Hello all! First, I want to sincerely apologize for the long wait. It was never my intent to stay gone so long but things just got in the way. For the people asking, yes; I am continuing the story. Here is Chapter 10 which I know is long overdue so please enjoy.
Chapter 10
The figure slowly rose and moved gracefully toward her, seemingly gliding on the notes of the music. Maya stood her ground, defiantly as the hooded figure got closer. Now, only inches away, the hooded figure slowly reached up and pulled back the hood. "Hello Maya…" Mona purred with a devilish grin.
Maya's eyes widened and her mouth fell slightly open as her facial expression shifted from defiance to surprise. "Are you kidding me right now? What are you doing here?" Maya demanded.
"Is that anyway to greet an old friend? Truly, Maya, I'm hurt." Mona replied while placing her right hand over her heart and pouting.
Maya rolled her eyes at her poor attempt to appear sincerely offended. "Are you sure you weren't followed?"
"I'm sure; no worries." Mona shot back before turning and making her way back across the room to retrieve the tape recorder. Once she had it in hand, she flipped the tape over and walked back over to Maya, stopping right in front of her, holding the tape recorder chest level and extending it to her. "Besides, I wanted to deliver this, personally."
Maya gazed at Mona curiously before hesitantly taking the recorder from her. She fingered the play button for several moments while keeping a watchful eye on Mona who returned her gaze with a tiny smirk etched on her lips. She had no idea what was on the tape but whatever it was, she could see the anticipation in Mona's eyes. Maya decided to get it over with and play the tape. Warily, she pressed play.
At first, the sounds coming from the small recorder were incoherent high-pitch voices, laughter and something that sounded like water running. It didn't take long for Maya to realize that it was a public bathroom somewhere. The next sound she heard further peaked her curiosity and caused her to squint her eyes as she pulled the recorder closer to her ear.
"Get out." There was no mistaking it; it was Jenna's voice. Jenna seemed to be dismissing people that were in the bathroom. A few seconds went by before Jenna spoke again, "Yes?" The next voice Maya heard made her close her eyes and cringe, "I want to see her." Oh, no, Emily. Maya thought to herself.
She continued to listen as the tape played on, drawing a picture in her mind of what the scene must have looked like. Mona waited patiently, her eyes never leaving Maya. She wanted to observe every reaction.
To Maya's relief the voices finally ceased and the recording ended. She pressed the stop button and attempted to hand it back to Mona without looking at her. "No, that's for you to keep." Mona held up her hands, halting her. "I do have one question though. Did you plan on telling me?" She asked, lowering her hands to her sides.
Maya turned her eyes to her without turning her head in her direction. "Of course," she exhaled. "I was waiting for Jason to leave town and Jenna to get over the shock of it all."
"Jason left last night and Jenna…well, I don't think she'll be getting over anything anytime soon especially with Emily breathing down her neck. This is truly an unfortunate turn of events. Wouldn't you say?" Mona asked while tilting her head and folding her arms across her chest.
Maya now turned to face her. "Yes, I would say so. Those fools are too damn nosey and I thought you were helping me with that by keeping them busy. I can't do what I need to if I have to keep an eye on them too. Anyway, how did you know that they knew about me and to record them?" She asked accusingly.
"Honestly, I didn't know that they found out about you but I knew something was up. I'll have you know that I constantly recon their asses, so not much gets by me. I'm everywhere, remember?" Mona retorted defensively.
"I know, I know." Maya let out a deep breath. "I'm sorry. I didn't mean to snap at you; it's not your fault. I swear those bitches are going to be the death of me."
Mona raised an eyebrow and smirked, "Interesting choice of words." Maya looked at her and suddenly realized what she just said. They both looked away sharing a light giggle.
Mona composed herself before continuing, "Seriously though. The one thing we had going for us was that they thought you were dead and now they know you're not. Now, instead of being two steps ahead, we're one. That is a problem for us."
"Not necessarily. We'll figure out a way to make it work in our favor; we always do. And, you said it yourself; they really know how to keep secrets. We both know that so I don't foresee this being any different. We still have the upper hand." Maya attempted to put Mona's mind at ease and it appeared to be working.
"True…" Mona conceded. "So, you won't be too alarmed to know that your BFF is planning on making a move sooner than we anticipated."
Mona last statement really got Maya's attention. "What?! What the hell are you talking about? What move?" Maya took a step back and lifted her hand to her forehead. "She wouldn't, she couldn't…" She suddenly felt the anger burning inside of her.
Mona took a step closer to her making up for the lost distance. "She will and she can. Look, I told you that I'm always reconning those bitches and they are getting closer and closer to her. She is going to have to step up her game and do it quickly if she expects things to go her way. But, like you said; we still have the upper hand. You're dead so she won't see you coming." The cunning look in Mona's eyes made Maya laugh at herself.
