Maya was standing with her hands playing with her sleeves. She was wearing a black long sleeve shift dress, length right above her knee with her hair in a nice classy ponytail. She was waiting for Charlie, her friends, her mom, Mr. and Mrs. Matthews to arrive. She can't believe that her painting made it to the school's art exhibition; she was excited for the person who inspired her to make this piece, to see it. She was in a room full of crowd people but none of them she's familiar with because most of them are not in her class.
Maya was standing in front of her painting, feeling proud of how high school had turned out. It was her second month in high school and her art is already being noticed. Maya was admiring her own work when she hears a voice that caught her attention. "This kind of art right here is the reason why I love going to the art exhibition."
Maya turn around and she had to look up because the person standing next to her is tall. He did not even look at her, his eyes are still locked on the painting. Maya looked around if he was talking to someone else but no one is close to him but her standing next to him; close.
"Well, thanks," Maya said proudly.
He turns toward her- facing her- smiling. He was wearing a dark blue sweater over a white button long sleeves shirt, his dark brown hair is cropped short on the sides and is a little longer on top.
He looks at her like he recognizes her and that confuses Maya because she never saw his face before. "So, you're the artist," he said; amused.
"What?" Maya asked. "I don't look like someone who can paint?" Maya sounded defensive.
He shakes his head and chuckle, "nothing."
"What?" Maya repeats her question, looking confused.
"No, it's just. You don't remember me don't you?"
"Should— I?" Maya hesitates and gives him a questioning look.
"A couple weeks ago, you tripped over me, and I help picked up your book and you don't even say thank you or apologize."
"Oh, you're that guy," she said in recognition. "Well, thank you for picking up my book." She smiles at him. "It's a surprise that you remember me." Maya pointed out.
"A pretty face like yours, how could I forget," he raised an eyebrow. "Besides, of course, I remember you, you trip over me and you didn't apologize."
"What?" Maya asked in disbelieve. Maya can't believe that this guy expecting an apology from her.
"You tripped over me and didn't apologize."
"I heard you the first time but why should I even apologize? It's not my fault, I was the one who fell and hit the floor."
"It is your fault because you didn't watch where you're going."
"Who ties their shoes in the middle of the hallway where everybody is rushing?"
"I do, I tie my shoelace wherever I want," he grins.
"And who are you again?" Maya asked sounded annoyed.
"I'm Carter," it comes to Maya surprised that he extends his hand towards her for a handshake. Maya stared at his hand for a while before she raises her hands and meets his.
Maya can't help not to notice how warm his skin is, just like his voice. It seems like they are holding each other's hands way too long, but he just smiles like there's nothing weird about it all.
"Carter!" one of his friends called out his name and Maya dropped his hand. Carter turns around and spotted his friend from afar waving at him in the crowd.
"Wait, a sec!" he shouted at him back.
"We need to go now!" His friend replied.
He turned back to Maya, "I'm so sorry, I would really like to tell you what an amazing artist you are—" he paused and looked at the initial at the corner of her painting that says 'Hart'. "Miss Hart, but I got to go." Before Maya knew it; he disappeared in the crowd.
"Who's that?" she heard someone familiar asking.
She turned around and it's Charlie. "Hey, you made it!" Maya pulled him into a small hug.
"Who's the guy you're talking to?" he asked again.
"Believe it or not but I don't know him. He just showed out of nowhere and compliments on my painting."
"He seems like he's into you," he said.
"Trust me, he's not. A good looking guy like that would never look at me and be all interested, it doesn't work that way. He probably already has a girlfriend."
"What if he's single and interested in you and asks you out?"
"Woah, where is all this coming from?" she asked him in surprise.
"I'm just saying because I can tell when a guy looks at a girl when he's interested." He stated.
"Well, if he ever did ask me out, I would say no because I told you that I'm not interested in getting my heart crushed again by a guy. I just got out from a horrible relationship," she explains. "And besides, I don't think I'm over him yet." She murmured.
Charlie pretend that he didn't hear it and asked her, "so, where's the painting?" he asks.
"Oh," she closed his eyes with her hands before he spotted the painting.
She pulled him into standing front of her painting. "So, are you ready?"
"Yes," and she slowly lowered her hands.
"Tadaa!"
His eyes are focused on the painting and he is awed by it.
"Do you like it?"
"I love it."
It's a painting the park that Maya and Charlie always hang out; looking through from the bay window. Although the park is far away from Riley's place; but she wants to paint the two people that she glad having from two different places in one picture.
"The two places where I feel safe to talk about anything." She states. "You see the hair looking out through the window? That's—"
"Riley," Charlie said and she nods.
"And you see there in the park sitting on the bench over there, that's you!" Maya said happily; smiling looking at the painting.
"That's me?" Charlie asks. "Why do you have me in your painti—"
Before Charlie could finish his sentence, they were interrupted by someone calling out Maya's name.
"Maya!" Riley waves Maya from afar looking excited.
"Riles!" Maya waved back.
