ELIJAH

I was pissed, like seeing red kind of raging angry. I didn't even know where I was going, just barging through the halls looking for some place to cool down.

That boy was lucky I hadn't snapped his neck off his body for touching Maya. Then Maya had to defy me and actually defend him. I saw what I saw and I wasn't blind. The least she could have done was admit that she was at fault.

I would admit that I'd been gone longer than I had promised Maya but that was no reason for her to jump into the arms of another man. I'd only been gone so long because of the issue Wade and I had to solve. Some girls had been fighting over a boy in the bathrooms. It had taken ten minutes to make them stop screaming and kicking each other. Then we had realized that one of them was bleeding so we had to find the nurse to tend to her. The nurse was drunk so we had to find someone else with medical experience. It was just one long experience that I wanted to forget.

Then when all was resolved I planned on going back to Maya, asking her to dance then we would have found some place private to talk. That obviously hadn't happened because she had been busy in another boys arms. Maybe I hadn't been right to try and kiss that random girl to make her jealous but I'd just been so angry. I was grateful to Maya for stopping me and I would find that girl and apologize to her when I was calm. As for Maya well, just thinking about her made me angry so I just wasn't going to think about her. It was going to be hard but I would try.

I found myself outside in field and all evidence of the previous day's activities had already been cleaned up. It was cold and quiet, just the perfect place to be alone for a while. I would have preferred to go to the gym but it was locked for the night. I also couldn't leave because I'd promised Wade I'd stay till then end of the night. Stupid damsel in distress mission.

I really tried not to think about Maya but all thoughts kept going back to her. I could think more clearly now that I was calmer so I had to ask myself if she really had done what I'd accused her of. Was she right that I had been seeing own things? Should I have taken my time to figure out what was going on without jumping into conclusions. Probably yes but my anger issues and my unresolved history with Maya didn't allow me that luxury.

I had no idea how long I was out there for but I wasn't alone for very long because someone joined me. I knew it was her without even seeing her because of how faster my heart beat the closer she got to me. Why was I affected by her presence so much? I didn't even have to see her to know she was around. I could always feel her for some reason.

"What are you doing here?"I asked without even turning around to look at her.

"To talk."She replied softly with a defeated sigh.

"I asked you to leave me alone. I don't want to talk."I retorted.

"Then you'll just have to listen because I'm not leaving until you do. Don't talk, just listen and I promise you it will be the last you will ever have to hear from me."She replied finally stepping around to face me.

I was seated at the stands and didn't bother to get up. I just at there and watched her compose herself and whatever she needed to say to me. One statement stuck out though, what did she mean by the last I'd hear from her. Was she leaving again or something? I better not jump into conclusions again without hearing her side of the story.

She rubbed her arms as if she was cold which she probably was as it was chilly outside. I wanted to offer her my jacket but that would be weird seeing as we were in the middle of a fight.

She rubbed her arms once before facing me fully and the look in her eyes had my chest tightening. She looked sad, lost, defeated and there were tears threatening to fall. Fuck what had I done? Not the tears, please not the tears.

"I'm sorry Elijah. I'm sorry that I came back after eight years away with no communication hoping to win my best friend back. I'm waving the white flag because I surrender to the fact that I was deluding myself when I thought that. Me being back seems to only cause you pain so I'll stay away and this time I mean it. If I could I'd go back to Nigeria so you wouldn't have to deal with me but I can't since there's no one for me there. But I can and I will stay away from you here. No more attempts at trying to fix things, no more trying to talk to you, none of it. I am sorry for the pain that my coming back has caused you."She expressed and the tears fell.

What was she saying to me? She was giving up on us, just like that?

She swiped at her tears with her fingers but only more fell in her place. I didn't do well with girls tears, especially girls that I cared about so seeing Maya cry because of me was heartbreaking. I wanted to hug her and beg for forgiveness for making her cry but the words just wouldn't form on my lips.

I thought she was done but she had more to say.

"I've been trying so hard to make you forgive me but you just won't budge and I'm done. I didn't want to leave you Elijah, I'm sorry that I did but it didn't mean I wanted to. You think I enjoyed being ripped away from you, that I wouldn't get to hear that cute stutter you no longer have. You think I loved the fact that I wasn't here to watch you grow into this beautiful man you are now. I hated every minute of everyday that I was away from you. But I'm here now and I've been begging you for weeks to hear me out but you just won't listen. So this is me saying that I'm done, I won't chase you anymore because it seems you don't want anything to do with me. Goodbye Elijah, I'm sorry for everything. Just know I will always, always, love you and be grateful for everything you've done for me."She concluded gave me one last longing look before turning and walking away from me.

Just like that? We were done? She was giving up on me, on us? That was unacceptable and I refused to just take her defeat. I'd never chased after her before but this time I did, catching up to her before she left the stands.

"No!"I yelled after her making her stop and turn around looking at me with a confused expression on her face.

She was still crying and it was all my fault.

"I refuse to accept that you're giving up on us. You don't get to do that."I informed her.

"Why? It's what you've wanted from the beginning."She asked.

"No! What I've wanted is to not hurt when I see you because all I can think about is that little ten year old boy you left behind."I replied.

