Welcome back everyone! We're getting a bit more dramatic this chapter, so stay tuned and enjoy!
Chapter Twenty: Meddlers
"I feel so bad for Maya," Lisette sighed, adding another daisy to the bouquet she was building. It was for Miranda, for her new table displays. "She clearly likes him so much."
Wayne hummed, handing Lisette her shearing scissors. He wasn't really paying attention to what she was building, he just liked watching her work. "Ludus likes her too, he's just too stubborn to do anythin' bout it."
"That's why I feel bad," Lisette clarified. She gave the flowers a little fluff, plucking a brown petal from one of the buds. "They want to be together, but they won't. For some reason."
It was a slow mail day in Westown, which meant that Wayne finished his route well before supper and he'd been at the flower shop since. More and more of his free time was being spent with Lisette, much to everyone's amusement.
"It's such a shame," Lisette pouted, tying a bright red ribbon around the stems with a flourish. She adjusted the free ends until they were to her liking. "They'd make the sweetest couple. I wish there was something we could do."
"Well maybe there is." Wayne cleared his throat, holding out his hand so Lisette could use it as an anchor for her yarn. She wrapped it around his thumbs, preparing to make some pom-poms. "I helped Brad and Carrie seal the deal back in the day, maybe we could run a lil' interference of our own."
"Like what?" Lisette frowned; she didn't like meddling, most of the time. "I don't want them to feel like we're manipulating them or anything."
"Nothin' like that, I swear," Wayne blushed as she shimmied closer, focussing intently on her work. "I just mean give them a nudge in the right direction. We'll think of somethin' I'm sure."
Lisette thought for a minute, working her lower lip between her teeth. Wayne tried not to look at her too hard.
"I guess it can't hurt to have a little brainstorm," Lisette conceded, "I'll message Maya in the morning. She's probably asleep by now."
"I'll see if I can get Ludus to join us for poker," Wayne stifled a yawn- it was pretty late, but he didn't want Lisette to think he was tired and insist he go home. "He's missed the last few doin' work for his Nana. But I think I can convince him if I just sit him down."
"That sounds perfect!" The newly formed pom-pom sprung free from Wayne's thumbs, and Lisette fluffed it into shape. "Then the two of us can meet up on Saturday and talk about what we think we should do."
"I wouldn't miss it," Wayne assured her, watching intently as she placed the pom-pom delicately in the leaves. Lisette certainly had a way with flowers, something that Wayne would never be able to do himself. It was incredible, what she could do.
"Oh, I hope we can think of something." Lisette sighed, "they'd be so happy together. If only they'd just take the plunge and ask."
Like someone else, conveniently enough. Wayne clenched his jaw, pulling his lips into a tight line.
He'd never been one to shy away from things. Wayne hadn't had much confidence as a kid, and it took him a long time to build it up. He was always teased a lot for his blond hair, his interest in astronomy, and his love for books. For many years, Wayne was ashamed of who he was. Now, he was proud. Proud, and never afraid to go after what he wanted.
So, why was Lisette any different?
He should do it; he knew he should. The worst she could say is 'no', and while that would crush him, at least he'd have his answer. His mind drifted back to the conversation he'd had with Maya during the Starlight Gala. Did she know something he didn't? Maybe. Or maybe he should just do what he should've done a long time ago, regardless.
"Speaking of…" Wayne cleared his throat, sweat pinpricking his neck beneath the collar of his shirt. "Lis, there's something I wanted to ask-"
Knock, knock, knock!
"Oh!" Lisette jumped up from her chair with a smile, "that must be Yuzuki!"
"Yuzuki?" Wayne repeated dubiously, pushing his chair back so quickly that the legs scraped the floorboards, making a horrible screech. Lisette eyed him disapprovingly. "What's he doin' here so late?"
"He placed an order yesterday, but he couldn't pick it up before close." Lisette bustled over to the door, where an elegantly wrapped bouquet was already waiting. It was made of lavender, blue hydrangea, silver dollars, and a smattering of violets. It was a little bit of an odd combination, but Lisette arranged it beautifully.
