All I Want for Christmas - Marina

Chapter 4: Carina

I look at the text notification on my car screen saying Maya texted me. When I tap the screen, I hear Siri's voice read, "Just send me a text that you've made it home," bringing a smile to my face. I finally see the side of Maya that Andrea described. Under all those back handed comments is someone who actually cares about others. She's just careful not to show it.

I park my car and type a response.

Carina: I made it home. Emotions look good on you Maya Bishop

Maya: I just wanted to make sure I wasn't getting stood up because you got into an accident

Her text makes me laugh catching me by surprise. Maybe I shouldn't have judged her right away. I walk into my house, cleaning up a little for tonight, and head toward my room to shower and sleep.

I wake up to the faint sound of my phone ringing, but I struggle to open my eyes. It's when I try to hit snooze that I realize it's not my alarm but someone calling. With eyes barely open, I look at the name on my phone, Captain Maya Bishop. SHIT. I quickly sit up and see that it's 7pm. No no no no no. I clear my throat so it's not obvious that I just woke up as I answer the call.

"Hello," I say trying to sound as awake as possible.

"Great, you just woke up didn't you?" Maya asks annoyed.

"Nope, I've been awake." I know she isn't going to buy that.

"Sure. I'm outside your apartment." Huh.

"How did you get my address?" I ask.

"Your brother, Andrew." I jump out of bed and run toward the door. As soon as I open it, I see Maya look me up and down and then quickly look away. It hits me that I slept only in an oversized shirt with nothing on underneath.

"Hi," I say trying to win her over with my smile, but it doesn't do the trick. She looks annoyed as always. "Come in grumpy."

"I'm not even going to argue because you know you're wrong." She shakes her head walking inside with a backpack on.

"Did you bring your homework or something?" I tease.

"Actually, yes," she smiles. She opens up her backpack and hands me a small notebook while she holds a clipboard with a piece of paper.

"And what is this for, captain?" She tilts her head and glares at me. I imitate her and she rolls her eyes.

"You are impossible. We are getting to know each other so I thought we could write down all the facts we learn about each other."

"You're such a dork," I laugh.

"I'm just organized."

"Yeah yeah, let me go change real quick." I see how she gets nervous when I say this making me realize she is definitely attracted to me even if she despises me. I put on a pair of sweatpants and t-shirt. Maya's dressed in similar clothes herself. "Can I get you some wine?" I ask coming back to the couch.

"No, I don't drink the nights before work. Have to be on top of my game on the job." I think back to how Andrea administered the banana bag to me as I walked into the hospital last night. We are complete opposites.

"Noted," I say settling for some water and giving Maya a glass as well.

"Do you want to write it down?" Maya asks.

"No, it's already up here," I tap on my right temple with a finger. I see her face fall as she looks at the notebook she got me. "But why don't I write it down too since you're doing it."

"Okay! I brought colorful pens for you. You strike me as someone who likes a lot of color," Maya says excited. I think this is her version of being nice.

"I do, thank you," I say. Wow look at us being civil with each other.

"What's your favorite color?" Maya asks.

"That's what you're going to start with?"

"Yes," Maya nods.

"Okay, blue, but not just any blue. The blue when the sunlight falls onto the ocean and there's this sparkle on the water that makes it look lighter. That blue." Like your eyes. I see her incredibly focused trying to write down everything I say word for word, once again making me realize how much of a dork she is, but in a cute way. Maya looks up from writing, and catches me staring at her making me quickly look away.

"Got it. Your turn," she says looking anywhere but at me.

"Who is your favorite person in your family?"

"My dad. Not even up for debate." That sounds a bit odd compared to how Andrea described his one interaction with Maya's dad, but I decide not to say anything. I pick up a pink pen and write down papa. "How about you?" Maya asks.

"My brother," I reply.

"Really?" She asks surprised. "You're the first person I know that says their sibling instead of a parent or grandparent."

"Well, if my mom was still in the picture, then I would probably say her." I reply and instantly regret it. I try not to make it obvious how my mood has taken a drastic turn.

"Where is she?" Maya asks while writing down Andrea's name.

"She died sometime back." I see her stop writing and look at me.

"I'm so sorry, Carina," she looks at me and it feels like she can see through me. The eye contact makes me feel something in my chest that I'm not ready for so I take a sip of my water breaking the contact.

"That's life, right? Isn't guaranteed to anyone."

"Yeah. Look we don't have to talk about this if you don't want to," Maya offers. I can feel her eyes watching me, but I don't know what to say. "We can discuss why you're always late instead," she jokes fixing my mood right away.

"How timely I am depends on how motivated I am to see the person," I reply looking at her.

"Ouch," she says acting like she's hurt as she puts a hand on her chest.

"You are something else," I laugh.

"Is that a good thing or bad?" Maya asks.

"I'll tell you once our little arrangement is over."

We continue to ask each other questions back and forth for the remainder of the night. Some are surface level like where we grew up and went to school, while others are a bit deeper like why we chose our professions. I can tell how hard it must've been on Maya to get injured and not be able to compete in the Olympics anymore. I observe how her guard goes up and she deflects with avoiding showing any emotions.