The Berserker

Chapter 20

Maya downed her third diet Pepsi, while I munched on bacon. We had ended up at Dennis' Breakfast and Brunch, and both of us ordered a surprising amount of food.

"Do you mind if I eat that?" Maya asked, fork hovering mid air over my second plate of pancakes.

I shoved the plate towards her, and she gave me her toast with hash browns and eggs in exchange.  Finishing my glass of water, I cleaned up her plate. The gnawing feeling in my stomach was gone, completely full.

Waiting for Maya to talk, I observed our surroundings again. We had a table booth in the corner, near windows. It was packed today, families and couples all around. There were three exits: the one we came in front entrance to my left, the one behind Maya as a side entrance for employees only and the third furthest from us was across the room.

A group reserved that spot specifically seeing as the waiters seated everyone in other sections despite the spacious seating in that area. I checked for cameras when Maya asked,

"What are you looking for?"

"Cameras..." I replied, shifting my focus back to her.

"How come?"

"Habit."

She nodded her head in understanding although I sensed she didn't really.

"So, what's your job? I thought you worked at the tattoo shop?" she asked, shifting.

I guess she doesn't want to talk about her yet.

"I left the tattoo shop. My new job is ... I actually can't tell you. I'm under obligation to keep my mouth shut," I told her, not missing her skeptically angry change of expression.

"Oh so now you're keeping things from me too?" Maya scoffed, sitting back into her seat.

Shrugging, I replied, "I'm not going to lie to you."

"Does anyone else know about this?" she demanded glaring.

I sighed. "Peyton and Nicky. They're ... guardians you could say."

"Why not, Dad?"

Tilting my head, I gave her a blank look.

"Right, right. I just thought since he's Dad, you know?" She raised a shoulder with a slight smile. When my expression didn't change. the smile dropped. "Okay moving on. Are you okay with whatever you're doing?"

"It's fine," was my curt reply.

Silence settled in, and I exhaled relaxing. "I'm sorry. It's not something I'm comfortable with, especially given the circumstances surrounding it. You have some trouble of your own?"

Maya nodded stiffly. "I know I'm the youngest, but I really wish everyone stopped treating me like a kid. Mom kept what happened with Dad - my father not Dad," she added noticing my frown, "but Chelsea knew. Always knew, but she's only a year older or so. I found out two weeks ago! Two weeks! And, then!" Maya's voice progressively got angrier as she continued, "I overhear the conversation of Chelsea going to Taiwan with Chris, and saying not to let me know! What were they going to say when she actually left?" she finished huffing.

"I -"

"Sarah's also not talking to me."

I was very curious to hear what actually happened with Maya's father, but it wasn't my place. However, I did not know who Sarah was and I asked.

"Oh she's my friend from high school," Maya explained, "and if we had any issues, we would talk it out. Now, she's distant. Everyone feels that way, even you."