Settling

Chapter 2

The rest of school was filled with quiet banter (between Huckleberry and I of course) longing gazes, and boredom. Riles and Lucas had plans after school so I went home.

I entered my apartment and it was empty and cold as usual. Marisol was chewing on a piece of yarn. At least I had her to keep me company. I picked her up and headed to my room.

Once I entered I was met with white walls. That were painted with paintings by me. And I loved them. Each wall had something to say about my life. It was like my own little muriel. I loved my room, I really did.

About two year ago I turned my room into an art studio. I pushed my bed and dresser in a corner of my room and filled the rest of the space with art supplies. It was messy. But I liked it that way. All the clutter made me feel comfortable. Made me feel at home.

I walked past many open paint tubes. Some splattered on the floor. And settled into my window seat and started to draw the bustling city below me. There was people crowding the streets and cabs, cars driving. It was total chaos. But I loved it. The madness. It made me feel comfortable, at home.

I was almost done when my mother came in. "Hey honey, what are you doing?", she questioned, coming to sit next to me. "Sketching", I sighed resting my head on the window. "Let me see." I handed it to her. "Wow this is amazing sweetheart.", she gushed. Ugh. I hated when she would do that. Compliment me. Because trust me is was awful at taking them. They made me feel uncomfortable and awkward.

"Thanks mom. I'm gonna go get ready for bed.", I said getting up and kissing her on a cheek goodnight. I went into my bathroom and did the usual. Washed my face and brushed my teeth.

Once I was done I settled into my safe haven and decided that if Lucas were a good he would be steak. I did this every night. Deciding what he would be. And I honestly don't know why. Sooner or later I drifted into sleep.

I woke up to my head pounding alarm screaming in my ear. Tiredly I rolled over and pounded on it until it went off. I decided that I would sleep for at least ten minutes. But those plans for cut short when my phone started to ring.

"Good morning, rise and shine!", Riley's perky voice sang through the phone. "What do you want Riles?" I really wasn't in the mood to talk right now. "Somebody's grumpy this morning, just calling to tell you that Lucas is picking me up, so you don't have to come over this morning."

Great. That was our thing, every single morning no matter what I would go over and pick her up. What else was going to change? I've seen this happen before. Your best friend gets a boyfriend. And things start to change. I really hoped that this wasn't happening between me and Riley. Because she was my only real friend. The only one who understood me, knew me.

"Hello. Earth to Maya, you still there?", she questioned, snapping me out of my haze. "Uh, yeah. That's fine, you two love birds have fun.", I said trying to act fine. "Okay!! I'll see you at school.", she said hanging up the phone.

I sighed and rolled over looking at my clock, 8:15. Great now I only had 55 minutes to get ready and be at school.

And trust me that wasn't a lot of time considering the New York traffic.

Quickly I got up and made my way to the closet. I picked out a black knee length dress, with a white collar, some thigh high boots and of course my dads army jacket.

I grabbed my bag, gave Marisol a quick kiss on the head, and headed out the door. Not bothering to eat breakfast or saying goodbye to mother.

After walking many blocks I finally made it to the subway station. I plopped down on the cold, hard steel and pulled out my sketch book. Deciding to draw a man across from me. He looked homeless. Ripped up clothes, dirt across his face, and a long uncombed beard. I don't know why I had decided to drawn him. There were many other people on this subway. But maybe it was his eyes. No it was. They had this gleam to them. Like even though his life wasn't all that great he was still optimistic, still had hope. Something that I didn't have but hoped to gain someday.

I was drawing his eyes when the bus came to a stop. I closed my sketch book and got of the subway. Quickly I walked down the street only a block away from the school. Maybe if I hurried I could make it on time.

By the time I had entered the school, first period was already in session. Great. Just what I needed another tardy. I made my way to the office so I could get a tardy slip.

"Hello Maya, late again I see. That's twice in a row.", Mrs.Smith said. "Yeah sorry about that. Never gonna happen again." which we both knew was a complete lie. "Sure.", she said rolling her eyes and handing me the slip. And with that I was headed off to Mr.Matthews class.

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I'm going to be posting the first four chapters that I've already posted today!! And maybe the fifth chapter:)