Fresh Start

T w e n t y - f i v e

   When I finally wake up, I realize the bed's empty. And for just a split second I'm worried. Worried she left. Worried she didn't mean what she said. Worried she lied. But then I remember it's Maia we're talking about, and most of my nerves settle, the rest settling when I hear a familiar laugh from the kitchen.

I don't change before heading out of her room, only running one of her brushes through my hair, making myself halfway presentable and grabbing my phone. I find Maia sitting at the round table placed at the edge of the kitchen, her chair facing her brother who's sitting on the counter, right beside the stove, a frying pan filled with eggs.

"Hey." Maia says upon noticing me, smiling warmly.

"Good morning." Her twin adds, raising the mug in his hands towards me.

I sit down in the chair beside my...girlfriend? "Morning." I half mutter, still feeling very much tired, I close my eyes.

"How'd you sleep?" Aaron asks, as Maia taps my knee lightly, making my eyes open.

I nod my head well saying, "Good." I unlock my phone, opening the missed texts from my mom. I quickly start typing a reply to her worried messages, hoping to stop her worrying.

"Everything okay?" Maia questions.

"Yeah, just my mom." I explain, before returning my gaze to my drafted message.

"You want eggs?" She asks, again making me look away from my phone.

"Uh, yeah sure." I reply, watching as she stands up, letting me continue my typing. Within a minute, I've sent and received a quick and annoyed text from Alyssa. I turn my phone off when a plate of eggs is placed in front of me, smiling in appreciation to Maia.

Suddenly she leans down, touching my shoulder as she presses a light kiss to my lips, "I'm gonna shower, see you in a bit." Before leaving me in utter shock.

My eyes shift to her brother, staring blankly at him, as he simply laughs, hoping off the counter top only to lean against it, "Dude, she already told me, and I don't give a shit, don't worry." He explains, making everything a bit clearer. She told her brother about me. I smile at the thought, before Aaron brings my attention back to him, saying, "Just you know, don't fuck with her."

I nod my head, "I won't." I already promised just that to her.

---

"You told your brother about us." I state, still smiling the same dumb smile from earlier.

Maia stops drying her hair for a second, glancing to where I'm sitting on her bed. "Shit I did." She agrees with a worried expression, "You don't mind do you? I won't tell anyone else if you don't want me to. He asked where I went last night and it just kinda came out, I'm so sorry-"

I stop her rambling by speaking over her, stating simply, "I don't mind, like at all." Before adding, "I actually thought it was kinda cute you thought I was worth telling him about."

She sighs before continuing to run the towel through her damp hair, "Of course I think you are, I also think he wanted an explanation for why I dumped Josh."

"You broke up with him?" I ask, doubtful, but as she nods again, my dubiousness shifts into guilt, "I'm sorry you had to do that, I hate the idea of me coming in between you and a perfect relationship."

"Don't be sorry, Kris." She tells me, "I wanted to break up with him. The perfect relationship I want is the one with you in it."

Her words bring warmth to my cheeks and a small smile to my lips, "I like that you think our relationship could be perfect."