MAYA'S DESIRE

CHAPTER 5

Maya

I didn't know how to respond , I went slent for what felt like a nanosecond or was it more, I had no f*****g idea.

“Maya”, my mum's. Myce rasped through the phone, slicing through the silence like a jagged blade.

My breath hitched. Seven years, seven long years since I last heard that voice, yet it still made my skin crawl.

“I got parole” She continued, taking my silence as a cue to keep talking, sounding like it was almost good news.

“I'll be out in six months, baby, and my ama is coming to get you”.

A cold fist wrapped around my throat, making me tighten my grip on the phone. My mind raced, scrambling to process the words.

Six months!

That was when my dad's wedding to my stepmother was scheduled. It was supposed to be the start of a new chapter. Clean. Safe. And now?

The woman who used to hurt me without a second thought will be free just in time to ruin it.

I tried to speak, to force out words, but they lodged in my throat like splinters. My pulse roared in my ears.

It was like the pain I suffered all those years resurfaced, the bruises had long faded but I could still feel them, phantom pain under my skin.

My hands moved on it on their own, and I hung up, causing the phone to slip from my fingers and land on the bed. I sank back into my bed, groaning as I buried my face in my palms, my heart hammering.

What was she up to?

*****

“Morning, Dad. Morning, Mrs. Clark”, I mumbled, pulling out the seat opposite Jayden.

My dad looked up, his eyes sweeping over me. A flicker of something unreadable passed through his gaze before he nodded.

“Morning, Maya.”

“ Morning, sweetheart,“ Shannon chimed in warmly, her voice oddly soothing. It had an almost practiced warmth, like the kind you'd use to calm a wounded animal.

“Did you sleep well? “ she pressed, her gaze searching, peeling back the invisible layers I wasn't ready to expose.

“I guess,” I mumbled, reaching for my fork.

I felt his eyes on me before he even spoke. The intensity of his glare was piercing.

“Morning, baby sis” Jayden greeted, his voice dripping with amusement.

He was taunting me, I know.

I mentally rolled my eyes,.Oh great, back to being a baby sis.

“I'm not your baby sister” I shot back at him, my eyes glued to my plate, refusing to meet his gaze.

“Maya! “Dad's voice was a mix of warning and pleading. “ Be nice”.

Shannon chuckled lightly.

“They'll get along I'm sure.”

Jayden's gaze bore into me, making me push my food around the plate. The weight of it was suffocating.

“You're barely eating, Maya”. Shannon noted, her voice laced with concern.

“ I don't have an appetite, “ I replied, standing up abruptly.

Dad sighed exasperated. Maybe it was because of my cold attitude, or maybe he just didn't know what to say anymore.

With a heavy sigh, I walked off to my room stopping at the wine cabinet. My eyes scanned the shelves, spotting the various bottles lined up. I grabbed two bottles of vodka, the strongest I could find.

Maybe just a sip

Maybe enough to blur the edges.

Maybe enough to drown the storm raging in my head.

******

“Wha the f**k…” I trailed off, eyes widening in horror as I scurried to grab the towel that sprawled across my bed.

Jayden froze in place, his eyes briefly flickering downward before he spun around dramatically, slapping his palms over his face.

“Why don't you f*****g knock on the door “. I blurted out, my voice a mixture of anger and humiliation.

He let out a chuckle, shaking his head.

“Then I'd miss seeing this,” he said, gesturing towards me.

I glared at him a storm brewing in my eyes.

He made a poor attempt at looking remorseful, keeping his hands over his face.

I could tell he was grinning behind them. He finally peeked through his fingers before dropping them altogether, flashing me that infuriating smirk of his.

“I'll be waiting outside”. He said casually, turning his back and walking off.

I groaned loudly burying my face into my palms.

Sliding into the passenger's seat, I adjusted my backpack on my thigh as Jayden hopped into the driver's seat with his usual effortless ease.

I traced slow, absentminded circles on my thigh, trying to focus on anything other than the suffocating awkwardness.

From the corner of my eye, I caught him stealing glances at me. I knew better than to stare straight ahead, if I did, I'd pretend the silence didn't exist, and Jayden? Well, he'd probably find a way to make it worse.

He tapped his fingers on the steering wheel lightly, causing me to turn my head slightly.

Almost as if he could feel my gaze, he turned sharply.

“You're staring,” he said with a knowing smile forming at the corner of his lips.

I scoffed, rolling my eyes. “Yeah, right”

“It's okay, I don't mind, “ he continued, his voice dripping with amusement. He ran his hand through his already tousled hair before flashing me a grin.” I mean, I do look gorgeous “

I cursed under my breath, shifting my gaze towards the window to hide the heat creeping up my neck.

“Would you just drive the car? “ I snapped, trying to hide the embarrassment in my tone.

The after-sun streamed through the tall windows of the empty classroom, casting elongated shadows across the desks. The muffled sound of the bustling school echoed faintly, a distant reminder of the world outside my self-imposed solitude.

“ There you are” Amelia's voice rang out, a mix of relief and mild exasperation. Rui followed behind.

I shifted my gaze from my novel briefly, offering a half heartehalf-heartedHey”

She folded her arms, leaning against the desk behind me.

“You missed lunch, we've been looking everywhere for you” Rui perched on the desk in front of me, his dark eyes searching mine.

“Everything okay?”

“I'm fine” I replied, my tone betraying the turmoil beneath.

Rui reached out, his fingers brushing a stray strand of curls from my face. The unexpected touch sent a jolt down my spine and I instinctively leaned back, putting some distance between us.

“Sorry,” he mumbled, withdrawing his hand, a little flicker of hurt crossing his face.

“You really missed out on lunch today, the lunch lady served our favourite “ Amelia drooled, causing me to chuckle lightly.

“Guess I'll have to wait for next time”.

She turned her gaze back to Rui.

“ I think you should check up on Jayden, something about ripping Mace's skin off “.

He hesitated, his eyes lingering on me.

“Sure thing, and I'm so dragging his ass over here”. He said walking off.

“Alright, spill, you look like you've murdered someone “ Amelia teased her sharp eyes locking into mine.

I wasn't sure to tell her what was going on but my desperate need to shove off the thoughts of Jayden came back biting me in the ass.

“ I need your help setting up blind dates with guys in school.. I ummm need a sort of a distraction “

I blurted out rather too fast.

She arched her brows as she scanned me, then her lips curled up into a smile.

“Sure thing”. She grabbed her phone and began scrolling her gaze flickering between me and the screen.

Seconds passed. The glow on her phone illuminatinilluminatesThen she turned the screen towards me, holding it up inches from my face.

A name. A photo. A message waiting to be answered.

“ I think I have someone that might interest you….”.