Mike: Hey Maya, you wanna hang out tonight? I have to speak to you about something.
Maya: Yeah, I just finished work. Shall I come over to your place? Are you okay?
Mike: Yeah, I’m alright. It’s not even about me.
Maya: Okay…

Maya’s POV

I looked confused at the message on my phone screen. At first it had seemed like he had a problem or something he needed help with, but what did he mean with ‘it’s not even about me’? Maybe there was something up with Vic or with someone else in his family and did he needed to talk about or something.
Ugh, maybe I would come over and would he be like: “nah, I was just bored and wanted you to come over”. I mean, I wouldn’t even be surprised. It’s Mike we’re talking about for Christ’s sake.
I stepped into my car and drove to Mike’s house. Maybe a little too fast again, but oh well, I was just too curious. Okay, maybe that’s not an excuse, I always drive too fast actually.
I stopped in front of Mike’s house and once again took in how big it was. Well, if there were people that truly deserved everything they had then it was the guys of Pierce the Veil. They worked so hard to be at the place they were now.
I rang the bell and while I waited I straightened my skirt. Ugh this was why I never wore skirts. Why couldn’t I just put on jeans this morning?
A few seconds later Mike opened the door. When he saw me a weird look appeared on his face.
“What?” I asked with one eyebrow raised.
He shook his head. “Nothing. That skirt just looks good on you.” he said and he scratched the back of his neck.
I looked down to my outfit. “Are you sure? I think it looks weird. Does it look weird?” I asked.
“No, it looks fine. Why? Do you have somewhere else to go tonight?” he asked. I looked up to him and shook my head. “Why does it matter then?” Mike asked
I smiled at him. For some reason Mike always managed to make me feel good about myself. I don’t know how, but he just did it. “True. Can I come in? Or are you gonna leave me outside all night?” I asked with a bitchy tone.
A grin appeared on his face and he leaned against the door post. “You’re giving me ideas.” he said. “You’re comfortable over there, right?”
I rolled my eyes and pushed him to the side. I walked inside and was soon met with the familiar living room. I let my eyes once again glide over the Pierce the Veil posters on the wall.
“I ordered pizza today but I have a shit load left, want any?” He said as he started to pick up the pizza boxes.
I shook my head. “Nah, thank you. I would like a beer, though.” I said.
I heard him chuckle. “And this one too, I guess.” he said and before I knew it he threw something at me. I was able to catch it just in time.
I opened my hand and saw a cigarette in it. “You know me too well.” I said smirking and he walked towards the kitchen with the boxes in his hands.
“That’s what happens when you watch American Horror Story together with a person every week. Just go to the balcony. I will follow up soon with a lighter and beer.” he yelled from the kitchen.
I turned around and walked up the stairs to his bedroom. If there was one place in his house where I hadn’t been a lot then it was his bedroom. I just thought that bedroom’s were personal places and you shouldn’t come there without the permission from the owner.
I quickly glanced over the room, then shook my head and headed to the doors that lead to the balcony.
I stepped on the large balcony, I had always liked this place. It was least nine feet wide and six feet large. Five expensive looking garden chairs stood around a low table. There was one lamp that hung on the wall, but the place was mostly lit up by candles.
I sat down on one of the chairs and looked at the amazing view. Mike’s balcony looked over the beach and the ocean and at this hour the beach was almost completely empty. The few stars that were visible around here, reflected in the water.
When Mike came in and sat down at a chair next to me, I kept staring at the beach. “You should take a girl you’re into up here.” I said absently. “It’s actually quite romantic up here.”
He chuckled weirdly and lit up a cigarette. “I will think about it.” he said as he blew out some smoke.
“No, but really. You will get laid, guaranteed.” I said smirking as he handed me a fire and I held my cigarette in the fire.
“Who says I don’t get laid?” he said and I sat back in my chair blowing out some smoke. Gosh it was great to have a cigarette after a long day of work.
“Mike, I’m quite sure you haven’t gotten laid in a while.” I said matter-of-factly.
“How would you know?”
