It's been a week since I had that fight with Shawn. Surprisingly, he didn't drop any text or call after that night. And I let my ego get the best out of me and didn't text either. Nonetheless, that didn't mean I didn't miss him.

I decided to join the school from today onwards as there wasn't any point sulking inside the bedroom when all it did was mess me up. I applied some compact to minimize the hideous bags under my eyes. I fetched my bag from the study table and headed towards the living room. 

“Mom, I'm heading out. See you later.” I hugged her goodbye and left the house. I stood outside the fence of the house. My dad wasn't in town for the moment. I looked over at the time on my phone and realized that I only had half an hour left.

“Where is he?” I murmured. “He is never this-”

I realized that we weren't on speaking terms now. Given that, it's unlikely that he would show up to pick me.

I scrunched up my face and jogged towards the main road to take a cab. It wasn't really easy to get a cab on a Monday morning. Another reason to hate Mondays.

After ten minutes, I luckily got a cab and hurried the driver to take me to school as fast as he could. 

But as my luck permitted, there was horrendous traffic and from what it looked like, it wouldn't clear for another twenty minutes. I threw my hands in despair and placed my hand on my forehead.

Such a beautiful start for a perfect day!

I pushed myself in the backseat hard and scrutinized the time. 7:51 a.m. I let out an exasperated sigh and looked away through the window. The morning dews and faint fogs were visible on the glass. I lifted my fingers and slowly drew a heart on it. I slowly drew a zigzag in the middle and pursed my lips and curled it into a forced half-smile. I opened my gallery and swiped through the album I created named My People and a timid smile plastered across my face as I looked through all the goofy and crazy pictures. I surely missed them a lot.

My mind raced different scenarios in my head as to what I was going to say when I next saw them. It wasn't that I had to explain my sudden change in behavior before. But things weren't the same anymore. Now I had people that I would have to give a legit explanation as of why. It's not that they would push me for it or I was obliged to. Yet, I somehow felt I should. But didn't have the slightest idea how.

My racing thoughts were put to an end when the car abruptly stopped, throwing me forward. I looked out and saw the white architect of my school in front of my sight. I paid the driver and mumbled a thank you to him, and he gave me a small smile while nodding his head. Soon the cab stormed off and disappeared near the next street and I hurled around and made my way inside the school premises.
                                   ~

“Any good explanation for why you are late today, Ms. Matthews?” The director, Mr. Johnson asked in a stern voice, glaring through his rectangular frames.

I happened to have missed two of my classes. Well, one was because I reached the school late, the second was because he held me captive in his office while he was busy attending someone on the phone. I mentally cursed him for making me sit here while I could have attended my Math class and returned for his interrogation by the time he was done.

Regardless, I kept a straight face and composed myself before I set myself ready for a verbal tournament.

“The traffic was bad. Really bad. It took me forty minutes to reach the campus and so, I missed the first class.” I answered as politely as I could.

“And what about the second class?” He asked as he raised his brow cluelessly.

Was he serious?

I twitched my lips into the most fake-cum-polite smile and answered, “I was here sitting in this office, Sir.”

His face changed into a tricky expression that I wasn't able to read. He looked over at the wall clock and then at his wristwatch and looked around, probably looking for something. I couldn't understand what exactly he was trying to do but I sat there, glued to my seat, nevertheless.

“You may go now. But this should be the last time you are late or there will be consequences.” He dismissed me.

“Okay, sir. Have a good day.” I said and got up to leave.

“And, Maya...” I turned around to look at him as he continued, “Call Ma'am Everly on your way to class.” He asked and I saw his cheeks turning red for a second.

I wriggled my eyebrows but nodded anyway and exited the office.

I walked straight to my next class which was Chemistry, after picking up all the necessary books I needed for the classes.

As I entered the class, I found my usual seat occupied. I groaned under my breath and guessed about who could possibly take my seat after everyone had been allotted with one, granted by their own wish. I looked over at the person and found Quinn hijacking my seat.

I might have forgotten that she was in the same school as I was until now.

The reason was obvious because Shawn had the next seat beside mine. Somehow, it made my blood boil after realizing that she might have been sitting on my seat for days for... him.

I walked up to my seat and stood in front of her as she busied herself talking and giggling with Shawn. I gracefully bang my hand on the desk to draw her attention.

“Maya? You're... back? I didn't see you there.” Her face fell as soon as she saw me.

A smug spread across my face as I crossed my arms.

