Losing Hope (Markle)

Chapter 2

Maya was a half of a block away by the time he reached the street. She was walking as fast as she could, her long blonde hair swinging behind her.

"Maya, wait!" Farkle shouted. He saw her freeze and slowly turn around to face him. In that time he managed to catch up to her. "Maya, what is wrong?" He asked, watching in horror as a tear slipped down Maya's cheek. He couldn't remember the last time he'd seen her cry.

"Nothing Farkle, I just want to be alone right now." She turned to leave but Farkle caught her wrist. He spun her back around and stepped closer to her, his hand resting on her waist to keep her from turning away again. Neither of them were really aware of how close they were standing or how intimate their pose would seem to a passing stranger. They had been friends for so long and grown so close that casual touches and embraces were as common as taxi's in NYC.

"I don't believe you Maya. Something has been wrong with you for weeks now. Ever since the college fair. Riley thinks that you are just nervous about college, but I think it is something more. Maya I know something is really wrong and I need you to tell me about it because I am your friend and it kills me to see you hurting and I want to help." Maya watched Farkle carefully as he spoke his piece and he watched her right back, trying to somehow figure out what was going on by staring into those blue eyes of hers. Maya was the first to break eye contact. She dropped her gaze and stepped back, out of reach of Farkle and shook her head.

"I'm fine Farkle, there's nothing going on that you need to fix." Maya said it in a flat tone, but a second tear slipped from her eye, betraying her. Farkle lifted up a hand to wipe it away but froze when Maya flinched like she was afraid he was going to hit her.

"Maya?" Farkle's voice grew icy as his mind began to fill in missing pieces. But before he could form a coherent thought, Maya was sprinting away as fast as she could. "Damn" Farkle muttered under his breath as he took off after her, but she was fast and small and could navigate the crowded streets easier and Farkle soon lost her.

*****

He searched everywhere he thought she might be. Her house, Topanga's, the Art Museum, and the several parks around the city where she loved to go. He had no luck and hours later he admitted that he may need help to find her. His phone was long dead from the dozens of times he had called Maya, so he headed home to get his charger so he could contact his friends. If their combined effort yielded no results, then he would tell all of their parents. But he didn't want to worry them unless he needed to. Especially since Maya's mom was 7 months pregnant and didn't need any more stress or worry in her life.

"Where could you be Maya?" Farkle whispered as he walked up the steps to his building.

"Closer than you think." A soft voice replied from next to him. Farkle jumped and saw Maya sitting on the steps. She had been in just enough shadow that he hadn't seen her.

"Maya!" Farkle rushed over. He held out his hand and helped her up. Her small hand was like ice in his. He pulled on her hand until she was against his chest. Then he put his arms around her and hugged her tight. She shivered and held him back just as tightly. "Good god Maya, you're freezing." He pulled back and surveyed her, she wasn't wearing a coat and her lips were an unhealthy tint of blue.

"Yeah, well I've been sitting out here for hours waiting for you to come home. Where were you?"

"Looking for you, you exasperating girl." Farkle put his arms around her shoulders and led her inside. "Come one, let's get you warmed up and then we can talk."

Farkle put on his electric fireplace, sat Maya on the floor next to it and wrapped several blankets around her. Then he made them both a steaming cup of hot cocoa and sat down next to her. Maya immediately threw her blankets over him as well and laid her head on his shoulder. They sat there in silence, drinking their cocoa. Farkle listened to the sound of Maya's breaths and was glad to hear her breathing slow and her body stop shaking.