“Because you show off every girl you slept with.” I said. “At least to me.”
He laughed and nodded. “I might be a little in need of some action, granted.” he said.
“That’s why I’m saying, find a girl, take her up here.”
“I think there’s a little more needed to convince a girl to have sex with me.” he said. His voice was jokingly and sarcastic, but I heard more behind it. Maybe he did have trouble with a girl he liked. I couldn’t imagine. Mike could be really charming if he wanted to.
Maybe it had something to do with what he wanted to talk to me about. I was starting to get a little worried. “You’re a big boy, Mike. You know how to flirt. Is that what you wanted to talk to me about? Is there a girl you like that doesn’t like you back or something?” I tried to sound serious, but not too serious. I knew from experience that Mike didn’t open up if I started the conversation too serious.
He shook his head and smiled at me. “No, I told you, it’s not about me. The thing I want to talk to you about, is actually about you.” He said carefully.
What...about me? I didn’t see that coming. What did he find out? But there wasn’t really anything to find out...right?
I smiled and acted confused, like I wasn’t afraid to have him ask personal questions about me. “About me?”
“Yeah...don’t get mad, please!” he said and he looked like I was about to attack him.
“Why would I be mad, Mike?” I asked chuckling.
“Well, you kinda don’t talk about personal things a lot, so I figured you might not like to talk about it.”
I couldn’t help but stare at him with my mouth open wide. I thought I always seemed pretty good at acting like nothing was bothering me. But he must’ve seen something, which was impressive. I was practically a professional at avoiding questions and I should’ve won an oscar for the amount of times I successfully lied to people. Including myself. “No, I don’t mind. Just tell me what’s on your mind.” I said.
He laughed a bit at my face and took a deep breath before he said: “You have a crush on Naira, don’t you?”
And again, I didn’t see that coming. “What?! No!” I said maybe a bit too loud for him to believe me. “What makes you think that?”
He grinned. “Well, when you were drunk, Jaime wanted to bring Naira to her room and you clearly didn’t want him to. And then I heard you scoff when he flirted with her and you wanted her to sit on your lap…” he said a little taken back by my outburst.
I suddenly realized how that must’ve looked. Would the other guys have noticed too? Because that would be so embarrassing. Definitely because I did those things because I like Jaime, not Naira. What?! No, I didn’t like either of them. But why would I have been acting like that otherwise...I hadn’t even realized I had been acting like that.
“I don’t like her that way, Mike. She is my best friend and nothing else.” I said and my voice was shaking a little. “By the way, she is totally straight.”
Mike sighed. “But you aren’t. You can still have a crush on her. I mean I don’t even blame you. She’s hot.” he said and his face suddenly looked worried. “I can only imagine how it must’ve hurt to see Jaime flirt with her. I don’t know why he did that anyway. I mean it’s kind of rude to flirt with your best friend like that anyway.”
I roughly shook my head. “Mike, you’ve got this all wrong. I’m not into Naira. Yeah, she is beautiful, but I have zero feelings for her. Accept for friendship.”
Mike grinned at me. “I don’t believe that, Maya. You clearly didn’t like the thought of Jaime and Naira together. You must have feelings for her...accept. If…” Mike’s eyes went big, like he had just realized something. “No. No. No.”
I raised my eyebrow to him like I didn’t know what he was talking about, but in fact I did. “What?”
“You like, Jaime!” he suddenly screamed out and I saw some people who were walking on the beach look at the balcony with a weird look. “Everything makes sense now!”
I couldn’t help but turn red from head to toe. “No, I don’t like Jaime, Mike. Are you out of your mind?!” I whisper shouted at him. I only realized now that getting mad at him would probably only confirm it.
“Yes, I’m out of my mind, but that has nothing to with this. Now I know why you have always hated his girlfriends and why you never want him to touch you or anything. This has been going on for a while hasn’t it?” he said and he rushed his words. He seemed pretty shocked.
