Maya opened her eyes to the unfamiliar ceiling, and a wave of disorientation washed over her. Her head throbbed a bit, and she winced as she sat up on the white sheets of the bed.
It took her another second to realise she was naked under the covers, and a soft gasp fell off her lips. Leaning over, she caught the blurry sight of her glasses sitting on the bedside drawer next to her, reached over and wore it.
A soft ache caressed her inner thighs, and her eyes widened as she realized what must have happened to her last night, which had her looking at the empty space of the bed next to her.
Woodsy scent lingered not just on the pillow, but almost everywhere in the room. Maya closed her eyes, trying to conjure his face into mind but it remained stubbornly blurred. But as she thought deeper, the memories of his touch became even more vivid.
The raw, spark of the feel of his lips against her, his hands caressing every inch of her body and throwing her back and forth into the peak of pleasure, and of course, the way his body fits against hers like a missing piece.
Maya's face had gone red, and she palmed her mouth in shock. She barely made any male friends in college, and her first boyfriend in highschool was too busy chasing other girls that didn't give him the time of the day, so Maya never even knew what a real kiss felt like.
The only ones she ever got were from her parents and her Nana.
Thinking about her parents brought the unhealthy memories flooding her mind, and a sad look fell over her face. At least, her and her Nana were safe here in Los Angeles.
About eleven years ago, Everything had changed after the Royal house of Rhys had fallen, where only Maya and Grandma had escaped. Ever since then, they had tweaked their true identities and stayed low.
Maya left the bed and headed to the bathroom. She took a quick shower, wore her dress that had been folded and dropped on the other end of the bed and walked out of the room.
As she lodged out of the hotel, she couldn't even remember how she had gotten there in the first place.
Once she was safely inside a cab, she took out her phone, knowing her Grandmother would be very worried about her.
"Where on earth have you been?!" Penelope Hastings yelled from the other end of the line, and Maya Jerked her head from the phone to keep her eardrums from taking too much damage.
It seems like Penny was currently in their place and had picked the phone instead. Maya could hear her grandmother saying something in the background.
"I'll soon be home. Give me a few minutes," Maya replied tiredly.
"I called about a hundred times. Your grandmother called even more. She's been freaking out, crying that some crazy people had found you and taken you away. You're not supposed to make her worry!"
"I'm sorry, I'm sorry. Tell her I'm fine and I'll soon be home,"
"You're sure you're good, right?" Penny asked again just to be sure. She could hear something amiss in her best friend's voice.
"I am. We'll talk more when I get there,"
"Fine,"
The call ended, and Maya sighed as she dropped the phone inside her purse. She hadn't thought about the excuse she was going to give them about why she had spent the night out, and she had never lied to them before, especially her Grandmother.
And Penelope, they've known each other since Maya and her grandmother moved to Penelope, and the girls now knew each other inside out.
It would be difficult to get away with this.
As Maya walked home, she debated on what she should really tell them. Lying seemed like the easy way out but Penny was a human lie detector and she would feel so guilty lying to her grandmother.
As she approached her home, her eyes fell on a building which mocked her with resentment. All this time, she had thought Alastair was coming to like her, but she was just a tool he had used to send her around.
Frustrated and heartbroken, she still kept her chin up as she walked past his home.
She never pictured his door opening and he and his new girlfriend stepping out, so when it all came to pass, Maya gritted her teeth and hastened her footsteps.
She could hear them saying something to each other, and the nastiness in their tones, but she wasn't in the Mood to face them.
Not when her thoughts kept drifting to the mysterious stranger she had slept with.
The moment she stepped into her home, Penny came bulldozing her with questions, "Where have you been? What happened to you? Nana said you didn't return from your date last night, did he do something to you? Have you eaten? You got everyone worried sick about you, and where on earth did you keep your phone all night?"
"I'm fine!!" She defended, walking around the questioner to face her grandmother.
"Are you alright?" Her Nana asked softly, cupping her cheeks, "You seem a little dazed,"
"Yes yes," Maya breathed a little heavily, "I promise I'm fine,"
"No way!" Penny gasped all of a sudden, "Did you spend the night with Alastair? After just one date?" She sounded super excited, already squealing like a little child.
Maya rubbed her temple, avoiding eye contact, "Not exactly,"
"Well we've been waiting," Penny folded her arms defiantly, "And we aren't letting you out of sight till you tell us everything that happened last night. Every. Single. detail!" She enunciated her last words, showing just how serious she was.
Like a big sister.
"Fine," Maya dropped her bag, a blush appearing on her cheeks. Where was she supposed to start from?
"Well...?"
"Alastair brought his old girlfriend as his date instead," Maya confessed, her lips set into a thin line, "And he said he only asked me out because he was being nice,"
"What?!" Penny exploded into anger, "Oh Hell no...!" She turned around and stormed out of the house.
"Where are you going?" Maya followed, grabbing her friend's arm and stopping her on the porch.
"His goddamn house. I'm gonna give him a piece of my fists and tear that place apart," She fumed.
"No, don't worry I'm over it. You should at least listen till the end of the story. Moreover, I saw he and Heather leaving on my way here,"
Her eyes broadened in disbelief and rage, "Heather?! That wench? They got back together again? What the fuck is that toxic shit they got going on between them?"
