Her Best Friends

            It's been 4 months since it happened, I can't believe I remembered that, I usually block out thoughts that have any relation to that day, or her for that matter. It was after school, I was waiting outside, just sitting around, taking in the world around me, the crappy, crappy world around me.

            This girl just walked right up to me, and asked me "Can I sit down?" She had dark brown hair, and electric blue eyes. I moved over to make enough space for her to sit down. She said, "My name's Maya, what's yours?" My first thought was this chick is nuts, everyone knew that I was an outsider, so I didn't get why she would want to even sit by me, much less talk. After about ten seconds, I muttered "My name's Cade." She said "It's nice to meet you." I just chuckled "Never heard that before." She just said "Oh why's that?" I was shocked, all I could say was "Do you even know who I am?" Maya just replied, "Yeah, your Cade." with a smile. I just shook my head back and forth with a small smile on my face.

              "Aha, so you do smile." Maya said. "Not often." I told her. She just said "You should more often, you have a nice smile, oh my rides here." Then she put a piece of paper in my hand and said "Here's my number, you should text me." I said "We'll see." But I knew that I would.

              When I got home, I just sat on the couch and tossed my jacket onto the floor, which I do every day. I live alone so I don't have to worry about making it look tidy most of the time. My parents kicked me out after I got addicted to drugs and alchol, so I decided to get an apartment than live on the street. I never did like being alone, but I never let it show, as that's who I was, I wasn't supposed to show emotion. I started thinking about Maya, and the fact that I actually liked talking to her, it was strange, I hadn't really enjoyed people ever since the accident. Because I thought they would all leave, and I was afraid of losing someone again.

                 I went to the fridge and took out a bottle of tequila, and just started swigging it, I never got the appeal of a shot glass, as it slowed down the best part of the drink, forgetting my problems. I just couldn't shake her memory. All of a sudden my phone started going off, it was Maya. It was a text and it said "Hey what's up?" I didn't want to tell her what I was really doing, so I just said "Not much, you?" She replied "Wishing I had something to do." So I replied "Oh that sucks, I'm wishing that too." After a few minutes she texted back, "Do you maybe want to hang out?" I asked "Now?" She replied "Yes, since your not doing anything, right?" I asked "Yeah, so where do you want to meet?" She just said "Anywhere but my house." I started wondering why, but I didn't ask, instead I said "Ok well I can pick you up, where do you live?"  She answered "1039 Gray st." I said "Alright I'll be there in a few." She texted back "Thank you, a lot." I found out what she meant when I got there.

                      When I got to her house, it just looked like a peaceful little house, I didn't understand why she would want to get away from it. Then I got out of the truck and walked up to her door and I knocked once than it flew open and Maya came charging out furious, with a fierce look in her eyes that would even send a rabid dog running away whimpering. Then a man walked out of the house, and I thought he was her father, but he didn't look anything like her. He was an ugly, angry looking guy, probably in his late 40's and he was yelling at her. He was screaming "Get back in here right now lady, because if you get in that car, your going to pay for it." That's when I stepped up, I said to him "You know what jack ass, you will never lay one finger on her, not as long as I'm here." He just laughed, "You think you can protect her from me, your a kid, and if I she goes with you, there will be hell to pay!" I just smirked, "Then take it up with hell, see if that will pay your debt." Then I hopped in the driver's seat and started heading home.

                   The car ride was pretty silent, the only noise coming from the radio. When we got home, Maya turned to me and said, "Thank you so much for getting me out of there." She was almost crying. I just grabbed her arms and said, "I couldn't leave you there, not after I saw how bad it was." Then she came in closer and started bawling on my chest, staining my t-shirt. She cried for a few more minutes, then I pulled her back, and pulled her chin up so that she could look me in the eyes, and I said "It'll be okay, and you can stay here if you want." She gave me a weak smile and said, "Thank you, Cade." Then she pulled me into a tight hug, and it was almost as uncomfortable as her crying on my chest, but I just wrapped my arms around her. It brought back memories of her, and it hurt a little, but I didin't pull back. I didn't realize it then, but that was the best choice I ever made.

                         I set up a bed for her on my couch. "Well home sweet home, I guess." I said. Maya just kinda smiled, "It is enough, at least things are all ready better then they were before." She said. "Yeah," I said. "I'm sorry you had to go through that." She just looked down. "It's ok," She said weakly "All that matters is that its over, finally." I asked her, "How long had it been like that?" She answered after a pause "Ever since my mother died, he blamed me for it, so I think like a year." I was shocked and said "And no one cared?" She looked up, "No one knew, I never had anyone I thought I could trust." She said. I was still puzzeled and said "Then why me, why would you trust me?" Maya answered "Because, you seemed like you cared, I have a way of reading people, and you just seemed like you would help me." I still didn't quite understand, to everyone else I was this hardened, cold, emotionless guy that wouldn't care about anyone else but himself. Why would she see me different? I asked myself that question over and over. And hours later, I still had no answer. But somethings don't require one.

                               About six o'clock, I fixed us some chicken for dinner. Maya just gave me a weird look and said, "You know how to cook?" I answered, "Yeah, I had to learn since I live alone." I took a bite. Maya was a little suprised and said, "Why do you live alone?" I answered once I was done chewing, "My parents didn't want me living there anymore." She looked a little shocked, "But why?" She asked. I took a moment to think, then answered "About 4 months ago, my best friend died in a car accident, and I don't really have people to count on, and I started," I rolled up my sleeve and showed her the scars on my wrist. I continued "And I started doing drugs and drinking alchol." I just looked down. I thought she would chew me out, or run away, just something. But instead she came over, put her hand on my shoulder and said "Well you have me, and you can count on me." I looked up and said after a pause "Thank you, Maya."