"This can't be happening to me," Josh complained. He tucked himself under his covers after his mom shooed him back to bed. "Tomorrow is the winter formal. I'm supposed to go with Sophie."
He had been harboring a crush on Sophie for the past few months and thanks to Andrew's insistence, he had finally gotten up the courage to ask her to winter formal two weeks ago. Josh was even more surprised because she said yes.
Winter formal with Sophie was going to be perfect. Not only would it be his first date with her, but it would also be Valentine's Day and Josh's sixteenth birthday. Everything seemed to be going his way. His parents even agreed to postpone his party for this occasion.
However, last week Riley and Maya came down with a cold, leaving both girls absolutely miserable. Josh had instructed both of them to stay away from him. He couldn't afford to get sick. Because if he got sick with the tiniest cold, he wouldn't even make it to the formal.
Josh's asthma prevented him from doing much when he was sick. He wouldn't be able to stop coughing and even if he did, it wouldn't be for long. The last time his asthma got the best of him was in the fall and he missed the football game that prevented his team from reaching the playoffs. He refused to miss winter formal.
"You're just going to have to call Sophie and apologize that you need to cancel on her," Topanga said, shoving the thermometer in Josh's mouth. She knew there was no way Josh would be able to make it to the formal. He hadn't even reached his peak of his cold. Josh still had two more days until that would happen.
"Mom," Josh coughed. "I can't disappoint her. I've been trying to get her to notice me all year. This could be my one shot with her. What if some guy sees her at the formal without a date and snatches her up. Next thing you know, they're dating, then prom king and queen, and then married with a few kids. All because I didn't make it to the winter formal sophomore year."
Topanga rolled her eyes. "You sound like your father. Now stop talking so I can take your temperature," Topanga commanded. This was probably one of the few traits that Josh shared with Cory, the excessive rambling and thinking about the worst possible scenario, especially when it came to women they liked. No wonder Shawn tried countless times to calm Josh down, because Cory would only feed into Josh's anxieties.
Josh closed his mouth and listened although he was not happy one bit. Of course this had to happen to him. When he heard the thermometer beep, he removed it from his mouth and handed it to his mother. "See, it says I am perfectly healthy and can go to the dance."
"Slow your roll," Topanga halted her son's wandering mind as she checked the thermometer. "You have a fever."
"Probably a little one though, something that will go away by tomorrow night, right."
Topanga felt horrible. Josh was so excited for this weekend and she hated that she was the one to make the decision whether or not he was allow to go to the dance. Topanga sat down on Josh's bed and tried to reason with him. "You have a fever of 101.7, I don't think you'll be going anywhere. I'm sorry, you'll have to miss the formal."
Josh was angry, but knew where his mom was coming from. He knew he wasn't a pleasure when he was sick. He often kept the entire house up all night with his coughing. It just sucked that this all happened on his birthday weekend.
"Can you just go?" Josh asked, ending with a cough. He wanted to be alone. If he was going to be sick, he didn't want to see anyone.
Topanga nodded as Josh got out his phone and started to call Sophie. She could hear the pain in his voice as he had to cancel on her. There had to be some way she could make this up to him.
Topanga closed Josh's door and met Cory in the hall. "What's the verdict?" Cory asked.
"Fever," Topanga explained. "He's calling Sophie right now."
"Poor kid," Cory commented. Josh was a sick baby and kid. He hated that it was still prohibiting him from doing things in his teen years. That's why he and Topanga agreed to let him play football and baseball. They wanted him to have some type of normal childhood without the asthma getting in the way, which it did sometimes. "We could always throw together a birthday party last minute. Maybe that would cheer him up."
Josh's birthday, though a joyous event, was always an inconvenience for those who celebrated Valentine's Day, often making February thirteenth or fifteenth the new Valentine's Day for the family. This year with the winter formal and Josh not wanting a party, Cory and Topanga had actually made plans for the occasion. They decided to go out for dinner, just the two of them, while Riley and Maya watched Auggie.
Seeing as Josh's cold was getting progressively worse, neither parent wanted Josh to be alone in case something like an asthma attack were to happen.
"I'll call up my parents and you can call up yours," Topanga said. The least they could do was throw Josh a small birthday party. She wasn't sure she could get any extended family to come on such short notice, but she would try.
