Always Deny, Never Admit

My Brother Fell In Love

* ( Extra Long Chapter Special )

Cory wasn't gonna lie and say he knew instantly that Maya and Josh had feelings for each other. When the two had met it was a sort of awkward thing that people would joke about. The surprise was that it really ended up happening.

When Cory traveled up to Philadelphia and brought along Riley's new friend, he didn't expect anything to come from the trip. Now Cory didn't think the connection was instant, but the super spunky girl had suddenly changed when the scrawny boy came down the stairs.

"Hey Cory!" Josh had yelled, with a gap from a missing tooth. He bounded quickly down the stairs and flashed a boyish grin at his older brother.

Cory gave Josh a hug and when Josh pulled away his gaze instantly was drawn to the suddenly shy blonde who hid behind Riley.

"Hey Riley! Who's she?" Josh asked, leaning towards Maya, who only shrunk back behind the perky brunette.

"This is my new friend, Maya!" Riley shouted back, pushing Maya to Josh. Maya shuffled awkwardly and stared curiously at the older boy.

"I'm Josh." Josh said, extending his small hand out to the new person. Cory smiled, thinking it was pretty cute. It seemed perfectly innocent to him and he always thought their age gap would prevent any possibilities anyway.

"My name is Maya." The blonde giggled out, twirling her hair girlishly around her small finger. Cory laughed at her sudden change of personality.

Josh didn't seem to be phased as he simply smiled and walked away.

"That's my Uncle!" Riley squealed, hugging Maya roughly. "Whatever, boys are stupid." Maya retorted, glaring at Josh's back and running with Riley up the stairs.

Cory could never understand that little girl as she changed her personality like a light switch. So he chuckled and went to find his little brother. Josh was coloring in the kitchen when Cory saw him.

"Hey Josh!" Cory greeted happily ruffling the small boy's head of hair. Josh laughed and swatted Cory's hands away.

"Hi Cor!" Josh yelled, still laughing. Cory always forgot Josh was only nine years old.

"How's it going?" Cory asked, pulling up a chair next to the young boy. Josh shrugged nonchalantly.

"I don't know, Riley's friend seems a little weird." Josh said, resting his chin on his hand as he propped his elbow up on the table. Cory laughed and stared down at his brother's big blue eyes.

"She talks in this high pitch voice and stands really close to me." Josh explained. Josh didn't really understand why the girl was always doing that.

"Well maybe it means she likes you." Cory said. Josh widened his eyes.

"Like has a crush on me?" Josh asked, blushing a deep red this time. Cory shrugged his shoulders and began to walk away.

Cory exited the kitchen and soon heard Josh following him. When at that time Maya came down the stairs by herself. When Josh and her locked gazes she instantly looked away.

"Hi Maya." Josh said, nervously scratching the back of his head. "Whatever." Maya said back, flipping her hair over her shoulder.

Josh opened his mouth to speak, but she walked into the kitchen. He frowned and hung his head.

"Are you sure she likes me?" Josh pouted, dragging his feet along the floor. Cory awkwardly let out a laugh and knelt down beside Josh.

"Girls have a funny way of showing things." Cory told him, placing a hand on his shoulder. Josh let a weak grin tug at his mouth.

"It's okay, she's too young for me anyway I mean I'm in fourth grade already!" Josh shouted and he ran away up he stairs and out of Cory's sight.

Then Cory saw Maya slink quietly out of the kitchen with a frown on her face. He realized she must've heard the conversation.

"Too old huh, well not forever." She muttered, before calling Riley's name as she disappeared up the stairs.