Ch. 19 Love is All You Need
(MAYA)
As soon as we got to the dance Tris and I went out to the dance floor. No one batted an eye at the fact that I was dancing with Tris. After dancing through several fast songs we took a seat at our groups table. After the slow song a fast one came on and Eli asked me to dance just as Clare and Owen sat down at the table. Luke and Clare came out to the dance floor and danced through a song before we switched dancing partners. Eli got Clare for all of one dance before Owen wanted her back, me I was just happy to be dancing with Luke and no one was giving us a second look. Our dancing was temporarily interrupted when Marisol got up to announce King and Queen and we found out it was a three way tie! Even better the first king was Zig!
"Aww good for Zig and Nicole," I remark but the queen wasn't Nicole it was Tori! "Maybe they voted when he and Tori were still together," I suggest.
As we're talking and Zig doesn't look pleased that Tori was voted queen Owen is announced as the second king and we're all happy for him and he walks on stage with a smile on his face. Owen has only dated Clare this year, he'd been on other dates but Clare was the only girlfriend he'd had this year so we all expected Clare to be queen. She started to walk forward when Marisol announced the queen was Alli and we were all shocked. Luke pulled Clare back with us I think to keep her from killing Alli. The last king was Luke and now I was confused certainly no one had voted for me as queen only a handful of people even knew we were dating. Imagine my hurt and shock when the queen was announced to be none other than my sister! Luke looked confused but he still went on stage, Owen and Luke both looked very confused and kind of scared but they stayed on stage.
"I can't believe they're staying up there with them?" Clare commented crossing her arms over her chest.
"Me either," I shake my head just as the kings and queens are told it's time for the spotlight dance.
The lights go out and three spotlights come on, Clare and I are both very tense as we watch our boyfriends and one of our good friends being led down to the dance floor by three other girls. Clare asks what they think they're doing and Katie replies in a snobby tone.
"You're boyfriends seem to be otherwise occupied, dancing with other girls and they don't look nearly as hot as you." Aaron's voice says from behind Clare in the darkness.
"I'm sure they don't want to be dancing with them." I say and hope that it's true.
"They seem awfully cozy to me," Tim says from behind me.
"Maybe you should give them a taste of their own medicine," Aaron suggests.
"What do you mean?" I question.
"Leave the dance, make them jealous or at least see if they even notice you're gone." Tim explains.
"Let's go," Clare and I say together.
An arm suddenly comes around my shoulders and if there wasn't one around Clare's shoulders already I'm sure there is now. We walk out of the auditorium and can finally see in the school hallway.
"Have we told you two how very very hot you look?" Tim says looking me over as Aaron does the same to Clare.
"Thanks," I smile knowing I should be shrugging his arm off but my anger and jealousy is keeping me from doing so.
I expect the boys to come running out any minute and explain themselves; Clare seems to be expecting the same thing as she leans against the railing of the stairway to the second story.
"So how did your boyfriends get elected kings of the dance and you two were not elected queens?" Aaron asks leaning over Clare with an arm around her waist.
"I'm sure my sister had something to do with it," I reply.
We hear the song end in the auditorium and I expect the boys to come storming out any second, punch Tim and Aaron and take us back into the dance. But they don't. Several minutes pass and they never come out.
"I need some air," Clare says when they don't come out.
"Good idea, we should get out of here, you're boyfriends don't deserve you." Aaron says keeping his arm around her and they start walking for the front doors.
I look back at the door to the dance one last time and when they remain closed I start following Clare and Aaron out the front doors. Tim comes over putting an arm around my waist and we all go outside. Clare seems to be leading, she goes to a picnic table and sits down on the table with her feet on the bench. Aaron sits next to her, I start to sit on the bench but Tim sits down first and I end up in his lap.
"Why don't we get out of here? I think you're boyfriends have found other dates. I know a great quiet place we can go." Aaron offers.
"Maybe we should go back in the dance?" I suggest.
"He's probably better off with Alli," Clare replies.
"Clare you don't mean that," I respond looking at her with a shocked expression.
"If I have to move to Anchorage then yeah I do," she shoots back.
"But you don't know if you're moving to Anchorage," I point out.
"Anchorage huh? That's far best break up with him now. Then you and me can go have some fun." Aaron says brushing a curl behind Clare's ear.
"No Maya's right I should go talk to him," Clare says.
"Yeah let's go back inside if the guys are still with Katie and Alli then we'll go." I agree standing up.
"I don't think so; I think we should go somewhere quiet and teach your boyfriends not to let you two go." Tim comments standing up and suddenly picking me up over his shoulder.
"Hey! Put her down!" Clare demands, she hits Tim but then Aaron hops off the table and picks her up in the same way. "What the hell do you think you're doing?! Let us go!" Clare demands angrily.
