Fragile Heart

Chapter Fourteen

MAYAS POV
My face illuminated a deep, dark red like a crisp apple and I tightened my eyes hoping that it would take me away. I slowly creeped open my eyelids to see everything still in tact, why couldn't I be taken away from this compact room of regrets and embarrassment?. After a couple of minutes of starring at my naked feet, I recovered from the shock and came to a realization. I jaunted as quickly as my legs could carry me towards a towel and raveled it around my bare body like a cacoon so that I was no longer displaying myself to everyone. I dashed out of the pool vicinity towards our hotel room, I couldn't escape Josh there either. All I wanted was to disappear, I felt like nothing so why couldn't I become nothing? I dove under the comforter and buried my tears into the pillows. I could feel the soft, silky pillows slowly beginning to calm me down and I was ripped away from reality and vacated into my dreams, the only place I was truly safe.
JOSHS POV
I couldn't think straight, every fiber of my being was struggling to not go insane. I didn't want to react like the guy that Maya didn't need, I needed to be the guy that was good for her. The guy that would counter her bad habits, a good like Lucas. The ones that make her forget about wanting to drive herself into danger, being enough to suffice her dangerous cravings and help her through her issues. I felt my jaw clench and my fists turn a bright while from squeezing them so hard but I continuously bit my lip and took deep breaths.
"Riley, let's go!" I said sternly looking all of the beefy jerks in the eyes. I was blowing bullet holes through their pupils. I could feel the smoke radiating off of my hot skin. Riley left without looking at me, this wasn't Riley.
"Listen jerkoffs, they're both 14. Stop taking advantage of younger girls because you can't get any your own age. Grow up and calm your hormones. Get some respect."
"Dude, chill. It was just some harmless fun. Tell the blond one to call me." He smirked.
I wanted to punch that smirk right off of his face but I needed to get back to Maya.
"Her names Maya, she's beautiful and she's taken." And with that I dashed back to the room to comfort her. I opened the door to see Maya's head planted deep inside the blankets shaking wildly. I cautiously pulled back the blankets and crawled into the bed with her. I wrapped my arms around her small frame and continued to rub her back in circular motions. She continued to shake but not nearly as rapidly. She dug her head into my chest and steadied her breathing.
"I'm sorry." She whispered.
"Don't apologize Maya, you didn't do anything."
"I keep messing up and dragging you and Riley into my mistakes. Nothing feels wrong when I'm doing what I do and after it all comes crashing down on me and I get it. I get I'm bad for you josh, I used to think It was the other way around but I was stupid. I ruin everybody's lives, just one look at me and you'll be cursed."
I kissed the top of her forehead gently and cradled her.
"Let's go." I whispered.
"Where? It's late." She asked lifted her head
I looked over at Riley and she was fast asleep cuddled next to her phone.
" lets go get some ice cream."
"Josh, it's midnight!"
"Let's go to a 24 hour pharmacy , we can get some pints of ice cream."
"I don't know josh."
"Scared to keep up, Hart?" I tempted her.
She got up wearing my shirt and sweat pants, she looked adorable.
"That's my shirt." I smiled.
"Oh is it? I'm sorry I didn't know.. I'll change." She spit out quickly.
"No, it looks better on you."
"Well are you coming dork?" She asked holding out her hand.
I grabbed it and felt a rush of excitement crawl through my bones.
We tiptoed down the halls of the hotel being careful not to wake up anyone. Once we were out, the freezing air struck us both and we instinctively began to run. We ran hand in hand all the way to a local CVS.
"Why are we getting ice cream? It's freezing." She asked.
"I'm feeling ice cream, which flavor do you want?"
"Chocolate chip Cookie dough." She smiled with her big blue eyes poking at me.
"That's my favorite too!" I playfully hit her cheek.
I purchased our ice screams and we walked outside again rejoining hands.
"Where are we going to eat these?"
"We can eat them in the room of we are quiet and don't wake up Riley." I replied.
We stealthily climbed up the stairs to our room and creeped in. We climbed into my bed across from Riley's and squirmed under the blankets with our frosty ice creams and spoons.
"Maya, why'd you take off your clothes for those boys?"
She slid further down the blankets trying to hide her face.
"Maya?"
"Josh, I don't know."
"You do know Maya!"
"I just don't care, you know? I stopped worrying about right and wrong. Everything I do is wrong. I used to do bad things to get the attention of my mother, but that never seemed to work. I like you, that's all I know, it's about the only thing I'm sure of lately."
"Well you do have a beautiful body."
She punched me hard in my bicep and I started to laugh but she covered my mouth while laughing herself. We both laid in silence with our hands over each other's mouths in order to maintain the laughter from escaping.
I removed her hand once I was empty of laughter and grew close to her ear.
"I like you too. Go on a date with me?"
"No." She smiled.
"I'll tickle you until you say yes, so I'd suggest saying yes now because I'm pretty persistent Maya hart."
"Fine, I'll go on a date with you." She said in defEat.