MAYA

"Girls are you done yet? It's time for pictures."Aunt Gloria yelled from the hallway.

We were in my bedroom and I was helping Violet with the zipper of her dress. She was wearing a short spaghetti strap navy blue lace dress and a black pair of heels.

I heard Violets door open and when my aunt realized we weren't in there she headed over to my room.

"Oh baby, you look beautiful."Aunt Gloria gushed when she saw Violet and immediately started snapping away.

"Thank you mama G."Violet replied posing.

"Ada, why aren't you ready yet?"My aunt asked.

Violet and I looked at each other with wide eyes and I realized that I'd forgotten to tell her that I wasn't going to the dance.

"You didn't tell her."Violet whisper yelled as if aunt Gloria wasn't in the room with us.

"I obviously forgot."I gritted out.

"Tell me what?"Aunt Gloria asked.

"That she's not going to the dance."Violet announced before I even got the chance to reply.

"Ada is this true?"Aunt Gloria asked and I nodded.

"Why?"

"Because she doesn't have a date."Violet answered again on my behalf making me glare at her but she just shrugged at me.

"That is not reason enough to not go. You'll have fun with your friends. You don't need a boy to make you happy."Aunt Gloria reasoned.

How was I supposed to explain to my aunt that it wasn't just any boy. It was the most handsome boy I knew with vibrant green eyes and brought fiery red hair. I only wanted to go to the dance with him but he had said no so I wasn't going to go with anyone at all.

"Mama G is right, we'll all be there for you. And besides you can help me with the knights in distress mission. You can put a smile on some poor saps face by just dancing with him. You won't be the only one there without a date."Violet insisted.

"So I'll just be some charity case."I retorted feeling offended.

"No you'll just be helping the charity cases."She grinned as if she had given the perfect answer.

"Are you hearing yourself? That is so rude."I pointed out.

"I'm joking calm down sis but seriously come with us, you'll have fun."She pleaded.

"Go with your cousin Ada."Aunt Gloria added.

"I don't want to."I whined because none of them were listening to me.

"What if I tell you that Elijah will the there and that he doesn't have a date. You guys have been getting along the last couple of days. Tonight might be your chance to finally talk."Violet enticed.

At the mention of Elijah, I was immediately intrigued. She was right we had somehow been getting along although that was overstating it. He hadn't been rude to me all week. He also talked to me without being prompted and blew me a kiss before the game that had led to a mild heart attack on my side.

"Why are you making this about a boy? Ada you should go because it's a rite of passage to go to at least one school dance, don't miss out on memories you might treasure forever."Aunt Gloria advised.

"Okay I'll go."I said giving in because all I could think of was seeing Elijah in a tux.

"Yes! Wait, who's speech convinced you?"Violet asked.

My aunt looked curious too and I didn't want to hurt any of their feelings so I took the chance to mess with them both so I just shrugged and ran to the bathroom locking the door behind me. Violet tried barging in after me but the locked door kept her away. I'd done my hair and nails earlier in the day while Violet got hers done so all I had to do was take a shower and get dressed. I didn't do make up because it was hard finding make up in my shade and besides loved my natural skin as it was.

Violet was scrolling through her phone on my bed when I got out of the bathroom twenty minutes later all showered and shaved in the right places. Aunt Gloria was nowhere in sight but she was probably waiting for us downstairs.

"What are you going to wear since you didn't buy a dress when we went shopping?"Violet asked.

"Just you wait and see."I grinned already having a dress in mind.

I locked myself in the closet since I didn't want Violet barging in and proceeded to get dressed. I was wearing a green spaghetti strapped ankara dress with a v-neckline, a tight upper bodice and it flared out from the waist down to mid thigh. To boost my height I was wearing black strapped platform heels. I let my locks free of their confine and I'd twisted them so they fell over my back and shoulders in waves. I put on lip gloss so my face wasn't so plain and I was good to go.

