Chapter 19-Girl Meets Acceptance

Dear Ms Hart,

We are pleased to inform you that you have been accepted into California Institute Of The Arts on a full 4 year scholarship, we hope you will choose our university for your future learning and we look forward to seeing you in the fall.

California Institute Of The Arts

I sigh as my eyes wander over the letter in my hand, we had gotten our acceptance letters today I had applied to CalArts, NYU, UCLA and Columbia and had gotten into all four of them, I'm excited of course that four colleges want me but it was hard knowing your friends could go to their dream colleges and you couldn't.

"They're here they're here they're here!" Riley screams running into Topanga's "You opened them already? We were supposed to do it together" Riley says.

"You were twenty minutes late we weren't waiting" I say and she sits with us "Open yours" I say and she opens them all.

"I got into NYU, I got into UCLA, no way!" Riley says and I take her letter off her.

"Riles you got into the Royal Veterinary College in London" I tell her and we all hug her.

"What about you guys?" Riley asks "Did you get your dream schools?" Riley asks.

"Vanderbilt University for me and Zay" Lucas says it's like the best baseball college in America located in Nashville.

"Harvard" Farkle says throwing his arm around Smackle showing both of them are going.

"Maya?" Riley asks me "You got into CalArts right?" Riley asks and I nod "What are you going to do?" Riley asks.

"NYU" I say and she nods.

I'm happy for everyone but CalArts was my dream college not NYU I just never told Josh that.

"Hey babe" Josh walks inside, I close my letter and put it under the NYU one "What's that?" Josh asks.

"Acceptance letters" I tell Josh "I would have showed you this morning but you had morning class" I say.

"Why did you hide one?" Josh asks.

"No reason" I say getting up grabbing them and Josh grabs my arm gently to stop me "Josh I don't want to talk about it" I say.

"Maya come on tell me" Josh says placing a strand of hair behind my ear, I hand them to him and he checks them all "You got into NYU" Josh says and I nod forcing a smile "Why don't you seem happy about that?" Josh asks.

"We all opened our letters together and everyone got into and are going to their dreams schools, Riley is in London, Lucas and Zay baseball college and the two nerds Harvard" I say.

"I thought NYU was your dream school" Josh says.

"I only told you that because we were having Amber and making all these plans" I say "My dream school is California Institute Of The Arts" I tell him "Which I got a full scholarship to" I say.

"Maya..." Josh begins.

"Don't worry I'm going to NYU, CalArts wasn't even an option after I got pregnant so don't worry" I tell Josh putting them down and I make my way to Amber's room and see her sleeping when I feel Josh wrap his arms around me from behind and kiss my shoulder.

"Turn around baby" Josh says, I turn in his arms and hug him tight "I'm sorry Maya, you love your art and if you wanna go..." Josh begins.

"Josh" I sigh pulling back "That's not even an option I have Amber I have you and you have NYU, I can't leave to CalArts with Amber here or go to CalArts with Amber and not you, yeah it's my dream school and yes I'm sad I can't go considering all my other friends can go to their dream schools, yes I wanna go but I can't you and Amber are my life and plus they have a perfectly fine arts course at NYU" I tell Josh.

"But you should get a chance at your dream school, when you first got pregnant I promised Shawn that I wouldn't hold you back from anything" Josh says.

"You're not but I can't pick up and leave with Amber and you can I? I'm not doing that and yeah ok if I didn't have Amber I'd go to CalArts but I have her and you and I wouldn't change it" I say to him, he wraps me in his arms as I bury my head in his neck and sigh "I love you" I say.

"I love you too, I just feel like it's me holding you back" Josh says.

"We can't change anything Josh, CalArts just isn't an option for me now" I say and he kisses my head.

"Just know I'd never hold you back" Josh says and I nod "I'm gonna go make dinner for us ok?" Josh says and I nod smiling.

"I'm gonna take a shower" I say and he nods.

After dinner we're cuddling on the couch watching a movie with me in his lap, I told my parents I was heading to NYU and not CalArts and they knew how much I wanted that but they know how much Amber and Josh mean to me as well.

"You're quiet" Josh says to me and I sigh.

"It's just been a long day" I say "I really need some sleep" I get up but Josh grabs my hand to stop me from leaving and he pulls me onto his lap so I'm straddling him.

"Maya just say the word and I'll move to California with you" Josh says what? "I'm sure I can transfer there for my last year" Josh says.

"You can't just leave your friends and family all because of me" I say.

"And if you stay you're leaving your dream because of me" Josh says "I'll move Maya for you" Josh says and I shake my head.

"Our families are here and you spent all the time and money with this place and here at least I know there is always someone to babysit or help out" I say "I love CalArts but I love you more and I can't let you just pack up and leave for me" I say.

"I'd do anything to make you happy Maya" Josh says.

"And I care about your happiness and I know if we moved to California you wouldn't be, I'd be leaving everything behind for college and it's not important enough for me to leave when I have NYU to go to where I can keep everything" I say "I'm staying that's final" I say to Josh "And I promise no more pouting" I say and he chuckles, I wrap my arms around his neck hugging him "I'm gonna head to bed" I say getting up.

"I'll be there later I need to finish an assignment off" Josh says I kiss cheek and walk to the bedroom.