Even If the Sky is Falling, page 8
After a while, Percy sauntered into the area and settled next to Maya. Tarek had snort-laughed at something in his book. Clearly, he was enjoying it, which thoroughly warmed Maya with pride. Maya lazily curled her legs under her and stroked Percy’s soft fur. Her book was excellent. The cat was purring. And Maya was not alone.
“This is ridiculously good,” Tarek said.
“Right? I don’t get why people hate on the genre so much.”
They continued to read silently. Maya forgot everything. Her father working too hard. Her uncertainty about whether dumping all her savings into a small business was a good idea. And most importantly, she didn’t think about the world maybe ending out there. Mostly.
“Hey, Tarek,” she said. “Your cell service working yet?”
He shook his head. “No.”
She closed her eyes a moment to listen. She knew they were in the middle of the mountains, but there was still no sound of destruction. Maya would never have imagined that the apocalypse would be so peaceful. She checked her phone. It was past ten o’clock. It had been more than three hours since the alarm.
“What if we are stuck in here for days?” she asked.
He shrugged. “Could be worse. There’s food, drinks and working bathrooms. Plenty of books. A cat. I bet we could survive here a month, no problem.”
A month cut off from the rest of the world? Without her family and her friends and cat? Without her mother making her fresh rotis, and her father and her sitting at the kitchen table experimenting with new spice blends?
A month with no one who loved her?
Maya looked out into the dark distance. They’d turned a few of the lamps in this booth on, but everything outside their little sanctuary was dark. They’d found the main light switches in the security office earlier, but decided they weren’t necessary.
It was so strange. She couldn’t remember ever not seeing or hearing evidence of anyone else in the world. With four of them plus her cat in the family home, and her Monday to Thursday shifts in the busy call center, Maya was never alone. Even back in her and Ben’s tiny apartment, she could always hear the families that lived above and below. Maya wasn’t used to silence.
“Maya?” Tarek’s voice was low.
“Yes?”
“I was thinking about your three positives, and I think they’re mine, too.” He slid closer to her and reached over her to rub Percy’s back. “I like having the cat here. I’m also thankful we’re alive. But my last one is different from yours. I’m not just grateful not to be alone, but happy to be specifically with you.”
Maya didn’t know what to say so she didn’t say anything. But deep inside her, she agreed with him. She wasn’t a fan of the end of the world. But was happy to be spending it with Tarek.
* * *
It started to get even chillier as the night went on. Thankfully, they had a whole flea market full of stuff at their disposal, so just past ten, they found a booth that sold cheap knock-off clothes, and grabbed sweatshirts, sweatpants and a thick furry blanket with wolves on it. They left an IOU on the counter for their purchases and went to the bathrooms to change.
It looked like they were going to be there all night. Maya still wasn’t sure what was happening in the world outside the market since they hadn’t so much as looked out a window, but she hoped people around the country were feeling as safe and secure as she was.
“I was up at six prepping food all day,” Tarek said, yawning as they settled back on their sofa.
She was a little surprised that they’d wordlessly decided to continue to share the sofa. There were several other couches in this market—since there was more than one furniture vendor. But Maya didn’t want to be the one to suggest going elsewhere. In a bizarre turn of events, Tarek Mizra was the only thing keeping her brain from falling into the spiral of despair right now.
And if at some point in the night the three tones went off, this moment...this connection she’d rediscovered would end. No more of Tarek’s laughs. No more of him making her smile whenever he noticed darkness sweeping in to consume her. No more squeezing her hand before her tears fell.
And then life would go on. He’d be her professional rival and the son of her father’s enemy again. This little protective bubble with their three positives would burst, and all the challenges that seemed almost insurmountable in Maya’s normal life would be back.
And that was the best-case scenario. The worst-case scenario was that the asteroids that she couldn’t see or hear but could be barreling toward earth right now would hit while they slept.
Maya’s fists clenched and she squeezed her eyes shut. She needed to be close to Tarek. To feel the comfort that only human contact could give her. Snuggling a cat was nice, but even a cat lady like Maya needed people.
“I probably won’t sleep right away,” she said. Or sleep at all. She was tired, but she was too anxious.
“Yeah, me neither. Plus...I kind of want to get back to this book.”
Maya smiled. “So then should we just keep reading?”
He grinned, nodding. They got back into the same positions they were in before, except a little closer. They had to—they only had the one blanket between them. They read silently for a while until Tarek snorted.
“What?”
“Sorry, this is really funny. Are all these books like this?”
Maya shook her head. “That author is particularly funny. They’re not all funny, though.”
He turned to look at the cover again. “It’s like...it’s hiding something.”
“What do you mean?”
“The book. You can’t really judge it by its cover.” He turned and looked at Maya. “I always thought that about you.”
They weren’t supposed to talk about when they were young, but she was curious. “Why?”
“You were kind of quiet, I mean. You still are, when you’re not swearing or yelling at me about tikka sauce. But you were bookish.”
She snorted. “I’m still bookish. I mean, I’m reading right now.”
