03 )
The sun was streaming through the cracks of the leaves, heating the skin onto Maya’s face as she was standing in the stream of light.
Another Wednesday, another day of spending countless of minutes of picking up trash off of Paris’ streets.
Usually, Maya does not mind these Wednesday’s. She has actually come to enjoy them. It has turned into such a big and normal part of her life now, and she has managed to actually turn it into something positive. She has changed her mind of it and started thinking about how she is actually saving this planet that they live on. It sure beats the mindset she had of it once she first started.
Once she first started, a few years back. Once she first started like any other kid here, on community service. It had just been awhile after her parents death, and she was moved from one foster home to the other. She was young and grieving. Young and did not know better. She made choices that got her into doing community service. Just like any other kid here. Only now, Maya is older, wiser. She has realized that the time she spends here, she can actually make a change. For these kids, and for this planet.
That is mostly why Maya decided to stay around. Even after her community service ended, she stayed around, became like a leader for the other kids and for the rescue missions. She turned a dark part of her life into something positive for the others and mostly for herself.
“ Okay guys, cheer up! “
“ We’re saving the planet today. “
Maya does her best to keep her voice light and cheerful, to keep the energy high and joyful as she puts the other kids to work. Because that is one of the most important parts of her job, Maya believes. To make the other kids feel like this is a safe and happy place. A place that does not hold judgement or heaviness.
Only, it is just once Maya turns in her step, shifting her focus from the group to the girl behind her, that her heart stops.
The girl walking down the step of stairs captures the attention of Maya’s eyes. She has never seen her before, yet she feels like all Maya has been searching for. She has her frozen in her step, unable to move as Maya tries to observe as much of her as possible.
The other girl is darkly dressed. Her dark-matted hair hangs down the sides of her shoulders, yet her face looks unmoved. She is serious in her expression and act of movement, and that seriousness, is all that brings Maya back to present.
Maya swallows back the drought in her throat, blinking back her eyes to reality and hoping that the other girl did not just see her stare.
“ You’re Lola? “ , Maya asks.
The man who usually leads the missions had informed Maya about the new kid. About the new kid that was supposed to start today. Yet other than her name, Maya knows absolutely nothing about her. That is usually a rule that they have. No one's past is to be discussed to people that does not need to know about it.
“ Yup. “ , is the only response leaving the other girl’s lips then, and that is the only expression to make Maya realize exactly what type of person that she is.
“ Sorry, my train was stopped. “
Maya shakes her head lightly, “ No problem. “
“ However, the others have just left so you’re stuck with me. “
She continues as she begins to reach for the one overall saved for Lola, “ Here, and last but not least.. “ Maya pauses before handing over the dark boots as well.
The expression spreading wide over Lola’s face does not go unnoticed. Maya has seen it before. She has been an owner of it before, placed right in Lola’s shoes and filled with feelings of uninterest and annoyance.
“ I am Maya, nice to meet you. “
Maya keeps her eyes locked on the other girl, trying to keep her tone light and warm. Yet she notices the other girl observe her moves. She takes her in, and Maya lets her.
“ The outfit, the boots, is it necessary? “ Lola asks then, feeling slightly annoyed by what she was given. Yet Maya understands. She has been there, and she has gotten to deal with kids like this all the time, although something about Lola is just differently intriguing.
“ Why? Don’t you find it sexy?” , Maya smiles. She does her best to lighten up the mood, because sometimes, that is all one needs. However Lola does not seem as impressed by Maya’s sudden act of humor. Instead, her eyes scans Maya’s body, and Maya notices it, all too well.
______________
They spend the first few minutes in a shyness that lingers in the silence behind. Hiding behind a shield that they both have built up for themselves, yet with a curious interest to get to know the other sneaking up to the surface.
Lola is quiet and retracted as she still manage to walk with a clear confidence beside Maya, and something about her presence tempts the interest in the purple-haired girl.
“ So what are you here for? “ , Maya asks then yet Lola remains her focus on the road ahead.
“ For fun. “
“ I love picking up other’s shit. “
Maya laughs carefully. She’s got humor.
She glances to her side, eyes scanning the other girl. Something about her is so captivating and raw. So interesting and real. Lola is confident and independent. She is strong and mysterious.
“ And in reality? “ Maya tries again.
She usually doesn’t ask about the other kid’s pasts. She usually doesn’t feel like it is her right to know, but then again, she has never felt so drawn to anyone else. So interested to actually know more about them.
“ In reality? “ Lola repeats the question.
“ I robbed a bank. “
Maya shakes her head lightly with a light laugh escaping her lips. Her eyes are focused on the task of picking up trash from the ground underneath their feet.
Lola is guarded, Maya can tell.
“ You don’t want to tell me. “ Maya calls out the obvious and it immediately makes Lola glance her way.
“ I just told you. “ She tries to reassure, yet soon gives up on the idea of doing so.
