It's About Time (GMW - Joshaya)

Chapter 99

Maya's POV

"Oh yea, the names of them, I almost forgot. Please welcome Maya as she captures their beautiful love story with these two songs called "Too Young" and "On Purpose," Riley beamed into the microphone, clapping her hands together, and nearly knocking me over in the process.

A ripple effect of applause echoed deafeningly in my ear as it sobered me up a bit. WHY. RILEY. MATTHEWS. WHY. 

Riley must have noticed my shell-shocked expression and lead-footing because she whisphered in my ear again, "They are going to love it, Maya. Go ahead." She nodded her head over to the right a few feet where the DJ had finished setting up a mic stand and stool with a guitar on it.

The big problem wasn't the nerves. I mean don't get me wrong, I had nerves. Like a crazy amount. But nerves like that, they give me adrenaline. 

This was something else. This was an invasion of privacy. I suddenly felt exposed--naked. These were extremely personal songs written about my life. About us. Written about Josh and I, I mean. 

I cautiously smiled out to all of the Matthews family and friends that had become mine too over the years. As I sat down on the stool, I nervously fiddled with the tuning pegs and strummed the already tuned guitar. Closing my eyes, I took one last breath before strumming that first chord.

Josh's POV

Entering back into the ballroom where Farkle disappeared, I caught the tail-end of Riley saying something about doing something on purpose over the microphone. Every single person in the room was attentively gathered around the dance floor clapping and cheering. 

I'm not quite sure if its a hangover setting in already from tonight's events or the unexplainable roar in the room, but my head was pounding.

Mostly everyone was turning around to find their assigned seating when I heard it. I was still standing all the way in the back of the ballroom near the doors, but I heard it clear as day. 

Her voice. Her words. Her hurt. 

It was Maya. 

I felt the goosebumps rise underneath the scratchy fabric covering my arms.

A hand came up from behind me, finding its resting place on my shoulder. 

"It's pretty amazing what she was able to do for Cory and Topanga, huh?" Lucas's words shattered my state of hypnosis. "Riley told me about this being the surprise Maya had for them a few days ago, and I couldn't even believe it. But I guess this is Maya Hart after all, and we both know that she can do just about anything."

Out of the corner of my eye, I can see how much more relaxed Lucas was in comparison to earlier. Knowing that he finally understood that he would be okay was enough permission for my concious to let me refocus on Maya.

Her voice, singing those words, the evident hurt in her eyes. It's like I could feel it. I wished more than anything in the world, I could go up there and hug her so that she didn't have to bear all the weight of pain on her shoulders. I wished some of her pain could be mine so that she didn't have to feel it anymore.

I felt my anger from earlier also slipping away. I wasn't really angry at Maya in the first place. I was still angry at our situation. 

Her eyes gazed up, immediatedly locking with mine as she finished the song, "Don't tell me I won't. Don't tell me I can't feel, what I'm feeling is real. 'Cause I'm not too young,"  

I watched as her shoulders relaxed a bit, her tiny fingers strumming the last chords of the song.

Instead of waiting for recognition, Maya went right to another song. She was doing what she wanted right now. Making art that matters; art that changes the world through feeling and emotion. She didn't need anyone to approve, she just needed people to feel. She knew I felt it, and for her, I knew that was enough. 

"Your eyes crashing into to my eyes, was I accidentally falling in love?" 

This time she sang those words directly to me. The entire song. It was just me and her. Everyone else was simply background. 

It occurred to me then that we were the only two that were supposed to hear this song.

Is this what Farkle meant when he said watch and learn? 

I couldn't even hide the smile on face. I must've looked like the biggest idiot in the world, but I didn't care. 

I was so incredibly proud of this girl. Her heart. Her strength. Her talent. Her beauty. I don't think I've seen anything like it. This wasn't some big revelation for me. I knew this all about her, but I was even more proud that she finally believed it herself. I could see it in her eyes. Even if it was for just this one moment. She could see what I see.

The DJ took the mic back from Maya who looked even in awe of herself.

"And now, the bride and groom would like everyone to join them out on the dance floor for a slow dance. Grab your girlfriend, your wife, your mom, your daughter, your niece, your granddaughter, your friend. Tonight is about love. They want you to find someone in your life who you love and grab them for the next few minutes to let them know how much they mean to you with a dance."

My mind shifted to Maya. How could it not? After all we have been through, I knew that friends or not, I truly love that girl and I always will. Part of me wanted to ask her to dance, but the better part of me talked myself out of that fantasy before I could even fully invision it.

It wasn't long before everyone in the room had found a person to dance with.

"So like, I was kind of thinking that umm maybe there was a handsome Uncle Boing that needed someone to dance with," she smiled up at me with her hand stretched out.

I don't know when she got beside me, but I'm glad she was there.

"I'm not your Uncle, Maya," I smiled back cheekily as I grabbed her hand and guided her to the dance floor.