Damn it's cold. Maya thinks as she sips her coffee. Maybe sitting at her usual table outside of Topanga's isn't the best idea. Still, she rather brave the October cold than feel her mother's eyes fawning over her and Josh once he arrives.

"Baby girl, why don't you come inside?" asks Katy while refilling her daughter's coffee cup.

"Because mom, I need the quiet to concentrate."

"Or is it because you need space for just you and your boyfriend," her mom says as she rubs her daughter's shoulder with her own.

"We are just friends, mom." Maya responds annoyed with her mother's antics. She swears no matter how many times she explains it to her mom, Katy always reacts the same way.

"Mmhmm." Katy hums raising her eyebrows in disbelief as she makes her way back into the café.

Unamused, Maya just shakes her head taking another sip from her cup.

As if on cue, Josh walks down the stairs once again bobbing his head to the music playing loudly through his ear buds. Maya smiles as she watches him do a spin at the bottom of the stairs. He points to her and sings out loud, "O Baby you. You got what I need." Knowing this popular Biz Markie song, Maya stands up, points back at him, and joins, singing "But you say he's just a friend. But you say he's just a friend". They dance and laugh a little before they sit back down at the table.

"Your singing is as bad as ever, Matthews," Maya remarks a little out of breath.

"Hey, you aren't supposed to sing that song well," Josh says, "that defeats the purpose of it."

"Yea… O.K." laughs Maya.

"Alright. Alright. Ready to get started?" Josh asks.

Maya nods and cracks open her pre-calculus book. It has been almost a month since Josh initially assisted Maya with her homework, and astonishingly that same day asked if she would like to be tutored. Without a doubt in her mind, Maya eagerly accepted, thankful for the help, but more thankful for the chance to grow their friendship. Fully aware of the deal they made back at the ski lodge, Maya knows a boyfriend isn't what she needs at the moment. What she needs is a friend, and Josh is providing just that.

Thirty-minutes into their study session, Maya peaks up at Josh, who has started to bob his head once more as he reads his biology book. Being the curious little kitten she is, she reaches for one of his ear buds and asks, "what are you listening to?"

As she places the bud into her ear, guitars and drums wail into her head as the singer continues "I really wanna know (who are you? Who, who, who, who?)"

Shocked by the song choice, Maya turns to him saying, "Joshua Matthews, I didn't know you were a Who fan!?" But her voice trails off towards the end as she realizes Josh had leaned closer to share the headphones. Now, there they were just a breath between them; warmth filling each of there faces.

After staying frozen in place for a moment, Josh finally coughs to break the silence and slowly backs away.

"I'm not, technically," he replies, "my roommate suggested them to me. But, I have to admit. I really like their songs. You a fan?"

Grinning from ear to ear, Maya starts to unzip her dark purple hoodie revealing a black t-shirt with a big white logo in the middle that reads "The Who."

"So, that's a yes," Josh laughs.

"I can't believe you never heard of them before," Maya says still shocked and her cheeks still flushed from the brief moment they shared.

"Well, I'm a fan of the classics. Frankie, Dean, Sammy, Marvin, Ray...But, college is all about learning and trying new things. So, I'm broadening my musical horizons."

"O O-kay." Maya says amusingly while biting down on her pencil and turning her head back down to study. Josh sits staring at her, wondering what thoughts were going on in that little blonde's head. History had proven any new information Maya Hart got from him usually turns into some type of scheme or other.

BEEP BEEEP BEEP BEEP

They both jump at the sound of Josh's alarm. He quickly grabs his phone to turn it off.

"Shoot," Josh says turning to Maya, "I'm so sorry. I forgot I told some friends I'd meet them for dinner. Same time next week?"

A bit sad that their time is being cut short, Maya shrugs her shoulders, "Yea, same time next week." And with that, Josh collects his belongings and runs up the stairs, leaving Maya to her thoughts.

. . .

The week seemed to drag on forever, but Maya was thrilled to learn that Josh wanted to extend their time together. However, the enthusiasm quickly diminished once she realized he wanted to extend the studying part of their time together.(Really? How much math did he think she could take?) When they were finally wrapping up their study session, Maya looks up at Josh.

"Hey! Before you go, there's something I wanted to give you," she says with her soft sweet smile.

Josh lifts his eyebrows in a quizzical manner as she proceeds to take out her phone. Moments later he hears his phone ping. While he reaches for it, Maya continues, "It's a playlist I made. I figured since your broadening your musical horizon, I'd enlighten you on some truly awesome music."

Overcome with happiness at the thoughtful gesture, there was no helping the smile forming on his face.

"Thanks, Maya," he says.

Then, he looks down at his phone and opens the text message; sure enough there is a link to a playlist perfectly titled "Boing". Josh starts to laugh at the sight of his old nickname. He quickly pulls up his music app, selects a few songs, and texts Maya a playlist of his own. She in turn opens up her message to find a link to a playlist titled "Blue eyes". Maya bites her bottom lip as she begins to feel a smile escape. For some reason those two little words filled her with an unexplainable joy.

"What's this," she asks gently.

"Some songs I though YOU might enjoy," replies Josh bright eyed and with a smile.

"Thanks," she says feeling her cheeks becoming rosy yet again.

They hug, say their goodbyes, and part ways.

Back at his dorm, Josh opens up another one of his science books and begins to delve back into his studies. However, after five minuets of reading the same paragraph over and over, he realizes that something, some feeling or even someone is distracting him. He grabs his phone to play some music in hopes that it will help him concentrate. With one touch of the playlist entitled "Boing", his heart wrenches and he lets out a small laugh. Covering up his immense smile with one hand, Josh starts a song he knew Maya could also be listening to at that same moment.

And she was.

As if in sync with each other, Maya too had pulled up her "Blue Eyes" playlist. Her eyes widening when she notices they had shared the same James Taylor classic. Wondering if they were trying to send each other secret messages through music, she starts to softly sing along...

"You just call out my name

And you know wherever I am

I'll come running

To see you again [...]"