Hi everyone! I apologize for the delay but things have been busy. I will update more often in the future. Enjoy!
Maya could feel Emily's body trembling against her. She unconsciously pulled her closer and tighter, tightening her hold on her waist. Her pulse raced; everything was happening so fast that she didn't have time to think. She tried to focus her thoughts but failed, miserably. All she could do was focus on Emily. The person that she had longed to hold for so long was finally in her arms. She closed her eyes and shuddered when she felt Emily's finger tips brush against her cheeks.
Emily's breathing quickened as her finger tips made contact with Maya's skin. Emotion after emotion rolled through her body as she gently traced the contours of her face. Her fingers moved slowly and cautiously, pulling away several times with uncertainty. Is this really happening?
There was so much Emily wanted to say; words that she regretted never saying. There were times when she would whisper her feelings for Maya in prayers and be filled with sorrow because she had missed her chance to say them to her. Now, here she was and she couldn't form the words. In this moment, all she wanted to do was look at her, hold her, touch her; just be with her.
Once again, time stood still for Emily and Maya. Their eyes connected and everything else around them seemed to fade away. Maya searched Emily's eyes, trying to sense what she was feeling. She could see a mixture of emotions shifting and flashing in the taller girl's glistening brown eyes.
Again, Maya tried to focus but felt herself slipping deeper into the moment. Her body betrayed her as her gazed strayed from Emily's haunting eyes, over her delicate cheek bones and finally coming to rest on her trembling lips. It took every bit of self-control to keep from leaning forward and capturing them with her own.
No one dared to speak or even move as they all looked on in wonder, pondering their own private thoughts of what was happening. It was no surprise who the first person was to interrupt the moment. "Maya…" Jenna's voice broke the silence. "I'm so sorry…" she said as she took a step toward Maya.
Maya was pulled from the moment at the sound of her name; more so by the voice that utter it. Her eyes broke contact with Emily's as she quickly lowered them. She closed her eyes briefly and took a deep breath, trying to regain control of the situation. She knew what she had to do next, so she mustered every bit of courage she could find within herself.
Maya opened her eyes but kept them down cast, not daring to look at Emily again. Her arms slowly slipped from around Emily's waist. She lifted her hands and gently took hold of the hands that were still delicately tracing her face. Never looking up, Maya removed Emily's hands from her face and took a step back with Emily's hands still in hers.
Confusion filled the eyes of the taller girl as she searched Maya's face. Why is she pulling away? Emily's mind desperately tried to grasp what was happening as Maya gently released her hands and took another step back.
Emily's hands lingered briefly in mid air until she clasped them together and pulled them slowly against her chest. She wanted to speak, to say something to Maya to get her to stop moving away but the words were caught in her throat.
With her mind made up and now focused on her next move, Maya turned her back on Emily. She lifted her eyes and scanned the small clearing until her eyes connected with the person she was looking for. She held Jenna's gaze as she moved toward her. All eyes were on Maya but Maya's eyes were locked on Jenna.
Spencer looked on in disbelief as Maya strolled right past her, never shifting her eyes away from her main focus. Maya moved confidently past the onlookers with her head held high and seemingly unaware of the questioning eyes that followed her. Spencer's gaze shifted from the departing girl to her friend who stood amazed and confused.
Spencer snapped out of her trance and quickly moved to Emily's side. She put a comforting arm around her shoulders and a reassuring hand on her arm. She could only imagine what her friend must be feeling right now, considering Spencer herself was feeling a mix of emotions.
As Maya closed the distance between her and Jenna, Jason appeared at Jenna's side. He was breathing heavily and was obliviously thoroughly exhausted. Maya shifted her gaze to him and offered a delicate smile, hoping to ease the troubled look in his eyes. Jason smiled back and lifted his arms out to her. Maya walked right into his embrace and leaned her head against his chest. He rested his head on the top of hers and closed his eyes while wrapping his arms around her shoulders and giving her a tight squeeze. She hugged him back, holding him tight around his mid section. They stood like that momentarily until Jason gave her a delicate kiss on the top of her head and gently pulled back so that he could look down into her eyes.
"Are you okay?" he questioned; the frightened concern in his voice was unmistakable. "I'm so sorry, Maya. We'll fix this. I promise," he smiled down at her reassuringly. He desperately needed her to trust that he would take care of her and continue protecting her no matter what the cost.
