Chapter 3:
"Morning mom", I said as she walked into the kitchen. She jumped at the sound of my voice, her nightgown flowing. Putting her hand over her heart, she looked at me and asked, "What are you doing up so early?" I looked down at the bowl of cereal in hand then back at her. She laughed and said, "Oh, food." Nodding, I got a spoonful and put it in my mouth.
With that, she walked more so into the kitchen and started fixing her daily coffee. But I don't understand why she calls it coffee. I mean, it's 85% creamer! Eh, it is what it is.
Once she had her coffee fixed, she jumped up on the counter with me and started taking sips from her mug. I shot her a side-smile before putting the bowl down and picking up my orange juice. We sat there like that for a while, just drinking our drinks.
Then I looked at the clock and groaned. "What is it?" My mom asked me. I just reluctantly pointed to the clock. "Oh shit", she muttered under her breath as her petite body jumped from the counter and ran up the steps.
God, I hope I don't have to go to school today. I don't want to face Scott and Stiles again. Bitch, I'm a total bitch. I just got up and left with a lie. What the hell is wrong with me? Maybe I could sneak in my room and ditch school all together. That would be way better for my nerves. "Maya, get dressed!" My mother's voice boomed from upstairs. Or I could go to school. School sounds good. After all, I do need to make up that work I missed from yesterday.
Jumping off of the counter, I made my way up to my tiny bedroom. When I was in there, I changed from my pajamas and into some decent clothes. I straightened my hair and did my usual makeup. Once I finished, I walked downstairs to find no trace of my mom or her purse. I looked out the window to not find her car. Sighing, I knew she had already gone to work. Well, I should probably go too. And with that, I grabbed my bag and phone and ran to my car.
But when I got into my car and turned the key, I knew one thing: I need gas. Groaning, I pulled out of the driveway and started my ways around the town looking for a gas station. Once I found one, I stopped to fill up.
Stepping out of my car, I put the nozzle into my car and waited. I started rocking back and forth on the balls of my feet, waiting a little impatiently. Soon though, there was a wave of discomfort flowing through me. Instinctively, I rubbed up and down my arms. Anyone who's really close to me knows that's my sign for discomfort. Others just thought I was cold. See how things plan out? Not that well…
"Hello", I jumped up and twirled around to come face-to-face with Derek. His green eyes bore into mine as he tilted his head. Then he smiled wildly and said, "I'm Derek." I nodded my head and gave a weak smile, saying quietly, "Maya." He just smiled wider and said, "Yes, Erica's friend." I nodded slowly, still not knowing where this conversation was going.
"So I hear you're coming over this Friday", Derek began as he pulled the nozzle out of my car for me and put it back where it belonged. I nodded and said, "Yes. I really appreciate her invitation. I hope you don't mind." He shrugged and said, "It doesn't matter to me." Nodding once again, I looked out at the woods before I faced him again.
"Well I better be going. I don't want to be late", and with that, I hurried a little into my old car. Once I was in my car, he leaned against it, looking down at me. At that moment, I was glad my window was rolled up. I don't really want to speak to him. He's kind of… what's the word? Creepy… yes creepy works good.
He waved goodbye before standing straight up again. I nodded in my strange way to say 'bye' right before I kicked on the gas and drove straight to school, not slowing my speed for one second.
When I got there, my eyes instantly located Erica leaning against the wall next to the door. Parking a little in the back, I turned off the car and grabbed my bag before getting out and making my way to the school building.
Once Erica saw me approaching, she pulled away from the wall and greeted me with a big smile and a sweet, "Hey Maya!" Then she leaned in and pulled me into a hug. At first, I didn't hug back. What if she finds out I sat with Stiles and Scott at lunch? Would she yell at me? Oh god, I'm such a terrible person! But before my self-argument was over, I felt my arms wrap around her and return her hug.
After a while, we separated and she put her arm out for me. Smiling a little, I linked my arm in hers and we made our way inside. As we walked down the hall though, I felt my confidence fading. People around us began to whisper and snicker. Some laughed and others stared.
My grip with her arm loosened. She looked over at me and whispered to me, "What did I say? Don't listen to them." I nodded but couldn't help myself. Those words like loser and freak just sunk in. It was like the words were a magnet, drawing me to them.
I kept my head down, trying not to face their faces. And besides, I already know what they look like. I've seen it millions of times before. It doesn't matter which school it is, the people are the same: same remarks, same looks, and the same reactions.
