My one and only Love

chapter 24

Maya Hart was likely the most rebellious teenager Topanga and Cory had known since Shawn Hunter. She wasn’t a bad kid, she had a good heart and good intentions most of the time but she had a big problem with authority. Possibly because she never had a lot of it at home and never learned how to deal with it properly. Maya had been taking care of herself for a long time and it was hard for her to accept that someone else made decisions about her life.

Maya didn’t want to be kicked out, she didn’t want to push the Matthews so much that they wouldn’t let her stay but at the rate she seemed to be going it would happen before she was ready to live on her own. She pushed the boundaries of her punishment, while her phone was taken away she would use Lucas’ at school to text and call Josh. Neither Maya nor Josh would accept that Topanga got to decide that they were done. The only positive side of it all was that Maya was so focused on how to see Josh again that her sadness was moving further back in her mind.

She tried to make things better at home. She did her homework promptly, she cleaned the apartment, cleared the table after every meal and washed up all the dishes. She did the laundry and made the beds. She did anything that could need to be done in the home trying to get on Topanga’s good side again. But after only a week she was getting sick of feeling like she was public enemy number one, she was getting sick of being told she couldn’t even speak to her boyfriend. By Wednesday night she was plotting how she could see Josh. One text to her boyfriend and the plan was in motion.

On Thursday night Maya feigned sleep until Riley was out for the night, then she sat up and watched the clock. The red lights glowed 1:00 AM when Maya slipped out the window. She didn’t leave the fire escape, didn’t need to – Josh had already climbed up. Her arms went around him instantly as they sat together on the metal base. “I missed you.” She breathed out. “Why didn’t we think of this days ago?” She asked with a grin. They both seemed to feel a hundred pounds lighter just being next to each other again though neither of them realized the level of their co-dependence as much as someone on the outside of their relationship might.

Around 2 AM the two broke apart from a long bout of kissing and just rested against one another, feeling the bitter sweetness of the moment. While together now, he would need to go soon. “I know we’ve been apart before.” Josh began. “But this felt different.”

“Yeah.” Maya agreed, her fingers slipping between his. “But before you were across the county, this time you were just a subway ride away. I think that makes it harder.” Her head leaned over to his shoulder as their backs leaned against the brick. “I hate being told I can’t see you. That’s what makes it worse. That I have to live with someone who is trying to tell me who I can and can’t date. It’s not fair.”

Inside the bedroom, Riley sat listening near the window as Maya and Josh spoke softly to one another. They talked about the week they’d been apart, about how Maya had been trying to get Topanga to forgive her…about how she wasn’t really sorry for making love to him, but perhaps the choice in location wasn’t the best. Josh told Maya how beautiful she was, how he was so happy to see her smile again. He told her he didn’t care if Topanga and Cory did make them wait to see one another again until she was 18, she was worth the wait. Riley could feel the jealousy washing over her, Maya seemed to have found the one so easily just like her parents, but Riley was still trying to figure out what she wanted. Love looked so nice from the outside, she just wanted someone to want to be with her so much they would be out in the middle of the night just for a few stolen kisses on a fire escape.

When the clock showed 3:30 Riley took a breath and tapped at the window gently. She didn’t want to scare them by just poking her head out. “Riley!?” Maya whispered, her head jerking around to look at the window. Riley poked her head out then, a sheepish smile on her lips.

“It’s just me.” Riley whispered. “Hi Josh.” She gave him a smile. “Maya it’s half past three mom will be up in a hour.” When Maya realized Riley was warning her, had been up the whole time looking out for her she smiled, filled with love for her best friend and she nodded.

“Thanks, Riles.” Josh whispered back with a smile of his own. His attention went right back to Maya and pulled her into a hug. “Text me tomorrow at school okay?” Maya nodded, holding onto him just as snugly. “We’ll work it out. I promise.” He pulled back to look into her blue eyes for a second before he leaned in to kiss her. “I love you.”

“I love you too.” She replied with one more kiss before she slid back into the window. She and Riley climbed into bed together. “Thank you, Riley.” She whispered as they laid nose to nose.

“Anytime.” Riley whispered back, and she knew it was true, she’d risk punishment for Maya, especially for the Maya she heard whispering her love on the balcony. Maya was happy with Josh, and Riley wanted so much for Maya to stay happy, despite all the jokes they made she truly believes Maya deserved it all.