Maya P.O.V.
The distant sound of the teacher's voice kept me from drifting to sleep. Sleeping hasn't been coming easily for me lately. Thoughts of that night left me uneasy, because I was constantly remembering something new. I still don't remember every aspect of that night. I just remember small things, like Ben constantly flirting with me, but I feel uneasy. Something doesn't feel right, and I can't place my finger on it. Waking up the morning after the party, I remember feeling odd, but I woke up in Lindsey's room. We hadn't slept together before, but I knew it was going to happen sooner or later. Our encounters were getting more and more heated, and we were getting farther each time. Even though I woke up in her room, something felt off. I didn't question it then, because Lindsey had told me we indeed did sleep together. I was sore in areas I'd never been sore before, though. Still, I play every moment I remember in my mind.
"Maya", my teacher says.
Jumping slightly, "What?"
Mrs. Young rolls her eyes, "I asked you a question."
My mind was already drifting, "I'm sorry."
As quick as that confrontation started, it was over. My teacher was on to the next student that seemed to be day dreaming. I let myself daze off again.
At the end of the class, the bell rang. It was a loud chirping noise, almost like an alarm clock. Luckily, I was half asleep, and I needed that noise to bring me back to reality.
Emily was waiting at the door, "You look tired."
I rub my eyes slightly, "I am."
"What's wrong", she questions, worry was evident in her brown eyes.
No part of me wants to talk about what I feel. I'm not even sure what I feel, but seeing the worry in Emily's eyes made me feel bad. If something is wrong, she is definitely the first person who would try to help me. Maybe, just maybe, she will have an idea of what I should do. I can rely on her, right?
Emily P.O.V.
The bags under Maya's eyes cause me to worry. It was obvious she hasn't been sleeping, and she didn't seem to have an answer to why. I can tell something is wrong, but she tries to blow it off.
The bell rings, "Can we talk at lunch?"
I couldn't shake the worried feeling, "Sure, our usual spot?"
Maya just nods, and she takes off in the opposite direction. Obviously she couldn't get away from me fast enough. It wasn't like her, though. She isn't an open book, but she usually tries to share things with me.
Waiting for lunch was horrendous, because my mind kept wandering back to Maya. She didn't look good, lack of sleep was catching up to her. The bags under her eyes wasn't the only difference, she seems to have lost weight. It was enough to notice, and her clothes just look so much bigger on her. I make a mental note to make sure she eats something at lunch.
There is a small court yard area in the middle of our school, not many people go over there. Usually, it is just Maya and me.
The sun was shining bright, and it was pretty hot. I could feel myself perspiring instantly. The minutes went by, and Maya hadn't showed up. I can't count the amount of times I checked my phone, and still I hadn't heard from her. This wasn't like her. When we make plans, she is always thirty minutes early, never late. This sudden change in personality started after she went to see Lindsey, whatever happened wasn't good.
The tardy bell rang, and I still hadn't seen or heard from Maya. Students started to slink to their next class, and I decided to do the same thing.
The rest of the day went by fast, but the whole time my mind continuously wandered back to Maya. I was worried, and I couldn't shake the feeling that something was seriously wrong.
When the finally bell rang, I decided I would go to her locker. Maya was standing with her back to me, and she was staring intently at someone I couldn't see, yet.
"Hey", I say loudly, causing Maya to jump.
"I can't talk right now", Maya says, she doesn't turn around when she addresses me.
Confusion overtook me. Did I do something wrong? Things seemed fine, like we were finally okay. Now, Maya is distant.
My eyes follow hers, and she is staring at Ben.
I touch her shoulder, "Why are you staring at him?"
She flinches under my touch, "I can't talk."
Confusion quickly turned to hurt, and I was left with no idea what to do.
Maya P.O.V.
My mind was racing when I took my first few steps towards Ben, but I quickly retreated back to the safety of my locker. I don't know what to ask or what to say, but I know I can't live like this anymore.
"Hey", I say to ben, when my feet finally lead me to where he is standing.
His smile slowly disappears when he sees me, "Hi."
My heart slowly picks up pace, "You were at Lindsey's party, right?"
He nods, "Can we talk somewhere else?"
My mind is telling me to turn around and find Emily, but I know I have to figure out what happened that night.
The walk to his car is quite, neither of us saying much. He owns a black BMW, and it is beautiful on the inside, black leather. I've always loved the smell of leather.
"Maya, Lindsey isn't a good person", he whispers.
Goosebumps shot up my arm, and my confusion deepened.
He continues, "The night of her party, she put something in your drink. I'm really not sure what, but I saw her bring you into her room. I followed, because you looked so sick. Lindsey kept apologizing, and I couldn't figure out why. She left just as fast as she came."
Ben glances at me but continues when I don't say anything, "I was angry with you, and I'm sorry for that. I had no reason to be angry with you, and I don't know how to express how sorry I am. Lindsey's brother walked into her room."
Once again, he stopped talking. Sadness was in his eyes, and I couldn't breathe. My heart was pounding, "I didn't know she had a brother."
He doesn't smile, "His name is Ryan, and he isn't a good guy."
Ryan, she never mentioned him before, not once. The sickening feeling in my stomach got worse, and I felt like I was going to be sick.
"I should have stopped him", Ben starts to say, but I cut him off in mid-sentence.
When I opened the car door, the world around me was spinning. My stomach was churning, and I ran to the nearest trash can. There isn't much food in my stomach, but whatever was there was now gone. The dizziness wouldn't go away, and I could feel myself slipping away.
I felt violated the next morning, because I did smell cologne on my clothes. But I suppressed that feeling, because I didn't want to think something bad happened to me.
"Are you okay", I hear Emily say.
My mouth opens to say something, to scream out, but words wouldn't form. The world soon went black.
I awoke to the beeping of the machine next to me. The walls surrounding me are white, and Emily was sleeping in the chair next to my bed. A smile surfaced on my face. For a few seconds, I forgot what happened, what Ben told me. This secret that has been harbored for about 2 years.
"Hey", Emily whispers, scooting her chair closer to my bed.
When she reaches for my hand, I pull mine away. The hurt in her eyes was evident, but I couldn't shake what Ben told me.
"Where's Ben", I manage to finally ask.
No part of me wanted to see him, but I want this all to be a dream, a sick nightmare. But when Emily averts her eyes from mine, I know this wasn't just a nightmare. This was my new reality, something I would have to accept, or it could ruin me.
"He told you", I question, my eyes brimming with tears.
Emily puts her hands in her lap, "He told the cops."
The tears start to flow, and I couldn't stop them. The ache in my heart grew, and I felt sick. Questions formed in my mind, and I wanted answers.
"I love you", Emily says softly, and she rises from the chair next to me.
I reach out my hand, "I love you, Em. I'm just so lost."
Our fingers intertwined, "I will be here every step of the way, Maya. I won't leave your side."