Jane didn't stop talking about the new movie the whole way to the cinema, something about how Jane was talking with excitement and enthusiasm made Maura completely forget about what happened at school and smile to everything Jane said. Angela was carrying little Frankie in her arms as they walked from the parking lot shaking her head with amusement at her daughter. Jane couldn't stop moving while they waited for her mother to buy their tickets and Maura couldn't stop smiling and trying hard not to laugh.
As the movie began and they took their seats, Maura was so excited. She had seen some movies before at her apartment but never came here to see them, the extremely large screen made her think of how small her TV really was. The plastered smile that was on Maura's face faded when she heard some whispers behind them
'Hey look, isn't that...'
'Doyle, what the hell is she doing here?'
'Maybe she didn't get the memo'
"Hey Doyle" one of them shouted but Maura didn't turn, ignore them, just ignore them. Don't let them get to you "the horror movies don't start tell midnight" he continued and you can hear them chuckling behind you.
Jane turned in her seat throwing a hand full of peanuts on them as hard as she can, satisfied with the resulting silent a smirk plays on her lips and turn back again mumbling "that will show 'em". Jane felt Maura's stund gaze on her and turned her head slowly to her with an innocent look extending her arm " peanuts?" Maura blink twice before she could answer
"I - thanks" Maura's brain was still trying to process what Jane just did. She took a couple of peanuts placing them slowly in her mouth, grateful for the noise that muted her stomachs pleas.
During the break Angela gave Maura some change in her hand and guided her to a near phone. "Ok, you know how to use this right?" Maura nodded "call your parents while we get us something to drink and some pop corn ok?" Maura nodded again, Angela took a few steps before turning again to Maura " don't move until I come and get you , I don't want you to get lost in the crowd " Angela offered a smile and Maura felt her heart stopping for a split of a second . This woman cared, the woman actually cared about you getting lost. You never had someone that cared about where you`ll end up in, you watch as she and Jane holding Frankie's hand disappear into the crowd.
You turn to face the phone in front of you, who could you call? There is no one to call, sure you had Alex's number but it was for emergencies only. you sigh and start studying your shoes when you feel someone`s gaze on you, looking up you see Angela looking at you from a distant. She smiles when she sees you looking at her and you quickly act as if you're dialing a number, attempting a weak smile back at her. You hold the phone close to your ear for a few minutes as if talking to someone, the static sound of the phone deafening to your ear.
You return the phone to its place and take a step back from it when a hard body collides into your small figure knocking you off your feet 'freak' you hear him saying as he and his friends walk past you laughing.
Jane was a few feet away walking to Maura when she saw what happened, she deliberately bumped into the boy with force. He turned around beginning to talk when she gave him a glare shutting him up and continued her way to Maura.
" you ok?" Maura was still on the ground, she raised her head to see Jane holding out a hand for her and awkwardly holding two cans of soda in the other, one in her fist and the other between her arm and chest.
"Yeah... yes I'm fine" Maura took Jane's hand and Jane helped her up. Maura pretended to clean her cloths when she was actually just avoiding Jane's gaze. She didn't want Jane to see the anger, the sadness that filled Maura's eyes. Jane smiled and offered one soda to Maura, Maura looked between the soda can and Jane's eyes with questioning eyes "I – uh, I didn't ask for one" Maura said politely with a weak smile
"You don't have to" Jane shrugged "ma bought one for each of us" Jane offered the soda again with a wide grin; Maura's mind went blank for a second before taking the soda from Jane. Angela came with Frankie after a few seconds and they all went back to finish the movie.
Maura wasn't smiling at the movie as much as she was smiling at being with the Rizzoli`s, it felt great, refreshing, to have someone to care about you. Having someone that remembers you even if you weren't with him, you look down at the soda can in your hand and the smile grow bigger and bigger.
The movie ended peacefully and as you all walk out to the car Jane is still exited , jumping around and walking backwards to face you as she talks saying " did you see the last part? Did you see when they did that thing with the.." you're not actually listening to what she`s saying, your just enjoying your time with her, nodding with a wide smile.
"Ok, Maura. I know I told you that I'll take you to the super market when the movie is over but we need to make a stop first." Angela throw behind her from the driver`s seat
"I understand" Maura nodded with a weak smile before looking down and playing with her sleeves in her lap
"Good, because I can't have you going home without eating." Angela said seriously
"wha- n-no that won't be necessary" Maura tried with a polite smile
"You already agreed" Angela chuckled at Maura's nervousness
"But I ..." Maura tried again but Angela cut her off
" no buts, you`re eating and that's that" Angela said seriously , Maura's mouth opened and closed trying to find something to say but nothing came to mind . Jane placed a hand on Maura's shoulder pulling her closer before whispering
"See what I have to live with" Jane said jokingly
"What's that?" Angela's head leaned closer to the back trying to hear better
"Nothing ma" Jane said loudly before turning to Maura with a grin, Maura however did not smile. Jane didn't even know what she has, she doesn't even realize how lucky she is to have a mother like this, how much you wish to have her as your own, what you would give to be in Jane's shoes.
Angela made a stop at MacDonald's and turned around "ok what`s it gonna be?"
"Hot dog!" Jane said happily and Frankie mimicked her as well, Angela nodded before turning to Maura
"What about you Maura? Want a hot dog?" Angela said gently, Maura was still looking at both Jane and Frankie confused when she heard her name and flinched again
"I don't really eat hot dog" Maura said shyly
"How about burgers? You eat burgers right?" Maura hesitated at first before answering
"Y-yes"
"Ok then" Angela smiled at her before turning to order.
