Thank you so much for the reviews/votes! I can't believe we hit my target so fast!! You guys are freaking awesome!! Thanks for the love!!! 

Disclaimer: I own nothing.

Sorry for any spelling/grammar mistakes.

Enjoy!

Before They Break

Josh watched as the boy he befriended last week at lunch kept sneaking glances over at the girl eating alone at one of the other tables. "So is that Smackle girl your girlfriend?

"No."

"No?"

"No," Farkle confirmed, his eyes glancing over again at the girl they were speaking of who decided not to sit with them today so she could get some last minute studying in.

Josh frowned, "Why not?"

"I don't think she likes me like that."

Josh's eyebrows furrowed in confusion. From what he could see Smackle felt the same way towards the other boy. "Why not?" he asked again.

Farkle shrugged.

"Why don't you just ask her out?"

"Because I don't think she will say yes."

Josh sat back in his seat. "Why not?"

Farkle looked up, glaring at the boy across from him. "How many times are you going to ask me that?"

"Until you give me an answer I like then I'll move on to the next question so why not?"

Farkle sighed. "I'm always put in the friend zone so I rather save myself the embarrassment and not ask her out."

"Well get out of the friend zone," Josh stated as it was the most obvious thing in the world. "And ask her out."

"It isn't that simple and don't ask why not."

Josh rolled his eyes, "Farkle, the way I look at it is if you don't ask her then someone else will."

Farkle shifted his eyes to look over at Smackle again.

"Has someone else already asked her out? Does she already have a boyfriend?"

Farkle shook his head.

"So she is single?"

Farkle nodded.

"So can I ask her out?"

"What?! No! You can't ask her out," Farkle snapped.

Josh chuckled, getting the reaction he was hoping he would. "Then go for it! What are you waiting for?" he laughed, pointing his arm in direction of the girl they were speaking of.

Farkle sighed, shaking his head. "You don't understand."

"Farkle, you're a cool dude. Don't let the other guys in this school make you think otherwise. All you have to do is..." he started to pump Farkle up until his favorite blonde interrupted his thought process as she walked over to their table. "Gorgeous, what do we owe the pleasure for this visit?" he asked, his eyes on the blonde.

Maya looked back and forth between the two, suspiciously. She placed her tray down on their table and pointed her finger between the two. "Farkle what ever he is selling you don't buy it."

"What?" Josh snapped. "That hurt," he said, placing his hand over his heart. "Here I am I'm trying to pump up Farkle to go and get the girl of his dreams and you come over here and try to ruin it."

Maya's eyes went wide. "You're going to ask Smackle out?" she grinned, sitting down next to Josh.

Farkle shook his head.

"Why not?" Maya whined.

"Yeah, why not?" Josh asked in the same tone as Maya getting a glare from both the guy and the blonde at the table.

"You two are ridiculous."

Maya chose to ignore Farkle's comment. "So, what's the plan?" she asked, excited about the possibility of Farkle and Smackle finally getting together. "Are you just going to go up and ask her out?"

"That's what I was trying to pump him up to do but he doesn't want to," Josh answered, before he rested his arms on the table as he leaned in closer. "Maybe you should be an ass to her and she will come crawling to you."

Maya looked at Josh appalled. "Remember when I said don't buy what he is selling? That was my point right there. Do not do that. No girl likes that."

"Why? You like it."

Maya glared over at Josh, "I do not."

"I beg to differ."

"Stop being a jerk," Maya ordered.

"I'm not."

"You are."

"Point proven. Look how hot and bother you are."

Maya's mouth dropped open.

"Farkle, I've gotten her to look that way twice already. Take notes."

"But yet nothing has happened between us. So don't take notes."

Farkle's eyes glanced back and forth between the two as they turned in their chairs, leaning slowly toward each other with every word that came out of their mouths.

"Because I won't let anything happen."

"What?!" Maya squealed, astounded.

"You would kiss me right now if I would let you."

"You are crazy."

"Am I?" Josh challenged moving extremely close to Maya's face.

"Yes, you are, and you are so cocky it's unreal."

"Why wouldn't I be?" he asked, raising his eyebrow. "Whatever I put my mind to I achieve."

"Do you?"

"Yes, I do."

"Hmm, you guys, I'm still here," Farkle said, snapping his fingers to get their attention. "And we are still at school."

Both set of eyes instantly went to Farkle.

"We're sorry," Maya apologized for both of them even though Josh seemed a little annoyed Farkle interrupted them. Maya turned her attention back to Farkle but still remained close to Josh. "So we need to come up with a-"

"Maya."

