Girl Meets 23

8 (Maya)

"Caleb! We need to start getting ready to leave soon!" Maya shouted into her hotel bathroom from the main bedroom space. Caleb and her had only been in New York City for an hour and a half and he was already acting like a child. Maya sighed as she heard the water continue to run in the shower. She checked the time on her phone, they were already going to be late. Fully dressed and ready to go Maya stomped over to the bathroom and opened the door. "Caleb!" She shouted again into the room. This time the water turned off abruptly.

"Maya, I'm fucking coming, give me a minute!" He shouted back at her. His blue eyes piercing into her own. She knew yelling at him would set him off, it usually did, but the way Caleb behaved at the airport had wound Maya up. Even though she wanted to yell back at him she decided against it. Their chances of leaving the hotel room anytime soon would be squashed if they got into a full blown argument. Also Maya didn't want to show up the Matthews after something like that. So she turned away from the bathroom and sat back down at the small desk at the edge of the room.
Caleb followed out behind her shortly after she sat down with a towel wrapped around his waist. Caleb was attractive. His dark brown hair had been buzzed short; with crystal blue eyes. He was decently fit but more on the tall lanky side. He didn't have any profound muscles or abs or anything and with all his tattoos you didn't really notice what kind of shape he was in; but that wasn't what drew Maya in, it was his confidence. Caleb was the kind of person who was always sure of himself. "Babe, so look," Caleb started in a sweet tone. Maya's muscles tensed at his tone, she knew where this was going. "After the flight I feel totally whipped out. I have a crazy headache and I think you should go to your friends house on your own" even though this was extremely predictable for Caleb it didn't feel any less like a sucker punch to Maya's heart. She knew he didn't love being thrown into 'family gatherings' like this but she didn't think he would come all the way out to New York and bail on spending time with the people who basically raised her.

"Are you serious?" Maya asked flabbergasted. This wasn't happening. He wasn't going to make her show up to family dinner alone. "Your not being serious" she said before he could respond.

"I'm being dead serious Maya. I don't feel up to it. I'll meet them all at the birthday party right?" He said his tone less sweet, but she could tell he thought he could still talk his way out of this. "Plus like I said I have a really bad headache" he dramatically put his hand to his head and sat on the bed. Maya didn't know whether to laugh in his face and tell him she was glad he wasn't coming or cry and drag him with her.

"You're seriously going to let me go to family dinner alone? After we flew all the way here? To see the people who mean the world to me?" She asked, her questions not really sounding like questions. She already knew he'd made up his mind. Next thing she knew she was standing walking towards the bed.

   "Yes Maya, I am serious" Caleb straightened up as she walked.

   "This is bullshit Caleb," she half yelled not wanting anyone in the neighbouring rooms to hear them. "It's our first night here and this is how you want to start off our trip?" As much as bringing him to dinner filled her with anxiety her heart was begging him to come with her and show up for her.

   "I'm not fucking telling you again," he stood up towering over her "I'm not going. Don't try and pull this 'you don't want to spend time with me bullshit'. You never want to come to my gigs anymore for all sorts of stupid reasons. I, at least have a legitimate headache Maya. I'll see you when you get back" and before Maya could even digest his words and think of something to say he made his way back to the bathroom and shut the door behind him. Tears pricked at the corners of her eyes and she tilted her face forward, not allowing them to ruin her make up.
Maya took three long deep breaths, grabbed her winter coat and her purse, and made her way to the hotel door. Not before stopping in front of the bathroom door and whispering,

   "I miss your gigs because I have to get up and work to pay your bills, asshole"

-

It wasn't a far walk from the hotel Maya had picked out to the Matthews place. She knew it would come in handy being so close to them, especially considering they still lived in the home they'd lived in the whole time she'd known them. She planned on spending as much time there as she could. The fresh crisp cool air instantly made Maya feel a little better after her fight with Caleb. She was heartbroken he had decided to avoid coming tonight. She really wanted to feel him be apart of the family. It also wounded her pride a little that she would be walking in there without the LA boyfriend she promised them. It had been a hard decision to leave New York on her own and she just wanted it to seem like she had her life together. Everyone treated her like she'd found the golden ticket when she got her scholarship - except Josh.
She continued her stroll along the crisp cold streets of the city taking in the familiar sounds and sights. Maya let her mind wander back to seeing Josh earlier at the airport. It had been such a shock to see him, just standing there all professional in his slacks and button up. He looked better than she remembered. She didn't allow herself to stalk him online anymore, it only made her homesick and she felt it was better for her heart to just not look for updates when it came to Josh's life. Occasionally Riley would say something about Josh getting a promotion or taking on an exciting case but they really hadn't seen each other. Maya's mom and stepfather Shawn had started making it a habit of celebrating the Christmas in California with Maya since she'd moved there. And for thanksgiving, as a family they had been going to Shawn's brother Jack's home for dinner. With all that going on Maya hadn't ran into Josh in five years which was crazy the more she thought about it. He had been such a big part of her life a long time ago. When her life was intense at home and she couldn't sleep in her bed she'd lay there and imagine what life would be like if they were together in the future. What their home would look like, what kind of dates they would go on, and when she really allowed herself to feel optimistic she'd imagine their wedding.
But Josh was a past life, Maya reminded herself. She was with Caleb. At least for now and that still meant something to her. They were simply going though a rough patch she decided in her mind halfheartedly. Before she allowed her mind to flow back to Josh she found herself standing in front of the Matthews apartment building. Suddenly, almost as if everything that happened with Caleb had been erased, her heart filled with excitement. In just a few moments she would be right where she belonged.