"He couldn't come by tomorrow when you're open?" Wayne frowned potently, hanging back as Lisette unlocked the deadbolt. He wasn't sure he liked the thought of other customers- ah hell, other men- showing up at Lisette's door in the dead of night. It made him fidget.
"I don't mind at all," Lisette waved off his concerns, oblivious to the annoyed tap of his boots. "I'll just be a minute."
Sure enough, Lisette had been right on the button with her guess. Yuzuki stood on the other side of the flower shop's entrance, hands clasped behind his back, sporting a sheepish smile.
"Good evening, Lisette," he greeted softly, raising his hand in a brief wave. "I hope I'm not too late?"
"Not at all," Lisette promised, stepping aside to give Yuzuki space to come through the doorway if he wanted. He didn't, waiting patiently on her welcome mat instead. "I have your order right here. I was just finishing up a couple of things before bed."
"I won't keep you long then," Yuzuki promised. He looked to be in good health today, some of the colour having returned to his cheeks. It made his already youthful face look almost cherubic. "I sincerely appreciate this, Lisette, truly. If there's ever anything I can-"
"I didn't know we were having a party," Wayne laughed, stepping suddenly and loudly into Yuzuki's line of sight. He sidled over to where Lisette stood, blinking up at him in startled confusion. "Evenin', Yuzuki!"
"Oh, hello Wayne!" Yuzuki hid his surprise well, no more than a slight raising of his eyebrows betraying him. "Are you here picking up an order as well?"
Wayne's jaw twitched. Without thinking too much about it, he slipped his arm around Lisette's waist and pulled her snugly against his side.
"Not exactly," he answered, although he didn't bother to elaborate. Lisette had gone no less than 10 shades of red, squeezing her hands around Yuzuki's bouquet to stop them from shaking.
"Ah," Yuzuki smiled brightly. "In that case, I'll be on my way. I didn't mean to interrupt."
"No!" Lisette squeaked, her words barely escaping her tight throat. "No, I mean, you're not interrupting anything. We were just- Wayne was just-"
"I believe you said something about 'bed', right darlin'?" Wayne drawled, taking just a little too much enjoyment in Lisette's panic. Her face immediately drained of all colour, her mouth gaping like a fish.
"That's not- No, I didn't- uh." Lisette turned her head abruptly away from Wayne, focussing instead on Yuzuki. "Your flower choices are beautiful," she told him, desperate to change the course of the conversation. "Any particular reason behind it?"
Yuzuki grinned in amusement, but seemed to decide that he'd give Lisette a break.
"I picked them with someone in mind," he admitted unabashedly, taking the bouquet from Lisette's trembling fingers. "I hope she likes them."
"I'm sure she will," Lisette promised, fidgeting uncontrollably. Wayne's arm was still firmly around her waist, distracting her and making her nervous. "They're wonderfully unique."
"Just like her," Yuzuki agreed. Tucking the bouquet gingerly beneath his arm, he offered Wayne and Lisette a gentle bow. "I'd better get going. My grandparents will start to worry if I'm out much later."
"Have a safe trip," Wayne smirked, tipping his hat. Lisette echoed the sentiment, tempted to ask who exactly the flowers were for but not trusting her own voice. Yuzuki graced them with another cheery smile before nimbly wandering off towards Tsuyukusa.
Wayne shut the door behind him, securing the deadbolt with a flick of his wrist. Pride swelled in his chest, but wavered when he turned to see Lisette's outraged face.
"What in Goddess's name was that about?" she stammered, her hands fluttering around her skirt. The colour had returned to her cheeks, staining them bright red. "I've never been so embarrassed in my life. Wayne- I- I don't know what got into you but you need to apologise to Yuzuki and- and- and tell him that what you said isn't-"
"Isn't what?" Wayne interrupted, stooping a little to look directly in Lisette's eyes. "You want me to tell him that what I said isn't true?"
"Well- yes." Lisette muttered, puffing her cheeks indignantly. "Yes. That's what I want."
"What exactly did I say?"
Lisette blinked, processing his question slowly.
