Chasing Daylight

Chapter Twelve

I'm drunk in the back of the car
And I cried like a baby coming home from the bar
-Taylor Swift
Mason
I woke up the next morning to the sound of Maria's phone ringing. I hadn't meant to fall asleep on the couch, but there I was with her stirring in my lap.
"What is that?" She mumbled sitting up. "Turn it off. Mason?"
"I fell asleep," I said and she grabbed her forehead with a groan. I had a feeling her hangover was pretty killer.
"I'm very hungover," she whispered confirming my theory. "Who is it?"
I grabbed the phone off the table as Maria squeezed her eyes shut. "It says unknown," I replied looking over at her.
"Can you answer it, it might be someone replying to one of my donation requests," she said rubbing her forehead. "I'll tell you what to say."
"Sure," I nodded answering the phone. "Hello?" I asked pressing the phone to my ear.
"Hi this is Marcy, is Maria Myers there?" A female voice asked. I looked over at Maria.
"Who is it?" She mouthed.
"She said her name is Marcy," I said covering the phone. I watched Maria's face pale and panic set in her eyes.
"No, no, no, no, no," she said her eyes going wide and her face paler than before. "You don't know a Maria. You don't know me. Hang up."
"Um I'm sorry but I don't know a Maria Myers," I said biting my lip and Maria visibly relaxed. My mind was swimming as I tried to figure out what Maria was hiding.
"Oh, I thought I found her," Marcy sighed. Her voice was filled with disappointment and I felt guilty until I glanced over at Maria.
"Sorry I couldn't help," I replied before hanging up. I looked over at Maria who looked sick.
"I'm too hungover for this," she groaned. I couldn't figure out what she was feeling exactly, but I could see her hands shaking.
"Maria, are you going to be okay?" I asked. I was starting to get worried.
"I'm fine," she mumbled. "I don't want to talk about it."
"Maria you just made me lie to a girl that was looking for you. She sounded really upset that it wasn't you. You can't just keep me in the dark."
"Fine," she said clenching her jaw. I felt bad because I knew she was hungover, but she couldn't just expect me to not ask questions.
"I've known Marcy since I was in kindergarten," she replied her voice shaking.
"Why is she looking for you?" I pushed. I couldn't let her get away with keeping so much from me. Not when she dragged me into it. It made me so nervous to know that she was hiding so much. What if something was really wrong?
"Because I left. I told them I was transferring, but I didn't tell them where. I left and changed my number and I deleted all my social media. Somehow they know my number. How the fuck did they get my number?" She was clearly panicking now.
"Maria, why do you not want to talk to Marcy or whoever these other people are?" I asked confused. I had known Max all my life and we had been through so much shit together. We were very different people now, but I couldn't imagine leaving him behind without a second thought.
"I don't want to talk about that. I can't talk about it okay?" She asked her eyes starting to well up. Her tears always got me like a shot in my heart. I knew I couldn't push her much further.
"Okay, that's okay," I nodded. "Can I give you a hug? You need to breathe."
"Yeah," she nodded letting me wrap my arms around her tiny frame and hold her tightly. She broke down into sobs and I felt my heartbreak.
"It's okay," I said rubbing her back. "I'm sorry I pushed you and I'm sorry that happened. She believed me though."
"I'm sorry I put you in the middle of this. I'm sorry I'm such a mess," she whimpered. "I like being your friend and I'm sorry."
"Maria, I like being your friend too," I laughed pulling away and holding her shoulders. "Everyone is a little bit of a mess and there isn't anything wrong with that. If you met me even two years ago you would have hated me. I think you're a great person and that isn't going to change."
"Thanks," she said wiping beneath her eyes and taking a breath. "I'm still very hungover."
"You were very drunk last night," I laughed. "Come to the kitchen and I'll make you some breakfast and tea."
"Okay," she nodded standing up and following me to the kitchen.
"Did I say or do anything embarrassing?" She asked sliding onto the barstool. She was still in that lowcut shirt and I had to do my best not to look as she leaned over the counter.
"You got very into Taylor Swift on the ride home, but other than that you were your normal self," I replied.
"I'm sorry," she laughed. "I have been accused of getting way too emotional about Taylor Swift when I'm drunk."
"I liked it," I laughed. She shook her head a blush very evident on her cheeks.
A few minutes later, I pushed a mug of tea and a plate of eggs in front of her.  "I have to figure out who gave out my number," she said pushing the food around. I sat down next to her and she looked up at me.
"I didn't do it, but I have to tell you something," I said biting my lip. She had to know what we did because someone else could have done the same thing.
"What?" She asked sipping her tea. Her eyes were apprehensive and I felt so guilty for invading her privacy.
"Max wanted to see your Instagram, so I showed it to him and then he figured that if there was a Kesem account for Washington State there must be one for Maine," I said rubbing my temple. She was going to be pissed. "We saw the post about you and I'm sorry if we invaded your privacy by doing that. I'm really sorry..."
Maria opened her mouth to speak, but Max walked into the apartment before she could yell at me. "Max I need to talk to you," she yelled which I knew hurt her head. Max came into the kitchen looking a little disheveled and definitely concerned by the tone of her voice.
"What?" Max asked leaning on the counter and giving a glance at her boobs before looking at her.
"Have either of you given my number to anyone?" she asked her palms flat on the table.
"No," I said immediately.
"No, I get numbers from girls I don't give them away," Max chuckled. Maria rolled her eyes but looked relieved.
"I'm going to go to the gym," she said handing me her half-eaten plate and finishing her tea before putting it in the sink and disappearing.
"What happened?" Max asked grabbing the plate and digging into the eggs. I explained the phone call and Maria's freak out.
"Oh she's crazy crazy," Max grinned. "Why do you think she ran away?"
"She said she couldn't talk about it," I shrugged.
"Probably because she would go to jail," Max chuckled.
"Don't start with your crazy theories. She volunteers at a summer camp. You know her, don't give her some crazy story," I said shaking my head.
"I know, but it's more entertaining," Max chuckled.

Hi everyone! Thank you for reading! What do you think is up with Maria??? Have a great day!