Chapter 3 Maya

I sighed as I cleared the counter and wiped down the display glass.

Hayley walked in, a surprised expression crossing her face as she placed her keys beside the office door.

"You're early today," she said, opening her office door before turning back to look at me.

"It's a good thing, right?" I asked, smiling.

"I wish it would last," she said before disappearing into her office.

I rolled my eyes and turned toward Justin.

"I'm early. Why can't she just be happy?"

"Because, just like good things, it comes to an end," he said, smiling as he disappeared into the back room.

I made a face.

Before I could say anything else, the arcade door jingled.

I looked up.

Jason and Chad walked in.

I immediately adjusted my hair and straightened my shirt.

They made their way toward the counter.

Okay, maybe I had a tiny problem.

I had a huge crush on Chad.

I'd had it for years.

And because he was Jason's best friend, there was no way I could tell him. Jason would never let me hear the end of it.

He had already embarrassed me once.

I still hadn't forgiven him for ruining the expensive glasses I'd bought with all my savings.

I shook my head, forcing the memory away.

Chad reached the counter first and dropped a dollar onto it.

"Sup."

He grabbed a pool stick.

I smiled.

"Sup."

I tried to make it sound flirty.

Apparently, I failed.

Jason stepped directly in front of me, blocking my view of Chad.

"Pathetic."

He dropped a dollar on the counter and walked away.

I rolled my eyes.

When I turned around, Justin was staring at me with his arms crossed.

"What?" I asked, picking up my coffee.

"I don't know which is more pitiful."

He paused.

"The crush you have on Chad or your stupid beef with Jason."

"Neither."

I rested my chin on my palms.

"Sup?" he repeated, judging me with his eyes.

"Really?"

I buried my face in my hands.

"That was all I could think of at the time."

"Don't worry. You'll think of more words next time."

He patted my back before walking toward the back room.

"That wasn't the help I needed," I muttered.

A loud beep came from the arcade.

One of the game rooms had a problem.

I groaned and headed toward the back.

I walked into the snooker room where Jason and Chad were playing.

"So, we need more balls," Chad said, laughing. "Because Jason thought it was a bright idea to throw two across the room."

I looked at Jason.

Of course.

Chad was the complete opposite of him.

He was soft-spoken, calm, kind, and easy to talk to.

Jason, on the other hand, seemed to wake up every morning and ask himself how he could annoy me.

"Okay. I'll be right back."

"And be hasty about it," Jason called after me.

I rolled my eyes.

I returned a few minutes later with the balls they needed and handed them over.

I turned to leave.

"Get me a can of soda."

I stopped.

Slowly, I turned around.

"You can get it yourself. There's a vending machine right there."

I pointed toward the corner.

"I want you to get it for me."

He leaned back in his chair with a smug smile.

"Don't you work here?"

I opened my mouth to respond.

Then the arcade door opened.

I heard a familiar voice.

"Jason!"

I turned.

Tiffany stood at the entrance with her friends.

Reagan's hand rested possessively on her shoulder.

Jason immediately stood.

"What the hell is going on, Tiff?"

His eyes moved from Tiffany to Reagan's hand.

"Why is he here?"

His expression darkened.

"And why are his hands on you?"

Tiffany crossed her arms.

"I didn't come here to answer your questions."

She looked directly at him.

"I'm here to tell you we're done."

Jason stared at her.

"You've got to be joking."

She shook her head.

She wasn't.

Reagan smirked.

Then his hand slid from Tiffany's shoulder to her chest.

Jason's face changed instantly.

"What the hell are you doing?"

He moved toward him, but Chad stepped in.

"Jason."

Reagan laughed.

"When you hit me last time, I was caught off guard."

He looked Jason up and down.

"Try it again, and I'll beat you to a pulp, loser."

Then his eyes shifted toward me.

A wicked smile appeared on his face.

He turned back to Tiffany.

That was when the old memories came rushing back.

Tiffany and I were best friends in high school.

Until everything changed.

Her dad got a new job with Chad's dad, and suddenly their family had money.

Tiffany changed with it.

She stopped hanging out with me.

Then she started telling people I was poor.

That my dad was a no-show.

That my mum couldn't afford my school fees.

She even told people I was on scholarship.

Something I'd trusted her enough to tell her privately.

I tried to find out what had happened.

She avoided me.

And when I finally cornered her, she told everyone I was a lesbian who had tried to assault her.

The lie nearly cost me my scholarship.

I was suspended for a month.

My mum was devastated.

I tried explaining that Tiffany had lied, but by then the damage had already been done.

Then Tiffany started dating Jason.

She posted their relationship everywhere, and whatever was left of our friendship disappeared completely.

Since then, she and Jason have made my life miserable whenever they got the chance.

And now they were standing in front of me again.

"Well, you can go."

Jason's voice pulled me out of my thoughts.

"I'm dating Maya."

My eyes widened.

What?

Before I could process what he'd said, Jason grabbed my arm and pulled me toward him.

I froze.

One second, I was standing there watching him get a taste of his own medicine.

The next, I was trapped against his chest.

Tiffany stared at us.

"You can't be serious."

Jason didn't even blink.

She scoffed.

"You're dating a poor nerd who can't even afford her own fees?"

She laughed.

Then she looked at me.

"I thought you hated her."

There was absolute confidence in her voice.

She was convinced Jason was only doing this to piss her off.

And honestly?

So was I.

I opened my mouth to protest.

Jason's hands settled around my waist.

He pulled me closer.

My breath caught, then he kissed me.