The Diary Of A Summer Well Lived

Chapter 25

The sun was already high in the sky by the time Mrs. Scatts, Maya, Dan, and Andrew finally piled into the car. What was supposed to be a quick morning of getting ready had turned into a whirlwind of last-minute packing, misplaced items, and Dan and Andrew's insistence on bringing their entire collection of toy dinosaurs. Mrs. Scatts had laughed it off, her usual patience prevailing, but Maya had been silently anxious. They were already late, and this was no ordinary picnic. It was the annual mother-daughter get-together, an event Maya had been looking forward to all summer, so that she could introduce her mom to the other mom, in order for her mom to realise that she wasn't alone and could have friends who were going through the same thing as her. On her phone, she was updating the girls about their whereabouts and the others were preparing their mothers too.

As they pulled into the parking lot of the sprawling park, Maya's heart sank. The picnic was in full swing. Mothers clustered together under a large oak tree, their laughter floating through the warm air, while daughters darted around on the grassy field, chasing each other and giggling. Maya spotted the brightly colored picnic blankets spread out under the tree and the food-laden tables nearby. The sight of everyone already settled in made her feel like they had missed out on something special.

"Finally!" Mrs. Tamara's warm voice greeted them as they approached. She was the hostess, and her welcoming smile quickly eased some of Maya's worries. Tamara had a way of making everyone feel at home, even when they arrived late. "I was beginning to think you got lost!" she teased.

"We might as well have!" Mrs. Scatts laughed, rolling her eyes at the twins who were already racing off towards the playground. "But thank you for holding down the fort."

"Of course," Tamara said, leading them to a spot that had been reserved. "You haven't missed much, don't worry. We've only just started the games."

Maya sighed in relief as she spread out her blanket beside her mother's. The picnic was divided into two main sections: one for the mothers and one for the daughters. Maya's friends—Aliyah and Julia—were already huddled together on their side, engrossed in some conversation that Maya was eager to join. She could see the spread of sandwiches, fruit, and snacks that Mrs. Tamara had prepared, and her stomach rumbled in anticipation.

But as Maya settled down, she caught sight of something that made her freeze. Across the park, just arriving with a confident strut, was Lisa. And trailing right beside her was another girl Maya vaguely recognized—Lacrosse, who she suddenly remembered was Julia's cousin. A wave of dread washed over her.

Ever since what happened between Lisa and Maya, they hadn't laid eyes on each other, well, Lisa had seen Maya from peeping and stalking but Maya hadn't see her. The thought of having to share this picnic, which was supposed to be a day of fun, with her made Maya's stomach twist.

"Please don't sit near us," Maya whispered under her breath, eyes squeezed shut in a desperate prayer. But when she opened them again, her worst fears were realized. Lisa and Lacrosse were heading straight towards her, their gazes locking onto the empty space beside her blanket.

"Hey, Maya!" Lisa's voice was sugary sweet, but Maya could hear the edge beneath it. "Mind if we sit here?"

Maya forced a smile, her mind racing for an excuse, but before she could answer, Lisa and Lacrosse were already lowering themselves onto the blanket beside her. The air around them suddenly felt tight, and Maya's earlier excitement for the picnic began to wane.

Aliyah and Julia exchanged glances, sensing the tension, but they didn't say anything. Julia, ever the peacekeeper, tried to strike up a conversation. "So, Lacrosse, how long are you staying with your aunt?"

"Just for the weekend," Lacrosse answered, her tone friendly, oblivious to the undercurrents between Lisa and Maya. "It's been ages since I've seen Julia, so this is perfect!"

Maya forced herself to nod along, trying to focus on the conversation and ignore Lisa's smug grin. The picnic was supposed to be fun, a chance to relax and enjoy the last days of school and the start of summer, but with Lisa so close, it felt like a dark cloud had settled over her.

Mrs. Scatts and the other mothers seemed blissfully unaware of the drama brewing on the girls' side of the picnic. They were deep in conversation, sharing stories and laughing as they passed around plates of homemade treats. Occasionally, Mrs. Scatts would glance over at Maya with a warm smile, as if to remind her that she was nearby if anything went wrong.

As the afternoon wore on, Maya tried to make the best of the situation. The girls played a few games, and for a while, it almost felt like old times. But Lisa kept finding little ways to get under Maya's skin—snide comments here and there, subtle digs disguised as jokes. It was exhausting.

At one point, when the girls were gathered around the food table, picking out snacks, Lisa leaned in close to Maya. "You know, I'm surprised you even came today," she whispered. "I thought you'd be too embarrassed after what happened at school."

Maya: Chuckles a bit "Embarrassed!?! You should be the one that should be embarrassed here for having sex with your friend's boyfriend, knowing damn well I asked you if you liked him and you said no."

Lisa: "Well, I am sorry Maya, I have come to apologise and seek your forgiveness-"

"Leave her alone, Lisa," Aliyah said, her voice firm. She stepped between Maya and Lisa, her eyes blazing with protectiveness.

Lisa just shrugged, a smirk playing on her lips. "I was just trying to apologise," she said lightly, though the gleam in her eyes said otherwise.

Maya looked at Aliyah, grateful but also feeling guilty. She didn't want to cause a scene, didn't want to ruin the day for everyone. "It's fine," she muttered, though it was far from fine.

The rest of the picnic felt like a battle. Maya did her best to focus on Aliyah and Julia, ignoring Lisa as much as possible, but the tension was palpable. Lacrosse, to her credit, seemed genuinely aware of the history between the two girls, and tried her best to include everyone in the conversations, in order to give Lisa a way to apologise but Lisa was in too deep.

Finally, as the sun began to set and the mothers started to pack up the remnants of the picnic, Mrs. Scatts called over to Maya. "We should get going soon, sweetie."

Maya nodded, more than ready to leave. She gathered her things quickly, eager to put some distance between herself and Lisa.

As they were saying their goodbyes, Mrs. Tamara pulled Maya aside. "Are you okay, darling?" she asked gently. "I noticed you seemed a bit off today."

Maya hesitated, not wanting to burden her with the truth, but Mrs. Tamara's kind eyes were hard to resist. "It's just Lisa," she admitted quietly. "She… she's not very nice to me."

Mrs. Tamara frowned, her warm expression turning serious. "I'm sorry to hear that. You don't deserve to be treated that way, Maya."

Maya shrugged, trying to play it off, but Mrs. Tamara wasn't having it. "If you ever need to talk, you know I'm here, right?" she said softly. "And don't let anyone ruin your day. You're stronger than you think."

Maya managed a small smile. "Thanks, Mrs. Tamara."

As they walked back to the car, Maya felt a little lighter. The day hadn't gone exactly as she'd hoped, but it wasn't a total loss. She had her friends, and she had people who cared about her. And maybe, just maybe, she could find a way to stand up to Lisa the next time.

As they drove away, the park fading into the distance, Maya looked out the window, the last rays of sunlight painting the sky in hues of orange and pink. A new resolve settled in her chest. This wasn't the end. There would be other picnics, other days, and she would be ready for them.