"You're right; let her make a move; we'll be ready. We always are." Maya flashed a smile as cunning as the look in Mona's eyes.
The two stood looking at each other for several seconds. It was as if they were communicating a plan to each other but did not need words to do it. Mona then nodded her head, turned and walked toward the door. She stopped half way there and turned again towards Maya. "I take it you will handle things with Jenna and the others?"
Maya lowered her head momentarily and smiled. "Of course, and you will handle other annoyances?" Maya replied while raising her head slowly, smile still in place.
"As usual," Mona smiled sweetly. "I must admit, it is nice taking a break and letting someone else make them chase their own clueless asses. But, don't worry, I'm watching all players involved." Mona assured her before turning and walking out of the door.
Maya stood watching as the door closed behind her. She then walked over to it and locked it, checking the lock two more times before walking over to the sleeping area. She paused for a moment; then quickly removed her robe and began readying herself for a night out. It hadn't been her original plan but with Mona's sudden visit, she now had somewhere to be.
Two Hours Later…
Jenna lay sprawled across her bed staring at the ceiling and letting her mind wander. She hadn't heard anything else from Melissa or anyone else for that matter. Not that she cared because the only person she wanted to hear from was Maya. How could everything have gone so wrong? Now, Emily was basically stalking her so Maya would surely stay away. This sucked; everything sucked at that moment.
Jenna adjusted her position on the bed to try and get more comfortable all the while thinking of her girl. "Maya…," she whispered as she closed her eyes and let her mind drift back in time to where it all began…
Jenna sat rigidly on the top stair right outside of Rosewood High's main entrance into the school. She had no idea what time it was but by the disappearance of the chaotic voices of students, she knew it was well pass 3:00pm and her brother, Toby, was late again. She had a pretty good idea that he was probably chasing that damn Emily Fields and forgot all about her. She knew that he would eventually remember and show up but when that might be, she had no idea. She was becoming increasing annoyed as the minutes passed. She swore to herself that Toby would get an earful the minute he showed up.
Unbeknownst to her, a stranger stood 50 yards away in the parking lot talking to a handful of girls while studying her curiously. The stranger excused herself from the group of girls and made her way to where Jenna sat brewing over her brother's absent mindedness.
The stranger now stood only a couple of feet away from her. Since Jenna lost her eyesight, her other senses had been heightened so she could feel that someone had approached. She turned her head in the stranger's direction while straightening her posture.
"Hi, you're Jenna Marshall, right?" The stranger's voice was surprising soothing, but also somewhat familiar which almost caught her off guard. She had to shift slightly to maintain her rigid posture, a defense tactic the stranger assumed but was not deterred so she continued, "I'm Maya; Maya St. Germain. I don't mean to bother you but I noticed that you've been sitting here for a while and I've seen you around my neighborhood, so I was wondering if you needed a ride home?"
Jenna shifted again and turned her head away from Maya dismissively. "No, I do not. My brother is on his way. Thank you but no thank you." She retorted with an air of childlike arrogance and defiance.
Maya found herself becoming amused. She knew that Jenna's brother was Toby and she knew that he was with Emily at that very moment. "Okay, but it's about to down poor at any minute. You could sit and wait for him in my car if you'd like so you don't get soaked."
Jenna was becoming increasingly annoyed. To make matters worse, she could swear she heard a hint of sarcasm. Why was this person bothering her? "I am fine," she answered through clenched teeth, turning her head in Maya's direction once again. She wanted Maya to see that she was annoying her.
Maya shrugged. "Okay, I'll leave you to it then. It was nice meeting you." Maya turned and walked a few feet away before turning back to stand and watch Jenna as the rain began to fall from the sky.
Jenna shifted awkwardly as the rain descended on her. She tried taking off her jacket and putting it over her head to shield her but her legs and body quickly became soaked to the skin. Maya stood in the rain watching as she huddled as much of her self under her jacket as possible. Finally, deciding that the poor soaked girl had had enough, she walked back over to her. "You know, it's a hell of a lot drier in my car."
Jenna, now thoroughly annoyed and completely embarrassed, snapped her head in Maya's direction. "You again? What do you want from me, St. Germain? Is this some kind of prank you and the bitch squad are playing? Well if it is, I'm not playing along! That's right, I recognized your voice and then your name! You're their newest member; the new girl!" Jenna seethed.
Maya was taken back by the sheer anger coming from Jenna. "Look, I'm not a member of any squad, whatever that means. I'm just trying to be nice and offer you a ride or shelter or whatever so you don't have to sit here and get soaking wet. Besides, I'm not sure how I could have made your brother late and then made it rain as part of a prank."
