Ch. 17 All Mine
(MAYA)
"How about this one Maya?" Bianca says holding up a yellow dress with off the shoulder sleeves.
"That's cute I'll try it on," I reply taking the dress.
"You should try this one on Clare," Bianca remarks holding a very short strapless black dress that's sheer over the midriff up to Clare.
"Uh I don't think Owen and I would actually make it into the dance if I wore that," Clare shakes her head.
"I guarantee that you two wouldn't make it into the dance," I agree.
Bianca puts the dress back while Becky's cheeks turn red. We look through the racks a little more and each go to the dressing rooms with a few dresses. I try the yellow one on first but you need bigger breasts to fill it out right. Next I try on a teal dress but I don't like it, my last dress is white with violet flowers on it which fits well but I don't like the way it lays. I exit the dressing room as Clare is leaving hers and we both give everything back to the dressing room attendant. We wait for Bianca and Becky, Bianca is holding a deep red dress and Becky has a white dress with short black sleeves and a black lace belt around waist. Bianca and Becky purchase their dresses and we go to another shop, Clare and I still don't find anything in this shop.
"I'm hungry," Bianca comments when we leave this shop.
"Me too," Becky nods.
"I want to look at one more shop before I eat lunch, I'll meet you guys in the food court." Clare says.
"I'll go with Clare we'll meet you in a bit," I tell them.
Bianca and Becky nod while Clare and I go into the next store. As we begin looking through the dresses I see two guys watching us but ignore them. We each find a couple of dresses and go to the dressing rooms. The first one I try on is soft pink and simple with spaghetti strap sleeves and it fits me well so I decide this is the one. When I leave the dressing room Clare is coming out of hers and she looks happy.
"Find something you like?" She asks.
"Yeah this one," I tell her holding up the pink one, "what about you?"
"I like this one," she tells me holding up a sapphire blue dress halter dress, it's backless and has a plunging sweetheart neckline and my first thought is that Owen will be happy.
"I'm sure those dresses look fantastic on you two, let me guess the DeGrassi spring formal the night after the playoffs. Do you both have boyfriends?" One of the guys that was watching us asks as they both approach us.
"Yes for the formal and our big hockey playing boyfriends will love them," Clare replies grabbing my hand to pull me away.
"They were watching us earlier do you know them?" I ask Clare as we put the dresses we don't want back on the racks.
"They were at the tournament; they're on the Scarborough Scorpions and playing the Ice Hounds in the playoffs next Friday. Aaron the one that made the comment hit on me a couple of times when I was interviewing them at the tournament. And I saw the way Tim was looking at you," she says as we walk up to the checkout.
"Yes but you just told them we had boyfriends," I reply as we checkout and start walking toward the food court.
"They already knew, some guys don't care, I doubt they're as bad as Dallas or anything though. Aaron was really quite sweet and charming unlike Dallas who was just a creep." Clare remarks.
"Hey you girls found dresses awesome," Bianca smiles as we reach their table.
"Yeah can you watch our bags while we grab some food?" I ask.
"Of course," Becky smiles.
We put our bags down and look around to decide what we want, we get in line for sandwiches and I look at Clare.
"Aaron was hot, actually they were both hot and you didn't mention him the entire time we were at the tournament. You didn't tell Owen about him did you?" I ask her.
"I'm not going to tell Owen about every guy that hits on me, do you tell Luke about every guy that hits on you?" She questions.
"Well no but this guy's on a rival team and after Dallas…" I'm saying when she cuts me off.
"They aren't Dallas," she snaps and I jump a little.
"Dallas as in the Ice Hounds captain?" Aaron asks coming up and putting an arm around Clare. Tim does the same to me and we both shrug their arms off. "Who's your friend?" Aaron asks Clare putting his arm around her again.
"That's Maya her boyfriend is Luke Baker the Ice Hounds new captain since Dallas got kicked off." Clare says stepping up to the cash register to order and I go up beside her but the guys linger.
We get our food and walk past the boys they finally leave us alone. We sit down with Becky and Bianca to eat; the four of us talk about the dance and the playoff game on Friday which pretty much everyone is coming to. As we're talking and Becky is gushing over Adam I decide that Luke and I should tell her about us. When we get back to the Torres house and the boys I'll find a way to get him alone and tell him that we need to tell Becky, she's his sister and they're close not to mention that she's now dating Adam sort of and I think she'd be happy for us. After we eat we shop a little more for a few accessories and Becky wants new shoes. Then we get back in Bianca's car and she takes us all to the Torres house. While us girls were shopping the boys, including Jake, spent the morning moving Drew down to the basement and Clare's stuff from her mom's house into Drew's old room which is now her new room. Bianca parks out front and we go into the basement but no one's downstairs.
