Chapter 27 Standing up

Chapter 27 Standing up

Maya's POV

The moment shattered, not because I moved or because Justin moved.

But because she did. That bitch, Sarah.

She walked across the ice and her boots clicked against the frozen surface. She wasn't wearing skates and she walked like she owned the rink, like she owned the school, she probably did anyway.

And she's here. Of course she followed. She's not going to let me have one moment of peace.

Her smile was already in place. It was sweet and innocent. The smile she used when she wanted everyone to think she was an angel.

"Maya!" she called out. "I'm so glad you're back!"

Glad I'm back?

She drugged me and destroyed me, and she's glad I'm back. What a pretender.

The cheerleaders shifted around me. Some looked at Sarah, some looked at me. Brittany's hand was still on my arm. I felt her fingers twitch.

They don't even know what to do. Even they can feel something is wrong.

Sarah stopped a few feet away. Close enough to seem friendly.

"I was so worried about you," she said. Her voice was loud enough for everyone to hear. "With your father in the hospital and everything. I thought you weren't going to come to school again. How is he? Is he going to be okay?"

She knows about Papa.

She knows.

Did she send the text?

"Maybe if you'd been a better daughter..."

My blood was boiling and my hands were shaking. But I didn't run or cry. I didn't give her the satisfaction.

“How did you know about my dad?”

“Ohh please, Maya. Why are you acting dumb?” She said with a smirk on her stupid face. “Have you forgotten that my dad signs your father's paycheck? Is he alive?”

"He's fine," I said.

My voice was calm.

Sarah's smile didn't waver. "That's good. That's really good, you must be so relieved."

Relieved?

I'm relieved my father didn't die while you were texting me cruelty from your perfect phone.

"I am."

The silence stretched.

The cheerleaders were watching, the hockey players had stopped skating, even the air seemed to hold its breath.

Sarah tilted her head. "You look tired, Maya. Have you been sleeping?"

She's doing it. She's pretending to care, pretending to be my friend while everyone watches.

"I've been sleeping fine."

"Really? Because you have bags under your eyes. I'm just saying, "you know, as your friend."

Friend?

Did this bitch just say friend?

Like she didn't try to destroy me or isn't still trying.

I felt a shift behind me. It was Justin. He was moving and stepping toward us.

He had better not come here. I was capable of handling this myself.

This time, I will do it myself.

I held up my hand, just slightly. I didn't look at him. I didn't need to but I felt him stop.

He understands.

Thank God. For once, he understands.

"You know what, Sarah?" I said.

Her smile flickered. Just for a second. "What?"

"I've been thinking a lot lately about friendship, about trust. About what it means when someone smiles in your face while holding a knife behind their back."

The rink went silent.

Sarah's eyes narrowed. Barely. If you weren't looking for it, you'd miss it.

"I don't know what you're talking about," she said.

"Yes, you do."

"Maya…"

"You've been telling everyone how worried you are about me, how you've been fighting for me, how you cried when they took my uniform."

"I did cry…"

"Really? Or you cried because you got what you wanted."

Sarah's mask slipped.

"Maya, you're not making any sense…"

"Aren't I?"

I took a step toward her.

She didn't step back, but she wanted to. I could see it in her eyes.

"You've been playing a game, Sarah. You've been playing it for a long time and you're good at it, I'll give you that. You're very good at making people believe you're the victim."

"Maya…"

"But here's the thing about games." My voice was low and steady. I don't know how I did that. "Eventually, people figure out the rules, they start paying attention and eventually, they realize that the person who's always pointing fingers... is the one who should be in the mirror."

Sarah's face was pale now and her smile was gone.

"What are you trying to say?" she whispered.

I leaned in. Close enough that only she could hear.

"You should be careful, Sarah."

Her breath caught.

"Because lies," I said softly, "have a way of rotting from the inside."

I stepped back.

The silence was deafening.

Sarah stared at me. Her mouth was slightly open and her hands were clenched at her sides.

She doesn't know what to say. For the first time ever, she doesn't know what to say.

The cheerleaders were murmuring. The hockey players were exchanging glances and somewhere behind me, I heard someone whisper, "What was that about?"

Sarah's eyes darted around the rink.

She saw them watching. She's losing control.

And she knows it.

"I don't know what's gotten into you, Maya," she said. Her voice was higher now and strained. "I'm just trying to be a good friend."

My chest rose and fell. Who the hell was she trying to deceive?

“A good friend doesn’t drug someone’s drink.”

The words came out before I could stop them but I didn't take them back.

Sarah froze and the rink went completely silent.

"Drugging?" someone whispered.

"What is she talking about?"

"Did Sarah…"

"I don't know what you're talking about," Sarah said quickly. "I never… you're lying…"

"Am I?"

I didn't have proof but I had something better.

I had the truth and for the first time, I wasn't afraid to speak it.

Sarah took a step back, then another.

"I have to go," she said. "I have… I have a thing…"

She turned and walked toward the doors. Her boots clicked against the ice, she was running.

Sarah Dean is running from me.

The doors closed behind her and the rink was still silent. Everyone was staring at me. The cheerleaders, the hockey player and even the janitor who'd been fixing the bleachers.

I couldn't breathe. Good job, Maya. I wish papa was here to see me stand up to her.

I did that. I stood up to her in front of everyone.

My hands were shaking and my heart was pounding. My chest felt like someone had cracked it open and poured ice inside.

Why don't I feel better?

Why don't I feel like I won?

"Maya."

Justin's voice. It was soft and close.

I hadn't heard him walk up but he was there now, standing beside me. Close enough that I could smell that clean soap smell and feel the heat coming off his body.

"You didn't need me," he said.

It wasn't a question.

I looked at him.

His eyes were soft and they were looking at me like I was something precious.

Don't look at me like that.

Don't fall for that, Maya.

I didn't answer.

I bent down and picked up the uniform. It was cold from the ice.

"Maya." His voice was firmer now. "Hey. Talk to me."

I couldn't.

If I open my mouth, I'll fall apart and if I fall apart, I won't be able to put myself back together.

"I'm fine," I said.

My voice was flat.

"You're not fine."

"I said I'm fine."

"What did Sarah say about your father?"

The words hit me like a slap.

What did Sarah say about your father?

"Maybe if you'd been…"

I couldn't…I couldn't stand it. In this rink, with him looking at me like that. With everyone watching and Sarah's words still echoing in my head.

Run.

Run before you break. Run before you say something you can't take back.

I turned and walked toward the doors.

"Maya…"

I didn't stop.

"Maya, wait…"

I pushed through the doors. The hallway was empty, cold and quiet.

I ran.

Behind me, I heard his footsteps.

"Maya!"

I didn't look back. No…I couldn't.

Because if I looked back, I would stop and if I stopped, I would cry and if I cried, I would have to admit that I wasn't as strong as I pretended to be.

Not yet…I'm not there yet.

The doors to the parking lot were ahead, I pushed through them.

The cold air hit my face but I kept running.