CHAPTER SEVEN

"Maya?" He called out. She sat still and didn't move, her breath hitched. He touched her arm before she flinched

"Are you okay?"

She sighed and blinked rapidly.

Both of them said nothing for a while.

"Lance!" They heard behind, this time Maya also turned to see who it was.

"Maya? You're also here. What are you guys doing here?" Phoenix asked bluntly. At once he noticed the little gap between them, they were so close .

Maya almost froze again

"Ehm I.....I was just about....leaving" she stuttered. Not hesitating, she stood up instantly and brushed past Phoenix.

Lance heaved and stood up too

"Lance? What's going on?" Phoenix asked again once Maya had left.

"Let's go" was all Lance said as he walked on, expecting Phoenix to follow suite.

~

"Maya is that you?"

Vinna sat up once she heard the creaking sound of the door.

"Yeah"

"Where were you? You almost got me worried, you left the room or would I say snuck out of the room when I went to the bathroom."

"I had to take care of something"

"What was that?"

Maya heaved before taking off her shoes, "We'll talk about it tomorrow"

•

Maya laid on her bed and the images of his pretty face flickered before her. She reminisced over it again, the kiss and the whole feeling. Was Vinna right about Lance having a crush on her?

No....no!

This was totally what she was trying to avoid.

She rolled over on her bed, the room was dark with the lamp forming a faintly shimmering light of yellow across the room. She could hear the faint baby snores of Vinna, vague thoughts rovering her mind.

Was this all a plan? A plan Sav and Allison had set up so she could fall in their trap? She could remember Allison tell her she was gonna keep bumping into her till she knows she was never going to fit in. But Savannah would never use her boyfriend for a plan like this, she hated any girl around him.

Or was it just natural that Lance kissed her because he wanted to be her friend? Or was this even one of his flirt and dump skills?

These were the thoughts she kept pondering about. She just couldn't get them off her mind.

She needed someone to tell her it was all a plan and she could go back home because she doesn't fit here.

She absolutely didn't fit here, she was way off everyone's league; and that includes Vinna.

She sighed and gently closed her eyes, forcing herself to get some sleep.

~

"Mom"

She starred at the woman before her, she had become prettier than she remembered.

"Amaya" and her voice had become angelic.

"Why did you leave me mom? Why?" Somehow she felt she was still her nine year old self.

She watched the woman smile, her hands felt as cold as ice as she rubbed her thumb on her cheek.

"I didn't mean to my darling, but that was the end of my time"

"The end of your time? What do you mean mom?"

"My darling, you've grown but haven't really grown up here" she tapped her head gently. "Your father kept to his words, he took very good care of you. You're looking so beautiful" she smiled again.

And you look more beautiful, she wanted to say.

"Mom promise you won't leave us now" Maya pouted, clutching her small self to her mother. The woman sighed and stroke her hand on Maya's long hair.

"I wish I can promise you that my child, but I'll always be right there in your heart."

•

Maya groaned as she could feel the rays of sunlight penetrate into her eyes.

'Mom' she thought she heard herself mutter.

One more time she sighed, reminding herself it was one of those dreams she always had, and then remember her mom was no more; a dream she haven't had in ages.

She turned to look at Vinna's side and found her bed empty. Slowly she got off her bed, slipped her feet in her slip on and made a move to walk out; when the door suddenly sprang open.

"You're finally awake, sleeping beauty" was Vinna's voice booming in the room.

"Good morning"

"Yeah morning"

Vinna dropped the paper box she carried in earlier, on the floor.

"What's that?" Maya finally managed to ask.

"Oh this, its just some books I collected from the Camp's library"

Maya glanced at the box one more time, it was obviously stacked with more than seven books.

"You're going to read all of them or what?"

"Well yes, I'm making a research. Please don't ask what kind of research, 'cause its just something I do every summer. I enjoy doing it, just for fun" she beamed and went ahead to arrange the books on the book shelf behind the door.

Maya stood still, wondering why Vinna seems to become weirder to her every minute. Why would anyone still stuff her face with books even when the school is on break?

"What? Are you just gonna stand there and watch me?" Vinna said bluntly.

~

"Savannah!" Allison squeaked, hopping on Sav's bed.

"What?"

"I have an idea"

"An idea to what?"

"Remember when you told me we needed to teach Maya a lesson for still having the guts to come to Summer Camp?"

"Yeah. Well I took care of that"

"Really?"

"Yes. Trust me" Sav smirked maniacally.

"I didn't witness it, so lucky for her she'll get another dose of us" both girls laughed evilly at their stupid plan.

"And trust me when I say this would make both Maya and Vinna call their mommys to take them home" she laughed again with total resolute.

~

Phoenix paced to and fro the room with Kyle watching him consciously.

"Phoenix? Are you okay?"

Phoenix still prowled the room not saying anything.

"Lance what's wrong with your friend?" Kyle asked again.

"I don't know"

"Lance!" Phoenix finally decided to speak.