"Finally."Violet exclaimed when she heard my closet door swing open.

"Mama mia. Where have you been hiding that sexy little number?"She whistled looking at me with admiration.

"It's one of the dresses I brought with me. It does fit the occasion right?"I asked her when doubt started to creep in.

"Of course it does, you look beautiful."Violet encouraged me.

"Thank you, so do you."I replied.

"You good to go? Wade is already waiting downstairs to drive us."Violet asked and I nodded.

She handed me a small black purse that she had already packed for me as we left my bedroom.

"Ladies, ladies, imma be the luckiest gentleman tonight with the two most beautiful girls on my arms."Wade commented as soon as he saw us walking down the stairs.

"Smooth talk will get you lots of places babe."Violet replied falling into his arms.

They started snogging right on the spot so I just excused myself politely and joined everyone else in the kitchen.

"Wow."Dylan and Cole commented simultaneously when they saw me.

"You look like a princess."Dylan commented making me smile.

"Thank you D, you don't look so bad yourself."I replied and he made a confused face since he didn't understand what my reply meant.

He was so cute.

"You look beautiful Ada, that dress reminds me of home."Aunt Gloria commented as she got this lost look in her eyes.

"Thanks auntie, it reminds me of home too and mama."I replied my hand going to the necklace around my neck.

"She would be so proud of you Ada, your papa too for the girl you are and the woman you are becoming."Aunt Gloria expressed pulling me into a hug.

I hugged her back soaking in all her motherly love and comfort. I might not have had a mom but Aunt Gloria made sure she fulfilled that role perfectly.

She pulled away, kissed my cheeks before grabbing her camera to take pictures of me. I took pictures with her, the boys and uncle Ted when he joined us.

Violet and Wade joined in later after they were done snogging. They were a cute couple and I was super proud of them for winning homecoming King and Queen but sometimes it was gross being around them. Or maybe I only felt like that because I'd never had a boyfriend if my own to call mine and gross out other people with. Yeah well that probably wouldn't work out so well until I'd fixed things with Elijah. He was the only man in my life currently and until we were okay there wasn't any room for another.

After the pictures my aunt let us leave reminding us to be back my midnight. She'd only added one hour to our curfew which I didn't mind but Violent had protested violently. She didn't win though, my aunt was very stubborn.

"Where would you ladies like to go for dinner?"Wade asked since he was taking us out to eat first before we went to the dance.

I didn't want to feel like a third wheel and had asked them to leave me and pick me up after dinner but Violent had vehemently refused.

"Dario's. They make a mean stake and after starving myself all week for yesterday, I am going to eat so much you guys will have to carry me to the dance."Violet replied.

"You okay with that Maya?"Wade asked wanting my opinion like the gentleman that he was.

"Yeah it's okay."I assured him.

"Dario's it is."He declared starting the car.

He drove an audi too but a different model from Violets. Violet was seated at the front with Wade while I sat at the back.

Dario's was a four star restaurant that Violet loved. She'd already taken me there twice in the one month I'd been back.

Shit! I'd already been back for a whole month. Where had the time gone? Time really did fly by so fast but I hadn't achieved anything. I had been hopeful that I would fix my relationship with Elijah within the first week being back but a whole month had already lapsed and I had yet to make any progress. Well at least I had all the time in the world to fix things. It's not like I was going anywhere or had anyone to go back to.

Dinner with the king and queen was wonderful. They didn't make me feel left out at all and Wade so attentive to both of us. We had an amazing time together and from our shared meal I understood more and more why Violet loved Wade so much. He was a great guy who loved her and worshipped the ground she walked on. They made me feel single more than ever but I choked it up and had a nice time with them.

"Do you guys have to wear those?"I asked referring to their sashes and crowns.

"Yeah it's mandatory we wear them to the dance."Violet replied as I helped her adjust hers in schools parking lot.

"At least you didn't wear them to dinner."I said with a laugh.

