Here it is! Sorry it took so long!
Maura's POV
It seemed as if my life had stopped. I’ve been stranded in my room with no drama, no press, no… anything- except many phone calls from Nick. But I never answered. He’s been calling ever since the night at the café, when he confessed out back with Joe and when James left me soon after.
Confusion was written all over my face when I stepped outside the café. I saw James standing off to the side, talking on his cell phone. I breathed a sigh of relief, knowing it wasn’t anything bad. I hope.
James heard me approaching and turned around. I could easily see the surprise on his face. He muffled a quick goodbye into his phone, and then shoved it into his pocket. A silence was then present.
“Hey,” I greeted with a smile.
James tugged on the back of his neck. “Uh hey… You okay?”
“Yeah, everything’s fine now. You can come back inside.”
“Yeah about that….” James ran his hands through his buzz cut stressfully.
My eyebrows furrowed. “What’s wrong?”
“Look Maura, I don’t know how to say this….” My eyes widened. Oh no.
“Are you breaking up with me?” The last word barely came out.
“Well, it’s not like we were together or anything.”
“Not together? James, you were there for me when Nick hurt me. You- you comforted me and… I thought you… maybe you… loved me.” I felt so stupid.
“Loved you? Hah, sorry Maura, but that’s not what I was going for.” His mouth formed a sheepish smile.
“Not what you were going for?! What’s that supposed to mean?! Were you planning on hurting me?! Did you just do all this to use me?!”
“Wow, you’re good.”
My mouth dropped to the concrete. “James! How could you?! Nick was right! He told me- well, it was really Joe, but he told Joe- that you wouldn’t let Nick anywhere near me after you saved me. I wasn’t sure if I should believe it, but… Ugh! James, I hate you!” I pushed him hard, and he almost fell backwards. “Just leave! Don’t ever try and come near me again!
James just took off in the other direction towards his car and sped away without saying a word. He left me. Alone. On the street. But surprisingly, I didn’t cry for him. I cried for Nick.
I sighed in frustration and reached down to grab a pillow, but all of them were already across my room from when I threw them earlier. The glow from my phone got my attention from the corner of my eye. Guilt was weighing on my shoulders when I saw Nick was calling again. This had to be the thirtieth time, but I still didn’t pick it up. Once my ringtone ended, I picked up my cell from my nightstand and looked at my missed calls- 38 calls in the last three days. And there was a voicemail for each one. I knew I couldn’t just erase them…
A half hour later, I was hearing the newest voicemail from Nick. The ones beforehand, I deleted before they were barely halfway through. I was about to erase this one, but I stopped.
“Look Maura, I’m getting really tired of this.” His voice was strict, but not angry, just annoyed. “I know you’re there. Just pick up the phone!” I jumped at the raise of his voice, but then he sighed. “Sorry, I just… I’m upset that you’re ignoring me.” A slight pause and that was when I was about to erase it. “Before you go ahead and erase this message too, I want to remind you of something. You kept a promise to me the night of the fight, before we went back inside and all that crap happened… Remember what it was? I wanted you to promise me that when James broke your heart, you would come running to me. When you realized he was no good for you, you’d choose me. And you promised! What happened? I know we have a rough past, but… I never thought you wouldn’t keep your promises.” Another sigh and I heard some sniffles. “Please… just please call me back…. Call me back when you’re able to keep promises again.”
I guess I still had more tears to cry because they began coming down. I didn’t let out a sob or a moan, I was just silently crying. But then it hit me. I need to keep this promise. I need to show Nick that.
Without stopping to think, I flew off my bed, ran out of my room, down the stairs, and out the door- sweats and all- in a matter of seconds. I needed Nick in my life more than I thought. All this time I was thinking of ways to tell him that being in each other’s lives isn’t going to work out. But I was wrong.
My mind couldn’t even process the thought of using my car. I was already in a full on sprint when I realized it. Thankfully, I lived only a few blocks away from their California home. Breathless and heart on fire, I was relieved when the Jonas house was in sight. Giving it my last bit of strength- running was not my thing- I was finally at their door, ringing the bell and pounding on the door multiple times. Sorry Mama and Papa J.
I saw a curly head come walking up, but the image was blurred. Anticipation grew as the door opened and I was ready to run into his arms- but it was Kevin. “Kevin!” I said with surprise.
He looked confused. “Maura… what are you doing here?”
“Where’s Nick?” I asked still out of breath.
“Up in his room-” I didn’t bother to hear the rest.
I sprinted up the stairs and made a quick left and charged down the hall to the last door on the left. My fists slammed against the door, but I was too out of breath to yell out.
“God Joe, calm down!” He yelled out. “Did you beat your high score in Brickbreaker again?” As he opened the door, he was about to laugh, but then saw me.
I didn’t give him a chance to say anything- he probably couldn’t from his state of shock. I jumped into his somewhat open arms, wrapped my legs around his waist and held on tight, not caring if he was upset or mad. But he wasn’t, because his arms were soon squeezing my body closer to him. My chest was heaving against his, from excitement and being overwhelmed.
When air could enter my lungs, I turned my head so my lips were against his ear. “I always keep my promises,” I whispered. He shivered from my touch, but only hugged me tighter.
