Joshaya V.S Lucaya

Chapter 34

A/N: I think this might be my longest chapter yet. It was also kinda painful to write too; on a personal level. Hope you enjoy ❤

Josh's POV

"Still no answer?" Riley asks, pulling me from my thoughts. I shake my head.

"I get why she's mad, I do, but she can't just shut me out like this." I say,  dropping my head into my hands.

"She will come around, Josh. She just needs time to process." Topanga says, taking a seat beside me and wrapping a comforting arm around my shoulders.

"Maybe I should just go to her house? Just show up and she'll have no choice but to talk to me." I say, but notice Riley shaking her head.

"She's not there. Her mom and Shawn have no idea where she is." She tells me and my head returns to my hands.

"I can't just sit and wait anymore. I need to see her. I need for this to have been enough time. This is torture." I tell everyone, standing up to pace the floor.

"Imagine how Maya feels." Riley says, causing me to pause and she continues. "I was the only surefire person in Maya's life for so long. One day, that was gone. Then she got close to you. You two are connected in a way that most of us will never fully understand. Josh, you almost took that from her. I've never seen Maya so terrified of anything in her whole life." Riley finishes and I can feel the tears rolling down my face.

"I-I-I broke her?" I stutter, trying desperately to stop crying as the realization washes over me.

"Maya isn't breakable, but you scared her enough that now she's questioning everything." Riley says.

°•°•°•°•°•°•°•°•°•
Riley's POV

As if right on cue, my phone buzzes in my pocket. I swipe the screen and a text from Maya appears.

PEACHES: Bay window. Don't say anything.

I type a quick reply and shove my phone back into my pocket.

"Well, today has been awful. I'm glad you're okay uncle Josh. I'm gonna go lay down." I pat him on the shoulder and head for the stairs. Josh's voice stops me in my tracks.

"If you hear from her, tell her I love her, Riles." He says, sounding as broken as he looks.

"Of course." I reassure him before darting up the stairs.

I hurry to my room and lock the door behind me once I'm in. I see Maya sitting in the bay window, waiting patiently for me. A smile pulls at her lips when she sees me. I run to her and pull her in for a long hug.

"Where have you been?" I ask, trying to keep my voice down.

"I went for coffee and then for a walk. Somehow I ended up on Huckleberry's doorstep." She tells me, causing my eyes to go wide with shock and curiosity.

"You've been with Lucas this whole time?" I question, not sure what to think. She nods her head and sighs before standing.

"Riles, this day has kicked my ass over and over again. Can we take a nap?" She asks and I shake my head. I need to know what she was doing with Lucas.

"What happened with Lucas?" I ask and she looks away. I can't quite define the look on her face. Guilt? Embarrassment? My stomach sinks.

"Maya?" I say her name like a question and she looks back at me, capturing my eyes for a moment before she starts pacing back and forth.

"I don't even know how I ended up there, Riles. My feet just kept moving and then they stopped. I knocked and he answered. He held me until I couldn't cry anymore and made me hot chocolate. We talked and now I'm here." She tells me, a sigh of relief escaping my lips.

"What did you talk about?" I wonder aloud. She looks away again.

"Everything. He told me I should talk to you before I see Josh. I don't think I can do it anymore Riles." She says and my heart breaks for not only her, but Josh too.

"Why not?" I ask, part of me not wanting to hear the answer.

"I've never been so close to anyone in my life, Riley. No offence. I have never needed anyone like I need Josh, and the idea that I could have lost him today..." she trails off but I fill in the blank.

"It scared you. It made you question everything." I finish her sentence and she nods.

"Peaches, I know you're scared and I know that ending things now so it doesn't hurt so much later seems like the best option, but..." I walk to her and make her look at me. "...it's not." I finish and she pulls away.

"He could have died, Riley!" She shouts at me.

"But he didn't, Maya! He didn't die. He's downstairs right now beating himself up." I shout back.

"But what happens next time? What happens when he does something stupid again and he does die?" She asks and as much as I can see her point, it pisses me off.

"Maya, you can't do that! You can't think like that! Anything can happen at anytime. Do you really want to destroy not only your happiness, but Josh's too, because of a long list of 'what if's' that may never happen? Do you really want to be miserable for the rest of your life because you're too scared to take a chance and really live?" I yell at her, my frustration showing through, but I calm down when I see her tears.

"I'm 17 Riley. I shouldn't be this invested in anyone. When I think about things I need to survive, Josh comes before oxygen. I can't live in a world where he doesnt exist." She says and my heart breaks even more for them both.

"What did Lucas say about all this?" I ask, genuinely curious. I can't help but wondering that maybe he put it all in her head.

"He thinks I need to talk to Josh about my fears. He said that giving up isn't the solution but that I should talk to you." She says softly.

"He's not wrong." I tell her, agreeing completely.

"I guess I just thought it wouldn't hurt so much if I got out now. Y'know?" She says, settling onto my bed.

"Losing people is inevitable, Peaches. I guess you just have to ask yourself if you'd rather spend the next 70 years happy with Josh or miserable without him. Would you rather look back on a lifetime of happiness or a lifetime of regret?" I say, settling in next to her and pulling her into my arms.

"Happiness Riles. It's all I've ever wanted." She decides, snuggling in.

"Then tell him that." I tell her, squeezing her tight before letting her go.

Maya makes her way across the room and unlocks my door. She pulls it open and turns back to me and smiles.

"Thank you, Riley." She says and I smile and nod.

Josh's POV

I hear the footsteps coming down the stairs and then the hallway. I guess Riley couldn't sleep. Everyone else has gone out to dinner.

"Hey, have you-" I say as I turn around and find Maya in the doorway.

I leap from the couch and run to her. Pulling her into my arms, the heat of her body against mine is the most comforting thing in the world. Taking her face in my hands, I kiss her. It starts out tender and appreciative but changes quickly.

I push her against the closest wall and tangle my hands in her hair; she wraps herself around me perfectly. Every muscle in my body aches but it's nothing compared to the desire burning through my veins. Everything I feel for her is clouding my head as she pulls at my shirt. I've never needed anyone like I need her.

I move my hands to the back of her thighs and lift her more, my lips falling to her neck as I carry her to the spare bedroom. I know I've lost all control when I kick the door closed and my name falls from her lips. A moan vibrates deep in my chest and she bites her lip.

"I love you." I say before claiming her lips once more and pushing her down onto the bed.