"Believe me, we were tempted but we didn't want you to feel too uncomfortable so we held ourselves back."Violet replied.

"Well thank you for thinking of me and for dinner too, I had fun."I expressed.

"You're welcome."Wade replied with a smile.

"Okay ladies are you ready?"Wade asked as we looked at the schools entrance.

"Yes."Violet and I replied at the same time.

Wade held out his elbows for us so he could walk is into the school building. I took his left hand while Violet was on his right. Time to face the music, literally and figuratively.

We didn't have a theme for the dance but the dress code was formal. The hall was decorated in balloons of the school colors blue and red. We also had a deejay and a photo booth. There were finger foods, snacks and drinks available. It was obvious that the night was going to be great as long as everyone behaved.

The first one to spot us when we walked in was Finn dressed in an immaculate navy blue suit.

"Maya I would like to mention as your friend obviously that you look divine this evening."Finn commented making me smile.

"Thank you Finn, you look dashing too."I complimented making him beam.

"You look beautiful as well Violet."Finn said addressing Violet.

"Thank you for noticing. Your queen is pleased."Violet replied with an air of fake arrogance around her.

It really didn't suit her since everyone knew she was genuinely a nice person. We all laughed at her effort to sound prim and proper because she butchered that attempt.

"Spare me a dance for later?"Finn requested me politely.

"I will."I replied even if I didn't really know how to dance.

"Perfect now if you will excuse me, I need to go rescue a damsel somewhere in here."Finn said giving us a fake bow before he skipped away.

"And I have to make sure that the whole team actually showed up so if you will excuse me ladies I'll see you guys in a bit. My queen, see you soon."Wade said his voice dropping and octave lower when he was addressing Violet.

"My King."Violet replied matching his tone.

Cute but disgusting.

Wade pecked her lips fast then disappeared in the crowd of students and alumni's.

"Wait until you get a boyfriend and I'll be the one making that face."Violet commented and I realized I hadn't dropped the scrunched up face I'd given them.

"Sorry, you guys are just too, how do I put it, mushy."I replied.

"Mushy? Really? That's the best you could come up with?"She asked me.

"Yeah mushy but adorable. You love each other honestly and make each other happy, that's what matters."I told her and Violet grinned.

"I think we are cute too. Don't worry Maya, you'll get your king someday, might be sooner than you think."Violet commented trailing off as she looked at someone behind us smiling.

I looked and saw Elijah approaching us dressed in a charcoal grey suit, white button up shirt and a black tie. He looked devilishly handsome with his long hair slicked back but a few tendrils managed to escape the confines and were falling over his forehead making him look even more handsome.

"Pick up your jaw off the floor."Violet whisper yelled jabbing me lightly on the side.

I wanted to scold her but she had just saved me from making a fool out of myself by gawking at Elijah. I knew he was going to be there but no one had warned me of how Elijah in a suit would affect me.

"Elijah don't you look dapper tonight."Violet commented when Elijah got close enough.

"Thank you, you two look very beautiful too."He replied looking at both of us but his eyes lingered longer on me.

"Me? Yes, I'm coming. If you two will excuse me, queenly duties calling. You two have a blast, Elijah behave. Maya if you need me I'm the one with the crown."Violet grinned kissing my cheek soundly before leaving us alone.

It took me a few seconds to realize that no one had actually called her. She had faked it to get away from us so we could be alone together.

Being so close to Elijah with him looking so exquisite was making me have thoughts that had no business in my brain in the first place.

"I thought you weren't coming?"Elijah asked breaking the silence.

"I wasn't but Violet and Aunt Gloria made me."I replied.

"Well I'm glad they did and you're here. You look beautiful."He complimented looking into my eyes.

"Thank you."I replied shyly tucking a stray lock of hair behind my ear.

"You look very handsome too."I complimented honestly to which he responded with another dashing smile confusing my heart all over again.

