163 MISSED CALLS

ARIANA'S POV

Damn it.

I had literally just escaped for nothing. I was still going to have to return his shirt. Which meant I was still going to have to face him.

Gosh… I'm so stupid!

Hold on…

My soaked shirt I removed last night was still… at his place too.

Fuck!!!

My knees buckled as I crashed onto the bed. “How was I going to face him now?” I whined, throwing my legs and hands in the air.

He probably thinks I'm weak or pathetic.

I still had no idea of how he felt when I came on his thighs. What if he found that disgusting?

My stupid cheeks chose that moment to burn.

Oh God.

But seriously, what if he found it disgusting? What if he dumped that trouser because of it?

Then, a thought suddenly slipped in as I shot upright sharply.

My gaze narrowed at nothing in particular.

What if he had a girlfriend? Or even a fiancee?

My chest tightened.

What if that was the main reason he didn't give in to my demand last night? What if that was the main reason he drew a line between us?

Ohh shitt!!!

Why didn't I think of that before?

I smacked myself in the head very hard. “Ouch!”

A groan escaped me as I dragged my phone off the bedside table. The screen lit up, and my eyes nearly popped out of my skull.

163 missed calls.

I blinked, then blinked again.

One hundred and sixty-three. Every single one was from Maya.

"Oh my goodness!”

My thumb shook as I opened my notifications.

47 unread messages.

Fuck.

MAYA:

It's about to rain. Stay inside, okay? I'll come over.

MAYA:

Ria?

MAYA:

Answer your phone.

MAYA:

Seriously, answer your phone.

MAYA:

I'm outside your apartment.

MAYA:

Why aren't you opening the door?

MAYA:

Ria this isn't funny anymore.

MAYA:

Where are you??

MAYA:

Did you go somewhere?

MAYA:

IN THE RAIN???

MAYA:

Please answer me.

MAYA:

Okay now I'm scared.

MAYA:

If you've been kidnapped, blink twice.

MAYA:

Actually don't blink twice because I can't see you.

MAYA:

Mr Kidnapper, if you're reading this, I just want to talk. Give me my best friend back, asshole. She cries during thunderstorms and burns toast every morning. She's no use to you.

MAYA:

Ria!!!

MAYA:

PICK UP YOUR PHONE.

MAYA:

At this point, I'm actually calling the cops.

MAYA:

I swear to God if you're ignoring me, I'll kill you myself. Then I'll attend your funeral and cry dramatically so everyone will think I cared.

MAYA:

Ria.

MAYA:

Please.

The joking stopped after that.

MAYA:

Please be okay.

MAYA:

Please.

My chest tightened.

I stared at the screen for a long moment.

Scott had always been there during storms before but now we had broken up. And now, Maya had shown up for me. She had been worried. She had come looking for me.

My throat suddenly felt tight. At least somebody still cared about me enough to panic.

Then my eyes landed on one particular message.

MAYA:

At this point, I'm actually calling the cops.

"Oh shit."

I immediately hit her contact and began pacing around the room.

The call didn't even start ringing before the front door burst open.

I jumped so hard I nearly launched my phone across the room.

Maya stood frozen in the doorway. Her hair was a mess, and her eyes looked exhausted. And for the first time since I'd met her, she looked genuinely terrified.

Our eyes met, and hers went wide.

"What the fuck!" she yelled.

I winced.

"Where the fuck were you?!"

I bit down hard on my lower lip. "Maya—"

"No! Absolutely not!" She pointed aggressively at me. "Do you know how many times I called you?!"

"A hundred and sixty-three."

"A hundred and sixty-four actually because I called again while I was at the gate.”

"Oh."

"I was this close to filing a missing person's report. Do you know how worried I was?”

"I was going to call you—"

“I thought you’d been kidnapped. I was so scared. Where the fuck were you? And don't you fucking lie to me!” Maya half yelled, her voice wasn't trembling from rage but from terror.

“Maya… please, calm do…”

“Don't fucking tell me to calm down!!” She cut in harshly as I flinched and took in my lips. “I couldn't sleep last night. I couldn't think properly. My best friend who was traumatized by rain and thunder was somewhere out there… in the rain… AT NIGHT! Do you know how terrified I was?” She hiccuped and continued. “I called the cops and they said since you're an adult there wasn't much they could do yet unless there was evidence you were in danger.”

