It's About Time (GMW - Joshaya)

Chapter 79

Maya's POV

"Ya know," Riley spoke loud so that all of us in the group could hear. "We should all try to take a vacation week in July for the holiday and rent a house at the beach like we used to when we were little."

I think we were all getting a little nostalgic of our childhood the older we got. When we were little, Riley's whole family used to go down the shore in New Jersey and get a house to use on the weekends and sometimes throughout the week. It was always fun because she used to take me and Josh used to bring some of his friends throughout the summer which was where I initially met all of them. But it's been so many years since we've done this. So long that I'm pretty sure Farkle and I are the only ones that have ever been there out of the Clique Six

"Hell yea! I'm in," Ryan agreed. 

"Would we do one in New Jersey like you guys used to or somewhere else like North Carolina maybe?" Shailene added.

"I hear they make some good fried food down there," Zay perked up.

"Don't forget the barbecue," Lucas was practically drooling at his own words.

"Calm down there Lone Star," I patted his shoulder. "We haven't even decided if that's what we are doing yet."

"I'm good with whatever. Julian and I just need a couple months notice so that we can take off from work," McKenzie vocalized.

"Same here," Noah nodded.

"Well how about we check out the prices of the houses in New Jersey and North Carolina and go from there," Josh proposed. "I mean I'm all about tradition, but I also don't mind wandering a little bit and doing something different. As long as we are all there, it doesn't matter which state we are in."

I could sense the homesickness in Josh's voice. I didn't understand why he didn't tell everyone yet that he was moving back to New York.

"Awesome, and I can have my dad check and see if he has any connections that he can help us out with since we are probably gonna need a huge house if any of our families are coming. Either that or two houses next to each other," Farkle insisted.

"My man," Smackle smirked up at him in awe.

Riley clapped her hands excitedly the way she always does, "Yayyyyy! I'll talk to my parents about it!" 

The night drew to a end before I knew it, the rest of the night flew by. I guess that is probably because I was finally enjoying myself and not stressing about the Josh situation. I mean it was like old times. Me, Riley, Lucas, Zay, Farkle, Smackle, Noah, Shailene, McKenzie, Julian, Ryan, Josh, and all of our family and friends.

I missed this dynamic. It wasn't just safe and comfortable. It was home, it was happiness, it was bliss.

This was what I needed in my life. Everything else was too inconsistent and unpredictable. I needed these people, they are my family. And over the past year especially I had been too caught up in what I was gonna do with my future to realize that I need to step back and appreciate these things in my life.

As we were all leaving, we stood in the venue situating rides back home.

"We can just take the subway home," I mentioned to Riley.

"I mean you guys are more than welcome to squeeze in my car," Zay offered.

"No need to squeeze. I don't mind making the trip, it's on the way back to Cory and Topanga's apartment anyways. Besides Zay, you have to drop of Smackle and Farkle, it is the least I can do," Josh twirled Cory's car keys in his hands.

I watched unknowingly as he began to juggle them from finger to finger. How the hell did he do that?

"And there is no way I'm letting you too walk home alone in the city at night," Josh's two fingers pointed at Riley and I. He made a face of disbelief that taking the subway would even be an option for us.

"That's fine with me," Riley smiled and turned to me for my approval. 

"You say it as if I haven't lived in the city my whole life and I'm not perfectly capable of getting home by myself," I frowned, defending my street smarts. 

I was partially joking. I was definitely capable of making it home, but I would much rather not walk home alone in the dark in the city. It was creepy and you never knew what could happen. Plus it was cold out.

"That's not what I meant Maya, you know that," he justified his offer.

"I know," I rolled my eyes and shook my head with a grin plastered on my face so that he knew I was kidding. "My legs could use a rest from walking in these heels," I conceded.

"Well, then. Allow me," Josh stuffed the car keys into his pockets and rolled his wrists so that both of his palms were reached out. One for me and one for Riley. "Your carriage awaits," he did a little bow as he waited for us to grab his hands. "We better get going before midnight and this car turns into an apple or a grape or whatever."

"A pumpkin Uncle Josh, Riley corrected him, proud of her fairytale knowledge.

"Same thing," he shrugged as we waved goodbye to everyone.

"It is most certainly not the same thing," Riley sounded almost offended that he would disgrace fairytale facts like this.

"Maya?" he looked at me for help.

"I'm always up for some sort of twisted fairytale Joshua, but I think I'm with Riles on this one. It is most certainly a pumpkin and and apple and a grape are nowhere near the same thing," I teased, knowing that I would get a rise out of him.

"Whatever, just get in you spoiled princesses," Josh said in defeat.

The car ride was relatively short and quiet. I think we were all too exhausted from the day to even bother making small talk. But I don't think any of us minded. it was a serene silence. A comforting silence.

Josh pulled up to the curb and pressed his hazards so that his lights flashed. I looked up from my phone as the car stopped. Josh's eyes moved from the road to the rearview mirror where he made eye contact with me in the back seat through it. I noticed the smile in his baby blue eyes before he turned to face Riley and I. 

"Thanks for the ride," Riley unbuckled her seatbelt

"Yea, thanks! You saved me from sitting next to some random guy that was belligerently drunk on the subway," I unbuckled my seat belt. "It's not fun having a stranger fall asleep in your lap," I giggled. "Trust me. I've had it happen to me before."

"No problem," Josh laughed in bemusement, knowing exactly the type of people that I was talk about. "You sure it wouldn't be you two that are the drunk people falling asleep in peoples' laps?!" Josh raised an eyebrow before laughing again. 

"Haha," I stressed, sarcasm clearly traced in my voice. 

I opened the car door and used the hand rail thingy to boost my jaded self out of the car. Riley and I began to walk up the path to our apartment our arms around each other for mutual support. Maybe we would've been those drunk people on the subway haha.

"Goodnight," Josh rolled down and window and called to us. "Love ya!"

I didn't even know who he was directing the second part to, but I felt a sharp pain shoot through my chest as I heard those words.

"Goodnight, Uncle Josh. Love ya," Riley turned her head back to the car.

"Goodnight Joshua," I held a hand up in the air, not even bothering to turn around.

After changing, getting ready for bed, and pulling my hair up into a loose ponytail, I snuggled up in bed after a long day. It was a fun day even if it did get off to a rocky start.

My phone vibrated just as I turned the lights off to go to sleep.

I grabbed my phone from the nightstand blindly, but this time a little more careful. I didn't need to knock over and break anything else.