Life is the Long Game

Chapter 16

*The day of the dance*

Third Person:

It was 5pm, the dance began at 8pm and Farkle, Riley, Maya, Lucas and Josh were all at Riley and Lucas's apartment eating pizza before the girls took Amelie over to Shawn (who had stepped in as Amelie's babysitter) and Maya's place and got ready there.

"So Farkle, you and Enid are finally gonna happen, huh?" Maya asks.
"Looks that way, I'm going to go slow with things though, because one, out of respect of Isodora and two, I don't want to screw things up with Enid by rushing our relationship."
"Fair enough."
"So, how are all of your wedding plans going you four?" Farkle asks.
"Well, with just 8 months till our wedding, I have my dress, the venues booked, Eric to officiate the ceremony, I have my maid of honour, Josh has his best man, photographs are being done by Dad, rings have been ordered. Only things left are music, flowers, invites, and tuxes. Oh and bridesmaids dresses!" Maya say excitedly.
"I can't believe it's just 8 months away, I can't wait." Josh says before kissing his girlfriend.
"And we've decided that we aren't going to get married until after we've finished uni, so we haven't made any plans yet." Riley announces as everyone finishes the last of their pizza and Amelie begins to cry.
"I'll go!" Maya says hopping up and jogging in to Amelie, returning moments later with her in her arms.
"You're going to make such a great mom, Maya." Josh tells her.
"Thanks. You'll be the best dad."
"Hey, so Lucas, Riley, have you thought of having anymore children in the future?" Josh asks.
"When Amelie is much older, probably about 7?" Lucas replies.
"Cool."
"We should be going to get ready now." Riley says, grabbing her bag with all the things she'll need and another for Amelie.
"We'll pick you up at 7:30. Have fun!" Josh says, kissing his girlfriend goodbye as Lucas says goodbye to Amelie as he won't see her till the morning. And the girls leave for Maya's.

Maya's POV:

When we arrive at my place, my dad is already home.
"Hey Dad!" I say and go and hug him.
"Hey kiddo, looking forward to the dance?"
"Definitely."
I go into my room and pull out my dress. Riley comes in a few minutes later after running through everything with my dad about Amelie.
"Let's do hair first!" Riley says happily, we put mine in a big curly bun and Riley's down with curls and quiffs. Then we move onto makeup. Riley's light, mine dark.
"So Riles, when do you want to go shopping for your dress for my wedding?"
"I don't mind. How about next weekend?"
"Sounds good, I can't believe that I am actually going to marry the boy I've loved since I was 14!"
"And you'll be my aunt!" Riley chirps.
"Yes, now niece to be, let's get our dresses on, it's 7, the boys will be here soon!"
When we are in our dresses, and have our shoes on we go out to my dad.
"Girls, you look wonderful!"
"Thanks Dad."
"Thank you Uncle Shawn."
"Let's get some pictures."
We take some individual pictures, some the two of us, some with Amelie and Riley takes one of me and Dad, and then the boys arrive, so we have some done with them.
"Maya, you look stunning." Josh says, not taking his eyes off me.
"Thank you, you don't look to bad yourself Boing." I pull him in close to me and kiss him, I notice Lucas and Riley having a similar conversation.
"Let's go." I say and we all go down and get in my car, that my dad got me for my 17th birthday.
When we arrive, we spot Farkle and Enid waiting for us.
"Hey guys, wow Enid, you look great! I love your hair, as always!" I say.
"Hi, sorry I've basically ignored you for the past 6 months." She says apologetically.
"Don't worry, now let's go have some fun." I say. As we walk in, I notice Enid staring intensely at all the scars on my inner arms, I suddenly feel very conscious of them, I always try to keep them covered, even though I've been clear for just over a year, they aren't very nice to look at.
When we get inside the hall, which is decorated wonderfully, Riley, Lucas, Farkle and Enid immediately go off to dance, me and Josh go and sit at our table. A few of the girls in my class come over and say hi, and the majority look at my scars, they appear to be really noticeable today.
"Hey, Maya, are you okay?" Josh asks concerned.
"Yeah, of course." I lie.
"I'm going to talk to Sarah, and then we can go dance." I continue, Sarah is still grieving over Zay, but came to the dance as she is one of the people who put it together, she didn't comeback until September, after the shooting either.
"Hey Sarah, you've done a great job with the dance."
"Thanks Maya. Hey, can I tell you something know one else from school knows?"
"Yeah, of course."
"When I was off grieving over Zay, I-I had a b-baby."
"What?"
"I found out the week before he died, he was really happy, I was already 4 months when we found out, and my parents kicked me out immediately, I moved in with his family. They are so caring, and even when he died, they kept me on, I had a boy, and now Zay's Grandma looks after him, when I'm at school, as she lives with Zay's mum, dad and brother."
"Wow, Sarah, you kept that all a secret?"
"Yeah, I was hurting to much."
"Can I see a picture?"
She pulls out her phone, and shows me a picture of him.
I hug her tightly.
"He looks just like him." I whisper in her ear.
"I know, now, go enjoy the dance, we can catch up soon, yeah?" She tells me.
"Definitely." I go over to Josh and drag him up to dance. After a couple of songs, Josh takes me to one side.
"Maya are you sure you're okay?"
"C-can we talk on the roof?"
"Yeah, come on." He takes my hand and we go up to the roof.
"Spill."
"Everyone keeps staring at my scars Josh." I say trying my best not to cry.
"I see them everyday."
"But they don't, I hide them from everyone else, apart from, Riley, Farkle, Lucas and our families."
"Oh Maya." He hugs me tightly.
"They are so ugly to look at, and there are so many of them, they still make me look weak."
"Your scars do not make you weak, the fact that they are only scars now, alone makes you strong. And with time, they'll fade. Also, I think they are beautiful, like you." He says, as he lifts up my arm, running his finger along the scars.
"And to prove it, I'm going to kiss every last one." He continues.
"Some will have to wait till when we are married."
"Oh Maya, baby." He hugs me tightly again before he actually does kiss every single scar on my arm.
"Thank you." I whisper to him, as he holds me tightly.
"There is no need to thank me, I love you, and am going to be your husband, therefore, it is my duty, and until they are gone, I will kiss your scars every day that I see you."
"I'm so lucky to have you."
"Now let's go dance."
When we get back to the hall, a slow song comes on almost immediately. It's 'I Will Return' by Skylar Grey, from Fast and Furious 7. All the couples dance romantically to it. The night is young, the night is beautiful.
Eventually Josh and I are the only couple left at the end of the night, no guessing what everyone else is doing now, it's a dance and everyone is a teenager here, it's kinda obvious. I love Josh, he is my rock. What did I ever do to deserve him?