"Sorry, we're late. We're waiting for Zay and you know him with his—" She stopped when she notice Charlie was standing beside Maya. "Hey, Charlie," Riley give him a wide awkward smile.
"Hi, Riley," waving his hand a little.
"It's been a long time,"
"Yeah" he replied awkwardly.
"Stop being awkward." Maya looked at both of them. "I invited him and he's over you." She said to Riley and turn to Charlie. "And Riley has a boyfriend which means," she paused looking at them both. "Whatever history you guys have in middle school, let's put it in the past like it never happened," Maya said.
They both smiled and nod.
"What is Charlie doing here?" she can hear Huckleberry's voice sounded annoyed from behind.
"Ugh, c'mon!" she groans and stomps her feet and she turns around. "I invited him."
"Why?" sounded pissed.
Maya eyes widen, "Because he's my friend!"
"Since when he's your friend?" he questioned. "I thought he's gone for good and I don't have to see him in high school again." He said and takes a few steps towards Riley; grabbed her by the waist and pulls her close.
"Lucas," Charlie smiles at him. "I'm not here to steal your girl if that's what you think," he laughs. "I'm only here for Maya, she invited me."
"Since when he's your friend?" Lucas repeats his question at Maya; Riley just remains speechless. She doesn't know what to say from all this commotion.
"Do you know they serve food here," Zay came out of nowhere with food in his hand. "Hey, Gardner, it's been a long time." Zay pats his back.
"Zay," Charlie smiles and nods a little.
"Maya, answer me?" he looks at Maya; jealous.
"Why do you care? This is my big day; I can invite whoever I want."
"Out of all people? Him?" Lucas asked.
"What's wrong with him? He's my friend just like you are. You're not my boyfriend to tell me who I can and cannot be friends with!" she snaps. "Even if you are, you still don't have the rights!" She pointed out.
"You guys, I think you guys should calm down," Riley begged.
"No, no, let them fight." Zay watch them attentively while eating the food he got. "I want to see how this ends."
"Cut it out, Zay!" Lucas yelled in annoyance.
"Woah," Maya is now bewildered. "If you are gonna go full on 'Texas Lucas' now, I think you should go!"
Charlie feels guilty that they are all fighting just because he was there.
"Hey Maya," Charlie put his hand on her back. "I think I should go." He smiles weakly.
Maya turned around facing him, "No, no, don't."
He smiles like her like everything's okay, "I got things to do anyway, and I'll text you later." And he tilts his head and looks at her friends and wave goodbye. "Bye guys."
"Bye." Riley and Zay whisper in unison as they watch Charlie walked away.
Maya turns back at Lucas and gives him a furious look. "I can't believe you just did that!" she pushed him a little. "What's wrong with you!" yelled and quickly go after Charlie.
"Charlie!" she called him outside the hall. "Wait!" and he turned around and Maya runs to him.
"I think it's not a good idea that I'm here. Lucas has been giving me death glares and I don't want to cause any drama today."
"I want you here, you're my friend." She breathes heavily due from running.
He looks tired like he wants to get away from all of this and Maya knew that he doesn't want to be here as much as she wants him to. "I know but—"
"Yeah, I understand. You hate drama—me too." She said looking down at her shoes. "It's okay. Just call me when you get back," Maya look up at him.
"Yeah sure." He turns around.
"Wait," Maya said and he looks back at her and she hugged him. "Thanks for coming. I really appreciate that you're here." He gives her a warm smile and walked away.
When Charlie left, Maya went back inside because it's still early for her to head home if she wants to. She feels bad that she yelled at Lucas. She should've not done that, but he was being irrational all of the sudden like she doesn't even know him. The only ones left after she came back were Riley and Zay.
"Hey," Maya greet them.
"I'm sorry for what happen," Riley said, reaching out for her arm. "I don't know what has got into Lucas." She explains.
"It's fine really." She smiles weakly. "I think I should apologize to him, I shouldn't yell at him like that."
"Its fine Maya, things just got out of hand, I would react the same."
"So, where is him?" Maya looked around to find a sight of him.
Riley shrugs. "I don't know," she said.
"I think you should go look for him," Maya suggests and she nods.
Zay gives a big sigh, "Things people do when they are jealous."
"What are you talking about?"
Zay laughs, "Nothing."
Maya just stood there with Zay talking about school until Katy came and later Mr. and Mrs. Mathews bringing Auggie with them. Farkle only came for a few minutes to congratulate her, and when Riley comes back, she comes alone and Maya never asked why. They all came to see Maya's hard work that paid off. They are so proud of Maya and they wanted to support her in every possible way they could because they know how much this means to her.
The highlight of the night is when Shawn came to surprise her; bringing her flowers. Maya jumped at the sight of him, he was like a father to her and she's glad he came. She didn't tell Shawn about it but apparently, Katy can't keep anything from Shawn now. Maya glad that the night turned out great.
I picture Nick Robinson as Carter. He's so cute, he's one of my celebrity crushes!
