If There Is A Tomorrow

Chapter 2

J

It was a bright, sunny morning. The roads were quiet and the sound of birds was being echoed throughout New York. It smelt of the fragrance of roses and lily's. The sky was empty like a box with no cotton, where rays of sunshine bounced on forever. No horizon. No depth. Just a crystal blue sky. The green, grass was glistening as if it had a fresh start.

Maya woke up feeling sick. Her head was spinning around because she got no sleep. She was crying all night the memory of her beloved father. Her body was aching and she just needed to relax her mind.

However, the mysterious guy on the other side woke up with a huge smile on his face. He was still running the picture of Maya praying in his mind. He got out of bed and headed straight for the shower. Even in the shower he didn't spend a moment without thinking of Maya. He accidently put his mother's shampoo on his head which smelt of strawberries. When he had realized what he had done he smiled to himself goofily and then put on his usual shampoo on his head. After he was done he paid a lot attention to his hair and his clothes. He wanted to look the best. He tried on many clothes to see which one would suit him. A blue shirt, white shirt, red shirt or a black shirt? He didn't know which colour she had liked. He couldn't decide, so he decided to go downstairs and ask his mother who was making breakfast for him. The atmosphere smelt of scrumptious scrambled eggs and crunchy toast. 'Good morning mum.' He said. 'Black, white or red?' He asked his mother displaying his clothes on the dining table. 'Hmm... I think black', she replied. 'But why?' she questioned. He crossed his fingers behind his back and grinned. 'Nothing, just asked for your opinion', he lied. His mother smiled at him. 'Okay then, that's a bit weird asking for my opinion. '

Later on in the day Maya wanted to relax herself from the pain and distress from yesterday so she decided to read a book. She read her book whilst standing in position to the window to get some fresh air because her room was stuffy and made her sick. The handsome guy opposite was stood outside trying to seek her attention. Maya caught sight of him and she shut the window and walked away hoping that he didn't see her. He stood outside of her house not knowing what do to grab her attention so he hurled a rock at the window. 'Oii!' Maya bellowed as she ran to the window to see what had happened. The mysterious figure was outside waving at her with a huge grin on his face. 'What do you want?' Maya snapped. 'You', he teased blushing. 'WHAT?' Maya yelled angrily. 'Your name', he blurted. 'I'm new in this neighborhood and I live right in front of you.' He said gesturing at his house. 'I was thinking that we could get to know each other. My name is Harris.' 'No thank you. I have no interest in getting to know you,' Maya hissed. She pushed the window shut and started to walk away but she opened the window again. 'Please leave me alone!' She insisted and closed the window again and sat on her bed and carried on reading her book that she was intrigued in. It was about criminal minds. It was her father's favorite book which he always read. She found it in her father's bedroom and picked it up and decided to read it.

A few hours later Maya was awaken by the sound of loud murmuring from downstairs. The voice was a powerful but warm and comforting man's voice. She was curious to know who it was. She crept downstairs to see who it was and Harris was sat in the living room with her mother. 'Oii, it's you again. What do you want?' She questioned, annoyed and angry. 'You two know each other?' Maya's mother asked in surprise. 'Yes, you don't know this stupid, stalker.' Maya shouted. 'Get out!' She said gesturing to the door. 'Oh Maya, stop it! This is our new neighbor Harris. He lives opposite us. Treat him nicely.' Her mother chirped. 'I've invited him and his mother over for dinner tonight.' 'What?' Maya shouted in bewilderment. 'I think I'll get going' Harris said with a sense of embarrassment creeping in him. 'I've got to go.' And with that he got up and walked out of the house.

In the evening Harris came knocking on the door with an enchanted, red rose in his hand. He wore a white t – shirt with a pair of black chinos. Maya opened the door. She was wearing a violet short sleeved top with blue jeans and she kept her hair in a pony tail and she wore her glasses as usual. She stared at the beautified rose that Harris was holding admiringly. Maya's mother came behind her and Harris suddenly barged into the house and gave the rose to Maya's mother. 'A beautiful rose for a beautiful woman.' He announced. Maya was getting so furious. She didn't know what he wanted but he kept on trying to become close with her family.

During the dinner everyone was talking loudly. Musa, Maya's younger brother and Harris kept on going on about their favourite films and football players. Maya's mother and Harris' mother were getting on really well. Maya was just sat there eating silently not focusing on anyone else's conversation.

After dinner everyone sat outside in the beautiful, midsummer night. Musa went to bed and it was only Maya, her mother, Harris and his mother. Maya's mother went inside with Harris' mother to get some tea which left Maya and Harris all alone. There was awkward silence. Harris kept on looking at Maya but she didn't dare to meet her eyes with his so she stared at the floor embarrassed and angry. Harris broke in with a joke that his friend just texted him and started laughing and laughing. 'What is something red and bad for your teeth?' Harris asked Maya casually. 'I don't know!' Maya replied annoyed. 'And I don't even bloody care!' 'A brick!' Harris laughed discarding her rude comment. 'That is not funny!' Maya barked annoyed. 'Normal people find this funny.' He chuckled. 'What are you trying to say? I'm not normal?' She asked sharply. 'No you're not.' 'That is so rude. You're my neighbour. So, stay like a neighbour and act like one too.' Maya snapped crossing her arms impatiently as she stood up from her chair in anger. 'Okay....Knock knock. Can I borrow half a cup of milk please?' Harris joked as he brought his hands in front of him. 'What are you doing?' Maya wailed, annoyed at him. 'You just told me to act like a neighbour. So, can I borrow half a cup of milk?' 'OMG, Harris.' 'Shhh... Who do you think you are?' Maya stared at him in confusion as he walked towards her. Her heart started beating faster and faster.' Why do you think that you're carrying the world's troubles on your shoulders? There is no point in worshipping god when you don't know how to value this beautiful life he has given to us?' Maya kept her mouth shut and didn't utter a word. 'Just learn how to smile. You never smile. It's easy. One, Two, Three, Cheese!' Harris added. 'Come on try. One, Two, Three, Cheese!' Maya irritably waved her hands around told him to shut up then angrily walked off into her bed annoyed.

Maya couldn't go to sleep. She kept on tossing and turning. Throwing her cushions on the floor, then picking it back up and putting it back where it belonged. 'Shhh... Who do you think you are?' The words of Harris kept on repeating in her mind. She kicked her blanket off her, then after a while when she could feel the cold air hitting against her skin she put in back on again. 'Why do you think that you're carrying the world's troubles on your shoulders?' She had normally kept her hair open when she slept but it kept on annoying her along with the words of Harris. In complete anger she pulled it back into a lose ponytail which didn't work either. She didn't know what was going on with her. Just then her lips and chin started to tremble and huge drops of tears fell down her cheek. She uncontrollably cried. Then suddenly she leaped out of bed and strode towards her full length mirror placed next to her oak desk. She switched on the lights and stared into the mirror. She examined her face. She ran her fingers over the one or two spots that have peeped out of her skin. She looked at her figure. Petite, small, skinny. Her mouth curled from the side and she broke into a small, forced smile. She shook her head, annoyed. She then parted her lips a little and smiled with her beautiful, straight teeth. Angrily she slapped the mirror with her hand and went back to her bed and lay down in deep thought. Had she actually forgotten to smile? She was wondering if Harris was right. Had she really not valued the life that god gave to her?