Chapter Seven:

Takes One, To Know One

"The truth? I like you. A lot. You make me happy. You make me laugh. You're smart. You're different. You're a little crazy, and awkward, and your smile alone can make my day."

Maya Granger

"What are you doing?" Lincoln hissed as we walked behind Taylor and Ryder.

After breaking free from the crowed we had created, the four of us headed out to our vehicles to go over to the library, while Sakura and Ashton went to Sakura's house to work since they were partners. Taylor and Ryder discussed what they would do, while Lincoln was looking to me rather nervously. He didn't look as mad as I thought he would be.

"I am merely doing you a favor," I replied in the same hushed tone he used.

"Maya..." he groaned, obviously distressed.

"Lincoln..." I copied. "Look, I'll only give you opportunities to ask her out. And if after this whole project is over you still can't ask her out...then, I won't bother you any more."

He studied me for a second, then sighed dejectedly. "Fine. And after this, no more?"

"No more." I nodded.

He nodded back, and we fell silent after that.

***

Since both Lincoln and Taylor have their own vehicles, they rode sepreately. However, since I didn't have a car yet, I rode with Ryder again.

Fall Out Boy's Centuries played in the background, and I hummed along, while Ryder tapped the steering wheel with his fingers to the beat of the drums. I watched how precise they dropped, like he knew exactly when the beat starts and stops.

"You seem to know what you're doing," I nodded towards his fingers.

Ryder gave me a side-ways grin. "Yeah...I used to play the drums back in elementary."

"Used?"

"I sort of drifted from it ever since middle-school." He shrugged.

"Is there anything you can't do?"

"Ride a bicycle, or motorbike." He answered, and my eyes widened at the revelation.

"Are you serious?"

He chuckled at my baffled expression. "Yes, I'm serious. I never learned how to balance on a bike. And after getting into an accident while still learning, that resulted in a broken arm, I never got on one ever again."

"Wow...that's kind of...unexpected." I crossed my arms at my chest. "So, does this mean you're afraid of balancing?"

"Not really," he stopped at a red light, "I'm pretty good on the skateboard."

"Of course you are," I let out a short chuckle, shaking my head in a mix of wonder and amusement.

Silence followed, and this lasted a few seconds until Ryder broke it. "You know...I never asked what your hobby is."

"Studying."

"Aside from that," he gave me a deadpanned look.

I pursed my lips together, then answered, "Taking pictures, I guess."

"You guess?"

"Well, I like capturing fleeting moments, and editing photos...so, I guess." I shrugged.

"So your hobby's photography, then." He noted.

"Not really photography." He gave me a confused look, and I explained, "The only camera I have ever taken hold of is the family camera. And my phone doesn't take all that good pictures."

Ryder let out a thoughtful hum, then said, "So your hobby's photography."

I smiled and rolled my eyes, not really knowing what to say in reply. I wouldn't call my hobby photography just yet, since I have yet to get my hands on a good camera. And there's also the fact that I am no professional.

Soon, we arrived at the library, Taylor and Lincoln outside their cars, that was parked next to each other. And from the looks they both had, they were feeling awkward.

Ryder pulled into an empty parking space, a few cars down from the two, and we got out as soon as he turned off the engine. The duo looked relieved to see us, and we all walked into the library together, talking about the project we have to work on. All the way, I noticed how Taylor and Lincoln barely made eye contact.

What the heck did Lincoln say to make things awkward between them? I thought, bitting my lower lip as my brain worked on forming plans to get them back to their normal selves.

"What books would we need for our project, Taylor?" Ryder asked, as soon as we sat down at an empty table in the library.

"H-Huh?" Taylor who seemed out of sorts, looked around the table as if not knowing who spook, before her eyes landed on Ryder who was looking at her quizzically. "A-Ah...well we're doing the life stages of a frog, right? So, books that talk about its life cycle would do."

"I'll get on it, then," Ryder nodded, then moved to stand up.

"I'll look for our books as well, Maya." Lincoln suddenly bolted up from his seat, and if it wasn't for the carpet on the library floors, his chair would've made a whole lot of noise.

I quickly stood up as well, catching my companion's attention. "N-No! I'll do it. You stay here."

"Huh?" Lincoln stared to me with a desperate, and confused look.

Taylor stared at me with a similar look, while Ryder simply raised a brow. Before any of them could say anything, I grabbed Ryder's arm since he took the seat across from me, and dragged him off into the endless shelves of books.

"What are you doing, Maya?" Ryder asked, once we were out of earshot.

"Giving Lincoln his window of opportunity." I answered, looking over my shoulder as if they can hear us.

"Why would he need a widow of-oh!" I literally saw a light bulb appear on top of his head. His eyes sparkled with mischief. "Taylor is the girl he likes?"

"Yes."

His all too familliar, muscular arm was swung around my shoulders. "Who knew my Maya is Cupid in disguise?"

"Your Maya?" I raised a brow up at him, trying to keep the blush that was crawling up my neck at bay, and the erratic booming of my heart under control. His possesiveness, and our sudden nearness was not doing me any good!

"A-Anyway...let's get the books," I said, brushing off his arm. "Taylor will suspect something if we came back empty handed." Without waiting for Ryder's reply, I walked ahead of him.

A few minutes later, we both were able to gather books we needed. Since the project was to make an illustration on the life cycles of animals, Mrs. Jenkins had assigned each pair a designated animal. Taylor and Ryder's was the frog, while Lincoln and I got the chicken. A pretty easy one if you ask me.

Nearing our table, I was able to spot Lincoln and Taylor, they seemed to be in a conversation. Then, Lincoln suddenly stood up, before stalking towards the library doors. I froze in my steps as he exited, and Taylor remained seated, staring down at her lap.

