Maya's mom got the part so she will be at the Matthews for a while. I forgot to knock, now I see her, making Riley's bed, and a see her tiny little arm with red lines across it, amongst old scars and three bracelets.
She moves her arm quickly but I grab her. I pin her down now I can see it. There are tears in her eyes.
"It's okay." She shakes her head. I let go and pull her into a hug, her back still on the mattress. When coming up, I fall back in again, this time, our lips meeting. I did not think about it. I just acted. And now I'm kissing Maya Hart. And a real kiss. Not one that felt like kissing a friend. One that lasts, and you never want to move from.
"Dad! Lucas is seducing Maya!" Maya pushed me off and comes up laughing. He runs in.
"What did you do!" I love that he's like her father.
"I was joking." says Riley. She's smiling, genuinely. "But wow." Maya rolls her eyes and stands, falling back to sitting.
"You okay?" Asks Riley. She nods. "Dizzy?" She shakes her head. I know it's a lie. "Your arm!" She grabs it.
"I swear to god, if this ends uop like how it ended up with him-" she lets go.
"Stop joking."
"Stop getting concerned."
"Never."
"Please. I'm fine. I'll stop."
"Promise?"
"Promise." How could Riley fall for that. Maya could have crossed everything in her body and she would have. But the look on her face says otherwise.
Cory's POV
Maya is asleep. We cleaned the scars and she fell asleep ontop of Rileys bed with a blanket. I don't blame her. She looked exhausted. Riley and I spoke for a while. I think she is doing better then any of us. She knows more too. Stuff that Maya doesn't say. Like feeling bad for upsetting us, hating the pity, and things like that. I'm worried Riley wont say so strong, but I have faith in her. Maya on the other hand, had no strength in any form. Except to keep her mouth shut. She won't tell us any real reason. I feel bad. I've been standing in the door for five minutes. It's dinner, and she looks so peaceful. But when I wake her up, I know she will not be. She will hate me and I will be frustrated that she wont eat enough and that If I force too much, she'll throw it up. I shake her.
"Dinner, Maya." She puts her hands over her eyes. I pick her all the way up and then sit her back down so she is right side up. It's easy. She weighs nothing. Not that I haven't mentioned that just about always.
"I'm not hungry." Oh how I have grown sick of those words.
