Now all I could think about was what she wanted to tell me! She wasn't really doing me any favors. Farkle did his job as the decoy again, distracting Smackle so I could sneak off. The bell had only just rung, but school hallways were busy. It took me longer than it usually did to get to the theater, as I'd have to avoid Zay and Lucas. I felt like I was playing dodgeball, the amount of times I'd have to dodge, duck, dip, dive and dodge. But even so I still beat Maya there.

    I dropped my bag on the front seat and climbed up on the stage. I always forgot how daunting it was to stand up here and look out in the auditorium...so many people...I shook my head, trying to clear the all-too-familiar butterflies. As I did, I noticed sheet music on the piano.

    I set about gathering them up, when I realized what song it actually was. A smile formed on my lips as I sat myself on the piano and placed my hands over the keys. I was a little rusty but it didn't matter. I started to play the familiar melody, and now that it was slower, I found I liked it and started to sing along.

"That slow burn wait while it gets dark,

Bruising the sun, I feel grown up with you in your car

I know it's dumb

We've both got a million bad habits to kick

Not sleeping is one

We're biting our nails, you're biting my lip

I'm biting my tongue

When people are talking, people are talking

When People are talking, people are talking."

    It was such a beautiful song; too good for a musical...I wanted to on singing but something stopped me, something told me it was unbelievably personal and I had no right. I'd feel the same if somebody read one of my poems. It just wouldn't be right.

    "It sounds better when you sing it." I turned hastily and shot off the stool when I saw the blonde walking slowly down the aisle towards me.

    "I-I'm sorry, I just wanted to hear it now that you changed it."

    "And?"

    I swallowed hard. "It's much better. It's such a sad song; the music makes it even more beautiful."

    Maya stood in front of the stage, her arms folded, looking up at me. I felt strange standing up here, being judged by her, not really sure what to do with myself. She didn't say anything for a long moment, then, "I didn't know you could play the piano."

    I let out a breath I hadn't realized I'd been holding. "Uh...yeah." That had been rather an anticlimax. I'd expected something big, something heartbreaking, maybe even something witty, I don't know...just not that. It was like we were talking about the weather.

    She must have seen the look of confused disappointment on my face because she sighed and let her arms drop to her sides. "I don't know, Riles! I've never done anything like this before; I don't know what I meant to say. There isn't a manual on how to tell someone you love them and can't live without them!"

    "You-You love me?"

    "Oh. Well maybe it was easier than I thought?" She shrugged, a dazzling smile appearing on her face taking my breath away.

    "Ma-Maya..." She cocked her head and waited for me to go on. "I don't understand." Understatement of the century but the words I actually wanted to use to describe my current emotional state didn't really seem...um...suitable. Although if I didn't get an explanation soon they might quickly become very suitable!

    "What do you mean 'you don't understand?' Riles, I love you! What's so hard to—"

    "No."

    "No?" She looked as confused as I felt and her smile was slowly slipping away. "What do you mean 'no,' Riles?"

    "I mean...no." She opened her mouth again but I rushed on, determined to try and make her see why it was hard for me to understand. "I don't get it, Maya. And I don't think you do either. I've loved you for a very long time now that I've forgotten what it's like to not love you. My life before meeting you...I can hardly remember it. There was just nothing before seeing you for the first time. And what I do remember seems unimportant." I found myself pacing the stage in front of her, gesturing wildly with my arms; I just couldn't keep still anymore. "But you...at first you use to just use me, play with me like I'm some toy. You got me hot then throw a bucket of ice water on me. You screw around with my head, my feelings! You make me care; make me believe that maybe-just maybe-I had a chance!" I spun back around to face her, ignoring the shocked look on her beautiful face. I strode towards her and crouched until we were level. "I would have done anything for you, I poured my heart out to you, laid it right out there for all to see. So what do you do? You build me up some more and then stamp on it, when I least expect it." I straightened up and whirled on her again. "Girls always complain that guys are bad, they don't listen, they're insensitive, dumb caveman. But girls are so much worse! Everything's a game to you, Maya! Well you know what?" I jumped down off the stage and grabbed my bag. "I'm sick of it. Sometimes you can't have it all. Sometimes you have to choose. Now or never, Maya," I felt my phone start to vibrate in my pocket. "Because this is one pawn who's done taking orders." And with that I turned on my heels and strode away.

    I flipped my phone open. "Hey, Izzy. I'm on my way now. And don't worry, I'm fine."