Both Maya and Steven were quiet on their way to the apartment. Maya knew Steven was always a bit different with Sara and her parents, but after encountering such a speech, she had lost her word. Every time her friends came over, Sara would try to have a long chat with Steven. Maya had no idea what they talked about. Her brain wanted to think that what Sara said was slightly a joke, but her heart didn't agree.
Steven was carrying most of the boxes when Maya asked, "What's the password for the door?"
"2607," Steven spoke in a low voice.
Maya's hands were shaking when she was standing there, in front of the apartment, which she thought she would want to avoid for the rest of her life. She kept thanking Steven silently for buying it and staying there. Steven saw her hands trembling as she held the door lock. "It's okay," he said gently.
She took a long breath before opening the door. Suddenly, she realized something. "2607," she murmured.
"Are you saying something?" He leaned closer to hear her.
"2607!" she screamed.
"Oh Good Lord. Why are you screaming?" he retorted.
"That's my birthday," she said, a bit shy.
"Yeah, so what?" Steven's casual response made her choke in the air.
"Why did you use my birthday as the password?" she furrowed her brow.
"To think of you every time I get in," he murmured.
"What? What did you say? Can't you speak louder?" she retorted.
"Well it's your apartment, Maya," he said, opening the door, stomping towards Maya's room and then stopped. "Um, I think it might be a bit dusty."
"Dusty?"
"Actually, I've never been in this room in two years," he shrugged, looking down.
"You gotta be kidding me! I thought you'd already organized everything. Now I have to do it, oh lord," she said in frustration.
"I didn't want to go in there," he said quietly.
Maya immediately felt guilty, realizing his intention was not to invade her privacy. She thought of herself as a fool. She walked towards him and said, "Thanks."
. . .
Shonn invited Sara, Mason, and Jacob over to his house to spend time together since it was the weekend. He was in the kitchen the whole morning, baking a cake. Levi woke up later than usual and found Shonn in the kitchen with flour on his face and hair. He had made a serious mess.
"Someone's coming?" Levi asked.
"Friends," Shonn responded.
"Is your girlfriend included?" Levi teased.
Shonn glared at him and focused on his work again. "I told you she's not my girlfriend, and it's none of your business."
"So do you like her?" Levi asked, walking towards his brother.
"Why should I answer you?" Shonn retorted.
"You don't have to. Your face already has. Now move, if I let you stay here, I'm afraid you'll burn the whole house."
"Why would I? Can't you see I'm trying to bake a cake?" Shonn said angrily.
"Little correction, it's not a cake, it's a house. You're trying to bake the house. Now move."
Shonn stepped out of the kitchen. Levi asked him to order some food, saying it would be easier, and that he would bake the cake himself. Shonn just nodded.
"I'll leave after baking. So make sure they eat well," Levi retorted.
"But it's the weekend. Do you mind if I ask where you go every weekend?"
"I see my little brother is interested in me," Levi responded.
"Just forget what I asked. Whatever... I thought you wanted to see her," Shonn said shyly.
"Her?" Levi frowned, confused.
"Eh? I'm talking about the..." Shonn stopped mid-sentence.
"The one you like. Sorry, I thought you were talking about someone else..." Levi retorted. Shonn just sighed in disbelief, seeing his brother so lovesick.
"You really look pathetic now. I thought I told you to try your best," Shonn said.
"What? Where's that coming from?" Levi looked at him, confused.
"Never mind," Shonn retorted.
After baking the cake, Levi went to get dressed. Shonn's friends were already there. Levi came out of his room, wearing a regular tracksuit and cap. Sara couldn't see his face clearly. Levi came towards them to greet them. Mason and Jacob shook hands with him, and Sara followed them. Levi managed to see her face and introduced himself.
"I'm Levi, Shonn's brother."
"I'm Sara, his classmate. Nice to meet you."
"You too... Hey, Shonn, make sure they eat well," Levi retorted.
"You don't have to remind me 100 times. Go out already," Shonn said, focused on the pizza.
Jacob and Mason were surprised to see them talking so casually, as they knew everything about Shonn. Levi left the house.
"You must be close with your brother," Sara retorted.
"Ah... yeah, I guess," Shonn replied.
