Light in the Shadows Part 21

"Sure, I am pretty thirsty," she purred, the innuendo obvious. Just get through the next twenty four hours without having to break up a chick fight, I thought to myself. Because if Maggie didn't go ballistic on this overly s.e.xualized Maria, then Rachel would definitely have something to say.

I needed a serious reminder as to why I thought hanging out with Maria, Maggie, Rachel and Daniel would be a good idea. Oh that's right, because I wasn't expecting Maria "s.e.x fiend" Cruz to arrive on my doorstep like she was deep throating my c.o.c.k in her head.

"Water okay?" I asked, flipping on the light as we entered the kitchen.

"Sounds perfect," Maria answered, making herself at home at the kitchen table. "So, things seem good for you since you've gotten out," she said, taking the gla.s.s I handed her.

"You make it sound like I busted out of prison," I commented, sitting down across from her at the table, though making sure to keep a healthy distance. One that would make any sort of touching impossible. I knew Maria to be touchy feely anyway, and I didn't know what to expect with her acting like this.

Maria laughed. "Well, it kind of was like prison, don't you think?" she said, taking a sip of water.

"Not really. There are days I wish I could go back, actually," I found myself admitting. Despite how weird Maria was being, there was something rea.s.suring about talking to someone who had been in the trenches with me. That maybe she, of all people, would understand how hard it is to be out of treatment.

Or maybe not.

"That's just crazy, Clay! I would never go back there. Not in a million years!" she said emphatically and I looked at her in surprise. I had no idea she had hated it there so badly. I had always gotten the impression that she felt the same way I did about treatment. That it was a necessary evil. Not one that we would have originally chosen for ourselves, but an essential one.

"Really? You don't find it hard being on the outside? Trying to get through the day?" I asked.

Maria looked at me levelly. "No, Clay. I much prefer the person I am off the medication."

Well, s.h.i.t. She wasn't medicated anymore. That explained a lot. Maria had been on heavy duty anti-depressants. I was more than a little shocked that she had stopped taking them. But then didn't I have moments myself where I thought about chucking mine into the toilet? Maria reminded me of how easy it was to forget why you took them in the first place.

But one thing was for sure, Maria was officially a ticking time bomb and not one that I particularly wanted around Maggie and her friends. But I was stuck now. I just had to temper the situation as much as possible.

"How long have you been off your meds, Maria?" I asked softly. She tapped her hand on the table in agitation, clearly not liking my question.

"I don't know, a while. Why does it matter anyway? You aren't still taking that c.r.a.p are you?" she scoffed. Wow, okay.

"Yeah, I am. I don't particularly feel like having a visit with a straight jacket, alright," I said testily. Maria rolled her eyes.

"Don't be such a drama queen, Clay. Look at me, I'm fine," she held her arms out as if that proved her point.

"You don't seem fine, Maria. In fact, you seem about the farthest from fine I've ever seen," I told her firmly. Her eyes widened and her mouth gaped in shock at my blunt a.s.sessment. Before she could respond, I heard the doorbell ring and I groaned inwardly.

Here we go, I thought.

"Hang on a sec. That's Maggie," I told Maria, whose mouth tightened at the mention of my girlfriend.

"Well, come on, let me meet this famous Maggie," Maria said overly brightly, following me into the foyer. I had hoped to have a moment alone with Maggie to prepare her for my good ol' friend from treatment. So much for that. Time to witness the train wreck about to happen and just hope like h.e.l.l I could fix it all later.

Maggie stood on my stoop looking the complete opposite of Maria in every way that counted. She wore jeans that fit her perfectly and a long sleeved cotton top that didn't show an excess amount of skin but made my mouth water all the same. Her shoulder length brown hair was pulled back in a ponytail and she wore next to no makeup. She was gorgeous.

"Hi, baby," I said in genuine happiness to see her. I pulled her into my arms and kissed her on the mouth, loving the taste of her cherry lip gloss. The sound of Maria clearing her throat made Maggie pull back, looking slightly mortified by our overt public display of affection.

The moment she saw Maria and her street walker get up, I knew I'd hear about it later. Her eyes widened slightly and she gave Maria the quick girl once over. Not something I had ever seen Maggie do before, but I could see how insecure she was about Maria's presence in my house.

"Hi, I'm Maggie," she said politely, holding out her hand for Maria to take. Maria laughed.

"What are we, fifty? Who shakes hands anymore?" Maria said snidely. Maggie stiffened and dropped her hand.

"People who have enough sense not to be rude to someone they just met?" Maggie stated, c.o.c.king her head to the side and giving Maria a smile that was both sickeningly sweet and full of b.i.t.c.h slapping condescension.

