Maya's in Trouble

The Next Day

Riley's POV

I woke up at 6:30. I decided to let Maya sleep in a little longer. As I got out of the bed Maya woke up startled. I went to comfort her but it only made her more scared.

"It's ok, Maya. It's just me," I said, realizing my mistake and not touching her this time.

"It's ok, Riles. I just didn't realize it was you, I'm fine."

"Are you sure you're fine?"

"Yeah, why wouldn't I be?"

"Maya, because—"

Maya's POV

I cut Riley off before she could finish her sentence.

"Actually I'm a little hungry," I said trying to divert her attention.

She gave me a strange look before nodding her head. "I'll get us breakfast. You just stay in bed."

After Riley left to get our food I got up and went over to the window. I opened it and climbed out. Right as I was about to shut it Riley ran over and kept me from closing it.

Riley's POV

I went into the kitchen and got oatmeal for me and Maya. When I got back Maya was on the fire escape closing the window she had just crawled out of. I ran over to the window and opened it.

"Maya, what are you doing?"

"I'm going home."

"Are you crazy?"

"No, I need to get some clothes and my backpack for school."

"What about your mom and her boyfriend?"

"They won't be home. My mom is at work and he doesn't live with us. It'll be fine."

"No, we need to tell my parents."

Maya looked right into my eyes with the most serious expression on her face and said, "Riley, you can't tell anyone. You can't tell anyone anything because nothing happened."

"Maya, come inside and let's talk about this."

"No. I've got to go. I need to get ready for school." Then Maya was gone.

I knew it was a bad idea for Maya to go home so I decided to try and catch up with her before she got there.

"Mom, I'm going now."

"It's a little early," she said looking at her watch.

"I know. I have to be somewhere soon."

"Oh if you wait 10 minutes I can take you."

"That's ok I have to go now."

"Is everything alright?"

"Yeah I just have to leave or I'll be late, bye."

I ran out of the apartment and down the street trying to catch up to Maya. I turned a corner and saw Maya at a distance. I ran up to her apartment but I  just missed her. She had just gone in and slammed the door shut. Yelling could be heard from outside the door in the hallway.

I went out of the apartment building to climb the fire escape to Maya's window. I went there because she told me when we were younger that she would stay in her room when there was fighting between her mom and her boyfriends. She told me this when she still told me about her mom's boyfriends. From how she's described some of them, she spent a lot of time in her room.

I got around the building to the fire escapes and saw Maya sitting on the railing.

"Maya!" I yelled up to her.