ELIJAH

Shopping with your girlfriend was not as fun as those Pinterest pictures made you think. You know why? Because surprisingly enough girlfriends got lost in the store like little kids did. It was frustrating and at the moment I was regretting bringing Maya with me. I was looking for her, for the second time in a span of less than thirty minutes. One moment she was right next to me ranting about how there were too many cereal options and the next she was gone.

The first time I'd found her stranded as she tried to reach for the last packet of her favorite packet of chips that was on the top shelf. She was too short to reach it herself and too stubborn to ask for help. Maybe I should have brought a leash with me and tied her to me like a puppy. It also didn't help that we were getting late for Thanksgiving dinner at our house. My mom had called me as I had been on my way to pick up Maya and she had asked me to stop at Walmart to get her a few things. I had offered to drop Maya off at home first but she had insisted on accompanying me. Oh how much I regretted giving in.

I reached for my phone and called her again and this time she picked up. Thankfully.

"Maya where are you?"I gritted out.

"Who are you calling Maya? And don't use that tone on me."She scolded.

The girl was getting too comfortable if she thought it was okay to mess with me like that especially after she had tested my patience to the limits.

"Don't make me ask again Maya."I demanded.

"Say please."She teased making me growl in frustration.

"Or I could just leave you here. There's enough food and water to last you a lifetime."I retorted.

"You wouldn't dare, you love me too much."She tried sounding very smug and sure of herself.

She wasn't wrong. I did love her, otherwise I would have already left her in the store ages ago.

"Bug where are you? We need to go."I asked again my voice softer this time.

"Now that's more like it. I'm with the stuffed animals."She replied.

"Stay there and don't move an inch."I demanded.

"Okey dokey. That sounds like donkey. Maybe I should get a donkey."Maya said speaking to herself.

I hang up laughing at how cute she could be. Cute but annoying.

I didn't know where the stuffed animals were so I had to ask around for them. When I got there three minutes later I found Maya surrounded by a lot of toys. She waved happily as soon as she saw me and as much I was mad at her, I had to admit that she was very cute.

"Okay you tiny annoying bug, let's go."I demanded.

"Not without my stuffy."She whined like a child.

"Okay then put it in the trolley and let's go."I replied.

"I don't know which one to take."She pouted looking innocently lost.

My phone buzzed in my pocket and I didn't have to check to see that it was my mom asking to hurry up.

"Then take all of them."I grunted out.

"Don't be ridiculous there are too many of them."Maya challenged.

"Bug I swear to God if you don't choose one in the next three seconds I'm dragging you out of here kicking and screaming."I threatened her.

"You wouldn't dare."She challenged looking at me square in the eyes.

She must have seen the challenging look I was giving her was not one to be messed with because she jumped into action.

"Fine keep it in your pants Mr grouchy."She muttered under her breath picking out a zebra and a giraffe and tossing them in the shopping cart.

"Happy now?"She asked.

"Nope but it will do. Let's go."I declared pulling her closer to me.

I trapped her in between the shopping cart and myself so that she wouldn't get away from me again and started pushing. It didn't make walking easier but it did assure me that she didn't get away.

"Why do you need more stuffed animals anyway? I already bought you two."I asked recalling the penguin I'd bought her on her birthday when we visited the aquarium and the teddy bear I'd given her the day after reading her letters.

"They were getting lonely and needed something from the safari section."Maya grinned as if her reasoning was the best.

I couldn't keep being mad at her when she was being so adorable so I bent over and kissed her on the forehead whilst still pushing the cart.

There was a line when we got to the check out counter but it wasn't that long and the cashiers were working fast so it was moving quick. There was an old lady in front of us with a bunch of things and I knew it was going to be exhausting waiting for her to finish but we didn't have any other choice.

She turned to us with an apologetic smile but it dropped as soon as she saw Maya and I. I knew that look. I'd seen it so many times on people when they saw Maya and I out in public. It was mostly about the fact that me, a white guy was dating a black girl. Maya had taught me to ignore them and I usually did but sometimes others were just looking for a good fight or a thorough tongue lashing. The old woman was giving us scornful looks and I realized that it was not going to be an easy one with her. She definitely did not disappoint.