As she talked, tears slipped down her face.

I swallowed hard.

Maya wasn't yelling because she was angry. She was yelling because she had been scared. Scared enough to call me a hundred and sixty-three times. Scared enough to stand outside my apartment in the rain. Scared enough to call the police.

Because she thought something had happened to me. Because she thought she might lose me.

My chest hurt.

Scott had always been there during storms before. Now he wasn't. And somehow Maya had stepped into that space without me even asking her to. She had looked for me. She had panicked. She had cried.

My eyes burned with tears.

I hadn't realized how badly I needed to know that someone still cared enough to be afraid of losing me.

"Maya..." I whispered.

She stepped closer, placing her hands on her hips as her gaze narrowed. “Don't tell me you went to Scott's house.”

My brows furrowed. “Eeew… what? No!” Then, I sighed and crossed the room. “I'm sorry, Maya. I'm really sorry for making you so worried. I didn't mean to.” I choked back a sob and held her hands. “I'm sorry… really sorry.”

The air was thick with raw emotions.

Maya's expression softened a little. “Don't fucking do that again.” She warned sternly.

A tear slid down my cheek. “I won't.”

Silence stretched for a while as we both stared at each other.

Before I could react, she wrapped her hands around me. “You really scared me.” She whispered softly.

My arms wrapped around her back. “I know. I'm sorry.” I replied, patting her back slowly.

She pulled away enough to glare at me. "You better be."

I nodded, and smiled.

“Gosh… I already had a speech prepared for your funeral, Ria.” She joked, wiping her tears.

My eyebrows lifted. "You prepared my funeral speech?"

"It was beautiful too."

I chuckled lightly as she crossed her arms.

"I was going to cry dramatically beside your coffin." She murmured, strolling to the mirror stand.

“Well… thank you." I rolled my eyes dramatically.

"You're welcome." She flashed me a grin and checked her face in the mirror.

Her face was bright red and slightly swollen which told me she'd been crying even before she came here.

“Didn't know my best friend cared about me so much.” I blurted out, folding my arms.

Maya scoffed. “Care about you? I don't even give a fuck about you.”

All lies.

I raised an eyebrow. "Really?" I repeated slowly.

Maya crossed her arms. "Yes."

I nodded thoughtfully. "So the hundred and sixty-three missed calls meant nothing?"

Her expression faltered slightly. "That was research."

"The forty-seven text messages too?"

"Data collection."

I stared at her. She stared back.

"What about threatening Mr. Kidnapper?"

"Negotiation.”

I snorted. "And the police?"

"Public service."

I folded my arms. "And the crying?"

Maya's eyes widened. "There was no crying. It's moisture."

"Maya!!!" I called out in disbelief.

"Atmospheric conditions were poor."

I burst out laughing as her face twisted in annoyance. "Shut up."

She rolled her eyes dramatically before muttering under her breath. "Stupid girl nearly gave me a heart attack.”

I laughed harder. "Oh my God, you actually care about me." My hands flew to my chest dramatically.

"I literally just said I don't." She scoffed.

My grin widened as Maya glared at me. “That's enough! Shut up… will you?”

I burst into laughter again while Maya looked like she had just been caught in a crime.

“I hate you.” She groaned out.

“I love you more.” I gushed dramatically.

“Eeww… gross.” She made disgusted faces but ended up smiling anyway.

Then her eyes narrowed as her gaze slid over me. "Why are you wearing a man's shirt?

My soul left my body.

Fuck!

I should have changed out of it the second I got home.

My eyes squeezed shut briefly. When I opened them again, Maya was still staring at me.

Oh no!

Then her eyes dropped to the oversized sleeves hanging over my hands, to the length of it and then back to my face.

Her eyes widened. "Oh my God."

I blinked, lips quivering. What was I going to tell her? How was I supposed to explain this to her?

"ARIANA." She called my name in full.

My heart began racing as I looked away. I suddenly became very interested in the floor.

I swallowed. "What?" I asked weakly.

Her mouth fell open. "No." I continued looking away, fiddling with my fingers. "Absolutely not."

She walked towards me, grabbed my shoulders and shook me.

"WHOSE SHIRT IS THAT?”