Chapter Forty

With little hesitation, Jacob made his way to the 'Cricket Pavilion'. With one last look behind him to make sure nobody was around, he made his way in. Maya looked a state as expected, Jacob was taken slightly aback. She looked even worse then the night that they all found out what she was. Josh was in the corner as he watched him walk in, shutting the door behind himself.

"She's a right proper rough bird, I was expecting her to look like one of those high heel wearing sophisticated teachers but she's definitely looks like one of those dodgy PE teachers" Josh spoke up.

"Shut up!" Jacob hissed back.

"I'm just saying...She's barely said a word since she got in here, mate"

"Just get out! Do one, Josh!"

Maya was being pretty quiet during this, she was looking down on the floor. Josh paused slightly before saying one more thing to Jacob as he remarked..."I will be back later though, so enjoy...Your old lady looks a right state by the way, I would question where she's been if I were you"

Before Jacob could reply, Josh finally left as he made a quick exit.

"Hey, I'm sorry about that prat...Are you alright?" Jacob asked, his tone of voice changed very quickly.

As he pulled up a chair and sat across from her. The truth was she did go to Ethan's house last night and the man did use her as he always did. His 'girlfriend' Kelly walked in and she just battered her. For she was only twenty however she was quite vicious when it came to fights. She learned how to defend herself quite early on in life, Maya was no match for her really. For she was younger and had more street smarts. Not to mention how she didn't really have fights before that one night with Leyla. So Kelly easily got the upper hand, Ethan of cause didn't care one way or another.

"I'm fine" Maya insisted to him; she didn't want to talk about it.

"Who did this to you?"

"Some women in prison"

"That was ages ago"

"I think one of them recognised me outside and just went for me, I couldn't fight back. I don't know how to, I blame my hair...It's easy for them to grab"

Jacob was about to ask her why she didn't call the police but then it became obvious. The lad just gave a sigh. He just pulled her in for a hug instead, he was still just completely brainwashed when it came to her. He couldn't see her as an abuser, not at all. Even more so after seeing her battered and bruised like this.

"Why don't I stay with you tonight? I can just tell granddad I'm with a friend, I'm not leaving you, Maya" Jacob suggested.

"Where?"

"I don't know...We could just stay in here, it's dry and it has sleeping bags. I can just tell Josh to go away, alright?"

"Alright"

"Your hair Maya, it's a mess. Did they really drag you by it? And why have you got marks on your neck?"

"Scratch marks"

"I can't believe it...It's disgusting, I'm so sorry for all of this. I wish I could take you to the cafe or something, you must be hungry"

"I am a bit but I don't want you to go yet..I missed you too much for that. So why don't you stay and you could get me food in a bit"

She was a bit nervous he was going to trick her. She wasn't sure if they turned him against her or not yet. Jacob however was sadly nothing of the sort, he was still under her spell as ever. So the lad was happy to stay as he gave her a small kiss on her forehead and pulling her in for a second hug. He felt her putting her fingers through his hair however she couldn't get to it due to it being tightly done up in a bun.

"You need to cut your hair" Maya simply remarked.

"Really? I mean...I was trying to make myself look older"

"No need"

Of cause Maya didn't want him to look older, no. Her sick little mind didn't take to it. Jacob paused slightly before removing his bobble. Making his hair go back to how it looked before she went to prison.

"That's better" Maya added.

"I'm thinking of getting it cut short again anyway, I hate having to brush it every morning. Dead annoying"

"I bet it is"

"Listen...I erm...I'm seeing my mum next week in Portugal. I told her everything about us and she's cool with it"

This made Maya give a laugh, as if she believes that! His aunt Alicia will hate her guts too, Maya knew that much. Jacob was very wrong if he thought she would be any different then any of his other family members or friends. Of cause he only told Alicia a false tale about her being the 'older sister of a friend from school who's 21 and is called Maria'.

"I'm serious" Jacob persisted.

"Your mum is going to hate me too...David and Leyla would have brainwashed her by now"

"They haven't...I told her that you're older and we didn't together until after my 16th birthday, she's fine with it"

"Yeah Jacob and she's probably thinks I'm 18 or something"

He just gave her a defeated sigh. Well yeah, that is what Alicia thought. So that plan didn't quite work, did it? And he didn't want to tell her she's forty-one, for even he could see that was odd. Cradle-snatcher is what she would describe her as, much worser names would come to mind also.

"I told her you were 21" Jacob admitted.

"21? I couldn't pass for 31!"

"She's expecting me now though"

"Then go on your own, I'm not going. She will take one look at me and deem me as this dirty middle-aged woman"

"I'm really sorry"

"Are you though? Because you have been very busy since I've been away. Making friends with Leanna, Noah told me about that. Makes me feel great that, why don't you have tea with the judge who sent me down next?"

"It was one time! Okay...A mistake! I told Leanna that it was a mistake"

"Just get out!"

"I thought you were ignoring me, it was when you got out of prison. Please Maya, don't do this. I want you, I don't want anybody else...Please give me another chance, I'd do anything for you"

Like always, she made him into the 'bad guy'. After watching him stew for a little bit, she relented. Though by this point, it was because she had nobody left. Her mother did offer to take her back in but she didn't want to return there quite yet. As for her father, she didn't want to go his at all.

"Okay Jacob...Fine but you can understand why I'm angry?" Maya asked. As if she had the moral high ground.

"Yeah but I'm on your side, you know I am"

...

Victoria was ready to give birth any day now. She and Amy were currently walking together, talking about this and that. When they spotted David pushing the pram, Erica was back home then. The girls were keen to see her, poor David they both thought. Amy was most relieved. She was a close family friend of cause and wanted to check up on them both as she walked over with Victoria.

"Hey..I'm so happy she's back safe and sound, I told you Maya's a coward and would bring the girls back" Amy remarked.

"Yeah...I'm just dead on edge now" David admitted.

"I bet you are, what a disgusting person she is. Like you ain't got enough on your plate and she does that to ya" Victoria chimed in.

"I don't think she will come back now anyway" David insisted (he hoped).

"No way will she! She's the biggest coward I have ever seen. In all seriousness though, any help at all then don't be afraid to ask. I'm on duty" Amy assured him.

"Thanks and also, I may as well tell you. I banned both her parents from seeing the child now, so if you see either of them; don't let them near Erica...At all"

"May I ask why?"

"They pretty much covered up for Maya over the girls and I'm not having that. Like Henrietta didn't stick up for her in words but when John was defending Maya, she didn't say anything. So she may as well have done"

Amy frowned slightly, that was a shame. Henrietta seemed alright but she has made a mistake there. Victoria understood his reasoning for she was currently in the same boat in regards to grandparents. Though both of them felt it had to be done for various reasons, it was just the way it had to be sometimes. If the parent cannot trust a grandparent then obviously, it will be difficult for them to accept them near their child.

"Okay David, I understand" Amy reassured him.

"Thanks...Looks like you're ready to pop soon" David then spoke, quickly changing the subject to something less difficult.

"I know...Baby wants to come out soon, he keeps kicking me!" Victoria exclaimed.

"Footballer in the making"

"I hope not, football bores me to tears"

This made David give a small laugh. He was just happy to talk someone who could relate a little bit.

...

TBC