"The New Girl"
Are you ready to find out who Maya's special friend is?
By the way, whoever suggested Shana that was a great idea!
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"Hey Maya!" Spencer gives her a heads up that we're there.
"Hey Spence!" she says excitedly then she sees me and Hanna, "Hey you guys." She actually sounds fine with me being there.
"You don't mind that they came along too do you?" I feel sick.
"Of course not. I told you there was someone special I wanted you to meet and I'm glad she gets the chance to meet all of you." Wait! Did she just eye sex me? Does she forgive me? Are we good again? Emerging happy face!
But seriously, what the hell is going on? Who is she already?
She takes this girl's hand which makes me cringe inside and says, "Spencer, Hanna, Emily, I'd like you to meet…"
Chapter 12: Maya's Special Friend
Emily POV
She takes this girl's hand which makes me cringe inside and says, "Spencer, Hanna, Emily, I'd like you to meet my very best friend in the whole wide world! This is Jasmine!" Best friend! In the whole wide world! Jasmine!
"Oh my god, Jasmine, it's so nice to meet you! Maya talked about you and I saw pictures of you but you look so different that I didn't recognize it was you!" Spencer reveals. I don't know what to say so I just smile dumbly.
"She talked about me?" Yeah, she talked about her?!
"Maya misses you. But just know she's in good hands right here in Rosewood!" Yes she is!
"Are you going to school here?" Hanna asks like this is getting more interesting by the second.
"Sadly, no." Fuck yes! Oh no, I hope I wasn't being too obvious. I can't stop smiling!
"Why not?" Hanna asks. Stop asking questions and let her go already!
"She's a prodigy I guess you could say," Maya beams proudly.
"Maya!"
"Well, it's true. She's attending this swanky school in Japan for gifted violinists," she smiles and you can tell she really cares about her. I hope she looks at me like that someday.
"I had to see Maya before I fly back and she's been showing me around. She took me to your high school and I met her music teacher. I think Maya is going to be a force to reckon with on the cello." Mmmm. Hmmmm.
"What Em?" Maya asks catching me deep in thought.
"Oh, um, yeah, Maya's great. I love listening to her play." Love? Oh shit!
"Yeah, she's great! I could listen to her all day," Spencer chimes in.
"And you do!" I say surprising myself!
We all laugh which helps to lighten my mood.
"I'm so glad she has you guys. I was worried about her when I moved and then I find out she moved too. It's never easy starting in a new school."
"Is everything alright over there," Maya asks very concerned.
"Yeah. I didn't mean it to sound like it wasn't. The people are great. I just miss…." Oh great. Here we go. She misses Maya! I knew it!
"She misses her boyfriend Jer-e-my!" Maya stresses each syllable. And I'm like YAY! She has a boyfriend! If I could do a cartwheel I'd do one right now! YAY again! Super ecstatic face!
"Maya!"
"I'm kidding. He's a really good guy and I know he misses her."
"Did you get to see him before you fly back?" Hanna asks.
"His family is in New York so we're going to take the train to visit and then off to Tokyo from there."
"Tokyo sounds amazing!" Spencer enthuses while I remain quiet.
"It is! You have to go sometime!"
"Well now that we know someone we should! Right Em!" Maya catches me off guard.
"Japan? It would be an amazing journey," I'm caught in Maya's eyes. I can feel her understanding, warming me, wanting to help me through my own personal one.
"Well we better go. She needs to leave soon and we won't see each other for a long time."
"It was nice meeting all of you," Jasmine says sweetly.
"It was nice to meet you as well," Spencer politely responds as do Hanna and I.
"Oh and have a great time on your sleep over tomorrow! Whoever sleeps with Maya get ready for some cuddling!" She cuddles with Jasmine too!
"Don't worry. We already know. Maya's a cuddle monster!" Spencer yells back as we walk down Maya's driveway laughing. Well at least Hanna and Spencer are. I'm starting to feel worried but why? Jasmine has a boyfriend.
