Hey guys, so someone asked if I was from South Africa and I messed up with trying to answer. So sorry I wasn't able to answer but yes, yes I am from South Africa.
Thanks so much for the support everyone. it really means a lot.
Chapter 5
I walk into the conference room to find that no one has arrived yet. So I take my seat and read the folder that is placed on the table. It was just a profile on everyone who will be coming on the trip and to my utter delight Lucas had invited Riley, Farkle and Smackle to join him on the cruise. Yay, now not only do I have to spend time with Josh I also have to spend time with the people I had hurt in more ways than one. "Could this get any worse?" I ask myself out loud. And apparently someone out in the universe decide to answer my question with a yes, yes it can.
During my brief meeting with the President's children, I was so caught up in Lucas that I didn't have time to take a good look at his sister. Apparently Lucas and Missy Bradford are related…Yaaay. "You know it was a rhetorical question right?" I asked no one in particular.
I was so caught up in the folder I didn't hear Josh come in until he sat down in the chair next to mine. What is with this child today? First he starts talking to me again, with kind words, and now he is sitting next to me instead of at the other end of the table, as far away from me as possible, like usual. "Maya? I really need to talk to you," Josh says for, I think, the third time that day. "Look, Josh," I sigh as I really did not want to get into this at the moment. "I don't know what has gotten into you lately, but this whole soft attitude towards me is really starting to tick me off. So please knocked it off before I throw you across this room," I finish still looking at the folder. Clearly he didn't get the message that I really wasn't interested, because he still pressed the matter. "Maya this is something I need to talk to you about now. It's really important and it can't wait any longer. It's about what happened a year ago," he finished off searching for any sign of emotion on my face. But like he taught me, an emotion showed weakness and it is always best to leave your opposition guessing.
Before I could answer Lucas and Missy walked in, with Cory and Shawn close behind. Yay, finally, at least one good thing has happened to me today. But that was short lived, because as everyone sat down Riley, Smackle, Farkle and Charlie Gardner walked in. Just great, I think as they all take their seats. "What are they doing here?" I ask Cory with an irritated look on my face. I was also a little shocked, as I didn't think Cory would allow Riley to see exactly what he got up to. "Maya?" I hear all three of them say as the sit down, obviously they hadn't noticed me until I spoke aloud. Ignoring them I turn to Cory and wait for his answer. "They need to know why you will be on the ship Maya, and they also need to know the action plan," Cory says giving him his best 'I'm sorry' look.
"Oh Hell No! I am not doing this. Sorry, but this is one thing I won't be able to do. Get Rachel to do it. She looks like she needs a vacation," I say while getting up and preparing to storm out of that room. But before I could Josh tugged me back down into my seat. "I don't care whether or not you don't want to Maya. Or whether or not you don't want spend time me or these other people. You will go on this cruise, because I can tell you right now, you need that vacation more than Rachel does. Or anyone else in this place," Josh tells me while holding me down. I look in his eyes to see how dead serious he actually is and to tell you the honest truth; I was a little bit scared with what I actually did see. "Fine," I say crossing my arms over my chest.
Josh moved his hand and placed it on my leg. Probably just to make sure that I didn't try to storm out again. But to me it felt like there was more behind it. After an intense three hours of planning, and going over the basic escape roots and procedures we were dismissed from the room. However Cory wanted to show everyone what Josh and I could offer to set everyone's minds at rest. So Josh and I went to the fighting ring to show them what we got.
After a quick warm up Josh and I entered the fighting ring were we would fight opponents that are made to over power us. "You ready?" Josh asks me as I stand up from my last push up. "Yeh, I'm ready," I say getting up, ignoring the hand that Josh offered me. Standing in a corner the first opponent entered the ring. Leo, third degree black belt, has never lost a fight and is an all round bad guy and everyone knows it. After about two minutes of pacing Josh pinned him to the floor with ease. Next opponent; Jack, been at the organization since he was 12 and specializes in special forces; coached by thee best agent of all times, his dad, Richard Smith. He was down in one minute. To be honest I didn't even try. I walked back to the corner to get a 'well done' by Josh, but I just ignored him. I don't know what is his deal today, but its really ticking me off. I took a quick glance up to where everyone was observing and they all looked shocked, especially Riley and Shawn.
Next opponent or should I say opponents. Josh went first and ended the one-on-eight fight in a matter of minutes. Next was me, the fight was enjoyable actually and it felt like I was dancing around the floor, in a matter of seconds all eight opponents were on the floor.