Maria snorted and turned on her heel and walked back into the living room. Maggie narrowed her eyes at me. "What the h.e.l.l is that?" she whispered angrily.

"I have no freaking clue! She was nothing like that while we were at Grayson's. But she has a history of...s.e.xual issues. So, I don't know," I answered weakly. Maggie stood there fuming.

"And Miss f.u.c.k Me Please is staying overnight under the same roof as you? Yeah, I feel really great about that, Clay!" Maggie hissed, trying to keep her voice low.

I ushered her into the house and closed the door behind her. "You have nothing to worry about," I told her, grabbing her hand.

Maggie sighed. "It's not you I worry about. That b.i.t.c.h has her claws out and she's ready to sink them into your flesh. So you'd better watch out," she warned, stomping off into the living room, where Maria was flipping through channels on the television.

We had around twenty minutes before we had to meet Rachel and Daniel for dinner. And they proved to be the longest twenty minutes in the history of awkwardness.

Maggie tried to talk to Maria but the other girl was having none of it. Maria directed all of her attention my way and I felt like a bone being fought over by two dogs. I know this is probably every other guys' dream come true, to have good looking chicks fighting over him. But I didn't feel lucky. I just wished I could kick Maria's a.s.s out of my house and pretend this c.r.a.ppy night had never happened.

But I couldn't. Even if I wanted to, I wasn't that much of a d.i.c.k.

When Maggie excused herself to go to the bathroom I turned on Maria. "What the f.u.c.k is your problem?" I asked her angrily.

Maria could tell I was p.i.s.sed and she made an attempt to dial down the witchiness. "Sorry, I don't mean to be a brat. I guess I was just so used to having your attention all to myself when we were at Grayson's, I just don't like to share." Her response threw me off balance. And if I hadn't been sure before, I sure as well knew now, that Maria had developed an unhealthy attachment to me.

"Look, Maria, I'll remind you of what I said to you at Grayson's, we are friends. Only friends. Maggie is who I love. If you can't be in my house and be respectful to my girlfriend, then I'm sorry, I'm going to have to ask you to leave," I told her firmly.

And just like that, the vampy s.e.x kitten cracked and I could start to see Maria, my friend, underneath. "I'm sorry, Clay. I'll stop it. You're right, I'm being rude," she said.

When Maggie returned from the bathroom, Maria made an effort to talk to her. Maggie looked surprised, but she went with it and I felt I could let out a sigh of relief that maybe it was a crisis averted. Let's just put a tick by delusions on my list of crazy.

"How much time do we have until it's time to leave?" Maria asked. I looked at the time on my phone.

"Ten minutes or so," I said.

"I'm going to go change," Maria said, looking suddenly self-conscious.

"The guest room is upstairs, the first door on the right. The bathroom is at the end of the hall," I told her. Maria picked up her bag and gave Maggie and me a small smile before heading up the stairs.

"She's...something," Maggie said in feigned politeness. I sighed deeply and sat down on the couch.

"Sorry about earlier. I don't know what her deal is," I replied tiredly, already wishing the night was over.

Maggie snorted and sat down beside me, laying her head against my shoulder. "She likes you, Clay. It's not that hard to figure out. Between the outfit from Tramps'R'Us and the I-hate-you glare I've been getting since I showed up, I'd think that was pretty obvious," Maggie said. I didn't say anything. No point really. I didn't want to try to explain Maria's brand of f.u.c.ked uptness just now.

Maria reappeared a few minutes later, this time dressed in a simple pair of jeans and red blouse. She had scrubbed off most of the makeup and I was relieved to see her looking more like herself.

"Okay, ladies. Let's get this show on the road," I said, grabbing my keys. Maria and Maggie followed me out to my car.

"You can take the front, Maria," Maggie offered magnanimously. Maria thanked her and climbed up front with me. I gave Maggie an appreciative kiss on the lips and got into the driver's seat.

"Do you mind?" Maria asked, messing with the radio. I shrugged and almost took back my agreement when Maria picked a rap station and turned it up. I caught Maggie's eye in the rearview mirror and she stuck her tongue out at me.

I grinned and turned onto Davidson's main street. "Wow, it's so small," Maria commented, looking out her window as we drove past the string of shops that lined the center of town. "How do you guys not lose your mind?" she joked.

"Cow tipping and making moon shinefills the free time," Maggie replied blandly and Maria blinked in confusion, as though she were trying to figure out whether Maggie was being serious or not. Maggie's sarcasm took some getting used to, that's for sure.