“Yeah, I'm back and thankfully, for good now. Now, if you can excuse me, I would like my seat back.” I remarked wittily. I didn't know why I was in a savage mood today, but I was. Not that I'm complaining.

“Uh... Yeah, sure. I was sitting here because you were absent for many days. And I can see the blackboard more clearly from here, you know.” She said as she got up from my seat.

“Sure.” I remarked as I sat back on my seat.

She sent me a clueless yet annoyed glare as she strode back to her original seat.

I tilted my head, pretending to stretch my neck, and glanced over to my next seat, and caught him glimpsing at me from the corner of his eye but retrieved quickly as soon as he caught mine. My lips curved into an invisible weak smile as I thought upon how I was gonna talk to him. There never had been any day that we didn't share lunch and bitched about others bitches quietly during lunch break at the cafeteria. But I highly doubt that would be the case today.

My attention shifted as the professor swiftly strode in and slammed his file on the desk.

I tried concentrating on the class but, I was pretty sure I zoned off for the entire period.
                                    ~

I hugged the corner of my plate to my chest as I walked towards my regular table in the cafeteria. The cafeteria was almost empty as I excused myself from the class ten minutes before the lunch break and sat by the bleachers. The table was horrifyingly empty and I sat on the cold seat, nibbling my sandwich.

The cafeteria soon filled with groups of other students, the air filling with the odor of sweats and perfumes. Veronica and her two other girlfriends, who aren't any less than her minions, joined me. A phony smile appeared on my face as she greeted me with a cheeky smile.

“How have you been, Maya? I don't really see you much nowadays.” She exclaimed as she rested her elbow on the table, checking her cat claw nails.

“Yeah, I have been-” she cut me off as she further continued, “You looked really good on Saturday. I forgot to compliment you on that day.” She glanced over at me and quickly returned to her nails.

I closed my mouth shut as I stared at her in astonishment for she dared to lie in my face.

“Aww thank you, Veronica. But you see, I would have been grateful for that comment if I was actually looking good on Saturday, ignoring the fact that I wasn't here on Saturday” I responded wittily.

Her arched eyebrows wriggled as soon as my words hit her eardrum and her expression changed into terror. 

“Uh... I-I must have misplaced the days. You were looking good on Friday. Yeah, Friday!” She replied, looking over to her minions for confirmation who just nodded in response.

I shook my head as I withdrew, talking any further as all it would result, was a stack of lies. 

I turned my head around a little, trying to spot a certain someone, but couldn't find a trace. I huffed silently as I continued to nibble my lunch. I lifted my head again and searched for some other people now, as the conclusion soothe me down a bit.

The team wasn't in the cafeteria either. He must be in his practice.

I looked over at my watch and realized that I had only fifteen minutes left for the lunch break to be over and thought about the ways I could spend it. But before I could arrive at any decision, I saw Shawn and his teammates arriving inside the cafeteria. My heart jumped as I started overthinking, juggling the possibilities if he would sit with me or not.

I felt my heart racing as I failed to arrive at any assumption. My heart broke and danced at the same time when he joined my table, but took the opposite seat as mine and sat beside Veronica. I tried to look away and ignore his presence, by not acknowledging it at all, but trust me, it wasn't so easy as I thought it would be.

I glanced at him through my lashes, only to catch him doing the same. I felt furious and humorous at the same time upon our childish pursuit of ignoring each other. I struggled to find any legitimate reason or any excuse to talk to him, and for what I could see, he struggled with the same.

The bell soon rang, failing us the opportunity to reconcile, and he shortly left with a faint, tight-lipped smile. My face dropped as I dreaded walking to my locker to grab books for the history class, the last class for the day as the teacher of the last period was absent for some unknown reason.

I let out an exasperated sigh as I forced myself to get up and get this day over already.
                                   ~

I unhurriedly walked out of the school premises, looking around and taking in the beautiful surroundings that most people failed to acknowledge. The sound of the steady wind was in perfect harmony with the songs of the birds. I searched the direction of its source and found a little nest settled in a tree branch, the mother singing delightfully to her newborn children. It pleased my heart to watch them singing and happy with their small family. I rubbed my palms gently on the trunk of the tree and slowly moved away and continued walking back on my path.

I encountered Shawn standing close to the next tree, looking in the direction of the tree, his back facing me with his hand shoved inside his pocket. I moved towards him and the crunching sound of the dried leaves and twigs made him twirl around and find me awkwardly standing in front of him.

“Hey!” He greeted softly with a soft smile.

I was taken aback a little by his calmness. I expected him to be a little... outbursting.

