I'm so sorry for taking so long I've been in the hospital these days. I wasn't doing so well but I'm back now. Here's another chapter. Enjoy!
Huge thanks to my beta Abooknerdandproud!
Today, sixteen days after the accident, Maya was finally released from the hospital.
"Okay, let's move you to the chair." Shawn said lifting Maya in his arms and placing her in the wheelchair.
"I feel like an old lady." She complained.
"Well it's for your own good." Katy said.
"Yeah, babe." Josh said bending down to kiss her cheek from behind. "Look at the bright side… You'll have me all day with you." This made her smile, because being with Josh was amazing but her eyes indicated some different thought.
"I'm going to take these things to the car, Katy why don't you go sign the papers." Shawn suggested and Katy nodded. They left the room leaving Josh and Maya alone.
He turned to look at her and knelt down. "Okay, what's going on?"
"Nothing." She smiled.
"Maya." He said in a stern voice.
"I'm worried this may be too much for you. Josh, it's not only about taking me to class. It's taking me everywhere! Class, restroom, baths, to my dorm… I know Riley will help a bit, but still I don't want to be a –"
"Stop." Josh interrupted. "You are not and will not be a burden for me or anyone ever. Maya…" he cupped her face. "I love you and because of that I would do this and more. Trust me, baby. I'm more thrilled to do this." He rose a bit to kiss her lips. It was soft and sweet, yet filled with passion, it was to reassure Maya that he was there for her, and that they would both be fine.
"I really love you."
"I don't blame you." He joked.
"How modest, Josh." Shawn said smirking. "Let's go home."
At home
"Oh my God!" Maya exclaimed looking at her plate filled with pepperoni lasagna rolls and chips. "I love this, mom. "Oh! I'm going to cry!" She was beyond excited. The food she was given in the hospital was hideous so she was stuffing her mouth as much as she could which earned her a disgusted look from her mother and Shawn and an amused one from Josh.
"Maya, chill." Shawn then laughed.
"Maya, manners!" her mother said.
"Oh my God you look so adorable." Josh was cracking up.
11 PM
"Alright, I'm heading home, it's late." Josh said hugging Katy then bumping his fist against Shawn's and finally kissing Maya goodbye.
"Be careful and call me when you get home. "she said.
"If I make it." He replies receiving a hard punch in the arm by both Maya and her mother.
"Go on now boy! And call her! " Katy laughed while pushing him out the door.
Little did they know, he was referring to not making it home because he was headed somewhere else.
Maya's POV
Ugh. My bones are killing me! It hurts so much! I'm okay though. I had a really good day. Good people with me, good food, good movie, good bed in which I'm sleeping tonight! I don't know how much longer I could've slept on that so called bed in the hospital.
"Here we go, kiddo." Shawn said helping me lay down on my bed.
"Thanks."
"No problem, it's what I'm here for… always will be." He kissed my forehead.
"Goodnight."
"Goodnight."
As soon as he closed the door…
"Is he gone?"
"Ah!" I screamed in fright.
"WHAT HAPPENED?!" Shawn entered in panic followed by Katy. Josh laid flat on his stomach besides Maya's bed.
"Uh… I hurt my leg by accident… sorry."
"Honey, be careful!" My mom said closing the door.
I waited about a minute to make sure they didn't come back.
"What the hell, Josh?!"
Josh rose slowly. "I can't leave. I miss sleeping with you in my arms." He rubbed his neck. He looked like a puppy who'd lost it's bone. It was adorable.
My heart swelled at this and I pat the side of my bed so he can lie next to me. He wrapped his arms around me and we stay in a comfortable silence until he speaks.
"I missed this."
"Me too."
"Oh man…" Josh exhaled.
"What?" I asked in curiosity.
"No sex… for months!" he said jokingly.
I laughed but stopped abruptly. Darn… it's not like we're rabbits and not to be cocky or anything… but the sex… it's great. He must have seen me in deep thought because…
"Hey, it's not like I'm with you for that. Though it's amazing." He smiles stupidly remembering all those times. "I'm with you for you." He kisses my lips.
