Published: December 11th, 2014

Edited: April 26th, 2015

The day that Cory Matthews met Maya Hart, he knew that Riley had found the Shawn to her Cory. Instantly.

Just like Shawn, she had that tough, cocky spirit which made her peers impulsively and fearfully respect her. Additionally, Maya's mother was the only parent who Cory was able to meet, and afterwards, he barely ever saw her. Just like he rarely ever saw Virna or Chet Hunter around when he was with Shawn.

At first, Cory had been nervous for his daughter. He didn't want to see her go through the same hurt and hardships that he went through with his best friend. It wasn't easy to protect a friend that lived on the other side of the tracks from getting hit by the train.

But then, he remembered how great of a friend Shawn truly was to Cory, even when they did have their fair share of roadblocks. Shawn had almost always had his back, ready to protect Cory from anyone who threatened to hurt him. He never hesitated in trying to give him solid, wise advice. And there was no one else in the world who could make Cory so ecstatic and light-hearted as Shawn Hunter could.

So, when Cory saw those qualities in Maya, he knew that whatever Riley went through with her, it would all be worth it if both could just be understanding and caring towards each other. He knew from lots of experience that those two ingredients are the most important when cooking up any friendship.

Cory thought he had been through it all with his best friend. They had faced every situation that he could envision; heck, they had even been through the ones he wouldn't have ever expected.

Cory had seen Shawn at his highest point, and Shawn had seen Cory at his highest point. They had struggled with death, depression, confusion-whatever you could think of, they had probably faced it. And both of them had been there for each other at their lowest points.

But, Cory would have never expected that one of the most difficult things he had been through with Shawn would have been so simple and basic. And Riley could say that she wouldn't have expected the same thing with Maya.