"See, this is exactly why I don't want to go to school today," Maya said as if she were about to throw a tantrum. "Stupid balloons, stupid shirts, stupid games, and Hailey's stupid mom!" She added, making quite a show in the school hallway.
I honestly don't know what Hailey's mom did, but I have a premonition that I wouldn't like her based on how Maya seems to abhor her so much.
"Okay, okay," I repeated, trying to calm her down. "Let's figure this out outside. People are starring at us, but not in a good way." I added, referring to the fact that we're becoming the center of attention in this place.
I'm a narcissist. I enjoy the attention that people give me, but certainly not when it's for the wrong reason.
Grabbing the upset kid, I walked out of the facility and went to the parking lot. That was a bad decision, though. I know that Maya is upset because her school is having a family day, and it seems like she's not going to be part of it.
The fact that we're literally passing by numerous group of families certainly didn't help at all.
"I don't want to be here!" She complained, stomping her feet.
"Sh—we'll be out here in a minute," I said, shushing her. "Come on, let's get on your daddy's jeep." I added, pulling her close to me, hoping that it would calm her down.
But instead of calming down, she just started crying.
Dang it—why did I mention him?
"The program's not even starting yet." A man in his early thirties walked up to us. "Why is she crying?" he added, eying Maya and me in a curious manner.
"She's not mine," I declared, knowing that he wanted to know my relationship with her.
This school is one of the most prestigious school in the entire state for youngsters. If this man had a kid who went here, he'd probably be rich as fuck. And of course, Zayn is a big individual; this guy probably knows him, and he probably also knew that Zayn's wife is dead and isn't me.
"Zayn was busy. He couldn't take her to school today," I said. "I'm sorry, we have to go." I added as I start to feel Maya's palpable impatience.
Walking all the way to the jeep, I ushered Maya inside and followed after her. I let her throw a tantrum as I texted Zayn about the situation, but after a concerned parent knocked on the window, I knew that calming her down first would be a better idea.
God, I probably look like a child abductor right now.
"Babe, I know you're upset, alright?" I said, picking her up from the passenger seat and sitting her down on my lap. "But crying wouldn't really solve anything, wouldn't it?" I added, trying to be as gentle as possible.
That didn't work, though.
That little attempt just made it worse.
"Well, how would you know!" She yelled, throwing a punch on my chest.
And that's when I finally lost my cool.
"You're not the only one who doesn't have parents for this thing, so don't be such a goddamn brat because the world doesn't revolve around you!" I yelled at her.
By the time I realized what I had done, I was just as upset as she was. Tears were streaming down my face, and I was sobbing hysterically.
As pathetic as I may be right now, I've never seen myself in someone before—let alone be personally in touch with them—but Maya just changed that.
Our lives are pretty similar at this stage, and just like her, there was also one time in my life when I longed to have parents for these kinds of events. Despite the fact that the same man who brought the man that this girl calls her dad was the one who took them away from me, I still feel bad for her.
I somehow see my inner child in her.
Wiping some tears with the back of my hand, I looked at Maya, who was now looking at me in concern.
"I'm fine, I'm fine," I assured her as I continued to wipe the remaining tears off my face. I took a quick glance in the mirror to see if I still looked cute before I turned her around so she was looking right at me.
"Maya, if there's anyone in this world who could understand you best, you have to know that it's me," I said, pushing her hair out of her face.
That question did a trick, and immediately guilt swarmed over Maya's face.
"But—how?" she asked, tilting her head to the side. "Your mommy and daddy didn't go with you too?" she added.
Just the thought of them actually makes me want to cry. Every time someone brings them up, I always let out this palpable grief that pushes people off the edge all the time.
So instead of answering the question, I just nodded my head and dialed Zayn's number.
I don't give a fuck what he has to do today or what kind of rich ass meeting he has to go to, he's going to be here for his daughter.
Just a few moments after our conversation ended, his car was already parked next to the Jeep that he had lent me. I've mentioned every possible thing that I knew would make him feel all emotions at once, and he looked very worried when Maya and I got off the Jeep to meet him outside.
"Oh my god, have you girls been crying?" he asks as he approaches us. Maya didn't wait any longer, though, she just started charging towards her father and literally threw herself on him.
"Long story short," I dismissed "Now let's get inside and have one of those stupid shirts." I added, dragging him by the arm before he could even protest.
By the time we were in the school gym, everybody was staring at me like I was a homewrecker. Me, being the bitch that I am, showed no discomfort in pretending to be the wife of a man who isn't my husband, and being the mother of a child who isn't mine.
Well, not biologically.
"Look," Maya said, pulling the hem of my shirt. "There's Hailey and her mom," she added, pointing at a brunette woman with a blonde child.
"Right, the mean girl," I said, kneeling down to her level.
Maya have mentioned Hailey many times before, and I'm getting curious about her everytime Maya mentions her name.
"Where's her dad?" I asked as I continued to look at them from the distance.
"That old dude in the corner," she said, pointing at an old man following behind them.
I know that I'm not supposed to say stuff that I normally would around a kid, but I feel comfortable enough to speak my mind around Maya.
Zayn's hot when he's scolding me anyway.
"Oh, Hailey's mom is a gold digger," I said. "And she lost the 'My parents are good-looking part' with that." I added, making her giggle.
"What's a gold digger?" She asked, tilting her head to the side.
"Ask your dad," I answered, patting her on the head.
"Hey, I heard that!" Zayn hollered, making me smile.
I always had that urge inside me that wanted to irritate him as fuck. Don't ask me why, I just do.
"And yes, she's a gold digger. She married that old prick for money," he added.
"Oh, so that's what a gold digger is," she said out of realization. "I'll use that against her sometimes," she added, running into a group of kids before either one of us can tell her not to do so.
I like Maya's vibe, but I'm not into bullying. The only time that I want her to use her sass towards another kid is when she's being bullied herself.
Not to start drama.
As soon as Maya ventured out of our sight, I immediately turned my attention back to Zayn.
"You're supposed to scold me for that," I said, gripping both sides of my waist with my hands.
He smirked at that.
"I don't teach my kid to lie, Sabrina," he said as he walked dangerously closer to me. "Our kid—well, at least today."