The Hurting Kind

Plans in Bloom

"Hello Maya." Thomas greets her with a small smile.

"What are you doing here?" she asks while trying to look out into the crowd for anyone with a camera.

Thomas reaches out to offer Maya his hand and she steps back instead. Pressing his lips together, Thomas looks at her. "I take it you have seen the photos?"

"Yes. And I don't want to cause any more trouble for the company, so I'll be leaving now."

As Maya turns to go back inside the hotel, Thomas jogs to catch up to her and stands in front of her.

"Maya, you are not to blame for any of this. Why would you think that?" Thomas asks.

Not sure where to look, as more people are leaving the hotel and pouring out into the street, Maya casts her eyes down. "I-I don't want people to think that I am tarnishing the company's reputation-"

Cutting her off, Thomas leans in closer to Maya before speaking. "Maya, that is not possible. Everyone knows how much you love FC. I came here today to see if you were okay, not because I worried about the company."

Looking up at Thomas, Maya shakes her head as his face remains the same. "You seriously came here out of concern for me?"

"Isn't that what friends do?"

Maya grins. "Yeah, that is what a friend would do. I just forgot, I'm sorry."

The two held each other's gaze before chuckling and looking away.

"No apology needed, really." Thomas assures Maya before noticing the now bustling foot traffic around them.

Maya looks up at him, as he appears lost in thought, before Thomas returns her gaze.

"So, I have no meetings until later this afternoon. How about we take in some sights until then?" Thomas suggests.

Her eyes widened. "Are you sure that's okay? With the photographers now watching us?"

Thomas laughs as he takes Maya's hand into his.

"I say we give them something to see then, don't you think?"

Turning to face the hotel, Thomas walks briskly with Maya, not bothering to hide the grin on his face as he leads them back inside, against Maya's protests. Besides a few stares, no one seemed to be paying them any mind. Thankful for that, Maya gives up trying to stop him and walks with Thomas to the elevator as they wait for it to arrive. Once inside, Thomas watches as Maya steps on to the elevator first and presses the button to her room floor.