Shout-outs: Ajtan4, IceBeautyQueen, Nicole, Guest, Sara, Jen, Karkoolka, GMWGirl, Anilovesbooks123, Darth Becky 726, punkxbutxnot, Guest, Lynn, aliqueen16, ShortyStarRose, Chickennuggets153, and katdvs

Rated: T

Disclaimer: I own nothing.

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Chapter 7

The drive home was quiet. And even though there was fairly no traffic on the highway because it was the 4th of July and everybody was busy celebrating at cookouts and family gatherings, Josh thought it lasted even longer than when they'd driven to the Hamptons a few days ago.

Maya wasn't saying anything and there wasn't music on the radio. The silence would have been deafening except there was wind and the sound of cars whizzing past them.

"Please say something!" Josh begged.

"Do you think any of this would have happened if you came with me this weekend?" Maya finally asked.

"If it didn't happen this week, it would have happened eventually." Josh answered. "Don't take what he says to heart. He's so high and mighty, just like all those other guys on the UES. You are lucky you got out with vicious rhetoric only. He could have done so much worse to you."

"He insulted your family too," Maya reminded him.

"Yes but I know my self-worth and I am not ashamed of my family. You're different though," Josh replied.

"I am NOT ashamed of my family, Joshua!" Maya protested as angry tears slipped down her cheeks, she rubbed them away, frustrated. "Or my life for that matter! Nothing Baxter could say could make me feel like that!"

Josh didn't know if he should pull over into a rest stop or keep driving. He was sure Maya wouldn't appreciate other people seeing her cry but on the other hand, he didn't want to go too long without comforting her. He took one hand off the wheel and put it on her knee because it was the best he could do.

The New York City skyline finally came into view and he pulled off the highway, grateful that they were almost home. His apartment was first and even though he knew she probably would fight him, he parked in the garage and unbuckled. He couldn't stand the thought of her being alone.

Somewhere along the drive, she had stopped crying but she looked tired and her eyes were rimmed with mascara and eyeliner. She let out a shuddery breath and gave him an inquiring look.

"I don't want you to be alone tonight," Josh explained.

"Oh."

"Come on, we'll order takeout or something," Josh said, popping the trunk and collecting both their things.

Maya looked at her suitcase. "Are you inviting me to spend the night?"

"I don't want you to be alone," Josh repeated, looking at her seriously. "For more than one reason."

Maya shrugged. "Baxter's not going to bother me anymore."

"We don't know that," Josh said, taking her hand. "And I really don't want to give him the chance. He hurt you this afternoon. I could never live with myself if he did anything else to you."

"Sticks and stones," Maya told him.

Josh tweaked her cheek. "IF that's even true, why were you crying for the better part of the drive? Why did you get so angry with me in the car?"

Maya smiled at him, the same kind of wry smile she had given him in the Bass's driveway a few hours earlier. Josh swallowed hard and pressed the elevator button, a garage parking lot wasn't the place to tell her that he loved her.

He should have been able to do it in a mansion by the ocean while fireworks went off in the sky. Like it was a setting from a romantic comedy or something. He would just have to make do with what he had. It wasn't like he was proposing marriage to her.

And he had promised Blair.

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"Maya," Josh said when they were in his apartment.

Maya turned around to look at him. "Yes?"

He went over to her in two deft steps and kissed her firmly on the mouth. There was a sharp intake of breath but she didn't fight him or try to push him away. He backed her into the door accidentally, completely overpowered by the feeling of what it was like to kiss her for real and not because they were trying to fool an unsuspecting audience.

Maya made a little noise.

Josh stopped and pulled away. "Are you okay?"

"Just. . . just be gentle with me," Maya answered, stroking his cheek.

"Always," Josh promised.

She kissed him again in way of thanks, this time it was deeper and more intimate. "I love you," she told him.

"I was supposed to say it first!" Josh protested. "Blair made me promise!"

Maya laughed. "Blair made me promise too! Wait, you love me too?"

"Why else would I have gone along with pretending to be your boyfriend if I didn't at least like you a little bit?" Josh asked shaking his head at her like she was silly. "It isn't something somebody who was just a friend would do. And I am your friend, Maya. I have been for a very long time."

"Did you hope this would happen?" Maya asked. "That maybe you and I would. . ."

"I went into this weekend with no expectations," Josh promised. "All I wanted to do was help you because that's what you do when you love somebody."

"Did you know you loved me even a few days ago?"

"I think I suspected it but didn't realize it until I was in the middle of playing pretend. And then Blair Bass pointed it out to me and I couldn't believe how blind I had been to my own feelings," Josh answered. "When I was younger it was because we were three years apart and then it was because I didn't want to ruin our friendship. Could you possibly want to be with me? Me who can't even see his own feelings when they're staring him right in the face?"

"How could you want to be with me? I'm prone to self-pity and getting wrapped up in tragedies that are years in the past. I could destroy this. You saw how I was with a fake relationship. It could be even worse if we really did it."

"I'll fight for you," Josh promised. "I'll fight for you Maya. I'll fight for us. Just give me a chance, a real chance to be your boyfriend. I love you Maya. Please let me try and make you happy."

Maya smiled at him sweetly. "You already do."

"Then please let me keep doing it," Josh requested, embracing her. "Today and for the rest of our lives."

"Okay," Maya whispered, hugging him back. "But only if you let me make you happy too. It's only fair."

Josh grinned. "Well okay then," he agreed, kissing her again softly as fireworks started to go off in the distance.

The End

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Author's Note:

I am not even sure what time at night the last scene takes place. Pretend its dark outside, for the sake of the story. Also, if you're wondering, Blair is very happy that Maya and Josh got together. Her plan to take Baxter down worked, nobody wants anything to do with him now and she and Chuck had their third child. Another boy to carry on the Bass name, James Cyrus.

Josh and Maya lived happily ever after.

Review for old time's sake? I'll be back with a new story next week. My first multi-chapter Rucas story, I hope you'll think about checking it out. I promise it'll feature my usual suspects (minor Joshaya and Smarckle). Zay will be there and he'll be wicked sassy too! You should watch one or both Parent Traps in preparation.

Until Next Time!

Lots of Love,

Holly, 8/26/2016