Amidst all the emotions taking over my body some logic managed to seep through and a thought invaded my mind. A week ago, Elijah had been so rude to me rejecting my proposal but now he was happy that I was at the dance. What had changed? Why was he being so nice all of a sudden? Was it real or was it all just a lie so he could hurt me again. Well would you look at that, that was more than one thought.

"Elijah what are we doing? More specifically, what are you doing? One minute you're rude rejecting my hoco proposal and the next your nice complimenting me and blowing me kisses."I asked feeling confused.

Elijah looked taken back by my direct question and so was I that I had the courage to ask that but I was done beating around the bush and walking on eggshells around him. I needed answers.

"I don't know Maya, I'm confused too."Elijah expressed looking frustrated with himself.

"I can't figure it out for you but you have to tell me where you stand. Do we have a chance?"I asked him honestly.

Elijah looked at me sighed, then breathed out heavily as if he was tired of something. I hoped that meant he was tired of all the fighting like I was. Just as he was about to answer me someone called his name. We both turned and it was Wade waving him over frantically.

"Let me see what he wants but I'll be back soon and we'll talk. Don't move an inch."He requested looking at me.

"I'll be here."I replied with a sigh disappointed that our conversation had been cut short.

He looked torn between staying and leaving but when Wade yelled his name again he gave me one last sorry look before leaving me alone.

The one thing I'd been afraid of happening if I went to the dance happened.

I was alone.

Elijah lied, he didn't come back soon, I waited for him for thirty minutes before giving up and going to get myself something to drink. If he wanted to talk then he would have to find me. I was the only girl in there with locks and an African print green dress so I would be easy to find.

I decided to get a soda since I didn't trust the punch after watching too many high school drama movies. I stood alone in the corner watching everyone dance wishing I could be as happy as everyone else. I was a happy person generally but the strain on my relationship with Elijah was making my moods take a nose dive. We really did need to talk and soon so I hoped that he would find me while the night was still young.

I had been so lost in thought that I didn't notice someone approaching me.

"Hi, I'm Malcolm."The tall blonde introduced himself.

Everyone was tall around me but if I had to guess he was around 6'2 with blonde hair, brown eyes, a swimmers lean body, straight white teeth and a polite smile.

"I'm Maya."I replied politely shaking his outstretched hand.

"I saw you standing here alone for a while and thought I should ask you if you'd like to dance."He requested.

"Thank you and I'd love to but I'm waiting for someone."I replied politely.

"Boyfriend?"He asked and I shook my head.

"Date?"He inquired once more and the answer was still no because Elijah was none of those.

"Then I'm sure whoever they are won't mind if I steal you for one dance. I'm a nice guy I promise, I'll keep my hands in the acceptable areas."He promised me looking really genuine with his request.

Malcolm looked like a nice honest guy but I didn't want to miss my chance to talk to Elijah when he came to look for me.

"You still look skeptical so I'll just be honest with you. I just got dumped, at homecoming of places but I didn't want to leave since Im not in the right head space to drive. I also don't want to be alone since my thoughts will eat me alive so I thought asking a beautiful girl who seems to be all alone too would be good. Maybe we can keep each other company but if you don't want to, I won't force you."Malcolm explained looking sad and my heart immediately went out to him.

After that there's no was I was going to say no.

"Lead the way."I said with a kind smile.

Malcolm grinned before taking my hand and leading me to the dance floor.

"Forgive me for any toe injuries, I'm not the most graceful of dancers."I apologized puting my hands on his shoulders.

"It's okay, I'll help you and forgive you if you murder any of my toes."Malcolm replied putting his hands on my waist.

I had no idea what song was playing but it was slow and sad setting the mood just right.

"Would you like to talk about the break up?"I asked Malcolm.

"Not really no."He shrugged.

"Are you sure? It might help and I promise not to let anyone know if you cry."I joked with him making him laugh.

