Fragile Heart

Chapter Eight

We kissed. Josh and I kissed. The long wait for our lips to meet was all worth it. What now? I woke up next to Riley and I repeatedly hit her head.
"Riley, wake up."
"No,I'm tired Maya"
"It's important"
I rolled her over and shook her like I shook a bottle of water with crystal light dissolving into it.
"Maya." She said in a groggy voice
"Josh and I..kissed."
Those words were like coffee for her, she was full of energy after digesting them.
"WHAT?!"
"Yeah, yesterday after I left the diner."
"How was it?"
"It was.. I don't even know how to tell you what or how it was like. I just know it was great and everything around me, all of my problems they were nonexistent for those couple of seconds."
"As long as you're happy Maya, I can try to deal with you being my aunt." She joked.

JOSHs POV
Why did I kiss her? Don't get me wrong, it was the best kiss I've ever had.. and I've kissed a lot of girls. I shouldn't of done that to her, I'm leaving soon and I can't commit. She's a great girl, If anybody could anchor me down it would be her but I can't. I don't want to be in a relationship and hurt her, she's too special. She's younger than me too, she's a lot more mature than me regardless but I can't. I'm afraid, this is uncharted territory.
I saw Maya and Riley eating breakfast when I walked out of my cave. Looking at Maya made my heart pulsate rapidly, I didn't know how to act.
"Hey Josh." She smiled.
"Hi." I said flatly.
She looked down and played with her cereal. I could tell I've already hurt her.

MAYAs POV
I finally felt complete and happy, he made me those things. But now he's acting like it never even happened- maybe it was all just in my head?
"Josh, can we talk?"
"I'm super busy, I'm taking Auggie out to lunch."
"Oh okay."
He grabbed Auggies arm and directed him out of the door.
I collapsed to the couch with my face suffocated against a pillow.
"What's wrong Maya?"
I looked up to see Shawn, I swear he was my guardian angel. He always knew when I was upset and when I needed a new perspective other than Riley's.
"Nothing" I lied testing to see if he would just let me be but of course he cared too much.
"Is it Josh?"
"He's just so frustrating sometimes but I'm fine. I just want to take a nap."
"Okay kiddo, I'm here when you want to talk."

JOSHs POV
I came back from taking Auggie out for burgers and ribs to spot Maya looking so gorgeous and angelic on the couch, I just wanted to crawl next to her.
"Hey Josh." Corey startled me.
"What's up my brother?"
"Listen, Shawn has filled me in on some things so tell me what's up with you and Maya?"
"Nothing. " I lied
"Tell me." He said punching my arm jokingly. He was such a 12 year old at heart.
"Absolutely nothing. She means nothing to me. She never has. She's just Riley's annoying friend. She's obsessed with me."
I spoke impulsively, I was tired of everyone asking me about my feelings. I couldn't deal with Cory knowing because I didn't even know for myself yet. She was far from nothing.

MAYAs POV
I heard Josh come back in with Auggie but I was too tired to unravel joshs feelings right now so I kept myself safe under my blankets. I could hear Cory interrogate Josh about me. My heart hopped around my chest, I was beyond ready to hear his feelings. I closed my eyes tighter so that neither of them would notice I was awake and try to spare my feelings.
"Absolutely nothing. She means nothing to me. She never has. She's just Riley's annoying friend. She's obsessed with me."
A silent tear raced down my face and I bit lip hard to hold back my crying.
I was nothing to him? I couldn't deal with him anymore, he was a jerk. He's toyed with my emotions for far too long, I'm done. I was so oblivious to his ways because my feelings made me blind. After I heard them both go off to their rooms I ran out of the Matthews house with a waterfall of tears.
"Lucas?" I questioned when j saw him waiting outside
"I was here to see Riley. What's wrong Maya?" He said with a concerned expression.
"It's noth.."
Before I could finish he engulfed me in a hug and whispered "you don't have to pretend with me Maya."