Losing Hope (Markle)

Chapter 3

Maya woke up with a headache and a sore throat from her crying episode. It took her a few minutes to adjust to her surroundings. The sound of Farkle's gently snoring brought a small smile to her face. For a precious few moments she felt completely safe and at peace. Then, all too soon, reality came crashing back. She slowly removed herself from Farkle's arms and gently got off of the bed, being careful not to wake Farkle up. She wandered around his room for a little while. She had only been to it a few times and was curious to explore. She wandered into his closet, in awe of the size of it. She smiled when she saw a section filled with bright pants, bright sweaters, and bright turtlenecks. She was glad to see that he hadn't thrown away all of his clothes from who he used to be. She liked knowing that he made sure that he never forgot the old Farkle.

Maya wandered into the newer section of his wardrobe. This area was filled with darker clothes. She picked out one of her favorite hoodies of his. A black one with the sleeves, pocket, and  hood a constellation pattern. Maya put it on and breathed in the smell of Farkle. Since when had his smell become such a comfort to her? It was true that he had comforted her last night, but what she was feeling ran deeper than that.

"Damn, Maya girl, what are you doing?" She had enough going on in her life and she knew she was causing her friends enough pain already. She didn't need to add stringing Farkle along to her list of things that she has done wrong. She simply didn't deserve him, so she decided then and there to quell any feelings she might be starting to have.

Maya was filled with a sudden need to escape. The sun was rising and she knew Farkle would be awake soon, filled with questions that she didn't want to answer. Maya walked back into the main room and over to where Farkle lay sleeping. Maya felt a familiar feeling of protectiveness wash over her. He looked so young and innocent as he lay there. He reminded her of a younger, more vulnerable Farkle. He didn't need a lot of protection these days. He had done a lot of growing up, especially after Smackle had left. But Maya still wanted to shield him from the troubles of the world. Farkle along with Riley were the purest souls she knew and they must be protected at all costs.

Maya bent over and kissed her friend on the cheek, then still wearing Farkle's hoodie, She walked out the door.

*****

Farkle immediately regretted waking up, it was one of those times where you woke up tired. He pulled the covers tighter around him and turned on his side to settle back down to sleep. He had just closed his eyes when he realized what was missing.

"Maya?" Farkle yelled, bolting out of bed. He ran around his entire apartment but came out empty. She was gone. He couldn't say he was surprised, but he certainly was disappointed. His relationship with Maya had shifted last night and he had thought that she trusted him enough to tell him the truth about what was happening with her. She was scared and hurting and he knew something was really wrong.

Farkle ran to his phone and texted the gang. "Bay window, bay window right not." He ran to his closet to get a change of clothes. He grabbed the first things he got his hands on, not noticing the missing hoodie.

He checked his father's room and study, but he had apparently already left for work, that is if he had come home at all. Farkle hadn't heard him come back last night, although he had been preoccupied with other things.

"Good morning sweetie" His mom greeted him as he walked into the kitchen. "Do you want some breakfast? I can make some for you before I leave for work." His mom was not nearly as much of a workaholic as his father, but she did have a passion for her job and spent more time there than she did at home. It was something that his parents had seen in each other, a mutual drive for work and tendency to put work above all else.