Chris groaned loudly, ripping yet another paper out of the notebook, crumbling it in a ball and throwing it behind him.
Right now, he was working on his poem.
"Chris!" His mother, Marylou came into his room.
"What's this mess?" She asked.
"Homework." Chris sighed.
"You? housework?" Marylou almost laughed.
"It's not funny. I have to write this poem for my english class and it's not working out." Chris explained.
"I'm sorry, baby but someone's here." Marylou kissed the top of his head.
"Who?" Chris furrowed his eyebrows.
"I don't know. It's a girl tho." Marylou grinned.
Chris stood up and walked downstairs, stunned when he saw Maeve and Nick talking in the kitchen.
"Hey Chris! Matt texted me and said your having trouble. Thought i could help." Maeve smiled.
"Yeah, no, yeah." Chris nodded.
Maeve laughed.
"You guys can go upstairs but keep the door open." Marylou said.
"Thanks Mom." Chris rolled his eyes as the two starting upstairs.
Maeve giggled when she walked into Chris's room. He had a bunch of tiny rugs, a bed with a bunch of monkey stuffed animals, a ton of drawers, a tv with an X box attached to it, then a desk with a computer and then of course all the paper thrown around.
"What?" Chris asked.
"It's just...exactly how i pictured it." Maeve smiled.
"Yeah." Chris laughed.
"How'd Matt get your number?" He asked.
"Hanna." Maeve sighed.
"She seems to give out your information easily." Chris said.
"Yeah, she just wants me to get over Luke. Such a dick." Maeve rolled her eyes.
"Who's Luke?" Chris asked.
"My ex." Maeve sighed.
"What'd he do?" Chris asked.
"He cheated on me. Twice." Maeve replied.
"I'm sorry, Maeve. You don't deserve that." Chris placed a hand on her shoulder.
"Yeah well, what can you do?" Maeve laughed.
"If it makes you feel any better, i've never even been in a relationship." Chris said.
"It doesn't but how?" Maeve asked.
"I don't know. Just never found a girl that was worth dating." Chris shrugged.
"Yeah but, Your cute, nice, funny. You seriously haven't found a girl worth your while?" Maeve sat on his bed.
"No. I would date a girl with the intention to marry her." Chris sat down next to her.
The two looked at each other. Chris's eyes flickered down to her lips. Maeve did the same.
He leaned in slowly but Maeve stopped him.
"So, have you figured out what the poem is about?" She asked, standing up.
"Uh, Yeah. Love." Chris replied.
"Really?" Maeve questioned.
"Yeah. It's deep and easy to write about." Chris shrugged.
"That's great! Have you started writing?" Maeve asked.
"Not really..." Chris scratched the back of his neck.
"Well, that's what i'm here for. So, it's the poem about someone in particular or just love in general?" Maeve asked.
"Just in general." Chris said.
"Ok. I'll give you an example." Maeve sat down at his desk and picked up the pencil.
About 20 minutes later, Maeve handed him the piece of paper.
"That fast?" Chris looked at her with wide eyes.
"I like poetry. It's easy for me." Maeve shrugged.
Love is a strong word.
But the world wouldn't be anything but bad if we didn't have it. Weather it's platonic or romantic.
Some people can just say it like it's nothing but it's not nothing. It's everything. Sometimes love can hurt but that's the beauty of it. You need to take chances and risks to love.
Love is a way of life.
"That's beautiful, Maeve." Chris handed it back to her.
"It's just something." Maeve shrugged.
"Do you love, Maeve?" Chris asked.
"I try. Sometimes it's hard." Maeve said.
"Do you?"
"Just like you, i try. I try to love anyone i can but sometimes people can just be unloveable." Chris replied.
The two sat on Chris's bed, looking at each other.
And for some reason, Maeve hoped that Chris would kiss her.
Chris looked down at her lips and debated on kissing her.
He leaned in, Maeve did the same. His lips were almost on hers when Matt walked in.
"Oh my god. Sorry!" He covered his eyes.
"Matt, stop." Chris rolled his eyes.
Matt removed his hand from his face and smiled awkwardly.
"Uh Mom wanted to know if Maeve was staying for dinner." Matt said.
"Yeah, i'll stay." Maeve nodded.
"Ok. You guys can just- ok." Matt said, walking away.
Maeve laughed.
"Matt reminds me of my friend." She said.
"Who?" Chris asked.
"My friend, Aurora. She's in Florida for a wedding but she's coming back next week." Maeve said.
"That's cool." Chris said.
"Yeah, I miss her. Shes one of my favorite people." Maeve smiled as she thought of her friend.
The two smiled at each other and once again, they were in the situation where they kissed or one had to start a conversation.
"Guys. Dinners ready." Nick came in with a smile planted on his face.
"So, what does your parents do, Maeve?" Marylou asked.
"My moms a nurse so she works a good amount." Maeve replied.
"And your dad?"
Suddenly, Maeve went quite.
"Um he's not really around anymore." Maeve said, looking down at her shoes.
"Oh my god. I am so sorry, sweetie." Marylou reached over the counter, taking a hold of Maeve's hand.
"Don't be, please. I was really little when he left so i don't really remember him." Maeve shook her head.
"What a sin. That has to be very hard for your mother. Taking care of a child-"
"Two. I have a little sister." Maeve said.
"Oh my god." Marylou sighed.
"I am so so sorry, Maeve."
"Again, please don't be. He comes around ever now and then but then ya know just kinda...disappears again." Maeve said.
"So, do you work?" Marylou asked, changing the subject.
"Yeah, well, i try. I babysit kids in my neighborhood and my baby cousins on occasion. I'm applying to a few jobs now tho." Maeve replied.
"That's great! I'm trying to get these boys to start working but with sports and everything, its hard to maintain a job." Marylou said.
Maeve laughed as the three boys rolled their eyes.
Later after dinner, Maeve was helping Marylou with the dishes even when Marylou insist she hang out with Chris.
"How'd you meet Chris?" Marylou asked.
"A football game like 2 weeks ago. My friend, Hanna is close with your sons." Maeve replied.
"You and Chris seem close. He talks about you a good amount." Marylou smirked.
"He does?" Maeve's face lit up with a smile and a small blush appeared on her cheeks.
"Yes. He seems to like you." Marylou laughed.
Maeve smiled to herself as she got a message.
It was her mom telling her to be home in a half hour.
"Oh! I'm so sorry. I need to go. My moms wanting me home." Maeve said.
"Oh! It's ok, Huh. Chris!" Marylou shouted.
Chris came down the steps.
"Take Maeve to the door. It was great having you sweetie." She smiled at Maeve.
"I had a great time. The food was great. Thank you, Mrs. Sturniolo." Maeve smiled.
"Please, call me Marylou and your welcome back anytime. Get home safe!"
"Your moms really nice." Maeve turned to Chris.
They now stood on his porch.
"Yeah. She seems to like you." Chris smiled.
Maeve giggled.
She shivered a little.
"Are you cold? here." Chris took off his hoodie, handing it to her.
"No, Chris. I cant take this." Maeve shook her head.
"No, take it. Your walking home." Chris insisted.
"No. I cant actually. I'm fine!" Maeve argued.
The two went back and forth.
"Can you just take it?" Chris asked.
Maeve stopped and slowly took it.
"Thanks Chris." Maeve smiled.
Chris smiled back.
As she was about to walk away, she stopped and turned around, placing a kiss on his cheek.
"Have a nice night." She spoke softly.
"You too, Maeve." Chris replied.
He thanked god that it was dark and Maeve couldn't see how red his cheeks were.
