People Change People

MAYA

I’ve been smelling the rain for 4 days now. And today, on this Wednesday, the flood gates of heaven let loose on Holmes Chapel.

According to Shawn, it started raining at about 2 am, and it’s been raining since. Thunder, lightning, the works. I really like it. It was calming, it was gloomy. I loved it. Shawn was out doing his photography work, saying it was the perfect dramatic weather, but my mom was home, so it was just me and her. After taking a shower and throwing a pair of (new) sweats and a t shirt, I went to the kitchen to find my mom making her infamous chocolate chip pancakes.

“Mmm” I said taking a whiff of the air as I sat down, “I haven’t had your chocolate chip pancakes in like, forever.”

“Well you know, you can take the girl out of the diner but you can’t take the diner out of the girl.” She said while piling 2 pancakes on a plate and topping it off with a whip cream smiley face. I smiled at her as she sat next to me.

“So how do you like your new job anyway?” I asked with a mouthful of pancakes.

“Oh I love it. I get to shape young minds and teach my art.” She gushed. My mom has wanted to be an actor for as long as I can remember, but when we moved to England, she started teaching drama and theatre classes at the local high school. She’s her very own Mr. Matthews.

“I’m glad that you and Shawn are happy.” I said while hugging her.

”What about you? Do you like it here?” She asked.

“Yeah I do. It’s really nice. It’s definitely not the city, but I like it. It’s nice to get away from the hustle and bustle. And it’s 3 weeks and 5 days till the gangs all here.” I nodded.

”I must admit, I’m a little worried, baby girl.” She said nervously.

“About what?” I asked.

”I think you need some friends here, you’re here alone all day. I don’t want you to be lonely.” She said sympathetically.

“I’ll have you know that I actually do have a friend, a neighbor.” I said defensively.

“Oh? Is she your age?” She asked taking away my plate when I finished the pancakes.

“Actually, HE is not.” I said.

“Another older boy, Maya?” She said, I could hear the worry and slight disappointment in her voice.

“Mom it’s not like that, what happened with me and Josh won’t ever happen again. It’s like ancient history.” I shrugged it off like no big deal.

“I just don’t wanna see you get you’re heart broken again. It was only a month ago Maya.” She said.

“I know mom, and it still hurts. So could we please not talk about it? Besides it’s not even like that.” I said quietly.

“Okay, I have some grading to do. but how about, in an hour or so, we throw on our jammies and watch some movies? When you’re dad, um- Shawn, comes home, I make us some hot chocolate, we order a pizza, that sound good?” She said sweetly.

“Sure.” I smiled, “I’ll be upstairs.”

As I headed upstairs I thought about that word, Dad. I’d only ever tried calling Shawn dad like, twice. Both times it was kinda awkward. I sat at the bay window, and tried it, “Dad”, the word felt awkward rolling off my tongue. I shook my head and put my head in my hands. I guess the thought of me having a dad was just, alien. I felt my phone buzz in my pocket, distracting my thoughts.

Harry S: Why so glum?

I looked up and saw him in in his room, where he had the perfect view of me in the bay window.

Maya H: Watching me now? You know in America we call that stalking, Styles.
Harry S: Hah. In England we call it being polite. But seriously, why so blue?
Maya H: My mom just brought up some stupid shit from the past. It’s truly nothing.
Harry S: Wanna talk about it?
Maya H: Maybe someday :).

I didn’t wanna burden him with my past. Or maybe I just couldn’t bring myself to talk about Josh.