"Earth to Maya", I looked up at Erica as she sang my name. Her eyes were up to the ceiling as she smile showed off her teeth. "Hmm", I searched her eyes though it was a little hard. Note to self- it is easier to search someone's eyes when they are looking at you. She glanced at me real quick before looking back up and said, "Are you listening to those assholes?" I shrugged but after a while, I nodded.
Right then, we reached my locker. We stopped so I could get my stuff. As I put my combination in, I glanced down the hall where I saw Stiles standing at his locker, looking at me. There was a look in his eyes and for the first time, I couldn't read someone's eyes. I can't believe it! That never happens to me!
I felt my eyes narrowing in frustration and I quickly looked back into my locker, grabbing the books I would need. A ping of anger blossomed in my gut, slowly growing itself. My heart kicked up a couple beats like it always did when I got angry. What? For years I've been able to read people like a book. I could tell the jerks for the nice one, the heartbreakers from the sweethearts, and the liars from the honest ones. But Stiles Stilinski is a totally different story. He seems sweet and everything but now I can't read him. Am I losing my touch? No, I can't be… can I? Oh god, I need to get some help.
Slamming my locker shut, I turned to Erica who was smiling out of control. "What?" I spat with more venom than I intended. She just turned her smile into a smirk and said, "Oh nothing. I just didn't know you had this side. It pretty cool if you ask me." I smirked before linking my arm with hers again and said, "C'mon, we don't want to be late again." She laughed at me but let me drag her along.
Chemistry was awkward. And when I say awkward, I mean awkward. Stiles kept glancing over his shoulder to me but I pretended that I didn't notice. I don't know what was wrong with me. I guess I'm a little mad at myself. It's my fault I can't read him. But why can't I? Oh god, what's gotten into me? It's like I was a time bomb just waiting to explode. Well, I guess that's what happens when you control your anger and never let it show for years straight. How many years it was, I lost track.
Erica seemed to enjoy my new mood change, though. She would always smirk when Scott would look at me and I would shoot him a glare. Why I glared, let's just say I was thinking about something and I didn't need people watching me. She would pass me notes or whisper to me about random things happening around us. It was actually kind of fun to tell you the truth. I've never really acted out before, and this was defiantly something different.
The bell rang; signaling the end of class. Quickly, I grabbed my books and put them up before standing. "So are you excited about tomorrow?" Erica asked me as we met to go out of the classroom. Oh right! Tomorrow's Friday! How could I have forgotten?
I must have looked ridiculous because she laughed and said, "I'll take that as a yes." Laughing along with her, we walked out of the door. But I stopped dead in my tracks, frozen if you will. Right then and there stood Stiles leaning against the wall, he's hands in his jacket's pockets and his back leaning against the wall.
Once he saw me there, he jumped away from the wall and said, "Maya…" He didn't get to finish because Erica made her way in between us, blocking Stiles from getting close to me. "Why do you want to talk to her?" She spat in his face, her eyes ablaze. Even if she wasn't facing me, I could see a slight gold in her eyes. What the…? Eh, I must be seeing things.
Just like that, he began to back up. He glanced at me before his eyes flew right back to Erica's. I looked at Stiles and tried to read his face. He looked a little… frightened? He also looked like he wanted to say something, something important. Oh god, I'm a bitch. Maya, you're a bitch, you're a bitch, you are a bitch.
I looked behind Stiles to see Scott walking up to him and I couldn't take it anymore. I had to do something. Reaching up, I grasped Erica's upper arm. She looked back at me and smiled. "Yeah", she said in a nicer voice than she spoke to Stiles with. I gave a small smile and said, "We should go…" She nodded, hopefully catching my drift since I made my eyes drift from her to Stiles and to Scott. So she took a hold of my hand and pulled me past them. Risking a glance, I looked over my shoulder only to get trapped in both of the boys' gazes. And just as quickly as I looked back, I looked forward.
Since I didn't have any more classes with Erica for the rest of the morning, I was kind of bored. That is until History rolled around. I was just sitting in my seat minding my own business when I heard someone whisper, "Hey, did you hear about the murder?" Murder! Ok, Beacon Hills has just gotten a tad bit worse. The other guy whispered, "It was another murder? What number are we at now?" The one from before shrugged his shoulders and whispered, "I don't know but if it keeps going at this rate, there won't be anyone to kill."
