Tolerating The Player

“Let’s go home!” Maya suddenly dragged my hand out of the building.

“Hey where have you been, I have been looking for you all around the house!” I yelled but noticed her expression was different, she was in a totally different mood.

“What’s up.. what happened?” I asked but she still didn’t say anything, we entered her car and she crashed her head on the steering wheel and completely broke into tears.

“What happened to you?” I asked the already crying lady that was beside me. She was just happy and dancing some hours ago and now she’s wailing.

“I’m a bad person Isabella!” She cried and I patted her back reassuring her that she’ll be fine. I didn’t want to push her to tell me about it because Maya was the type of girl that wouldn’t open up her feelings immediately when she gets hurt.

“I’ll drive” I said and she opened the driver’s seat door and entered the back seat. I watched how my tough best friend laid on her back seat wailing like a child. She must’ve really been hurt.

I drove to her house and it was really late. I assumed Joe must be asleep but I was sure he would have had fun with Grace before sleeping. My dad didn’t bother to call all through the day despite the fact that he didn’t show up at home last night.

“Maya we’re home” I said to her and she opened the back seat door with tears soaked in her eyes.

I used my handkerchief to clean the tears away from her eyes because I wouldn’t want Grace to see her this way.

I opened the door with her spare key but no one was in the living room so I assumed they must have all fallen asleep.

She didn’t say a word to me throughout the drive and even now.

“Girls? Are you home?” Maya’s father came up to us.

“I hope you had fun?” He asked and I nodded my head with a smile, he seemed to have noticed the look on Maya’s face but didn’t say anything.

“Is Joe okay?” I asked and he nodded

I took Maya to her room and she slumped on the bed immediately, she didn’t seem like herself but I wasn’t sure tonight would be the best time to ask.

Tomorrow will be Saturday, there’ll be a lot of time to talk it out. I switched off the lights in her room and slept on the bed beside her.

“Breakfast is ready girls” Grace knocked on the door waking both Maya and me. I could still see the look on her face. It was pale and emotionless, also filled with guilt and deception.

When though she was just waking up, it was obvious to tell that she had cried all through the night.

“Babe?” I taped her hoping she would respond or reply but she didn’t.

“Breakfast is ready” I said again but she shrugged and slumped back on the bed.

“I’m not hungry..” she replied.

“Okay spill it, I’m done waiting!” I yelled. I was truly done waiting, I thought she would talk sooner but with her attitude right now I don’t think so.

“Isabella i…” She broke down and her voice cracked.

I gave her a pity look that said she should continue but instead she covered her mouth with her hands and started to cry.

“Shit! Did you fucking kill someone?” I asked teasingly, even though she could have actually killed someone, she’s a no-nonsense kind of girl.

“I made out with Frank” she covered her mouth after her last statement and I was dumbstruck.

If she were to make out with someone or rather cheat on George I wouldn’t have even thought Frank would be on the list. She hated that guy and they have never been friends but enemies since I have been in this school.

Besides Frank used to date Aurora before he broke up with her and he doesn’t seize the opportunity to hit on another girl. I never knew Maya would be a victim.

“How the hell did it happen?” I asked but my voice was a little higher than I expected.

“I don’t fucking know, I was on the dance floor dancing then he joined me then I yelled at him to leave but he didn’t and we got into an argument and boom he kissed me and we left for a room” she rushed her words out while crying.

“Don’t blame yourself love, it’s fine and besides it must’ve been the alcohol” I patted her back trying to comfort her.

“Okay” she said and flashed me a fake smile.

“What do I tell George!” She asked and I let out a sigh. I couldn’t possibly be the one to tell her what she should do in her relationship. Even though I was her best friend, I still have no right to meddle in their relationship.

“Do what you think is best love” I said but realized my words didn’t help her but there was nothing else I could say to her.

“Let’s eat!” I said and she nodded slowly, I dragged her out of the room and we went to the dining room. I spotted her Dad in the dining room going through his laptop, he didn’t seem to notice us.

“Good Morning” I greeted him and he averted his attention to us, he flashed us a smile and noticed the look on Maya’s face. He gave me a type of look asking if she was alright and I nodded my head.Text property © Nôvel(D)ra/ma.Org.

“Well Joe and Grace went for a Mother’s and Son Saturday shopping” he said and let out a chuckle.

If not everything, I love the way this family took care of Joe like they were his real parents.

After breakfast we went back into her room and had our bath in turns, we had no plans for the weekend and if it wasn’t for her current state we would have gone to watch a movie or something or something else.

I received a message on my phone from an unknown number and found it weird, but it was weirder when I opened the message.

Where are you? The message read and my brows crinkled. Who the fuck is this, probably one of those scam messages.

I dropped my iPhone 8+ back on the big couch that was in Maya’s room.

Maya’s Dad got me the phone when he realized that I was still using an old Nokia phone.

The phone beeped again and a message from the same sender came in. I was starting to get nervous.

The game doesn’t work this way, you have to answer me! The message read again and I was truly getting pissed. What fucking game is this person talking about.

I immediately blocked and deleted the sender’s number, I had a lot more to do than to continue a stupid and pointless conversation with a freak.

I heard the sheets rattle and noticed that Maya had just woken up with her face still swollen.

“Are you okay now?” I asked hoping to get a positive response.

“No! I’m not” she stood up from the bed, “I’ll be right back, I need some ice cream from the fridge” she said and walked out of the room.

I laid down on the couch staring at the enormous ceiling when my phone bussed.

“I’m going to fucking kill this person!” I yelled but then noticed it was from my Dad.

My whole body went numb and pale when I saw the name “Dad” on the screen. I hate to give him that name and perhaps I should change it to something else.

Hey girl, I won’t be coming home tonight, I’m at Jerry’s the message read and I let out a laugh.

He hasn’t been home since we left and he’s just remembering that he has kids who he abandoned with no food or money. I hope he forever stays with Jerry and does not show his face to me.

I placed my phone on my stomach and felt some hot liquid flowing down my eyes. Shit! I don’t want to cry or be weak. There’s no point crying over two atrocities that were unfortunately my parents.

I immediately wiped the tears off my face when I heard footsteps coming closer, it was Maya and she had surprisingly brought two bowls of ice cream along with her. I really needed this right now and she doesn’t even know what’s up with me.

“Thank you” I hugged her tight because she’s the best best friend anyone could ask for.

“Mom and Joe won’t be back till evening, she texted and it seemed like they’re having a whole lot of fun” she said and I chuckled. They’re always having a whole lot of fun. At least it makes Joe really happy and that’s all that matters.

Maya took the remote from the pizza shaped small sized table in front of the couch and turned the TV on.

“Let’s Netflix” she said and scrolled through some fascinating movies before she finally decided to watch one (The Kissing Booth).