New Kid

Chapter 3: Behind The Curtains

TW: Abuse

The kids returned to Carina's mom's house. Andrew stormed in with Carina and Maya behind him, "Ciao, mama. Carina mi ha fatto partire presto per colpa della sua stupida amica (carina made me leave early because of her stupid friend),"

"Maya non è stupida e ha bisogno del mio aiuto adesso (Maya is not stupid and she needs my help right now)"

"Che cosa mai. Mama, puoi portarmi più tardi? (whatever. Mom, can you take me later).

"Sì. Ora smettila di parlare italiano così l'amico Carina's può capirci per favore? (Yes. Now stop speaking Italian so Carina's friend can understand please?)

"Whatever. I'll be upstairs," Andrew says and storms upstairs.

Carina turns to Maya, "He only gets mad like that when he doesn't get his way. He'll be fine in a few hours. Mama, this is Maya," Carina holds a finger up to her mom telling her, "niente abbracci, (no hugs)"

"Okay, well it's nice to meet you, Maya. Call me whatever you want. I'm sure Carina will help you get cleaned up and ready for dinner. I'm making my specialty, homemade lasagna, the Italian way,"

"Oh, ok, I have to be home by 6,"

"That's okay, it'll be ready by 4:05," Maya was mesmerized by how specific the time was.

Carina guides Maya to her bedroom, she is letting Maya use her shower. Carina has a shower in her room, "okay, the water is running. Do you need help with anything?"

"No, if I do I'll call out,"

"Okay. I'm sure you can figure out the shampoo and body wash."

~~~

Maya comes out of the bathroom in the clothes her dad told her to put on. Her hair is wet from the shower, draped to one side. Carina personally thought she looked cute. "All better?" Carina asks trying to ignore the bruises on her shoulders.

She nodded, "A little,"

"That's good. Do your legs hurt, you want some pain killers?"

"No, I'm fine. Thanks though," they both just sat on Carina's bed in silence looking into each other's eyes. The silence was nice though, it allowed them to take in every feature on each other's faces. Finally Maya broke the silence, "you're cute," this comment made Carina blush a little.

"You're cute, too," once again, blushing.

Before Carina knew, Maya's soft lips were on hers. This kiss was like time stopped. Maya's hand is on Carina's cheek while Carina's hand grabbed Maya's free hand and squeezed it. They pulled away and looked at each other in the eyes and smiled. It felt like hours in that kiss. Carina began, "That was..."

"Amazing," Maya concluded Carina's sentence. She smiled because that's what she was gonna say. Then they kiss again and what felt longer this time, until they heard Carina's mom call that dinner's ready.

"Damn mood killer," Carina said and Maya giggled at the truth. "So what is this?"

"Let me take you on a date and we'll figure it out together?"

"Deal," they both walked downstairs into the kitchen being greeted with Carina's mom and Andrew, who is in a better mood.

"The foods on the plate. Dig in,"

~~~

"Mama, the food was great," Andrew said praising his mother's lasagna.

"Thank you, sweetie. How did you like it?" She asked Maya who was kinda quiet.

"This is the best meal I've ever eaten, not kidding,"

Carina's mom got a little concerned, "What do you mean?"

Maya looked at Carina with a scared look in her eye. She gave Maya a reassuring look, saying with her eyes that she didn't have to tell her mom about her dad. Maya decided to leave most details out, "My dad normally orders take-out and we eat that for a couple days. I used to have home cooked meals, but ever since my mom passed, he doesn't really cook,"

"Oh, I'm sorr..." she paused and noticed the bruises on Maya's shoulder, "Those look like they hurt, how did you..." She looked at Maya who looked like she is racking her brain for and excuse, Carina tried to say leave it, but her mom started again, "Oh, sweetie. Is your dad hitting you?"

Carina motioned for Andrew to go to his room, he obliged. Maya started to get teary eyed and nodded, "Me and my brother, but mostly me."

"Have you told anyone?"

"Just Carina...and now you,"

"You are welcome here anytime. Just walk it. I can get you a key if you want. I am now your mother figure. Three years, you'll be 18, come here. This is now your home, okay?"

Carina is surprised that her mom would offer something like that, Maya spoke with tears falling, "Thank you," Carina's mom nodded.

Carina looked at the time and it read 5:30, "Maya, you should get going,"

She wipes her tears, Uh...yeah. Thank you for having me. And thank you for saying all that. I'm so grateful,"

"Do you want me to drive you at least to your street?"

"No. My house is 4 streets down. Thank you and I'll text you tomorrow, bye,"

She walked out the door and walked down the street. Carina's mom turns to her and says with a cheeky smile, "She'll text you tomorrow?"

"Yeah...I...uh...am kinda going out with her tomorrow,"

"Oooo, that's exciting," Carina's mom went to clean the dishes. The kids stayed in their rooms the rest of the night.

~~~

Maya returned home to her dad standing in front of the door. "How was it?"

"Fine. My legs are killing me."

"Good. Sit on the couch."

Maya sat on the couch. Her dad raised his hand once...twice...three times. Maya wincing in pain to ever hit. "Now when I tell you to be home at 9, what does that mean?"

"To be home an 9, no later." Maya says with stray tears running down her face.

"Good girl. Now go to bed,"

Maya's bedroom is on the first floor so she didn't have to go upstairs or anything. She couldn't limp because she knew that her dad would hit her again because she's showing signs of pain. As soon as she is in her bedroom, she breaks down and falls to the ground. She can't stop the tears from falling. Her dad didn't even offer her dinner, if she didn't eat what she ate, she would be going to bed hungry. All Maya could think about is what Carina's mom said and it relieves her. She looks down to her phone and sees Carina's name pop up...

Carina: I hope you're okay. I snuck some pain killers into your bag. There's a good amount in the bag to last a while. This is gonna be awkward but I love you. It's the truth.

Maya: Aww, thank you. I found them. I will definitely take some now. Also I love you too ❤️.

Maya and Carina thought about each other all night until they both fell asleep.

A/N

Sorry to disappoint y'all but I'm gonna skip Sunday because writing them on a date is to tough.

I also know that it was kinda fast getting them together so soon but it's whatever lol

Thoughts???
This was kinda tough to write lmao