“Yeah, that’s just it. You’re quiet and read a lot, but it turns out you’re reading very funny and very sexy books.”
She laughed. “So, you’re surprised I’m not a prude.”
“I never thought you were a prude. That’s my point. I never judged you by your cover. I always knew there was more than what others saw.”
She believed him. Mostly because back when they were little and she’d had that massive crush on him, it was because he always...noticed her. She didn’t think he could possibly return her feelings, but she wasn’t invisible to Tarek. She had this memory of a big party at the Mizras. There were a lot of people there—and a lot of other teenagers. Her sister, his brother and sister, plus the kids of all the other aunties and uncles. They were all playing a board game in the basement and Maya had been eliminated early. Tarek played until the end, but Maya had the next book in her favorite series with her, so she sat in the corner and read. Really it was no wonder that she had a reputation for being dull and bookish. But anyway, the game must have ended because there was a commotion with all the kids heading up the basement stairs. Maya didn’t know where they were all going, and it wasn’t the first time she’d been left behind like that. She figured she’d stay in the quiet space and keep reading. But then Tarek was in front of her. We’re going out to the backyard, Maya. You’re coming, right? He had his hand out to help her get up.
It was such a small thing. But it was a memory that stayed with her—Tarek making sure she wasn’t left behind.
She chuckled. “You haven’t changed much.”
He shifted a bit, settling into his seat. The movement brought them closer still, maybe unintentionally, but neither of them moved to correct it. They were touching now. Not quite leaning on each other or even pressed together, but there was no space at all between their legs.
“What did you think of me back when we were kids?” he asked.
She raised a brow. “Fishing for compliments?”
He laughed. “Yeah, maybe. Get back to me on that.” He yawned, then rubbed his face. “I can’t believe we’re still here.”
“We’re never getting out of here.” She’d said it lightheartedly, but still tensed the moment the words were out. They’d been alone for hours. Maya was used to assuming the worst was going to happen, but it was far past the time when even optimists should panic. Her breath hitched.
Suddenly, Tarek’s hand was on her chin, gently turning her face so she could look at him. She’d love to say she found strength in his resolve. In his positivity. But the only thing in his eyes was the same fear she felt. His hand slid over her cheek. “I’m terrified, too, but keeping your three positives at the front of my mind is helping.” His hand slid down her face, then he took her hand in his. She was pretty sure he was doing it because he needed to touch someone alive as much as she did. Maybe even more.
“Cat. Alive. Together,” she said. She glanced at Percy curled up at the edge of the sofa.
“Yes,” he smiled. “Cat. Alive. Together.” He shifted again. “I should get some sleep.”
Maya yawned. “Yeah, me, too.”
Wordlessly, she shut off the lamp, and they arranged themselves side by side on the enormous couch, arms around each other, faces inches apart. He was warm, solid and smelled like garam masala and home. This was the only way she could imagine herself getting any sleep tonight. Alive, and together with Tarek Mizra.
“Good night, Maya,” he said.
“Good night, Tarek.” She smiled. He shifted a bit, coming even closer to her. She did the same. She could make out his eyes now. The fear was still in his warm eyes.
But there was comfort, too. And the space between them was gone. Maya wasn’t even sure who started it, but it wasn’t long before they were kissing. Maya was pretty sure it wasn’t really happening though—it had to be a dream. Yesterday she’d been tense, and stressed and worried that her world was going to fall apart under her nose, and now it was the end of the world, and her first crush was gifting her easily the sweetest kiss of her life. She squeezed her eyes shut so she wouldn’t wake up as Tarek gently explored her lips with his own. Tiny bites, a little bit of sucking. Soon his tongue reached out to taste, to explore. It was soft, sleepy and slow. Those full lips she’d fantasized about when she was fifteen felt even better than she could have imagined. She could feel his heartbeat against hers while they were cocooned together on an antique couch and wrapped in a furry blanket. They kissed like that, softly and lazily, for probably longer than they should have, until a long chime sound startled Maya. She sat up as Percy bolted off the couch into the darkness.
“It’s over,” she said. Their nightmare, or fever dream, or whatever it was, was over.
Tarek shook his head and took out his phone. “No. Sorry. That’s my sleep app. Reminding me it’s bedtime.” He picked up his phone, but the sound had already stopped.
“What time is it,” Maya asked. The spell of that moment was broken. Maya had no idea what was going to happen now.
“Midnight.”
“Why do you have a sleep app?” Maya’s therapist had once suggested she get one, but the sight of it on her home screen made her anxious.
Tarek shifted a bit, putting some distance between them, then huffed an awkward chuckle. “My therapist recommended it. I have insomnia.”
He didn’t seem to want to say more, and Maya didn’t want to pry. But clearly everything wasn’t sunshine and rosewater in Tarek’s world like she’d assumed. Estranged from his family and seeing a therapist? He looked at her with an awkward smile on his face, maybe worried he’d said too much.
“So...it’s time to sleep then?” Maya said. She wasn’t sure if she wanted to do that, or see where those kisses would have gone if his app didn’t go off.
He seemed as torn up with indecision as she was. “Yeah. We should.”