Ugh… this kiss. His lips are the softest, sweetest, most amazing things in the world. It takes me to the most amazing place, I really have no words to describe it.
Josh's POV
I don't know how she does it. Even with a kiss she manages to take me to a whole different world.
I remember our first kiss. It was the day my jealousy got the best of me and I confessed my feelings for her. I have had many kisses before that but somehow Maya made me forget each and one of them. None could make me feel all this love and happiness. She made me feel like I was on cloud nine.
After a minute of this kiss I open my eyes slightly to see her face. Her eyes were closed, her good hand resting on my waist while mine was on her cheek. She must have sensed it because she opened hers slightly and smiled pulling away slowly.
"Do you always do that?"
"No, just now." I blush leaning in to kiss her once again but she stops me.
"No. If you kiss me again it would make me want something else and I'm in no condition just yet." She laughed.
"Yeah…" I sigh. "Let's sleep then. Tomorrow is our first day back to college."
I bring myself up a bit more on the bed so her head is resting on my chest. I know it's going to be hard until she fully recovers but good things are never easy and this, what we have, is beyond great.
OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO
Maya's POV
Beep. Beep. Beep.
It's 5:00 a.m.
Crap.
"Josh…" I whisper.
"No." he hugs me tighter. I can't help but smile.
"We have to get up before they come in. You need to go and change!"
"Man… okay" he said getting up and kissing my lips. "I'll see you in a bit."
7:00 a.m.
"The most handsome of men is here." Josh said as he entered the apartment.
"Modest as always." Shawn answered.
"I'm sorry to say, Josh, but Shawn is the most handsome of men." Katy said hugging her husband pecking his lips.
"I beg to differ my dear Katy. Or… let me put it this way: I'm the most handsome of young men." Josh smirked evilly.
"I would say something but I'm too nice." Shawn said rudely.
"Enough you both are equally annoying. Ready to go?" I asked as Josh leaned down to kiss me.
"Are you?" he asked knowingly.
I was really nervous. Though we were really nice with everyone and they were nice to us, sometimes things change and people today are very hypocrite and rude. Once, a girl in my class has a stunt accident which left her paralyzed. She was immediately abandoned by her friends. Why? No idea, I don't understand how anyone could do that to someone, who went through something as serious as that. I didn't want this to happen and if that weren't enough, I was also worried of being like this for too long. I love it that Josh is willing to be with me 24/7 but I don't like having help, I don't want to feel useless. I know Josh is really looking forward to helping me, I mean, I know he likes to see that I need him more than anything but… (sigh)… we'll see how things go. I hope my proudness and stubbornness doesn't get the best of me.
"I am babe." I smile.
Josh's POV
I'm taking Maya to class when Jasmine, Charlotte, Riley, Zay, and Farkle run towards us to greet Maya.
"Maya! Oh goodness! Thank God you're okay!" Charlotte was the first to speak.
"We missed you a lot." Said Jasmine.
"Good God girl, you scared us all." Zay added.
"I'm just glad my precious Maya is okay." Farkle said joking. It didn't bother Josh, he knew Farkle wasn't serious now that he had a girlfriend of his own.
"Peaches! Feeling better?" Rile asked.
"Yes." Maya smiled.
We continued our way to Maya's first class and as we entered everybody stared. Um… have they never seen a girl after an accident?
"I'm gonna go to class love. Text me if you need anything." I say and make my way out, not before giving everyone a harsh look. I hope no one dares any snarky comments. It'd be the end of them.
Maya's POV
Ok, they stared no big deal. Riley took me from class to class given the fact that we had most of them day was actually pretty good except for the nosey stares, but in all it was pretty good.
Josh took me everywhere and it was a bit overwhelming I felt like I couldn't do anything but I was happy he was with me… until I had to take a bath.