We pulled into the local diner and I noticed Daniel's truck was already parked. "Places like this make me gain ten pounds. Just super," Maria complained and I tried not get irritated by her whining. How had I never noticed this less than appealing side of my friend during all the months we had spent together?

"That's okay; the average American is ten to fifteen pounds overweight anyway. You'll just be fitting in with the general population," Maggie quipped sliding out of the car after I opened the door for her. I shot her a look and she returned my stare with wide-eyed innocence. Maggie clearly hadn't forgotten Maria's earlier b.i.t.c.hiness. This night had awesome written all over it. Obviously I was sporting my own level of sarcasm this evening.

We found Rachel and Daniel at a corner booth and headed toward them. "Yummy," Maria purred, catching sight of Daniel. Maggie stiffened beside her.

"Yeah and he's very taken," she warned, cutting Maria off so she could slide into the booth beside Daniel. Maria grinned like a cat on the prowl and I groaned inwardly for the hundredth time since she had shown up.

"Hi guys! Took you long enough," Rachel teased, giving me a smile. Rachel and I had definitely become something close to friends. She was a cool girl and I knew it made Maggie happy to have us getting along.

"Hey, this is Maria Cruz, my friend from Florida. Maria this is Rachel Bradfield and Daniel Lowe," I waved my hand between them in introduction. Rachel gave Maria a wide smile.

"Hi, Maria! Nice to meet you," she said, leaning around me as she spoke. Maria smiled tightly.

"You guys up for a dude movie tonight? I've had my fill of chick flicks lately," Daniel said, grabbing some menus and pa.s.sing them around to everyone.

"I'm up for anything," Maria said, batting her eyelashes. Daniel looked at her as though she had three heads and Rachel tried to cover up her laughter. Maggie grit her teeth and I just wanted to cover my head with my arms and pretend this night wasn't happening.

"Okay then, I vote for s.h.i.t being blown up. Rachel is not allowed to suggest that movie about the two best friends where one of them has cancer. I didn't bring enough tissues for that c.r.a.p," Daniel gripped. Maggie smacked his arm.

"Spoiler alert you a.s.s! I wanted to see that!" Daniel laughed and dodged another punch.

Rachel rolled her eyes and turned back to Maria. "So, Maria, you're from Florida? Did you go to school with Clay?" Ah, f.u.c.k. Clearly Maggie's friends weren't clued into the fact that I knew Maria from the treatment center.

Maria shot me a look before answering. "Not exactly. I was a patient at the Grayson Center while Clay was there. We had a lot of groups together," she answered, not shy in the least about announcing to complete strangers that she had been in a psychiatric facility for three months.

Rachel paled and looked embarra.s.sed. "Oh, that's nice," she stuttered, looking away.

Maria, seeming to revel in Rachel's mortification, kept on going. "Yeah, I wasn't there for trying to off myself like our good buddy, Clay, here. I have a bad habit of f.u.c.king anything that moves. Of course that's because of my abusive a.s.shole of a father. So consider me the stereotypical s.l.u.t with a bad case of Daddy issues." I choked on my soda and Rachel's pale face went bright red.

"Cool it, Maria," I bit out under my breath. Maria snickered and looked down at her menu. She seemed entirely too pleased with herself.

"So how long are you visiting for?" Maggie asked, obviously wanting to know how long we'd be have to put up with Maria's fantastic personality.

"Just for the night. I have to head back to Alexandria in the morning. My brother lives there and I'm supposed to stay with him for a few days before flying back to Florida. But I think I kind of like Virginia. I may have to extend my stay," Maria smiled at me and I looked away.

Yeah, that was the last thing I needed.

The waitress came and took our orders. Maria complained about the greasy food on the menu and took forever to finally decide on a salad.

While we waited on our food, Rachel attempted more small talk. She asked Maria questions about Florida. Maria gave short, one word answers. After several conversation nonstarters, Rachel gave up and sat quietly drinking her milk shake. Daniel and Maggie were engaged in their own discussion about soccer.

"I thought you were going to try to be nice? Enough with the Cruella Deville act!" I whispered. Maria narrowed her eyes at me but didn't say anything.

Once our food arrived, everyone seemed to be in complete agreement and inhaled our meals. No one seemed particularly keen on spending anymore time sitting there in awkward silence. Maggie looked p.i.s.sed and I didn't blame her. Maria was causing some serious drama and I would be giving her a piece of my mind about this later. Maria's unmedicated self was not particularly likable. And I was able to see for the first time, how horrible it must have been to be around me when I refused to take my meds.

