˗ˏˋ𝐥𝐨𝐯𝐞 𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐞𝐬 𝐮𝐧𝐞𝐱𝐩𝐞𝐜𝐭𝐞𝐝𝐥𝐲ˊˎ˗
𝚟𝚒. 𝚌𝚘𝚕𝚕𝚎𝚐𝚎 𝚙𝚊𝚛𝚝𝚒𝚎𝚜
( S2E6 ) "girl meets the tell-tale tot"

Valentina POV

𝑱𝑶𝑺𝑯, Hollie, Brett, and I walk in the Matthews' apartment with our envelopes. 

"Hey, family." Josh said

"Yeah, hi. I don't care." Maya said

She twirled her hair, which gets ignored.

"My brother!" Josh said to Cory

"My brother!" Cory said to Josh

They hug.

"My sister!" I said to Topanga

"My sister!" Topanga said to me

We hug.

"So, Riley, shouldn't we be like heading to school now, since there's nothing here for me of any interest?" Maya asked

She stood up.

"Sure. Let's go." Riley said

"Think she'll make it out the door?" Auggie asked

"I give her ten seconds before she jumps on his head." Riley said

I sigh, Topanga looks at me and frowns. She knows how I feel about Maya and her liking Josh. Riley stands up and walks over to Maya.

"We came up here because we wanted to do this in front of all of you. We hold in our hands envelopes from New York University." Josh said

The two girls stop. I stand next to Josh, Hollie, and Brett as we hold our envelopes.

"Ohh. Are we stopping?" Riley asked

"I'm not stopping. I'm resting." Maya replied 

She starts walking again.

"What's in these envelopes tells us where we're gonna be for the next four years." I said

 I smile at Josh and he smiles back. The two stop walking, again.

"Ohh. Are we stopping?" Riley asked again

"I'm not as young as I used to be." Maya said

"Good luck, Uncle Josh, Aunt Tina, Aunt Hollie, and Brett." Riles said

"Yeah, hi. I don't care." Maya said

Maya walks out with Riley. Maya runs back into the room and jumps onto Josh's back; screams. I step back and look at her wide eyed. 

"Where will you be?" Maya yelled

"What the hell?" Hollie and I asked

Maya ignores me as Josh tries to get the young eighth grader off of his back.

"Hold on to your dignity, woman!" Riley yelled

"Too late for that." Auggie said

"Get off me, you little ferret!" Josh yelled

"Give it!" Maya yelled

Maya reaches for the envelope.

"It's my life!" Josh yelled

"It affects me, too!" Maya yelled

She removes the letter from the envelope and reads it. 

"Dear Applicant Boing." Maya read

"It doesn't say that." Josh said

"This year we are only accepting married applicants." Maya said

"It doesn't say that! And if it did, I'd marry Valentine!" Josh yelled

"So... we regret to inform you that..." Maya started

"Regret to inform me?" Josh asked, upset

I look at him, he looks at me and frowns. I frown too.

"We regret to inform you that you will be spending the next four years in New York with Maya!" Maya exclaimed

She gets off his back.

"I got in? I got in." Josh said happily.

"We got in. Congratulations." Maya said 

I roll my eyes. All the Matthews family gathers to hug Josh. 

"That's so great." Josh said

He turns to me and smiles. I rush and hug him. He lightly twirls me around.

"Congrats babe." I whispered in his ear

"Thanks baby." Josh whispered back

He sets me down.

"I don't know what this means." Auggie said 

"Congratulations, Buddy. I'm so proud of you." Cory said

"It means a lot, Cory." Josh said

"My turn, Riley you want a turn?" I asked

I crouched down for Riley. Riley jumped on my back.

"Yayy!" Riley exclaimed

I gave her my envelope.

"Dear applicant Lawrence, we are here to inform you that you will be spending the next four years in New York with Josh and the Matthews family! Yayy!" Riley exclaimed

"I got in! Oh my gosh!" I exclaimed

I get hugged by all the Matthews and Josh gives me a kiss. 

"Congratulations, sis. I'm so proud of you." Topanga said

"Thanks Panga." I said

Hollie and Brett open their envelopes and read the letters.

"I got in!" Hollie exclaimed

"Me too!" Brett said

The two hug and the Matthews all hug them.

"All very exciting, I'm sure. But Riley and I have our own educations to which to attend... to which." Maya said

Maya takes Riley by the hand.

"This is so great. And my buddy who goes there invited me to his dorm tonight to meet some college friends if I got in. Valentine, Hollie, Brett, he said you guys can come too. Cora and Connor are coming too." Josh said

He looks at me. 

"I'll go." I said

"Us too." Hollie said

"Ohh. Are we stopping?" Riley asked Maya 

They stop walking, yet again.

"Nope. We're doing something else now." Maya said

She goes to Josh. 

"When is this little party? Yeah, whatever, hi, I don't care." Maya said

"Uh, 10:00 Tonight?" Josh said, confused by her question

"Where's this little party? Yeah, whatever, hi, I don't care." Maya said

"Greenwich Hall." Josh answered

Maya smiles. 

"Are we smiling? I'll smile. I'll smile anytime. What are we smiling about?" Riley asked

"Bay window. Bay window right now." Maya said

Maya grabs Riley and runs off to Riley's bedroom. Hollie and Brett move to the love seat, and start kissing. Josh sits on the couch and pulls me to sit with him. I lean my head on his shoulder.