"Exactly. I had a silly crush on Alastair, and this is the end of it. Come in, let me finish the story. You're not going to believe what happened to me after that,"
That seems to catch Penny's attention and they were soon back inside the house. The women looked so curious as they patiently waited for the words to leave Maya's mouth.
It felt like forever, but it finally happened and they were both frozen in shock.
"I had a one night stand, and I cannot remember what he looks like anymore," Maya blurted out all at once, both eyes closed tightly. She was nervous and anxious, and the prolonging silence of the frozen women had her gently opening one eye to peek at them.
Penny was the first to react, "Finally!!" Her eyes shone.
"Really? It's not weird that I slept with a total stranger and I barely remember what he looks like?" Maya asked to make sure she wasn't tripping.
"I'm so proud of you. You're finally living!"
"He didn't force himself on you, did he?" Her Nana asked quietly.
"Not that I remember. I think it was a mutual thing,"
"Honestly I was beginning to think you were gonna remain a Virgin forever," Her Nana smiled.
Maya's face reddened. She was not expecting her grandmother to say that at all, "Nana!" She cried, embarrassed.
They had breakfast not long after, and Maya returned to her room, leaving Penny and Her Nana in the dining room.
Maya faced the vanity mirror in her room, staring at her reflection. She thought she would feel different after last night, but she still looked the same, that is, apart from the ache that refused to leave her legs.
Even her nipples...
The door flung open, and Penny walked in unannounced as always. She closed the door behind her and leaned on it, her eyes shimmering with unasked questions.
Maya rolled her eyes. She knew that look all too well.
"So...how was it?"
"How was what?" Maya turned away, pretending not to understand.
"You know what I'm talking about," Penny walked up and grabbed her arm, pulling them both so they say on the bed. Maya's face was flushed again, "How did it feel? Was it good?"
"I told you. I don't remember much,"
"You said you didn't remember what he looked like, not what he felt like,"
"Oh my God," Maya covered her face shyly, "Please let this go, please,"
"Not until I get my answer, now spill!"
Maya bit her lips, "It was nice,"
"Rate it from 1-10,"
"It was good. I don't have to rate it. It was great, really. I had a wonderful time last night," She admitted.
"I know that. You've been blushing like crazy every since you walked in. I just wanted to hear you admit it,"
Maya rolled her eyes.
"Right," Penny remembered something, her eyes dilating, "You told me two days ago you were gonna go to the hospital for your test results. What did the doctor say?"
A shadow crossed Maya's features, dimming the light in her eyes. The corners of her mouth tightened, discomfort colouring her features.
"You cannot tell Nana about this, okay?" Maya began, a slight furrow appearing on her face.
"Wow, okay?" Penny's worried face came up too and she edged closer to her friend, "Tell me, what happened?"
.
.
.
Maya had just ended her night shift for the day. She worked as a waitress in a restaurant not too far from home, and had just changed out of her uniform and stepped out of the restaurant.
It was 10pm, and a twenty minute walk to home. Maya had a few online jobs she worked on during the day, sometimes midnight - then she worked six hours shift at the restaurant during weekdays.
She made enough to look after herself and her Grandma. Since from the time they have moved to Los Angeles, Maya couldn't remember a time she was Jobless.
She even worked Part-time while in college to pay for everything.
The night was a bit colder than the day, so she wrapped layers of her long, orange scarf around her neck. She tucked her cold hands into the pockets of her coat, walking home.
Maya took a look around, as she did almost everyday while walking back home, though she never appreciated it as much as she did today. The streets were hushed and subdued, and many shops were closed for the day. Although the streets were illuminated by street lights, some pavements and alleys were quite dark.
As she walked, Maya closed her eyes and sucked in a deep breath. The cold air was refreshing to her lungs, and every breath felt so blissful.
She's never felt like this before.
Maybe it was because she was dying.
In the next three months, she would be six feet under, so now was the perfect time to appreciate every little thing.
Quiet, but hastened footsteps caught her attention and Maya's heart leaped. She turned around for a moment to see whom was behind her, but she was the only one standing there.
As she turned to continue walking, Goosebumps racked her skin and the unsettling feeling of being watched made her legs tremble.
She moved forward, keeping her steps steady. There were no rushed footsteps anymore, but the creepy feeling never left her. She knew she was being stalked, and only one thing came to mind.
Hurriedly, she pulled out her phone and made to dial Penny's phone. Her hands trembled as she pressed the buttons, but she tried her hardest not to panic and break into a run.
She needed to look as natural as possible.
A sharp, piercing pain from her neck made her wince. Instinctively, her hands flew to touch the site of the somewhat burning sensation and her fingers brushed against something foreign and sharp, protruding from her clothing.
Her fingertips traced around the thin needle which had managed to pierce her neck through the layers of her scarf, and a bewildered frown appeared on her face.
The pain intensified, spreading outward which was immediately followed by a numb feeling. Dizziness struck next, and her legs shuddered, becoming unreliable. Her whole body ached, and confusion etched on her face as eyes began to spin heavily.
What had just happened?
Suddenly, the world began to tilt and Maya found herself on the floor. She struggled hard to keep her eyes open and her body working, but the sensation was overwhelming and everything slowly dimmed as she passed out.