I had an idea of doing the encounter in Josh's perspective, so here it is!

Some dialogue between the two will be altered to make more sense, to flow better, and to add more detail.

Josh had a problem that started when he first attended college. He couldn't get a certain girl out of his mind. Sure, other girls would flirt with him and he would go along with it until one image popped into his mind. The image was of the 'certain girl' when she confessed her feelings for him at the college party that she and his niece sneaked out of the house to go to.

This 'certain girl' was none other than Maya Hart, the girl he basically called gorgeous at the Christmas celebration his brother hosted.

When she appeared in his mind, Josh ended the conversation with the flirting girl. After this occurred three more times, he decided he needed some help. The help came in the form of Shawn Hunter. Josh didn't go to his brother because he figured Cory would end up giving away his secret.

Anyways, Shawn told the college student to tell Maya how he felt about her. So, one day when he was heading back to the college after visiting his parents, Josh thought about what he was going to tell Maya. While he was thinking, he got distracted and ran off the side of the road.

The accident landed Josh in the hospital for about three weeks. Luckily he was still able to turn in all of his homework assignments for his classes. His family, which only included relatives and parents, were the only ones that knew. He made each of them promise not to tell Auggie, Riley, and especially Maya.

Josh had healed partly by the time he heard that Riley was throwing a New Years Eve party. He wanted to go to tell Maya how he felt about her. At the last second he chickened out because he was scared of rejection.

Time passed by and a girl about a year older than him asked him out on a date. He thought for only a moment before he heard a girl's voice in his head.

I'm in it for the long game.

Immediately, Josh denied the older girl. He only had one girl in his mind that would most likely be there forever. With her in mind, he knew he'd have to talk to Maya eventually.

That opportunity came one day when Shawn called while Josh was on his way to the older man's apartment. "You can start heading this way," Shawn told him. "Maya's alone."

"I was on my way already." Josh admitted as he found his brother's friends apartment complex. "I'll see you later then."

Josh ended the call with the elder man and called the girl of his dreams. After a handful of rings, she answered timidly, "Hello?"

"Hey, Maya."

He heard the young girl stand up from where she was sitting, most likely the couch. "Josh? What in the, how did you get my number?"

Josh opened the door to the apartment complex and started on his 'vast' journey. "I got it from someone we both know. They told me you were losing yourself and you're turning into Riley?"

The girl that he constantly reminded that he was too old for her sighed. "Yeah, she thought that Da-Shawn would be able to help, but it turns out it didn't work."

"You know, there's no need to get embarrassed about calling him 'Dad'." Josh encouraged as he climbed the long stair way. "He told me about how happy he was that your mom said yes. He even said somebody recently asked him if he had a kid. He said he was engaged to someone that had a daughter that he already thought of as his own."

"I'm glad, but that doesn't explain why you called."

"Isn't it obvious? I'm calling to help. By the way, I heard you got a crush on a cowboy."

Maya groaned. "Don't get me started on that. It's just a big, jumbled up mess."

"You know what I think?"

"What?"

"I don't think you really like him. I think you think you like him because you've turned into Riley who likes him." Maya didn't respond after a little bit. Josh finally made it to Shawn's apartment and ranged the bell. He asked curiously, "Is that the door?"

"They'll leave," she insisted quietly, but he knew she didn't walk on so 'they' wouldn't know someone was inside. "I actually thought that too. That's why I am so confused."

*Ring!*

"Well then, here's something to clear your mind. Do you remember that night at the college party? Or the family game night?"

Maya's tone of voice became slightly grim "Yeah, I remember both of them very clearly. Why do you ask?"

*Ring!*

"Because I have something I wanted to-"

*RING!*

"Maya, would you answer the door already? I think they are getting aggravated."

"Fine." Maya spat as he heard her walk over to the door and twist the knob. "But this conversation isn't-"

Maya stopped talking after she answered the door. Standing before her was none other than the person she was talking to on the phone. Josh smirked as he put his phone in his pocket. "About time you opened it. That doorbell was starting to get annoying."

She said nothing as she backed up to the couch and sat down in surprise. Josh entered the household and closed the door behind him. Maya snapped out of her daze at the sound of the door. "What are you doing here?" She interrogated as she scooted over for him to have a seat.

After he did so, he stated, "I'm here because Shawn told me about your situation and thought it would be best if I solved it."

Maya scoffed. "How are you suppose to 'solve it'? And why you?"

"Because there is something I needed to tell you." He insisted. "I think the reason you changed was because of me and it started after that party." Maya gave him a strange look so he explained, "You lost hope after the party. You saw that you could never be with me and you gave up. It didn't really help that you haven't seen me in a couple years-"

"Why is that?" Maya wondered as she scooted closer to him. "Why haven't I seen you?"

"There was a couple things I had to deal with." He sighed as he leaned back on the old couch. He thought of what to say before he explained, "For starters, I had started to think back on the night of the party and the family game night. I wanted hang out with you on New Year's Eve, but I had gotten in a motorcycle wreck about a month before. After I healed and after New Year's, a girl like a year older than me asked me out. You know what I told her?"

Maya swallowed a lump in her throat as she weakly asked, "What did you tell her?"

Josh turned his head to her and smiled at her lovingly. "I said, 'Sorry, but someone started the long game with me and I need to finish it." He intertwined her fingers with is and squeezed reassuringly.

Maya looked down at their interlocked hands and then gazed up at him. Josh leaned closer to where his forehead was touching hers. He confessed with his voice being almost a whisper, but confidently, "I love you, Maya and I am so sorry it took me so long to realize it."

Not giving her a moment to process the information, he kissed her as his heart started to pound heavily. Only one thought was in his mind when Maya moved closer to him and started to kiss him back.

Game over.