The Way I Love You

Chapter 2

She was summoned straight home with her mother's husband and her stepfather. Maya had looked at Katy and Shawn, wondering when either was going to say a word, when she saw as a man came in through the front door.

"Mom, what's going on?" Maya asked, her voice slowly breaking.

"Maya, just calm down, baby girl. Thank you for coming, Elliott," Katy said.

"Of course, she's my family," Elliott said as he had looked at Maya. "Hello, niece."

Elliott Hart was the older brother of Kermit, and only one of many children. Maya had looked at her uncle while it became clear that something was happening.

"Mom, why is uncle Elliott here?" Maya asked as Elliott sat down next to Maya.

"Because we have bad news to tell you, sweetheart, and your mother figured that I was the best person to tell you about it," Elliott said as Maya took a breath, having an idea what was about to happen.

"I need you to stay calm while I tell you this, okay? I know that will be hard, but please try. Your father..."

"He abandoned me years ago," Maya said tears streaming down her face.

"I know he did, and he can't state how he felt all those years, but I can say that if he knew what would happen, he would tell you how he feels. Maya," Elliott said turning his body so he could face his niece.

"Your father got into a terrible car accident a few days ago. And he was fighting for his life. We were informed two days ago that he didn't make it. Your father... Your father is dead, Maya," Elliott said.

Elliott and Katy both looked at Maya waiting for a reaction from the young girl. Maya stood up, without making eye contact with anyone, and walked down the hall to her room. Katy heard as the door got opened and closed again as she felt Shawn grabbing her arm.

"She won't talk to you about him, honey," Shawn said.

"She's never reacted like this about anything. Something is wrong," Katy said.

"When my father died, Cory would tell you that I was the exact same, and I had a relationship with him. Yes, Chet wasn't very active in my life, but we still had a relationship," Shawn said.

"Maya is the five-year-old girl who her father had abandoned twelve years ago. Her reaction isn't good, but expected. Is there anyone who isn't family who she'll talk to?" Elliott asked as Katy shook her head.

"There may be one person," Shawn said as he had picked his phone up.

"Hey, I need your help, it's Maya."

~

"Do you guys think Maya is okay?" Riley asked as she sat down next to her boyfriend while her father kept a careful eye on them.

"Stop worrying. She'll be fine," Lucas said as they heard a knock on the door.

"Maybe she is just tired, Riley," Topanga said as she opened the door.

"I'm sorry to be bothering you guys so late. Is Riley here?"

"Riley," Topanga said as Riley saw her uncle.

"I need your help - both of you," Josh said as Riley and Lucas looked at one another.

Maya sat on her bed, wondering if anything would become better. She had this ache in her heart that she had never had before. She exhaled, wondering when things would turn upside down, and when it would get better. She heard her bedroom door opening as she found Shawn there, wanting to smile, but couldn't.

"Hey, I brought in a few friends," Shawn said as Maya saw how Josh walked in with Riley and Lucas following.

"I'll let you kids be," Shawn said as he closed the door again.

"Hey," Maya said as Josh smiled and sat down next to her.

"Hey," Josh said as he sat down next to Maya and pulled her into his body.

"Want to tell me or one of these two what's wrong?" Josh asked as Maya shook her head feeling how the other two sat down on the bed as well.

"I can't," Maya murmured as Josh squeezed her tighter.

"Then don't. We're here for you, Maya. All of us," Josh said.

"Always," Riley said.

"And we're not leaving," Lucas said as Maya smiled.

"Thank you guys," Maya said.