Charlie sat on the other side of the room, looking over at Maya's peaceful body as she slept. Maya hasn't answered any of Ace's calls or text messages throughout the last three days and wouldn't. Her hands were above her head as she began to stretch. Charlie let out a soft laugh at how adorable Maya has looked while she was stretching her tense limbs. Maya turned her head towards Charlie, a small smile on her face. "Morning, Charlie." Maya said as she sat up in her bed.
"Good Morning, Maya. You need to get up and get ready, we have plans today." Charlie said as he stood up from the chair he was previously sitting in. Maya's eyebrows knitted together as her eyes followed Charlie. "Where are we going?"
Charlie stopped in his tracks and looked back at Maya, "Mom wants to see you." He said before continuing his way out of Maya's room. Maya jumped out of bed, a rush of excitement coursing through her body.
Jasmine has been another mother figure in Maya's life since she was around the age of five. Maya was beyond happy to finally be able to see her again. Charlie was patiently waiting downstairs as Maya got ready. Isabella hurried down the steps, already late to work. "Oh, Charlie, you're still here? You haven't stayed this long since you and Maya were sophomores in high school." Isabella said as she walked into the kitchen.
Charlie laughed lightly at Isabella's remark, "Maya is going through some stuff, you could say, and I'm just here to help. Plus, she won't let me go home." Charlie release a soft chuckle.
A smile tugged Isabella's lips up, soon turning back downwards forming a frown. "Listen, Charlie." She said seriously as she sat down in front of him, her eyes boring into his. "Don't get my daughter hurt, please. I know that you're trying your best to help her and to keep her safe, but sometimes it isn't enough. But, I want to thank you for being here for her."
Charlie nodded his head, staring back at Isabella who let out a puff of air as she stood up, getting up to leave. "Also, I'd always thought that you were a better match for her." Looking back at Charlie one last time before taking her leave. Charlie's mouth hung open at her words but was thankful that if everything between Maya and Ace never sorted itself out, he always had Isabella's approval. Maya walked out of the bathroom, after changing, to see a figure laying down on her bed, their back facing towards her.
Smiling, Maya said, "Charlie, I thought you were going to wait downstairs for me?"
The figure sat up, their back still facing her. "You know, you and Charlie are getting really close, I thought it was all supposed to be fake." Ace said as he turned around to face Maya who was frozen solid. "It's starting to feel real, even to me." Standing up, Ace began to walk over to Maya.
Quickly coming back to her senses, Maya held her hand up, stopping Ace in his tracks. "Get out," Maya said, her voice was emotionless, and her face blank as she stared at Ace.
Ace's face softened as he heard the words spill from Maya's mouth. "Maya, pl-"
"Shut up." Maya's voice was calm and collected, her face still blank as she moved back.
"Maya." Ace began to sound desperate as he tried to plea.
"Shut up, Ace." The hardness was clearly evident in her voice, the frustration showing on her facial features.
Ace frowned as he finally closed his mouth, extremely bothered by Maya and Charlie being this close and together all the time. "Why?" Ace whispered, his eyes locked on the grey, fluffy rug that was Maya's bedroom floor.
Maya eyebrows knitted together, "Why what?"
"Why have you been ignoring me, for him." Maya felt the disgust in his tone when he said him.
Maya laughed bitterly while shaking her head, "Why did you forcefully kiss me after I went through with the plan that YOU came up with. YOU told Charlie and me not to be afraid to act as if we were a real couple, yet YOU'RE the one who got jealous, it's not like I cheated on you. For crying out loud we aren't even in a relationship." Maya took a couple of steps forwards so she was only a few inches away from Ace. Ace tilted his head down so that he and Maya were face to face. "If I really wanted Charlie, do you honestly think I would have agreed to be your mate in the first place?" Maya finished in a whisper as she stared into Ace's silver eyes. Ace's jaw tightened as he kept quiet. Maya rolled her eyes and turned her back. "That's what I thought." Swinging the door open, Maya practically ran out of the room, trying her best to get him out of her mind.
As soon as Maya came into Charlie's line of vision his mind went into panic mode, Maya's eyes were bloodshot with a few tear stains on her cheek. "Maya? What happened?" Charlie asked making Maya jump out of her skin.
Placing her hand over her chest, Maya began to walk towards Charlie, her emotions a wild mess as she stared back at him. Charlie outstretched his arms as he waiting for Maya to fill the empty space in front of him. Maya finally made it to Charlie, wrapping her arms tightly around his waist, clinging onto him for dear life.
Maya wasn't actually sure about how she felt about Ace, yet she knew that she definitely didn't want anything more than a friendship with him at this point in their relationship. "Are you alright?" Charlie had asked Maya as she began to calm herself down.
Maya shook her head, digging her head deeper into his chest. Charlie simply sighed as he placed his chin on top of Maya's head, slowly rocking side to side, soothing her. "C'mon, we have a lot of plans today, we should get going." Slowly unwrapping his arms from Maya's waist, he grabbed her hand and lead her outside to his car. Opening the door for her, Maya slid into the passenger seat, staying quiet.
*******
Jasmine threw her arms around Maya's shoulders harshly pulling her towards her, forcing Maya's face into her chest. Maya struggled to pull her face out of Charlie's mother's breast, her face turning crimson as her airways became cut off. "Alright ma, you're choking her," Charlie said trying his hardest not to laugh.
Immediately pulling her arms away, Jasmine sent Maya an apologetic look. "Sorry sweetie, I was just so excited to see you, it's been so long. How have you been."
Maya smiled sweetly at the old lady, "I've been doing great, and you?"
Jasmine smiled and shook her head, "I didn't believe Charlie when he said that you could speak. I can't believe it. You have a beautiful voice, Maya."
A bright pink color covered Maya's cheeks, "Thank you, Mrs. Wilson." Her voice was soft as she looked down at her feet.
"Anytime darling." Jasmine's soft smile makes Maya relax a bit more. She was nervous for some odd reason.
Charlie swung his arm around Maya's shoulder, pulling her into his side, smiling down at her. Maya couldn't help but look away, flushed. Jasmine eyed Maya and Charlie with curiosity. "You two are..?"
"Together." Maya answered as she played with Charlie's fingers.
"So, shall we eat, we have a lot to discuss?"