The Deep Stuff - Markle - GMW Fanfic

Chapter 4

Maya's POV

I woke up the next morning and got ready as per usual, applying my makeup, getting dressed and brushing out my hair. Today I pull it into a simple side braid. For once, I smile back at my reflection in the mirror. Because I have something, however small it is, to look forward to. I would see Farkle today, and he would be as kind and gentle and caring as he had been yesterday. I could hold his hand and kiss him and smile at him when he wasn't looking, and he would do the same. He would tell me that I was beautiful and worth it and maybe, just maybe, I would believe him. It felt good to have that one thing, besides Riley, that kept the torture of my life at home off my mind. That kept me from wishing I was dead. I smooth down my side bangs as I glance one final time at the almost happy girl in the mirror. I grab my bag from my desk chair and take a deep breath hoping to God that Mike isn't out there today. I slowly open my door and hear the yelling, and my hope shatters. I walk quietly out into the kitchen and I see him there, still yelling at my mother's face. I watch as he slaps her and I attempt to walk past, silent, but he turns his attention towards me.

"Bitch, where do you think you're going?" I hear his angry voice and I freeze, but I don't speak and I don't look up.

"Answer me!" he growls when I remain silent, taking a fist full of my mother's blonde curls, so she can't get away. I hear her yelp in pain. Her mascara is smeared beneath her eyes and she is still in her work clothes from the diner, meaning she probably had the graveyard shift and had just come home, only to find Mike raging, still drunk from the night. I look in her eyes and try to find something but the only thing I can make out is pain and sadness. I look away.

"I was going to school sir," I reply guiltily. I'm not sure why I should feel guilt, but I certainly do.

He lets out an evil chuckle that rumbles through me, causing fear and terror to crawl up my spine. "Oh you were, were you? Without saying goodbye to your parents? I just can't accept that. Come here you little bitch!"

I was still frozen in fear as he continued yelling and coming toward me.

"You won't move? I guess I'll have to come to you then." He came towards me, throwing my mother roughly on the floor and making her hit her head against the wall. He approached me, grabbing my braid and yanking me close to him. I screeched in pain. "You listen to me bitch, I own you. You don't get to go unless I." He slapped me, "Say." He slapped me again. "So." The final slap stung against my cheek and I knew that it would leave a big red mark. By now, I was sobbing silently. I felt his fist dig painfully into my gut and I bent over.

"That'll teach you, girl. Always ask permission. Now go to fucking school," he said harshly. I scrambled as well as I could. As I was turning the handle of the front door, he spoke again.

"And if you even think about telling someone, just remember that I know about that little brunette girl. Raley or whatever. I know who she is and where to find her and I can hurt her. I will hurt her. Keep that in mind." I saw him turn back to my mother as I slammed the door and dashed down the stairs.

I was crying even harder now. He would hurt Riles. If I saved myself it would hurt Riley. I couldn't do that. I wiped my tears with my sleeve and rushed into the dingy one stall restroom in the lobby of the apartment building. I looked in the mirror, trying to take deep breaths and stop crying. I grabbed a paper towel and began wiping at the smeared eye makeup that was staining my face. I got most of it off, but unfortunately, that meant removing the concealer that was covering the dark bags under my eyes as well. I attempted to fix my braid and made it look a little nicer. When I was as satisfied as I could be, I left the restroom, quickly asking the attendant at the front desk what the time was. He gave an off-handed sigh, and replied 7:40. If I went straight to the subway I could catch the train. I ran through the streets, reminding myself to take deep breaths to ensure there would be no panic on the train. I rushed in the gates and slid my card through the machine, then I saw Riley's head up in front of me. I pushed through the crowd and reached her, falling into step beside her. She looked at me in surprise.