Girl Meets 23

11 (Josh)

-New York City, USA-

After Riley and Maya left the Matthews home Josh had decided to stay a little while longer. He enjoyed the company of Topanga and Corey more than most people he knew and took any opportunity to soak up time with them. In law school he would often crash on their couch after dinner because he was so exhausted from studying. It was them who really instilled a strong sense of family in him. His parents did too, but because Josh was so much younger than everyone in his family he was isolated from his siblings at times because they were so far along already in their lives and his had only just begun.

"It's great to have Maya back," Topanga said seemingly reminiscing on the pervious few hours. "I know we've all missed her a lot," she shot Josh a look. He had a feeling that had something to do with his general quietness through out dinner.

"Yeah, it was definitely nice to see her" Josh agreed trying to keep the conversation around Maya short and to the point.

"It was a shame her boyfriend Caleb couldn't make it," he could tell she was baiting him and even though he want didn't want to fall for her trap the memory of Maya's awful boyfriend triggered him.

"It really wasn't," he started bitterly "from what I've seen he an absolute loser" he looked to Corey as if his brother would agree with him, forgetting the two hadn't even met the guy yet.

"What makes you say that Josh?" Corey asked with a confused expression, his brother wasn't one to unjustly dislike someone. He was probably where Riley got it from.

"I accidentally ran into them at baggage claim earlier," he remembered the tone Caleb had with Maya "the way he spoke to her was so aggressive. He was bossing her around and angry with her. I'm not sure if it was because she was talking to me or if it was something else," he shook his head. He really didn't know what to make of the interaction; other than the fact it left him with a bad feeling.

"I don't think Riley likes him much either," Topanga added with a knowing look. Corey just looked confused, clearly he didn't know anything about Caleb.

"Did she say something to you?" He couldn't help but ask his sister in law. He knew Riley would never be one hundred percent transparent when it came to Maya. They had boundaries that they wouldn't cross, and Josh respected that. He respected it even though it frustrated him deeply at times.

"Not really," Topanga said cooly "Just that she doesn't think he's right for Maya" he had gotten the same impression when he'd spoke to Riley earlier.

"We'll I'm sure he's not that bad. Plus you know Riley's always looking out for her," Corey said getting up "I'm going to head to bed. It was good to see you my brother," Josh's older brother patted him on the back.

"See you soon, my brother" Josh replied with a smile. Corey exited the room leaving Josh and Topanga alone in the living room.

"For what it's worth I don't think this guy is right for Maya either," Topanga said giving Josh a soft glance. Josh inspected her face. Topanga was intentional, and he knew this. Her word's definitely came with a deeper meaning.

"Oh yeah?" He smirked back to her. The corner of her lips quirked up.

"Well, I just always imagined her with someone else," she said still speaking rather lightly. No one had talked to Josh about Maya like this since she left for California years ago.

"I know where you're going with this," Josh bantered back "but I think she's moved on from all that now" it broke his heart more than he cared to admit to say that. In just the few hours it had been since Josh had first ran into Maya at the airport and the more he thought about her the more he wondered how he'd managed to be so far away from her for so long.

"Have you moved on?" She redirected. His sister in law was an amazing attorney, Topanga knew all the right questions to ask.

"Does it matter?" With his words escaped a sad laugh "she's got a whole new life now," pointing this out was another blow to his heart but it was the facts.

"Of course it matters!" She exclaimed "I'm not saying you should do something dramatic to break them up" she looked him dead in the eyes. Josh could tell he was about to get some solid Topanga wisdom whether he wanted it for not. "I just mean that chapter of your life is only closed if you shut the book" Josh pondered on that for a second. Maybe Maya hadn't closed the book yet?

"I don't know, Topanga. At the end of the day I just want her to be happy," he said truthfully "I just think that douchebag isn't making her happy and I hate that."

"I agree, after how hard she's worked she deserves some happy," it had always been hard to see Maya struggle through life. Her home life hadn't been great growing up and it had affected who she was as a person. For better and for worse.

"Yeah," Josh agreed "I should probably get home, before I fall asleep on your couch again" he joked getting up from his seat of the couch to give his sister in law a hug goodbye.

"We love you Josh," Topanga said into his ear during their friendly hug "you deserve some happy too."

"Thanks Topanga," Josh said sincerely before grabbing his coat and walking out the door.

-

It was an uneventful trip home, which led Josh's mind to constantly wander back to Maya. He couldn't tell what bothered him more the whole Caleb situation or the fact he was so hung up on the whole thing in general. Hadn't he outgrown these teenage feelings? Also when had he begun to feel to primal and obsessive when it came to her. Had he always been like this and hand realised. Due to his steady stream of thoughts about Maya when he saw her walking towards his apartment building the thought he was imaging things for the second time that day.

"Maya?" He asked loudly in disbelief, she should have been in her hotel room with her boyfriend. Not out in the cold late at night.

"Oh, hey Josh," Maya's voice sounded slightly lower. Like it did when she was sad or dealing with something hard. "Caleb really isn't feeling well, so I thought probably for the best I stay with Riley"

"Yeah, make sense" he said not really believing her but based on her voice he could tell it wasn't worth pushing on the subject. Maya was the kind of person who would let you in only after she had decided you were truly worthy of the information she was giving you. It was why it felt so special to him that he knew her so well.

"It actually convenient that you're here," she said her mood still despondent "you can put the apartment code in and I don't need to buzz Riley" normally Josh would have expected a teasing undertone to her words. She was usually feisty like that. He frowned a little at her tone, he hated seeing her so burnt out.

"Yeah let's get you in out from the cold," he entered in the six digit code and opened the door for her "I know you're not used to the winters anymore,"

"I actually miss the cold and the snow more than you'd think" her answer surprised him. But he didn't dare let himself think she wasn't happy in LA just because of one comment about the weather. The two stepped on the elevator and he pressed the buttons for both Riley and his floors. They rode up together in silence. It was clear Maya didn't really want to talk. What now bothered him was that five years ago he would have asked her what was wrong, he would have felt like he had the place to. Now, he felt like an audience member in her life. Being alone with her in a small confined space was making him feel both too comfortable and completely uncomfortable all at once. He could smell her, it was a sweet jasmine like always and it was torture. And when the elevator stopped and the doors slid open he couldn't help himself from saying one last thing to her.

"Maya," he said looking into her beautiful blue eyes. Her pupils the lighthouse in the sea. "It's been really great to see you again, you grew up gorgeous," he winked and the elevator doors shut before she could even blush. He knew she would. Josh suddenly realised he had a wide grin on his face and in that moment he decided he would do everything he could to give Maya some happy.