"I told you we're going somewhere quiet," Tim replies.
"To have some fun," Aaron adds.
"Let us go!" I say angrily hitting Tim's back I look up toward the school and see Becky on the front steps with Adam.
"DREW OWEN LUKE!" Adam yells into the school loud enough that we hear him over the music.
Adam and Becky run toward us, Becky stays back a little but Adam runs straight over kicking Tim's leg. He falters and turns and I see Aaron continuing to walk away with Clare. Then I hear a stampede of people and a lot of angry voices, aside from Luke, Owen and Drew that Adam called for there's also Bianca, Eli, Zig, Nicole, Tris and a little surprisingly Jake. While Owen, Drew, Bianca and Eli chase after Aaron and Clare the others stay to fight Tim or possibly stay back with Becky.
"You have two seconds to put the girl I love down!" Luke says in a harsh voice.
From my position I see Aaron get Clare to a car and unlock it; he sets her down in the backseat just Owen hops over the back of another car and punches Aaron! I don't see anything else as Tim gets punched by someone I assume is Luke. Tim is hit hard enough that he falls back and I start to fall with him until I'm caught by a pair of arms I know are Luke's. He cradles me in his arms and kisses me softly, then he puts me down moving me behind him. I see that Tim is standing again but then Luke punches him in the stomach as Adam and Zig simultaneously punch Tim in the face and he goes down again.
"I TOLD YOU TO STAY THE FUCK AWAY FROM MY GIRLFRIEND! COME NEAR HER AGAIN AND I'LL RIP YOUR FUCKING HEAD OFF!" Luke yells kicking Tim in the ribs.
"Luke I think he's had enough," I insist pulling Luke by the hand.
He turns to me cupping my face and joining our lips together. "Are you okay?" He asks when he pulls his lips away.
"Yeah I'm fine but it took you long enough to get out here," I respond crossing my arms over my chest.
"We had to ditch a trio of skanks first and then we found out you two were missing," Owen informs me walking up with his arm around Clare and being followed by Eli, Drew and Bianca.
"You could have ditched the skanks in the first place and then the offer to leave the dance with Aaron and Tim wouldn't have been so tempting." Clare retorts in a snarky voice.
"You should have stayed in the dance and heard our speeches," Owen shoots back.
"What speeches?" I ask.
"Well Zig told Tori that he really likes me and he's glad they broke up." Nicole tells us before kissing Zig.
"Then I told your sister and the entire school that I'm in love with you," Luke informs me.
I smile wide, my heart melting and I take his hand. "I'm in love with you too."
"Guess we're not a secret anymore," Luke grins.
"Guess not," I shake my head as I see Tim stumbling for their car.
"I told Alli to get over herself and that I was in love with you," Owen tells Clare then catches her lips for an impassioned kiss but when he pulls away she's crying. "You're not in love with me?" Owen questions in a disheartened voice.
Clare can't talk just shakes her head, Owen looks like he just got his heart ripped out and starts to let go of her but she clings to him. She's gripping his suit jacket as tight as she can and he stays with her, I know why she's upset and she just needs a minute to be able to speak. While Clare is collecting herself Tim and Aaron go tearing out of the parking lot.
"No I am in love with you, very deeply in love with you." She says still sobbing a little and wiping her tears.
"Then why are you crying?" Owen asks her.
"My dad is fighting the Torres parents for custody," she confesses to her boyfriend.
Owen's face changes as he seems to realize why she's so upset. "But your dad lives in Anchorage," he breathes out.
"Yeah which means I'd be moving," she says putting her head on his chest and he puts his arms around her as tight as he can.
"You can't move to Alaska," Eli states.
"We won't allow it don't worry Clare," Luke assures her.
"Our parents are in Ottawa now trying to adopt you; no one is letting you move to Alaska." Adam reminds her.
Clare nods a little, Owen gives her a long, soft and passionate kiss, when their lips part she seems a little happier and assured.
"I don't know about the rest of you but I don't feel much like going back into the dance." I remark when Owen and Clare are done kissing.
"Me either," Clare shakes her head and holding Owen tightly.
"We need a distraction," Nicole suggests.
"Yeah something fun and wildly inappropriate for how we're dressed," Bianca says with a smile.
"Miniature golf?" Tris offers.
"Yes perfect and we have the limo for another three hours," Drew nods.
We all go back to the limo and it's an even tighter squeeze as Jake is joining us. He tells me he's happy for me and Luke then tells Clare he's happy for her and Owen and that he's sure she won't be moving to Alaska with her father. The guy working the front counter at the miniature golf place looked awfully confused when our group came in wearing dresses and suits to play mini golf. It was rather interesting playing mini golf in a fancy dress. After one round we went and got pizza then to the grocery store for ice cream and back to Clare, Drew and Adam's house.