Maya looked over her shoulder, shocked to see her boyfriend. "Lucas," she breathed out. She looked back at the other two and Josh couldn't help but noticed the same look she had on her face when he saw her with Lucas for the first time but there was something a little different in her eyes this time but Josh couldn't pinpoint it.

"I'll leave you two to come up with a plan," Maya spoke, knocking Josh out of his thoughts as she stood up. "But Farkle don't let him talk you in to anything stupid and good luck."

Josh's eyes followed the blonde as she left with her boyfriend.

Farkle watched the other boy's eyes follow the blonde with a small smile. Josh looked to be back in deep thought when Farkle finally decided to speak, "So what's the plan?"

"Plan?" Josh looked over at Farkle with confusion.

"I thought we were going to come up with a plan for me and Smackle?"

"Oh yeah," Josh nodded, back to concentrating on the task. "The plan is you are going to walk over there with confidence and ask Smackle out. Farkle just have some pride. Smackle will be lucky to have you."

Farkle sighed, looking over at Smackle again. "Okay," he sighed. "But not right now, right?"

Josh sighed, smiling. "Sure," he caved. "But today is Thursday so I'm giving you until Monday to do it or I'm going to ask her out."

Farkle laughed, taking a drink from his sweet tea, "You know Josh you're not that bad as Maya made you out to be."

"Thanks Farkle," Josh chuckled, taking a bite of his sandwich.

"So what is the deal with you two? What's really going on between you and Maya?"

Josh shrugged, "Maya wants me and she doesn't know how to process it."

Farkle looked over at Josh with wide eyes before slowly agreeing. "Yeah, as much as you want her and don't know how to process it yourself."

Josh looked over at Farkle sharply but didn't say anything instead went back to his sandwich.

XOXOJOSHAYAXOXO

"So how long is Josh supposed to be here?" Lucas asked, once him and Maya were at a table in a more secluded spot in the cafeteria.

Maya shrugged, taking a sip of her water. "I'm not sure," she answered.

Lucas slowly nodded. "I just hope it isn't that long," he muttered as he spread ketchup onto his burger.

"What?" Maya asked, shocked.

Lucas looked up from his burger, repeating his words a little louder this time. "I hope he isn't here that long."

"Lucas," she scolded when he looked at her with unapologetic eyes. "Since Josh has been here he has actually been behaving. Being here might be just what he needs to start believing in himself again."

Lucas glared, "Why are you taking up for him?"

"I'm not. I'm just telling the truth."

Lucas sighed, rolling his eyes.

"You know what?" Maya shook her head, and started to get up but Lucas grabbed her wrist and nodded for her to sit back down which she hesitantly did. "I'm sorry," he apologized, before cupping her cheek in his hand. "I don't want to argue about him."

"Then don't."

"Okay," Lucas backed down. "If you think he should be then he should be here."

Maya pressed her lips together, nodding.

"So are your parents still planning on going out of town next weekend?"

Maya nodded, "As far as I know."

"So we will have the house to ourselves?"

Maya swallowed, "No, Josh will be there."

"You know what I mean. Maya we've been together for almost a year. I think it's time we take our relationship up to the next level. We've waited long enough. Don't you?"

Maya swallowed again, as she stared at her boyfriend. Her mom and Riley both told her she would know when she was ready and right now she didn't feel anywhere close to being ready to take that step with Lucas. She had too many questions running through her mind. She was thankful she didn't have to say anything as Zay and a few other sat down joining the two.

"Well, if it isn't our school's most perfect couple."

Maya gave him a small smile as Lucas high-fived him and the others before wrapping his arm around Maya. All she could do was sit there and think of Zay's words mixed in with Lucas's.

Perfect couple. Next level.

XOXOJOSHAYAXOXO

Maya sighed in relief as she walked out of her last bell. She was thankful the day was over with until she saw Missy. She knew she shouldn't but couldn't stop herself from marching over to her. "I don't appreciate you giving Josh alcohol."

Missy looked over at her friend, surprised before putting a fake smile on her face. "Maya."

"Don't Maya me. You're the one who gave Josh alcohol last weekend."

"I think Josh is a big boy and can make his own decisions."

"True, but Josh is here because he couldn't stop partying and making dumb decisions in New York and there is a huge chance if he messes up back to New York he goes."

"Look, we were just having fun. Well that was the plan until he just left and took the alcohol with him."

"Your fun could have got him in trouble."

"Like I said he's a big boy," Missy countered. "He can take care of himself."

Maya shook her head. "Stay away from him," she ordered

Missy titled her head to the side, her eyes ready for battle. "What are you his mother?"

"No, but I-"

"Then no buts. It's none of your business."