"They must be upstairs," Bianca remarks as we set our bags on the sofa.
We go up to the first level and can hear lots of noises coming from upstairs so we know they're up the stairs. Just as we're almost up Luke comes out of Clare's bedroom and then looks back into the room.
"The girls are back," Luke calls into the bedroom and all the guys suddenly file out of the room.
Drew goes right to Bianca putting an arm around her waist and kissing her gently. "That was fast we thought you girls would be out all day." Drew says.
Owen goes to Clare and taking her in his arms and kissing her. Adam smiles at Becky and Luke winks at me but they remain at the top of the stairs with Tris and Eli.
"It's after four we were out all day," I respond.
"Hey so it is after four let's order dinner from Casella's and someone can go pick it up." Eli suggests.
"Yeah good idea we can use my laptop downstairs." Drew says pulling Bianca back downstairs.
Owen does the same to Clare, Adam pulls Becky and Tris pulls me, we all go downstairs, decide what we want to eat and put the order in.
"Luke why don't you and Clare go pick up the food," Owen suggests.
"Sure come on Clare," Luke says.
"Why do I get the feeling you're trying to get me out of the house?" Clare questions crossing her arms.
"Don't be ridiculous, now go with Luke. Maya you go with them there will be a lot of food to carry." Adam says pushing Clare toward the door.
She huffs but goes to the door and I follow, we get in Luke's car and he starts driving, Clare sitting in back and me in the passenger seat.
"I think we should tell Becky about us," I inform Luke and he looks at me.
"Why? I mean I love Becks but she isn't great at keeping secrets." Luke responds.
"She's your sister Luke and she likes Adam something your parents don't know. Owen and Clare know about us, so do Drew, Bianca, Tris, Zig, Nicole and Adam and they're all happy for us. I'm sure if we talk to Becky she'll be able to keep our secret and it will make things easier for us if we're not lying to your sister as well. Especially now that Clare lives with Adam and he's dating Becky, sort of. Everyone else in that house except the Torres parents know about us, Tris knows and he's happy for us and you were horrible to him when you first got to the school." I beseech him.
"Okay we'll tell Becky but not when we get back, Jake and Eli don't know about us either. I'll give you a ride home and we can tell her then." He says and I lean over to kiss his cheek.
I look back at Clare as she's been mysteriously quiet but she's texting on her phone and seems to be caught up by the conversation and therefore not paying attention to us. We park at the restaurant and get out, Luke tells the guy we put in an internet order and gives him Drew's name. Luke pays with the money everyone put in and the guy hands us four bags, Luke takes two while Clare and I take one each. We drive back to the Torres house and everyone eats in the basement.
"Okay I'm gonna go unpack my stuff in my new room." Clare says standing up after she's eaten.
"Wait," Owen remarks getting up with her.
All the other guys get up too so all of us girls do the same. When Clare gets up the basement steps Owen covers her eyes with his hands.
"Owen what are you doing?" Clare inquires. Owen doesn't answer and Clare tries to feel her way up a couple of steps but she stumbles. "Owen I cannot get up the stairs with you covering my eyes." She tells him.
He uncovers her eyes and picks her up carrying her up the stairs setting her down just outside the closed door of the room. He covers her eyes again, Adam runs ahead and opens the bedroom door Owen guides her in a few steps and uncovers her eyes. Clare makes a surprised gasp and then sounds like she might cry.
"Owen, Adam, guys this is…how did you guys do this?" She questions.
I push ahead of everyone else and go in the room standing next to Adam, Owen is holding Clare and she's crying but they're happy tears. The reason she's so happy is that the guys brought everything from her old room and recreated her room as closely as they could in her new room. The walls were still dark blue but all of her posters were up and all of her clothes in the closet, her pictures were hung and placed throughout the room almost exactly as they had been in her old room she even had her bedding on the bed. Everyone else comes back in the room and Clare hugs all the guys.
"Lucky for us Adam and Eli spent many hours in your room and knew where everything goes." Drew remarks and I notice Owen tense just slightly.
