Page 10

So... Maya and I walked toward the library where Nick worked, and I felt a small spark of hope that maybe this whole situation could actually work out.

Getting through this will be my biggest win.

Maya was AGAIN all moody and grumpy for no apparent reason—especially since our shopping trip wasn't going that badly.

One minute, she was acting nice and patient, and the next, she was being... well, this.

We stepped in, and saw Nick, who seemed bored from being there. I walked toward him slowly, with Maya staying a little behind.

He saw me and immediately smirked, not expecting my arrival.

"Grace, no way, you actually came!"

He wore a black blazer with a white t-shirt underneath, his dark blonde hair neatly styled.

I stayed still, but he pulled me into a hug, so unexpected that it almost threw me off balance.

"Yeah, we were in the area..." I gestured toward Maya behind me, who was standing there, watching us with narrowed eyes and arms crossed.

"Maya," he said.

He honestly seemed a little less excited to see her. Actually, not excited at all.

She didn't even bother to greet him as she turned around with a sly grin, "Living the wild life, huh, Nick?"

"At least I'm not being sarcastic as a full time job like you, right?" he shot back, his voice sharp.

Maya raised a brow, unfazed."Too bad I wasn't even being sarcastic." She let the words sink in before smirking. "However, sarcasm is a skill, Nick. You should try it sometimes—might make you less boring."

Nick clenched his jaw, his eyes narrowing with irritation.

Yeah, that's definitely not friendly.

He looked at me, dismissing Maya with a burning glare. "Got any shopping?"

"Ehm... sort of..."

He glanced down at my bag, and suddenly I remembered the awkward swap I'd done with Maya earlier and her short skirt...

My face burned with embarrassment as his eyes flicked to the skirt and then back to me with a teasing expression.

"It'll suit you," he murmured, leaning closer to my ear.

I didn't answer—too embarrassed to even look at him.

I turned around and saw Maya glaring at us. She looked... off, but was stubbornly trying not to show it.

Her mood swings are seriously driving me crazy.

"Come on, let me show you around, Grace," Nick said.

"You coming...?" I asked Maya.

"No," she replied dryly. "I already know what's in a library, believe it or not."

Nick took my arm and led me further in.

"I'm really happy you came, you know. I've been thinking about you," he smirked.

"Oh..." I mumbled, not really knowing what else to say.

"I'm off in an hour, Grace. Stay until then and we can eat together... and see where it goes..."

"I don't know if that's a good idea, Nick..." I hesitated, glancing back at Maya, whose intense gaze was fixed directly on us.

"I mean, I came here with her. I really don't want to piss her off or something..."

I can't believe her mood swings are making me second-guess my choices now.

"Don't let her control you, Grace. You know how she is now." His voice was low, like a warning.

"Aren't you two friends?" I asked on purpose.

His eyes twitched. "I wouldn't call it that," he replied, evasive.

I could feel there was something hidden underneath that. Something was off between them, and I wanted to figure it out.

Before I could ask anything else, Nick cut me off. "Here's an idea... I'll pick you up later. I'll text you."

I simply smiled, silently walking back to where Maya stood, still in the same position, her whole posture stiff and tense.

"See you later, Grace," Nick said out loud, still holding my arm.

Maya watched closely as I just pursed my lips and made my way out.

"Goodbye, book-boy," she spun on her heel, and headed for the door, opening it for us.

"Book-boy? That's a new one," I muttered under my breath, shaking my head.

Shit, I finally made it out of there.

There was A LOT going on in that library.

"You're seeing him later?" Maya asked as we stepped out.

"I don't know..."

Jeez, I thought I was done.

"He said later," she insisted.

"Well, he said that, but it's up to me."

I don't even know why I'm explaining this or why she kept asking, but her face had this strange mix of irritation and satisfaction.

"Could've been a little kinder, by the way," I muttered.

"I decide who deserves my kindness, Ohio."