"Eli I didn't want to leave you. I had to or else I would have died."She replied exasperated.

"What does that mean?"I asked her shocked by her confession.

I remember Maya being really sick before she left but she wasn't dying. I would have noticed if my best friend was dying. Right?

"It doesn't matter anymore."She mumbled looking away and I could tell she was hiding something big from me.

"It does to me. I want to know why. People just don't disappear from the face of the earth for eight years then reappear."I demanded.

"I did because I came back for you. I was always going to come back for you Elijah, didn't matter if it was after eight, ten or fifteen years but I was going to come back. My parents dying just expedited the matter."She explained looking sad as she played with the rings around her neck tied onto a necklace.

"I can't just accept that, I need a reason."I asked.

"You won't let me give it to you. I've been back for more than five weeks Elijah and in that time I've been chasing after you like a dog and I won't anymore. You refuse to give us a chance and I can't force you to so this is me giving up."She replied.

"I don't want you to."I whispered realizing just how much Maya meant to me.

Not having her in my life had been hard. Now that she was back I couldn't lose her again.

"Then why do you keep sabotaging all my attempts at making us friends again? Eli you walked in on me comforting someone who just got their hearts broken and you immediately jumped into conclusions without giving me the chance to explain."She questioned.

She was right. I was ruining many of her attempts to fix things but it had all been unintentional.

Maya was looking at me expectantly and since she had been so honest with me, I decided to pay her the same courtesy.

"Because deep down I'm scared that you might leave again if we fix things. I can't remember how it feels to not hate you."I expressed and her eyes immediately softened.

Maya took three steps towards me closing the gap between us. She lifted her hand up to my face and when her fingers touched my skin, everything in me lit up. It was the second time she was touching me and it was magical and electrifying.

"Then let me remind you how to love me."She whispered softly her brown eyes looking into my green ones as if she could see right through me to the depths of my soul.

I covered her tiny hand on my cheek cheek with my mammoth one unable to look away from her.

"Give me a chance to fix things Elijah. A real chance, no bullshit."She pleaded.

With her looking at me like I was her whole world, touching me like I was the most precious thing to her, there's no way I could have said no.

"Okay."I sighed letting go and finally giving in to healing.

"You mean it?"She asked her eyes wide as if she hadn't expected my answer.

"Yes but on one condition."I replied.

"What?"She asked with a frown as if waiting for a very ridiculous request.

"Can I get a hug?"I asked my voice going soft.

Maya gave me one of her contagious grins that had me smiling back and nodded.

I didn't wait for another invitation as I immediately pulled her into my arms burying her in a bear hug like I'd wanted to do ever since I saw her lying on the grass all those weeks ago.

She smelled amazing, like black berries, lilies and home. She was so tiny in my arms that when I straightened up, her legs were dangling off the ground.

"Fuck, I missed you."I confessed being truly honest with her and myself for the first time.

"I missed you too."She replied her voice muffled by my jacket.

I could feel her breath on my neck, arms around my shoulders, her small body on mine and I could finally say that I was home.

"I don't feel like letting you go."I admitted loving the feel of her in my arms.

I'd gone years without her touch and after one hit, I was immediately addicted.

"Then don't."She replied her arms tightening around me.

And I didn't let go. Instead I slowly slid into the slightly wet ground with her in my arms. I sat cross legged with Maya on my lap, her legs around my waist.

"Are you comfortable?"I asked and she nodded though I could tell she was cold.

I let her go for a moment to take off my jacket and draped it around her shoulders.

"Thank you."She mumbled snuggling into my chest her hands on my stomach.

"You're welcome."I replied my arms going around her once more.

It had been eight years since I'd been able to touch or feel Maya and finally it was happening. I didn't want to let go. I just wished I could freeze that moment in time forever where we were in each other's arms, the whole world revolving around us.

"When you said that you would have died if you stayed, how close were you to dying?"I whispered to Maya holding her tighter.

I'd mourned Maya a year after she left when I realized that she wouldn't come back and was probably dead. I still hoped that she was alive but a part of me had believed that she had died.

"Pretty close, I actually did flat line a few times but...." She started to explain but I immediately cut her off.

It was too painful to hear that I had actually lost her. I didn't know the details and I wasn't ready to hear them yet.

"Say no more, you can tell me the rest later."I shushed her rubbing her back comfortingly because I felt her shudder when she recalled the memory.

Once the dark cloud I'd put over us with my question passed Maya seemed to relax. We sat like that for a few more minutes just enjoying being in each others embrace, our heartbeats synced and beating in the same rhythm.

I felt Maya shift in my arms so I relaxed my hold on her. She lifted her head off my chest and looked up at me cupping my face in he hands her eyes meeting mine in an intense gaze.

"I know we'll not be able to fix things overnight but I really am grateful for this chance to fix things. You mean the world to me Elijah, you've got to know that and I'll not give up on us if you just try to meet me halfway."She requested.

It was not an unreasonable request and there's no way I could have said no to her.

"I can do that."I assured her.

"You have a stubble."She commented switching topics as she run her fingers over my chin.

