The Truths Behind the Life of Maeve Sun Lively

53

FOR THE NEXT FEW DAYS I have been coming up with a plan. And with some suggestion from Cameron—who turns out was a real fancy boy during his high school years—I decided not to over do it even though Cameron gave me plenty of those kinds of suggestions. Following my heart and Mason, I ended up with bouquets of flowers and a cello. Yes, a cello. I spent the last week learning to play a very simple song on a cello just so I could surprise her with it. Can you believe how hard and painful it is?

But it was all going to be so worth it.

Carrying the heavy cello case—that belonged to her—I got on a plane and surprisingly not too many people recognized or bothers me. And to the few who do, when they ask me why I'm headed to L.A. I tell them it was to see Cameron. That added just the perfect image of our perfect girlfriend and boyfriend reality. Everything was fitting in smoothly, piece by piece, and somehow it added even more to my eagerness to see my lover.

The bouquet of flowers I ordered to pick up there in L.A. so it'd be fresh. While waiting for the plane to take off, my phone started ringing. Mason.

"Please tell me your first stop in L.A. will be me."

I rolled my eyes, but a smile tugs at my face. "Maybe before, but now the important thing is Klarise."

"Fine fine, just visit me as soon as possible when you're done with whatever you've planned." His voice faked with hurt even though I could hear the giggles on the verge of his extra low voice so it won't come. At last, he adds, "Since you won't tell me."

"This is going to be a memorable moment for only me and her. Well, I bet you and Cameron have some stuff you don't inform me."

His laugh finally comes without any resistance. "Fair point."

"All passengers please..."

I buckle my seatbelt, my phone hanging between my left cheek and shoulder. "Okay, the plane is about to take off now, I'll call you when I get there."

"Be safe," and I hung up. Sometimes I wonder why he always adds that before a takeoff when clearly I am in no control whether or not the plane would crash. Or why he adds that in almost every time we part.

For your information, the plane didn't crash.

There is a sense of dread and tiredness clinging onto me as I arrive in Los Angeles, but then there was also the knowledge that I could see Klarise soon. That raises all my hopes up as I push the frustration through while getting my luggage and all that other process.

I text Mason I've arrived instead of calling him, and then I check to see if there's anything from Klarise. When I see none, I text her, but not expecting anything back so soon. She hadn't FaceTimed me since she arrived at her parents' house a month ago, and sometimes not even a call. The least she did was to text me once every three days to let me know she is still alive. My heart sinks a little to remember this, but I ignored it since it had also given me the perfect time to plan things. I wait in the parking lot for my Uber, and when it comes I get in.

It was almost dinner, and when the driver tilted her head at me and asked, "Where are you headed?" I feel a smile tug at my face, looking down on the address Cameron had sent me.

I show her my phone screen, and while she types the address into the navigation, I can't help but also blurt out; "I'm going to surprise someone important and they're going to love it."

She smiled at me, and I realize she probably doesn't recognize who I am or if she does she doesn't really care. "Well, I'm glad to hear that."

I text Klarise again. Hey I miss you.