"I helped too I kind of knew where stuff goes sort of," Jake says defensively.
"Thanks everyone this is amazing," Clare smiles.
"And now your officially one of the family," Adam smiles.
Just as we're all enjoying Clare's new room and complimenting the guys on the good job they did the doorbell rings. Adam runs down to get it and a minute later we hear angry steps running up the steps and the next sight I see is my sister's irate face.
"Jake you ditched me on a Saturday night to come to my ex-boyfriends house?!" She barks at him.
"I didn't ditch you Katie I told you I was going to help move Clare in and that's what I've been doing all day. We went out last night you can give me one day to help my sister." Jake replies.
"She's not even your sister, you think we've all forgotten how you dated her and almost slept together?! Maybe you're doing this to try and get back together with her." Katie states.
"Matlin you're fucking crazy Clare's my girlfriend but I can't blame him for wanting to get away from you for a day." Owen says putting his arm around Clare again.
"You're a fucking pig!" Katie yells at him and then notices me. "Maya what the hell are you doing here?"
"Okay come on I'll take you out let Maya hang out with her friends," Jake says to her walking over and taking Katie's hand.
"Don't patronize me and don't tell me what to do with my sister!" She barks at Jake.
"I'll drop Maya off at home before curfew it's on our way," Luke speaks up.
"No she's coming home right now!" Katie snarls taking a step toward me but Luke, Drew, Bianca and Adam get in front of me.
"Katie you're making a scene come on I'll take you for dessert and Luke will get Maya home," Jake insists taking her hand.
"You have to better than dessert," Katie says snuggling up to Jake and toying with his collar.
"Okay we'll do whatever you want," Jake gives in to her and looks at the rest of us, "see you guys Monday," Jake says putting an arm around Katie and they leave.
"Well that was intense," Becky comments when we hear a car starting up.
"You're sister's a bitch Maya how the hell did you turn out so cool?" Owen questions.
"Why don't we go back downstairs and watch a movie," Adam offers.
"You guys go I'll stay up here and test out Clare's new bed with her." Owen grins.
Drew grimaces grabs Owen by the ear and pulls him away from Clare which makes me giggle. Drew lets go of Owen when we're on the stairs and we all go down to the basement to watch a movie.
(LUKE)
"Uh Becks I have something to tell you," I say to my sister in the passenger seat of my car as we begin driving to Maya's house leaving the Torres house.
"Yeah what is it?" She asks.
"I have a girlfriend, have had for a month but we've been keeping it secret because we didn't think people would approve." I tell her cautiously.
"Why didn't you think people would approve?" She questions.
"Cause I'm his girlfriend," Maya speaks up from the backseat.
Becky looks back at Maya and then at me. "I think you and Maya are a cute couple why would you keep that a secret?" Becky questions.
"Our age difference and our friends, her family, our parents." I list off.
"Clare, Owen, Tris, Zig, Nicole, Adam, Drew and Bianca already know but we don't want anyone else to know just yet but I thought you should." Maya tells Becky.
"Thank you Maya it's nice to know someone trusts me," Becky says shooting me a look.
"I trust you Becks but it just sort of happened and we didn't tell anyone then a few of our friends found out but you can't say anything to anyone or even mention that I have a girlfriend around our parents or at school." I tell her.
"I won't say a word," Becky promises as we pull up to Maya's house.
"Thanks Becky," Maya says hugging Becky.
Maya looks at her house and then gives me a quick kiss before getting out of my car. I wait until she's inside before driving away. Becky asks me how we started dating and I tell her as we drive home. We say hi to our parents and go up to my room where I finish telling Becky about my relationship with Maya and how the others found out.
"Maya's sweet, smart, pretty and you've been a lot calmer and a lot nicer since you started dating her. I'm happy for you both and I'm glad you found someone that you like so much." Becky tells me when I'm done.
"Thanks Becks and speaking of peple we like how are things with you and Adam?" I question.
"There are no things with me and Adam, our first date isn't even until Saturday at the dance." She responds.
"Yeah but you like him and he likes you besides there's a whole week between now and the dance by the dance you might be a couple." I remark.
"I would love that but what about our parents? You're keeping your relationship a secret because Maya is three years younger than you and yeah Dad would probably give you a lecture about dating someone so young but they also don't know most of the trouble you've gotten yourself into. I really like Adam and he's a guy but if our parents found out he's trans…" Becky's sentence trails off and she looks sad.
