A/N: Finally a Joshaya multi-chapter that's not a one-shot series. Yay! Sadly, I finally did one with the ending of GMW. Anyone else crying about it? Anyways, I had this idea after watching Girl Meets Sweet Sixteen and then after watching Girl Meets Goodbye I decided to write it. Anyways, hope you like it!
Chapter One:
It had only been eight hours since Maya had to say goodbye to Riley and she was already missing her best friend like crazy. Her and Riley were more than best friends, they were sisters. They had an unshakable bond and a few years away wouldn't break it, at least Maya hoped so. She knew a lot of things were going to change but she hoped their bond would still remain.
That was the funny thing about hope, she guessed, as soon as something that she was hoping for had finally happened she now had to have hope for a whole other thing. Why did life had to mess with her like that?
"Is this seat taken?"
Maya was broken from her thoughts by a familiar voice. She tilted her head to meet gorgeous blue eyes.
"Boing." She said with a bright smile.
Okay life, she was listening.
"Ferret." Josh replied with a smile mirroring hers. He stared at her expectantly.
"Oh, no, you're good."
He took the seat next to her. Riley's seat. When the gang was there earlier no one dared to sit there, but Maya was okay with Josh sitting there. He was a Mathews after all.
"So...how are you doing?" Josh asked.
"I'm...dealing. It's so weird to think that I won't see Riley for who knows how long. Like I keep on forgetting that she's not just on some vacation."
"Yeah, I get what you mean. I feel the same way about them. Ever since they moved here I would only go a few months without seeing at least Cory. Now I have no idea when I'll see them again."
She looked down, biting her lip, "Yeah."
"Hey, if you ever need someone to talk to I'm here. We can deal with this loss together."
This made Maya look up to meet his gaze, "Thanks, Josh. I'd like that."
They ended up talking at Topanga's for the rest of the night. Maya had yet to talk to Josh for this long, and she loved it. She found it so easy to talk to him about anything and everything. And he made her laugh, oh boy did he make her laugh. At the start of the day Maya had not guessed that she would be ending up laughing so much.
Eventually they had to stop talking since Topanga's was closing. Katy allowed Josh stay until they locked up.
As they were walking out, Josh was telling Maya about an incident with his roommate when Katy interrupted, "Hey Josh what are you doing this Wednesday night?"
"Nothing anymore besides studying since Cory left."
"Well, I know you would eat at the Mathews' a lot on Wednesdays, maybe you can come over to our place for dinner?"
Maya tried tried to hide a blush when Josh smiled at her Mom and said, "I'd love to."
MJMJMJ
The first day of school without Riley and Cory was...tough to say the least. It felt like some dream Maya wanted desperately to wake up from. Only she never did. Luckily she had her friends to keep her company and to fill the void. But then she had math that she only shared with Riley. And then Maya was left alone by herself. Sure she had classmates as aquaintences but Maya was very hyperaware of Riley's absence. So much so that she asked to go to the bathroom.
Maya went in a stall and began to cry. Her heart was beating as she was starting to sweat. It suddenly was hard to breath as she had a pain in her chest. She needed to talk to someone, but she didn't want the group to see her like this. She called both her parents but both went to voicemail. So Maya did something that she was probably going to regret later, she called Josh.
He surprisingly answered on the first ring.
"Maya, everything okay?" Josh asked in concern.
"N-no." She let out between short breaths. "I...can't...breathe." Tears ran down her face and she was glad he didn't see her like this.
"Maya, it's going to be okay. Can you take a deep breath?" Maya sucked in a breath. "Good. Now I'm going to count to three and you let it out slowly, okay?"
He counted and Maya let the breath out. They did that a few times until Maya was able to make even breaths.
"Thanks." She breathed out, feeling better.
"I'm just glad it worked. A lot a times with panic attacks it's hard to stop them."
Maya suddenly felt embarrassed, "I'm sorry to call you. Did I interrupt class or anything?"
"No, no don't be sorry. I'm at lunch so you're good. I'm glad you called me."
"Thanks." She paused for a moment before saying, "How did you know how to help me?"
"I'm taking a really cool psychology class that teaches us some cool techniques. I also deal with anxiety myself, so I know a few tricks."
"I usually help Riley with hers, I don't get panic attacks that often anymore since my da-biological father left." Since Shawn officially adopted her, she didn't want to call Hermit her 'dad' anymore. That was reserved only for her real dad, Shawn. She then sighed, talking to more herself, "I should be stronger."
"No, Maya, don't talk like that. What you're feeling is valid. It's a big adjustment that's going to be hard to deal with. And I'm here no matter what to help with whatever you need."
More tears fell down her face, "Thanks Josh. You're a good friend."
"Anytime. And you are a good friend too."
Maya then sighed, "I just miss her so much."
"I know, me too."
MJMJMJ
Two days later Josh came over for dinner. During that time Maya didn't have a panic attack again, but it was still hard to bare school or life in general without Riley. She was really grateful to have her friends, though. They all clung together, everyone feeling the empty void that Riley left. But Maya liked to think they were getting closer because of it. After her bathroom conversation with Josh, he convinced her to tell her friends and parents and they helped her. Farkle and Smackle told her they knew a lot of techniques so just text them if she was having problems again and to meet her in the bathroom. Luckily, she hadn't needed to yet, but was grateful to have them just in case.
Meanwhile, Maya found herself texting Josh a lot. At first it was a couple of hours after they hung up from their bathroom conversation that he texted her to make sure she was doing better. Then it was later that evening and they continued to talk off and on throughout the night. Maya didn't want to admit it to him, but she was living for their conversations. They calmed her.
However, Maya was still very nervous to have Josh over.