"Hey, Shonn, what's going on? You two good now?" Jacob asked.
Sara was sitting in the middle of the three, feeling very confused." Something wrong?" Sara asked.
"Nothing, actually. It's about my relation with my brother. Maybe I didn't tell you. We kind of got along now. But it wasn't like this." Shon retorted.
. . .
It was past afternoon. Mason and Jacob fell asleep after lunch, and Shonn went to his room to grab the iPad. Sara knocked on the door.
"Sorry, I was just looking around," she retorted.
"It's okay. Come in," Shonn smiled.
"So this is your room. Nicely organized. I never knew you would be so organized," she chuckled.
"Thanks, I guess. Come on, sit," Shonn told her to sit beside him.
There were some moments of silence. It was an awkward moment. They spoke at the same time. "Shonn..." "Sara..." They both chuckled.
"You first," Shonn said.
"Actually, I don't have anything to say."
"Huh?"
"What's with the face?" she chuckled.
"Ah, nothing," Shonn retorted shyly.
"Alright, come closer," she said, pulling him closer by holding his t-shirt. His heart skipped a beat as she held him. "Same as beautiful," she retorted. Shonn's heart started breathing faster; he could feel his blood starting to boil. He was sweating.
"What?" he spoke in a low voice, his eyes on her lips.
"Your eyes, Shonn," she said and tried pushing him back to his place. Shonn grabbed her hand and pulled her even closer. A smile appeared on her lips.
"Sara?"
"Are you going to kiss me?" she asked.
"Can I?" he asked. Her hand slowly reached his face, touching it softly.
"If I kiss you, will you be mine?" he asked.
"You're being awfully straightforward, Shonn Turner," she scoffed a little laugh.
"You go off limits, Sara," Shonn said, kissing her on the forehead as she closed her eyes.
. . .
Seeing Steven standing at the door, not entering, Maya furrowed her brows, "Why are you not coming in?"
"Um, I think I should just wait until you clean the room, call me when you need," he said, placing down the cartons and heading to the kitchen.
I never know what he is thinking. Tch. Maya thought.
After cleaning, Maya found some framed photos of her and Emmett in the room. She didn't call Steven; she had everything done by herself in two hours. She took a shower afterward and realized why Steven didn't want to come into her room. She scoffed a little laugh in pain and stayed there for the rest of the afternoon. Steven didn't bother her. He sat in the living room, waiting for her.
Kira called him when he was dozing off.
"What?" he answered.
"Where is she?" Kira screamed from the other side of the phone.
"Who?" he asked.
"Maya. She told me she was going to move in."
"Why don't you just call her? I'm hanging up," he retorted.
"You think I'd call you without calling her? I cannot get her on the phone."
"She's in the room. Maybe sleeping, I don't know."
"Why don't you check up on her?"
"I don't like to bother her like you do."
"Steven, you never get it. Go check up on her. See ya," she hung up.
I was supposed to hang up, he pouted.
He slowly walked up to her room. It was unlocked, so he knocked, but she didn't respond. He slightly opened the door and saw her crying silently. Some framed photos were lying on the bed beside her. As he was about to close the door, Maya spoke.
"Don't leave."
He turned back and sighed. "Don't leave, Steven," she repeated.
Steven pulled out a chair beside her bed and sat with a certain deep, dark, unsatisfied expression on his face. He let her cry without asking any questions until she spoke a few minutes later.
"I was sad."
He looked at her, speaking, her head lowered. "I was sad when you asked me about Emmett the other day in your car. I felt bad for him. He went through a lot, didn't he? He had no one beside him when I was gone."
"Why are you digging into the past?" Steven said softly. "You said you wouldn't go back there."
"I do not want to go back, Steven. But it pulls me in."
Steven didn't respond. He was there for a minute, then stood up to leave.
"Can you throw these in the trash?" she asked, holding out the framed photos.
"Sorry, Maya. I cannot. I've ordered some food. Open the door if it comes. I'm tired. I'm going to sleep," he said, leaving the room.
Maya saw his expression grow even darker. No, it wasn't that. Somehow Maya found sadness in it. Steven's room was right next to Maya's; their balconies were conjoined.
(Why?) was the only word Steven could think of.