Chapter 51: Chapter 51

After a few minutes, they both stared at each other silently, their breath harsh.

"I know," Maya whispered, sighing, "This sounds so bad especially since I just told you that I knew I was interfering in what wasn't my business the last time and it is almost like I'm at it again__"

He moved closer to her, "I know, you knew. You didn't look surprised when Melissa mentioned it."

"I shouldn't have knowledge of something like this, but Melissa had come to the house and she had sounded so down and__"

"You know more than anything movie night revealed how much of a disappointment I have been to Melissa as a big brother," he had pains in his eyes as he glanced at Maya.

"I abandoned my little sister when it got too much than I could take, I let her stay in a house that had only boxes of nightmarish visions and pain,"

"You didn't know she knew and though that doesn't make it right, it isn't too late Xavier. Funny enough but it seems like Melissa still needs her big brother," Maya smiled at him reassuringly, "He is painfully annoying, not perfect but that was what all this has been about. I know Melissa is a darling and all but I could tell she was extra friendly to me because she believed being close to me kept you next to her,"

Xavier Chuckled staring straight ahead.

"No, I think she liked you genuinely. It was there in her smile, how bright her eyes had shone when she'd seen you. I was just a bonus," he whispered shaking his head.

Maya smiled at his words.

"She is scarred too and just like yourself, you should know that your mother is someone she doesn't want to ever be like. You need to understand this is no joke Xavier," she glanced at him, "Saying things that trigger her to think she might just be fitting into that mold, is cruel. She did it to you just once and look at where you are, whereas you have been at it virtually all the times you both disagreed,"

"I didn't know, I'd no idea that Mel__" he paused his face contorting in disbelief, "Have been through such pain, seen such images, and still have the brightest smile."

"And now you know? now you know you'd left your baby sister to deal with all the crap that came with being Mr. Dominic spawn, what are you going to do about it?"

He shook his head, "She hates me now."

Maya nodded, "She should. That is the sensible thing to do. I can only imagine how many times she doubted herself and wondered if she was her mom. How many good men she broke up with because of those snarky comments you made__"

"Christ," Xavier exhaled, shaking his head, "You are supposed to be of real help not make me feel more like a fucker."

Maya smiled, "You didn't let me finish Xavier. Love has never been sensible and if there was one thing I learned about Melissa Salvador during the short time I met her," she smiles at him, not able to resist, she ruffles his hair "She loves you douchebag."

He didn't even put up a fight making her feel so much guilt.

"She won't even see me," he muttered in disbelief.

"I'll fix that." She assured him.

He nodded, not knowing why but he believed her instantly. That was how much power Maya had on him, he thought.

"Why are you helping this douchebag?" He muttered after a few minutes.

"I don't know how not to." She whispered softly knowing that there was no need to lie or not admit the truth.

She couldn't stop herself from reaching out to Xavier regardless of how much he hurt her which made her scared as she wondered if this was what Mrs. Salvador faced.

But the past few weeks of treating him to a silent treatment while watching him beat himself over what had happened had been more torture for her than she had intended for him.

"Guess what I had thought the first day I saw you at the club?"

Maya watched him in surprise, they hardly talked about that night. It was not like a forbidden topic, but it was their least favorite topic regardless of how close they have been in the past weeks and how they've discussed any and everything.

"You were like, who is this hot shit?" She deadpanned.

He chuckled, shaking his head at the statement, "That too but firstly I'd knew you were too good for me," he tucked in a stray hair that had escaped the loose bun she had packed them in.

She found herself leaning into his touch as his words caressed her and his smoldering gaze made her gasp, "I didn't see that coming," she admitted.

"Only fair you feel that way because I didn't see you coming Maya. I didn't."

She just stared into his eyes knowing that the air had changed between them and it was more intense, more different.

"I think more than anything, I care for you than I ever thought possible that's why it had dug deep into my heart when I found myself flipping at you, still not able to control my stupid temper with you, you should be my exception, you should be the reason my temper reduces__" he chuckled lightly, "Just like in the movies."

"We ain't no fairytale Xavier and I doubt you will just forget years of garbage, being solitary, scared because of me."

"I want to. That is the problem," he shook his head at her giving her a little nudge that was supposed to be playful but only made her sniff, "I want you to help me get fixed."

"I don't want to fix you, Xavier," their heads were facing each other as they softly mumbled in the room.

"Hey don't cry," Xavier caught a tear that had already escaped from Maya's eye.

"I don't think I can," she whispered.

He raised his brow in confusion.

"You took that choice away from me. To do or not to. Now, I feel like a body being possessed by something somewhat stronger that decides my life and what I do with it,"

"You shouldn't feel that way," she gave him a weak smile, "Not really my decision, Xavier."

"Fuck that. You'll always be in charge of your life and all your decisions. I ain't worth even a piece of your bubbly personality, enthusiasm, and the brightness you bring to me. I don't deserve you,"

She released a dry hoarse laughter, "Funny that you feel that way because I'm the product of a tramp and the girl coached to become one," her eyes welled with even more tears, "I'm Bree and by all standards, Bree doesn't deserve anything good. So how dare you feel like you are too good for me?"

"Shhh, don't you dare think of yourself like that. Bree, Maya, and any other name you have up your sleeve make no difference to me. You are an amazing person, a great human being, and the woman I'm beginning to know is selfless, beautiful both inward and outwardly, kind and damn brave."

"I ain't all that Xavier."

"But that is how I see you."

"You are blind then," she muttered weakly, her head now resting on the couch, her eyes closed.

"I can't help it."