Chapter 21: ABOUT TIME

Maya's POV

I silently pull on the clothes Cuddy had brought with her from Aunt Ali and I's apartment wincing. I was sore from the new scar on my torso and side but I was going home today. I was going home.

It was now Saturday morning and I was glad to be going home. I was bored and I'd finished the books Cuddy had grabbed from my room quickly. I was brought out of the ICU on Thursday and then kept a further two days for monitoring purposes. I would also be staying off school for about two weeks at least to allow my immune system to readjust and for my scars to heal. Aunt Ali and I didn't talk about the anniversary and thankfully neither did Cuddy or Deekes.

I turn round at the sound of knocking and finish pulling on my black t-shirt. I already had on a pair of grey sweatpants which I'm glad Cuddy had grabbed. I was too sore for jeans. I had to wear a belt with everything and it would have dug into my scars too much.

"Come in," I say sitting down on the bed.

I look up to see Deekes walk in and I smile at him. We still haven't kissed and the tension between us was getting almost unbearable. I'm not even sure we should kiss as we've been stopped or interrupted twice already.

"Hey," I smile pulling on my shoes.

"Hey," He smiles back. "How are you feeling today?"

"Better," I say tying my laces. "Glad to be getting out. I'm starting to get cabin fever."

"I wouldn't be surprised," He smirks. "I haven't seen you sit still for longer than ten minutes in seven years."

"You know me; all go," I laugh quietly.

He chuckles slightly before continuing. "I have school work for you in my car from all your teachers. They said they'll give it to me regularly while your off too so you don't fall behind."

"Ah it never ends," I groan standing up.

"Well you're the one that takes all AP subjects," He says as I start to put my belongings in my bag. "It is kind of your fault."

"I suppose if you put it that way… Anyhow did you speak to the track coach about why I didn't make it to the regionals?"

"Yes and you'll be glad to hear regionals have been pushed back so you didn't miss them," He smiles.

"Pushed back!?" I say in shock.

"The coach found out you were sick and talked to the athletics board. The competition had already been set back due to weather issues but they said they would push it back further. Like into mid slash late March so you could compete but only on the condition that you start training as soon as your stitches are secure," He grins.

"Yes… Of course!" I exclaim happily. "How did he pull that one off?"

"The board knows that you are a senior and this would be your last competition at school. They also know the rough story of how you got into track and field in the first place."

"I don't know what to say…"

"Your special Maya," Deekes smiles. "And the board realised that too."

In response I hug him. I'm a fair bit smaller than him and my head just about reaches past his shoulder. He returns the hug gently and rests his head on mine. We stay like that for few seconds and then I look up.

I instantly catch his eyes and I automatically feel the tension return. My eyes flicker to his lips and I swallow slightly.

"Deekes…" I whisper, my breathing picking up.

"We're alone now…" He replies. Our faces were millimetres apart and I was finding it hard to concentrate.

"Deekes…"

He silently responds by bending down so our lips were closer. Hesitantly he presses his lips softly to mine and I close my eyes. It was a small chaste kiss but when we pull apart we still cling to each other. I lean in again and the kissing gets rougher. We'd been waiting for days for this. Scrap that. We'd been waiting seven years. Finally.

We kiss again and I'm not sure how long we do but we only pull back when we need air. Our lips are still touching slightly and I can feel each breath he takes on my skin. I smile and put my arms around his neck.

"About time," I sigh.

"Yeah… It only took us, what… seven years?" He chuckles. "I have something to ask you."

"What?" I smile, playing with the hairs at the bottom of his neck.

"Maya will you go out with me?" He whispers pushing my hair out of my face. I lean against his hand in response.

"I think we've already skipped that step but yes… I'll go out with you."

We kiss again but we don't get very far as we hear the door opening and someone coughing in an over exaggerated way. We jump apart and I feel my face go bright red. I look up and see Aunt Ali in the doorway. She has an amused look on her face and I feel myself going a deeper shade of red.

"Am I interrupting something?" She asks.

"No! No! It was nothing!" I reply. Oh my gosh. Oh my gosh. I'm so embarrassed.

"It didn't look like nothing…"

I turn my head so I don't have to look at her and I could hear Deekes try to turn to calm his breathing.

"Maya and I are… um… we're…" He begins.

"A couple?" Ali finishes.

"How did you know? We only just…" I stutter out.

"I just walked in on you two practically making out. If you two aren't a couple…"

"Oh my gosh," I whimper.

"I'm fine with it," She smiles.

"You are!?" Deekes and I say in unison.

"As long as you two are safe and follow the rules I don't see a problem."

"Thank you!" I smile.

"But I will say one thing…"

"What?"

"It's about time."