Disclaimer: I only own Maryse and her family.
Author's Note: The first chapter of this story takes place January 4th, 2010
Maryse was sitting in her Classic Novel class reading Wuthering Heights by Emily Brontë listening to her music quietly as she read. Her blonde hair was pulled into a ponytail at the top of her head and her blue eyes scanned the page. She had heard rumors all day about a NASCAR driver their age coming to their school and she found it laughable.
"Maryse Sky?" Her professor asked. Maryse lifted her head.
"Over her ma'am." Maryse said as she raised her hand.
"Thank you I just wanted to know where you were so I could show the new student where you were because we don't have any books left and he can share with you." The professor said.
"Of course." Maryse said as she looked back down at her book. She hadn't noticed the gasps and sighs of the other girls in the class. She looks over when she notices the seat next to her. She looked up with a smile on her face that dropped off the moments she saw him.
"Hey Mari it's been a while." He said.
"Joey?" Maryse asked.
"Obviously." Joey said with a smile. Maryse looked back down at the book. She couldn't believe her luck. Joey Logano was back. They had grown up together just about. He had moved away when they were nine and in their freshman year of high school they had moved back for a few short months and then moved away again. It was in their freshman year of high school that she had developed her crush on Joey and it had never gone away. She fisted her hands in her lap before she looked back up at him.
"So how is NASCAR treating you?" She asked.
"It's okay." Joey said.
"Mr. Logano Ms. Sky can you please focus on the book?" The professor asked. Maryse nodded and looked down at the book.
"So I'll let you read since you're probably on chapter one and I'm on chapter twenty two." Maryse said as she pushed the book toward Joey.
"Actually the class is almost over so I was thinking that we could stop by the café on the corner and catch up before your next class." Joey said.
"This is my last class for the day." Maryse said.
"So we can and then you can take me to a library and get me my own copy of the book." Joey said.
"Sure it sounds like old times." Maryse said as she stood when the bell went. She was dressed in a pair of jeans, sneakers, and a black t-shirt. She picked up her copy of the book and slides the strap of her messenger bag over her shoulder. Joey walked out of the row and down the stairs with Maryse following after him. They walk out of the classroom side by side.
"You've changed since I left the second time." Joey said.
"I filled out some and slimmed down." Maryse said with a shrug.
"You got rid of the color in your hair as well." Joey said.
"I might bring it back but for now I like to keep a low profile." Maryse said. Together the two of them walked to the café and sat at a small table. The waitress walked over.
"The same as always Maryse?" she asked.
"Yes please." Maryse said.
"What can I get you?" She asked turning to Joey.
"A coke if you've got one." Joey said.
"Of course I'll bring those around." She said as she walked away.
"So how have you been?" Joey asked.
"Okay I guess." Maryse said.
"You know I'll be here for you when it happens." Joey said.
"Joey I don't need you to hold my hand to cope with my sister's death." Maryse said with a sigh.
"I know but what happened to us?" Joey asked.
"You moved away and we fell out of touch." Maryse said.
"I wish we hadn't." Joey said.
"You and me both." Maryse said. The waitress came back setting Maryse's strawberry banana smoothie in front of her and Joey's coke in front of him.
"Thanks." Maryse said with a smile.
"You're welcome Mari hey when is your band going to play here again?" She asked.
"I don't know we're looking for a label and such." Maryse said.
"Oh well hope it goes well." She said as she walked away.
"You're in a band?" Joey asked.
"Yup I'm the lead singer." Maryse said as she took a sip of her smoothie.
"Nice." Joey said. He was about to say something when Maryse's phone went off playing "Shoot to Thrill" By AC DC played.
"Sorry." Maryse said as she pulled out her phone and opened it.
"Hey Jeff." Maryse said.
"What are you serious?" Maryse asked.
"Yeah I'll talk to the guys and get back to you." Maryse said.
"Bye Jeff." Maryse said as she hung up with a smile on her face.
"So what's the news?" Joey asked.
"My band might have a gig at that big NASCAR dance." Maryse said.
"That's great." Joey said. They talked for a while catching up on old times and when they had finished their drinks they had paid for them and left the café and headed to the library.
"You know this is like old times." Maryse said.
"Almost we were never in college and you never had a band and I wasn't driving cars for a living back then." Joey said.
"I meant the walking together." Maryse said with a smile.
"Yeah it is almost like old times." Joey said. Maryse stopped when they were in front of the library.
"Come on." Maryse said as she walked in with Joey behind her.
"Hey Mr. Martin." Maryse said.
"Hey Maryse what can I do for you?" He asked.
"I have a student who needs a library card and I'm wondering if you've got a copy of Wuthering Heights?" Maryse asked.
"I'll take a stab and say the student is the guy behind you and of course we've got a copy of the book." Mr. Martin said.
"Awesome I'll go find it and you can get Joey his library card." Maryse said as she walked away. When she walked back with the book in her hands she noticed that Joey was leaning against the counter.
"I've got your book right here." Maryse said as she put it on the counter. Mr. Martin checked out the book to Joey.
"Can I talk to you Maryse?" Mr. Martin asked.
"Uh sure Joey you mind waiting outside?" Maryse asked.
"No." Joey said as he walked out.
"So that is the Joey you've been talking about." He said.
"He might be." Maryse said.
"You know you should say something." Mr. Martin said.
"I don't know I mean he just came back and I don't think I should." Maryse said.
"Well you better before another girl tries to snatch him up." Mr. Martin said.
"Thanks for the advice." Maryse said as she walked out of the library and toward Joey.
"So you doing anything this weekend?" Joey asked.
"Um I was going to go visit my family and we were going to head up to the cemetery to visit the boys, grandpa, and Lucy." Maryse said.
"Oh." Joey said.
"Though I'm sure mom and dad won't mind if you show up." Maryse said.
"I wouldn't want to intrude." Joey said.
"It wouldn't be a problem I'll call and ask them later and get back to you on that." Maryse said with a smile. They been walking through the conversation and she realized that they were in front of her dorm.
"Well this is my dorm and I've got to get inside because I've got a ton of homework to do." Maryse said. Joey nodded. Maryse had turned to walk into her dorm when Joey grabbed her wrist and she turned back to face him. He smiled at her and leaned down giving her a quick kiss. Maryse pulled back and looked up at him. She waved once before disappearing inside her dorm. She hurried into her room not speaking to anyone. Once she had closed the door she leaned against it. She let her fingers brush her lips. The blush had risen on her face. She then got out her phone to call her parents.
"Hey Dad." Maryse said.
"Yeah I've got a question." Maryse said.
"Can Joey come up to the cemetery with us?" Maryse asked.
"Yeah he just showed back up." Maryse said.
"Thanks dad I love you bye." Maryse said. She hung up her phone and walked toward her bed. She sunk down on the bed and looked up at the ceiling. She was trying to calm her racing heart.
"Could he like me too?" Maryse asked. She shook her head.
"No he probably doesn't." Maryse said with a sigh.
"Last I heard he had someone he was dating." Maryse said. She closed her eyes and let herself drift off for at least a little while.