FLASHBACK

“You-you kissed me.” I whispered stunned. My forehead was leaned against Josh’s, his hands were still at my waist, and mine at his shoulders.
”I kissed you.” He sounded just as stunned. I smiled to myself and leaned up to look at him, and I kissed him again. All I could think was, holy shit, I’m kissing Josh, I am kissing Joshua Matthews.
“Wow” He said as he leaned his forehead back against mine.
“Yeah. Wow.” I said back.
“I’ve been waiting to do that for so long Maya.” His voice was shaky.
“Why didn’t you?” I questioned, my voice just as shaky as his.
“I guess I was scared, scared that I wouldn’t be the same Josh you fell for all those years ago.” He said. We sat down back on the bay window, and he held my hands in his.
“Josh, I feel for you all those years ago, and those feelings haven’t changed.” I reassured.
”Maya, I know you only have a few months left here, but I wanna spend every minute with you.” He smiled at me.
”But what about when I have to leave?” I asked nervously.
“We’ll cross that bridge when we get to it, but all I know right now is that I wanna be with you, Maya.” He leaned in and kissed me again, and with that, I melted and so did my worries.

END OF FLASHBACK

HARRY

Maya H: Maybe someday :).

I couldnt help but want Maya to open up to me, and I want to know everything about her and her past, no matter how dirty it may be. I wanted to be the one to help and comfort her when she was sad. Snap out of it Styles, she’s just a girl you barely know. But suddenly I was up, and I found myself at her front door, with a set of Harry Potter DVDs. I don’t know what I expected really. Would she just let me into her house to watch
movies with her? Suddenly the door opened, an older woman stood in front of me, and I could tell she was Maya’s mom. She had the same ocean eyes and sandy blonde hair.

“Oh hello! Can I help you?” She asked politely.

“I-um- no, well, yes, I just-“ Then I heard her distinct voice.

“Harry?” I heard her say, I saw her standing in the house behind her mom.

“You honey, do you know this lovely young man?” She said winking at me.

“Um yeah, mom this is Harry, our neighbor.” She introduced and I nodded at her mom.

“Well Harry, how did you meet Maya?” She said as she let me into the house and we stood in the kitchen.

“Oh me and my sister came to welcome her to the neighbourhood when we saw you move in.” I answered nicely.

“Well that’s nice.” She said moving next to Maya, who was visibly embarrassed, it was cute. “Do you and your sister live with your parents?”

“No ma’am, it’s just me.” I nodded.

“Oh. Well how old are you?” She inquired.

“I’m 22.” I shrugged.

”Oh well you see,” She said placing her arm around Maya, “Maya her is only 18, you know?”

“I do now.” I said nodding at Maya.

She nodded knowingly. “Well I have to run some errands for a little bit.” She said gathering her things.

“But I can trust you two to watch the house?” She asked Maya and Maya nodded at her. She kissed Maya on her cheek and whispered something in her ear before making her way out.

“Sorry about her.” Maya said awkwardly while leading me into the living room.

“It’s okay, she’s sweet.” I chuckled, taking a seat next to her on the couch.

“What did she whisper in your ear anyway?” I asked.

“Oh you don’t wanna know.” She said shaking her head.

“Oh now I definitely do!” I laughed.

“Okay fine, she said, well, she said to use protection.” Maya cringed as the words came out of her mouth. I couldn’t help but laugh.


“You jerk!” She said laughing and she shoved me slightly. “And you brought movies!” She gasped taking the DVDs out of my hands, “And Harry Potter too!!!”

“Yeah haha, I didn’t know if you liked them or not.” I said rubbing my neck.

“Are you kidding? I love these!” She exclaimed, “Im gonna go get us some blankets and hot chocolate, and we are totally gonna binge watch!”

“Sounds good to me” I smiled at her. She left the room. And I couldn’t believe myself. I’ve never done this with a girl before. Have I fucked plenty? Yes. But I’ve never really spent time with a girl before. Part of me was shaking with nerves, and wanted to leave, but the majority of me was excited to be spending this time with Maya. She came back with a pile of blankets and two steaming mugs. She handed me my mug and unloaded all the blankets on me with a giggle. She slid in the first movie and sat back on the couch with me under the blankets. We could hear the rain and thunder outside as the movie started.

“God this is perfect.” She said sipping at her hot chocolate, staring at the screen.

“Yeah.” I said looking down at her, admiring her, “Yeah, it is.”

Notes

Cheezy i know but i thought the last part was cute!! Comment and/or rate to let me know what you guys are thinking so far!