Ok, I change what a said before: Beacon Hills has just gotten a lot worse. That must have been what the sirens where about a couple nights ago! Hum, I should research this town. After all, nothing's what it seems. So why shouldn't a sweet innocent town like Beacon Hills not have a few secrets, a few murders if you will. Yep, my mind's set. Researching the town, you are now on my to-do list.
**Stiles's Point of View**
Why is Maya mad at me? Or should I say us? Man, this is confusing! I mean, it all started with Scott and I seeing Maya and Erica hanging out and Scott getting worried. He said that he was afraid Derek would bite her. After all, he does recruit people who are desperate. But she doesn't look desperate to me. She looks like she knows what people say about her and accept that she's going to get picked on. It bothers her, yes. And it's obvious that she wants them to stop but I just can't imagine her giving herself away.
But what confuses me is why she's acting like she is. I mean, yesterday at lunch she just stood up and left. Did I do something wrong? It must have been something I said, right? Or maybe it was the fact that my arm was on the back of her chair. Damn I'm an idiot.
She skipped classes yesterday too. And when she came back this morning, she acted normal. Well she did until she looked at me. I was still thinking of yesterday and why she didn't attend her classes when she looked at me. Maya glared at me before slamming her locker shut and walking away with Erica, arms linked. Did she seriously hate me that much?
"Stiles?" I shot back to reality and looked at Scott. He gave me a puzzled look before adding, "Don't forget, Derek's going to do something. I saw them talking at the gas station this morning." What! Derek was talking to Maya. "About what?" I asked aloud. Scott sighed and looked down at his shoes. I bent down a little and shook my head, giving a look at him and held my hands up as if to say 'well'. He looked up at me and said, "She hanging out with them tomorrow."
I did the look again and threw my hands up in the air. Walking a little ways away from him, I said loudly, "Well that's just great!" Scott rolled his eyes and said, "Whatever they're planning, it's going to happen on Friday." I nodded and said, "Yeah." But one thing was on my mind: I need to talk to Maya.
**Maya's Point of View**
Oh c'mon clock! Hurry it up! Just a few more minutes. Oh, I see. You're just going go inch by inch. God you're such a tease! Just sound the bell already!
Groaning silently to myself, I put my head in my hands. But the teacher just kept on with her lecture. Does she ever run out of breath? Uhg! Just then, my bangs decided to fall right into my eyes. Oh great, and there goes the bangs! Grr… I blew my bangs with my breath but it just flopped back into my face.
I kept on glaring on the strands of hair, wishing they would move on their own. But clearly that's not going to happen, now is it? I sighed, not really wanted to focus on my hair. My mind lingered back to what those guys were talking about. I had to research Beacon Hills, I just had to.
Just then, a hand came into my view and pulled my bangs out of my eyes, gently putting them behind my ear. I jumped up a little and looked up only to be greeted with that kind smile. "Stiles", I breathed out his name with a breath I didn't know I was concealing. He just smiled a little bigger and said, "Hi."
Heat slowly crept its way onto my cheeks. My eyes widened and I quickly pulled my hair more into my face to try to hide the sudden blush. Thankfully though, he didn't say anything. He just licked his lips and made a hand gesture, saying, "Look Maya, I'm sorry if I did something wrong. If I did, c-could you just tell me?"
I gave him a half-smile and nodded, urging him to continue. So he opened his mouth to talk but was interrupted by our teacher standing in the door with her hands on her hips saying, "What are you two still doing here? The bell rang 5 minutes ago." My eyes widened as I looked around and sure enough, we were the only ones in the room. I could feel my cheeks burning more so I quickly put away my books and papers into my bag.
Scrambling up to my feet, I swung my bag over my shoulder and grabbed Stiles's hand, dragging him out of the classroom. But I didn't stop once we were out. I kept dragging him until we were in the boys' locker room. When we got in there, I closed the door and took a deep breath.
Ok Maya, just calm down… even though your heart's beating twice its normal rate. Just calm down. You're telling him you can't be friends with him, remember? You decided last night while you were talking to yourself. Look, it came down to you having to choose: Erica or Stiles? And do you really want to lose your first friend who actually likes you? Or do you want the boy who comes off as a nice guy but you never really know?