Jenna sat quietly for a second, suddenly feeling a bit foolish. But what did this girl want from her? Was she really just being nice? No one from Ali's team of liars was ever nice to her. Either way, a ride couldn't hurt, right? She swore to herself once again that Toby would not hear the end of this.
Without a word, Jenna slowly rose to her feet and unfolded her long white cane. She squared her shoulders and began navigating her way down the stairs. Maya waited patiently until she made it to the sidewalk. "Does this mean you're taking me up on my offer?" Maya questioned.
Jenna swallowed hard and began adjusting her bookbag that was slung over her shoulder and her jacket that was now draped over her arm. "I guess a ride home couldn't hurt. But I'm warning you, St. Germain. If you try anything sketchy, you will be sorry. Got it?" Jenna asked with her mouth forming a straight line.
Maya arched an eyebrow and cocked her head to one side with a smirk fixed on her lips. She was relieved that Jenna couldn't see her face because she would not have been able to hide the amusement flashing in her eyes. "Yes ma'am, no sketchiness. Got it."
Jenna could tell by the sound of Maya's voice that she was smiling. She wasn't sure why it didn't bother her because normally it would have infuriated her to be laughed at. Her thoughts were interrupted when she felt a hand lightly touch her arm. Jenna immediately stiffened which did not go unnoticed.
Maya pulled her hand away. "Oookay. Well, you have two choices. You can find your own way to my car, which could take a while and I don't think the rain will pause until you find it. Or, we can save time and get out of this rain faster by letting me guide you there. It's up to you." Maya folded her arms across her chest and waited with her smile still in place and her eyes sizing Jenna up from her low-heeled knee high boots to the top of her head and back down.
Again with the sarcasm, Jenna noted. Either way she knew was right, so she slowly lifted her arm and offered it to Maya. Maya's smile widened. Without another word, she gently placed her hand on Jenna's elbow and began carefully leading her to her car. She pulled her keys from her pocket and, by remote, started the car. Once they reached the passenger side door, she opened it. Jenna slowly pulled her arm away from her and attempted to feel around the door and the back of the passenger seat, trying to get a feeling of how to sit in.
Maya quickly stepped behind her and, again gently, placed her hands on Jenna's arm and back. "Let me help you." This time Jenna didn't flinch, maybe because there was no sarcasm or amusement in the voice that spoke to her just above a whisper. No; what she heard was a low, deep and tender voice, a sound so soothing and sultry that for some reason drew her towards it. Jenna was so lost in her thoughts that she didn't realize that she had turned her head towards Maya and slowly began leaning back into her.
Maya smiled wondering what was going through her mind as she slid her hand down Jenna's arm to her hand, almost caressingly, and gently took her cane leaning it against the car door. She then slowly turned Jenna's body around to face her. "Ready?"
Again that voice… Jenna had to snap herself out of it before she made a complete fool of herself. She straightened herself up and nodded before removing her backpack. Maya began the task of helping her sit back while placing her hand on her head to keep her from hitting it as she sat down. Jenna then swung her legs in. Maya folded her cane and handed it to her before closing the car door.
"I hope that smile means that you're dreaming about me." That voice! Jenna's eyes flew up as she shot up to a sitting position.
"Maya?!" Jenna nearly screamed.
Maya remained kneeling next to the bed with that all too familiar amused expression. "Hey, gorgeous. So, was that smile for me or were you dreaming about someone else." Maya narrowed her eyes and smirked playfully puckering her lips.
Jenna smiled at her tenderly while laying back down and turning so that her face was inches away from her. "Hey yourself. And, I wasn't dreaming; I was remembering."
Maya leaned in closer. "Really; remembering what?" Maya purred the question.
"Oh, nothing really; only the first time we met." Jenna turned onto her back.
Maya jumped up and was suddenly straddling her hips. "You mean that time you were mean to me and then tried to kiss me?" Maya asked teasingly.
"I did not try to kiss you! You are so arrogant St. Germain!" Jenna exclaimed, pushing forward and rolling Maya onto her back so that she was on top. "I'll bet you don't even remember our first kiss." She challenged her playfully.
"I'll take that bet but first…" Maya slipped her hand behind Jenna's neck and pulled her lips onto hers while her other hand found the small of her back and pulled her body tighter against her.
"Mmmmm…Maya, I have to tell you something," she whispered against her lips. "Something happened at school."
Maya reluctantly pulled away. "Is it something that is going to upset me?"
Jenna lowered her head, "Probably."
Maya placed her hand under her chin and raised her head up to look her in the eye. "Then, tell me after…," a deviously sexy smile forming on her lips.
Jenna raised an eyebrow. "After?"
"Mmmhmmm…" Maya once again brought Jenna's lips to hers kissing her deeply.
Jenna couldn't help but smile into the kiss, "You are so bad, St. Germaine...," she whispered.
"You have no idea…" Maya purred.
Please review.