This feeling of numbness is sickening, I finally told my truth last night, and like a feather in the wind, it means absolutely nothing while the seven of us sit down for breakfast, the six of them genuinely happy and me just good at pretending to be it.
"... So after being half an hour late, it's pouring rain and I am soaking wet. And I know I can't go inside this meeting wet, it was once in life a time opportunity. So I anxiously ran inside this little department store next door and looked for something to wear. And out of nowhere came this beautiful blonde stylist." Oliver says, sharing the story on how he met Claudia. I was hoping they did this all yesterday, but just my luck they waited for me. "And it's like instantly she knew what I needed, and I knew I needed her in my life. So when it came time to check out I signed the receipt and wrote my number down. I was quite nervous about being rejected but by the time I left the interview, dinner reservations were being made." He retells seeming all smug and arrogant. And to make matters worse, Leo has to add on.
"I remember I called him to check on the interview and he couldn't even get to that point, all he could do was talk about-" The doorbell rings answering my prayers, and immediately I perk up.
"I'll get it," I say nearly dropping my fork on the plate.
"No, I will," Laura says, standing up before me. "It might be a surprise." She laughs, walking away. Part of me hopes that she's making it up and that she was just annoyed with this story because I really can't deal with a surprise. But knowing how much she obsesses over her sons, she probably does have an actual surprise. I zone back out, back to listening to this boring story.
"I mean could you blame me? look at her." Oliver brags and Claudia blushes while he wraps her arm around her.
"Maya!" Laura shouts seeming cheerful. "You have a visitor." I glance up, like everyone else to see Eliot with a single crutch standing there next to Laura. I pause for a moment, not even showing what to do or fully how to feel. There is a part of me thrilled because it shows to Laura that I wasn't lying about yesterday. But then it makes me a liar too, Eliot who stands there seeming confused probably putting the pieces together, second by second. "Don't be rude, Maya. You have a visitor." I scoot back my chair, not even bothering to push it back in and walk over to Eliot.
"What are you doing here?" I ask, pushing my hair behind my ears and crossing my arms. "You're injured, you should be resting." I say pointing at his leg and crutch.
"I was worried, Maya. I woke up, you were gone, my car was gone. I tried calling you, and it went straight to voicemail. I finally decided to book a ride on my phone, after I didn't hear from you this morning."
"I am sorry, Eliot. I really am. I could only imagine how stressful that was. It's just that when I got back last night I-"
"Eliot, I am so sorry for any inconvenience, Maya may have cost you. " Laura says. "But if it's any consolation, please feel free to join us for breakfast."
"He can't." I answer before Eliot can form a word. "He has to get home." But like normally my words are never believable to Laura, for she keeps her eyes on Eliot waiting for his approval.
"Yeah, I will have to take a rain check. But I hope it's soon." He says to Laura, before waving off to the the rest of the Tarvers. He and I walk towards the foyer together, and not a word is said. I get his keys from my coat hanging from the rack and meet him outside where he waits for me.
"I am really sorry about that... I am really sorry for the past twenty four hours actually. It's been a whirlwind." I smile, trying to laugh it off while passing him the keys. But based on his cold body language and his slow way of taking the keys from me I can tell he's still not thrilled about everything.
"Are you sorry for not telling me you were adopted?" He asks.
"No, I am not, Eliot." I answer. "And I know want me to be but I am not."
"Then I am just confused." He says I can feel his energy starting to get riled up, for when you grow up privilege denial is not something you are not used to. "What are we? Because I really thought we were friends or at least coming to that point. Because I shared with one my biggest secrets yesterday only for you to withhold yours."
"Eliot, I am so sorry that you are stuck living that life that isn't yours, I truly am. But you have no right to compare my adoption to that. One is extremely private, and the other one is your own failure, of not standing up to your Dad."
"It's not a failure, Maya. It's just unlike you, I don't like hurting people I care about. And I should have known you weren't a good person. No friends, always alone, the signs were there always. And you complain about the way, people treat you. But have you seen the way you treat people? I have only tried to be kind to you, but for you that's impossible." He tells me, his words slashing my heart like a blade.
"You should leave! I want you to leave!" I express, pointing at his car. "And if you see me around campus, don't talk to me, don't even look at me. This never happened, and I never knew you. You never knew me, you don't even know my name. Do you understand me, Eliot?"
"If that's how you want it? Sure, Maya. Wish granted." He says, starting to head towards his truck. I refuse to reply, I only stand here with arms cross, until he leaves the property. But to answer his question, no I didn't want it this way, but how else could I respond after all his vicious words to me? I had to protect myself.
I walk back inside trying to hide my sadness, keeping my head low and blinking rapidly to control the incoming tears.
"Nice boy." Laura comments, while standing outside the kitchen, scaring me in the process for I didn't even see her until she opened her mouth, with words sounding nothing like an apology after her calling me liar last night. "Will he be coming around more often?"
"Probably not. But it's for the best." I shrug, trying to keep some part of my life honest.
"Oh, that's too bad. Maybe there should be a change of heart." She says. "Now come back to the table, Oliver wants to finish his story."
YOU ARE READING
He Had To Go
Misterio / SuspensoTwo college students, Maya Tarver and Eliot Keller seem to have nothing in common. She was born into a broken home, and him and an all American baseball player. But as time goes on, they become nearly inseparable, that is until Eliot's strange and s...
