Chapter 4

Thanksgiving morning :

"MAYA GET UP" I heard Lucas and Farkle shouted from outside my window .

"Is it time for the turkey already ?" i asked barely being awake

"Yes Maya , now hurry get dressed . We have much to do today" Lucas said

"Yea Yea Mr Bossy . Come on in , you guys can wait at the living room while i go shower"

"Can i join you ?" Farkle asked jokingly

"Farkle" I said resentfully .

Lucas and Farkle laughed and went outside to the living room .

After i got dressed , the three of us went out and headed to the grocery store to buy our ingredients . We got the money from Farkle's dad who was really supportive in our plan and he even convinced Mrs Matthews to come down to her office for a serious case that needs to be handled . In 2 hours , Lucas will call Riley and ask her out or something just so she won't be at home to suspect anything but somehow the plan turned . Instead of Lucas , it was Farkle .

"Alright guys , we have exactly 2 hours to get our ingredients then i'll have to go off and get Riley out" Farkle said

"What do you mean you have to go off and get Riley ? Thats Ranger Rick's job" My eyes turn to Lucas as if i was reminding him of his duties .

"Oh we forgot to tell you . Lucas is doing the cooking with you because he's just better at it . I may be smart but i'm not the king of the kitchen" Farkle beamed

"Hurray" I exclaimed sarcastically

Lucas gave a faint smile and the three of us went to look for the food items .

While Farkle was out with Riley , probably at the old folks home because Farkle said he could bring Riley to meet his grandmother there as it was thanksgiving and it would be a good time to visit , Riley would never say no to that .

Me and Lucas snuck into Riley's room after she left and i told Lucas to stay inside while i go out to the living room to find Mr Matthews . I walked out and Auggie saw me .

"Maya ?" He asked stunned .

"Auggie ! Shhhh" I held on to Auggie and covered his mouth then i carried him in to Riley's room .

"Ok Auggie listen , me and Lucas are here to cook your family a wonderful thanksgiving dinner but we want to surprise them . You can be part of the surprise if you can keep this a secret ok ?" I asked softly while giving him a hopeful smile .

"Ok but i ain't gonna help with the cooking" he beamed then walked out to his room

I went back out again and saw Mr Matthews sitting on the couch .

"Hey Mr Matthews" i greeted him

"Oh hey Maya . Hold on , when did you get here ?"

"I came in by the window"

"Hmm well Riley's not here , she went out with Farkle to visit the old folks home"

"Oh . Well you know Mr Matthews , the games that we play for thanksgiving every year is getting kind of old . Don't you think we need new ones ?"

"New ones ? But Maya , everyone likes the one we already have"

"But you invited Lucas and Farkle . Isn't it time you get the 'Friends' board game ?" I asked sounding hopeful

"Oh yea . You're right Maya , i should get that board game now . Alright i'll be out a couple minutes , you think you can take care of Auggie for me ?"

"Sure Mr Matthews , i'll even clean up the house for ya" I said winking

"Alright i'll see you in awhile . Oh and call me when my wife gets home , shes been at her office since this morning and theres nothing cooked yet . I don't want you kids to miss thanksgiving."

"Don't worry Mr Matthews , she'll be home just in time"

He went off and i closed and locked the front door . Auggie was in his room playing with his toys so that means getting everyone busy is accomplished . Time for phase two of the surprise : cooking dinner .

"Lucas , the coast is clear !" I called out from the living room .

Lucas came out of Riley's room with the sack of ingredients , we quickly laid it across the dining table to choose which dish to start off with . We decided to go easy starting from the mash potatoes then finish off with the turkey so that once everyone is back for the surprise , the turkey would be fresh out of the oven .

I gathered all the potatoes and started work right away .

During the entire process , me and Lucas kept giving each other glances . The only time we talked was when i was giving orders on what to do and when he's giving me instructions on how to do it properly .

I came to like the silence because it felt nice knowing his presence .

I was cutting the final pieces of vegetables to go around the turkey and while i was doing so , i accidentally cut myself right at the tip of my index finger . I let out a soft 'ouch' hoping he hadn't heard it but he did anyway .

"Maya ! Are you ok ?" He asked looking down at my finger with concern .

"Yeayea i'm fine , just a small cut . Nothing i can't handle"

"Not so tough now are you ?"

I ignored him and went to grab a paper towel to wipe the blood off . He smiled while observing the way i was handling myself . He came over to my side and held on to my finger .

"Here i'll help" He whispered .

He dragged me slowly to the sink , still holding on to my finger and placed it under the running tap water . Then he took a Band-Aid and carefully sealed up the cut . I stared at him with astonishment . His hands were so soft as his skin brushed against mine . I kept gazing at him even after he looked up from putting the Band-Aid on me . He gazed back and held on to my hand tighter . Unknowingly , our hands intertwined themselves and we got lost in each other's eyes . I felt his grip and i held on tight .

We were so caught up in the moment that we didn't notice the time . We pulled apart when my phone rang and i immediately answered it .

"Hello Maya ? Is everything ready ? My dad just called and said that Mrs Matthews is on the way home , Riley and i are walking back to the apartment." Farkle was furiously whispering on the other line .

"Oh crap . Uh .. yea but just stall for a few minutes . Get them all to wait outside the door , including Josh and Riley's grandparents . When you hear the loud ring of the receiver then its time to bring them in . Got it ?"

"Got it . See you in awhile"

I hung up and threw my phone on the couch . Me and Lucas then went running around the house to clean up and set the table . Everything was perfect , even the moment we both shared . No one was at the door yet and so we both waited on the couch but were sure to be ready .

"Um .. Maya ?" Lucas suddenly asked

"What"

"The thing that just happened .. I .."

"It was nothing . Probably just mindless dreaming . Its ok"

"But Maya .."

"I hear noises outside the door ! Quick , you hide . I'll go press the receiver"

Lucas went to hid behind the dining table and Auggie came out from his room to join Lucas's hiding spot . I took a sneak peak through the tiny hole at the door and saw that the entire family was already outside . I took a deep breath , press on the receiver , switch offed the lights and went to join Lucas and Auggie .