Hi guys! It's literally been forever since I wrote a new story, so I decided it was time. I found an old list I wrote of ideas for stories, most of them Emily and Maya. I didn't like many of them anymore because I wrote it when I was like 13, but I found one that I really liked so I decided to follow up on it. My ship is slowly dying, and even previous Emaya shippers are letting it go. I however am not. Emaya forever!
Maybe it was a bad idea. Maybe she should just go back. But at this point, it was kind of late to be having second thoughts. Emily was already a few miles out of Rosewood, and the walking had taken her a good two hours. She didn't feel like turning around. Of course, if she did, there would be no way her mom would have known anything about it. If Pam had seen the note, the police would already be on their way to find her. Legally, though still just a newly graduated senior, she was an adult, but she knew her mom would throw a fit nonetheless. Which, in turn, was one of the reasons Emily was leaving.
Maybe she had been too vague with the note. Writing it had only taken about 5 minutes, most of it contemplating what to say, with the words, "Mom, I'm leaving. I don't know where to. Please don't send anybody, and please don't worry. I will be back soon. I love you. I just had to get away." Though she was sure her mom would call the police as soon as she saw the note, Emily had done her research and because she was 18 she legally was not considered a runaway. Behind her, she dragged a large suitcase with as many clothes in it as she could fit, as well as $2,500 she had from saving. In the backpack she carried was her laptop, her phone, a hair brush, and a few books.
Of course she was going to miss her family and her closest friends, but she knew that Hanna, Aria, and Spencer wouldn't go looking for her. They knew how badly she wanted to leave. She had promised to contact them from time to time if she were to leave anyways. Emily was so deep in her thoughts that she didn't hear the car that came up behind her. "Need a ride?"
The sound of the voice caught the swimmer off guard, and she turned her head. Stopped beside her was an old sea island blue car. In the driver's seat was a girl who looked to be about Emily's age. She had dark, long hair and even through the dark her eyes sparkled. "Oh, uh..." the athlete stuttered through her words, not wanting to ask the stranger to repeat herself.
The stranger laughed and put her car in park. "Come on, hop in," she opened her door and Emily immediately tensed up. She was not sure of this girl's intentions, and as if she sensed the jock's discomfort she laughed again. Her laugh was very melodic, and it calmed some of Emily's nerves. "I promise I'm not a psycho or anything," she giggled as she picked up the suitcase and opened the trunk, setting it among four other suitcases and a guitar already inside.
Hesitantly, Emily sat in the passenger's seat of the car. The stranger walked around and sat in the driver's seat, extending her hand. At first the motion caught the swimmer off guard and she slightly jumped, causing the girl in the driver's seat to chuckle. "Maya Anne St. Germain. 18 years old, guitar and piano player, absolutely crazy," she smiled as she introduced herself. Emily took her hand and felt her nerves once again calm down, while a different type of nerves bubbled in her stomach. "I'm Emily. Also 18, swimmer, kind of boring," the athlete introduced, blushing and laughing nervously.
"So where you headed Emily?" Maya asked flashing a smile towards the taller girl, turning on the engine, and starting down the road. "Well... I don't know actually... Anywhere but here," the athlete explained a bit embarrassed. "That's the best place to be going," Maya teased, again causing the taller girl to blush. "What about you? Where are you going?" Emily asked. "Everywhere. I plan to drive all over America," she smiled. "The entire country?" Emily asked, laughing a little. Though it did seem far fetched, it also seemed intriguing. The shorter girl beside her laughed. "Yep. I need some adventure in my life, so what better way then to visit everywhere I can," she explained.
"Where are you from?" the athlete continued. "I'm from Bridgewater. It's a small town in Maine. Literally, there are less than 1,000 people who live there. Everybody knows everybody and nothing new ever happens. I just had to get outta there. That place is so boring, and I needed a break," Maya explained. "Tell me about it. Rosewood isn't any better," Emily sighed. "That town just a few miles back?" the musician questioned. "Yep, that's the place," the athlete nodded. "Well aren't you lucky I came along," the artist beside her giggled.
Blushing, Emily nodded and laughed along with her. "Well... I don't plan on heading back anytime soon... Do you want some company?" the question surprised the jock more than it surprised Maya. "Honestly? I really would. I know Maine isn't that far from Pennsylvania, but I've already been pretty lonely. Another few days and I may have resorted to the "talking to myself" stage of going completely crazy," she gasped dramatically, causing both girls to laugh. "I thought you said you already were completely crazy," Emily teased. "Someone pays attention," the musician laughed. About half an hour passed, and the two made some small conversation, but other than the soft music of the radio, silence took over the car.
