TELL

She Knows Him

Maya was by her locker silently putting her books inside. Even after telling Riley she still didn't talk. Riley begged her every day to tell her parents, her mother, and even Shawn, but Maya refused to say anything.

"Still not talking." His voice made her flinch even though she knew he wouldn't hurt her. She just found herself flinching every time she heard a male voice speaking. "It's okay. I-I already know what happened. I wanted to come to you sooner, but I thought you might need some more time since you haven't spoken yet."

She turned around slowly and saw his friendly face, but he didn't look the same as usual. He looked sad, even though he had a small smile on his face, there was sadness in his blue eyes and dark circles under them. She could tell he hadn't been sleeping.

He sighed and looked down. "What made you tell Isadora? I've been wondering for some time now. I can understand why it took you so long to tell Riley, but I-" He looked back up at her and his sadness formed tears. "I thought we were closer. I just don't understand why you thought you couldn't tell me, Maya." He whispered out softly. "I've been thinking about it a lot lately and I know asking you won't guarantee an answer because you still don't want to talk, but I just- I had to ask- I have to know. Why did you think you couldn't tell me?"

Maya wanted to tell him, but she couldn't muster up the words. She opened her mouth and nothing came out. She thought after her breakdown with Riley the week before that she would be able to talk again, but every time she opened her mouth no words would come out. She turned around to face her locker and pulled out a notebook. Since writing worked with Riley maybe it would work with Farkle. Maybe she could tell him why she couldn't tell him with a note.

Farkle waited, watching her scribble in her notebook with curious eyes. She turned back to him and ripped out the paper, then she folded it and handed it to him. He moved to open it, but she lightly smacked his hand making him look up at her. She shook her head, reached behind her to close her locker, then motioned down the hall. She looked back at him and nodded hoping he would understand.

Farkle frowned in confusion and calculated her motions in his head, then he gave her a small smile of understand. "Read it after you leave?"

Maya smiled and nodded, then she started walking away from him, down the hall, and once she was out of sight he slowly unfolded the paper.

His eyes scanned the words, but he still didn't understand. He let tear droplets hit the lined sheet of paper.

I didn't tell you because I know you.

He took a shaky breath. "What does that mean? What does she mean?"

"What does who mean?"

He turned and saw one of his friends.

"Are you okay? Why are you crying?"

Farkle shook his head. "I don't know. I don't understand anything anymore."

He frowned. "This about Maya?"

Farkle nodded. "None of this makes sense. How could Josh hurt her like that? How come she couldn't tell us? And now that we know why won't she talk? She still won't talk!" Farkle yelled slamming his fist into her locker. He gripped his wrist in pain and fell to the floor. "Why couldn't she tell me?" He cried. "Why?.. Why?"

Zay crouched down beside him. "I don't know. It must be hard for her. I'm just glad Josh went back home, well kinda, I just don't want Lucas to get in trouble for trying to kill him." He sighed. "I can't believe Maya won't tell Riley's folks. Josh needs to be punished, not by Lucas, but by an actual court of law, you know."

Farkle sniffed. "Yeah, but if she won't talk there is nothing we can do." He took a deep breath. "It makes no sense.. I mean I'm glad she at least told Isadora, but why her? Why not me?"

"Did you try asking Maya why?"

Farkle nodded and handed Zay the tear stained piece of paper. "Not much of an explanation, right?" He sighed.

Zay let out a bitter chuckle. "Actually, I think it says a lot. You just got to think more about the meaning and less about the words." He gave him a friendly smiled and patted his shoulder. "Maya knows you, Farkle, and you know her. The answer is right there." He handed the paper back to Farkle. "We should get to class." He helped Farkle up off the floor. "Come on, buddy. Mr. Matthews won't be too happy if we're late."

They walked to their classroom, Farkle wiping at his eyes so his classmates wouldn't see his tears. When he entered the classroom Maya glanced over and gave him the smallest of smiles so he gave her a little smile back before he took his seat. It wasn't much, but even the tiniest smile from Maya was amazing.

Suddenly, it dawned on Farkle. He looked down at the paper laying on his textbook. "Because she knows me." He whispered with a smile.

He thought back to a moment when they were kids and Maya got hurt. It was a simple scrapped knee, but it was caused by a boy in their third grade class. Riley begged Maya not to pound him so she didn't, but Riley didn't think she had to tell Farkle not to, so he did. It was the only time in Farkle's life that he ever got into a fight, but it was for Maya so although he got his butt kicked he wore his wounds with pride, smiling from ear to ear in the nurses office as the nurse put a bandaid on his cheek and Maya leaned over to kiss his boo boo.

Farkle smiled at the memory, even though he didn't have the same reputation as Lucas, Maya knew if she told him what happened he would get into a fight with Josh and most likely get badly injured. She was protecting him, protecting her baby bird.