A soft smile touched Maya's lips as she looked trustingly up at him. "I know," she spoke softly. She then turned her head to the side to look at Jenna who was staring down at the ground with a hand covering her mouth and a strained look on her face as if she was holding back tears. Maya looked up at Jason and hugged him one last time before stepping away and moving to stand directly in front of Jenna.
Maya reached up and gently took Jenna's hand, pulling it away from her mouth. With her other hand, she brushed away a lock of hair that hung over Jenna's brow, carefully tucking it behind her ear. She then let her fingers glide down her jaw line to rest under her chin. She delicately lifted Jenna's chin forcing her to look into her eyes.
"You have nothing to be sorry about. I don't blame you for any of this. Please, believe that." Maya's voice was soft and soothing and the warmth that radiated in her eyes made the anxious girl sigh with relief and relax a little.
Jason walked over to Jenna and Maya, looking at them intensely as if communicating some nonverbal message. They both looked at him and nodded simultaneously in understanding. Jenna took Maya's hand and without a word began leading her away from the group.
"Wait a minute! What the hell is going on?" Spencer asked astonished. "She can't just walk away. She owes an explanation for all of this, especially to Emily!" Spencer's voice grew a little louder. With that said Hanna moved over and took her position next to Emily. Aria raised herself back up onto her feet and quickly moved to Hanna's side. The girls stood around their best friend, ready to defend and support her.
Jenna turned on her heels with fire in her eyes. She stepped past Maya so that she was behind her. She released Maya's hand and took another step forward. "She doesn't owe anyone anything…" Jenna seethed "…especially Emily!"
Now it was Hanna's turn to fire back. "The hell she doesn't! Emily went through hell thinking she was dead…" she was saying until Spencer chimed in, interrupting her.
"Not to mention that she was almost killed by her insane stalker ex-boyfriend!" Spencer yelled.
The girls stood glaring at Jenna but she was not intimidated; she only grew more furious. "Went through hell?" She laughed bitterly. "What, for a couple of months before she fell into someone else's bed?" With sarcasm dripping from her lips, she continued "Yea, I can definitely see her sorrow every time she's with Paige," Jenna rolled her eyes. "As for her almost being killed, you have no idea about any of that! She was never really in danger!" She spat.
Emily's head snapped up and her eyes frantically locked on Maya. Maya knew about Paige, but how? Jenna, no doubt; damn her! Emily's mind raced as her jaw tightened.
"That's enough. Now take Maya and go." Jason gently warned her. He knew how protective Jenna was of Maya and how she can sometimes go too far. She had said enough; it was time to end this conversation before her anger got the better of her. When that happens, she tends to say exactly what's on her mind without considering the consequences.
Jenna looked at him with anger still burning in her eyes. Her eyes abruptly changed, and softened as she felt Maya's hand slide into her own. "Let's go, Jen," she spoke softly and calmly. Jenna turned to look at her and nodded. As they turned to walk away, Spencer voice filled the air around them.
"You have some nerve, you spiteful witch!" Spencer's rage was starting to boil over. "Emily thought she was dead for God sakes! But Maya…huh…she knew Emily was alive but yet she fell, or rather jumped, into your bed! How dare you or her judge Emily?" Spencer growled through clenched teeth. "So, tell us, Maya. How long have you been sleeping with this evil wench? While you were with Emily, pretending to give a damn about her or after you faked your own death while she grieved for you?" Spencer continued with her anger turning into bitter sarcasm and contempt.
Suddenly, the memory of the scene in the clearing just minutes ago came flooding back to Emily. Jenna and Maya were…they were making out! Oh my God, they're together? They can't be. Is that why Maya moved away from her when Jenna called her? What the hell is happening?! Emily felt herself becoming dizzy and a little queasy as reality came crashing down around her. Emily let out a heavy breath as she placed her hand over her stomach and closed her eyes momentarily.
While talking, Spencer had unconsciously taken several steps in their direction and now stood only a few feet away from them. Her hands were clenched into fists at her sides as she stood glaring at them. Hanna quickly moved to her side and crossed her arms, glaring just as hard at them. Aria stood back with a comforting arm around Emily.
Maya ignored her question; never looking at her. She just shook her head and tugged on Jenna's hand to get her to keep walking and ignore Spencer as well. She knew Jenna was about to explode and with the tension in the air, things could turn ugly very quickly.
Maya knew that Spencer and Jenna were like oil and water. When mixed together with the right amount of heat, everyone around them is liable to be burned.
