Stay

Ch 2

        I was not able to focus on my homework that night. All I did was just stare and repeatedly reread the note. It felt amazing to know a boy cared about me. I have never experienced it before, but I can't get too crazy too quick.

Today is a new day...great.

        I turned my alarm off, rolled out of bed and went to my closet. Scanning the junk that was layed around, I picked out my outfit. Next, I brushed my teeth. Putting in my contacts came after; followed by my normal makeup routine. Finally, my hair; all I really do each day is brush it out, letting my long black hair down to touch my back.

"Come on Maya! 6:15!" My mom called in annoyance.

I sighed, taking one last look in the mirror. 

-

"Goodmorning!" My busdriver greeted me.

"Morning." I mumbled and took my seat.

I put in my earbuds and filled my ears with music while I scrolled through Instagram.

"Hey" I felt slight movement in the seat as Leah plopped down next to me.

"Hi." I said and gave her an earbud.

        The bus entered the school parking lot and I clumsly put away my phone. School was my least favorite place to be.

        While Leah and I walked side by side to our lockers, I saw that Stephanie attempted to open the locker she and I shared, but failed, again.

"Dammit!" She cursed.

"I got it." I laughed as I did the combination and opened the locker.

"Okay, so get this: there's this new British boy and he's so hot," She began talking. "I showed him how to get to his class yesterday and nearly melted!"

I'm pretty sure she was talking about Tren, but I pretended not to know about him.

"Wow, you're ridiculous." I sarcasticly said.

"But it won't matter..." As she said that she creepily smiled at me.

"What do you mean?" I slowly asked.

"Yesterday, during studyhall, he asked about you."

        That was how he knew more about me than I told him. I also remembered the note saying something about how he said things I never even mentioned.

"Really, Stephanie? What'd you say?"

"I thought you knew. He told me he had to give you a note! I saw it on our locker, but I never touched it."

"Hey Maya." A raspy voice interrupted our conversation. Tren.

"Hi Tren." I was pleased to see him. I am predicting that I should be expecting his presence around me more now. He waited as I gathered everything I needed for the first half of the day. Normally, I would walk around the school with Stephanie and my usual group of five, but Tren would not let me.

        We were walking in the halls and again, a few guys shared jokes about me as they walked by. Just as a reaction, I started walking with my head down; trying to avoid it, but I would still hear it. I had a strange feeling that Tren's eyes were on me and sure enough, I was right. "Why do you walk like that?" Tren asked as he looked down at me.

"L-like what?"

"With her head down. You can run into someone, like you did me."

"Oh, I don't know. Habit, I guess." I did not want to say what I was going to regret later. 

"Oh, well, you should lift your head up. Show your pretty face to the world!" His words did wonders. I wanted to cry because nobody has ever said that to me.

Tren's POV

        I could not come to a conclusion on why she walked with her head down and rarely talked. She was such a shy girl. Never in my life have I seen a girl like this, ever. I also do not know why these careless bastards are laughing and making fun of her. Can people really be that low? Can they not see how wrong it is? Why should anyone feel worthless just because of appearence. As we were walking I did witness a few glares and saw people looking at her weird-like, but to me, it did not matter that I was seen with her. I will never measure up to guys like them. She surprised me when she suddenly grabbed my wrist and began dragging me down the hall into a corner. I was a bit confused.

Maya's POV

        Once we got to the private corner I gathered my thoughts. Then shoved him against the wall and held him there to state that I was in charge of this situation.

"Why are you doing this? Are you just one of those people who are just trying to save a life, using people? Or are you just that desperate that you're willing to take advantage of me? I don't need anyone, I can take care of myself." My eyes started watering. 'Stay strong Maya.' "I've gone through middle school and high school and my life as an ugly, worthless Asian and all of a sudden I get a guy who just happens to pass by all of my flaws." He starred directly in my eyes as I talked, absorbing the information. "Why are you doing this to me?!" My emotions took over.

        I really wanted to know why he just is looking past all of my flaws. He moved against the wall slightly and cleared his throat.

"I'm doing it because I want to. Yes, Maya, I know you're Asian, but I don't fucking care! I'm not that shallow and if you think I am, then forget this. I don't care if you think you can take care of yourself. I know it's just a cover-up to keep me out. I like you for who you are as a person! You're beautiful, inside and out!" he took a breath. "You need to start ignoring these retards in school and focus on the positive people who love you!"

Tren's POV

        She was not giving herself any credit. It bugged me how low she thought of herself. She slowly removed her hands and a tear dripped down. I took my thumb and pressed on her cheek to wipe it away.

"It's-it's not that easy." She whimpered. "I get more negative then I do positive." She stood there in complete silence.

"Well then, I will give you all the positive in the world, just please, don't try to push me out."

        She sniffled and I went to give her a hug. She rejected it the first try but I forced her to accept it and she gave me a quiet thank you. I attempted to give her comfort by gentily rubbing up and down on her back. I wanted to know where all of her friends were throughout her pain and hurting. Have they ever told her she's pretty? Or worth it? Do they even know the physical and mental pain she is facing? She desperately needed someone to tell her she is worth it. I was released from the wall and we started walking to first period. I wanted to surprise her by grabbing her hand, but was unsuccessful because of the fact that she used both of her hands to hold her textbook. So instead I wrapped my hand around her waist in a protective way. She jumped when she felt my hand and arm to touch her body as any girl would do if they did not expect a touch from that part of the body, and brushed my hand away. I studied her as she walked; she kept her head down but also, she held her books tightly to her body for dear life.

"Why do you hold her books like that?"

        She lifted her head to look at me, showing me her beautiful eyes. "Like what..?" She sounded a bit annoyed.

"With two hands like that. What if a guy wanted to grab one of your hands?"

        An eyebrow of her's raised. "That's never going to happen, and 'cause I've been booked before." Her voice drifted off.

        I nodded in understandment and my heart sunk. I can't believe people are that cruel. America will definitly be making a strong impact in my life.

~to be continued~