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Over the course of several days, as Phoenix passed in front of Maya, looked at her from his desk, or his spot on the couch as he sat next to her, he couldn’t help but notice that something seemed… off. She didn’t quite look like herself, and seemed to be moving slower than normal, which wasn’t Maya at all.
The Maya he knew jumped around the place, spoke loudly, and made her presence known when she entered a room. She still smiled, but it didn’t look completely genuine, more like she was trying to reassure Phoenix that nothing was wrong, but he saw it anyway. After years of knowing her, he could notice when something changed in her behavior.
After days of pondering around, Phoenix managed to set up a few days out of office, and arranged a few days for him and Maya to decompress. Since she didn’t have her own place quite yet, Phoenix knocked in the room she was staying in at his place, entering when he heard a sleepy ‘come in’.
“How did you sleep?” Phoenix asked, peeking his head through the doorway.
“Mmmh.. Could've used another 60 hours, probably.” Maya said, rubbing her eyes as she yawned.
“You can't just sleep all day, you know.” Phoenix walked in the room, stopping by the bed.
Maya replied sadly, “It would be nice if I could.”
“You know, I've got something that could be even better.” Phoenix said.
“Really…?
“How about we… get away from the city for a few days? I got a few days off.”
“Away from the city? Where would we even go?” Maya questioned.
“If I tell you, it'll ruin the surprise.” Phoenix shrugged.
“Yeah, but what if I hate the place?”
“Then, I guess I'll have to have all the fun myself.” Phoenix started to walk back to the door, when a rushing noise came from behind him. Maya had sprung out of bed in a hurry, looking at him with big eyes. “Oh, now you want to go?”
“Well, why wouldn't I?”
“It's away from the city, is that so exciting?”
“I grew away from the city, you know. Up until here, that's pretty much all I knew.”
“Then you won't hate it.” Phoenix smiled at her. “Don't take too long getting dressed, and pack lightly, it's only a few days, and we're taking the train.”
“We're really taking the train?!” Maya yelled, as if a switch flipped all of a sudden. She hadn't been that energetic in a few days.
“No, we're going by foot. Just, get dressed! Or I'll have all the fun without you!” Phoenix said sarcastically as he left the room and heard Maya fumbling around to get ready behind him, making him laugh. She's a sweet girl, Phoenix thought. After everything she went through, she still found the will to keep going, and more than he liked to admit it, she gave him strength to keep going and wake up every day as well.
She was that special of a person. A friend that brightened your life in every aspect. So, it was only natural that he wanted to make her happy no matter what, he couldn't stand seeing her upset lately.
While Maya was running back and forth between her room, and the bathroom, Phoenix made himself busy with fixing up some breakfast, just some eggs and toast as he had never been that talented with cooking to begin with, but the most important thing was that Maya loved it anyway.
She sat at the table in a rush with her bag loudly falling on the floor and her jacket already on, and quickly started to eat up.
“Maya, the train isn't for an hour, you can…” Phoenix started.
Maya swallowed, “It's not good to be late, trains are always on time, and so will I!” She continued eating, to which Phoenix sighed and grabbed a piece of toast. He repressed a laugh because he didn't want to see Maya laughing at him, he would never hear the end of it.
Maya was, obviously, done eating without him, and had already washed her plate when Phoenix had barely finished, and stood at the door like a sentinel.
“Geez, you're too fast for me to keep up with… have some mercy, I'm getting old.” Phoenix grabbed the last of his toast and dropped his plate in the sink, quickly washing it off before Maya could complain. “Oh, my bag, that's what I forgot. I'll… be right back, I just need five minutes.”
“Be fast, ‘kay?” Maya called out from the door as Phoenix walked away to his room. He grabbed a bag in his closet and only took two pairs of pants and shirts as they would only be gone for about three days maximum. He went to the bathroom to get his, and Maya's toothbrush when he noticed she hadn't taken it, and didn't bother with the rest since the place they would stay at would have everything. He came back to an impatient Maya who nearly jumped at the door, and the two went out by foot to the train station.
The trip was lovely, the two of them sat across from each other and looked at the window as they observed the scenery. They made light talk about the place they were going to and even how it had been a while since neither had set foot so far away. The train stopped after a few hours, and the two of them stepped out of the train along with the few other people that were in the cabin with them.
“We're finally there, it's good to be back.” Phoenix said as the two walked along the end of the train platform.
“You've already been there before?” Maya asked.
“Yes, I used to go there every summer with my grandparents. It was really nice.”
“I wish I could have done that too. I moved away pretty early after Mia. It didn't feel right to stay at the time, but then it felt weird to be in a place… so different.”
“Is that… why you've been a bit different lately?”
“You noticed that..?” Maya asked hesitantly.
“Of course I did. I notice everything.” Phoenix smiled lightly.
“I just missed the countryside so much that I thought I did. I like the city too, it has… a lot of shops, and things that I never had in the city, but the countryside, the mountains, it's where I grew up.”
“And that's why we're gonna take a few days here, just the two of us.”
“Thank you, Nick. You're a great friend.” Maya lightly smiled.
Phoenix slightly ruffled the top of Maya's head, offering a smile in return. “Anything. Come on, let's get going. We have some walking around to do.”
For what seemed like hours and hours on end, the two of them walked through the streets, taking little paths, stopping and staring at every little ancient looking shop and food stands, which they stopped at a few times after Maya kept begging Phoenix, and all in all, it was a wonderful first day well spent, even if Phoenix was absolutely tired and felt like a ton of bricks had just hit him while Maya still had plenty of energy like a kid on a sugar high.
“I can't believe today is already over! I already can't wait to see what we'll be doing tomorrow, don't you?” Maya asked excitedly.
Phoenix sighed, “I can't…. I can't wait too. My back hurts, though. We're not getting up until at least ten tomorrow.”
“Ten?! But that's so late!”
“Maya, I'm getting old, I need my rest.”
Maya pouted, “Fine, I'll let you rest.” She quietly walked by him, a soft smile forming on her face despite the disappointment.
After a few minutes of silently walking beside each other, Phoenix broke the silence. “You know, I can't make any promises yet, but I'll try to bring you out there again in the future. I know how much this means to you.”
“I'll try not to tire you out so much then. You won't be able to bring me anywhere if I drive you crazy.” Maya replied.
“That sounds good to me.”
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