"Em is everything okay?" Hanna sees me thinking.
"Yeah why?"
"You look deep in thought that's all," she says.
"Just tired I guess."
"Well Jasmine seems like a really nice girl," Spencer offers her impression.
"She does. I'm glad they're friends and have each other especially where their music is concerned," I say attempting to convince myself that they could only be just friends.
"I think that's great that they've remained friends even with the distance between them. Maya says she plays violin better than she plays the cello," Spencer tells us.
"I'm not sure if that's even possible," I throw in.
"I know right!" Spencer agrees.
"I haven't heard Maya play. I feel so left out!" Hanna gives pouty face.
"I'm sure you'll hear her at school," I say.
"Alrighty then girls that's it for me, I'll see you both tomorrow. Don't be late. Last one there gets last pick," Spencer smirks.
"Last pick for what?" Hanna asks confused.
"For who gets to sleep with whom!" Spencer smiles and closes the door behind her.
"Well then Em, you better get here early if you wanna sleep with Maya." Huh? What!
"Hanna!"
"I'm kidding! I'll see ya tomorrow!"
Off she goes leaving me alone in Spencer's driveway. Leaving me alone to contemplate what the hell is going on with me! I can't believe I'm jealous of a best friend. She's just a friend. She has a boyfriend. She and Maya are just friends. But can Maya and I be friends again? Can we be best friends? Can we be girlfriends? I look over at her house. I can see the two of them through the window laughing on the couch together. And I wonder, can we ever be like that or did I totally fuck it up…
The next day…
Well, it's time for the sleep over. I say goodbye to my mom and she tells me to have fun. But as I'm about to get in my car my phone beeps. It's Hanna, she needs a ride. So I pick her up and the first thing she says is, "It's still on ya know."
"What's still on?"
"If I walk into Spencer's house first, I get first dibs on who I'm sleeping with and I think I'm gonna pick Maya!" Wait! What! No fucking way! I thought she was kidding!
"And why Maya?"
"Cuz I haven't really gotten the chance to know her yet." You don't have to sleep with her to get to know her.
"Fine. But you have to wait until I turn the car off, it's only fair."
"Okay okay."
I pull into Spencer's driveway and park. On the count of three we book out of the car! It's a close race until I hear my name, "Emily!"
I stop. Fuck! I stop! Hanna wins! Hanna gets to sleep with Maya! What the fuck! Does the world hate me that much!
"Hey, what's the big hurry?" Maya asks. And what do I say? We're racing to see who gets to sleep with you!
"Oh just something Spencer said about the sleeping arrangements and Hanna's being a big dork about it."
"And you?"
"I'm just playing along."
"Hmmm. Well then let's see about those sleeping arrangements," she says letting me walk ahead of her into the house.
I peak slightly over my shoulder and I can see her eye sexing me. And I get butterflies in my stomach or more like bats! She must've forgiven me for sending her away! She forgives me! Does she? She has to!
"Well Hanna, it looks like you win."
"Yep I do."
"So you choose Maya?"
"I was going to but then Spencer reminded me about the cuddling thing and I don't like to be touched when I'm sleeping. Caleb has a couple of bruised ribs to prove it!" she laughs.
"Don't worry Maya, I'll sleep with you," Spencer says not wanting her friend to feel bad.
"Maya, I haven't seen Spencer all summer, do you mind sleeping with Emily?"
My mouth falls slightly open. And my eyes bug slightly out of my head.
"No, not at all. We have some catching up to do ourselves," she eyebrow arches me. Oh no! She wants to talk about what happened! I don't know if I even know what to say!
"Okay, okay, now that that's out of the way let's get settled in the barn," Spencer suggests.
"Sounds good to me. It's gonna be a chilly evening, should we collect some firewood?" I ask.
"Nope, fireplace is all stocked up. My dad made sure of it this morning. Just bring your bags and your food and…" her voice quiets, "…the beer."
