Page 25

I woke up with a pounding headache, my head heavy and foggy. My mouth was dry, and there was this dull ache in my throat.

What the hell happened last night?

I pushed myself up a little, my vision still blurred but—thank God—I was wearing clothes.

My mind felt foggy, trying to piece it all together, like a puzzle that doesn't fit properly.

My memories hit me behind my eyes: only shattered moments remain.

Nick led me to a pub. I remember faking a lot of laughs, forcing smiles that didn't reach my eyes. Meaningless words. Words that, for some reason, started to affect me. Then drinking way too much.

To forget.

Forget what had happened with Maya—what she saw on my skin.

Forget the weight of it—the way my secret unraveled before her.

I remember walking to the door, Nick's voice and someone else's... sweet and bossy...

I just can't remember if it was even real.

Wait.

There's no way that voice belonged to... to Maya.

I remember someone holding me up to my room, their touch gentle yet steady, keeping me from falling apart. The way I was carried, so carefully, made me feel... protected, comforted.

It was Nick, right? He held me tight, and made sure I was safe in my bed—right?

But then there are those strange flashes... or maybe a strange dream...

Hair. Long, like, really soft long hair.

I remember smelling its perfume... it was like... a warm, spicy scent... but I can't figure out what the main note was.

Jeez, it was so familiar—almost intoxicating.

And I remember this unstoppable desire, like I couldn't hold it in, pulling me toward something I couldn't reach.

Pause, as the most powerful memory hits me... or was it a dream?

Some warm lips against my cheek...

I must've been dreaming it.

Yes—a beautiful dream about...

Maya.

It can't be real—I definitely drank too much and must have hallucinated it all.

That's the only answer, right?

Every time I tried to remember, it slipped away, leaving me with this warm, intense desire.

Everything else is just a blur.

I looked at my phone—it was just nine in the morning. Weird. Not even a single text from Nick. I don't know why, but it felt strange, and yet, I had no intention of texting him.

I raised myself up slowly, my legs were shaking a little, my feet unsteady. My mind kept betraying me.

I took a long, hot shower, trying to wash everything off of me, but it stayed right there.

I put on the first clothes I found on the chair, and left my room, yearning to meet... Maya.

Just her.

And there she was.

Sitting on the stool in the living room. The moment she saw me she immediately stood up and walked over to me, impatiently.

Her dark eyes carefully scanned my whole body, making sure I was... okay?

My heart pounded.

I'm not sure what I was supposed to do or say, but the weird part was that she seemed to be feeling the same way...

Maybe it was because of what she saw on my skin yesterday.

That would make sense.

If that was really a dream, I just can't casually say to her: 'Hey, Maya, I dream about you last night, and it was hot, you know?'

Nope. Not happening.

I'd rather just bury myself than look like an idiot in front of her.

Imagine her reaction if she knew I was hallucinating over a dream about her...

Though it feels so damn real.

If what I imagined really happened, she should be the one to tell me, right?

"How are you feeling?" Maya snapped me out of my thoughts, her eyes still trailing over my face.

"Fine..."

"You don't look fine," she said, spinning around to open the fridge. She ended up handing me a bottle of cold water. "Rehydrate yourself."

She even took off the bottle cap for me.

My hand trembled slightly as I brushed against her fingers.

Her long hair was soft, flowing like silk as she leaned closer.

"Headache," I whispered after drinking a ton of water.

"Right," she murmured, then spun around again to open a cabinet and grab something. The crop top she was wearing lifted slightly, revealing more of her hips as she reached up. She approached me with a pill. "Tylenol," she said. "For the headache. Take it with water."

Our fingers brushed again as I quickly slid the pill into my mouth.

Maya looked right into my eyes. "That's it?"

"I don't know... probably..." I murmured.

She gave a slow nod, crossing her arms, then turned around again, her expression a mix of confusion and disappointment

I sat on the stool, pondering what to say now, but words escaped my mouth before I could even realize.

"Where were you yesterday night?" I asked with urgency.

She paused, her breathing grew heavier.

The table was the only thing separating us, her arms resting firmly against it, until—she leaned over it, facing me.

"Here."

My heart pounded. "Here... where?"

"In this house, Grace. Is this an interrogation?"

"No... I just wondered... where... because... I had..." I stammered.

What the hell?! Really nothing makes sense to me now.

Maya looked at me with those piercing, deep eyes, as if she were both trying to understand me and convey her hopes and thoughts.

"Never mind," I murmured, lowering my gaze.

"Last night, Grace," she snapped, her voice colder than I expected. "You had fun?"

"I wouldn't say that..." I shook my head, searching her gaze again. "It was a weird... surreal night... I really can't figure it out..."

Maya was still standing there, her jaw clenched, something was shifting inside of her and I wonder why.

Like, I really need to know why.

"Maya, can I ask what you're thinking right now...?" I stuttered.

"I'm thinking you're not getting a single damn thought from me." And without another word, she walked away.

That really stung.

"You hate me that much?!" I called out as she stormed up the stairs.

I really can't cope with this anymore.

Maya stopped abruptly and spun around. "After everything, you still believe that?!" Her voice rising with frustration.

My chest tightened as I finally forced the words out. "What have you done to prove me wrong?!"

"Nothing." She exhaled sharply, her voice tight as she repeated, "nothing," turning away again and storming to her room.

The words she'd said echoed in my head, but they didn't make any sense. What had I done wrong? What could I possibly do to make this right?

But the more I thought about it, the more I realized—it was definitely a dream.

A beautiful dream... but it was just a dream.

I miserably walked upstairs, eying Maya's closed door as an ache settled in my chest.

Unable to take that one step further—to open her door.

I reached my own room and closed the door behind me, my chest heavy.

I feel so fucking dazed.