"I didn't say anything that wasn't true," Wayne shrugged, "I'm not here to pick up an order, and you did say you were going to bed. So, what do I need to clarify?"
"You-" Lisette stopped, her words catching in her throat. "You- you know exactly what you need to clarify! You came over here, chest stuck out like some sort of arrogant peacock, and then you- you grabbed me and made it sound like- like-"
"Like…?"
"Like we're together! Alright? Is that what you wanted me to say?" Lisette crossed her arms over her chest, her blush spreading down her neck. "You made it sound like we were together."
"Is that a bad thing?"
"Yes it's-! Wait, what?"
Lisette jerked her chin up, meeting Wayne's gaze directly. There was a catch in his voice, a hesitation almost. Like he was actually worried about what her answer would be and why. Lisette hadn't expected that.
Now it was his turn to blush, the tops of his ears turning a light shade of pink.
"Is the thought of being with me so terrible?" He pulled on the brim of his hat, a habit he'd picked up somewhere along the line. "Would you hate it so much that you couldn't bear anyone even thinking it might be true?"
"That's not what I…" Lisette bit her lip, her heart skittering in her chest. She felt trapped, confused. She didn't want to lie to him, but nerves were crowding her throat. "Do you… want to, you know, be together?"
Her breath caught as soon as the words left her mouth, anticipation nearly crushing her. What would she do if he said no? Wayne shuffled his feet shyly; it was the first time Lisette had ever seen him uncomfortable around a woman.
"Well… kinda, yeah," he muttered, his entire face turning nearly as red as hers. "I thought I was being pretty obvious."
"You thought-" Lisette took a breath, steadying herself. The gears were whirring in her brain, trying to catch up to the suddenness of their exchange. "Wayne, do you like me?"
"Of course," he tugged again on the brim of his hat, "why wouldn't I? You're amazing, Lis."
They stood there in silence, neither able to quite look the other in the eye. It seemed she'd been worrying over nothing after all. Months of shy glances and butterflies, all culminating in Wayne finally admitting that he liked her. If she had just said something earlier-
Eventually, Lisette let out a gust of pent up air.
"Why didn't you say something before?" she demanded, stepping up to Wayne and laying her palm on his cheek. She pointedly decided to ignore the fact that the same could be asked of her. "I like you too."
"You do?" Wayne repeated, bewildered. Lisette was smiling up at him, her eyes bright with happiness.
"Of course," she winked slyly, "why wouldn't I?"
For a moment, Wayne felt like he was having an out of body experience. He couldn't believe it. Maya, the guys, Miranda… they were right all along.
Hesitantly, he took Lisette's hand in his and placed a chaste kiss to the back of her wrist. She blushed furiously, but she didn't pull her hand away.
"I'm, uh, I'm sorry about Yuzuki," he mumbled, making her giggle. "I guess I got a little carried away."
"You did," Lisette agreed, the butterflies in her stomach fluttering wildly. "But I guess I can forgive you."
"Good," he sighed, relief flooding through him. "But… I should probably get going. It is pretty late, and if I stay here much longer, I'm liable to make a bigger fool of myself."
"I'll see you on Saturday then?"
Wayne beamed.
"It's a date."
.
All was silent on Maya's farm, the night cloaking the land in a serene blue calm. Until the screaming started.
It was quiet at first, a low, disturbed whining. Maya tossed in her sleep, rolling and kicking until her blankets were on the floor.
Then it got louder, a panicked cry that was muffled by her pillow. Sweat began to cling to the mattress, clinging to her hair, slicking her skin.
It ended with a piercing wail of terror, one that ripped through Maya's chest and woke her so suddenly that she tumbled to the floor.
"Ouch!"
Maya groaned, rubbing her knee. She looked down, seeing how she landed and determining that she must've bumped it on the bedframe. A sigh fell from her lips; it wouldn't be the first time, after all.
Dragging herself back onto the bed, Maya tried to breathe. Of course. She'd been stupid to think her nightmares had stopped.
