Step Up

Chapter Five

Chapter Five:
Safe In Your Arms

He walked into the apartment and saw Riley sitting on the couch with headphones in. Figuring she hadn't heard him, he snuck around the couch and plopped down beside her.

She still hadn't noticed him. 

"Wow, thought you'd be just a little more excited to see me," He teased.

When she heard mumbling beside her she pulled out her headphones and turned her head towards the noise, expecting to see no other than Maya.
"Oh, uncle Josh, hey," she smiled, turning her attention back to her laptop screen.

"Jeez, what does a guy have to do to get some attention around here?"

"Sorry uncle Josh," she giggled, setting her laptop on the coffe table to free her arms for a welcoming hug back.

"Yeah- I meant real attention kid, not the fake love you're showin'. But thanks for trying, I still got two more kids to try."

"Well, you do live with me, what do you expect? I get enough of you as it is!" She laughed and picked her device back up.

He shook her off and continued to the kitchen. The fridge was always one of the first things he worried about when he got home, especially after a long ride home from Philly.

"You're not here alone, are you? Where's bubba? Where's my rascal? I'm deprived!" He yelled out, gripping his chest as if his heart were really hurt.

"Auggie went to Ava's," she smiled, "but Maya's in my room, enter at your own risk; she's not in the best of moods but hey you may just be the one to cheer her up."

"Uhm, Josh- where's mom and dad?"

"They went on a date. I guess they figured I'd be here to keep you out of trouble." He winked, adding a smirk to the devilish face he was trying so intently to pull off.

"That was smart." She said sarcastically and cackled, not bothering to look back to see where she already knew he would be going.

He walked back to the girl's bedroom, concerned for Maya, seeing as she 'wasn't in the best of moods,' and figured she could use a friendly smile. And it was a great excuse to see her, who he so deeply missed while he was away. He always did when he had to leave New York, no matter the amount of time.

He opened the door and saw her curled up in a ball with the blanket covering her entire body. Walking over to the edge of the bed and sitting down, carefully enough not to startle on her, he moved the blanket ever-so-slightly.

"Hey, Miles ..."

She groaned.

"Is that nickname ever gonna get old?" She whined, even though she'd always really loved it. Since they were little, he was the only one who called her that, it was an 'insider' kind of thing that they had growing up.

"Nope." He giggled before resuming, "So, Riley says you're upset. You can't be upset on my first day back!"

He heard her let out a few laughs, which then turned into a cry before taking a deep breath and sitting up, wiping her tears.

"It's nothing." She said half smiling, "I'm glad you're back Joshy, welcome home. Even though it was only a month, it was a long one."

"Come on Rascal," he said wiping her tear away, using the other nickname he made up years back, "What's going on? You can tell me, I won't squeal, scouts honor!"

"You're not a scout, Josh." she reminded him, laughing in the process.

"Says who?" he leaned in and whispered.

He let out a small laugh but then gave her the puppy dog eyes.

She thought about telling him the truth but she'd had enough heartbreak for one day so she went with the half truth.

"Lucas and I got in a fight. He said some things, and I was hurt, and I think we broke up."

He was upset for her but a small part of him wanted to do the happy dance. He never did like them together, it didn't seem right.

"Do you want me to hurt him?" He said half serious, half jokingly.

She giggled, "please?"

He let out a small chuckle too and then pulled her close, putting one hand on her lower back and the other on the back of her head, softly caressing her hair while she wrapped her arms around him, putting her head on his chest. All she could think of at this moment was how good he smelled and how good of a friend he was to her even if she didn't deserve it. She never wanted to let go, she felt safe and at home, she always did when he hugged her. Who wouldn't?

"Thank you." She said softly.

He lightly kissed her head and held her tighter, he never wanted to let go.