"Excuse me you two but how old are you?"She asked in a condescending tone.

"I don't see how that's any of your business."I retorted earning myself an elbow jab from Maya.

"We're eighteen ma'am. How old are you?"Maya asked in a sickeningly sweet tone making me snort in laughter.

I thought she wanted me to be nice but then she had to go ahead and scratch back.

Wow, my girl had claws.

"You can't ask me that."Old lady Mcghee replied looking offended.

"But you asked us and we replied. So why is it a double standard when we ask you?"Maya challenged.

"You are a very rude young lady."Old lady Mcghee spat out.

"And you are a spiteful old hag."Maya replied and I had to bite my cheek to hold in my laugh.

I was rubbing off Maya because any other time she would have let it go but spending time with me was teaching her to talk smack back and I wasn't sure if that was entirely a good thing.

"You should go back to Africa where you belong along with your fellow monkeys."Old lady Mcghee spat out.

"And there is that racism that makes America so beautiful."Maya commented with a sarcastic laugh.

I could have stepped in to defend her but I knew she could handle herself. It was also sexy as fuck watching her so I wouldn't step in unless she needed me.

"I am not a racist, you're just in the wrong country."Old lady Mcghee defended looking insulted that she had been called out.

"And I shit rainbows all day. Looks like we are all spewing bulshit. Let me ask you something, were you born a racist or did it take you a hundred years to perfect it?"Maya asked sarcastically.

"I am not a hundred and I am not a racist. I'm seventy five."Old lady Mcghee screeched.

Maya was getting to her and it was showing.

"And finally she answers the question asked originally. That wasn't so hard now was it? Have a good day Thanksgiving you racist old dinosaur, now it's your turn unless you'd prefer if we went first?"Maya asked her already done with the conversation.

Old lady Mcghee huffed but turned around nonetheless to set her things onto the counter. It was clear that Maya had gotten to her because she kept slamming things and muttering to herself but Maya and I didn't care.

"You bug are a goddess."I whispered in her ear leaning down to kiss her temple.

"I learnt from the best."She grinned at me.

Old lady Mcghee finally finished her purchases and it was our turn to get served. I bought Maya a couple of chocolate bars that were on the counter because she had done a good job that needed rewarding.

"That was very bad ass."The cashier praised Maya.

Looks like I was not the only one who had been impressed by her skills.

"Thank you."Maya beamed.

"Mrs Conway is a regular pain in the ass so it was nice to see her being put in her place. None of the employees can do it for fear of losing their jobs so on behalf of all of us thank you. Happy Thanksgiving."The cashier said happily.

"Happy Thanksgiving to you too."Maya replied smiling at her.

I paid and carried our bags to the car, handing the keys to Maya so she could unlock it for me.

"Does the racism ever get to you?" I asked Maya on the drive home.

It saddened me that she would never be treated like an equal because of the color of her skin. When I looked at Maya I didn't see black or white, I saw love, kindness, purity, my best friend and the love of my life. I just wish everyone else saw the same minus the best friend and love of my life part. Those were reserved only for me.

"Yeah sometimes but I always remind myself that they don't even own this country. They stole it from others. I'm proud to be black and African and I will never apologize for that. I'll always brush them off if I can or defend myself when it comes to it."She explained.

Her confidence made me so proud of her and I loved her more for it. I lifted her hand to my lips and kissed the back of it my eyes catching sight of the charm bracelet I gave her. I don't think she ever took it off which made me very happy. It meant that she always had a reminder of me on her.

The day I gave Maya the bracelet she had shown me just how powerful she was by winning four races and breaking a record. She had been in the local news and a few newspaper articles had been written about her for that achievement. I was so proud of her but Maya acted like nothing happened, she did acknowledge that she won and broke a record but she didn't let it get to her head. She stayed the humble goddess that we all loved and adored.

"We still haven't talked about which colleges we're applying to."I reminded Maya.

