Like a father (gmw)

Ditch

She made it another two days but was getting really bad without enough food. She was loosing weight even more rapidly now, and she was always in a daze, seeing spots everywhere. She walked to the subway and rode it for a while, then getting off at a random spot, desperate to find somewhere to sleep. She didn't know where she got off at but when she walked out, there was a familiar man about to get on. Luckily, she had her beanie on and pulled down so that it covered most of her forehead that had scars from glass bottles and a really bad bruise. She had the very last of her makeup on her cheek.
"I see that you've been ditching school."
He grabbed her hand and brought her onto the subway.
"You missed a whole week. Really, Maya."
"Sorry." She mumbled. They both remained silent the whole ride and Cory led her back to his apartment, pulling her by her hand as Maya fell behind, tiredly.
When they got inside, he had her sit on the couch. Auggie ran out into the room.
"I knew it was you, you were wearing that sweatshirt."
"Ya, you're really good at that."
"I recognized your hair. Why didn't you answer?"
"Oh, I was just really late for something."
"Oh, okay."
"Maya!" Said Riley, running to the couch. "You weren't in school all week. Are you sick?"
Maya shook her head.
"She ditched." Said Cory, dialing Katy's number and then carrying the phone into the other room.
"Auggie, where did yo-" Topanga noticed the girl as she entered theroom.
"The girl was Maya." Said Auggie.
"Why didn't you answer?"
"She was in a rush." Said Auggie.
"Really, where too?" They all looked at her.
"I-uh promised to call my Aunt." Cory entered the room.
"Your moms not answering." He said. Maya looked at her hands, fiddling them nervously. She had texted her an hour ago, nothing too bad could have happened in that hour, right. She remembered that she probably wouldn't answer Cory because she wouldn't want to tell him that her child ran away and why.
"You can stay here until your mom answers." He sat down. "Now, we have to talk about the fact that you've been ditching." Maya looked up at him with her eyes. "Why would you do that? You're gonna get behind."
"I'm sorry."
"That's not enough, Maya. You can't do this and you will be punished accordingly."
Maya nodded. After his strict lecture of why she needed to come to school, Riley let her take a shower. She put on the jeans and sweater she had not worn yet and put the beanie back on also. Then she went to back to the living room.
"Why do you still have your hat on?"
Asked Riley.
"Cause it's warm."
"Are you hungry?" She said, looking at the girl standing up, with her baggy jeans, huge sweater and very thin legs as well as her slimmer face and flat body from the side.
"Uh, not real-"
"Come on." She said, going to the kitchen. "I'll make you a sandwich or something."
"No thanks, Mrs. Matthews, I really appreciate it but I'm not hungry."
"Whens the last time you ate?" Maya shrugged her shoulders. "Not long ago."
"Specifically."
"Really, not long ago."
"I doubt that."
"I'm sorry, but I'm really confused."
"I don't think you are."
"Mom, give her a break." Said Riley.
"Do you want her to die?"
"What?" Said both girls, jumping.
"What is the last thing you ate?"
"A tomato."
"You hate tomatoes." Said Riley.
"It's what I had with me."
"When?"
"Earlier today."
"Sit down and eat something. I can see it when I look at you. You're too thin." Maya stepped back towards Riley. They left and went to Riley's room, leaving Topanga to sit down, upset. Cory saw them pass I'm the hallway, but judging by the few things he had heard through the wall, Topanga had already mentioned the weight loss to her. He had also seen it at the subway but was going to talk to Topanga about it.