"I'll call Shawn and Katy, too," Cory replied. He hated ripping his best friend away from a date night with his wife, but if neither his nor Topanga's parents could make it, then he knew he could always count on the Hunters to be there for Josh. Shawn did anything for his godson.
Topanga called her parents and was left with their voicemail. She forgot they were in Zimbabwe for the week, immersing themselves in the culture. Meanwhile, Cory got through to his parents, but the notice was so last minute that they were sure they couldn't make the trip. The only saving grace was Shawn.
"Matthews, what's up?" Maya asked, answering her dad's phone as she jumped on her couch.
"Maya, how many times do I need to remind you that it's Uncle Cory," Cory said.
"Never gonna happen," Maya insisted. It was one thing to be best friends with her teacher's daughter, but if any outsiders found out that he was her godfather of all people she may die from embarrassment. "Is there something you wanted?"
"Yes," Cory said. "Is your dad home?"
"Yeah, I'll go get him," Maya said. She walked through the apartment looking for her dad only to find him in the bathroom fixing the sink. The pipe must have burst again and Shawn was not paying another person to screw it up for a second time. "Dad, your boyfriend's on the phone."
Shawn rolled his eyes as Maya handed him the phone and left. He had managed to get the pipe to stop leaking temporarily to answer Cory's call. "Hey, Cor, what's up?" Shawn asked.
"Josh is sick," Cory began.
"I'm guessing Topanga's not letting him out of the house," Shawn surmised. Whenever Josh got sick, Topanga always kept a watchful eye over him despite being practically sixteen. Shawn assumed it stemmed from Josh's complicated birth and almost losing him. She was always so protective of him thereafter.
"Yeah," Cory confirmed.
"That sucks. The kid's been trying to get a date with Sophie for the past few months now." Shawn was very aware of his godson's love life. Though he had inherited Cory's outlook on love and relationships, Josh was constantly going to Shawn for advice on how to woo women. And the tips Shawn gave him often worked.
In the background, Maya hold back her displeasure. She did not understand why everyone just loved Sophie. They never even met her. She was just some silly high school girl that knew absolutely nothing about Josh.
She had spied on her father's conversation, very well knowing it was about Josh. He'd felt terrible the past few days. It was only a matter of time before it knocked him out.
On one hand, Maya felt sympathetic towards Josh. Whenever he was sick, it constantly made her worry. She didn't want him to end up in the hospital, especially for a cold that her and Riley gave him. On the other hand, she couldn't stop smiling knowing that Josh wasn't going out with Sophie that week.
"I know," Cory said on the other end of the line. "Topanga and I want to throw him a small party tomorrow to cheer him up. I'm not sure it will make him feel any better about missing the formal, but we can try."
Shawn was conflicted. He wanted to be there for his godson, knowing that this weekend was going to be rough on him, yet he finally managed to make time for a date night with Katy. Her chaotic work schedule and his often made it hard for them to plan dates. That's why their anniversary mainly consisted of visiting her at work and ordering a cup of coffee. But Katy and him were both free tomorrow on Valentine's Day - a rarity for the couple. He had made a reservation for a fancy restaurant a couple of blocks away from them and had been looking forward to wining and dining her. However, Josh was his number one priority at the moment. Katy knew that going into their relationship that the kids always were first. And Katy had liked that about him. Sure it was going to throw a wrench into their plans, but worst case scenario they could celebrate later in the night.
"We'll be there," Shawn assured Cory.
"And Katy's alright with this?" Cory asked, slightly skeptical. If the roles were reversed and it was Maya who was in Josh's position, Cory knew Topanga would be slightly pissed at first but then come to realize that it's best to be there for Maya.
"When has she not been?" Shawn replied. Him and Katy have been thrown into these situations time and time again that they have grown accustomed to it. Sure, she would be disappointed at first, but she will quickly push those feelings aside to be there for Josh.
Though it wasn't official, she had been like a godmother to Josh. With Angela out of the picture and Katy growing so close to Josh and the other kids, Cory and Topanga practically made her godmother to all three.
"Do you think Katy would mind making a cake?" Cory asked. Josh loved Katy's cakes. Though Katy was no chef like Topanga, Katy was, however, an excellent baker. She often made Josh's birthday cakes as he would ask for her signature chocolate peanut butter one each year.
"Nah, I'll ask her about it when she gets off her shift," Shawn promised. Katy would definitely not mind making a cake. She hadn't baked in a while and had been itching for the occasion to do so. "We'll be there at six tomorrow."