I turned around to see Stiles staring at me, his eyebrows furrowed. So I cleared my throat which had dried out all of the sudden. Then I used a few hand gestures as I started, "Stiles, I-I can't be friends with you." My voice was surprisingly calm even though I was mentally slamming myself in the lockers. I really wanted to trust him, I really did. But I couldn't. Trusting guys just isn't something I do.
"What? Why", he rushed over to me, his eyes full of confusion and worry. His hands found my shoulders and he turned my body so I was facing him. I kept my head down, not wanting to look him in the eye. I know, I know, looking people in the eye is the smartest thing to do but I-I just can't.
"Maya", his voice was soft, just barely auditable. Oh god, why did he have to do that? Maya, you're stronger than this. Don't collapse under the pressure. He's just a guy, nothing more.
"No Stiles", my voice was firm, serious. I pushed his chest away with my hand. But obviously he didn't want to listen to me because he just held my hand that was pushing him away in one of his. "Maya, you promised you'd let me if something was wrong'- I cut him off, "I know what I said, Stiles. Now just let me go."
Slipping my hand out of his, I brought my other hand up and pushed him with both hands. He backed up a little, but not a lot. I could still feel his warm breath on my face and it wasn't helping the situation out at all. "Just tell me what's wrong", damn this guy's persistent. Sighing, I looked up and instantly got caught in his intense gaze. It took all my will power to focus on his forehead instead and said, "No."
"Why not, why won't you?" He kept asking question after question as he inched closer. I put my hands up as if to tell him to stay back but he only held them in his. "Please tell me Maya, please." I pushed back a little as I heard the door opening behind us. "No Stiles!" I yelled at him, causing him to freeze in his tracks.
"Stilinski!" We both whirled around to see the coach standing there silhouetted in the doorway with the whole lacrosse team behind him. His looked at Stiles and said loudly, "What are you doing!" I took that opportunity to grab my bag that somehow fell to the ground and went to the door. "Excuse me", I whispered to the guys as they made a small path for me. But out of the corner of my eye, I saw Stiles hold out his hand as if to stop me with his mouth agape but he just stood there. It only made me rush more through the crowd of teenage guys, despite all the eyes I felt on me.
"There you are!" Erica yelled the second I stepped out of the school. I jumped up before looked at her and put a hand over my heart. "Damn you scared me", I shot her a smile which she gladly returned. "So why were you waiting for me?" I asked as we entered the parking lot. She looked at me with utter shock and said, "I can't wait on my friend?" I laughed a little and said, "Ok, ok, I'm sorry."
We got to my car and I unlocked it before turned to her and asked, "Do you need a ride?" She shook her head before looking up at the sky and saying in a sing-song voice, "Only if I'm getting a ride to your house." I raised a brow before a look of realization crossed over my features. She nodded her head and said, "Yeah… so can I come over?" Looking up at the sky, I shrugged and said, "Why not?"
Erica smiled before rushing to the passenger seat and slipping in. I climbed into the driver's seat and threw my bag in the back. Then I started the car and drove off towards my house.
We got to my house in no time. As we entered the small house, I asked, "Do you want anything to eat?" She shrugged and said, "Only if you get something." Nodding, I walked into the kitchen and grabbed two Nature Valley bars. Then I walked back to her in the living room and handed hers to her.
Eating, I gestured for her to follow me as I walked to my room. When we got in there, she started walking around my already unpacked room, studying it. She nodded her head and said, "Impressive." I laughed and asked, "How can a bedroom be impressive?" Erica just shrugged and plopped down onto the bed on her stomach as she said, "I don't know… it just can be." Then we did the stupidest thing ever: we looked at each other. And just like that, we broke down laughing.
After a while of just laughing and me eventually falling down on my butt which only caused more laughter, we finally quieted down. But, of course, we just had to look at each other and fell into another laughing fit. Erica ended up rolled upside down and I ended up on my back facing the ceiling. By now we had subsided into just giggles.
"You know", Erica began as she giggled some more. I looked over at her a little, still on my back of course. She was looked straight up at the ceiling, still giggling. Then she continued, "I haven't laughed about something actually funny in so long." Through giggles, I managed to say, "Well I'm glad to be the one you laughed with." She looked at me with her head dangling off the side of the bed and smiled at me. "I'm glad it's you too."
We stayed like that for little while longer, giggling our little butts off. But after a while, Erica sat up so I did too. Then I stood up and made my way to my radio, turning it on. The song Coming Back Down by Hollywood Undead played and I started swaying to it, my hips moving in sync with the beat. Erica laughed at me and started looking around my room again.