"I'm making it my business!"

Missy was taken back but only for a second as her eyes lit up at the sight of the boy who was the cause of this little argument. "Josh, will you please tell Maya you are grown and can make his own decisions?"

Maya looked over to see a confused Josh as he walked over to the two.

"Maya here thinks you can't decide right from wrong and is making sure she tries to decide for you," Missy continue using her best flirtation as she ran her pointer finger down Josh's chest.

Maya glared at Missy.

Josh narrowed his eyes in looking from Maya to Missy back to Maya. "Missy is right. I can make my own decisions," Josh spoke making Maya's heart sink as a huge smile came to Missy's face and she leaned more into Josh. "Like telling you to get your finger off of my chest and back up out of my space."

Maya had to press her lips together to hide her smile as the huge smile on Missy's face was quickly wiped off replaced with a look of disgust.

Josh chuckled as Missy stomped off away from the two as Maya smiled shaking her head at him.

"You know the only person I want in my personal space is you."

"Josh!" Maya laughed, pushing him away from her as the two walked out of the school together.

Neither one noticing the blonde boy watching the two with jealousy written all over him.

XOXOJOSHAYAXOXO

Later that night, Maya laid in bed, watching the third season of Younger on her lap top. She saw her cellphone light up out the corner of her eye, knowing it was another text from Lucas. She closed her eyes, biting her lip. She hated feeling this way. At one time she would instantly grab her phone, excited to read his texts right away but now her stomach dropped every time she saw a text from him and put off answering him. At one time her and Lucas were the perfect couple. Everyone said it. They still said it. They still believed they would be the high school sweethearts that would go off to college and get married. Everyone loved them together. It wasn't too long ago she adored her relationship with Lucas but now she questioned everything. The worst part of it was when it came down to it she had no real reason to question her relationship with Lucas except for one reason. All because of the boy who now lived in the room next to her's.

Josh.

He was the cause of her questioning everything with Lucas and it didn't help he was another set of confusion that she hated to even get herself in to. He made her mind race and go everywhere to the point where she can't even think clearly. On top of it, she wasn't even sure what she felt for Josh or if it was real. As of right now all she knew it was is a weird attraction to him that was starting to become undeniable. She hated it but loved it at the same time because she loved the way she felt when she was around him when he wasn't sending her up the wall but even when he was she still felt drawn to him. She liked being around him. She liked the way he stared intensely into her eyes like he was reading her soul. It made her think of all the what ifs and possibilities with Josh and it made her wondered if he felt the same. She wondered if he felt the same draw to her that she felt towards him or if it was just some big joke to him. Josh gave her no signs beside the off the wall comments that came out of his mouth and the almost kiss but other than that nothing. It didn't help the almost kissed happened when he was drunk. She couldn't help but wonder if Riley was right and he just wanted her to be another one night stand he could brag about. He didn't have the best reputation and he was an ass ninety-five percent of the time. She knew he was not the type of guy she should be falling for. It's not like she hasn't told herself repeatedly to takes steps back away from him because she has but she couldn't stop herself from going towards him.

She sighed, rolling over to lie on her stomach and pulling her pillow to her chest.

The problem was when it came down to it her head and her heart told her two different things. Her head told her to take real steps back away from Josh and stay with Lucas. Even Riley, the person who knows her better than herself said Lucas was the guy for her. He has been nothing but a good boyfriend to her and she shouldn't give up what they have for nothing. Josh wasn't worth the risk. He was just bad news and would only break her heart. But if Lucas was the guy for her then why couldn't she stop thinking about Josh? And why is it when she thinks about Josh her heart beats a little faster and she gets butterflies in her stomach?

She sighed, rubbing her temples as she felt a headache coming. It was all becoming too much.

She turned her attention back to her laptop, pausing the episode and noticed the time.

Crap.

She quickly stood up off of her bed and slipped her shoes on. Tomorrow was garbage day and she totally forgot to take up Mrs. Johnson's trashcans up to the sidewalk for her. She hated the thought of pulling the heavy cans herself. She rushed over to look out her window to make sure she didn't do it herself and stopped in place.

She couldn't believe her eyes.

She smiled watching Josh interact with as he dragged one of the elderly woman's trashcans up to the sidewalk. She knew whatever Josh was saying was polite because Mrs. Johnson had a huge smile on her face and Josh was sporting one too.

If she wasn't confused enough already about how she felt, this definitely made it worst. If he wasn't worth the risk then why was her heart telling otherwise?

Please leave me a review with your thoughts, predictions! I have a question does anyone know how to make book covers? I have a book I want to publish but I'm not the greatest at making book covers.