a Joshaya oneshot. It's inspired by "Wonder" by Shawn Mendes.

I walked into my apartment and walked to my kitchen. I threw my mask on the table, then opened my cabinet and took out my bourbon. I grabbed a glass and put a handful of ice in it. I poured a capful into the glass then poured the soda in it. I stirred it.

I turned twenty-one last February. It's November now.

I took a sip of my drink and walked over to my couch and turned on the TV, sitting down. I looked at the in-table next to me.

There's a picture on it of me and Maya on the day her class was supposed to graduate. They didn't get a real graduation because of COVID-19, but they did a little ceremony for Riley, Maya, and their group of friends at Cory's. It was for me too since I didn't get a college graduation either. In the picture, she's giving me a side hug around my torso. Our smiles are so huge that I'm surprised it didn't feel like our faces were tearing open. We're both wearing our gowns.

We had talked about going out, but never got around to it because of everything going on. She and Riley got in trouble with the cops for being out after curfew a couple of months ago.

My mind starts to wander.

I wonder what she's up to, I think.

I smile as I imagine her painting in her room.

Suddenly, I get a text. I look at who it is. Maya. I read the text.

Hey Boing, what are you up to?

I open my phone and reply to her.

Having a drink and thinking about you.

Oh, really? She texted back, then came another text. What about me?

I looked at the picture again.

I was looking at our graduation photo.

My dad's a great photographer, isn't he?

I smiled at my phone.

Yeah.

My thumbs were typing fast, but somehow I didn't mess up any words.

What are you up to, Gorgeous?

Can you guess?

Painting?

I was, but then I started thinking about you, so now I'm texting you.

I wish I could see you.

Same.

I decided to be brave.

Can I tell you something?

Of course, Boing.

You're the last thing on my mind before I fall asleep. It hard not to be able to take you out when we kept making plans, but this stupid pandemic screws everything up. I want to be with you. There's no one else I want. It's you. Being away from you makes me wonder what it's like to be loved by you. It's something I want to know. I wonder what it would be like to have you by my side and for you to assure me that all of this will go away some day and the world will end up okay. I don't know if you feel the same way, and maybe I'm just being really transparent right now, but I just wanted you to know.

Sent.

I let out a breath I didn't know I was holding on. I put my phone next to me, figuring it'll take her a bit for her to read it.

A few minutes go by and I look at my phone. No answer.

I start to panic. She always answers back right away.

Maya?

No answer. I wait a few more minutes.

You there?

I ran my hand through my hair thinking I messed everything up.

I heard a knock at my door. I stood up and walked to the door. I opened the door, and to my complete surprise, Maya was standing there.

"Maya," I said.

"Josh," she said.

"You're…here," I said. I smiled.

"I couldn't answer you back over text," she said. She stepped closer to me. She looked straight into my eyes. "I feel the same way."

"You couldn't text that back?" I joked, laughing a little.

"Shut up," she said, playfully hitting my arm. "I don't care about what anyone says, we're going on that date."

I smiled.

"What would you wanna do?" I asked.

"Well, maybe we could get delivery and spend time together here. Maybe watch a movie?"

"That sounds perfect," I said. My eyes wandered to her lips. I started leaning in, and she surprised me by tiptoeing and kissing me before I kissed her. We parted, and she walked into my apartment more.

"So, do you want pizza or something else?" She asked.

"Pizza sounds good," I said.

After the pizza got here, we watched the movie, then talked the rest of the night, laughing at old memories, until we fell asleep on the couch.