Shawn's P.O.V

This was it.

This was the day I had been waiting for so long that I lost counts of the number of nights I counted the remaining hours for this day to arrive, for planning everything that I was about to do today.

I never imagined myself as the corny romantic guys who would do pathetic cute things to bring a smile to a girl's face or bring ice-cream in the middle of the night when she asked me for it. Perhaps, life shoves tricky plans that make you question every single thing you believe in and compel you to reconsider.

My life had been pretty sorted if I had to admit. That was before my mom left. I believed that we all had that one person, who was made just for us, the one we need that completed us. I believed that until I find that one person, I would keep looking for it in every girl that caught my attention. But that was before she left. After that, I only involved myself in casual dating and one-night stands. I garbaged the idea of finding love. What was the point when all it would result, was to create an inevitable, immense pain and a dark hole of emptiness that would swallow every single ounce of your will to love, to live any further?

Eventually, things started to change for the better once we shifted Manhattan. I never in my wildest dreams, imagined myself finding peace in this city or more precisely, finding peace in a certain someone.

I never meant to fall for Maya. Trust me, I never did. All I wanted was, having her in my life, even as a friend. I didn't felt the peace of a best friend after leaving my friends in Brooklyn but Maya surely stood up to their potential, or maybe a little more than that.

But things began to change the day she fought for Chloe to celebrate her birthday. If it had been any other friend of mine, they surely wouldn't pick up a fight to celebrate her birthday. On the contrary, none of them even remembered it when they knew her pretty well. She would announce her birthday to the team at least once when they chilled at my house after practice. Although nobody did. But that's just how the world was. Selfish.

It felt like no other when I saw Maya ready to argue with me for my little sister. That's when I knew what I started to feel thereafter was so much more than just being best friends.

But that wasn't what I was about to do tonight. Tonight was going to be just about me and her. About us. I wasn't going to narrate how it started, but rather where it led me.

I knew exactly the moment when I realized it. A few weeks ago, Chloe had a sudden break down in front of us while we were working on an assignment. She struggled to breathe. We immediately took her to the hospital. We found that she was diagnosed with pneumonia and the doctors assured us that there was nothing to worry about, but for the peace of our minds, conducted some further tests and scan.

Unexpectedly, they found a cyst in the MRI scan. The doctors reassured us that they would further scan her and find out what was actually happening to her. The horror was evident on Chloe's face. She was scared of hospitals, after the last time she was here only to find out our mom lying lifelessly on the cold bed. She was frightened of being alone, left with unfamiliar strangers where the hospital staff wouldn't let us stay there after the visiting hours. The thought of her being terrified all alone, with no one to soothe that little five years old girl, and the mere thought of the possibility to lose her terrified me like no other.

After a long intense fight with the faculty, we were forced to go back to our homes and revisit her tomorrow. They transferred her to a private room as they suspected that it may or may not be contagious. I felt a sudden numbness and felt broken as soon as I stepped out of the hospital, leaving my little sister all alone. But I didn't have much of a choice. My dad tried to drop Maya off at her house, but she decided to have a night stay and informed her parents about whatever happened today.

She slid into the bathroom to change into something more comfortable as I landed on my bed feeling every kind of emotion. Wrath, disappointment, hurt, numbness, and everything that came with it. I couldn't lose my sister. She was all I've got left to care about, who cared about me. My dad wouldn't give a damn because all he cared about was his work. I began to despise the very bright light, and so I turned it off and tossed aside to sleep.

I didn't notice the her presence until the bed sank in and felt a pair of hands enveloping me into a back hug, holding onto me steadily. She didn't push me to ask any question or the question that I hated the most in such times, Are you okay? How are you feeling?

She lied down quietly with me, without saying a word. After quite a while, I heard a soft murmur behind my ears, ‘I'm here. Everything is going to be just fine.’ With that, she snuggled in closer to my shoulder and soon, she drifted off to sleep. A weak smile escaped my lips. Maybe having her there with me was exactly what I needed to keep my sanity in check. That's when I knew it.

I was in love with her.

Even when she forced me to do things that I didn't want to, or when she would fight with me over silly things like it was the end of the world. Even when she would pout in front of her mirror when her favorite old dress wouldn't fit her or when she blackmailed me to go shopping with her numerous times. Even when she felt hideous at times and said she wasn't good enough when I find her the most beautiful girl to ever exist, inside and out, or when she avoided everyone just to be alone, each time I loved her a little more.

And today I intended to confess it to her. My palms turned sweaty and a pit formed now and then on my stomach every time I was imagining the moment we were about to create and live. Was I nervous? Very much. Was I frightened to know what her answer might be? Quite, yes. But was I going to hold back now? No.

