Hope Is The Thing With Feathers

Chapter 2

SCREECH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

The noise of tires against pavement snaps my nose out of my book, makes me trip over a rock & end sprawled face-first, kissing concrete.
I get up & begin to pick up my books & papers. The driver gets out & attempts to help me. " Tha-" I start to say, but then I get a good look at his face.
'Of course! Who else would try to run me over?!'
Instantaneously, the anger roils in my stomach as I snatch my work from his hands. My hearing is shot to all hell, so I barely hear my own voice. I get up & walk away, with just a hint of a limp, out of the parking lot & down the block.

I'm barely 2 blocks away when the sky decided to start crying like it watched Titanic, West Side Story, The Notebook & Les Miserables all in one fucking day. Within seconds every part of me was soaked to the skin.
'I need a car. I wish I had money for an Uber ' I whimper to myself. At that moment, a black truck slows beside me. "Hey, you wanna ride?" he asks. I turn to him and shout " No, you asshole! Go away!"

"Seriously, it's pouring like hell & you're already soaked! Just get in!"

"I wouldn't get in that car if the zombie apocalypse started & you were my only mode of transportation."
He takes a deep breath. "Look I know you hate me. I'm not so crazy about you either. But I'm trying to make up for nearly killing you , so please just get in the truck? Please?"

I roll my eyes heavily & think about it. 'It is pouring out & it is colder the fucking North Pole.' I think to myself & make a snap decision.
"Fine I'll get in the truck. But, I swear to God, If you don't take me straight home, football you will play no more." He smirks and chuckles. "Why do you say that?"
"You need arms & legs to play, don't you?"
He flinches and fixes his eyes on the road.
'That's what I thought'
I lay back against the seat. We no longer speak to each other except for the directions I give to my house. After awhile he clears his throat.
"So, what's your name?" He asks abruptly.
"Why do you want to know?"
"I'm trying to be nice, damn it! Also, keep in consideration that this is MY truck & I didn't have to give your bitch ass a ride home, so could you please show a little gratitude?!"

Well damn. Well, when you put it like that....
"My name is Maia. Happy now?" He smiles at me.
"There, that wasn't so bad, was it?"
'I swear to God I hate this asshole.'
I start to recognize the street we're on. "You can stop here."

"Is this your house?"
"No its not.
"So why am I stopping here?"
'If this nigga asks one more damn question!'
"Obviously I don't want you to know where I live, you fucking stalker!"

His composure shatters & he explodes, his face turning bright red.  "That's it!!!! GET THE FUCK OUT OF MY TRUCK NOW!!!!!!!!!!!!!! TRIED TO BE NICE TO YOUR FAT BITCH ASS! FUCK OUT NOW DUMBASS!"
I jump down and slam the door. I walk off and behind me I hear
"Where's my thank you, you ungrateful slut?"
I turn & throw some change at his truck windshield.
"Take your thank you & shove it up your ass for all I care!!!" He gets back in his truck & speeds off, making sure to spray me with a shit ton of water as he leaves.

Brilliant. So much for not trying to let my parents know how I got home.

"Maia!"
"Yes mom..." I answer wearily. Walking up 5 flights of stairs because your elevator is broken is not fun. Especially in wet clothes. "
"Where are yo-" My mother stops as if she got shot, looks at me & erupts in a tirade of fury.
"WHAT THE HELL?! WHY ARE YOU DRIPPING WATER ALL OVER THE FLOOR? I JUST CLEANED IT & NOW YOU-" She breaks off as she begins to throw anything & everything within arms reach at me. I crouch down as pens, paper, and even textbooks rain down around me.

I get up & sprint to my room. Thank god I took my shoes off outside. I undress & put my wet clothes in the hamper. Who did I piss off in my past life that I'm here?

After hours of studying & homework, I walk out of my room and find my entire house empty. "Weird" I say to myself. I walk to the living room and look towards the street to find the driveway empty. I hurry back down the hallway to find the light in my parents room off & the suitcases gone.

"What the hell is going on?" I walk into the kitchen & find a note on the fridge "Maia, we went somwhere for the week/weekend. If the house is not spotless while we are gone, you will regret it. Don't get in trouble. ,M&D"
I run back to my room & do a happy dance! Finally! A whole 10 days to myself!

*20 mins later*

After the best shower in existence, which was interrupted by not one fucking person, I hop on my bed & decide to skype Eva. The minute she picked up, the first words out of her mouth were
"Oh my god, are your parents out?"

"What the hell? How did you know?"

"Maia, we never Skype unless your parents are drunk & passed out or they are out of town."

" I feel like you know me too well!" "Whatever! How long are they gone for?"

"10 days." I say quietly. While I'm excited, I can't shake the fear that its a trick, that my mother will barge in the room & beat me some more.

"Maia? Girl are you on Mars? Can you come back to Earth please? MAIA!!!!!!"

"Yeah girl what is it?" She flashes her signature smile at me
"So you are going to the dance tomorrow?"
I hate school dances. Eva bought the ticket for me and is basically forcing me to go. I love her, but she is so goddamned pushy sometimes.

"Yes I am going, only because I know you will never leave me alone unless I do." I roll my eyes & she beams. "YAY! Ok remember, I have your outfit. I will come over & take care of everything."

I smile & yawn like a bear. "Alright, my lover is calling. And by lover I mean my very soft & warm bed." She laughs and almost implodes my ear.
"Mkay. Bye girl!"

"Bye!" As I log off my laptop, my phone rings. I look at the screen & it says Restricted. " Hello?"
"Is this Maia?"
"Who wants to know and how did you get this number?"

"uh... this is Alex. I was wondering do you have a date for the dance yet?" I almost cursed him out, but then I heard something in the background. Laughter & what sounded like punk-rock. Of course. I hung up & turned my phone on silent. I stripped down to my underwear & a T-shirt, took out my scrunchi & fell back onto my pillows.

Before I fell into the dark embrace of sleep, his face swam before my eyes once more, his green eyes haunting me into sleep.