Riley held the door open for Maya as she crutched her way into the school.
"Thanks."
"Maya!" Yelled Lucas, making his way through the people in the hallway along with Farkle. A large smile spread across her face as they hugged her.
"I'm so glad you're okay." Said Farkle. "The last time I saw you, you were unconscious."
"Well, I'm conscious now."
"Need any help with your bag?" Asked Lucas.
"Na, I've got it. Thanks though." She said, crutching away.
The week went on like any other. Maya seemed a bit less detached but definitely not herself. The stress and anxiety was beginning to hit her again and on Friday night, Sam, Mikes friend, showed up to pay Maya back. Maya had known Sam for about 5 months and he had hit her a few times but generally that was all. Now he was angry. Maya was sleeping over Riley's so soon after he pushed her into the wall and kicked her ribs, and smashed her phone, she got up, grabbed her stuff, and went to Riley's house.
"Hey, Maya."
"Hey." She said, tiredly, crutching into Riley's apartment.
"You never answered my texts. We were going to drive you."
"Sorry, forgot my phone. Besides, the exercise is good."
"Way to be an optimist." Said Cory.
"Ya. My arms are gonna fall off, though." Riley laughed as they sat down on the couch. Maya ignored the dull feeling in her stomach as she sank into the couch with Riley. Riley turned on the tv to 'full house' and before the episode ended, Maya was asleep. Riley let her rest as she began to watch the next episode. Maya slowly began to toss around a little bit. Shifting every now and then. Riley had seen it when Maya had a nightmare so she knew that that was happening. She shook her arm to wake her up. Maya's eyes opened.
"Thanks, Riles."
"Anytime. Why are you so tired?"
"Didn't get a lot of sleep. Catching up on schoolwork and stuff."
"Oh." She said uneasily, as they went back to watching the show.
The next morning, when Riley woke up, Maya was gone. Cory told her that she had left a little while ago and didn't want to wake her up. For the next two days, there was no word from Maya. On Monday though, Maya arrived in the morning to pick Riley up.
"One more week and then no more crutches." Said Riley as they entered history.
"By the end of the week, I'm going to be as strong as huckleberry, over here." She said, placing her crutches on the ground.
"I highly doubt that."
"And that lets me know that you have never been on crutches." She kidded.
Class began and about halfway through, Maya's stomach couldn't take it anymore. She raised her hand weakly.
"Yes, Maya."
"May I use the restroom."
"If you can answer what year the battle of new orlines was."
"I don't know."
"Then no."
"But Mr.Matthews." Maya was learning better outside of the classroom now, for she found it too difficult to focus on what was happening in class. She would learn at night after Sam had left. She would read her textbooks.
"You should have been paying attention."
"I'll read ahead tonight. Can I please go."
"Fine." Riley went to stand up.
"Alone." She added, picking up her crutches and leaving the room. She was lucky that it was just the dry heaves because she only made it to the sink before it began. Finally, it was over, and she was exhausted. She hadn't been throwing up as often and hadn't been taking her pills but it was time for her to start.
"You okay, kid?" Asked Harley, peaking in because if the sounds.
"Ya. Don't worry. Nothing to clean."
"Get to the nurse." She nodded and went off to the nurse. The nurse gave her her pills and let Maya go to class because she could not go home.
"You took like ten minutes."
"I had to go to the nurse. I'm sorry." Cory sighed.
"Sit." And he continued his lesson.