Later in the evening…
We're having a great time talking about our summers eating pizza and junk and drinking soda. But then leave it to Hanna to suggest a drinking game handing us each a bottle of beer.
"Let's play 'Have You Ever'." Noooo! I hate that game! I haven't done anything…ever!
"Hanna, you're so going to get sloshed!" Spencer laughs.
"I know! Let's play!"
"Okay, I have a question," Spencer starts, "Have you ever been kissed?"
"Oh come on Spencer that was so lame!" Hanna sounds impatient.
"Everybody drink!" Spencer laughs.
I can do that. I kissed St. Bernard Ben! Ewww!
I can tell Maya knows what I'm thinking cuz she's laughing too!
"My turn after your lameness Spence," Hanna takes control, "Have you ever smoked pot?"
I don't drink but Hanna does and so does Spencer, shocking! But most importantly Maya does too!
"So Maya, you smoke?" Hanna asks rather bluntly.
"I have but I don't make a habit of it," she winks. At me!
"And what do you make a habit of?" Hanna digs.
"I thought I was making a habit of something but now I'm not so sure," she looks at me the whole time her words leave her mouth. Yes, Maya, make me your habit once again!
"I'll pry later when I'm more tipsy or is it tipsier?" Hanna wonders.
"It's tipsier," Spencer confirms.
"Your turn Maya," Hanna practically cuts Spencer off.
"Have you ever regretted not getting to know someone because of what others might think?"
Everyone drinks except Maya. I watch her as she watches me.
"Seriously Maya, there's no one?"
"Nope. I never have regrets. A life with regrets can be very lonely."
I clear my throat, "My turn, have you ever been over kissed by someone or have you over kissed them?"
We all drink and we all start laughing telling our stories. Maya tells hers but she leaves out the name, my name! But then she says something so incredibly sweet…
"If she would've stopped worrying about being her true self we probably would've still been making out!"
"She?" Hanna needs to make sure she heard right.
"Yes, she. She was an amazing kisser. I'd definitely kiss her again."
"Damn Maya, maybe I do want to sleep with you!" Hanna laughs.
"Too late! You're stuck with me!" Spencer nudges her making Hanna spill over the top of her third or fourth beer!
"Spencer!"
"Oh just wash it off! It's super late anyway. Let's all get in our jammies."
"Jammies, really Spencer," I poke fun at her.
"Yeah, jammies," she makes a face and goes in the bedroom to change while Hanna retreats to the bathroom to debeer herself.
"I think jammies is cute!" Maya says with her super sweet voice.
She catches me looking around for somewhere to change.
"Em, we've done this already. I promise I won't look."
"I'm sorry. I'm such a nerd."
"Maybe so but I like nerds," she winks.
I'm blushing hard as I quickly get out of my clothes and into my jammies, the usual, shorts and a t-shirt, and this time I leave on my bra!
"Sounds like Hanna decided to take a shower," Maya small talks me I think in an attempt to relax me.
"I was just thinking that I wanted to brush my teeth. I guess I'll do it in the kitchen sink. Or is that too gross."
"Oh please, it's a sink. I'll join you if you don't mind."
"Umm, yeah, sure."
We brush our teeth in silence except for the spitting. Oh my fuck! Even her spitting is sexy! Her toothbrush can go back quite far too! Damn! No gag reflex! I guess mine goes back pretty far too.
Oh shit! A little too far, and I start choking!
"Em, are you okay?" she asks after she spits out her toothpaste.
I spit and choke and spit and choke…
She puts her hand on my back patting it gently. She's so good to me after how I treated her. I would be stupid to let this girl go…
"Hey, is everything okay in here?" Spencer walks into the room.
"Yeah, Em just choked on her toothpaste. She's fine."
With hoarseness in my voice I say, "I'm okay. I was trying to hurry so we weren't spitting on top of each other." I just realized what I said when Maya cocks an eyebrow with a side smile.