We had touched on the subject of applying to the same colleges but never discussed it in full.

"I saw all the flyers on your desk from the universities poaching you."Maya informed me.

"Did you like any of them? Do any of them have a good track athlete program?"I asked Maya.

"Yes but my coach and the guidance counselor advised me to wait until the end of February to submit my application because that's when I'll have received most of my offers."Maya explained.

"Okay then that's what we'll do. But we did agree we are applying to the same university right?"I asked her.

"Yes I remember but you might want to get your separation anxiety checked."Maya chided.

"Bug we were apart for eight years and I'm not about to date you long distance for four years. I don't really care about a football scholarship, you're all I care about. I'll go to whichever school you chose as long as you're happy."I explained.

"How can a girl say no to that?"She replied with a smile.

I wasn't ever letting Maya go because anytime we were apart I felt like I was crumbling. I loved her enough to date her through college if we went to different universities but I didn't want it to come to that.

We arrived home twenty minutes later and as soon as Maya walked in with her stuffed animals she got tackled to the ground by my nieces.

"Told you you should have left them in the car."I laughed helping her up.

"It's okay, maybe we can go back and get others at target."She replied watching my nieces skip away with new toys that weren't actually meant for them.

"Nope, order it online. I'll pay for it. I'm never taking to to target again. You get lost too much."I scolded her taking the shop bags to the kitchen.

"Finally you're here. What took you so long?"My mom exclaimed taking the first bag from me.

I looked at Maya pointedly but refused to throw her under the bus. It's not like my mom would be mad at her, she would find a way to turn the tables on me.

"I forgot something so we had to go back."I replied with a shrug.

Maya gave me a grateful look and I winked at her.

"Important thing is that you're here. Find something to occupy yourselves with, food won't be ready for awhile."My mom demanded chasing us out of the kitchen.

"Wanna hang out in my room?"I asked Maya but before she could reply we were interrupted by Millie, Jean's daughter and one of the thieves to Maya's stuffed animals.

"Maya will you braid my hair like yours?"Millie asked deploying the puppy eyes.

Maya was a sucker for those and they knew it.

"Me too. Please Maya."Alice, Grace's eldest asked with a pout.

Maya looked at me and gave me an apologetic look. Looks like my plans to hang out would have to wait.

"I'll go see if my services are needed outside."I said with a sigh.

"Thank you, I love you."Maya smiled at me.

"You're welcome but I miss the time when I was the only one in this family that loved you."I replied kissing her forehead.

"Don't worry, you're my favorite Olsen and the one I love the most."Maya assured me.

"I better be."I retorted quickly pecking her lips before leaving her and the girls to braid hair.

I walked into the backyard to find that it was chaos out there. My dad and Colt were grilling, Matt and Emmett were setting up a temporary trampoline for the kids while Daniel and Jessica were arm wrestling. Daniel was losing but Jessica was going easy on him so as not to bruise his ego too much.

"Mom is not going to let you serve those at the table."I laughed watching my dad flip his hot dogs.

"Yes she will, these are top not hotdogs."He defended saying the same line he used every Thanksgiving.

My mom never allowed anything grilled on the table for Thanksgiving and my dad knew that. He just liked testing her boundaries.

"No she won't and even if she does no none will eat them."I argued.

"Yes they will. Now quit trying to discourage me. Where is little mouse? I thought you were picking her up?"My dad asked.

"I did, she was hijacked by Millie and Alice. They apparently want locks like her."I replied with an eye roll knowing it was impossible.

"Don't be a sour puss. You can't always have her to yourself."My dad reasoned.

"I know that."I grunted taking a seat with a huff crossing my arms over my chest.

"Why don't you propose already? Seeing as you are so smitten."Jessica teased overhearing our conversation.

"Believe me if I could, I would but we're too young and her aunt wouldn't approve."I replied and the whole backyard went silent.

"Kid you've only been dating for three months, slow down. Very few high school relationships survive past graduation."Colt advised.

