Learning To Fall

Prologue

His lips. They tasted of fresh summer rain with a mixture of warmth and summer sun, much better than her dreams in which she still longed for him, being able to touch her various places other than just the small of her back where he did outside that Bistro that reminded her of France, a country in which she'd never been to, and her dad, who often took her there for kindergarten celebrations, for good grades, or being able to stay on green for three weeks. Her first best experience there was with someone she loved and her last, was with that exact same person. It was the week before he left her and her mother did he keep saying "I love you" much more than usual without an explanation why. She didn't think much about it until the next week she woke up to him gone, and nothing but her mother's feeble explanations. Only recently on her fourteenth birthday was she able to find out a little more behind the situation - that her mother never scared him away, that her father left his daughter and his lover for someone else - but other than that, the subject was very much avoided and until now, she avoided that Bistro behind the disappointment and the pain. But on this particular night, she decided it might have been a good idea - whatever the reason might have been - to share it with her best friend, Riley, who was coming home from her two week summer vacation in Florida. Though it was quite the experience for her young butterfly, it still disappointed Maya that she couldn't be there to experience it with her. Though she had to learn not all times would she be able to be there, the thought still continued to rummage her mind.

Maybe it was the ache of missing her, the appreciation of her being back, Riley's simplistic love for the French culture, in which this Bistro took up the setting and Maya had been able to rummage up enough cash to pay for it's expensive pricing to get a little something for them both, or maybe because Maya just missed the place. Her hormones spiraled out of control lately to where she was feeling so nostalgic it made her sick to her stomach and maybe, just maybe, she couldn't stand the thought of being alone there. It was like she was trailing onto sacred grounds that was only welcomed by her five year old, happier, self and coming here alone will only allow those happy memories to come back to haunt her and twist them into something worse, such as her father's lies. So, her and Riley were supposed to meet here tonight, in which Maya was here already, her hair in a mess of blonde, reaching down past her chest, wearing a comfortable set of yoga pants and an oversized sweatshirt. It was twenty minutes later when Riley text saying that she was not going to be coming home tonight. At first it was quite disappointing, but then plans turned out very differently in a much, per say, better outcome.

He walked in and at first, she had to be sure. He wore black sweatpants and a plain white t-shirt, his hair in a careless tangled mess in which, he still managed to look good in, his brown eyes sweeping across his area, an impressive look crossing his features before his they settled to meet her own. At first he stared at her and it took a few heartbeats to realize she herself was staring at him without saying a word. It was quite embarrassing to the thought that he was across the room, perhaps, waiting for her to speak, but she had no words to say. She hadn't honestly seen him around since the Matthews went off on their vacation, but she knew they trusted him to hold down the apartment while they were away. No one Cory trusted more than his little brother. She just wondered out of everywhere, why he could have been here.

The staring became quite tiring because he was the first to make his move, walking over towards her, stopping at the edge of her table, in which she allowed herself to speak now, giving him a small smile. Though it was quite welcoming to see her crush alone now, without anyone to occupy them, she still felt the edge of disappointment that Riley was not around. And besides, she didn't need him to add onto her disappointment because here he was almost too beyond beautiful to look at and yet there was no flitting of feeling for her behind those beautiful brown eyes that could reveal the world.

"Uncle Boing," the girl spoke, breaking the silence between them. "What are you doing here?" He seemed to be considering this question as if he himself forgot what he could possibly be doing here but finally, he shrugged. "I saw you in the window," he said, the words slowly rolling off his tongue. "Wanted to check in on you. Mind if I sit down?" He didn't have to question anymore. Though she may be setting herself up for disappointment, the simple hope flaring inside her chest kept this crush for him alive. Three years older. That was nothing, and maybe Josh was starting to realize that. Not only that, but the simple thought of being alone here where so many memories of the only man she should ever still love at this age, who should still be here, overwhelmed her mind, and maybe just a bit of company was all she needed. "Actually I may need it," the girl said finally, taking in a sharp breath, snatching up the menu, and began to look over it, biting her lip.