"It's really late guys so Hanna and I are going to bed when she's done in the bathroom."
"That's fine we're kind of tired too. It was a fun night Spence. Thanks for including me."
"How could I not?! I adore you Maya and I think Hanna and Em do too." You have no idea Spencer!
"Well Maya I'm glad you helped me get that fire started. Are you two going to be warm enough?"
"I think so," I speak before Maya has a chance to.
"Oh! I know! You guys can put the blankets and sheets in front of the fireplace. Here, let me help."
Spencer takes the blankets and lays them down just like she suggested. Then she lays the sheets over it and tosses the pillows over them.
"There! Now I know Maya will sleep better cuz she'll have a cuddle buddy."
"Spencer, you're ridiculous."
"Good night cuddle buddies!"
"Good night jammies!"
I grab a pillow from the couch and toss it at her and she actually catches it!
"Good one Em but u need to work on your pillow tossing!"
She throws it to Maya who places it on top of the other ones.
"Good night Spence."
"Good night Maya."
We hear Hanna come out of the shower, "Good night you two!"
"Good night Hanna!" we yell in unison.
"Well, now that all the good nights are out of the way and the teeth brushed…"
"I need to pee. I'll be right back." I really do need to pee!
"I better go when you're done so I don't have to get up in the middle of the night." So you won't disrupt our cuddling!
When I'm done I sit on the couch and when she's done she joins me.
"Not ready for bed yet?"
"Are you?"
"I was hoping we could talk."
"Maya, I'm so sorry. I was so awful to you and you've been nothing but…amazing…"
"Em, I didn't mean to make you feel bad about wanting to kiss me. You surprised me and I reacted. But it didn't mean I didn't want to keep trying." I smile so hard I have to look down to try to unsmile.
"I was so brutally mean to you."
"You were embarrassed weren't you?"
"I was humiliated. And then you followed me and I felt even worse because you were being so kind to me. I thought, I thought you were patronizing me."
She takes my hand and I dip my head to hide my smile, "No. I would never do that Em. Never. That's the last thing you need. Look, I'm not going to reveal your secret but it's going to be hard to keep it."
"Why?"
"Because hiding who you really are will take its toll on you."
"You don't know that."
"Em, think about the people in your life who are inconsistent, where you're never really sure what side of their personality you're going to get when you sit down to dinner, or never know how they're going to react when you share certain things. That lack of consistency can be chaotic and unsettling. You feel it don't you?"
I take my hand away, "Yes, of course I do. And I know you're right but I'm not ready. I know I'm being inconsistent inside but home is so easy. It's not chaotic or unsettling at all."
"Home isn't but you are."
"Maya…"
"Emily, not being who you really are is conflicting and it's causing that inconsistency. But if you can be who you are all the time then you will always be you. That consistency will make acceptance and healing possible for everyone. Be who you were meant to be, recover your true self, renew your true self, recharge your true self and accomplish anything. Don't let society or your feelings of inadequacy drown you or overwhelm you. Don't be distracted by what you think other people want you to be. Take what you really want from life. Be Emily Fields."
Maya's right. I will renew me quietly. And when I'm ready I will renew me openly.
"I will be Emily Fields, the real Emily Fields with you Maya. Can that be enough for now?"
She gets up and walks behind the couch standing at the end of our makeshift bed in her pajama bottoms and tank top watching the fire dance wildly. I know I need to do something so I get up too. I walk over to her. I stand there blocking the fire from her view. She stands there letting me. I move closer. She moves closer and says…
"From the first time I glided my arm around your waist I couldn't resist studying the outline of your hips." I feel weak.
"I know you're not ready, and that's okay," she slips my hair behind my ears whilst not taking her eyes off me. "But there's something else I know."
"What's that?" I gulp.
She lifts herself onto her toes and says tickling my earlobe, "I know for a fact, how perfectly they would fit into mine…"
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To Be Continued…