Maya Meets World

Maya Meets Six Months

July

"How are you this beautiful?" Josh asked as Maya stepped closer to him. Maya's hair was down, gentle waves casting a softness over her. She had on short denim shorts and a white tank top that flowed down past her shorts on the sides. Josh could't take his eyes off of her, taking in every inch of her, his heart accelerating with every step toward him.

Maya tilted her head to the side and smiled as she rolled her eyes slightly. "How are you so cheesy?" she asked handing Josh a beer.

Josh shook his head, "I don't even care," he said, his eyes completely glued to the girl in front of him.

Maya's face softened under Josh's gaze. She suddenly felt her heart pounding against her chest as she took a shaky breath. Josh's words were full with an honesty that nearly made Maya weak. She wasn't even sure he knew exactly what he did to her.

"Come here," Josh grabbed Maya's wrist gently, pulling her to him.

Maya squealed slightly as Josh's lips collided with hers, his hands almost immediately making their way to her back pockets as hers draped over his shoulders.

"Mmm," Josh moaned into their kiss, pulling Maya even closer to him. Ever since the night Riley and Lucas got engaged, the night he and Maya spent together in the hotel in the city, Josh couldn't keep his hands off of Maya. Every thought he had she was wrapped up in, one way or another. When he thought of having coffee in the morning, his mind went to Sunday mornings together, their weekend class where she painfully drank his black coffee. When he glanced at the city around him as he walked from his apartment to Maya's, all Josh could think of was how beautifully Maya could capture it. When he looked in the mirror, he practically saw Maya standing next to him. If they were magnets before, Maya was now Josh's own source of gravity, he couldn't bear not being around her, and when he was, there was nothing he could do to keep from physically being connected to her. She was utterly and completely all-consuming.

Maya felt the exact same way. Her mind drifted to Josh in everything she did; drawing made her heart race as she heard Josh's sweet voice encouraging and praising every piece of work he'd ever seen of hers. Anytime she walked into her kitchen to attempt to make a meal, she immediately would pull out of phone, calling Josh to come over, for them to eat together. Every aspect of her life had a tint of Josh to it and a continual pull to be closer to him. Maya's heart yearned to be near Josh, as much as she tried to keep herself in check, hold Josh at just the right distance, be cool, Maya, she would try to remind herself, but she couldn't, not with him. Every part of who Maya was was heightened when she was around Josh. Maya leaned her forehead against Josh's as she gently pulled away from their kiss, her nose red and eyes closed.

Josh held Maya's face in his hands, "Maya," he breathed.

Maya scrunched her nose, "Joshua," she teased him blinking up at him.

Josh leaned in closer to Maya, their breath mixing together, "I love you,"

Maya's breath hitched as her heart sped up; hearing those words would never get old for her. She bit her bottom lip as her eyes held onto Josh's.

Josh's eyes narrowed, "Woman," he practically growled, closing the gap between them once again.

Maya laughed into their kiss as Josh's arms slinked around her, their bodies melting together.

"Come on," Josh grabbed Maya's hand, leading her back toward the door.

Maya's heart fluttered as she followed Josh inside. "The fireworks," she whined, protesting slightly. It was the 4th of July, they were on the rooftop, Maya wanted to see the fireworks.