Something caught her eye I'm guessing because the next thing I know, she's up on her feet and walking towards my collage of ribbons and pictures of my dance recitals and competitions. It dated all the way back to my first bronze metal when I was 4 to my last platinum trophy just a couple years ago.
Instantly, I shot to my feet and rushed over to the wall. She was eyeing one of my gold metals, stroking her fingertips along it's engraving which read 'First Place Solo Routine' and I couldn't help but smile at it. After all, it was the first solo routine I ever did and I got first place. And best of all, I was only 8.
I quickly snapped out of my memory, shaking my head for good measure. Then I jumped in front of her, putting my arms up to cover some of the wall but it didn't work that well. Erica had a look of awe on her face as she pointed to the wall and said dazedly, "You won all these?" Nodding slowing, I saw a smile play on her lips. "But I don't dance anymore", I quickly added in before she got any ideas.
Her face quickly fell as she asked, "Why not?" She looked genially interested so I sighed and said, "Because I just don't have the happy dad in the crowd to cheer me on anymore." I didn't feel any tears; I was way past that stage. But Erica's eyes started to water as she quickly blubbered, "I-I didn't mean it! I'm so sorry!" Then she pulled me into a tight hug, sympathy leaking from her embrace. I immediately started to hug her back. "I'm so sorry Maya", she whispered in my ear sadly. I nuzzled into her shoulder and whispered, "I know." My voice cracked, tears chocking me. But I swallowed them, refusing to let them spill.
When we separated, she started swaying to the music. I leaned against the wall, watching as my friend started dancing, a little badly I might add. A soft laugh surfaced past my lips and I quickly covered my mouth, not wanting to sound mean. She just laughed along and said, "You really need to give me so pointers." I shrugged and said, "I might." Then I peeled off the wall and walked over to my bed, belly flopping onto it.
Erica trotted over to my closet and opened it, starting to go through my clothes. I tilted my head and furrowed my eyebrows in confusion. "Uh, what are you doing?" I asked as she picked up one of my floral blouses that my mom bought me and I never wore only to put it back. She turned around and said, "I'm raiding your closet, duh!" My eyebrows furrowed more. Groaning at my reaction, she said, "Friends always raid each other's closets when they come over. Or that's what I've been told." And with that, she continued on pulling things out and putting them back in.
It took a while for her words to sink it. Once they did, I asked aloud, "Did you not have a lot of friends before?" And just like that, she froze in mid movement. After a while, she shook her head. "No, I didn't", she whispered as she looked at me a little over her shoulder. Instantly I knew why she befriended me. She was like me at one point: a loser. She knew someone like me wanted a friend because she was me at one point.
Pulling myself up into a sitting position, I patted the spot next to me. Slowly, Erica walked over and sat next to me. I looked at her and into her sad eyes and said, "Spill." For the next 30 minutes Erica explained to me that she was epileptic and had seizures all the time. She even told me that some dumbass videotaped her while she was having a seizure and peed herself. I let her cry on my shoulder and rocked her back and forth in a comforting motion. I wasn't going to let anyone pick on her anymore and apparently neither was she.
"Hey", I said softly and wiped the rest of her tears away. I gave her a sweet smile and said, "I'm not going to let anyone do that to you ever again, ok? I'm your best friend and don't ever forget it!" A small smile broke out of her face. Smiling a little bigger, a tilted my head to the closet a little and said, "So why don't we start raiding my closet? I'll even let you pick out my outfit for tomorrow. I don't care what it is, I'll wear it."
Her smiled grew and I stood up, holding a hand out for her. Erica gripped my hand and let me help her up. Then we made our way to my closet, throwing around my clothes that we didn't agree on. We threw some clothes that were a possibility onto my bed. After a while, I went to my dressers and started digging through them.
"Oh, you are so wearing this, hands down!" I looked over at what she was referring to and my eyes nearly popped out of my head. I looked up at her insecurely. She just cocked her head and said, "I know you'll look beautiful in it so no arguing. And besides, you said you'd wear what I picked, and I pick this." She tilted the hanger with her finger. Looking up and meeting her gaze, I smiled. "Eh, why not?"
Hey guys I just wanted to make a shout out to my cousin's story. It's called Hidden In Shadows We Rise by sonofabitchjerk. It's a Derek Hale love story and it's really good! So please check it out!