Her phone was on the table to her left. Maya reached over and grabbed it, checking the time on the screen. It was almost 4:00am, not enough time to get back to sleep now. Maya chewed her lip, fighting back tears.
She'd been sleeping so well lately- apart from the very late night she'd spent with Ludus last week. Maybe it was from the physical work or maybe because her mind had finally been at ease, but that was beside the point. Maya couldn't do her job if she wasn't sleeping, not well anyway. Tonight though, she'd fallen back into old habits.
And she was pretty sure she knew why.
In the dark, she couldn't see the newest manila envelope tucked away on her kitchen counter, but she knew it was there. Large, plain, and oppressive in its simplicity. It was there, screaming out to her in the quiet. And it was the third one in the last week.
Her chest tightened. Maya blinked at the screen until she could see it properly, wiping tears from the corner of her eyes.
She knew what would happen next. The darkness would creep up her arms and legs, seeping into her heart and locking her in place until the sun came up. Icy fear would choke her, a deep loneliness polluting her bones. The negativity crushed her, like an unbearable weight on her shoulders.
Maya used to beg for someone to save her when she felt like this. She'd kill for just one person to call, one friend to fend off the hurt, just for a while.
An image of Ludus popped into her head, making her catch her breath.
She shook it away, reminding herself of the time. Ludus wouldn't be awake yet, and even if he was, she was sure he'd have work to do. It wouldn't be fair of her to text him, ask him to comfort her. That wasn't his job.
But…
Maya opened up her latest text from him. Ludus had told her more than once to tell him if she ever needed anything, maybe just a phone call would help… she might not even have to tell him what was wrong.
Before she could stop herself, Maya tapped out a message: Hey, sorry to bother you, but can you call me when you wake up? Please? Her finger hovered over the send button, shaking with uncertainty. She shouldn't bug him, not for this, she should delete the message and deal with it herself, like she'd always done. While she was debating, her finger shook a little too much and bumped the touch screen, sending the message anyway.
Well, it was too late to turn back now.
Maya's head fell onto her knees with a painful thud. She ignored it, squeezing her eyes shut and willing the crawling sensation to leave her skin.
She hated herself for it, but she prayed Ludus was awake. As soon as the thought struck her, Maya realised that all she wanted right now was to talk to him. Hear his voice. Just for a second.
She was freezing. She always was, after one of her night terrors, but this time felt worse. Perhaps it was because it had been so long since the last one, or perhaps it was simply a cold night, either way Maya couldn't stop her shaking.
The night was too quiet for her. The silence pressed in against her skull, crushing her in a vice grip of a migraine. As much as she wanted her phone to ring, she knew she shouldn't have bothered Ludus at this time of night. She just couldn't stand the thought of being alone, but feeling like she wasn't.
Maya nearly jumped out of her skin when her phone, to her surprise, did begin to ring. With a pounding heart, she picked it up from the bedside table and felt her stomach flip as Ludus's name appeared on the screen. With shaking fingers, she accepted the call.
"Hello?" She whispered hesitantly, keeping her voice low despite that she was the only one in the house. It just felt wrong to speak loudly before the sun was up.
"Hey," Ludus greeted, concern lacing his voice. Maya felt a pang of guilt- she didn't want to make him worry. That thought was stupid, of course. She'd worry too if someone asked her to call them at 3:50 in the morning. "Are you okay?"
"Yes," Maya answered immediately, wanting to ease his mind. "I'm so sorry for bothering you, I- I don't know why I texted. I just wanted to talk to someone, I guess."
Maya cringed, knowing how ridiculous she sounded. Before Ludus could respond, she rushed another apology.
"Oh God, this is stupid. I'm sorry, just forget I texted. Go back to bed, I didn't think-"
"Maya," Ludus interrupted her, the seriousness of his tone grabbing Maya's attention. "Stop it. You can always contact me, no matter what. What's wrong? Is it your ankle?"
Maya paused. His voice was gentle, encouraging, and heavy with sleep. She could probably tell him that yes, it was her ankle. It was mostly healed now, but she could lie and say she'd stumbled while cleaning Josie's barn and it was hurting again. Ludus was close enough to sleep that he would believe her. Even with all that, Maya felt compelled to confess the true reason she'd woken him up.