Angela extended her hand handing Jane the bag containing the meals before driving again, Jane reached inside the bag taking the French fries out and handing it to Maura , reaching in again she toke another one to share with Frankie . Maura eat slowly while Jane and Frankie started stuffing the fries in their mouth. It's not that you weren't hungry, it's not that it wasn't Delicious you just don't want it end fast. You want to saver every bite, enjoying the taste in your mouth. Your barley eaten half of it when Angela stops the car at the supermarket. "Janie, you stay here with your brother. Come on Maura" Angela said as she stepped out of the car, Maura gave her fries to Jane and fallowed Angela quietly to the supermarket.
Maura and Angela started shopping normally, Maura was still nervous about being alone with jane`s mother, she`s always nervous around adults. Maura bought some instant nodules, new cart of milk and a new jar of jam. She was looking for anything that could be done quickly and easily, Angela was standing a few feet from her looking at the yogurt when they both heard two women talking
'look , its Doyle . Did you hear about what she did?' she said in a disgusted tone
'Yeah, she broke that poor boy`s nose didn't she? What the hell does she think she is?'
The two women passed by them, Maura didn't need to raise her head to see who they were. It doesn't matter anyway; you knew this was going to happen because of what you did. You just have to deal with it. "Maura?" Maura was playing with her feet when Angela's voice brought her back to reality.
" everybody thinks I did it on purpose" Maura mumbled with a sad tone, Maura felt a hand on her shoulder but couldn't bring herself to look at Angela, she doesn't want to cry, crying means your week , pathetic .
"I know you didn't do it on purpose" Angela said softly, Maura raised her head sharply shocked at Angela's respond "I've only known you for a day and even I can tell that you can never mean to hurt anyone" Maura couldn't forced herself to look away from Angela's worm face as Angela tucked a few stray locks behind Maura's ear, Maura's eyes were pleading, crying for help. " tell you what" Angela started with her normal upbeat tone " how about we buy that kid a get well present and you can give it to him tomorrow at school , just to clear things between you two . How does that sound?" Angela tiled her head to the side. Maura inhaled and her hole face lit up and couldn't help the smile the spread across her face "do I take that as a yes?" Maura nodded quickly making Angela chuckle as she give Maura a side hug.
It was a Spontaneous hug from Angela, but she can never know its effect on little Maura, Maura picked the gift herself and showed it to Angela wanting an approval "that's perfect honey" Angela said warmly, Maura could swear that her heat skipped a beat when Angela called her that. Maura paid with the cash she took this morning form the envelope and they both left carrying a grosry bag in hand, Maura couldn't be any happier . There was just something about this family that made Maura wish she was a part of it.
When they reached the car, both Jane and Frankie were sleeping in the back seat. Maura watched as their mother carried them gently, rearranging them so that each was lying on a side and their heads next to each other. Angela pointed to Maura to hand her a small pillow from the front seat and placed it underneath their heads. Maura sat in the passenger seat next to Angela "seat belt" Angela said gently.
Angela made Maura tell her where her apartment was; she said that it's not safe for a kid to be walking alone in the night. Maura unbuckled her seat belt as Angela pulled up to her building, she was about to get out when Angela called her again "Maura you`re a good kid , don't let anyone ever tell you otherwise understood?" a small smile tucked on Maura's lips and nodded as the eyes began to sting a little bit .
Maura got to her apartment not even caring about its emptiness anymore. She was still living the thrill of being with the Rizzoli; Maura quickly arranged the few items in the kitchen before taking a shower. Maura kept looking at the present that was placed on the kitchen`s table, she couldn't wait to give it to the boy tomorrow. Maura couldn't take her eyes off of it and started to bit her lip to help her calm down, she was so anxious to see his face, his respond.
Maura finally lost her patient and grabbed the gift keeping it close to her chest as she left her apartment again. Maura kept running and running with scenarios of how his reaction would be when she gives it to him playing in her head, she knows where he lives. She stood in front of his house door waiting for her heart beat to slow down from running; she took a deep breath filling her lungs with fresh air and composing herself before knocking.
A noise was heard and after a few seconds the boy opened the door slowly, he looked taken back when he saw Maura standing at the door , a little scared too " hello, sorry to bother you . I just wanted to tell you that I'm sorry for what happened to your nose an-and here! I brought you a get well present" Maura said happily, the boys face hardens as he shoots her an angry glare that is too familiar
"I don't want anything from you, go home" and just as he slams the door in your face you hear him mumbling 'freak'. Maura stood there for a few minutes, still shocked at what happened. This was not what you expected; this is not the scenario that played in your head. no, he was supposed to take your gift and forgive you, he was suppose to smile and say 'thank you' not slam the door like that .
The gift slide down from her tiny hands slowly before it hits the ground. Maura turns around slowly and start to walk, this is what happens when you forget who you are, and this is what happens when you get your hopes up. It's no use, it's just no use. Why do you keep bothering anyway? Give up; it will be a lot easier if you just gave up
"hey, watch where your stepping kid" Maura looked up to see a drunk man with a bottle in hand and flushed face almost colliding into her but stumbles at the last second away from you . your eyes are empty as you watch him takes another gulps from his bottle "wait a minute, you`re that damn Doyle aren't ya?" he`s so drunk that he barely get the word right, he clutches his jaw and raise his bottle high as if he`s going to throw it at you but then looks at the bottle again "naa, you`re not even worth it" he start his stumbling aging.
That's right Maura. It's not worth it, you`re not worth it. Maura finds her way back home and curls herself to a tight ball on her bed. Don`t cry Maura, you can't break. You cannot break sniffing, Maura close her eyes. What's another lonely night right?