I felt like s.h.i.t for putting Maggie, Ruby and Lisa through that for so long.

Daniel and Rachel followed us to the movie theater in the next town. Maggie didn't even bother trying to talk to Maria, the line in the dirt was drawn and neither girl was going to step over it. These two were definitely not destined to be best friends anytime soon.

Maria was acting like a jealous girlfriend. And my actual girlfriend simply ignored me. Super f.u.c.king fantastic.

I bought tickets for Maggie and myself. Maybe I should have offered to pay for Maria but at this point, I didn't want to give her any ideas. While Maggie went the restroom and Maria went to get some popcorn, Rachel and I waited for Daniel, who was talking to a few guys from school.

"So you were in treatment with Maria?" Rachel asked. I looked down at the much shorter girl and she seemed really uncomfortable. We didn't have the type of relationship that allowed for deep discussion. And I had never contemplated talking about my time in Florida with her.

"Yeah," I answered briefly. Rachel shuffled her feet on the ground.

"I don't mean to be rude or anything, but what's her deal? She seems, I don't know, weird I guess." That was the understatement of the year.

I looked over at women's restroom, hoping Maggie would come out and save me from this conversation. No such luck.

"She's not taking her medication for starters. I had no idea she'd be like this when I said she could come for a visit. Maria wasn't like this in treatment. Trust me; I'd never have been friends with someone who acts the way she is acting tonight. She really is a nice girl. A screwed up girl. But she means well, deep down," I found myself defending Maria.

Rachel chewed on her lip thoughtfully. "I believe you. That just sucks she's not taking care of herself. I can tell she's probably pretty cool underneath all that other stuff." Rachel surprised me with her astuteness.

"Yeah, she is. I'm really sorry about all of this though," I said. Rachel gave me a smile.

"Don't apologize. It's fine. I just feel for Maggie. She hides her insecurity well, but I know this whole thing has to be bothering her," Rachel said, meeting my eyes.

"We both have some issues to sort out with the whole jealousy thing, I suppose," I said. Rachel and I stood there quietly and I noticed a girl with long blonde hair approach Daniel and put her hand on his arm. The guys he was talking to all exchanged looks and I wondered who the h.e.l.l that was and why Rachel wasn't marching over there and pulling the other girl's hair out.

Rachel was watching them and she did seem a bit tenser, but she didn't move. "Who's that?" I asked, indicating the girl. Daniel had purposefully moved away from her and seemed to be extremely unhappy with the chick trying to touch him.

"That's Kylie Good," Rachel explained and it all made sense. Daniel's ex-girlfriend tried to say something to him but he wasn't having it. He turned to the guys and said something, his back to Kylie in clear dismissal.

"Does that bother you? Seeing some other girl hit on him like that?" I asked, honestly curious as to how she was staying in check. f.u.c.k, if that was Maggie and Jake I would be losing my freaking mind about now. I was beyond impressed with Rachel's self-control.

Rachel shrugged. "It bothers me. But there's no point in getting upset about it. Daniel isn't interested in Kylie. She can play her stupid little games and it doesn't change the fact that he's with me. So what's the point of getting jealous? Either you trust someone or you don't." My mouth fell open in disbelief.

"Man, I could use some of your logical thinking the next time Jake eye f.u.c.ks my girlfriend," I joked but I was deadly serious. I wished I could get to where Rachel was at. I just didn't know if I had it in me right now to be so level headed.

Rachel put her hand on my arm. "You have nothing to worry about where Jake is concerned. Maggie has always only had eyes for you. That jealousy c.r.a.p is about you, not her," she said sagely. And I wondered whether my insurance company should be paying her instead of Shaemus. This chick was wise.

Maria joined us then, a drink and a box of milk duds in her hands. "I thought you didn't eat junk food, Maria," I commented. Maria smiled sheepishly.

"Ah, well you know. When in Rome," she said. Maggie came out of the bathroom and Daniel headed back to our group, without saying another word to Kylie. Rachel was right not to worry about Daniel, that dude was so whipped, if I wasn't in the same boat with Maggie, I'd give him s.h.i.t about it.

After the movie, I drove Maggie and Maria back to my house. Ruby was home so we sat with her and watched TV for a while. Maggie's frostiness thawed a bit once she was around my aunt. Ruby seemed more like her old self. She talked about things at the shop and even pulled out her Tarot cards to give Maria a reading.

When it was time for Maggie to leave, I left Maria with Ruby and walked her out to her car. Maria had called out a goodbye but didn't say anything else. "Mags, I'm so sorry about Maria this evening. I know that had to be hard for you," I said once we got to her car.