Forbidden Territories

Chapter 7: Stranger

I usually wasn't the type to hang on to things for too long. I preferred using my energy for more productive things than to hold onto resentment. This time, however, it was different. I couldn't bring myself to look at Maya, I hardly spoke to her. And while she tried to act like nothing was wrong, I couldn't. Each time I looked at her I felt the same anger bubbling to the surface. I felt my fingers curling into fists and I had to leave the room after barely saying two words. Perhaps not the most healthy way to deal with things but it was all I could manage at the time. 

"Do you want some coffee?" she asked, caution audible in her voice. 

"Mhm," I mumbled in response and didn't look up from my sketchbook. 

Maya sighed and poured the coffee into two cups, adding a sugar cube to her own and a splash of milk to mine. The warmth of annoyance was already spreading through me, only heightened by the fact that I could feel her eyes on me after she slid my mug into my direction. I wanted to ignore her, I tried. I kept my back against the chair, feet on the edge of the seat and knees leaned against the table. I tried to keep my attention on the simple lines on the paper and follow the movements of the pencil but she just kept staring. 

"What?!" I finally snapped and looked up, meeting her blue eyes. 

She flinched at my loud voice and wrinkled her nose, pulling her cup closer to her lips. She kept both of her hands wrapped around it, coffee scent invading her nostrils. 

"Are you ever gonna talk to me again, Via? It's been days and you barely moved. I'm starting to get worried." 

I had to roll my eyes at that, stealing her signature look for but a moment but didn't speak. Instead, I took a deep breath and placed the sketchbook on top of the table and my feet to the ground. 

"Come on, V. It's not my fault you misunderstood what I meant." Maya defended her case. That's it. That was fucking it. 

"I'm sorry, what?" I asked, raising my eyebrows in sheer disbelief. "I misunderstood you? Please tell me you're fucking joking, Maya. Because if you're not, I'm gonna be really worried about your own mental health." 

She blinked at me and placed her cup down after taking a single sip. Her frame straightened up and I could see she was trying to collect her thoughts and form an answer but I didn't give her the chance to say anything. 

"Don't even bother. You told me to do exactly what I did. And now you're trying not to be the bad guy here? Are you fucking kidding me? When are you gonna stop acting like Zach tried to kidnap me or something?" 

Her lips parted and closed again. "I have to get ready for work." She tried to leave the kitchen but I shot up to my feet and stood in her way. 

"No," I protested. "You wanted me to talk, now I'm fucking talking. What's your problem?" 

Maya stared at me and I could see something behind her eyes. Maybe a slight wish to tell me the truth. I should be so lucky. "You wouldn't understand," she simply said and pushed past me. 

***

I left the apartment that day. I was trying to avoid all of the places where I could run into Zach but I still couldn't help but continuously glance around, trying to spot those eyes of his among the crowd. Everything was such a mess and I didn't feel the same. It was almost weird how emptier I felt not having someone who was basically a stranger in my life anymore. What did I know about him, to begin with? 

I knew he loved his motorcycle. I knew he liked getting tattoos. I knew he was too clumsy to walk down the street without crashing into at least one thing. I knew he made an absolute fool out of himself to make me smile. I knew he gave me space and silence when I needed it. But most of all, I knew he was good for me. I felt better, I felt free.