I wanted to go. I hated this. I hated when people interfered in my life and I hated that everything what he said was right. He was pulling a sensitive string with everything he said. I was afraid that he wouldn’t see me the same way anymore, but I was mostly afraid that I had to deal with this now. I couldn’t deny this to myself anymore.
I threw my cigarette in the ashtray and roughly stood up. “I’m going.” I said my voice shaking a little.
I was about to turn around and walk off the balcony when I felt a strong hand around my wrist. “Wait, Maya. I didn’t want to upset you. I shouldn’t have reacted like that.” he said.
I felt like I was about to cry. My mind was screaming to get away from him, but my heart told me that it might be good to talk about something for once in my life.
I pulled away from his grip and walked inside the bedroom. Within only a few seconds Mike followed me. “Maya wait.”
I didn’t wait, but before I realized what was happening two hands were on my shoulders, turned me around and dragged me in a hug. This was the last drop for me. I just started sobbing on his chest. I hadn’t cried for ages. Only now I realized I was keeping a lot in. It honestly felt like my eyes were the niagara falls, because I just couldn’t stop anymore.
I wrapped my arms around his waist and felt his fingers in my hair. I was trying desperately to find my walls and build them back up, but they were nowhere to be found.
After I had let out my last few sobs I pulled away and quickly dried my eyes with my t-shirt. I didn’t want him to see me this way. I didn’t want anyone to see me this way. “I’m sorry.” I mumbled looking at my shoes.
“It’s okay. It happens to the best of us. What if we’d just go back to the balcony? You still haven’t finished your beer.” he said and I heard in his voice that he was grinning.
I chuckled softly and dared to look up to him. “Okay.” I said still a bit unsure. I was so afraid that he was going to laugh at me or something.
We walked back to the balcony and I sat down at the place I had left a few minutes ago. I felt different though. I knew I trusted Mike, but I didn’t want to be the weak one.
Mike saw that I felt uncomfortable. “It’s okay. I won’t tell anyone. I promise. You’re my friend.” he said.
I let out a breath and looked down at my hands. “I just...I don’t know. I wish everything had gone different. I mean I knew he didn’t like me that way. I know it when someone likes someone. I found a way to deal with it, to put it away, even from myself. But then he started flirting with Naira. I mean my best friend. That just fucking sucked.” I said.
I heard Mike sigh. “If I’m being honest with you, and I’m going to sound a lot like a gay best friend, but: He kind of acted like an asshole yesterday.” he said and I chuckled. “I mean, It was a bit weird that he kept flirting with her anyway, she clearly rejected the flirting, but he just kept going. I mean it’s kind of unrespectful to you and your friend.”
I chuckled and looked at him. “I don’t think you’re allowed to say something about that. You’re quite a flirt yourself.” I said teasingly.
He laughed. “I’m ladies man, granted. But I always treat women with respect and I always have.” he said and I knew he was right.
But at the other hand, it wasn’t really like Jaime to act like this either. He wasn’t even really flirty. He must’ve really liked her a lot. I felt myself get pale. “I know. But it’s unlike Jaime too. He must be really into her, Mike.” I said.
“He would choose you in a heartbeat, I’m sure.” he said and I shot him a confused look. He sighed and continued. “Look, he doesn’t even know you like him like that. If he realizes that you do and that she doesn’t he will chose you. I mean, he would be stupid if he didn’t. You have always been there for him, you’re funny and beautiful.”
“She is funnier and more beautiful.” I said softly, but I knew he had heard me. I felt like some stupid school girl. God, I was twenty-five years old for Christ’s sake.
“I don’t think so, but I guess you should let Jaime give you his opinion on it.” Mike said and he pushed the bottle of beer in my hand.
I took it from him and took a gulp. “So you think I should go for it?” I asked. It was weird. I had never thought about actually making a move on Jaime. He was one of my best friends and well, I have been denying my feelings for him a lot because of that.
“Definitely. If you think he will make you happy. Look Maya, you’re my friend and all I want is just for you to be okay.” he said.
I smiled. I was very lucky to have a friend like Mike. I wouldn’t ever have thought that he could be so sweet and caring.
“Thank you, Mike.” I said. “That really does mean a lot to me. But I will be okay.”

