Maura woke up early as usual, everyday lying in her bed for a few minutes to remind her of how worst it could be. She was running out of ideas each day but today was different; she had Jane to add to her list. With a small smile, Maura finally got out of bed scanning the empty apartment before heading to the bathroom. After a cold shower and getting dressed with a simple shirt and jeans Maura went to the kitchen looking for breakfast. She made a mental note to go shopping; the fridge was empty except for a cart of milk that turned out to be expired and an almost empty jar of jam.
Maura took out the jar deciding to make toast , she huffed when she saw two slices of toast left, taking one and keeping the last one just in case she didn't go shopping today . Anything to keep her from passing out in school is good. Maura opened the envelope that Alex had left last night and took a few dollars for school before closing the envelope again. Maura double checked the books in her back pack before leaving her apartment and locking the door behind her.
Maura couldn't wait for the break at school; it's the first time in her life that she actually wanted the break to come so fast. Usually she would pray that class won't be over soon, the break was a reminder that she was alone. That no one wanted to be on the same table with her even to eat, but today she wasn't going to the break room. She was going to the school library; she was waiting all night last night and ignored all the comment that she heard all so she could go to the library. She wanted to understand what Jane was talking about yesterday, what made her as excited as she talked about baseball.
Maura wasn't a ball fan but if it would mean having something to talk about with Jane then she was all for it. The library was quit; she helped herself to a few books and sat down going through each one of them trying to memorize all what she read with a smile as she remembered Jane. Then it hit her, it's the second day. Jane probably knows who Maura is by now, what if she doesn't want to talk to me anymore? What if she become just like the other kids?
With hope gone from her eyes, Maura closed the book in her hands gently, why did it have to be this way? Maura sighed before getting up and returning all the books to the shelves and leaving the library. How did this slip her mind, no one ever talked to her after their first day in the play ground? Maura shoved her hands in her pockets as she walked around in school; she imaged what her life would be like if she wasn't a Doyle. How different thing would be if she didn't have to carry this name.
Maura wasn't paying much attention in class; all she thought about is what will happen at the playground today. "Maura could you solve this equation please?" her teacher`s voice brought her back to reality. Maura got up from her seat slowly and walked up to the board, she could hear the other student whispering
'look who`s getting up, its Doyle'
'she`s a bit off today don't you think?'
'she`s always off, she`s a freak'
'Yeah, just like her father, dad says that he killed a lot of people'
'Yeah, I heard dad say something about an ice pick, I think that's how he did it'
Maura got carried away as she listened to what they were saying about her that she didn't hear her teacher when he said 'good, go back to your seat' she kept writing and writing, you know that this equation can go on and on
"Maura that's enough!" you flinch when he shouts and stop what you're doing "that's enough thank you go back to your seat" he says quietly again as he approach you and take the white chalkboard from your small hand and gently push your back with his hand. You give a weak smile and return to your seat as the other kids laugh at you.
'What a freak' you hear them saying, the teacher wipes away half of what you wrote
"Ok, so you don't need to know what Maura has just written. You`ll learn it after a few years, now I want you to …." you try to focus on the teacher`s voice instead of theirs. It's painful but you`re not going to let them break you.
You saw how most kids start whispering when you walked into the playground with a smirk written on their face. They're probably taking about what happened today at class, you think but your assumption is confirmed when you hear a whisper
'Did you hear what she did in class? Too bad I wasn't there to see' you sigh and take your usually spot on the swing. Jane isn't here yet, the kids are playing hide and seek which you find completely ridicules. They're in a play ground where are they planning on hiding.
You shaking your head with amusement when your eyes fall on Jane entering the playground, she sees you and start waiving your way with a wide grin, a smile spread across your face when you see her and for a split of a second you think that she didn't care who you`re father is but then you see the way a kid take`s her by the arm and pull her in a corner where you see more kids standing. they look as if they`re telling her a secret and her grin is gone, when she raise her head again to glance at you with confused eyes and you know what they're telling her .
Your hands tighten around the swing and you start to study your shoes. What made you think that she was different from all the others? She won't talk to you again, you saw it coming but it still hurt. you`ll never be anything more to those kids than a Doyle, a reminder of what your father did to their families and loved ones . "Hey" the deep voice drag you out of your thoughts and your head snap up to see Jane standing in front of you with the same grin she had earlier
"h-hey?" your brain is still not registering what's happening, and Jane walk up to the swing next to you
" what is up with you and that swing?" she says in a joking tone but you don't get it so she start to explain " you were on this swing yesterday too right?" you don't answer, you can't answer because your still looking at her in shock " what? Is there something on my face?" you blink twice but you still can't find your voice "hellooo, earth to Maura. Is anyone there?"
"What? Uhhh, huh? I- you" Maura stumbled over her own words in shock and Jane raised an eyebrow
"You me? Are you ok?" Jane chuckled
"Huh? Yeah, I mean yes I'm ok. I`m just... surprised" Maura let out a nerves laugh "didn't the other kids tell you?" Maura was scared of what Jane's answer would be
"Tell me?" Maura nodded "ohh you mean you being Doyle's daughter thing?" Maura nodded again and Jane mimicked her "so?"
"Soo, how come you`re still talking to me" Maura said with confused eyes and Jane shrugged
"I didn't see what does it have to do with me being friends with you" Jane said quietly, Maura's eyes when wide, not because of Jane's answer but because Jane actually called her a 'friend' "you`re going to just sit there?"
"Huh?"
"Maura you're on a swing, it supposed to be fun?" Jane said as if it was so obvious "bet you can't reach as high as I do" Jane said with a daring tone before starting to swing
"Hey! You can't go first" Maura said before swinging as well "and beside, I'm lighter. Scientifically the swing can take me to altitudes greater than yours. That's Physics one o one" Maura said with a proud tone
"Keep talking" Jane replied as she pushed harder on the swing making it go even higher. Maura felt a smile spread across her face as they both tried to go higher than the other. after a while they were both exhausted but still none of them stopped swinging " ok ,ok I'm going to show you something now" Jane said excited before jumping off the swing when it was at its highest and landing on her feet . Jane span around with a wide grin "tadaa" Maura watched her with wide open
"Do you have any idea how dangerous that was?"
"And your starting to sound like my mother, come on your turn" Jane started motioning Maura to jump
"you can't be serious" Maura started looking at the distant she reached with her swinging
" come on, it will be ok trust me" Maura creased her eyebrow for a second, she trust Jane but all that she read told her how she could easily end up in a hospital . Maura jumbled landing on all four "you ok?" Jane said giggling
" that was amazing!" Maura took a deep breath with a goofy smile as she stood up, Maura was having trouble finding a word to describe it when Jane took her hand and started dragging her
"Yeah, yeah. Come on I don't want to get yelled at again for going home late" Maura was smiling like an idiot when they both started running. She never felt this way; she never felt this happiness before in her life. It seemed as thought Jane was introducing her to lots of things she was unaware of their existent.