“It’s just,” Maya said, squeezing his thigh. “I don’t want to do something even if it feels right, for the wrong reason, you know?”
He leaned forward and kissed the tip of Maya’s nose. “Yes. I know exactly. Let’s sleep.”
Maya smiled, then turned her body so she could be the little spoon to his big spoon. She thought she wouldn’t be able to sleep, but her last thought was that his breathing had slowed so his insomnia wasn’t kicking in. Maya gave in to slumber, not knowing if the world was ending or not, and she’d never slept so peacefully.
6
Maya would have expected that waking up pressed tight against Tarek Mizra on a lumpy old couch with a furry wolf blanket thrown over her would cause a bit of confusion, but everything was crystal clear the moment she opened her eyes. She shifted a bit, squinting. It was still dark, but a bit brighter than earlier, as if a dim light was behind her. She could hear paper rustling. She turned to see Tarek reading by the light of his flashlight.
“You’re up,” Tarek said softly.
“What time is it?”
“Four. Can’t sleep.”
Maya smiled. “Book too good? Been there.”
He chuckled. His sleepy face was...adorable. A tiny bit of stubble on that square jaw. Hair sticking up everywhere. And sleepy, hooded eyes.
“Any chance I slept through the all-clear sirens?” Maya asked.
He shook his head, putting his book down. “No. Still no cell service, either.”
Maya sighed. She’d kind of hoped she’d slept through the rest of this disaster, but there was no way she was going to be able to get back to sleep now. She looked around—she couldn’t see Percy anywhere, but she knew he was out there.
Three positives: Cat. Alive. Tarek.
Maya shifted up to a semi-sitting position and flicked on the table lamp. Should they talk now? Because they clearly had a lot to talk about. Like the whole world possibly ending part, but also? They’d kissed last night. A lot. Yeah, they were both exhausted and emotional and very scared, but exploring someone’s lips wasn’t usually how Maya dealt with fear.
She cleared her throat.
“Wait, Maya. Before you say anything, I have a whole speech planned. Can I go first?”
“Speech?” she asked.
“I woke up before you. I practiced.”
She exhaled and nodded.
He cleared his throat. “Maya, I had a huge crush on you when we were teenagers.”
Okay, that was not what she expected him to say. “No, you didn’t.”
“I did. The last year before we moved away.”
So, nowhere near as long as she’d been crushing on him. Also, was this really happening? The world was ending, and Tarek Mizra had just admitted he was into her when he was sixteen? “Okaayyy...”
“And—” he ran his hand over his hair “—I had fun with you here last night.”
“Except for the we may all die a fiery death part, right?”
He chuckled. “Yeah, of course. Without that, it would have been even better. But I was glad to be with you for the end of the world. If the world doesn’t end, would you like to have dinner with me sometime?”
Tarek Mizra is asking me out. She’d pined for him for years, and all it took was one apocalypse and he was asking her on a date. Maya didn’t want to just go out with Tarek. She wanted to wrap her arms around his neck and pull him in so they could finish what they’d started last night. Maya literally had to clasp her hands together in front of her to stop herself from grabbing him and mauling the man.
But mauling him, or dating him, or anything in between was a terrible idea. Even if he was estranged from his parents, he was still a Mizra. What would Dad say to this? Also, if the world didn’t end, they still had their sandwich rivalry. And they didn’t even live in the same city. “It would be very complicated.”
“Yes, it would.”
“We don’t know if we’ll walk out of here.”
He took her hand. “You’re right, we don’t. But maybe enduring this would be easier if we had something to look forward to?”
She exhaled, squeezing his hand. “Look, Tarek, I’m... This is a lot for me right now. Can we put a pin in this conversation, and have it when we get out?”
He smiled widely. “Yes. Let’s do that. We’ll put a pin in it until we walk out of this place together.”
It took Maya a second to realize that his enormous smile was because she’d said when we get out, not if. Apparently, the man’s optimism was contagious.
To prevent herself from any more minefield conversations, Maya picked up her e-reader. “I think I’ll read for a bit, okay?”
He grinned. He settled behind her, one arm loosely around her waist. “Yes. Me, too.”
She did read, but not for very long. There was too much going through her head to focus. He didn’t seem to be having a problem, though. He was so engrossed in his book; she almost didn’t want to interrupt him. Almost, but she had to say something. The world was ending, and maybe the apocalypse was telling her it was time to be bold, just like when she opened Masala Girls.
“Tarek?”
“Yeah?”
“I had a crush on you before, too.”
He chuckled and put his book down. “I know.”
“You did?”
He laughed. “You were very easy to read back then.” He batted his lashes suggestively at her.
Maya blinked. Well, this was embarrassing. She took a breath. “I think my teenage self would really, really hate that pin. She’d tell me the world was fucking ending and this could be my only chance with you.”
He looked at her for a few moments, then smiled. And it was a different smile. Hungry. So fucking sexy Maya’s toes were already curling. He put a hand behind her neck.
“Great thing about pins is you can take them out to try something on, then put the pin back in again.” He pulled her close, so their lips were almost touching.
