Maya and Josh- The Long Game

Christmas at Riley's

It's been a while since Maya and Josh had their last deep talk but they learned to get used to being around family and friends all the time and not just the two of them. They both thought it would make things much more complicated and harder if they would talk alone or text each other all the time.
It's Christmas Day and Topanga and Cory planned a big get together with Shawn, Katey and Maya and Corys parents with Josh.
It was late afternoon as the doorbell buzzed, and in came the Matthews. Immediately after, the Hunters joined and came in too. Everyone hugged and wished each other a Merry Christmas. Maya was waiting excitingly to get a hug from Josh since that's about the furthest she knew could get from him at this point.
So she tried to play it cool but she couldn't help it, her heart was beating out of her chest as Josh came closer with a smirk on his face as he greets her,
„Maya, Boy you look gorgeous" while pulling her in for a warm hug. Maya giggled and blushed as she remembered Christmas Day 2 years ago when he told her she grew up gorgeous,
„thanks, Boing" jokingly responding with the same words she had for him back then. Both were grinning at each other as Topanga called everyone for coffee and cake.

As the evening drew closer it was time for secret Santa. Everyone in the group had picked a name and they started to exchange their gifts for each other. Riley had picked her grandpa Alan, she went over to the Christmas tree and got her gift and gave it to him. As he opened it he was very touched, it was a picture Riley had painted for him when she was in kindergarten.
„I found that painting when we were looking for Berry the Bear Bear I realized I must have forgotten to give it to you back then. So I framed it for you.
„Riley, that is the sweetest thing ever, I can't believe this was 10 years ago, how wonderful, thank you so much". He went over and hugged her. Now it was Alans turn for his gift. He picked his son Josh.
Josh opened his present and it was 3 tickets to a Basketball game. „I thought you might want to go to an NBA game with your brother Cory and me." Josh was super happy „are you kidding? This is freaking awesome, we haven't done this in years, thank you dad", hugging him.

Now it was time for Josh's present and what are the odds that of all people here he would pick Maya? Well, he did and he picked up his present with a light smile on his face walking up to Maya who sat on the floor and gave it to her. Maya couldn't believe that Josh was her secret Santa and all she could feel was butterflies. As she took of the wrapping paper, there was a beautiful wooden box. She opened the box and in it there was a new set of high quality water colors and paintbrushes, literally the exact set she had wanted for a while but couldn't get since they were too expensive. She teared up looking at Josh, forgetting for a second that they were not the only 2 people in the room.

„Josh, I don't know what to say, how did you know that I wanted them for so long? They're perfect, exactly the ones I wanted but couldn't get...I, I, thank you so much..." she stuttered, flinging her arms around his neck hugging him. He was a bit caught off guard but embraced her quickly
„I remembered you talking about those colors a couple of weeks ago, I was in the room when you told Riley you wanted to get them so bad".
„This means so much to me that you payed attention to that and actually got them for me, I can't thank you enough". „I'm glad you love them, Maya, you're welcome". Both smiled at each other for a bit too long as there was an awkward silence in the room for everybody else but them. That was when Shawn realized that whatever was going on between Maya and Josh was more serious than he thought cause up until now he only thought Maya had a crush but he needed to catch up so he decided to talk to Josh......