"They'd probably send you off to one of those camps." I finish for her and she hangs her head. I move over and put my arm around my sister hugging her tightly. "If you like Adam then don't worry about Mom and Dad. Our parents can be strict but God wouldn't bring you and Adam together if you weren't meant to be together. I know Adam likes you, I know that he's a cool guy and I know he's good to you and will always be good to you and treat you right. You can always keep things a secret and tell Mom and Dad when you're ready. You know I'll be there for you, so will Maya and of course Adam and I'm sure Clare and Owen too." I assure my sister.
"Thanks Luke," Becky smiles hugging me. "We should get to bed we have church in the morning."
Becky leaves my room and I start to get ready for bed, when I'm sure my parents are asleep I text Becky that I'm going over to Maya's to say goodnight and she reminds me to be back in bed before our parents get us up for church. Maya was right things are easier now that Becky knows. I sneak out of the house and into my car driving to Maya's and knocking on her window softly. She gets up and opens the window so I can come in and I climb up closing the window behind me.
"Hey Beautiful I just came to say goodnight. I talked with Becks for a long time she really is happy for us." I tell Maya.
"See I knew she would be and I'd love to sleep in your arms again but we have to wake up early tomorrow and my sisters on the warpath tonight so I don't want to risk it." Maya says making herself comfortable in my arms.
"It's okay I have to be up early for church I just wanted to see you." I tell her and kiss gently.
I open her window and leave, driving home happy and looking forward to the day I can walk down the hall with her on my arm.
(KATIE)
I arrive at school and Maya leaves me to go find her friends, when I go up the steps I see Jake talking to Clare in the garden! The garden is our spot how could he? I like Jake but I think he's still hung up on his ex-girlfriend and he doesn't pay enough attention to me. I walk inside still watching Jake do what I'm sure is flirting with Clare. I'm not paying attention to where I'm going and get bumped into by someone, I start to fall down the stairs but I'm caught in a pair of arms and look up at Luke.
"Thanks Luke," I smile batting my eyelashes and realizing just how attractive Luke really is.
"Uh no problem just look where you're going," he says straightening me up and letting go of me.
I watch him walk in and decide if Jake's not going to pay attention to me then I should get a new boyfriend and I have my eyes set on Luke. As I'm thinking about this Jake's arms come around me from behind and he tries to kiss my cheek but I dodge him.
"What's wrong now?" He asks.
"I got to school to see you flirting with Clare," I reply angrily as I storm inside.
"Katie I was talking to her, she's my stepsister I'm not just going to turn my back on her like her mom did. I don't have feelings for Clare anymore, not like that you're being paranoid." Jake says following me in.
"I am not being paranoid Jake, I saw you the whole school saw you get away from me we're through I like someone else." I break up with Jake and walk to my locker.
I spend the rest of the morning avoiding Jake and being comforted by Marisol that I did the right thing. At morning break I decide to eat outside for some air and so I can spy on Jake who I expect to be in the garden flirting with Clare again. The table with the best view of the garden already has Alli at it, I don't know her that well but I have to know what Jake is doing so I sit down next to her.
"Don't you usually spend break with Jenna?" I ask her.
"She has a music demo thingy she's working on. Can you believe Clare went dress shopping for the dance without me and with Boiler Room Bianca?! She's ditched me to date a moronic jock that once tried to pay me for a blow job, my ex and that two timing bitch Bianca." Alli says as we watch Jake, Clare, Becky, Adam, Bianca, Tris, Zig, Nicole, Eli, Luke and to my shock my little sister in the garden.
"Yeah and since when does Maya have more friends than me? She's supposed to be a skinny music geek with barely any friends I'm the popular one." I state gritting my teeth seeing May sit close to the boy I like.
"Owen hasn't even looked at me since he started dating Clare! The boys are supposed to pay attention to me not her! Can you believe they're up for king and queen of the dance? Them and Bianca and Drew, she shouldn't have ditched me to hang out with her new group of friends." Alli snaps.
"Maya did the same thing to me," Tori gripes sitting down on the other side of Alli. "Zig was my boyfriend and now he's dating that slut and Maya and Tris dumped me to hang out with those geeks."
"Hey I think I know a way we can take them down a peg and I'm sure Marisol will help. If all goes well I'll be with Luke by the end of the dance, Tori can be back together with Zig and we can kick Clare off her perfect little pedestal, I honestly don't know what the guys see in her. We'll break up their happy little group and Maya can go back to being the friendless music geek that has no life and lives vicariously through my fabulous life." I grin as a wonderful idea hits me.