"Seems like no one qualifies, though," I pointed out.

She shot me an exasperated look as her heels clicked sharply on the ground. "You've known me for a few days. Don't act like you've got me all figured out."

I forced a smile.

"You've never really made it clear what's going on in your head, Maya," I replied, trying to mask my frustration.

She stopped walking. I could tell she was taken aback, her eyes narrowing slightly as she took a deep breath.

"Well, it's not that simple," she finally spoke. "Maybe you should just stop jumping to wrong conclusions."

I was the one taken aback by her words now. But I understood what she meant. Maybe I had been reading too much into everything without really knowing.

But at the same time... how could I not? She's acting so untouchable.

"Right..." I whispered.

I heard her let out a sigh. "We should get back in the car."

It was getting dark, so I just nodded.

I felt like something between us was shifting to the wrong side. Maya slid into the driver's seat, gripping the wheel in a tense way.

"We should do this again..." I said, trying to cut the tension. And I meant it.

Her hands stayed tight on the wheel as she stared at the road ahead, but the car was still turned off.

I had no idea what was going on in her head, but something was DEFINITELY going on.

"Was this whole act just an excuse to see him?" she asked, her voice steady, but I could hear her breathing quickened.

"What?"

"You heard me."

"Of course not!" My heart suddenly raced. "I came here to go shopping with you, Maya. Like I told you at the pool."

"Yeah—right, whatever you say," her calm tone a little too forced and sarcastic.

"I'm not just saying it—I mean it," I replied.

"I don't know what to think, but if you're looking for excuses to see him, leave me out of it." She loudly started the car, her hands gripping the wheel tighter.

"I'm not dragging you into anything, Maya. Seriously. Trust me on this," I said firmly.

She didn't answer, and I glanced at her from the corner of my eye. Her face was unreadable, her jaw tight, but her breathing was slowing down.

Her walls were impossible to break through, but at least she wasn't snapping at me.

For now.

I don't even know if that's positive or not.

I turned to the window, my heart still pounding as my eyes got lost in the view.

I didn't want it to end like this. Not like this.

Before this, we were doing well for our standards.

Several minutes of silence later, I saw a Taco Bell on the way.

I wonder if she even eats at Taco Bell... or is not a 'rich person' thing?

"Uhm... you wanna grab something from Taco Bell...?" I asked hesitantly.

I swear, I don't even know why I'm doing this. I just want things to be right again.

Maya paused for a moment, looking genuinely nervous.

"I have something to do," she replied, her voice softer than usual.

"Yeah, never mind..." I tried to sound casual, but I was curious and disappointed, unsure of what to think.

"I really do have something important to do," she insisted, her tone more serious and concerned.

Seems like she has a lot to do lately...

"It's okay, Maya..." I said, staring at the window.

It's okay.

It's no big deal.

We got home, and I swear, when she turned off the car, she was about to say something but stopped herself. I waited for her, and we both went inside together.

The words left unsaid made me even more nervous.

I stopped in front of the door of my room and glanced at her out of the corner of my eye. "Guess I'll see you later..." I whispered, hoping she'd say something—anything.

"Yeah, see you," she smiled, her expression more relieved.

It was soft, but it was there.

I walked into my room, and she went into hers. I flopped on my bed, feeling a strange weight on my chest, but a small smile appeared for no reason. One of those smiles that just shows up.

Never mind, whatever.

She has this important thing to do that she can't give up... or maybe she just doesn't want to stay with me longer.

I tried hard not to overthink it, but I couldn't help wondering if it was all just an excuse to avoid me. Yet she seemed sincere.

In that moment a text distracted me from my thoughts.

It was Nick.

What about the offer I made you at the library? ;) >>

Well, I've got nothing better to do... and since I still don't have a single damn clue about Maya and Nick's relationship...

Yeah, what time?>> I texted him back.

I'll pick you up in a bit. Get ready ;)>>