“Hey.” I greeted him as I walked closer towards him. We stood there for a while silently, not exchanging a word.

“Shawn, I am so-” I started to talk, but he cut me in.

“Don't be. It wasn't your fault. I am to be blamed equally. I shouldn't have just lashed out at you. I should have given you the space you wanted. It's just...” he trailed off. I turned towards him, and he winced his face a little before continuing.

“It's just that I'm not used to people shutting me. They always come to me with their problems, trusting me with it even though I can't really help them with it. And the fact that you didn't come and just shut me off for days, that just... drove me crazy. You... drive me crazy, Maya Matthews.”

I can bet that my heart somersaulted on hearing it. I suppressed the ridiculous grin that desperately tried to jump out and spread across my face, making me look like a complete freak. I looked over and met his dreamy gray eyes that held mine with such softness and affection.

“Mind if I take you somewhere?” He asked as a wide smile sculpted on his face. It was a surprise that he wasn't smirking anymore. 

My charms must have worked on him. I thought to myself.

“Where to?” I asked.

“You will see.” He responded as a silly smirk crept on his face.

There goes my effects of charms.

He bought two daisies on the way and winked at me as I raised my eyebrow in question.

I didn't know where he was taking me, but it didn't really matter though. Being with him for the moment was everything I needed to neutralize the agony of the past few days I felt.
                                     ~

We walked through a deserted place, one of the places of the city that I was not acquainted with yet. An eerie feeling settled inside me as I realized we were walking in a cemetery.

Was this his choice of destination for a... Hangout? If yes, then boy I'm not letting him decide a place, ever again.

“Uh... Shawn? Why are we here?” I asked as I tugged his shirt, looking around.

“Are you scared, love?” He asked as he smirked in his mind. I assumed he did.

“I am not,” I replied confidently. At least I hope I am not.

“We're almost there.” 

He suddenly stopped, making me turn around and walk back a few steps. I directed my gaze in the direction as his and saw a grave carved with the name Evans Hearts. My anxiousness disappeared into thin air as I saw her grave in front of me.

“You missed her funeral. You missed your chance of paying her your last respect. I figured you would carry the regret for your entire life which I'm not okay with so here, you have the chance now.” He said as he extended the daisy towards me. It was her favorite. I weakly smiled at him as I took it.

I knelt on the ground as I placed the daisy on her grave. I looked over at her name once again as an uncontrolled tear rolled down my cheek.

“I miss you... so much, Mrs. Evans. I fail to express how much you mean to me in words. There were so many things that remained unsaid because I waited for the right time and now, I regret it every second and wish I had one more chance to say it all. Of how much I loved your coffee and would trade the world just to taste it again, how you never failed to understand me in times I couldn't, how the little things you did for me meant the world to me, and how I considered you a second mother, a best friend when I never really told you that in person. I just wish to have one more moment with you where I could hug you so tightly and cry my heart out over the things that I couldn't bring myself to confess. How I would trade everything just to have you back. How I wished to let you know all of this, but the realization that I missed my chance and I would never get it back again just pains me so much that it hurts. It really does. I wish you could have taught me how to deal with losses despite everything you taught me.”

“Wherever you are, I hope you are at peace. I won't ask if you are in a better place, because a beautiful and selfless soul like you, deserves a place better than heaven. I know, wherever you are, you are just making it better. That's just the kind of person you were. I love you so much and I assure I'll keep doing it for as long as I live and keep you alive in my prayers and memory.”

I stood up and noticed Shawn desperately trying to hide his tears. His hands reached my arms and hugged me from the side as I crossed my arms.

“That was beautiful. And very touching.” I smiled in response as I rested my head on his shoulder.

“Do you think she is happy wherever she is now?” I asked.

“I'm sure she is.” He replied as he tugged a few hair strands from my face behind my ear.

After a considerable amount of time of silence, I spoke, “Shall we go?”

“Where?” 

“To my existing precious family that I need to win over.” 

A bright smile formed on his face as he clasped my hand in enthusiasm.

“You already rule over our hearts, Tinkerbell.”

I smiled brightly at his remark and that stupid grin was impossible to remove for the rest of the way.

Hey guys, thank you so much for reading.
I really, really hope you liked this chapter.
I don't know why but while I was writing the scene of the graveyard at 12:10 a.m. I couldn't control my tears. I don't know if it was worth the tears or I'm just too emotional on such things for nothing.
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Stay tuned♡.

~Loveya~( ˘ ³˘)♥