"I like it already, okay so what's the plan?" Alli asks.
We huddle together so I can tell them my plan and they smile when they hear it.
(LUKE)
"The bells going to ring soon we better split up and get back inside Beautiful," I tell Maya looking at my watch.
"Yeah I guess I'll go find Clare and the girls. I don't know if I'll see you until after practice I have to get home and help my mom but you'll come over tonight to say goodnight right?" She asks from her spot in my lap.
"Of course as I always do." I assure her before taking her lips for a passionate kiss.
When we break apart she gets off my lap going to the front of the school and I go around the back and into my locker. When I reach my locker I see a Matlin sister just not the one I want to see.
"Hi Lukey, want to take me to spring formal?" She asks trying to sound flirty.
"I'm going with a bunch of friends including your sister so no thanks." I reply gently pushing her aside so I can get into my locker.
"Are you honestly telling me you'd rather walk into the dance with my scrawny geeky little sister and sluts like Bianca and Clare than me?" She demands in an offended tone.
It's wrong to hit girls or I would be introducing my fist to Katie's face right now. I clench my fist and take a deep breath before answering so I don't punch her and get expelled.
"No I'm saying I'd rather spend the dance with your sweet sister and my very good friends than with you." I slam my locker and walk away before I say or do anything else.
I'd like to tell her that Maya is a thousand times more beautiful than Katie, a thousand times smarter, way sexier and sweeter and everything Katie isn't. That Clare and Bianca aren't sluts. That Clare and Bianca are better people than she could ever be. Okay so I probably could have said all that about Clare and Bianca but not about Maya, not without Katie suspecting something anyway. Katie doesn't give up however and tries to flirt with me for the rest of the day. When school lets out I tell Becky to take my car and I ride to practice with Owen.
"I think Katie has a crush on me," I tell him as we start driving to practice.
"Gross she doesn't have a chance with you but it's good that she dumped Jake he's not a bad guy and he does care about Clare. You gonna tell Maya her crazy ass sister wants you?" Owen asks as we pull up to the arena.
"Yeah I'll tell her tonight when I go over to say goodnight. You find a way to sneak into Clare's room yet?" I ask as we get out and start walking into the arena.
"No and the Torres brothers are no help, they tell me I can't sneak in to see her and Drew threatened to hurt me if he catches me in her room. A week ago he was high fiving me for taking her virginity during the tournament now he wants to kill me for having sexy time with my girlfriend at her house." He gripes as we enter the locker room and start changing into our gear.
"Yeah but a week ago she wasn't living with them, now he's partially responsible for her and she's like a sister plus Dallas was their billet brother so Drew probably feels a little responsible for what Dallas did to her. If you caught some boy sneaking into Tris' room wouldn't you want to kill him?" I question.
"Yeah maybe I don't know I'd be happy for my brother as long as the guy was good to him. All though if some dude was sneaking in under my nose then yeah I'd definitely want to kill him." Owen nods. "I still think they should let me sneak in to see Clare though, they've known me for over a year and they know I'm good to her." Owen argues and I shake my head.
Practice is rough, coach is working us extra hard because the playoffs are Friday and if we win those we are step closer to the championship. When I get home I eat dinner with my family and Mom asks us a bunch of questions about the dance and the friends we're going with. After dinner I have a bunch of homework but can hear Becky on the phone with Jenna chatting excitedly about the dance. I gather from the conversation that Jenna won't be at the dance because she's flying out to see her brother for the weekend. After my parents are in bed I tell Becky I'm sneaking over to Maya's and will see her in the morning she gives me a smile and says goodnight. The drive to the Matlin house only takes a few minutes and I park a couple houses down, leave my car and go to Maya's window. She pulls the blinds open and then the window.
"Hey Beautiful I told you'd come over," I say before giving her a soft kiss. She yawns when she pulls away from the kiss and I pick her up putting her back in the bed then take off my shoes and get in with her holding her close. "You know I think your sister has a crush on me, she asked me to the dance." I whisper to Maya after a few minutes.
Maya giggles slightly and holds my arms closer around her. "Well she can't have you because you're all mine." She says nuzzling into me a little more.
"Yes I am, all your and only yours." I reply holding her close and kissing her head.
Update Soon with the play off game and the dance