She sighs and keeps her focus locked on Maya.
“ No but you understand, we’ve known each other for ten minutes. I wouldn’t want you to see me differently. “
Maya glances up then, meeting Lola’s eyes by words that hit almost too close to home. Lola is not ready to share her past yet, Maya can sympathize with that. Yet something about her character tells Maya that there is more to the story than that.
“ I doubt it. “ Maya lets out, watching as Lola slightly tilts her head.
“ That you’d think of me differently? “ she asks and Maya shakes her head.
“ No, that you give a damn about what I think. “
The silence creeps back once the words settles in, and Maya can clearly feel Lola’s strong eyes on her as Maya continues forward.
There is a slight taste of push and pull in the way that their communication works. Something that Maya is not used to. Something that she has not experienced with any of the other people she has met, yet something that is so tempting to get stuck in. Lola, is tempting and interesting.
“ And you? “ Lola asks then, and Maya immediately reacts to the question. Feeling the light smile pull in the corner of her lip as Lola makes her own attempt in getting to know her.
“ Why are you here? “
Maya laughs carefully. Shyly glancing down to continue with her task to get the trash in the bag.
“ Okay, so you don’t want to tell me either? “ Lola continues then, yet Maya is fast to fill in.
“ Oh, I do. I was just wondering if it is worth it for me to answer you. “
She pauses slowly, letting the words settle in. Giving Lola time to react to her own words of response.
She lets her wait until she figures that Lola has understood the message. She waits until she realizes that she can open up. Lola is new and retracted. Maya has been there. Yet now, she has walked out stronger and bolder. She has been given time to recover and talk about her past, even if she does not need to open up fully. Maybe it can ease the tension that captures Lola if Maya chooses to at least share some.
“ Ecological awareness. “ Maya says then and Lola immediately quirks a brow.
“ You choose to be here? “
Maya laughs.
“ What do you mean? I love saving dolphins, it’s my passion. “
That may be somewhat true, yet Maya knows that that has not always been the case. She did not start here from choosing to be here, although Lola does not need to know that now. They do not know each other well enough yet. That is a story that might be saved for later use.
“ Fuck, people are really intense. “
Maya decides to shift the focus to something else. Changing the subject so it does not circle around herself but instead to the needle on the ground. To the needle more intense than her past history. To a needle used for an act with drugs.
With Lola’s help, they both make sure to safely throw it away into the bag in her hand, freeing the earth from the dangerousness of it. Although, Lola does not seem as finished with their last conversation.
“ Apparently, dolphins are the biggest assholes.”
“ They are big assholes. “ , Maya agrees. Thankful that Lola chose to bring back the conversation to something other than herself.
“ Better to save the sharks. “ Maya continues, and the shy smile that covers Lola’s lips a moment later is just barely noticeable by the sight of an eye.
They continue forward, with a tension slightly lighter, picking up the trash that gets in their way until Maya decides to point to something further ahead.
“ There. “ she says, moving forward with Lola right beside.
However, it is only once they’ve come close enough to see what was hiding underneath the rocks and grass on the ground, that Lola stops. A condom.
“ I’m not touching that. “
“ You’re kind of here for that, aren’t you? “ Maya says, taking slight advantage of Lola’s role as the new kid. It is a teasing act of hoping to get away with it herself.
“ Yeah. “ Lola agrees then.
“ But I have to be here. You want to save the planet. “ She continues and Maya bubbles with laughter. Because it is first then, that Maya realizes that Lola is not as easily convinced as she first had hoped.
“ No, fuck the planet. I’m not touching that either. “ She says with a light laugh. A laugh and a statement that makes Lola realize that she will have to do the job and that Maya actually succeed.
Lola sighs heavily, and slowly but surely picks up the condom.
“ Even when I know the guy, I don’t touch it. “ Lola lets out in a sigh, and Maya slowly pulls back. A body retracting with disgust as she holds the bag open for Lola to throw it away.
“ I’ve never touched one in my life. “ She says, and the words manage to bring Lola’s attention back to Maya. She stares silently at her for awhile. Taking in the new information that Maya just shared.
“ Seriously? “ she starts.
“ You’re a virgin? “
There is no judgement in the way Lola asks her. Just a question of surprise that she makes in a curious attempt to get to know the other girl better.
“ With guys? “ Maya asks then, while continuing forward. “ Totally. “
Her sexuality is a part of herself that Maya has never been afraid to open up about. She never got the chance to tell her own parents, and has always felt regretful of not doing so after their death. So now, she spends her life in living as her truest self as proudly as she can. Yet something about sharing it with Lola, felt unexpectedly different.
She can clearly feel Lola slow down behind her. Maybe something about the new information had her heart race as fast has her own. Maybe it has meant as much to Lola to have the information shared.
“ You coming? “ Maya asks then, and with a shy smile upon her lips, Lola soon does.