What Becomes Of Us (An Anthology)

I Loved Her First - 1

Introduction

Richt Adams regrets breaking up with Maia Maze, but too caught up in his pride, he did nothing. He thought he would be fine until he saw her with another.

And in a daring attempt to win her back, at one unguarded moment, he proclaims his love for her as she was walking out of a public event they both attended.

She stopped and turned.

What happens after she looks back? 

***

Part 1

Richt

I shifted my weight from one foot to the other as I uneasily fixed my tie. I stood, waiting, on the corner of the stage in front of the dance floor where I was to sing a song for the network's grand formal dance attended by hundreds of artists, executives, staff and press people.

I took a deep staggering breath, trying to shake off the nerves. No, this was not my first time to perform with such an audience, in fact I am used to singing to huge crowds of people after being in show after show and concert after concert. What made me almost lose it was that it would be my first time to sing in front of her since we broke up and I didn't really know how to handle seeing her again on such an occasion after five months…

As if on cue and to further test my resilience, she walked in just as the song started.

Maia Maze…

Maia with her long shiny hair set in loose waves that cascaded over the silky olive skin of her perfect collarbone and shoulders... Maia with her mesmerizing brown eyes that sparkled brighter than any star in the evening sky... Maia with her full red lips that curled up in the most beautiful smile I have ever seen…

Maia…

Maia who still touched my heart.

Maia who still took my breath away.

Maia who still made my knees weak.

Maia who I still longed for.

Maia who seemed to float across the room with her ethereal presence in another man's arm.

Maia who I lost through my own fault and did not know how to win back.

"Maia..." I whispered under my breath before lifting the microphone up to my lips and started singing When I Was Your Man by Bruno Mars.

Same bed but it feels just a little bit bigger now

Our song on the radio but it don't sound the same

When our friends talk about you, all it does is just tear me down

'Cause my heart breaks a little when I hear your name

I watched Caleb, the new guy who replaced me on the variety show that Maia and I co-starred in, shortly after I left when we broke up, leaning towards her and whispering in her ear.

Yes, I left the show. The one that fatefully brought Maia and I together. I had to. I couldn't bear seeing her everyday and not being with her. I couldn't take, catching a glimmer of pain in her eyes when our eyes accidentally met on screen. I just couldn't see her hurt anymore. I've caused her too much of that and I thought it was best for me to give her the space she needed to heal.

I had to leave the show and the friends I loved to stop hurting Maia.

***

Months ago… 

"I told you, it was nothing. How many times do I have to tell you that before you actually believe me?" She cried, exasperated for having to explain herself to me for the nth time.

"How is this nothing?! How is your ex still calling you nothing?!" I yelled furiously as I waved her phone in front of her face.

She took a deep breath, trying hard to stay calm but her voice still shook as she spoke. "I told you I didn't know how he got my number. You know I changed it from the last time he tried to contact me and only you and a few friends know my new line. He called ONE. TIME. and I cut him off. I handled it. It was over but you found out before I got the chance to tell you."

"So? What took you so long? Why didn't you tell me then? Did you plan to call him back? Did you plan to see him behind my back?"

I answered stubbornly though I knew she was telling the truth.

"No! I didn't tell you then because I knew you would be unreasonably jealous just like you are now. I needed time to know how to tell you."

"So this is my fault now? It's my fault?! You were the one sneaking behind my back! You were the one planning to cheat on me!"

"NOBODY IS CHEATING ON ANYONE!" She finally frustratedly yelled back at me. "Were you even listening? Did you ever listen to any of my explanations? Two Years, Richt! We've been together two years and you still don't trust me. You still don't believe that I love you and ONLY YOU. No matter what I do to try and prove my loyalty to you, you still get ticked off. You still get jealous over little things that are meaningless." Maia slumped on the couch behind her and buried her face in her hands. "I'm tired, Richt."

She looked up again and I could see the heartbreaking pain in her tear-filled eyes. "You have no idea how much it hurts to be repeatedly accused of doing something that never even crossed my mind. It hurts too much that you don't trust me and you still don't believe in my love for you."

"You're tired?" I asked and without much thought, I let the words slip out of my stupid mouth. "So let's end this."

"What?" She gasped. "Just like that? After all we've been through? After how much we fought to stay together? You're ending this?"

"You're tired so let's stop fighting. I don't want to keep hurting you, Maia. Let's just..." I paused and sighed, almost unable to say the words. "Let's just break up. It's over." I said and walked away, shutting out her cries and pleads for me to come back.

"Richt... please... Please come back... " I heard her weep before closing the door behind me.

***

It all just sounds like oooooh...

Mmm, too young, too dumb to realize

That I should've bought you flowers

And held your hand

Should've gave you all my hours

When I had the chance

Take you to every party

'Cause all you wanted to do was dance

Now my baby's dancing

But she's dancing with another man 

I barely made it through the song as I saw her smile at him with the smile that used to be for me and laugh her contagious laughter that used to fill my ears. I watched him tighten his arm around her waist that I used to hold as she danced with him. I stared as she lightly placed a hand on his chest as she giggled at his jokes with the soft palm and fingers that used to caress my skin.

My pride, my ego, my needs, and my selfish ways

Caused a good strong woman like you to walk out my life

Now I never, never get to clean up the mess I made, ohh...

And it haunts me every time I close my eyes

***

Maia

I saw him. I held my breath as I briefly gazed at his handsome figure onstage. My heart skipped a beat when he started singing and as I felt his gaze on me, the pain, the hurt, the heartache all came pouring down on me.

Thankfully, Caleb was with me and never left my side. He made me smile and laugh and made me feel better again.

***

Although it hurts

I'll be the first to say that I was wrong

Oh, I know I'm probably much too late

To try and apologize for my mistakes

But I just want you to know

I hope he buys you flowers

I hope he holds your hand

Give you all his hours

When he has the chance

Take you to every party

'Cause I remember how much you loved to dance

Do all the things I should have done

When I was your man

***

Caleb

I love her. I love Maia but I knew that with every painful glance she stole from him singing on stage that she still missed him.

I knew that every forced smile she made when I called her drifting attention as she listened to his song that she still loved him.

I knew with every weak laughter she giggled over my corny jokes that I will only be what I have always been to her…

A trusted friend.

I knew that when she asked if we could leave as the song ended that she was still caught in the cruel prison of her heart and that she only waited to hear the words to save her from the painful chains of longing for him...

***

Richt

"I still love you, Maia. Please come back." I whispered as I watched her back heading for the direction of the exit.

In a tense silence, the entire room hushed and turned to me. I stood there with tears quietly streaming down my face as I slowly lowered the microphone from my lips and waited for her to look back.

"Please, Maia. Just one glance and I'll know we have a chance. Just one glance to free us from this harsh prison of regret and yearning. Please listen to the words I did not hear before. Our salvation... My salvation lies in your love." I quietly prayed.

.

.

.

.

.

.

She stopped and turned.