It was one thing to eat dinner with him at the Mathews, and a entire different thing to have him over at her place. She didn't think he'd ever been to her apartment before. At least it was her new one that her parents got after they got married and not her old one. Even though she did find herself missing the apartment she grew up in, she was more than glad that Josh never saw it. But even though they were in a new apartment, her anxiety of Josh seeing her at her home was high. She knew it was ridiculous, but she couldn't help it.
"Relax, Babygirl. It's just dinner." Her mom said as the two set the table. "Besides I'm not even cooking, we're going to have dinner from our favorite Italian place."
"I know Mom, but it's just going to be the first time that Josh is coming to my place. Not Riley's, mine."
"I know but Josh is like family, at least that's what you and Shawn keep on telling me. He'll fit right in. Besides you have a crush on him for a reason."
Maya blushed, "Moving on! Where's Shawn?"
"He's meeting John downstairs."
"Mr. Turner is coming?"
"Yeah, I thought it would be nice to have him over more often."
"Mom, are you trying to be the new Cory and Topanga?"
"Maybe."
Maya laughed.
The door then flew open as Shawn walked in with John Turner following after him.
"So here's the apartment, John."
"Hey John, welcome to our home." Katy said walking up to the two men.
"Hi, Shawn's wife."
"She has a name you know." Shawn said.
"I know but I just like saying "Shawn's wife". It has a great ring to it, don't you think?"
Shawn smiled, wrapping an arm around Katy's waist, "Yeah, it definitely does."
"So where's my granddaughter?" John asked.
Maya laughed, placing the last plate on the table. "Over here! So if I'm your granddaughter, does that mean I get to call you 'Grandpa'?"
He winced as they walked to the kitchen, "Anything but that."
"How about 'Papa John?'"
"I'll take it."
The buzzer then rang, "I'll get it!" Maya yelled before running fast to the door buzzer. She then pressed the button. "Hunter residence this is Ferret speaking, may I ask who's ringing?"
She heard a laugh come from the speaker, "It's Josh."
"Sorry, I don't know anyone by the name."
He sighed, "It's Boing."
"Ohhh, Boing." She pressed the button to let him in, "Come right in."
"Wait, Josh is coming?" Shawn asked from the kitchen table.
"Yeah, Mom invited him."
"Katy!"
"What? I thought it'd be nice to include him in family dinner since the Mathews left."
"Yeah don't you see him like a little brother or nephew?" Papa John asked.
"I do! Which is weird for me since Maya has a crush on him."
Maya felt her cheeks become very warm, "Dad!"
"Awe, our little Maya has a crush on Little Mathews?"
Maya sighed, "It's not like that anymore."
"Right, you're just waiting to date him once you become eighteen." Shawn retorted.
Her cheeks became warmer. She definitely did not want to have this conversation with them.
"Will you guys be quiet?! He's coming up."
As if on queue, a knock came from the door.
Maya tried to compose herself before opening the door to reveal a very handsome Boing, who wearing a black leather jacket that Maya had to admit looked very good on him. She bit her lip while giving him a smile, "Hey Josh, come in."
"Hey, Maya." He said following him inside. "So this is your place, huh?" He asked, looking around.
She nodded, feeling self-conscious, "Yup."
He met her gaze, "I like it."
She felt another blush coming on, "Thanks."
"Josh, welcome!" Her mom said, ushering him in the kitchen.
"Thanks for having me over, Katy."
"You're welcome. Here you sit there next to Maya." She pointed at two chairs next to each other.
Maya repressed a groan. She definitely did not need her parents to embarrass her more with mentioning her deal with Josh. She shot her mom a look, to which Katy responded with an innocent look.
Maya took a seat next to Josh.
They all started to eat as they engaged in small talk.
"So, Maya have you heard from Riley yet? How's she handling the big move?" Papa John asked.
"Yeah I've talked to her, not as much as I would like because of the time difference but it's enough. Her and Auggie don't start school until next week so they can get used to the time change."
He nodded, "That's smart of Cory and Topanga. How've you been handling it?"
Maya froze for a moment and blinked at him. Her parents knew about her panic attack but she like to talk about it. She then felt a comforting hand place itself within hers. She didn't have to look to know it was Josh's. She squeezed it before saying, "Not as well as I'd like. It's hard, you know?"
"Yeah I definitely get that. But I think you guys are doing very well, considering how close you all with them."
Maya gave him a small smile, "Thanks."
Throughout the dinner, Maya noticed that neither her or Josh let go of each other's hands until it was time for Josh to leave.
"Thanks again, Katy and Shawn."
"Hey, what about me?" Maya asked Josh, faking a pout.
He smiled, "And Maya."
"You're very welcome." Katy said. "You can come by anytime by the way."
"Really?" He asked.
"Of course. I think we'd all like to get our Mathews fix from you."
Josh laughed, "No pressure or anything." He then stood of from his chair.
Shawn added, "And by anytime she means anytime we're here. In the same room as you. Watching you."
Josh rubbed his neck, "Got it."
"I'll walk you out." Maya said.
Her mom gave her a knowing smile and she tried not to roll her eyes.
When they reached the door they both stopped.
"Hey, listen, thank you." Maya said.
Josh turned to look at her, his smile widened, "For what?"
"For being there for me this week. It's really helped."
"Of course. Though, can I tell you a secret?" He leaned in.
"What?"
"Talking to you has helped me too. I may be your Mathews fix, but you're kinda my Riley and Auggie fix. In a weird way, since you know, "long game" and all."
Maya laughed, "I get you. And hey, if you need me, I'll be there too."
He smiled, "I'll keep that in mind."
That night, Maya emailed Riley all about the family dinner and especially talked about Josh being there. She couldn't help but smile while typing about Josh. Ugh it was times like those that the long game seemed to be taking forever.