Maya groaned as she trudged down the stairs, met with the expectant faces of her two best friends, and the annoying smirk of her arch nemesis. She narrowed her eyes, "What do you three want?"

"Details," Smackle blurted out, met by a smack on the arm from Riley.

Riley shook her head, "We really don't need the details of you and my brother-"

Josh interrupted from behind, "Falling asleep on her bed. Accidently and innocently."

What she wanted to do to him was the opposite of innocent, "Exactly."

Smackle looked unimpressed, "You guys really did nothing?"

"Nada," Maya slid into the seat beside her, motioning for a cup of coffee, "Sorry to burst your bubble."

Josh reached her side handing her a mug. She sipped quickly, "

"I'm sorry to burst yours," Smackle looked her dead in the eye, "But it's possible you've been without sex so long you've forgotten how great it is."

Josh sidled up, handing her a mug of coffee, "Just out of curiosity, how long is so long?"

Maya's hand shot out to cover Smackles mouth, but it was Riley who answered, "Since Zay."

Josh turned a sympathetic eye on her, "You poor thing."

She flipped him the bird, "We can't all be like you, Cassanova."

Smackle rolled her eyes, "I disagree."

RIley shrugged, "I second that."

She watched as Josh let a shudder pass through him, shooting his sister a glare, "You shouldn't be seconding anything, Young lady."

Riley rolled her eyes, "And how many girls are you not 'seconding' at the moment?"

Maya grimaced into her coffee, "It's not for lack of trying."

That's a lie. It was.

Josh slid into the fourth, usually empty seat of the dining table, "Am I the most action you've got since Zay?"

Yes. Maya scoffed, "Of course not."

She sent a glare towards Riley, who was shaking her head. Smackle grinned, "Anything you two want to tell us?"

Josh gave her an apprehensive stare, "Alright, I'm off," He grabbed his coat off the hook. He dropped a quick kiss on the top of Riley's head as he strode towards the door.

"Bye." Riley sang out.

He turned, pointing to Maya, "See you later?"

She gave a quick nod, feeling the eyes of her friends turning on her. Smackle waited for the door to shut, loudly clearing her throat, "What's later?"

Maya rolled her eyes, "Flat party. He thinks Jasmine could be there."

Riley and Smackle shared a look. She narrowed her eyes, "Would you two stop doing that? It's creepy."

Smackle returned her stare, "You're creepy."

"Would you two stop?" Riley sighed, "We have more important things to do. Like pick Maya's outfit."

She shook her head, "It's just a party."

Smackle gave her a pointed onceover, "And you're just fashion inept."

She glanced down at her sweatpants, "Well I wasn't going to wear these, now, was I?"

Riley jumped up, bouncing on the balls of her feet, "To the closet!"

Maya groaned at their shared grimace, "It's been at least 45 minutes. Please pick something."

"I hate flowers on you," Riley mulled, crossing her legs on Maya's bed.

Smackle rolled over onto her stomach, holding a tub of ice-cream, "Agreed."

Maya huffed, pulling the flower print shirt back over her head, "Well, what do I look good in?"

"Mmmm," Smackle pointed her spoon at the closet, "Try the cropped white one."

Maya pulled it out, shucking it over her head, "I can guarantee Josh is not putting this much effort into his outfit."

Riley cocked her head, "yes, but there is a difference... "

Smackle cackled, "Yeah, he doesn't have to do any work to get in your pants. You would climb him like Jack grinding on that bean stalk, no work necessary."

Maya glared, "I'm sorry, what?"

Riley pinched the bridge of her nose, shooting Smackle a glare, "As much as I hate to hear the word grind associated with my brother, she's right."

"Guys, please," She stood in front of them and gestured to her outfit, "Back on topic."

Riley turned her gaze back on Maya, "That's cute."

Smackle nodded, 'With ripped jeans. So you look nice, but no like you're trying to hard."

Maya nodded, "Okay, fine."

Maya strolled up to large apartment, boots clicking against the side walk. The house was thrumming, loud music pouring out of the open windows. Maya glanced around, taking in a deep breath and watching the fading light. Her phone buzzed and she took a moment before glancing down at the screen.

Boing:

Still coming?"

She bit her lip, trying to calm her nerves. It was just one party. A party where she had to pretend to be Josh's girlfriend, again. She was going to be perfectly calm and casual about it. The door ahead of her opened as she walked towards the house, light streaming out. She faltered as a gaggle of girls stumbled onto the pavement. Ah hell, this was going to go terribly.

