I was caught sort on time but I did manage to get it done; not as well as I had hoped, but it's done.

Review for a chapter next week.

"What on Earth are you two doing?"

Almost immediately the lovely couple (Maya and Joshua) pulled away to look at the intruder, who was none other than Alan Matthews. He was dressed in a warm coat, a scarf, and held two cups of what was probably hot chocolate.

"I can explain." Josh insisted. "You see-"

"Let me guess." Alan started in his knowing/aggravated tone. "You two have been dating in secret for a couple weeks and you are trying to find a way to tell everyone."

The couple shared a nervous look before Maya reluctantly confessed, "Six months."

Alan raised an eyebrow in inquiry. "Excuse me?"

"We've been together for six months." Josh explained, getting straight to the point. "We didn't tell anyone because we knew they'd freak out. Her parents are the only ones that know because they chaperoned our first few dates. I hope you're not mad at us."

His father stayed quiet as he pondered the couple's relationship. "I'm not mad," he finally decided. "I'm just irritated you didn't say anything. However, I'm giving you one have to tell everyone or else I will. Understood?" The Couple nodded their heads with Alan leaving after giving them their hot chocolate.

"Looks like we will have to wing it." Josh gave Maya a kiss on the cheek."Maybe that will give us good luck."

Josh showed up back at the Matthew's apartment with a big smile on his face. When questioned , he said, "I have an announcement to make."

"What for?" Cory wondered. "You've been gone for a minute."

"And in that minute I thought of something." Josh continued on as though he planned that part. Moving to the door, he turned his back to it yet placed a hand on the door knob. "I haven't introduced you to my girlfriend."

"You're dating someone?" His loving and beautiful mother, Amy, picked out. "For how long?"

"Six months."

"Does Maya know?" Riley wondered. "Did you tell her?"

"She already knows." Josh reassured. "She kept quite about it for my sake."

"How long has she known?"

"Six months."

Sensing suspicions in the room, Josh decided to ease to ease the curiosity. Turning the doorknob, he announced, "Let me introduce you to the love of my life."

The door flung open to reveal a nervous Maya. The others didn't seem to make the connection, so Josh wrapped an arm around her shoulder causing her to hold him by his side. "This is Miss Maya Hunter," Josh introduced kissing her forehead, "my girlfriend of six months."

The room was silent for quite a bit of time. Riley was the first to recover, demanding, "Who knew?"

"We did." Shawn confessed as he gestured to himself and Katy. "We've chaperoned the first few dates, but stopped after a month."

"Bay window." Riley practically demanded as she stood from her seat.

Maya winced from how harsh her favorite word sounded in her best friend's voice. "Now?"

"Now!"

The two best friends went to their beloved bay window to sort out their problem. Neither one of them said a word for a long time until Riley interrogated, "When and how did you get together?"

Swallowing the lump in her throat, Maya answered, "It was the day we went to see Dad when I had become you. You and him had left to get some food. Josh came by soon after you left. He told me an older girl asked him out, but he said no because of the promise he made me. He told me he loved me and he kissed me. We started dating after that."

"Were you together during the ski lodge field trip and during the triangle?"

Maya nodded glumly. "We pretended we weren't not to raise any suspicions. We were both hoping Lucas would pick you so we wouldn't have to give us up."

"Why didn't you tell me?" Riley wondered with hurt evident in her voice. "I'm your best friend!"

Maya's expression only turned sadder. "I didn't know how."

The two were silent once again. After a few minutes Riley sighed, "At least now I can help you get ready for your dates."

A weight lifted off Maya's shoulder for her best friend finally knew about her love life. Everything was perfect.

For now that is.