TELL

It's Unusual For Her

Cory walked in the door to his house and saw his wife working at their table. "What a day.." He muttered.

"Something on your mind, dear." Topanga asked as she typed away on her laptop. "You look awful distressed."

Cory opened the refrigerator and took out one of Auggie's juice boxes. "It's Maya, she wouldn't talk in class."

"That seems unusual for her."

"It was! She was like a mute! Not even a smart mouthed comment or a sarcastic remark. Nothing! I had to send her to the office." He huffed. "And then Isadora said that after we left the ski lodge Maya told her she wanted to stop talking, but Smackle thought nothing of it so she didn't tell anyone about it and now Maya is mute! She wouldn't say a word all day, she hasn't said a word since we left the ski lodge, and I think she might be upset about Riley and-" Cory cut himself off when the front door opened. He watched with his wife as their daughter walked into the house pulling her best friend behind her.

"Come on Maya, we need to talk. You need to talk. Bay window, right now." Riley said dragging Maya with her. Maya just wordlessly followed.

Cory waited until they were out of earshot. "See? See what I mean? She didn't say a word! Not one word!"

"I'm sure Riley will get her to talk." Topanga reasoned. "Try not to worry."

Cory sighed and sipped on the juice. "I hope you're right, Topanga, I hope you are right." He crushed the box in his hand then threw it out. "Don't tell Auggie that I took a juice box."

Topanga chuckled. "He'll know. He counts them everyday after school."

Cory stood up and walked to the door.

"Buying more juice boxes?" She asked without looking up from her laptop.

"Yes!" Cory called over his shoulder before he closed the door behind him.

Topanga chuckled then she went back to her assignment for the evening.

Riley and Maya were sitting at the bay window, the latter quietly staring out the window at the fluffy clouds.

"Maya, talk to me, what's going on?"

Maya didn't speak or move.

Riley frowned with worry. "Maya? Are you mad at me? Are you mad that Lucas chose me?" She asked gently.

Maya turned to face her and blinked. She glanced down, glanced back up at Riley, then she stood and walked over to Riley's desk. She let her hand glide over the pens on Riley's desk until it stopped on a black marker. Maya took the cap off and faced Riley's mirror.

"Maya? What are you doing?"

She silently drew lines on her lips until the looked like they we're sewn shut, like Jack Skellington from The Nightmare Before Christmas, Maya's favorite holiday movie. She turned to face Riley so Riley could see the lines.

"Wh-Why did you do that? Maya?" Maya didn't respond. "Maya, you're starting to scare me. Say something!"

Maya slowly walked back over to the bay window and sat down crossed legged, she placed a pillow in her lap.

"Maya, talk to me. Maya speak!" Riley yelled. "Can you hear me?! Are you deaf now?! Why won't you talk?!"

Maya blinked and wordlessly shook her head. She took a deep breath and opened her mouth, but then she closed it again and looked down at her lap.

Riley pouted. "Do you hate me?"

Maya gulped. "No. I'm fine."

Riley stared at Maya with wide eyes. "You- You talked! Why didn't you talk before? Why wouldn't you talk?"

Maya shrugged. "My throat is dry."

Riley gave her a small smile. "Oh, why didn't you just say so, Maya. I'll go get you some water or juice to drink."

"Not that kind of dry." Maya sighed. "Dry like, I have nothing to say."

Riley frowned. "What do you mean?"

"I'm not talking because I don't want to talk." Maya stated, then she closed her mouth again. She bit her lip.

"You don't want to talk?"

Maya shook her head.

"Okay, I guess I'll just wait until you want to talk.. Do you think you'll want to talk tomorrow?" She asked nicely.

Maya shook her head, then she lifted the window and left Riley's room.

Riley blinked in confusion.

She sighed and went out to the kitchen to talk to her mother.