The music was so loud it was making the walls vibrate. She walked in cautiously, trying to avoid sweaty bodies. She hated frat parties. A hand circled her arm, pulling her out of the busy hallway and into a less crowded room.

Maya's turned, facing her savior, "Hey, thanks."

She looked up, recognizing the brilliant white smile of the man in front of her, "Not an issue, darling."

She grinned up at Lucas, "I'm sure you're always playing hero."

He laughed, so close his breath fanned over her face, "I have a complex."

She laughed as her shrugged, her smile faltering as a throat cleared to her left, "Hey babe."

Maya turned slowly to meet Josh's glare. Annoyance was written over his face, She stepped back from Lucas, "Hey, I was looking for you."

He glanced at Lucas, "Looks like it."

Maya could see Josh's plan unravelling as Lucas glanced between them skeptically.

She leant forward, capturing Josh by the back of his neck and drawing him towards her, "Well, now that you're here."

She leant forward, pressing her lips against his. Their mouths molded together, electricity pulsing through her. Josh returned the pressure, licking her bottom lip, begging for entrance. She sighed against his mouth, opening her mouth under his. His lounge swept along her bottom lip, slowing the kiss. His hand came up, one cupping her cheek while the other looped around her waist. She whimpered slightly as he moved. Grinning, and leaving her gasping, he pulled back, "That's more like it."

Maya made a deliberate effort not to look back at Lucas. She gazed up into Josh's eyes, her skin felt like it was on fire, "Thanks for helping me out, Lucas."

She heard a muffled, "Anytime," from behind her.

Josh, moving both of his hands to circle her waist, whispered into her ear, "You certainly go all out undercover, Hart.'

She laughed, joining her hands at the back of his neck, "Don't pretend you didn't enjoy that."

He pulled back, looking her directly in the eye, "I absolutely loved it. Should we try again?"

Maya broke eye contact, her heart beating out of her chest, 'Whatever, Matthews."

He stepped back, taking her hand and pulling her through the crowd of people. She followed him closely, up the stairs to an old wooden door. He opened it with a flourish, "Welcome to my humble abode."

Maya froze at the door, the scent of Josh washing over her, 'What are we doing here?"

Josh turned a sympathetic eye on her, "Don't worry, love. I know you hate parties. We can hide here."

Maya was overcome by a strange emotion as she looked at him. Her relief immediately replaced by disappointment. When she'd envisioned being Josh's room for the first time, escaping the masses was not the reason why.

She strode past him, looking around for seat before settling on his bed, "You don't have to stay with me, you know."

Josh grinned, joining her on the bed, his body so close she could feel the heat coming off of him, "I don't want to be down there. We've made our appearance."

She smiled, glancing down at her phone, "How long are we staying here?"

"Until everything dies down," Josh shifted back on the bed, down with his head propped on wall.

Maya smiled. It made sense that he remembered how anxious she gets at parties. After all, he had been forced to come and pick her and Riley up from their first high school party early because her anxiety made her physically ill.

She joined him, lying back, "The Grinch has a heart after all."

"I'm sorry," his voice sounded off pitch and offended, "Since when did I steal Christmas?"

She shrugged, "At least the Grinch only comes out once a year."

He leant over, poking her ribs, causing her to scramble away from him, "Don't forget whose bed you're on. Keep that up you'll be waiting on the floor."

She grinned over, "The floor might be better company."

He rolled closer to her, "What did I do to deserve this blatant hate?"

"I don't hate you," She smiled, pushing his back by the shoulder, "I just dislike the way you handle things, your personality, the way you treat people… Yeah I don't like you much."

He frowned, "When does the don't part come into this?"

She rolled to face him, "I really love Riley."

His expression softened at the mention of her name, "Ah, my greatest accomplishment."

Maya couldn't help but smile at the look of pride on his face, "You did a good job with that one."

He grimaced, 'She's pulling away from me."

Maya bit her lip, looking over at him, "She's doesn't want to upset you."

He shook his head, "She barely talks to me anymore. Not really."

"She doesn't like lying to you," Maya felt the urge to touch him return in full force.

He rolled closer again, this time she didn't stop him, "Why would she have to lie?"

Maya felt powerful, drunk on the knowledge she had that he didn't, "You're so protective, Josh. She doesn't want to disappoint you."

He expression cleared, " You know something."

She held up her hands in surrender, "I know nothing."

He narrowed his eyes, "Liar."

"Prove it."

He raised his eyebrows, "Do you really want me to torture it out of you?"