"I started growing facial hair when I was fifteen, I don't want a red beard so I always shave."I replied loving the feel of her soft fingers on my face.

"I think you'd look cute with a bald head and full beard."She commented her eyes full of mirth.

"Already trying to change me I see."I chided.

"No never, you're perfect as you are. I'm just sad that I didn't get to see you grow up. You were so scrawny when I left and I came back to a seven foot giant."She commented.

"Good genes and working out too much. And its not my fault you're tiny."I said poking her nose with my finger.

"I am not tiny, I am average size. You're the massive collosal giant."She retorted defensively.

It was cute watching her get so defensive about her size. She was not average size, she was small. I didn't know if it was genetic or if her growth had been affected by her illness. I'd ask her that later though. For the moment I just wanted to ask her one question so I would know where we stood.

"What would your boyfriend say if he saw you sitting on another guys lap?"I asked her.

I was so afraid of the question but it needed and answer.

"He'd beat you up then scold me till kingdom come but you don't have to worry about him."Maya replied smiling at me.

"Why are you smiling? You're not scared of him? And no one can beat me up, I'd kill him first."I said a little too defensively.

"I know that and I'm not scared of him, well I am sometimes when he is angry but not because he can hurt me, but because of how his anger takes control of him."She explained playing with the buttons of my shirt.

"Who is your boyfriend Maya?"I asked done with beating around the bush.

She looked up at me with huge doe eyes before answering.

"I'm looking right at him."She whispered.

I was confused at first because she was looking at me then my eyes went wide when I realized what she was talking about.

"So if I'm your boyfriend then it means that all those times I was jealous of him and when I rejected your proposal because of him, I was actually jealous of myself?"I asked feeling like the most stupid person in the world.

"Yeah."Maya affirmed with a nod.

"Why didn't you tell me?!"I asked exasperated.

"You never gave me the chance."She retorted.

"Fuck! I fell feel so stupid."I cried burying my face in her neck.

"Don't beat yourself up, it was actually quit hilarious when I sat down to think about it. You were so cute too."Maya consoled running her fingers through my hair.

"Violet knows."I mumbled in embarrassment when I recalled our conversation in the bus.

"Yes, I had to tell her."Maya confirmed making me feel even more stupid.

I really was a grade A tool for being so self obsessed that I hadn't even realized the truth when it had been right in front of me the whole time.

"So you don't have an Igbo prince back in Nigeria or a boyfriend here in Ohio?"I asked just to be sure.

"No I've had the same boyfriend ever since I was nine. It was extremely long distance."Maya joked making me chuckle.

"Har har, very funny. But seriously, I'm sorry for making things difficult for you regarding this topic."I apologized.

"It's okay, I probably would have assumed the same thing too."Maya replied.

She really was an angel and I would do my best as I'd promised her to let go of all the anger I harbored towards her so our relationship could bloom.

The weather was getting colder and as much as I wanted to keep holding Maya I realized that we had to head back inside.

"How about one dance before I drive you home?"I suggested to Maya.

"I'd love to."She replied and tried to get up but I held her down.

"I really had missed you little mouse. Thank you for coming back to me."I expressed kissing her forehead.

"Thank you for waiting."She replied.

We sat like that for a few more minutes before I stood up with Maya still in my arms and set her down on the ground.

We walked arm in arm back inside where it was warmer and she handed me my jacket back thanking me once again.

The hall wasn't as chaotic as I'd expected it to be when we returned but it was clear that the teachers, alumni and a few students were drunk. We didn't pay any mind to them as I led Maya directly to the dance floor.

The song power by Isak Danielson was just starting setting the mood perfectly. I put my hands around Maya's frame protectively while she put her around my torso lying my head on her chest.

The lyrics to that song were so relatable to Maya and I. She did have so much power over me, she just didn't realize it. She had been my savior from the first day we met in kindergarten and I would open my heart to her again because I did need to be saved once again.

I saw Violet and Wade dancing too both of them gawking at us. I rolled my eyes and decided to ignore them. They definitely had questions but we didn't have time for that at the moment. I just wanted to enjoy my dance with Maya.

We ended up dancing to more than one song and when people started leaving I decided to take Maya home since she had a curfew. We had to let Violet know of course, she would have had my head if I took Maya without letting her know.

"This wasn't how I expected the night to end but it's a better ending than I would have hoped. Thank you for tonight."Maya expressed once I stopped outside their house.

"My pleasure, thank you too."I replied.

It was quite after that, not an awkward kind of quite but the quiet where there was so much to say but it wasn't the right time.

"I will see you around Joey, don't switch up on me again."Maya requested with a pout.

"I wouldn't dream of it, goodnight little mouse."

Maya smirked, leaned over to kiss my cheek before getting out of the car. I watched her walk up to the door, stop to give me her signature shy wave then getting into the house. I stalled for a few minutes before driving off.

The smile on my face just wouldn't fade and I didn't want it to.

Everyone was asleep when I got home which was good since I didn't feel like talking to anyone.

That night I slept with a smile on my face and for the first time in eight years my heart was at peace. Maya and I still had a lot to work though but I wasn't worried anymore. It was a bright future for us.