"Yeah well Maya isn't my high school sweetheart. She's the love of my life. I've loved her longer than your relationship to my sister."I retorted feeling offended by his attack.

"He didn't mean it that way Eli. All we're asking is for you to slow down. We know you love Maya, no one doubts that but you should also learn to live your life as an individual before you bind your life to hers for life."My dad added.

I knew what they were saying was from a place of love but they had only been spectators in the eight years she had been gone while it had been my actual life. They wouldn't understand what I felt like imagining a life without Maya.

"We all love Maya Eli and she is already part of this family but don't rush what you guys have. If it's meant to be, it will be and all in due time."Matt said adding to the conversation.

"Thank you guys for all your advice. It's well received and I'll keep it in mind."I replied as politely as possible hoping to end the conversation.

"Okay enough girl talk. Wanna arm wrestle? Dan here is about to lose."Jessica asked me.

"No I'm not."Daniel argued his face scrunched up in concentration.

Jessica smirked at him before. slamming his hand onto the table hard. He cried in frustration while Jessica grinned in victory. I didn't have anything to do so I took his place across the narrow table facing Jesisca.

"Ready to go."She challenged with an evil look in her eye.

"Definitely."I gritted holding my hand out.

I was still pissed from the conversation a few minutes earlier so I used it to fuel me.

Jessica took my hand and Daniel counted down for us from three. Jessica expected to take me down within the first two seconds but I held my ground.

"Looks like someone has been working out."Jessica teased trying to throw me off.

She had skill and was strong but I was stronger. Sure she could take me on in the ring but I was still bigger and stronger than her.

"You have no idea."I gritted out.

I wanted to prove myself and because I could I grinned at her her, mustered up all my strength and slammed her hand hard against the table in one swift move.

"And that's how it's done."I cheered getting up and doing my little happy dance.

"Beginners luck, I was distracted."Jessica defended clearly surprised that I'd won.

"You wish."I grinned at her twirling around.

I definitely should have looked where I was going because I ran smack into the corner of a sharp table hurting myself.

"Fuck!"I cussed out loud rubbing my stomach as the pain registered.

"That's what you get for being a cocky winner."Jessica laughed but I was in too much pain.

Nothing hurt like injuring yourself unexpectedly.

I sat down rubbing the pain away but it was taking time to fade. A few seconds later Maya came running out into the backyard looking frantic. She immediately saw me and ran to me cupping my face looking at me worriedly.

"Are you okay?"She asked looking at the arm that was wrapped around my stomach.

"Yeah I just ran into a table. I'm okay."I assured her because the pain was already subsiding.

"Good, I thought you'd seriously hurt yourself."She sighed in relief.

In that moment two things registered in my mind. One is that the whole backyard was quiet and they were all looking at us and two it's that Maya had known of my injury without me or anyone telling her about it. She had literally come to my aid seconds after I got injured which was weird.

"Okay now your relationship is weird. Are you two cosmically connected or something?"Daniel asked voicing the question everyone including me was asking.

"What?! Pfft no!"Maya scoffed her eyes darting back and forth nervously.

"Then how did you know that he just got hurt?"Jessica walked joining the conversation.

"I saw him through the window."Maya replied pointing at the window overlooking the backyard.

"Oh makes sense."My dad laughed and everyone else joined in laughing at the weird conclusions they were coming to.

Everyone bought her excuse and it was believable but something in me was telling me there was more to it than that.

"I am gonna go back inside. You be careful now."Maya demanded softly kissing my forehead.

"Yes ma'am."I grinned feeling happy that she cared about me.

She walked back into the house leaving me outside with more questions than answers. Something was big going on and I had no idea what. I couldn't even guess what it was but one thing that I was sure of was that Maya and I needed to talk. A lot of unexplained things were happening to us and I needed to know what.

It just didn't make sense that she was always aware of my injuries even before I told her. There was also the fact that anytime my health was not at full capacity, Maya was also adversely affected. I'd started noticing that from the moment I'd been hit at the game and passed out. Maya had passed out too with no injuries but was fine as soon as I was. I had caught a cold a few days before Thanksgiving