"What the hell was that?" Ryder muttered under his breath.

We approached Taylor, and found her hiding her face behind her blond hair, her shoulders shaking. Ryder quickly caught on to the situation, and sighed. "I'll go after Lincoln."

He put his books down on the table, before leaving us. I awkwardly stood there, not knowing what to do. I could hear Taylor's soft sobs, but like the idiot I can somethimes be, I remained rooted to my spot. I'm not really that good around tears, and often say the wrong thing, so I just stood there.

After a few seconds, she gradually stopped, and as she was drying her tears, I said the first thing that came to mind. "Do you like vanilla milk shakes?"

"Huh?"

***

To say I was feeling awkward is exactly how I was feeling. I sat across from Taylor in the small ice cream shop Ryder took me to, chocolate milk shake in hand, as I watched Taylor dabbed at her eyes.

I took the liberty of ordering her a vanilla milk shake. Taylor's nose was red, and her eyes were a tad bit puffy. She has been sniffling, and sobbing all the way from the library, and I have never felt like such a horrible person for not knowing what to do. I'm pretty sure I looked like an awkward potato. And we all know that's bad.

"Th-Thank you, Maya..." Taylor sniffed, snapping me out of my thoughts.

"Huh? What for?" I asked.

"J-Just for being here...with me...while I'm going through this."

"A-Ah...right..." I didn't know what to say, so I sipped on my shake, only to choke as it went down the wrong tube.

Taylor handed me a couple pieces of table napkins. I greatfully took them from her, and covered my mouth. After a few more seconds of coughing, the choking sensation in my throat disappeared, and I gradually stopped.

"Thanks." I said, after clearing my throat.

Taylor simply smiled, before looking down to her drink. I stared at her, trying to figure out what happened between her and Lincoln. Finally, I gathered enough courage to ask. "What...happened?"

"Lincoln asked me out..." she replied after a short pause. Tears started gathering at the corners of her eyes again. "...and I said no."

"Do you not like him?"

"No, I do!" Taylor looked up to me with wide eyes, before lowering them back to her milkshake, biting her bottom lip. "It's just that...I'm scared." A tear ran down her cheek. "I'm scared that it won't work out."

"Why do you think it won't work out?" I asked.

Taylor took a deep breath, then said, "Lincoln and I used to be the best of friends. Childhood friends actually. We were always together; inseperable. We did everything together. Laugh, cry, grieve; everything." She trailed off as fresh tears fell down her face. "It was one of the best times of my life."

"But, like all good things, it came to an end. We went into the same middle school, but we drifted. At first we would often ride together to school, but that gradually stopped. Then, it became simple greetings whenever we passed by the hallway, or had the same class. By the end of our first year in middle school, it was like we never even knew each other. Like we never made such good memories together. And it has stayed that way until today."

As she spoke, more and more tears overflowed from her eyes, and I could see, and feel her hurt. It made me want to cry as well.

"If we could drift away so easily back then, wouldn't it be easy to drift away from each other again if we ever get into a relationship?" Taylor continued, "I'm scared. Scared that it'll happen."

"I...don't know anything about relationships, however..." I said after a few seconds of silence. "Isn't it about doing the most scariest thing in the world? Giving your heart to that one person, and trusting them with it. It is truely...scary. So, it's only right that you feel that way. But, if you really like a person, and you know that they genuinely feel the same about you, I believe that the both of you will do anything to make your relationship work."

Taylor looked to me like I was the wisest person alive, and at the moment, I felt like it. Where the words were coming from I had no idea, but I continued. I reached across the table and placed a hand on Taylor's shoulder. "You...really love Lincoln, I can tell, and pushing him away will only hurt you more. I'm not telling you to get together with him because I said so. I'm telling you to do what you know is right, in here," I pointed to my head. "And in here," I pointed to my chest, right above my heart.

For a moment, Taylor continued to stare at me in amazement, then she slowly smiled through her drying tears. "Thank you, Maya. I really appreciate your support." She wiped at her eyes with the sleeve of her blazer, then stood up from her seat with a look of resolve, as if she had just made up her mind.

"What are you gonna do?" I asked, standing up as well.

"I'm gonna find Lincoln, and tell him about my feelings." She answered, with a bright smile.

"No need," a familiar voice said from behind Taylor. I smiled, and Taylor slowly turned around. She gasped when she saw Ryder and Lincoln standing there. "Whe-H-How?"

"I texted Ryder on our way here." I explained, and Taylor gave me a wide-eyed look. "They've been in the booth behind you this whole time."

"Wha-What?" Again, she looked back to the boys - well, Lincoln in shock, and I could see her ears turning red. "Y-You heard all that?" She asked, and Lincoln simply nodded in return, his own face tinted red, as he stuffed his hands into his pant's pockets.

Still smiling, I began to push Taylor towards Lincoln, until they were about half a foot apart. "You two have a lot to talk about, so..." I grabbed Ryder's arm, and winked at the soon-to-be couple. "We'll be on our way."

Without another word, Ryder and I left the two.

In Ryder's truck, on our way home, Shower by Becky G. was playing, and I was humming under my breath. Ryder was oddly quiet, and I can tell he had something to ask, but I paid him no mind. I felt happy, and accomplished.

"How did you know Taylor loved Lincoln?" Ryder finally questioned, making me stop my humming.

I smiled down at my lap, then looked out the window. "Because, it takes one to know one..." I answered under my breath.

"What?" He asked, "What did you say? I didn't hear."

"Nothing." I chuckled.

"Oh, come on, Maya!" He whined.

"I said nothing, you idiot," I stuck my tongue out at him. "It was your imagination."

"No, you deffinetly said something!"

"I did not."

No way am I telling you...at least...not now.