Maya's pov
After a long day, I got home, had dinner and a shower, and now I'm in my room
I sat cross legged on my bed,my chemistry assignment on my desk,consumed by the memory of a stranger's words
"Tell your father...he still owes a lot more for my silence"
I replayed it in my head for the third time, like it would suddenly start to make sense but it didn't, It only stirred the questions i never let myself ask
I know I said there's no 'dad' in this story but that's truly because I know nothing of my dad,no memories, no pictures, no stories of him absolutely nothing.it's almost like he doesn't exist,no one talks about him including my mum
Before when I usually ask about him it always ends in bad conflict with my mum so I just decided to stop asking because I never get a good answer anyways and I shut that part of my life for good
It rained and the rain had tapped against my window all night, soft and restless.....
The morning sun slipped through my curtains, gently ,the air was quiet, almost too perfect, like the world had no idea what yesterday left behind
I got up, showered, had breakfast like everything was normal. And now, here I was back at school
Cherry and I already settled in class for biology
"Okay, don't look now but I swear Cole was checking you out again," Cherry whispered as we slid into our seats.
I didn't answer(distracted)
"Hellooo?" Cherry waved a hand in front of me "You alive in there?"
I blinked "What?"
"You're acting weird, like something happened,gurll spill"
I forced a smile "No, I'm good,just tired"
Cherry narrowed her eyes, "Mmm, you only say that when you're absolutely not good"
"Gurll I'm fineee,but since you badly want to know, Adrian found your silly magazine"
"What magazine?" She asked
"You know,the magazine with the half naked men"I replied
Her eyes widened "what?" As she burst into laughter
I let out a slight laugh "Mmmmm"
"Gurl what?, how did he even find that" (still laughing)
"Long story,but trust he had a lot to say"
The classroom door creaked open
Mr Waller stepped in, carrying his usual worn out leather bag and that travel mug he never actually drank from,his tie was slightly crooked as always and his face looked like it hadn't seen a weekend in years
"Phones away, chatter down," he said without looking up, already flipping open the attendance notebook
"Let's try to pretend we're here to learn"
The class quieted with a few reluctant sighs and chair-scrapes....
As the class goes on
The bell rang, chairs scraped and notebooks slammed shut,everyone was already halfway out the door when Mr Waller raised his voice
"Before you all disappear,quick reminder!"
"Urgghh" everyone groaned in unison
Mr Waller smiled dryly, "Our trip to Hillcrest Eco Resort is this weekend, If you haven't submitted your consent forms, get them in by Thursday, or you're not going"
A few students exchanged looks,some excited, some pretending not to care
A scenic eco-resort about 2 hours outside the city,surrounded by nature, woods, lakes, bonfire spots, and cozy cabins.
The school planned it as a "team building and environmental education" trip, but everyone knows it's basically a getaway
Cherry turned to me immediately "I'm not sharing a bunk with kate(Lisa minion)I don't care if she's the principal's niece, that girl talks in her sleep and packs perfume like she's spraying mosquitoes"
I gave a faint smirk, already picturing the drama this trip was going to cause,Mr Waller added, "You'll be assigned into groups for cabin placement and activities, No changes, no complaints and yes, phones are allowed, but don't make me regret that decision".
As he stepped out of the classroom, the room buzzed with quiet plotting
As the classroom emptied, Cherry and I strolled down the hallway toward our lockers
"I swear," Cherry said, "if they put me in the same group as Lisa, I'm switching schools, I'm not even joking"
I smirked "Lisa in a forest? She's gonna pack heels, body mist,with three box of clothes"
Cherry burst out laughing "I give her one day before she acts up because there's no Wi-Fi in the trees"
We were still laughing when someone stepped in front of us —Cole Sinclair
He gave that signature half smile "Did I just hear you slandering Lisa?"
I raised an eyebrow "If the lip gloss fits"
Cherry choked on her laughter and gave a mock salute before sliding away down the hall, mouthing "Handle your man"
Cole turned his attention back to me, running a hand through his perfectly messy hair
"So," he said casually, "what are you doing after school?"
"Why?" I replied, slamming my locker shut
"Thinking we could hang out,just talk," he shrugged "Grab something,nothing formal"
I tilted my head, pretending to think about it "Tempting offer"
His smile deepened
"But I've got plans," I added "Movie night with Cherry,we already got tickets"
He paused, just for a second "oh that's fine, forgot I had soccer practice anyway"
"Oh maybe we could reschedule then" I said, stepping past him
"Sure, have fun at the movie " he said with a smile
"Bye" I replied and walked away
The hallway was unusually quiet for a Wednesday Cherry had gone to the library, I was walking out of the restroom when I heard the sound of heels clicking way too confidently against the floor
I didn't even need to look
It was Lisa Brook the mayor's daughter
Flanked by her ever loyal minions, Lilly and Kate, she stopped right in front of me, all glossy lips
"Maya," she said, blinking way too slowly "Mrs Martha said she needs you in the field,something about.... I don't know...extra credit or makeup work?"
Lilly chimed in "something about your science grade being borderline or whatever"
I stared at them "Mrs Martha teaches Physics We haven't even had a test yet"
Kate gasped "Oh? Then maybe it was about... oh! Attendance?" She tilted her head "Or maybe she just needed a volunteer you know, for school spirit."
