Her world

Three

Tap, Tap, Tap, Tap
Maya's eraser bounced against her text book ever so lightly as the students read their textbooks. Though gone unnoticed by the students, upon noticing it, it was all that Cory could hear. It was not annoying as it would be expected. It was more of a reminder of her presents, and when Maya noticed him looking, she immediately pushed the pencil into her bag and mouthed a 'sorry.' Cory discovered, though, that maybe the pencil had not been what brought it on, but the fact that she had been fading from his life, and the guilt he had for never having stopped the changed yet. The same reason Riley felt guilty. Though they were not to be blamed, they blamed themselves, but knew Maya would not like that. At least her soft side. Her rough side would make a remark about it. Neither existed, though. She was just, there. In the physical sense. But her mind was anywhere else, and with the fact her voice had not been heard by another student or teacher other then Riley since Friday and it was now Wednesday, it was easy to see past her. Easy for Maya to not exist, and easier for her to tuck herself away in her world, undisturbed. But they were not about to see past her. There was an issue to be dealt with. The bell rang, signaling the end of the class, and the bored students who believed putting the reading off to later were relieved to not longer have to wait raced out of the room, having already packed their things minutes before with eyes trained on the clock.
"Maya? Could you stay for a moment." Asked Cory, placing his fingertips on her desk. Maya knew that is was not a question when a teacher asked that of a student. There was no need for a reply as the other student filed out of the room, Riley promising to be right outside of the door when Maya came out.
"How you doing?" He asked, sitting down on the edge of his desk. She looked confused, her eyes asking why he would ask that of all things.
"You know, you haven't been around too much, lately." Her reply was simply a shrug as she loathed being stuck half in the real world. "Has your mother been concerned about you at all?"
"No."
"No? Huh, that's odd." A shrug. "Do you think you're acting differently?"
"Maybe."
"And why?"
"I don't know."
"Um, well many students come to high school and find themselves stressed and sometimes it gets to hard and they become depressed." He said, carefully.
"I'm not."
"I didn't say that. I just want you to stop changing. I get that change is sometimes good and all, but the way that you're changing as in not coming to us when something is going on. Cause I'm here."
"I know that, Mr.Matthews."
"Good, because it took me a while to get you to that point." Maya ignored this perspective. She believed that she had been to forceful, dumping her problems out to the kind family. If they knew that was how she felt, who knows what they would do? Maya didn't know if it was over, but she chose it to be by standing up and placing her bag carefully of her sore shoulder. She thanked him for the class and met Riley in the hallway.
Riley watched her friends hand carefully as Maya twisted the rubber band into different shapes and knots. Her hand were slightly shaking and in the places her baby blue nail polish had begun to chip off, a darker blue was showing beneath the nail itself. She was cold and malnourished.
"Maya. Why didn't get lunch again?"
"I forgot my money at home."
"Let me lend you some."
"Um, thanks, but I think I might have something in my locker." She said, standing.
"Um, okay?"
"Be back soon." Maya was not back soon, though, and Riley wondered if this was a new pattern. Lie after lie. Never ending. But she had faith in Maya. At the same time, she feared for her. Her and her oncoming silence as the rest of the week past, and sitting in her window, Maya's mouth was closed as Riley spoke. Riley lightly placed her hand on her friends shoulder.
"Peaches." Maya looked over without much expression. "I know you aren't listening."
"I was." She replied, quietly.
"I want you to talk to me. About anything." She removed her hand and put it in Maya's, nodding. "Fine, last resort." She said, knowing Maya's favorite song.

"Hey there, Delilah
What's it like in New York City?
I'm a thousand miles away
But, tonight you look so pretty
Yes you do
Times Square can't shine as bright as you
I swear it's true."

"Come on, Maya." Maya bit her lip. "Cooome on." She sighed and sang.

"Hey there, Delilah
Don't you worry about the distance
I'm right there if you get lonely
Give this song another listen
Close your eyes
Listen to my voice, it's my disguise
I'm by your side"

"I wish you would sing more often."
"Not happening."
"I know you love it."
"What time is it?"
"Four-thirty, why?"
"Uh oh, I have to go." She said, shooting up and grabbing her backpack from Riley's bed.
"What's the rush?" Said Cory, stepping in.
"You were eves dropping." Said Riley.
"You should know me well enough by now. Anyways, Maya. You're not going anywhere. Theres a snow storm if you haven't noticed."
"But I have to go. I promised and if I'm not back, I don't know what's going to happen."
"Maya, just call your mom. It's okay." Said Riley, confused.
"No, it's not, okay, Riley."
"What is this all about?" Maya just shook her head and sighed, sitting back down, and taking breaths to calm herself, trying to slip herself back into her own world. They didn't dare to disturb her quite yet.