The line was silent long enough that Ludus thought Maya had hung up or fallen asleep, when suddenly four quiet words met his ears.
"I had a nightmare."
Maya felt childish saying it aloud, but she couldn't lie to him. She owed him that much, at least, for interrupting his sleep.
"I was too scared to go back to sleep," Maya continued, the words heavy on her tongue. "I just didn't want to be alone, I guess."
"Do you want me to come over?" Ludus's response was immediate and completely serious, and Maya felt a rush of happiness flood through her. Traces of a smile tugged at her lips.
"No, you don't have to do that," she shook her head, realising he couldn't see her. "Thank you. I just wanted to hear your voice."
"Are you sure?" Ludus pushed, and Maya heard him moving around his room. It sounded as though he was getting dressed. The image of what he might be wearing to bed came to mind, making her blush. "Are you going to be okay by yourself?"
Maya wasn't expecting the question and, as a result, took too long to answer. Ludus sighed, suspecting as much, and Maya heard a door open.
"I'm on my way," he promised, and Maya's heart leapt. "Hang tight, okay?"
"Wait!" Maya exclaimed, jumping out of her bed. She was too flustered to remember to change out of her pajamas and instead began to pull on her boots. "Can you meet me at the beach?"
"The beach?" Ludus repeated dubiously, no doubt remembering her intense fear of water.
"I don't want to be in the house right now," Maya admitted truthfully, pushing open her front door only to be hit with crisp night air. "I think I just need some fresh air. I'll see you soon?"
She could almost hear the smile in Ludus's voice.
"I'll be there."
.
Ludus's boots crunched along the gravel walkway as he made his way to the beach. His heart was thumping loudly, and he felt like he couldn't catch his breath. It was pure luck that he'd been awake when Maya texted him, and pure fear when he'd read her words. Any number of things could have happened, and they all ran through his mind in the moments it took her to answer the phone.
A nightmare was one of the last things he'd expected, but it was significantly better than half of the things he'd been worried about.
Ludus felt a small smile lighting his lips. He was worried about her, of course, but the quiet, embarrassed way she'd admitted her reason for calling him was so unbearably adorable that he couldn't help himself.
It was nearly daybreak now anyway; Ludus would've been starting his day in a couple of hours. Thankfully he was a morning person, not that that would have stopped him from being there for Maya. It just helped that he wasn't cranky.
The world was drenched in blue, the sun not yet poking out from behind the horizon. Ludus skipped over a dip in the path, stepping onto the soft, sandy beach.
Maya was already there, a dark blot against the white sand, positioned a safe distance from the water. She was huddled on the ground, her knees up to her chest, her arms wrapped protectively around her torso. Ludus frowned.
She looked so scared and vulnerable like that, it unnerved him. Ludus made his way as loudly as he could to where Maya was sitting, hoping not to startle her. It seemed his plan worked, as she lifted her head just as he reached her.
"Hey," she smiled, her cheeks red with embarrassment. Ludus grinned, trying not to let the lines on his face betray him. Aside from her blush, Maya was paler than he'd ever seen, and she was already only a few shades darker than snow. Her eyes were tired, laden with heavy bags, and swollen with tears. She looked like she hadn't slept in months.
"Aloha," Ludus greeted softly, settling in the sand beside her. He didn't know what to say- when Maya told him she'd had a nightmare, he was expecting to meet her here, talk for a little while, and that was about it. But from the state Maya was in now that he'd seen her, a 'nightmare' seemed like a huge understatement.
"Thank you so much for doing this," Maya whispered, her gaze darting from Ludus to the waves. "I didn't mean to wake you."
"Don't worry about it," Ludus dismissed, "I was awake anyway. Are you doing okay?"
Maya nodded, but it wasn't particularly convincing. Ludus chewed his lip, jaw twitching in thought.
"Do you want to talk about it?"
Ludus waited as Maya considered the question. She bounced between sitting in silence or divulging her fears, not really deciding before she spoke.