"See you then," Cory said, hanging up the phone.
"Maya!" Shawn called from the bathroom. Maya, who had been listening to the conversation not too far away, took her sweet old time getting into the bathroom. She was very much aware what this was about. "Josh is sick. He's not going to the winter formal, so Cory and Topanga and throwing him a little party." Maya couldn't help but grin. Though she knew this already, it was nice hearing it confirmed officially. "Wipe that smirk off your face. Josh isn't too pleased about missing the winter formal. Why don't you go figure out a birthday present to get him?"
Maya wasn't a big gift giver. She always got gifts for Riley on her birthday but rarely Christmas. The only person aside from her parents who got gifts from her was Auggie and Josh. Auggie's was purely out of pity since she got for his other siblings. But every year she had meticulously picked out Josh's gifts, hoping that maybe he'd finally realize he wanted to be with her.
"Don't you know me? I already got him one."
"Mom," Josh coughed and complained. He had wrapped himself in a blanket as he mom drug him out of his bed holding one hand while the other was clutching a bucket in case he puked. Like Topanga predicted Josh only had gotten worse. He was relived Sophie wouldn't get to see him this way. She probably would have run for the hills otherwise.
"Just hush," Topanga commanded. While Josh was confined to his room. She had roped in her little party planning daughter, Riley, to find items around the house to decorate for a Josh's sixteenth birthday. She enlisted the help of a much eager Maya and the girls went all out which Topanga and Cory had been grateful for.
Topanga led Josh into the living room where the rest of the immediate family and the Hunters had waited. "Surprise!" They cheered at the sight of Josh.
Josh groaned. He was thankful that his family put in such an effort for his birthday when they didn't have to, but Josh felt like crap. He didn't want to be around anyone.
Riley took Josh's hand and sat him on the arm chair which had been decked out just for him. "Did you think that we wouldn't celebrate your sixteenth birthday?" Riley implored.
She had been upset when Josh had cancelled his party two weeks ago after getting a date to formal and Riley had reluctantly accepted this, but now that Josh was home, she was more than thrilled to decorate for her brother's sixteenth birthday party.
"I should have expected this," Josh said. His family had been quiet since yesterday and neither of his parents were dressed up for their date night.
"Since you couldn't make it to winter formal and you had to cancel on Sophie, we thought the least we could do was throw you a party," Cory explained. "After all, we didn't want you to be completely miserable on your sixteenth birthday."
"Now you can drive," Auggie reminded his older brother, making him smile.
"Not until he gets his permit," Topanga added. "Which reminds me, why don't we do presents first? Auggie, do you want to help me give your brother his presents?" Auggie nodded and followed his mother to Josh's stack of gifts to hand them to his brother. "This one's from your dad and I."
Auggie took the envelope and handed it to Josh. "This is from mom and dad," Auggie explained, in case Josh didn't hear his mother tell Auggie.
Josh opened, the somewhat heavy envelope. There was something hidden in there. He turned and shook the envelope revealing his card with some money and a set of car keys. His eyes went wide. "This can't be real," Josh said to himself.
"It's a copy of our car keys," Cory explained, slightly disappointing Josh. The kid had thought he was getting a brand new car. "And if you read the card, it says that once you start feeling better, we'll take you to get your permit."
"Really?" Josh asked. His parents hadn't been super excited taking him out to drive. It wasn't that Josh wasn't a careful driver, the exact opposite, it was just that New York traffic scared his parents. The people on the road scared them. To agree to let Josh get his permit so soon was a huge win for him.
"Yeah," Topanga confirmed. "And the money is for you to put towards getting a car of your own."
"Sweet!" Josh said before going into a fit of coughing. "I would hug you guys, but I don't want to get you sick."
"My turn!" Auggie announced. He raced over to the stack of presents and handed Josh his. "This one's from me."
Josh opened the gift carefully and it was revealed to be a scrapbook of the two of them. From the day Auggie was born to every Halloween, birthday, Christmas and anything and everything in between. "Auggie, this is the best present ever," Josh smiled. Sure it was no car or money towards a car, but Auggie's gifts had always been his favorite. They were always so personal.
"Thanks, Mommy helped me with it," Auggie explained. He had come up with the idea, but Topanga spent a lot of time helping Auggie make it.
"I love it," Josh said. "Who's next?"
