Against The Odds: Guarded

8

I hosnestly don't know how you guys read these long ass chapters. If that was me, I would've dissed that shit✌

MAYA POV

I looked at the man in front of me and there was a definite ringing in my ears. The plane had not yet taken off and though I knew we were still on the ground I found myself trying to make my ears pop. My head began to fill with questions, comments and even a string of profanities that I could vehemently spit his way. Peyton had become a symbol of demise between Lucas and I and he acted as if he was completely oblivious to that fact.

“I never thought I would see you again. How are you?” How could he ask me that? Of all questions to be asked ‘how are you’ was the last one that I wanted to answer.

“I’m good, how are you?” My voice came out as neutral as I intended to be and I was both proud and shocked with myself. I won’t allow anyone or anything else break me down today. I physically and mentally can’t handle it.

As people continued to board the plane, Peyton took the seat next to mine in order to avoid any traffic he would have caused in the aisle. I stiffened unprepared for the close proximity before he spoke again.

“I’ve been alright...I’ve missed you and Smackle terribly. It’s so comforting to see a familiar face even as we’re getting ready to go back to my home town. I haven’t really adjusted to being in California all that well to be honest. I literally know no one besides the guys that I work with and all of them are wankers except for my boss.” Peyton spoke quickly as he was relieved to get what he had said off of his chest.

I simply nodded in reply not being able to return the feeling of a void from not seeing him. We fall into an awkward silence and the small smile that creeps upon Peyton’s lips reflects the change in the air between us.

“Maya, I’ve been meaning to ask you...Why did you leave London so quickly? I mean when everyone else was gathered at the ceremonials at the end of the internship, I looked for you but you weren’t there.”

Fire began to replace my blood and race through my veins and I had to catch myself before I replied. He knows what happened and he’s doing this to taunt me.

“I have no intentions on sharing that with you Peyton. You can stop the act of the poor romantic innocent that you’re putting on because I don’t buy it.” I spoke calmly, once again keeping my wits about myself even though all I wanted to do was implode.

Peyton looked at me with confusion and maybe even hurt settling on his features and before he could get out another word, Dr. Koch came to claim his seat. I closed my eyes and let out a breath that I didn’t even realize that I was holding as Peyton stood up to go to his designated spot.

“So you are familiar with Dr. Adams’ new protégé?” I looked to Dr. Koch with a smile, hoping to not show my disdain towards Peyton. I nodded my head slowly before I replied.

“I’m acquainted with him, yes.”

“Would I be wrong for detecting a sense of animosity behind your tone?”

Psychiatrists and Psychologists, they’re all too perceptive in what goes on around them and yet my subconscious talks about them as if I don’t want to be one myself.

“No, no animosity at all.” Dr. Koch pursed his lips in a hard line knowing that my answer was the farthest from the truth.

As we took off, I could feel my phone vibrate in my lap. I don’t know if it was because I was too lazy to read it, or because I had a feeling on who the new notification was from, but I kept it there allowing my thoughts to distract me once again. I looked out the window as the clouds that swam in the blue sky along with us began to lull me to sleep. Although I’ve taken the eleven to twelve hour flight twice before, this one in particular has already been the longest by far.