"It's pretty much the same every time," Maya shrugged, brushing her hair out of her eyes. "I'm in the woods, or out in the middle of a desert or something, and then the world starts filling with water. It happens so fast I can't even run, and then I try to swim to the surface but something is holding me down. It's like a massive hand on my head, just keeping me there. Eventually I start to black out."
Maya shifted uncomfortably, digging her toes into the sand.
"Sometimes there's no water, but this huge person throws me into a swamp or pile of dirt and that's what I get stuck in. That one's less common. I've only ever had one that was really different, and it only happens when I'm super stressed.
"I'm in a cabin. It's not mine, it's kind of like a miniature bank or something? Anyway, it's super deep in the woods. No roads or paths, I can't even see the top of the trees. I'm all by myself, but when I leave the cabin there's someone else there. He grabs me and tosses me towards the trees, and then the ground opens up. The trees all fall into the hole, and as it fills the trees start turning to water. I can see the water coming up to my face but I can't stop it. I try everything, but I can't move and I can't swim, and everything feels like it's just going to gobble me up."
Ludus listened with furrowed brows, a knot growing in his stomach.
"When did they start?" he prompted gently, a concerned frown on his face.
"When I was a kid," Maya murmured.
"Do you think they have anything to do with your fear of water?"
Maya didn't respond right away, her attention focused firmly on the ground in front of her.
"I don't think so."
She whispered it with such a tone of finality that Ludus couldn't argue. He fell silent, letting the words hang in the air between them. He didn't understand what was going on, but at the very least, he could help.
Ludus wrapped his arm around Maya's waist, pulling her flush against his side. She sighed in relief, nuzzling his neck in a way that made him blush furiously. He'd never been so grateful for his darker skin.
"Thank you," Maya whispered, transfixed by the waves as they lapped at the shore. "I don't mean to rely on you so much. It's just- well, it's just that I trust you."
"Don't apologize for relying on me," Ludus assured her, tightening his hold on her. His heart pounded louder as he considered his next words. "How many times do I have to tell you? You can always come to me for help, with anything. I care about you," his voice dropped, too afraid to even glance at her face, "I never want you to feel alone. If you need me, call me, okay?"
Maya smiled, her heart swelling.
"Your phone is going to be very busy then," she yawned, snuggling into his embrace. Ludus was so warm; a sharp contrast to the chill in her bones. Maya could feel the veil of sleep creeping back over her. "I always feel like I need you."
"W-what?" Ludus gulped, his stomach leaping into his throat. Maya mumbled something that wasn't quite intelligible, but when he glanced down at her face, he found her completely and soundly asleep.
He blinked, processing what he'd just heard. Maya always needed him? Even thinking it again to himself sent his insides into a panic. He felt a sudden surge of pride and hope- he was almost ashamed at how happy it made him.
Ludus smiled. Running his palm along Maya's arm, he let her sleep as he watched the sea. Her skin was cold to the touch, which he was sure wasn't helped by the fact that she was only wearing an oversized plain grey t-shirt and a pair of plaid pajama shorts. He wrapped his other arm around her too.
Maya's dream, although it was only a dream, had bothered him. It wasn't like Maya to lie to him, but he had the overwhelming sense that she had. About what, he couldn't begin to guess, but he suspected it was rather serious for her to want to keep it to herself.
He couldn't make her tell him, as much as he wanted to know. But he could make sure she knew that she could confide in him if she needed to. Ludus was pretty sure she knew that already, but it couldn't hurt to remind her.
They sat for a long time, Ludus lost in thought, Maya slumbering gently against him. Ludus let himself think for a moment about how wonderful it would be if they could do this all the time- watching a movie, reading together, watching the animals, anything really. The idea made him blush, but it was a nice thought.
It was getting light out now, and very soon the residents of Lulukoko would be emerging from their homes. Ludus suspected Maya wouldn't want to be caught out here like this, but he couldn't bear to wake her. She looked so peaceful and happy, so he resolved to find another solution.
As gently as he could, Ludus gathered Maya into his arms and headed back in the direction of her farm.
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