"So, are you guys comfortable?" Cory asked the group as soon as Maya finished her fight. The looks on everyone's faces were priceless. All their jaws had dropped to the ground.
"Quick question Mr. Mathews," Lucas said shaking out of his shock, "It seems like the two of them can't stand each other, and so can they actually work together without tearing each other apart?" Lucas said while pointing to Josh and Maya who were as far from each other as possible in such a small ring. "Yes Lucas, they the best agents in this organization. Alone they are lethal, as they have demonstrated. But together they are like a biochemical weapon, almost impossible to stop. No one has found their weakness, yet," Cory told the group with a hint of pride and sadness in his voice.
Cory was proud of the two, they had worked hard to get where they are and he had guided them in his own way. But he was sad, sad, as he had to watch what the two had to go through to get to their position. He was hoping this cruise would give them both a chance to reconnect with themselves and have a little bit of fun, especially Maya. Maya had endured so much this past year that Cory feared it would break her. He felt guilty, as some of it was his own fault, he had told her to push all her friends away; but Maya was in serious danger, she still is, and he didn't want that danger to involve his own daughter.
He had voiced his concerns to Josh and Josh couldn't have agreed more. Originally it was just suppose to be Maya on this cruise, but as so many people where going, including his own daughter, Cory asked Josh to accompany the young group. Also Josh had insisted to go on the assignment. And after all he went through to protect Maya last year, he needed the break, but more importantly he had to watch over Maya. Cory also secretly hoped that Josh and Maya would work out there differences before it broke them apart for good.
"Maya, Josh, please make your way to the hunting ground," Cory's voice said through the speakers. The hunting grounds, often, the place where we play capture the principle before we leave for Africa to really test a teams ability. As we arrive, the whole group is there. Riley and Lucas are dressed in workout clothes and standing closer to the grounds than everyone else. Josh and I come to halt and stood shoulder to shoulder with our feet slightly apart, like what soldiers do, waiting for our instructions. "Right, for this exercise, you two will get Lucas and Riley through the hunting grounds to safety. You two are to work together and show them what you normally do. They are your principles, so save them." Cory told was, leading the group to a viewing deck that can survey the whole hunting ground. Hitting a button that released mechanical animals and hunters, that are programmed to be the worst and best of their kind, Cory shouted "Begin!"
And just like that Josh and I grabbed Lucas and Riley by their arms and threw them on our backs. We run like this for about 4km and found a cave where we hid from two hunters. "So…" Riley whispered. No one had said a word since we started. "Do you guys talk at all?" Lucas asked looking between Josh and I. Josh and I shared a look, "No," Josh answered before I could and turning his attention back to the opening of the cave. "Why not?" Riley asked. "I think they gone, we should get going," I say grabbing Riley's arm ignoring her question. "I'm not going anywhere until you tell me why not," Riley said ripping her arm from my grip and crossing my arms. "Ugh, I forgotten how stubborn you are," I whispered under my breath. "Fine, I'll tell you," I said giving Josh a look that he knew all to well. "Really?" Lucas said sounding shocked that I gave up so quickly. "Nope," I said, popping the 'P' and grabbing a surprised Lucas this time and pulling him out the cave while Josh handled an annoyed Riley.
After the "sun went down" we had made it to "safety", both Riley and Lucas looked exhausted as they sat on the floor with their backs up against each other. "How…Do…You…Guys…Do…This…" Lucas said trying to catch his breath. "Yeh," Riley said as she tried to stand up, but fell right over. Josh and I said nothing as we stood and watch them. "I think we need to get their fitness up," Josh said nudging my arm and whispering to me. I gave a quick smile. "Maya, can I please have a word with you," Josh said grabbing my arm and pulling me aside. "Look, about last year, I'm really sorry. I can't tell you what happened, but please believe me that it was to protect you," Josh said still holding my arm.
It took me a while to answer as I was considering my options. During this time I searched Josh's eyes for anything and saw what looked like affection for me. I didn't know what to say; maybe he was playing a game to see if he could get me to break. A lot of the boys around here played that game, I just never expected him to. "Protect me? Josh I don't need protection. Especially from you." I say to him ripping my arm from his grasp and earning a look of confusion from both Riley and Lucas.
After the lights came back on I stormed to the changing rooms and jumped into the shower. Allowing the hot water to hit my back, I sat down and completely broke down. After holding back tears for a year, everything just came out. All the hurt, anger and sorrow washed away, along with all the thoughts that built up inside my brain. After thirty minutes I stepped out, feeling refreshed and renewed. I was a new Maya, a better Maya. A Maya that wasn't going to take Bull Sh*t from anyone.