"Well, how about you get some sleep. We're gonna be driving for awhile and you look pretty tired," Maya eventually suggested. Grateful for the offer, the taller girl nodded and yawned a bit, leaning back in her seat and closing her eyes. For some reason, this strange girl did not scare her- instead there was something about her that made Emily's heart pound in her chest. She yawned again, let out a deep breath, and let sleep overtake her.
When Emily woke up, she was in a bed. Her eyes had not yet adjusted to the brightness, and she sat up quickly trying to clear her vision, fearing that the previous night had been a dream. As her sight returned, she could see that she was not in her own room, but what looked to be like a motel room. She looked around and rubbed her eyes a little, blinking as sunlight hit her face. "Good morning sunshine," the cheerful voice came from behind her and she turned to see Maya walk out in sweatpants and an oversized t-shirt, her hair damp.
"Morning... How did I... Where are we?" Emily asked, stretching her arms out over her head. "North Carolina," Maya responded, laughing a bit. "I rented a motel room. I figured we could enjoy a few days here before we hit the road again. That is, if you don't mind," the musician chuckled a little, sitting down on the edge of the bed. "No, not at all," Emily watched as the shorter girl picked up her guitar and strummed lightly.
"How long have you been playing?" the swimmer asked. "Since I was a little kid. Though when I first started I couldn't even get my hands around the neck," Maya blushed a light shade of pink, but it left as quickly as it had come.
Emily watched her play some light chords for awhile, but eventually the guitarist put her instrument down and looked over at her. "So, are you serious? About coming with me?" she asked. "Well, yeah. I have nowhere to go, so everywhere is pretty much as good a plan as any that I have," the swimmer explained. At that response, Maya smiled. "Well you should go shower and then we can go get something to eat. I don't know about you, but I'm starving," with a sly grin and a sparkle of mischief in her eye, Maya winked and walked out of the bedroom, leaving Emily alone on her bed, her face matching the color of the burgundy walls.
"So what's your story?" The question caught Emily off guard. She looked up from the table and across to the girl sitting in the seat opposite her. "What do you mean?" she asked, taking a sip of her water. "I mean, why are you out here with a total stranger instead of at home," Maya chuckled a bit. "Well, I mean you're not a total stranger anymore. And I told you, I just had to get out of there," the swimmer answered, avoiding eye contact, which Maya noticed instantly. "Mhm. Come on Em, I told you why I left. There is literally not a single person in my town that I don't know the first name of. What's your story? Why did you leave Rosewood?"
Emily sighed, knowing she had no choice. "Well, first off, there's the town itself. It's small, crowded, noisy, and everyone knows everyone. Maybe not to your extent, but I can't go anywhere and just be myself. Not even at home. My mother is constantly on my case about everything, and she's not very supportive of who I am," her last words were quieter. "Who you are?" Maya questioned. "Well yeah... I'm gay... And she's not too happy about it. I get if you think that's, you know weird or anything," the athlete again avoided eye contact as she spoke, but she looked up when she heard a laugh.
Curious at what the musician found humor in, she watched as Maya pulled down her sleeve revealing a brightly colored rainbow bracelet. "Trust me, I don't find it weird at all," the guitarist laughed and threw a wink at the taller girl, who blushed and smiled. They spent the rest of breakfast making small talk, nothing that was important and nothing that was awkward between them. They talked as if they were old friends who had known each other for their entire lives. By the time they finished, an hour had passed. Finally, they decided it was time to leave. "Come on, we have some sight seeing to do. We'll be like Thelma and Louise," Maya laughed. "Weren't they like top notch criminals who robbed banks and then threw themselves off a cliff?" Emily giggled. "Details details," the musician sighed dramatically, and the two walked out of the restaurant together, both still laughing.
So what do you guys think? I actually wrote this story because in eighth grade I read a book called "Travels With Charlie" by John Stienbeck. It's a story about a man who drives over the country with his dog, and it was just about the worst thing my eyes have ever had the misfortune of reading. However, I liked the storyline of driving around the entire country, and after hearing "I'm With You" by Avril Lavigne the story idea came to me. I hope you guys enjoy because I think this will be a long one!