Jason also sensed that things were about to escalate. He stepped in front of Spencer, putting a barrier between her and Jenna. "I will explain as much as I can to you but Maya has to leave, right now. This is not safe for any of us, especially her," he offered Spencer.
"And why should I trust you? You knew she was alive and you acted like you had so much sympathy for Emily. You're a liar, just like them!" Spencer countered. "For all we know, she is A! Give me one good reason why I shouldn't call the police right now. Or, you know what? Maybe I should so Maya can give them an explanation since you and that she-devil seem to think she doesn't owe anyone else one." She challenged him while pulling out her cell phone.
Suddenly, Maya snapped around and her eyes zeroed in on Spencer. She released Jenna's hand and walked over to them. Her pace was steady, her jaw set and her eyes were dark and emotionless. She moved Jason aside and stood right in front of Spencer. Spencer couldn't help but become uneasy by the fiercely dark emptiness in Maya's eyes. It was as if she was void of any feelings. Emily's eyes widened. She had never seen that look in Maya's eyes before. Jenna, on the other hand, crossed her arms as a wickedly smug smile formed on her lips.
Maya leaned in close to Spencer so that only she could hear her. "Do you really want to play this game with me?" Her voice took on a dangerous tone. "I know that you pushed Alison the night she died and didn't even stick around to see if she was okay. Tisk, tisk, Spencer," Maya whispered with a hint of scolding anger. "Don't worry; that's not what killed her but try convincing the police of that because I bet they would be very interested in that story, especially Detective Wilden. Don't fucking test me, Spencer. We all have our secrets," Maya warned as she backed away and glared into Spencer's horror filled eyes. She turned her back on her and walked back over to Jenna.
Spencer stood frozen for a moment. How did she know that? No one knew that. The only people that were there were her and Alison. Spencer tried to hide the panic that was threatening to show on her face. She swallowed hard as she slipped her phone back into her pocket. Hanna and Aria looked at her suspiciously while Emily kept her eyes on Maya.
Jason could see that whatever Maya said to Spencer, rattled her. He stepped back in front of her before he spoke. "I will tell you as much as I can but no one can know about this. Not the police or anyone else. That includes, Ezra…" he looked over at Aria.
"And Toby…" Jenna added while glaring at Spencer.
"And Paige…" Maya warned without looking in Emily's direction.
"Agreed?" Jason asked while looking at all four girls and Caleb. They all nodded in agreement except for Emily.
Emily was still stunned and confused by Maya's behavior. Was she really angry at her for dating Paige? Emily had no way of knowing since Maya wouldn't even look at her let alone speak to her.
"Emily, agreed?" Jason asked her softly. He knew that her mind must be all over the place right now but he needed her assurance that she wouldn't tell anyone about this.
Emily shifted her eyes from Maya to look at him. She sighed before answering. "Yeah," she whispered nodding her head and shifting her gaze back to Maya.
Maya let out a deep breath and nodded at Jenna. They both turned and headed out of the clearing. "Wait!" Emily's voice filled the air. She moved forward until she was blocked by Jason and Spencer with Hanna and Aria gently holding her back. "Maya, won't you say something to me?" Emily's voice broke.
Maya stopped and nearly crumbled when she heard the pain and confusion in Emily's voice. "Maya…" Jenna spoke softly to her while tugging her forward. She knew that Maya's resolve was breaking fast and she had to get her out of there now. Maya looked up at her and Jenna felt a lump rising in her own throat at the despair she saw in her love's eyes. "…let's go," she gently urged her on. Maya tightened her hand in Jenna's and lowered her eyes, taking a deep breath. When she looked back up, she gave Jenna a weak smile and continued walking with her.
Suddenly, Emily moved forward, trying to push past Spencer and Jason while dragging Hanna and Aria behind her. "Maya, please! Don't go! Please, just talk to me!" Emily pleaded without shame. She desperately needed to get to Maya.
"No, Emily…" Spencer protested gently while holding her ground to keep Emily from getting past her.
"I can't let her go again!" Emily pleaded with her, her voice cracking and strained.
Spencer felt her heart breaking as she watched desperation and fear fill her friend's eyes. She wanted to stop the pain for Emily but she knew that if she let her go after Maya, she would probably end up hurting more.
Crumbling under the weight of helplessness, Emily's heart shattered as she watched Maya disappear into the woods. Just like that she was gone…again.
This was another long chapter and had to be broken into two parts. I will wait a couple of days before I post chapter 6. Review, and please be gentle… :)