Playing Games

Crap TV

'Maria what the hell was that? A couple of weeks ago he was bashing the hell out of your boyfriend and now you're kissing him? How long has this been going on?' Mona was raging. After her father had left Mona had cornered her cousin. 

'it was the first time'

'have you even had a conversation?'

'no,' Maria answered, it isn't that. Me and Andrew haven't been right for a while. Every time we get back on track something happens. We argue. He gets mad and I get upset. Chase just…he just caught me in a bad moment and…oh I don't know. Mona, I don't know anymore, about anything.'

Mona looked at her in surprise. They hadn't talked a lot lately; she had no idea that she and Andrew were having problems. Seeing Maria now she noticed two things, the first was that Maria had lost a lot a weight. It wasn't obvious but Mona could see her collar bone, which meant she hadn't been eating. And the second, at no point had Maria said anything negative about Chase.

Thinking back Mona couldn't think of a single comment her cousin had made about Chase. Andrew and Mona had talked about him, Max even shared his opinion, but Maria had avoided committing to a side.

'Maria, I can't deal with this right now. Andrew is a good guy. He might have a short temper but he loves you. Chase, Jesus Maria, Chase is dangerous. Do you get that?'

Maria only nodded. 'I need to speak to Andrew' she said,

Mona agreed, 'yeah, but you probably should figure out what you're going to say first. I'm going to go see the girls, try and minimise the gossip that is spreading like wildfire.'

Maria didn't want her to leave her. But she also couldn't ask her to stay. So, she gave her a long hug, 'take care of yourself Maria. And make sure you eat lunch. I’ll see you after school for practice' Mona gave her a pointed look then left.

Maria went to find Andrew, he was sat at their usual lunch table, although it wasn’t lunch.  Thankfully the room was quiet, Andrew was sat by himself staring out the window, he heard Maria approach but didn’t turn to face her. ‘How are you?’ she asked him gently, he shrugged, ‘got the all clear I guess, and I’m not in trouble although Mrs Austin wants my head’. He sounded so sad and defeated, Maria could have cried. 

He still didn’t look at her, of which Maria was grateful, she wasn’t sure how she would meet his eye. 

'Are you here to break up with me?' Andrew asked her, his voice reminded her of a young child's, lost and sad.

'no' she whispered,

'Everything was going to well for us Maria, for me. For once I was so happy, I thought…really thought for a while there that life was going well.’

Maria looked down at him, he was already bruising, and she didn't like to see him in pain, 'Andrew' she sighed,

'have I lost you Maria? I seem to be losing everything else. Mrs Austin will take away my Captain title, recruiters won’t bother coming for me, I can’t even win a state championship. I won’t be able to afford college, not without help, I’ll just stay working in my crappy job, full time, making nothing.  I’ll be nothing.'

He looked up at her pleadingly, staring right in her eyes, his own welling up with tears.

Maria started to cry, ‘That won’t happen, you’re a great swimmer and at college you’ll get a scholarship, or some help for sure.'

He took her hand, 'I can't lose you'.

Maria couldn't stand to look at him, instead she kept her eyes to the floor, pulling his hand against her cheek, 'I'm so sorry Andrew,' the words came quietly from her.

Slowly he rose up, still holding her hand his breath shuddered, his ribs were sore. 'let's go home, just bin off today and go back to mine. Chill out, order pizza and watch some crap tv' he didn't ask her, it was a statement. He sounded tired and she rose, preparing his shirt and gathering her bag. 'sounds perfect,' she said turning.

He watched her walk away, his beautiful Maria.