*

The next morning I walked down the stairs to the living room and saw Naira eat a slice of toast on the dinner table. She was dressed very formal and looked kind of nervous.
“Wow Naira, you look like you’re running for president. I don’t mind. I guess I would vote for you.” I said as I walked past the table to the kitchen.
I got a banana from a bowl of fruit and walked it to the diner table. I had to try to act normal around her. I mean it wasn’t her fault that my crush found her attractive and she didn’t even like him back. But for some reason I still felt like I would be stealing him away from her if I’d make a move. I was still not sure if I wanted to. The conversation with Mike had given me some confidence, but I was still undecided.
“Yeah, I think that if I would become president, the country would be overrun by unicorns and rainbows.” she said laughing, but her nerves were still a bit visible in her face.
“That’s exactly why I would vote for you. That seems amazing!” I said and I took a bite of my banana. “But what’s up, Naira? Are you okay?”
Naira sighed and put down her toast, from which she had taken baby bites since I had come in. “I have a job interview at an elementary school today. I just hope I’ll get the job, otherwise this whole moving thing would have been for nothing.” she said.
I knew how much this meant to her. Ever since we met when she was sixteen all she has ever wanted to be is an elementary school teacher. She loved kids and she seemed to be pretty good with them. Although I wouldn’t know because this was only the fourth day I had ever seen her in real life.
I stood up, went to stand behind her and started massaging her shoulders like coaches do with their boxers. It sounds kind of stupid, but study actually proved that it helped to encourage people. “You can do this, Naira. I believe in you. And even if you don’t get the job then there are more schools in San Diego and area.” I said.
“Thank you, Maya.” she said and she laid down her right hand on mine that was on her shoulder.
“It’s really no problem. I just know you’re going to nail this, because this is your dream and you want it so bad. I have always believed that when you work hard for something you can do whatever you want.” I said and I sat back down at my chair.
“I do work hard for it.” she said and she looked a little more confident.
“Then you have nothing to worry about.” I said smiling and I leaned back in my chair, putting my feet on the table.
“You’re going to break your neck, Maya.” Naira said matter-of-factly.
“No, I’m not.”
“Yes you are.”
“No, this is safe and steady as fuck.”
“Look out!” she screamed out as I almost fell backwards. I sat back to my normal position as Naira started laughing very hard at me. Well this was embarrassing. At least it helped to light her nerves. I almost broke my back in the process, but it was worth, I guess.
“Yeah, I get it!” I said when she wouldn’t stop laughing. “That was hilarious. Naira, can you please stop laughing? I actually still have to talk to you about something.”
She stopped laughing then, but the smile stayed on her face. “What’s it you want to talk to me about?” she asked.
“Look, I saw you were a bit uncomfortable with meeting my friends two days ago…” I started and the smile disappeared from her face. “I’m just wondering why, because you’re normally not this shy.”
She put her elbows on the table and dragged her hands over her face. “It was just all a bit much. Moving and stuff. And then there was the fact that they saw me drunk and then this Jaime guy kept flirting with me. I’m sure they’re really nice, Maya, but it just didn’t work that day. I’ll try over, I promise.” she said. I hated that she was blaming herself for this.
“It’s not your fault, Naira. Just remember that. And shall I ask, Jaime to slow down?” I was happy to make him stop flirting with her.
“No, it’s okay. I just panicked. Maybe you should invite them soon again. Looking back at it now, they were actually really fun and nice, but I just couldn’t handle their loudness then.” she said and I smiled at her.
I was glad she was okay with this all. Naira meeting my friends didn’t really go as planned back then. Naira was uncomfortable, Vic texted me later if it had something to do with them, they saw us pissed drunk, Mike thought I had a crush on Naira and Jaime kept flirting with her.
I just hoped we could start this all over.

Notes

Heeyeyyyy guys,

Sooo....I don't really know what to say XD except maybe: I'm addicted to Polyvore. I guess I use it a little too much. Sorry for that.

I'm curious how this story will go :) i'm actually so excited for all of this. I hope you guys like this too! We'd like to know ;)

xxxxx

Nicky