Fragile Heart

Chapter Twenty Two

2 weeks later ..
I gazed into the mirror and twiddled with my hair attempting to supply myself with options for tonights dance. I decided to curl it but very slightly so that my natural waves were just a little more formed. I would waterfall braid it afterwards and lightly spritz the endless blond waves with hairspray to glue it in place.
"Maya, I brought you a couple of dresses from demolition that you can decide from and bring back the rest. The dance is tonight, I've had my dress picked out for weeks, you have to put some effort into this."
"Why? Dances are stupid. I'll play it out for you Riley...single girls on one side, single boys on the other... And the couples will awkwardly be dancing inches apart, all stiff like a board. They will call the queen and king for a dance and whoever isn't king or Queen will feel envious and less of themselves. It's a pointless night that depicts the popular kids from the non popular kids in one environment. We are posed against one another."
"Maya, you're going. I heard Lucas has been trying to ask you out all week but he's nervous."
"Riley, Lucas and I have been hanging for the past few weeks nonstop. If he was going to ask me to this stupid dance we would've already done it. He's had plenty of opportunities."
"Well, I'm sure he will. We need to go as a group. I'm going with Farkle."
"Just show me the dresses.."
She held up three dresses in her long tree like arms. The first dress was Tiffany blue, similar to cinderella's, it was simple but coordinated with my eyes. The second dress was a pure white, and the third was black. All three of the dresses were tight and would hug to my curves but they weren't trashy, I wouldn't allow that.
"Which one do you think I should wear?" I asked while scanning all three of the dresses. My eyes evenly adored them all and my heart crunched at the mere thought of letting the other two go.
"I think the white one would look good on you Maya, it's a beautiful, intricate lace pattern. It's very classy like Marilyn Monroe!" She smiled.
The other two dresses seemed to disappear and my eyes centered on the white, elegant dress.
"I suppose I'll go, dresses and dances are stupid though." I said pointing my finger at her so she knew I stood my ground but like any other girl part of this was my weakness. I wanted the boy I liked to ask me to the dance and have a sparkly night in my dress. What girl wouldn't?
"Hey Riley, I'm going to go return these other two and see what Lucas is up to."

JOSHS POV
I pulled into the familiar,sweet lot of the Matthews apartment. This place of dreams gave Disney a run for its money, this is where I met Maya. I strutted into the door with nerves crawling throughout my body, I pressed the elevator door as the floors went up so did my stomach. I felt anxious and weak,what if Maya's in here? I knocked lightly as if I was unsure of myself. I saw Riley's expression dull and unresponsive.
"Not excited to see me niece?"
"You know I'm always happy to see you uncle Josh. It's been over a month and Maya has moved on. She's doing well, I just don't want her to get hurt by you being here."
"Riley, I'm here for a college program and I'm staying here for the rest of the school year and this summer. I'm here to focus on school, I promise I won't interfere with her life."
"Okay, on that note I'm glad your here." She wrapped her long, monkey like arms around me and I joined in.
"I have to go to the school to sign some papers, would you come to help me know where things are?" I asked with a pleading grin.
She opened the door and signaled for me to follow her. We jumped into my garbage treasure, a rusty old unidentifiable car.
"So what are you up to later?" I asked with a hidden agenda, I wanted to know where Maya was.
"School dance. You should definitely go!" She said all giddy and rocking in her seat.
"Why would I go to a stupid dance?"
"Maya said the same thing." She mumbled
Maya, that was reason enough to go anywhere. I would go to a graveyard or through a Forrest of trees and have fun, as long as she was with me, nothing would seem bad.
"I'm not even registered yet, I can't go."
"You're getting registered now! It'll be a good way to meet some of the students in your grade and socialize."
She wasn't wrong, If I was going to spend potentially senior year with this class, I might as well start it off on a good note. I'm sure there will be tons of after parties for the upperclassmen to attend after this little dance.
"Maybe." I uttered under my breath.
We turned into the school and jumped out so that I could officially be a member of this hell.
A wrinkly old lady with frizzy red hair and cherry red lipstick that barely made it on her lips greeted us.
"Hello, what can I help you with?"
"I'm Joshua Matthews, we spoke on the phone earlier."
"It's a pleasure to meet you, I think you'll very much enjoy it here. "
She handed me a pound of paper work and smiled again revealing her mess of lipstick covered teeth.
"You can just return this on Monday. "
"Can he go to the school dance tonight?" Riley chimed in with her big, bold eyes.
"Of course! That would be a super idea. I would actually prefer that because I'm a chaperone for it and I have a couple new kids attending that I would love for you to acquaintance yourself with." She smiled and I sneakily elbowed Riley in the ribs.
"Sounds great." I lied through my teeth.
I scooped up the pile of papers and walked out the door.