"You still haven't told me what you were doing yesterday night by the sea side, with Maya"

"Yesterday night? Maya? Who's Maya?" Kyle asked, not getting the whole drama.

"So this is what it is about? It is about yesterday and Maya?" Lance blunted.

"You haven't answered my question"

"Why are you so bent about yesterday? First, she's my game partner so there should be no fuss"

"That isn't a proper answer"

"I seriously can't answer that 'cause it doesn't worth it. I don't get why you're getting so worked up over nothing" Lance got off the couch and towered out of the room.

"Don't tell me it's because of one girl whom I don't know, that you guys are arguing." Kyle stated, once Lance was out of the room.

"Mind your business Kyle!" he also stomped out of the room.

Kyle picked up his phone and texted Savannah immediately, they had to talk.

•

As usual after the general breakfast, the students had gathered in the game garden, waiting for Mrs. Huggins. She always kept them waiting.

Allison and Savannah stood by watching Maya and Vinna carefully, and ruminating on how to hatch their plan.

"Once we trail them to the female's hallways, we confront them and do just as I told you earlier" Allison half whispered.

"Okay"

"Savannah" they heard beside them

"Kyle" "Hey kyle"

But he wasn't ready for pleasantries.

"Didn't you get my text, Sav?"

"Text? What text?"

"I asked you to---- never mind just follow me" he hesitated

"Why?"

"We need to talk now"

"Uhm...okay. Allison keep close on them" she muttered and followed Kyle along.

"I'm sorry I kept y'all waiting, again" Finally Mrs. Huggins was here. Allison still made sure not to get her eyes off Vinna and Maya.

°

Kyle pulled Sav to one of the bathroom stalls and closed the door once he was sure they were alone.

"So what was it you wanted us to talk about?"

"Okay. Earlier, this morning, Lance and Phoenix were talking about something, I didn't seem to understand. But I think it's about a girl" Kyle stated.

"A girl?" Her heart almost sank, was it about her?

"Yes they were talking about yesterday night, the sea side and a girl. I think Phoenix said Mira, no I think it was Maya" he added

"Did--did you just say Maya?"

"Yes, you know her?"

She heaved and nodded.

"I don't know what's up with those two, but I think it's about Phoenix bumping into both of them alone by the sea side. Something like that, I don't know. Seriously!"

Maya was beginning to step on her toes. What was she doing with Lance? She sure do have a lot of guts.

"You know what you need to do for me now?" She said plainly

"What?"

"Find out what this whole thing is about and give me feedback. I need to teach Maya a bigger lesson"

"How do you guys know this Maya and I don't" he muttered

"Forgot about that and just do as I said"

Sav walked as fast as she could to the game garden. She had to terminate her plan with Allison for now. She would show Maya who's boss, but definitely in a grand way.

~

She twitched her lips, wondering where her partner ran off to. She saw him a second ago when she was picking out the pong balls.

"Hey Vinna" Maya beamed walking up to her friend

"Maya, I'm glad you're here. Blake has been arguing with me about which ball to pick, the pong ball or the rubber ball?"

"I think its the pong ball"

"Ha! I told you, you never seem to listen to whatever I say" Blake huffed

"Yeah whatever" Vinna huffed too.

"Uhm....where's your partner Maya?"

"Uhh I don't know. He should be around somewhere---"

"Hey" another voice boomed. She paused as she felt the fresh breath come against her flesh behind her. She turned and starred at him.

"Lance! You're here, Maya was just looking for you"

"Really, you were?" He glanced at Maya and beamed.

She twitched her lips and nodded shyly.

"Come on Vinna, we've got to get more materials" Blake bickered, half dragging Vinna along.

"Uhh see you later Maya"

They watched as the two partners bicker to each other and they walked off, they were probably arguing again. Such petty partners!

"So...."

"I picked out the pong balls already" Maya muttered almost immediately.

"Oh that's great. What else are we to do now?"

"Find glitter and colouring"

"Colouring?"

"Yeah, for some reason known only to Mrs. Huggins, she asked us to get colouring. I don't know why"

"Ohh"

"Were you even listening at all?"

"I got a call and had to leave for a while" he told her plainly.

They walked down the passageway that led to the store room, other students had filled the room already.

"I guess we came a little too late" He turned and watched as her small face turned into an half frown

'How cute!'

"I should still be able to get glitter" she towered towards the other girls and his lips formed a small smile.

He found himself attracted to every little thing she did. He jerked back realising he had been starring, and the other girls were starring at him too.

~

"You knew that Maya and Lance are game partners and you never told me?" Savannah yelled for the millionth time.

"I thought you knew!" Allison yelled too.

"Urghh" she angrily ruffled her brune hair.

"I don't know I just hate that girl with so much passion" Sav huffed.

"I've hated her since elementary. Who would believe that nitwit was my friend" Allison said scoffing at that.

"And that Vinna, she just annoys me too. To think she could get away with this"

Savannah starred blankly at an empty space.

'It had just began for them!'