Everyone got permission to stay the night and we all changed into pajamas, I brought some as I had been planning to stay the night anyway and of course Clare, Adam and Drew had pajamas as they lived here. Bianca borrowed a shirt form Drew, Becky and Nicole borrowed some stuff from Clare. Luke, Owen and Jake all borrowed shirts and shorts or sweats from Drew but Zig, Tris and Eli borrowed some stuff from Adam. Once we were all comfy we gathered in the basement with ice cream and soda, cuddling on the sofa to watch a movie. We watched a couple of movies before getting tired, Drew and Adam refused to let Clare and Owen sleep in the same room so the girls slept in Clare's room, Eli, Tris and Adam slept in Adam's room and everyone else slept in the basement.
We woke up late the next morning and went down to get breakfast, the boys joining us when they heard us in the kitchen. After breakfast almost everyone else got dressed and went home, Owen stayed of course to be with Clare, Bianca and Eli stayed waiting to hear the news and Tris stayed both because Owen was his ride and he was waiting to hear the news. I was planning to stay anyway no one was expecting me home until late this afternoon. Adam took Becky home since she wanted to shower and change, he came right back though.
When lunch had passed and we still had no news from the Torres parents Luke, Owen and Tris had to get home but said to call if we heard anything. We promised we would, Clare and I kissed out boyfriends and hugged Tris before they left. Eventually even Bianca had to get home, the rest of us waited anxiously in the basement watching movies. Finally just before dusk we heard the front door open and we all ran upstairs.
"Well?" Adam asks.
"Where you successful?" Eli questions.
"Am I moving to Alaska?" Clare asks nervously.
"No honey you're not moving to Alaska and you're now legally a part of this family. You're dad can't take you, you're staying here." Audra tells her holding up a very official looking document with a seal on it and their signatures.
"You're a Torres now Clare," Adam smiles.
Clare is too happy to talk but she hugs Audra and Omar or rather her parents now, her brothers, Eli and then me.
"Congrats Clare that's amazing, told you that you wouldn't be moving. I should probably get home now though." I comment after hugging her.
"You want a ride Maya?" Drew offers.
"No thanks I just live a couple blocks down see you guys in school tomorrow." I wave.
Everyone says goodbye and I start walking home. I walk slow as my mind wanders thinking how nicely everything's worked out. I fell in love with a wonderful guy, our two best friends are also in love and the whole school knows we're in love. Zig and Tori are no longer together and he has a great girlfriend in Nicole. Dallas is gone, Luke was made captain and Owen promoted to first string. Jake and Katie aren't going out anymore which is good because I always thought he was way too nice for her. Clare no longer has to deal with either of her crazy parents as she's a Torres now, adopted but none the less she's a Torres and I'm certain she'll change her last name. It takes me about twenty minutes to walk the whole way to my house going as slow as I am. When I get home I'm shocked to see all my stuff on the lawn, some of it in boxes or bags but most of it just strewn about. At first I think Katie has gone nuts and tossed all my stuff on the lawn because the guy she likes is in love with me but then I see on one bag is pinned an envelope with my name and I take it pulling out a note.
Katie told us how you're slutting yourself around with a senior boy and bringing shame to our family. Katie told us everything and we will not let you embarrass this family. Consider yourself disowned, we've taken a small vacation and expect you and all your stuff to be gone when we return Monday night.
Shock and hurt doesn't even begin to cover what I'm feeling, my family just completely dropped me, threw me out like yesterday's trash! I sink to my knees in the soft grass and just cry for a long time. When it starts to grow dark and the night starts to get chilled I pull myself together enough to make a call and of course I call Luke but I forget that he has a thing at church with his family and get his voicemail.
"It's me call me back when you get this," I say into his voicemail unable to keep from crying.
Next I call Clare, it takes a couple of rings but she answers, I hear her giggling she must still be celebrating her adoption.
"Hey Maya what's up?" She asks in a light voice.
"My family kicked me out, they've abandoned me, they want me gone." I wail in torrent of hurt.
"Maya slow down where are you we'll come get you," Clare tells me.
"At home on my front lawn," I reply.
"Okay we're on our way we'll be there in a few minutes." Clare says and hangs up.
Just like Clare said I hear a car just a couple minutes later then three doors open and closing again.
"WHAT THE FUCK?!" Owen yells.
Clare rushes to me embracing me and I lean on her as Tris hugs me from the other side.
"You're family's really lost their mind this time," Tris says.
"They went away, they said they've disowned me and they want me and all my stuff to be gone when they return Monday night." I bemoan to my best friends. "Where am I going to go? Where am I gonna live?" I lament.