"Me!" Riley announced. She had Josh's gift picked out since she had gotten him his Christmas gift. Instead of Auggie handing over the gift, Riley had taken the liberty of doing it herself. "I hope you like it."
Josh always liked what his siblings got him whether it was heartfelt and homemade or extremely expensive. The thought was all the mattered to him. When he ripped open the wrapping paper, he grinned at the sight. He placed the Eagles hat on his head happily as he looked through at the rest of the gift revealing some collectible football cards.
Despite being raised in New York, rather than rooting for the Giants or Jets, Josh was a hardcore Eagles fan. He was a Philly kid before a New York one and his dad was the same way. "These are great, Riles. Thank you." Josh placed the cards back in the box reminding himself to put them in his card book later.
"Okay, I think the kid has waited long enough for our present," Shawn said. Auggie went to the dwindling stack of presents and handed him Shawn and Katy's gift.
"You guys didn't have to get me anything. The cake is more than enough," Josh said. He had immediately clocked Katy's cake on the kitchen table once he got down the stairs. It was one of his favorite parts of his birthday. He wasn't sure if he would keep it down tonight, but he would surely try.
"What kind of godparents would we be if we just brought you a cake," Katy said.
Josh shrugged not sure what to say. He opened Shawn and Katy's gift, revealing a brand new leather jacket. Josh was a little confused to say the least. It's not that he wasn't appreciative, just confused. Shawn had just gotten him a leather jacket not too long ago. The only difference was that this one was a little heavier.
"Check the pockets," Shawn instructed.
Josh checked the pockets and found some keys. "What are these for?" Josh asked.
"Yeah, Shawn, what are those for?" Topanga repeated. Usually Shawn told them what he was getting Josh so they wouldn't buy the same thing. Why would he buy Josh a car, especially without consulting them first.
"You remember that old motorcycle of mine," Shawn began. Josh nodded. "I wasn't much older than you when I got it. It needs some work, but if you're willing to put in the time with me to fix it up. The motorcycle is all yours."
"Shawn!" Cory and Topanga scolded. It was one thing to have Josh driving a car, but a motorcycle was a whole new beast and quite dangerous. They weren't sure if they wanted Josh on it.
"Are you serious?" Josh asked. He couldn't believe the offer. He always wanted to learn how to ride a motorcycle and he had joined Shawn once or twice when he was younger, much to his parents dismay. Josh thought that the motorcycle would be going to Maya, not him.
"Have I ever let you down?" Shawn replied.
"This is...wow...I don't even know what to say," Josh said. He was speechless. This was an incredible gift. He was sure nothing could ever top this.
"Can we eat cake now, Mommy?" Auggie asked, growing hungry.
"Not until I give Josh my gift," Maya insisted, pulling her gift out from behind her. She hadn't set her gifts with the others. She wanted to hand deliver Josh his own gift. "Happy birthday, Josh."
Josh softly smiled. "Thanks, Maya." He had to admit that Maya was an excellent gift giver when it came to him. Probably one of the few perks that came out of her crush on him. She always knew just what to get him.
"If you don't like it, I can always return it," Maya said. She was always nervous to see Josh's reactions to her gifts. His opinion meant so much to her.
"I don't think that is necessary," Josh insisted as he opened Maya's gift. He held up Maya's gift to examine it. Josh wasn't saying much, which had worried Maya. She thought he must've hated it. "Maya." Josh paused. "I can't believe you got me this. I didn't think anyone remembered."
"What is it?" Auggie asked.
"It's an official Eagles Jersey with my name and number on it," Josh explained, pointing to the jersey. "See. Matthews 23." This must have cost Maya a pretty penny for something like this. He had mentioned wanting to get one months ago, but they were insanely expensive. "Maya, you didn't have to get me this."
"But I wanted too," Maya insisted. She had been secretly taking up a few shifts at the diner with her mother to save up for the gift. It cost her three months of work, but for Josh it was worth it. The smile on his face was all she needed.
"I don't know what to say," Josh was once more speechless. Maya was always filled of surprises. It was moments like this when Josh, actually liked having Maya around. She was so attentive and considerate of others when she wanted to be.
"How about...Maya, I love it. Maya, you are my favorite person in the world. Maya, I love you. Maya, will you marry me," Maya offered as possible responses.
Josh laughed which turned into a cough. "Now you're pushing it."