"I'm so happy we got in!" I said

"Me too." Josh replied 

I smile and kiss him. After a minute, someone clears their throat. We pull away and look at Cory. Awkward.

"I thought Maya was okay with you two?" Cory asked

"I thought she was too." I said

🥰

Later, I am sitting with Josh, Cora, Connor, Hollie, Brett, Andrew, two girls, and another guy. Lily, Nicole, and Christopher. Nicole and Christopher were dating.

"So how long did it take you guys to get comfortable around here?" Connor asked

"It's really about the people you meet, you know?" Lily said

"It's nice to meet you all." Cora said

"You guys too." Christopher said

"See Josh? Nothing to worry about at all. You guys are going to fit right in here." Andrew said

"Yeah, you've already got new friends, and a new life waiting as soon as you get here." Nicole said

"Thanks." Hollie said

I leaned my head on Josh's shoulder. 

"I love you." Josh whispered

"I love you too." I whispered

Suddenly Maya is in the room. We all jump and stand up.

"Maya?" I asked

Riley comes in the room. 

"Riley? What are you guys doing here?!" Josh asked

"You know these girls?" Andrew asked

"Yeah, Riley's my, Hollie, and Josh's niece and Maya is her best friend." I answered

"How you doing?" Andrew asked them

I roll my eyes.

"We're in middle school." Maya said

"Oh!" Andrew yelled 

"Josh, Vale, Hollie, they can't be here." Christopher said

"No kidding. You guys need to go before someone gets arrested for two kids being here." I said

I sigh.

"Riley, what are you guys doing here? You guys have to go." Josh said

"You're right Josh. We're sorry. This was a bad idea." Maya said

I nod. I zone out for a minute then continue to pay attention when a group of girls come and pick up Riley and leave. Josh and Andrew go after them. I sit back on the bed, my head in my hands. Lily and Nicole keep asking Maya about her crush. It was kinda annoying me. They need to go before someone gets in trouble. They can't pass as eighteen.

"We have an understanding. Valentine and I stay, you two go home." Josh said

The three of them walk back in. Josh sits next to me. I don't look up. He grabs my hand and gives it a small squeeze.

"I'm just stupid right?" Maya asked

"Hey, I would love if someone did something stupid for me." Andrew said

"Yeah, it's not the big gestures that we do for other people that help us grow." Nicole said

"But the small choices you make for yourself." Lily said

"Ohhh, she told you about her crush." Riley said

"It's not a crush." Maya said 

I sigh, I was still holding my head in my hands.

"Maya, can you name one thing about him that you love?" Riley asked

"He's part of your family. I love your family." Maya said

I roll my eyes. It's because he's Riley's uncle?

"And we love you. What about Josh in particular?" Riley asked

"Yeah, Maya, you really don't even know me." Josh said

"Yeah. You're right. I don't pay attention to anything you do. I don't know that you drive from Philadelphia to New York, not even looking if you got into NYU just so you could open your acceptance letter in front of your older brother because you love him, and you want him to be proud of you. And I see the way you are with Auggie. A little kid who looks up to you who you always have time for. And I know that even though you'd rather stay here with Vale, Hollie, and your friends, you're going to drive Riley and me home. And make sure Vale and Hollie get back. Because that's just the kind of guy you are. I like you." Maya said 

I sigh and look away from the group. Josh looks at me and looks back at her then shakes his head. 

"Maya, you're like a niece, just like Riley is one to me. But that's it. I'm in love with Valentine." Josh said

"Okay." Maya said 

She looks at Riley. 

"Let's go." Maya said

They were about to leave. I turn back around. 

"I'll drive you guys." I said 

I grab my keys and my phone. 

"Come on." I said

I turn to the others. 

"Thank you for inviting me. Tonight was fun, hopefully we can hang out soon again." I said

"Definitely." Lily and Nicole both said

I give Hollie, Cora, Connor, and Brett hugs.

"See you guys at school." I said

"Bye." Brett said

I nod and begin walking out of the room. Josh walked up behind us in the parking lot. I give him a confused look. 

"You're my ride." Josh said 

I nod. The two girls get in the back seat and Josh gets into the passenger side as I get in the driver's seat.

🥰

I drive us all back to the apartment. We all get out and walk inside. I stop Maya though, causing Josh and Riley to stop. 

"Why?" I asked

"Leave it alone." Maya said

I scoff. 

"No. I'm not gonna leave it alone. Maya, you're 14. You went to a college party. Someone could have gotten arrested. Josh and I could have gotten arrested." I said

Maya looks down. 

"What'd you expect? You to show up and Josh to just run straight to you. I know you have a crush on him." I said

"It's not a crush." Maya said

"Yeah, it is. Why didn't you tell me? You told me that you were okay with it." I said

"Yeah, I lied." Maya said

She goes inside, Riley following. I sigh. I walk back outside and lean on my car. Josh leans against it right next to me.

"You okay?" Josh asked

"I guess. I mean, what else can I do?" I said 

He grabs my hand and holds it. It was quiet for a minute. 

"I'm hungry, can we go eat somewhere?" I asked

"Oh yeah, I'm hungry too." Josh said 

I hand him my keys so he can drive. I get in and so does he before he drives away from the building.

"I love you." I said

"I love you too Valentine." Josh said