This might be the only chance I could get to tell her. After today, we will all get busy with exams and graduation, and then college. That was the part that terrified me the most. I didn't know where life was going to take us. Were we going to be in the same college or city? I didn't know, maybe or maybe not. I couldn't let go of this chance and let her know how I felt. After that, whatever decision she would take, I was going to respect it.

“Where are we going?” Maya's voice pulled me out of my deep thoughts.

I shook my head a little, flinching out of it.

“You'll see.” I used the same tactic I used every time. I knew how impatient she could be. And that was one of the things that made her quite... adorable.

“What did Quinn want from you when we were heading out?” Maya questioned as she crossed her arms and turned around a little to face me.

“Oh, she said she wanted to show me something outside. A surprise or something, perhaps. It was like she was almost forcing me, dragging me out with her.” I answered, keeping my eyes steady on the road.

“Of course, she did. Bitch.” She mumbled softly, but with the windows closed, it was quite audible.

A smile escaped my lips as I took the last turn. I could sense her impatience by the continuous tapping of her foot on the surface.

“We're almost there.” I reassured her and held her hands.

She gave a hesitant smile and looked out of the window. I knew she was pondering about the possibilities where I could be taking her. And I didn't entirely blame her. I was taking her on the outskirt of the city, quite sure someplace she hadn't been to.

I was taking her somewhere that she would find magical, like a date, if she agreed to it. I had been working my ass off setting up for weeks, taking help from the group, especially Lexi and Maddie for the littlest details. One might think that I might be taking her to some fancy restaurant or movie, but no.

I made sure that the first time I confessed to her was somewhat similar to her dream moment she had scenarized in her head her whole life, something that she would have wanted someone to do for her.

I pulled over in a deserted place. The destination was located in the mountainous area, a high point in the city, surrounded by clump of trees. I began walking, followed by Maya and we went deep into the grove to reach the location past it.

An abandoned bus caught my sight and I smiled. I looked at Maya, and she had utter confusion sculpted around her skin.

The bus was not exactly abandoned. I had David ask one of his friends a little favor and borrow the bus for an evening. Just before leaving for Maya's house for the prom, I had the whole squad help me to arrange the perfect bus-roof date, with mattress and cozy cushions with small folding tables set in between and some sparkling water and two buckets of ice-creams. Just the way she might have imagined her ideal date to be.

The smile refused to resign from my face as she strived to figure out what was going on. She turned towards me slightly and wriggled her eyebrows, begging me to finally reveal her my secret plan. I walked near the ladder to the rooftop and motioned her to follow, as she did.

I assumed her confusion was disappeared into thin air as she gazed at the view of the twinkling lights of the city and the small set up on the rooftop with her mouth gaped apart, covered by her hands.

“Shawn, this-... this is beautiful. And perfect.” She murmured as her eyes glued to where it remained.

“I hoped you'd like it.” I turned my eyes to the city as well. Indeed, the scenery in front of me was breathtaking. I inhaled the dry cold air deep into my lungs, intaking the pleasant scent of the soil and trees.

I looked over at Maya, and she brought her knees to her chest, entangling her hands under it and resting her chin on top of it. She gradually closed her eyes, serened by the moment, and looked absolutely heavenly. She didn't realize how effortlessly beautiful she was. One could spend days gazing into her dark, hypnotizing hazel eyes or watch her talk when she would be talking about anything she liked, the twinkles in her eyes on every mention of it.

It was almost unfair for someone to be that beautiful, inside and out. Not that I was complaining. In truth, I felt fortunate enough to know a selfless soul like her. Although at times, it would get infuriating in the greatest possible degree when she would talk very low about herself and how she didn't deserve any of the elements she had in her life currently. It would outrage me so much that I didn't think it was possible after I beat that moron who smoked near our car on his bike that night.

I wished she saw herself from the visions that I looked at her through. I wished she realized that the people who were in her life, loved her above her little facade of perfectionism for who she was, and not what she wanted to exhibit. That nobody was perfect and I loved her regardless, including all her imperfections and flaws.

I poured us sparkling water into the wine glass and handed out to her. She lifted her gaze to meet mine and took the glass while still looking at me with a small smile.

“You did all of this for me?” She asked, sipping her glass. She placed it on the mini table and grabbed the ice-cream and spoon. Just the Maya I knew.

“Of course. I'd do anything for you.” I answered honestly and took the ice-cream bucket as well.

“Where did you find this bus, anyway?” She giggled as she took the next scoop in her mouth.

“That's a long story. I'll tell you some other day. So, graduation is around the corner. Are you excited?” I asked nonchalantly.