MAYAS POV
After I returned the neglected dresses I made my way towards the substation, Lucas had told me to meet him here earlier. I impatiently awaited his arrival as I leaned up against the wall. I looked up to see boy with a cowboy hat, a rope, cowboy boots, and a collared shirt that looks like something woody would wear. He was decked out in cowboy gear and I bursted out laughing. He playfully looped his rope around me and forcefully pulled me towards him I was now an inch away from him and he leaned into to kiss me. Our lips collided and my stomach was a zoo.
I broke our kissing smiling and still looking into his beautiful, glossy orbs.
"Why are you dressed like this Ranger Rick?"
"It's our game, it's where our bond started. You make fun of me and call me a cowboy and I let you because I adore you Maya and everything you do. This is our little thing and I wanted to know if you'd go to the dance with me tonight? I know it's last second but I .."
I ended his nervous ramble by leaning up on my tippy toes and continuing part 2 of our epic kiss.
So is this that a yes?"
"Yes" I smiled wide and suddenly excited for this dance.
"I should go, I'm suppose to get ready with Riley. I'll see you there."
I kissed him one last time quickly and pulled away. I ran with a smile glued to my face towards Riley's apartment.

JOSH POV
"I'll drop you off at the apartment. I'm going to get ready with some old pals of mine that I made when I used to stay with you guys for the summer."
"Okay, I'll see you at the dance." She smiled.
I dropped her off and veered the other direction towards Justin's house, an old friend of mine.
"Justin." I screamed through his door.
He opened the door, all dressed up in his suit.
"Josh!" He indulged me into a hug.
"Hey bro. Do you have any extra suits?"
If anyone would have a surplus of suits, it would be Justin. His parents were loaded with money.
He handed me a classic black suit and I smiled.
"What are you doing here?"
"I'm here for a college program but I'll be finishing the school year off with you guys!"
"Sweet." A group of familiar guys chimed in.
"Are you guys taking any ladies?" I winked playfully.
"Nah dude, the fun is getting the ladies once you're there."
"Truth, they swarm."
"Sweet." I smirked.
Justin handed me a cold beer and I gulped it down to relinquish my fear of confronting Maya.

MAYAS POV
Riley finished doing my hair and makeup and I felt complete. I shimmied on my gorgeous dress that tightly clung to my body and I looked nervously into the mirror. I felt confident for once, I smiled in reassurance.
Riley's jaw fell to the ground when she looked over at me.
"Maya, you look.. Wow you look so good. You're so beautiful" she was at loss for words.
"Riley, you look stunning." I smiled back.
We collected ourselves and made our way towards the substation to meet Lucas and Farkle.
I could see Lucas walking towards us and his faced was plastered on me, he looked like a prince in his suit. Right before we were about to greet our dates, Riley tugged at my arm.
"What is it Riley?"
"I need to tell you something .. It's about tonight.."
Lucas made his way towards us and smiled blinding the room.
"Are you ladies ready?" Farkle winked heavily.
"What was it Riley?"
She clammed up and shook her head signaling for me to drop it. I wonder what she wanted to say? We climbed into the substation and we were on our way to the dance.

JOSHS POV
The guys and I piled into the truck squished and uncomfortable but still manageable. We were on our way to the dance and I felt my stomach blend with anticipation and nerves.