"Okay so her name is April, she's a senior too. We've been dating since sophomore year...." Malcolm started and I listened to him attentively.

It was a sad story and to summarize it April broke up with him because she had met someone else, much older who was in college and she didn't love Malcolm anymore. My heart went out to him since I knew how heartbreak truly felt like. He did end up crying and I had to hug him to console him.

Yeah I probably shouldn't have hugged him because seconds later we were ripped apart by a fuming Elijah. I had no idea what he was mad about yet he was the one who had been gone for an hour.

"Seriously, I leave you for two seconds and you're already smooching up some other guy."Elijah barked taking me by surprise.

The guy had serious anger issues that needed to be checked.

"First of all lower your tone, I have no idea who you think you're talking to like that. Second I don't know what you think you saw but there was no smooching here. Oh and third you were gone for an hour."I gritted out getting angry myself.

How dare he be mad at me?

"Dude she's telling the truth, we were only dancing."Malcolm said trying to defend me but he only made Elijah angrier.

"Shut up! Shut the fuck up! Actually just leave."Elijah commanded him.

Malcolm was obviously scared but he also looked like he didn't want to leave me alone with Elijah.

"I'll be okay, go."I assured him and he didn't need to be told twice as she scurried away.

"You didn't have to be so rude. We were just dancing as I helped him through a break up."I defended.

"Sure that's what he told you to get close to you."Elijah scoffed.

"Why are you being like this? You were fine before you left, now you are back, angry and spewing nonsense."I asked him.

"I asked you to wait for me and I come back to find you with some dude, his hands all over you, kissing him."Elijah spat.

"Nothing like that happened. I didn't kiss him. What has gotten into you?"I yelled.

"So you're saying that I'm making it all up and his hands weren't on you?"He asked.

"They were but not in the way you're interpreting it. Why are you being like this?"I asked feeling hurt by his accusations.

"Okay fine, since you think you did nothing wrong, let's see how you feel when it happens to you."Elijah gritted out stalking away.

I watched him walk towards a random girl who was drinking punch and pull her into her into his arms. She looked startled at first but smiled when she saw who it was. I realized what he was about to do the minute he started leaning in and I'd never ran so fast in my life. I was not going let a movie scene unfold in front of my eyes. Before his lips could touch hers, I was already there putting my hand between their faces to block the kiss.

"No you are not gonna do that."I yelled at Elijah shocked at his behavior.

"And why not? Who are you to judge what I can and can't do?"Elijah clapped back letting her go.

"Because you're just using her to get to me. No offense to you Sheryl or whatever your name is but do you really want to kiss her or do you want just want to make me jealous."I retorted realizing the game he was playing.

The girl looked confused so she just walked away leaving Elijah and I alone.

"Even this you had to ruin."Elijah spat ignoring my question.

"No I didn't ruin anything. I actually saved you from doing something you would definitely regret. Now will you talk to me and stop acting like an ass."I requested appalled by his behavior.

"No, no talking. Offer off the table."Elijah replied.

"Come on Elijah, it's been more than a month already. You've got to talk to me sometime."I pleaded.

Elijah just gave me a long hard glare and walked away. I stood there reeling about what had just happened the past few minutes. How had everything escalated so quickly? One thing I knew for a fact is that Elijah was being unreasonable and after mulling it over for a few minutes I realized that I was done.

Elijah didn't want to forgive me because he always found a way to sabotage each good breakthrough we had in our relationship. It was sad to think about but I had considered it to be a possibility that Elijah would never forgive me for leaving. I had no idea if Elijah would even care but I was done. All I had to do was find him and tell him that I wouldn't chase him anymore. I was tired so it was finally my turn to accept defeat, throw in the towel and begin my healing process. I deserved a break after all the suffering I had been through. I would always be grateful to Elijah for saving my life but I had to accept that our relationship was not salvageable and I had to learn to live without him. Sad but true. I would be okay though, I had been before and could be again.