“Ah, yes. But come to think about it, I will lowkey miss high school and the drama that comes with it. High school is the only time we make real memories to cherish as we grow older. The moment you step into college, you get this whole huge responsibility on your shoulder. College, internship, job, career, and with all that hustle, we barely get time for ourselves or friends.” She paused for a while.

“And to be honest, I am not really looking forward to leaving you guys. I just got you all and it's all so soon. I am not ready to leave you all just yet, I'm not ready to leave you.” She looked down, digging the ice cream from the spoon.

“You don't have to if you wish.” I suggested with a hesitant smile, looking at my ice cream.

“What do you mean?” She asked, now looking up to me.

“You know, we can have facetime, meet up sometimes, all that long-distance thing.” I sheepishly suggested, looking around anywhere but her.

“Long- What are you suggesting, Shawn?” She etched a playful grin across her face.

“You want to go on that road?”

She raised her eyebrows in response.

I huffed, giving in as I was bound to say this, anyway. I shut my eyes tight, inhaling a deep breath, and gathered every bit of guts I had inside me.

“Maya Matthews, I am in love with you, madly. I know I said that I only wanted to be just a friend but you made it almost impossible for me to just have a friendly feeling for you, or to not fall for you harder each time. I love you, Maya... so, so much.”

She stared at me blankly and I began to lose my sanity. What if she didn't feel the same way about me or think that I jeopardize our whole friendship?

She reached for my hand and caressed my palms by her thumb, moving steadily in a circular motion. I looked up at her, and she smiled at me wholeheartedly, a tear twinkling in her eyes by the dim light set around the roof. A tear of joy, I hoped.

Maya moved closer and held my face with her soft hands, with a steady grip. She leaned in closer and rested her forehead into mine. We stayed that way for a second or two when she looked up her eyelashes to meet my gaze.

She peeked deep into my eyes, trying to read any sort of trick or sarcasm. But she didn't found any. She exhaled sharply as she blinked her eyes shut and tilted her head, allowing access to her lips.

I closed my eyes and leaned closer as she did, as slowly and delicately as possible and my heartbeat started thumping rapidly as there were less than five millimeters of a gap left. But all of a sudden, she stopped.

It took me some time to readjust myself to look into her again as she sat frozen in her seat. I was bewildered what unexpectedly happened and she sat still, staring down at the sheet of the mattress.

“Maya...? A-Are you alright? What's wrong?” I asked in a concerned tone. She didn't reply. She just stared at me as some tears built up at the corner of her eyes.

I didn't have the slightest idea of what happened to her or what was going on inside her mind.

She abruptly stood up and started to climb down the ladder. I tried to stop her by holding her hands.

“Where are you going?”

“I need to go.” She muttered, withdrawing her hand.

“But where? It's almost midnight now. I can't let you go alone. I will drop you.” I offered and tried to walk down the ladder but she blocked me.

“You don't need to. I will manage it.” She protested.

“Maya, no! I can't let you go alone at this hour. And why are you behaving this way? Did I do something to upset you? If yes, then please, I am sorry.” I begged in a frustrated yet shattered voice.

“You didn't. You didn't do anything wrong. It's not you, it's me. I am... Forget it. I said I'll manage. Let me call my dad if you need to be sure about my safety.”

She picked up her phone from her purse and dialed a number. After a few rings, the call was answered and all she told was the address and that she wanted him to urgently arrive there. She disconnected the call and looked at me.

“He is coming. You do not need to come down to drop me off. I can handle myself. Good night, and take care.” Was all she said before she climbed down the ladders and disappeared.

I sank into my seat as I tried to figure out what exactly went wrong. My racing thoughts were interrupted when a red car stopped right in front of her. Though it was dark, the light of the street lamppost was enough to comprehend the color of the car.

It wasn't her Dad's certainly. I had driven Maya to school in her dad's car numerous times. I could bet it wasn't her Dad's.

She was lying to me, trying to cover up where she was heading and with whom, and before I could stand up, she got in the car and drove off in the blink of an eye.

I had a bad feeling about all of this.

Hey guys! I am so sorry for updating so late. I got super busy with all the stuff, from school and home, etc etc.

Okay, I know I left this chapter in the greatest cliffhanger I ever set in this book and some of you might actually kill me if I didn't update ASAP, so here exclusively for you all,

I managed to give you all a double update!♥
(One of the reasons why the update took such a long time.)

The next chapter is a Shawn's POV as well but somewhere in the middle you will find a Maya's POV as well to understand what is really going on.

Sneak Peek: Something happened that I could bet no one, and I mean no one, would have guessed or seen that coming. And you're not going to like it at all.

So shall we proceed?

But before that,

Don't forget to tap on that star button and drop down your precious comments.