A Dare

8

A/N: HOW ARE YOU GUYS ENJOYING THE BOOK IF I DO SAY MYSELF, IM LOVING IT!! AND DRAMA IS COMING YOUR WAY, MY FRIENDS.

Josh's POV

We finally reach the building and take the elevator up. The whole way is just silent and I find that I'm mumbling to myself what I'm about to say to Cory's family. We're walking towards the door and each step, my palms get sweater and sweater and my breathing gets faster and faster. Maya notices and stops me, "are you sure you're ready? You don't have to do it now if you don't want to."
"But I do want to, and you're going to be there, right?"
"Always." She says. That breaks my heart. She's always going to be there and then there's me, where in two weeks, I'm not going to be. I can't do this to her. But I push aside my Maya problems as I open the front door and head inside with Maya.

Maya's POV

Josh calls out Cory and Topanga and Riley was already on the couch in the living room. Me and Josh sit next to eachother while on the sofa that's 90 degrees to ours sits the Matthews. "I have to tell you all something." Josh starts. "About Melanie." Now their attentions were fully drawn.
"Maya I think you should go to Riley's room, this doesn't concern you don't worry." Cory states
"No." Me and Josh say at the same time, "he already told me Mr Matthews don't worry about me." I finish off.
"Wha-well ok."

He repeats everything he had said to me and every word just made them ridiculous this whole situation was and how much he was broken. The completely understood what he did and why. He did explain how depressed he was but didn't mention the self harm, I look at him which makes him face me. "What about ..." And rub my hands across my arm, and he understood. Riley bursts into tears. And the attention from both parents were on her and Josh puts his hand on my knee and slightly shakes his head, telling me that they can't know. And I nod. I stand up and take Riley to her room, where she continues to sob into my shoulder. We sit at the bay window. "Shhh, Sweetie it's fine. It's over now. Everything's fine."
"No it's not Maya!!" She screams but then covers her mouth remembering Auggies fast asleep, "it's not fine" she says in normal volume, "Uncle Josh was in so much pain and was so alone and all I did was hate him for it. I was such a jerk to him and be horrible and tell you not to trust him!" She continued to cry. There was a knock on the door. It opens and there comes in Josh. He pokes his head through and then fully comes in and closes the door and when he turns around Riley runs up to him and hugs him tightly. She wraps her arms around his neck and he wraps his around her waist. "I'm so so so so so so so SO sorry Uncle Josh."
"What for?"
"For being an asshole, I guess." For the past year all I've bee doing is hating you and not trusting you at all." She lets go and sits walks back back down beside me and he sits on the other side of her. "That's not your fault, Riley, I'm the one who should've told you."
"But you couldn't. That little bitch hurt you and you couldn't trust."
"Yeah but I should've trusted you Riley. I should be sorry for being a little wimp." He laughs, which makes her laugh and now stop crying.

"Maya! Come over here honey!" Topanga calls me
"Coming!" I smile and run down to the kitchen. I absolutely loved it when she called me honey. When I came in, she opened her arm and pulled me into a hug. "What's this for?" I ask, confused af
"Just because," she smiles "hearing Josh's story made me realise how alone you were and now you have us and I just want you to know that I do love you. So much, you're like a second daughter to me. And you're here so much it's weird when you're not!" She laughs. I shed a tear and what she just said "thank you Topanga," I cry, pathetically "I love you too."
"Ooh!! Do you know what we should do? Bake!"
"BROWNIES?!"
"Yah huh!"
"Yassssssss!" I cheer, "should I go call Riles to join?"
"No it's alright we baked cookies when you and Josh were watching a movie together, we were going to make brownies too but I kept that a secret because Riley is more of a cookie person and you're more of a brownie person so, why not?!" She laughs.
"I can't wait, I'm so hungry!"

Josh's POV

"Do you like Maya?" Riley comes up with outta no where
"Yeah, she's cool, funny and cute! And really strong"
"But do you like like her?"
"Riley why are you asking me this?"
"Because it feels like you do, just answer the question!"
"I don't know? No?" I say "I can't like her, she's 3 years younger than me! I can't ever date her. Could I? No! Josh what?!"
She laughs, "I didn't say date, I mea if you wanted to I guess I'd be ok with it because you guys make each other so happy! But mom and dad might need more persuading."
"Tell me about it. But I would never, I don't like her in that way, at least I didn't think I did, until now. And maybe thaw why I kissed her.."
"You KISSED?!"
"Twice" I tighten my eyes
"Oh my good eeeeeek!!!!!" She squeals, so that's where Maya gets it from, "why didn't Maya tell me. Oh right never mind... Fail."
"So Riley?" I smirk
"Hmm?" She hums
"What about you? Does anyone make you happy? The way I supposedly make Maya happy?"
"Still Lucas, Josh."
"Oh god. Really? Mr Perfect?" I laugh, "whatever floats your boat" I chuckle and leave you room, knowing what I HAD to do.

I went on mine, Logan's and the dudes group chat and said I wanted to take back my dare and just do a forfeit. But they would let me take it back. They asked loads of question but the main one was why I wanted to and I was straight with them, I told them what happened and how I felt and they thought it was be "cute" to see how this ends up. Wtf? They never say cute. Holy shi- Aliens. I don't want to do this to Maya, I didn't want to break her more than she already is. But what if I do like her? What if everything works out? Then it'll be fine, right? Gahhhh but I hate the fact that I'm lying to her.

I smell brownies. I run to the kitchen to see 2 dozen brownies, oh my god. Not just any brownies, oh no, Topangas brownies. And they, my friend, are the best brownies you'll ever eat [A/N: not going to lie, when I was writing this, my mouth watered and now I really actually do want brownies. Not just any brownies, though. Topangas brownies.]

We demolish all the brownies and head off to bed. But of course I was up until 2am overthinking. I heard someone knocking on my door. What the? They try and open my bedroom door but it's locked, meaning I have to get out of my comfortable position, great. I unlock the door and see Maya in her little Alice in wonderland pjs, she was so cute, her shorts has Alice's face and the cat which I never remembered the name of, plastered all over it. And a plain t-shirt with just Alice's face on it her sleeping attire was so distend from mine. I have boxers, I pair of tracksuit bottoms and then waist up I'm naked, but it's ok because I look gooood. I realise how stupid I am and my full attention went back to Maya who was trembling, lost for words. I pull her in my room making sure no one saw, and I locked it. I bought Maya to the end of my bed I sat down, putting her on my lap, as if I was Santa and she was the kid asking for what they wanted. "What's wrong Maya? You look like you just saw a dead person."
"I sort of did." She shook uncontrollably
"Hold up.."
"I had a nightmare Josh, it was a zombie apocalypse and everyone I ever cared for and loved died and got turned into one of those.
"Was I there?" I smirked, trying to make her feel better
"Unfortunately, yes. Yes you were."
I playfully punch her in the arm, "so do you want to sleep with me tonight?" her eyes widen, ".......no!! NOOOOOOO no. I GOD no. I mean sleep never to each other. And we could talk until you fall back asleep." I smile
"What about you? What about if you fall asleep? I'm not going to just keep you up if you're feeling really tired."
"I won't be able to rest once I know you're safe and ok. And asleep. Ok?" Let's go. I say as I pull her into bed. She curves into a sort of S shape and I do the same, as I wrap my hand around her waist, pulling her closer, so she feels safe and whisper, "goodnight" as she was already drifting away to sleep. "Night," and she yawns once again "I love you...."
"I think I do too." I say into her golden locks, as I fall asleep with a princess now beside me.