"Don't sweat it Maya you'll live with us," Owen tells me.
"Yeah of course you will, we can turn the den into your room. I know our parents will be okay with it." Tris agrees.
"We should gather up some of this stuff and we'll come back for the rest in the morning." Clare says helping me up.
Clare and I each pick up a bag, Tris picks up two bags and Owen picks up two boxes and three bags. Really all that's left now is everything that's loose and it'll be easier to see it all in the morning anyway. Owen puts all my stiff in his trunk and a couple bags in the backseat then we drive to the Milligan house or should I say my new house. We put everything in the den and tell Mr. and Mrs. Milligan what happened, they say I can stay and agree that we'll turn the den into my room. They're really angry that my parents would do such a thing and spend about an hour comforting me and telling me everything will be okay.
(LUKE)
I was leaving church with my family when I noticed I had a message on my phone, it was Maya and she sounded really upset.
"Hey Becks can you drive back with Mom and Dad I have a message from Maya on my phone and she sounds upset." I whisper to Becky as my parents still don't know about us.
"Yeah sure tell her hi for me," she says and I nod, "Mom, Dad wait up I'm riding back with you." Becky calls to them running ahead.
I get in my car and call Maya's phone. "Hey Beautiful are you okay?"
"I'm better now, my family kicked me out. I'm at Owen's and I'm living here now." She tells me.
"You're family did what? I'm on my way." I tell her and hang up.
I make the drive to Owen's pretty quickly and the door opens as soon as I ring the bell. The first thing I do is put Maya in my arms and kiss her softly.
"We'll have to go back first thing in the morning before school and get the rest of the stuff my family tossed all over the yard." Maya says when we stop kissing.
"What?" I question.
Maya shows me the not her family left while Clare, Owen and Tris tell me how they found her and how her stuff was all over her lawn. I hate her family but I'm glad she's living with the Milligan's now and away from her psycho family.
"I can stay the night and take you over there in the morning." I tell her.
"Clare's staying the night too," she nods.
"You girls sleep in the den; you can sleep on the floor of my room and no sneaking down in the middle of the night to have sexy time with your girlfriend." Owen says and Clare smacks him lightly.
The five of us watch TV in the living room for a while until the Milligan parents tell us it's time for bed. Owen blows up an air mattress for me on his floor and the girls set up on the pull out sofa in the den. Owen and I are up for a while talking about how much we hate Maya's family, how much we hate Clare's ex-parents and are glad she is now a Torres, although he does gripe that her brothers won't let him sneak into her room. I find this ironic as he told me I couldn't sneak down to see Maya. We fall asleep talking about how much we're in love with Maya and Clare. We all wake up at 5:30 so we can get ready for school and go by Maya's house. It takes the five of us about an hour to get all of Maya's stuff off the lawn and we put it all in Owen's trunk then we stop at the Dot for breakfast before going to school. It oughta be an interesting day considering everyone knows about Maya and I know. Owen parks and the five of us walk in together, Owen with his arm around Clare and for the first time at school where everyone can see us, my arm around Maya.
"Hey Luke, Maya I wanted to say you guys make a cute couple and I'm sorry for everything." Cam says approaching us on the steps.
"It's okay Cam thanks," Maya smiles and the five of us go inside.
Unfortunately not everyone is so happy for us, Tori is glaring at us and a couple of the cheerleaders are laughing and pointing. We ignore them and walk into school; Drew, Adam and Bianca are there and come up to us. Everyone's heard that Maya got kicked out and they're all angry but tell her it'll be okay. Zig and Nicole join us next and then my sister comes up with Eli. We split up to go to our lockers just before the bell rings and then I walk to class with Becks since we have this class together.
"Never figured you for a cradle robber Baker," Curtis laughs sitting as his desk next to mine.
"Shut up dude you don't know nothing and she's only three years younger than me." I bark at him.
"Just ignore them Luke not more fighting," Becky pleads.
"Hey Baker's," Dave greets us with big smile sitting at his desk in front of Becky. "I think you and Maya make a cute couple." Dave says.
"Thanks Dave," I smile.
"I heard Katie's been kicked off student council and suspended for a week and so was Marisol. Tori, Alli and Mo all got suspended for a week too for their part of what happened at the dance." Dave informs us.
"Should have known those guys had some scheme," I roll my eyes.
"Luke Baker Principal Simpson wants to see you," Mr. Bettankamp says coming into class.
Becky gives me a reprimanding look and I only shrug, when I get to the principal's office I see Owen sitting outside of it.
"He call you in too?" I ask Owen.
"Yeah what the hell is going on?" Owen asks.
"No idea," I shrug sitting next to Owen while we wait for Simpson to call us into his office.
Uh oh now why would they be called to the principal's office? oh yeah and up date next Monday.