The Book of Willow- Princess of the West

27.

"So...how'd it go with Aswen?" Maia asked, shoving her hands into her jeans pockets. 

She waited in the empty hall for him to return, feeling a deep sense of responsibility for hurting Aswen, although the interaction with Chance was innocent. 

Maia was suspended in a perpetual state of confusion when it came to Chance. She wanted him. He awakened things in her she didn't know were possible, but she couldn't indulge in these new passions without them being marred by shame. 

If she allowed herself to indulge in selfishness, she would destroy her friendship with Aswen and whatever the hell her relationship was now with Miles. She couldn't bring herself to do it no matter how much she wanted him. 

Chance slapped a hand over his eyes. 

Maia blew out a breath, "That good huh?"  

"Maia..." He gave her a pained look, "I feel...stuck. I really care about Aswen and I really like being with her." 

A twinge of jealousy irked her hearing Chance honestly voice his feelings for Aswen, "So why don't you just stay with her?" 

He gave a bitter laugh. He'd never been so emotionally drained. Between his feelings for Maia and his guilt over hurting Aswen, he was spent. "You most of all know that Morgoth-or-whatever-his-name-is will be gunning for us. The best I can do is keep her safe and stay clear of her." 

Leaning forward, and folding her arms over her chest, she asked, "So, what are you going to tell her about why you're suddenly breaking up with her? We really only have today to kinda wrap things up. You know that overgrown Ken doll is breathing down our necks about leaving." 

"Is he still in the parking lot?" Chance lifted a curious brow.

Maia gave an exasperated sigh, "Ugh! He won't fucking leave." 

Maia stared blankly into the distance recalling her tense exchange with Glorfindel. She demanded they be allowed to return to school to say goodbye to their friends. The Elf Lord refused, insisting they leave immediately but Maia had other plans. 

'I'm going to school tomorrow. The Lowell brothers and I are gonna say goodbye to our friends, which we might never see again and I'm going to take a leave of absence from school in case I survive this shit.' Her voice climbed higher with each word. 

Glorfindel stepped in close, tilted his head downward, in an attempt to use his intimidating size to sway her. His chest rose and fell inches from Maia's heated gaze. 

'Yes, and who will let you?' His full lips pressed to a thin line.

'And who's gonna stop me?' Maia spun on her heel and flipped him the bird turned before walking away to the appalled gasps of her parents.

"Don't worry about Gloriella, I got something fo' his ass." Maia's lips puckered as they pinched to a thin line. "But, seriously, Chump, what are you going to tell her? Try to set her down gently. She's a cool chick. I'm just sorry you guys got caught up in my shit." Maia looked down at her feet. 

"Hey," He said using his finger to bring her eyes to meet his. "If I could do this all over again, I wouldn't change a thing, Maia." 

His hand dropped to his side and his face was crestfallen, "I just don't know what I'm gonna tell my parents about where we've disappeared to. I-I can't tell her anything that won't get her killed." 

Chance opened his locker pulled his bag out. "I'll see you later Maia." He said without waiting for a response and walked away. 

Maia watched him as he left. A part of her going with him. She understood what he was feeling. She did not need her mother to release the restraints on her power to understand. What hurt Chance and Miles hurt her. 

An invisible force pulled at her, physically tugging her to the side. Forcing her to pull her eyes away from Chance's retreating form. She turned her head to find Miles waving hysterically as he bobbed down the hallway. 

"Maia!" He smiled, pulling her into his arms. Maia took in a slow deep breath. The unmistakable aroma that was uniquely quietly folded her into its embrace. Her whole body relaxed in his arms. 

"You waited for me, that's so sweet. Very unlike you." He whispered, pressing his lips to the crown of her head. 

"Hey, Mile High." She reached up and ruffled his brown curls. 

His smile dropped immediately as he studied her face, "What's wrong?"

She hung her head and let her arms dangle at her sides, "This is...this is a lot harder than I thought it would be." 

"Hey. hey. hey." He said clutching her by the shoulders. "What's the matter, Mai? You can talk to me."

Large, tear-filled eyes focused on Miles' worried face. "Miles...Aswen and Chance-"

"Oh," he said, his hands dropping suddenly from her shoulders. "He finally decided to be honest with her about the two of you?"

There was that look again. Her gaze was distant, she was disappearing into herself. It was like she had a room in her head and anytime something threatened her, she locked herself inside. The anger the welled up when he thought of Chance's hands or lips on Maia made it hard to coax her out of it. He pushed it aside. Maia's well-being winning out.

Her brows pinched together, "Miles, you know that there isn't anything going on between Chance and I. So don't get carried away with your male posturing. I just...I just feel bad that he has to cut her out of his life because of me when he so clearly has feelings for her." 

His hands that had tightened into fists, relaxed. "It's not your fault, Maia. You didn't ask for any of this. You just as responsible for this as you are for the sky being blue. You need to stop blaming yourself for things you can't control." 

A huge shadow cast along the carpeted floor. "Like that guy constantly following you around." Miles pulled his lips into a tense smile. He was beginning to hate Glorfindel's constant hovering. 

He stood in his golden armor towering over Maia. "Princess, I sensed you were in distress."

"It's high school, Gigantor, I'm always in distress. Now get out of here before someone sees you and I have explain my cosplaying uncle." Maia grabbed Miles by the wrist pulling him behind her. 

"We're going to class. DO NOT FOLLOW ME!" she shouted as they vanished down the hallway leaving behind a very frustrated Elven Lord.