"No way. Just me. Leave. Now." I said.
"Maya we've taken baths together befo-"
"That is different. I was able to stand on my own and we didn't even clean each other! If anything, it was dirty." I retaliate blushing at the memory. "Plus, everyone enters these baths, imagine if they see us!" I was not planning to be seen this vulnerable by anyone else.
Josh blushes hard. "Babe…" he pauses knowing he can't change her mind. "Fine, but I'm right outside okay?"
"Ok, go." I shoo him out.
Okay… I can do this… let's stand up.
I grab the towel pole on the wall with my good arm and lift my whole weight with it and let out a huge breath.
"You ok?" Josh asks.
"Yes! I just stood up."
"Okay, Maya… now walk."
I jump with my good leg until…
Thump.
"Ah!" I scream in intense pain.
Josh runs in panicked. "Maya!" he instantly helps me up so we're now sitting together in the bath with the water running. He quickly turns the water off and covers me with a towel.
"Are you okay?" he asks.
No I'm not okay, of course I'm not okay! I can't do a damn thing on my own!
"Just hurt myself, the pain is gone though." I say looking at the tiles.
"Maya, you need help okay? I'm going to help you so stop being so stubborn." He said before pulling me up with him. He stepped out and closed the curtain leaving me to clean myself up asking if I was doing okay.
How frustrating, it's not like I'm freaking paralyzed! Okay, sure, I can't move one whole said of my body but the rest is okay! How stressful! Thank God no one's come in here yet.
Once I was done I changed as I could and let him take me to bed. I feel six again, great. Yes, I'm being sarcastic.
"I'll see you tomorrow morning." He says kissing me goodbye.
"When the door closes Riley huffs.
"You could at least control your facial expressions, Maya. He's only trying to help. We are only trying to help."
"I'm trying Riley. I've never been so dependent before. Gosh! You just don't understand how stressful it is not being able to do everything on your own. Heck! I can't even piss on my own!" I was getting really angry and she noticed.
"Stop! You cannot be mad at anyone for this. It happened so deal with it. It will be over soon, just a few more weeks. What can possibly happen?"
A lot, apparently, because two days later, devil child made an appearance when Josh was helping me get in the bath.
"Well, well, well, if it isn't miss crippled Maya" Missy said followed by laughs of her friends.
Great.
"Well, well, well, if it isn't nose job Missy." I say as malevolently as her. She frowns and her friends stifle their laughs.
"My nose turned out beautiful. I'm sure after your crippledness your body would be scarred hideously." She smirked maliciously.
"Hey." Josh stepped in. "Stop that before you get me mad." He said glaring at her and her friends.
Missy stares shocked but continues to insult me. "Can't fight your own battles Hart?"
"Yes I-"
"Back off, plastic-nose-wannabe-Barbie." Josh says once again, this time walking towards her in a threatening way causing them to back away.
"How lame." She answers. "See you later Crip" she said looking at me smiling.
If it weren't bad enough that I was only covered by a towel and getting in the bath with the help of my boyfriend, Josh decides to do this?
"You okay?"
"Okay? How am I supposed to be okay after that, Josh?"
"What they said isn't true! You'll have no scars-"
"I'm not talking about that Josh! You made me look like a complete fool!"
"Maya, how did I-"
"By being here helping me take a damn piss and taking a God damn bath!" I was screaming now.
"By getting in to a conversation nobody invited you in!"
"That was hardly a normal conversa-" his voice was calm.
"I don't care! No one asked you to say anything, Josh! No one told you to do anything!" I say signaling to me and the shower.
"Maya-"
"No! I can do it on my own!"
"Fine" he said in a low voice, letting go of me, his head down. "I'm leaving." He finally looks at me with his hurt expression. "I just wanted to be of help to you. I wanted you to see that I was willing to help and that I would do anything for you. Just…" he sighed. "Call me if you need anything." And with that he left, hurt and unwanted.
Ooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo/p
Poor Josh