I walked past them "Fineeee, I'll check"
Lisa's smile faltered slightly
"Good," she purred, then spun on her heel, hair flipping like she was auditioning for a shampoo commercial
The Field
The sun was sharp and bright on the field, and it smelled like freshly cut grass and sweat, not exactly where I'd want to spend my free time
I scanned around, No Mrs Martha just coach Tim and a group of guys in sport uniform, 'soccer practice'
And at the center of it, commanding attention without even trying was Adrian Sinclair, captain of the team, and annoyingly good at everything
He saw me before I could pretend I wasn't there,I turned to leave
"Monroe?" His voice rang out
He jogged over slowly with a soccer ball in hand
I froze
I narrowed my eyes "Lisa said Mrs Martha needed to see me out here,something about… extra credit?"
Adrian let out a soft, amused breath " I don't think you'll find Mrs Martha out here"
"urgghhh I knew it,she tricked me."i said faintly
He tilted his head, watching me " yeah I think so" he said smiling
I scowled "You're enjoying this".
"Of course I am." his eyes flicked over me,just enough to make my skin buzz "You're the last person I expected to see on my field".
" Your field?," I muttered
Adrian leaned in slightly "Yeah, I don't know if you've heard but am kind of a big shot around here" (sarcastically) we both chuckle
"Oh I've heard " I replied
Then he smiled at me, staring deep into my eyes and lips with those grey eyes then my heart did a dumb thing in my chest
God, he was insanely hot
Lost in his eyes.... then coach Tim from behind calls out "Adrian come on you're up"
(Eye contact cuts short)
"Ummm.....I should.....I should get going"I muttered as I left in a hurry
After school - At my house
Cherry plopped onto my bed
"You have food, right?" she asked dramatically, kicking off her shoes and grabbing my pillow like it was a microphone "Because I haven't eaten since that trauma salad they served at lunch"
"there should be some Chinese rice in the fridge," I said, already heading to the kitchen
"Queen behavior," she called after me.
"Feed me, and I'll consider forgiving you for not telling me what Adrian said at the field."
I rolled my eyes,"I told you It was nothing".
"'Gurll come on a conversation that leaves you two staring at each other like you're eye sexing' is not nothing!"
I ignored her and set two plates down a few minutes later, we ate on my bedroom floor with the window cracked open. Cherry was halfway through when she asked, "So what are you wearing to the movies? Please don't say jeans".
"I was gonna say jeans," I said
She groaned "No you're going to wear that black off shoulder top the one that screams 'slut' " we both chuckled
Later: Heading to the Movies
We left just as the sky started to turn that perfect burnt orange shade. The cinema wasn't far, so we walked laughing and joking
Then, just as we reached the lobby, Cherry slowed down.
"Oh, I forgot to tell you..… Ray's meeting us here
"What,Ray?..... Your boyfriend?!!!!!"
Cherry gave a sheepish smile "yesss I'm sorry I didn't let you know on time he helped me get the tickets, remember?"
"No, you said you've got connections"
"Well…basically Ray's got connections but his my boyfriend so I've got connections too," she shrugged. "And he's Ray. You like Ray."
I blinked. "no I don't!!!"
Before I could process the sudden third-wheel energy, Ray walked in,tall guy in a denim jacket waved from across the lobby, broad shoulders, that confident "I know I'm fine" walk
Ray McLaren
He strolled up, kissed Cherry on the lips, and then turned to me
"what's good maya," he said with a smile.
"i'm good ray" I said as I offered a polite nod
Cherry looped her arm through his and beamed like we were one big happy trio "Let's go get seats! It's about to start"
I followed behind them
After the Movie-Quiet Car Rides and Heavier Thoughts
The drive back was calm, low music playing, the windows cracked just enough to let the night air in.
Cherry sat in the front with Ray, talking softly and laughing every few minutes.I stayed quiet in the back seat, chin leaning against the window, watching streetlights blur past like stars in motion
The movie had been fun,Ray wasn't awful, Cherry was happy.
But I couldn't stop thinking about him,the man from the cafe,the words he left behind like a riddle I didn't want to solve.
I blinked, trying to shake it off
"Maya, we're here," Cherry called softly, turning in her seat.
I nodded and opened the door,Ray gave polite wave as I stepped out.
"Later," I said, flashing a small smile
They pulled off, and I walked up the short path to the front door, the porch light flickering like it always did.
As soon as I stepped inside, I heard the familiar clatter of dishes being rinsed in the kitchen.
"Maya?" my mom called "That you?"
"Yeah," I said, toeing off my sneakers
"Movie ran a little long"
She stepped into the hallway, wiping her hands on a dish towel, eyebrows slightly raised
"It's almost ten"
I shrugged "we stayed back for credits mum It's a Marvel thing she gave me the suspicious look
"Everything okay?" she asked
"Yeah" I tried to walk past her, but she wasn't done.
"You've been acting weird since yesterday, quiet".
I hesitated, my hand already on the stair rail
"I'm just tired mum,school stuff also I need your signature on my consent form tomorrow,that trip's this weekend, remember?"
She nodded, eyes softening just a bit "Alright just... don't keep everything to yourself, okay?"
I nodded back
"I won't"
But I already was
And I wasn't sure where to even start.