that she wasn’t going to let the fact that she was part
African American be an obstacle in her life either. I was impressed by her
outlook.
I pushed away from the wall I’d had been leaning
against, realizing I’d been listening maybe longer than I should have. I didn’t
regret my eavesdropping though because I’d learned some very interesting facts.
The one thing that stuck out the most was that Maya had
pushed me away because of my mother and hers; it had nothing to do with us. And
while I was angry and irritated at all of them, to different degrees, I also
felt a little lighter.
I’d already wanted Maya, but hearing how out of control
my mother was in her attempt to have complete control only increased my
resolution to move forward with a plan to hook-up with Maya.
∞ ∞
∞
It took me a day to figure out what to do. I wasn’t
going to go chasing after the girl. My conduct had been a little too close to that
already. I needed to get her to make an effort in my direction. I had sensed some
interest on her part before she’d pushed me away, and I would have to remind
her of it.
So that day I finished my sketch of the fire, adding
the details that had been in my head that night on the beach, the images that
weighed on my mind. Maya’s features blazing up from the inferno, her hair living
flames around her head. I’d sketched people before, but never a girl I knew,
and wanted. It was amazing the particulars I focused on that I never had
before; the tilt to her eyes, the plumpness of her lips, the slope of her nose,
the gentle roundness of her chin. She was a dream to draw.
That night I made an extra effort in messing up my room
so it would need a good cleaning in the morning.
Wednesday, I tucked the sketch of fire half under my
pillow for Maya to find, and then headed down to the pool side cabana. A couple
hours later in the middle of sketching another picture I felt a tingle go down
my spine. Looking toward the house I observed Maya at one of the windows,
staring out at me.
I wasn’t able to discern her expression from this far
away, but even from this distance our gazes connected somehow, and the tingles
along my spine heated, my body reacting to our small exchange.
Maya had found the sketch, and now she was trying to
figure me out. However, a minute later she was gone, but I was pleased with the
result. She’d searched me out on her own.
Thursday, I left another picture for Maya to find, this
one of water. The fountain by the pool inspired me, but instead of rising from
the flames, this time she rose from the water. I was the worst critic of my work,
thinking I could have done this or that better, but I had to admit that these
last two sketches where my best.
I stayed inside today, hanging out in the Rec room
playing video games. Todd had texted to say he was going to stop by with maybe
two other people to check and see if I was still breathing. I was looking
forward to the company…and some distraction from my thoughts.
“He’s alive!”
Looking away from the black ops action on the screen I
watched as Todd, Hicks, and Derek strolled into the room.
“I may be alive, but I’m dying of the fucking
monotony.” I drawled.
Todd plopped his ass next to me on the sofa while Derek
and Hicks took the chairs on each side of it.
“So, let’s see the war wound.” Todd waggled his grows
humorously.
“Seriously.” I gave him a look that said we weren’t ten
any more.
“Hey, you acted like you were dying that night. I’m
expecting something colossal.” He smirked.
Knowing he’d bug me until I did I lifted up my shirt
and tugged down my shorts.
“What the hell are those? It looks like a couple