"Josh?" she whispers confusedly. She's been crying, I don't know why but suddenly I'm really glad that I decided to pop in and surprise her.
"Sweetheart what happened?" I ask as she runs towards me and throws herself into my arms. I pull her onto my lap and wrap my arms around her small figure, holding her to me.
"Three years" she murmurs making me furrow my eyebrows in confusion.
"What's in three years baby?" I ask confused as I run my hands down her back.
"Our age difference" she whispers. "It's only three years."
I'm getting more confused by the minute but I simply nod. "I know sweetheart. It's not that bad" I agree softly.
"Then why doesn't my mom see that?" she asks making my heart rate quicken.
"Your mom?" I ask in shock as I pull back a bit. "You told your mom? Baby if she tells the school-."
"I told her I like you" she clarifies. "I told her I think you like me but I didn't know. She has no idea that we're a thing."
I let out a long, deep breath. "Thank god. I'm not letting you lose your future to make out with me" I add making her chuckle as I reach up and wipe her tears, letting my hand linger on her cheek. "I'm sorry this is such a mess sweetheart."
"It's not your fault" she shakes her head as she rests her forehead against mine. "I missed you."
"Me too" I whisper before leaning forward and pressing my lips to hers in a soft, lingering kiss. When we pull apart I tuck a stray strand of hair behind her ear causing her blush to intensify.
"What happened with Nate and Sofia?" she asks curiously. I sigh, shaking my head.
"Nate apologized for stealing my girlfriend. They had their reunion. I kicked them out" I reply simply. "That is one chapter of my life that I will happily keep closed."
A smile pulls at her lips as she stares back at me. "Am I the new chapter?" she asks hopefully making me smile back at her.
"Sweetheart you're the new chapter and every chapter that comes next" I reply sweetly as I gaze into her eyes. I was so far past in love with her but I knew now wasn't the moment for that confession. Not after her mom just made such a big deal out of us even liking one another.
"Maya. Dinner" Katy calls from downstairs making Maya sigh as she drops her head to my shoulder.
"I don't want you to go" she admits causing my heart to skip a beat as I wrap her in my arms again and kiss the side of her head.
"I'll see you tomorrow" I assure her. "Get downstairs and eat" I insist as I pick her up and set her on the ground. "And please lock this window behind me. I don't want Aiden to be able to surprise you." She nods as I pull open the window. "Bye sweetheart."
"Bye babe" she replies as I climb out the window.
~ 🚔 ~
I land on the ground and pull out my keys, seeing someone move across the street. My heart drops as I look back to Maya's window. If he was here there was no way in hell I was leaving this house. I sigh, heading towards the front door.
"I wouldn't do that" I hear behind me. I shake my head as I turn around to face Aiden.
"Yea?" I quirk an eyebrow at him. "And why shouldn't I?"
"Oh relax" Aiden laughs. As he steps closer I notice his bloodshot eyes and the distinctive scent of alcohol on his breath. "I wouldn't hurt her." This makes me want to burst into laughter. He wouldn't hurt her? I wonder what he called forcing himself on her.
"Stay away from her" I demand. He scoffs, rolling his eyes.
"You and I are in the same boat dude. You can't fuck her because she's too young and I can't because-" he pauses. "Well actually" he laughs. I roll my eyes.
"Just leave her alone. You had your fun-."
"I haven't even begun my fun" he cuts me off. "You both are going to regret ever fucking with me."
"But you won't hurt her" I remind him.
"Not physically but emotionally" he shrugs. "I think losing you would be a way to bring her back to me." My blood boils as I step towards him.
"You wouldn't even get her over my dead body" I spit angrily. He laughs but I don't back down. "You come near her again and you'll be sorry."
"Like I'm afraid of you" he laughs. "You can't protect her 24/7" he smirks.
"I swear-."
"It'll be glorious. Getting you when you least expect it. She'll finally think that she's getting her happy ending and I'll be there to remind her who that happy ending really includes."
"Good luck with that" I reply snippily.
"I'm gonna get her back. Just you wait and see" he smirks, looking up at her window before disappearing down the street.
~ 🚔 ~
His drunk contradictions have my head spinning the whole way home. Between his insistence that he wouldn't hurt her, to his promise to get her back, and all the way to his threat directed at me to hit her where it mattered most. Her heart. I pull up to my place and head inside, placing my keys on the entry table before walking over to my fridge to look for something to make for dinner. I grab a beer and sigh, realizing I really need to actually go grocery shopping. I close the fridge door and wander into my living room, plopping down on the couch and turning in the television. The news blares from my speakers and after turning it down to a much more reasonable level eleven I sit back to relax. The top story is the drug bust and I sigh, taking a long swig of my beer. Everyone was insisting I was a hero yet I felt the furthest from it.
I need something to get my mind off of all of this. I shut off the television and take another long swig of my beer, nearly emptying the bottle before wandering to my bathroom. I strip down and start the shower, stepping under the steady stream of water. My mind quickly runs off with thoughts of Maya and I let it, allowing my worries to slip away for a steamy moment.
~ 🚔 ~
I can't sleep. I swear I didn't hear Josh leave until almost ten minutes after he climbed out my window and I was growing more and more paranoid. I climb out of bed, gather my comforter and my bobble head before moving to the living room. I place Bobby onto the coffee table before making myself comfortable on the couch. I take a deeo, content breath as I relax against the cushions. I couldn't sleep in my room, I just couldn't. I allow my eyes to flutter open but that proves to be a mistake when I swear I see a figure standing in front of my window. I sit up quickly and reach for my phone beside Bobby, dialing Josh's number.
"Hello" he answers breathlessly.
"Hey" I reply awkwardly.
"I just got out of the shower" he says as way of explanation for why he's oit of breath. "What's up? It's past midnight."
"I think I saw Aiden outside the window. I moved to the living room but I just. I don't feel safe. What if he breaks in?"
"Sweetheart take a breath" he instructs. "Lie down."
"Josh-."
"Lie down" he instructs. I sigh, doing as he asks. "Do you have a television in the room?"
"Yea" I reply weakly.
"Good" he replies. "Turn it on, turn on something mindless, something that makes you laugh" he says. I do as he asks, flipping through the channels until I stumble upon That 70s Show.
"Okay."
"Now close your eyes" he says. I let my eyes flutter shut and a smile pulls at my lips. "Just clear your mind. Focus on my voice and the sound of your show. There's nothing else. Just me and your favorite show. It's like we're on an island."
"With cable?" I joke making him chuckle.
"It's a high class island. Don't question it."
I take a deep breath, a smile pulling at my lips. "Mkay."
"I'm not gonna hang up until I know you're okay" he says softly.
"Good" I reply before drifting off to the sound of his voice.