"You could never- Ahh"

Josh pounced before she could stop him, skilled fingers splaying across her ribcage. Her whole body convulsed as he tickled her, "Stop it! I'm not telling you. Ahh, no, stop."

She rolled away; so far she slid off the edge of the bed, falling to the ground. Josh refused to let go, falling down onto of her, her back pressed against the soft carpet. He stopped all movements, watching her closely as she gasped for air. His whole body was pressed against her, heat travelling through her, setting her blood alight. She laughed nervously, meeting his gaze, "I'm not telling you."

He moved his hand, "Do you want me to go again?"

"No! Okay, fine," She squealed shifting underneath him, "Promise you won't get angry."

He gripped her hips to still her movements, "I'm not making any promises."

She sighed, "Riley's seeing someone. Has been for a couple of months."

He tensed, rolling off of her and onto the ground. Maya moved quickly, pushing his down before her could head towards the door, "It's going really well, josh. She's happy."

He looked down at her hand on his chest, relaxing back into the floor, "Who is he?"

Maya shifted, all of a sudden feeling comfortable enough to rest her chin on his chest, "The guy from the other morning."

He frowned, peeking at her through his lashes, "The one who kissed you?"

Maya nodded slowly, "I was not a part of that plan. They were conspiring against you."

He raised an eyebrow, "Conspiring?"

"Trying to deter you."

Josh sighed and leant back, eyes closed. Maya noticed left hand, which travelled to rest on her back, slowly stroking her hair, "She's really that scared I'll disprove?"

Maya snorted, 'I mean, look at how you reacted."

He kept his eyes closed, mouth twisting a wry smile. Oh god, his mouth, "She's happy?"

Maya nodded, cheek brushing against the fabric of his t-shirt, "He's a really good guy, Matthews."

"Well, I if you like him then I suppose I'll give the guy the benefit of the doubt," Josh opened his eyes finally, staring down at her.

Maya's breath caught in her throat, "You really trust my judgement that much, Joshy?"

He sat up slightly, "Didn't I tell you to stop calling me that?"

"Why should I listen," She goaded him.

He reached up, brushing stray hair from her face, "Mmm, you never have before. Why start now?"

His eyes turned on her, heavy with emotional. She bit her lip, shifted uncomfortably, "Do you think that the party has-"

His hand came up, turning her head to face his, bringing her lips to press against his. He breath halted in her throat. Her mind was reeling. This wasn't for the plan, or for people to see. They lay there on his bedroom floor, with no one else around. Maya couldn't bring herself to care about why, only what was happening. She opened her mouth under his, tongue sliding against him. She could only describe the kiss as intense. His mouth fought with hers, teeth clashing. Passionate. Unlike what she and Zay had once had. This was passionate. Sensing her mind was off track, Josh slowed the kiss, turning the interaction from dirty to sweet in seconds. He pulled back, hand still cupping her neck, "Maybe we should get some sleep."

Maya settled next to him, nerves buzzing as she glanced over his bare chest. She tensed at the look in his eyes, "I'm making a wall!"

"You're what?"

She grabbed several pillows, "A wall. So stay on your side."

"This is my bed. All of it is my side."

She narrowed her eyes, "Humor me."

He grinned, straightening the pillows between them, "Fine."

He sat up, running a hand through his hair. She's never seen him like this. Hair disheveled, no shirt on and eyes tired. She leant forward, grabbing him but the shoulders to bring him closer, pressing her lips to his once again. The kiss was sweet and slow. Their lips melding and moving together. The slow thrum of the music dying down the the background. Josh grinned, tucking a strand of her blonde hair behind her ear, "You're violating my side."

She glared, "I'm what?"

"My side. My personal space is very important to me."

She would have moved back if it hadn't been for the cheeky grin on his face, "Oh, did I burst your bubble?"

He grinned, "Feels like you aren't taking this seriously, Hart."

She smiled, shifting closer to him, "Aren't I?"

He pulled the pillow from between them, gathering her closer so her body was glued to his side, cheek pressed against his bare chest. He stroked her hair slowly, "I like us like this."

Maya was curious, "Not hating each other?"

"Not fighting."

She smiled at him, snuggling closer into him. He wrapped an arm loosely around her waist, "Goodnight, boing."

Maya fell into oblivion, comforted by the steady rhythm of his thumb stroking her bare skin and the cool sheets surrounding her.

A/N:

I'm so sorry this took so long! Exams have been stressful, but my last was today :) So Updates will be alot more frequent from here on out. Hopefully x Thoughts?