What daddy did (gmw/Lucaya)

Ch.10

"Daaaaad." Yelled Riley, walking into her apartment.
"I'm right here." He said from the kitchen table. She walked over and sat down. Lucas and Farkle sat down on the couch.
"Are you Maya's phycology teacher?"
"I am."
"How's she doing?"
"As well as an other class."
"I mean how's she reacting to the things that you teach?"
"What do you mean?" She placed the essays on the table.
"Her essays?" She pulled out the child sexual abuse one and placed it on top.
"How was she during this unit?"
"This was her best essay. She seemed to have fully grasped the concept and Childs perspective of the abuse."
"And why do you think that is?"
"Because I taught it to her."
"Don't flatter yourself. I think there's more."
"You think that she experiences it?"
"I'm afraid that I do." He stood up and grabbed the phone, turning back and flipping through his papers. "What are you doing?"
"Maybe you guys aren't as close but I still care that Maya is safe."
"And happy."
"Yes."
"You still love her like a daughter." Riley smiled as he opened up to the page with phone numbers and he dialed her number. It rang four times before she picked up.
"Maya?"
"Ya?"
"It's Mr.Matthews. I need to talk to you about a report you wrote a few months ago. Can you come?"
"I'm at work."
"You went to work but not school?"
"Mark didn't let me go to school."
"What about after?"
"Can this wait until school?"
"It really can't."
"I can come at nine."
"See you then."
"She'll be here at nine."
"I'm gonna get home then." Said Farkle.
"I'm waiting here." Said Lucas. Riley and Lucas watched a movie together and in the last five minutes, Maya knocked on the door.
"Come in." Said Riley. Cory picked up her essay and sat down with her at the table, Lucas sitting next to her and Riley across from her.
"How'd you get that?"
"It's a copy. Riley mentioned that there might be a reason that you were so able to grasp the concept and the child's perspective of the abuse."
"I paid attention?"
"No. I mean, yes, you paid attention, but that's not why."
"Then why?"
"Are you being or have ever been sexually abused?"
"Well, that was very straight forward."
"Maya."
"No, I haven't."
"Can I trust that?"
"That's up to you."
"Maya, look at me." Said Lucas. She turned and looked at him.
"I get it. I broke your heart."
"You didn't break my heart. You were just, I don't know. Mean, I guess."
"He broke your heart, Maya." Said Cory. "But I do agree with the second part."
"And I'm so sorry. I remember being mean when we got paired up but for some reason, I didn't think I was mean. But that was one time." Said Lucas.
"It wasn't one time."
"It wasn't?"
"It was every day for a month."
"It couldn't have been."
"It was." Said Riley. "I remember it now."
"Oh my god. I am so so so sorry."
"It's fine. I don't think you knew it. It was little remarks. Nothing big."
"Well I am really sorry about that. Please please please forgive me. Or don't even forgive me. Just trust me and tell me the truth about this."
"I'm telling the truth. Why can't you guys understand that?"
"Because even after two years, we know when something's wrong. So what's wrong?"
"If I tell you something, you can't think that anything more is going on."
"Then tell us."
"My mom got married."
"That's great-"
"No." There was a pause. "My stepdad hates me. And her."
"Then why did they marry?"
"Because they married too early."
"So you moved out because he hates you. You could have just avoided him. Unless-"
"I said, you can't think that anything else is going on."
"Right. Sorry."
"And that's all there is to it."
"And the is from falling down the stairs?"
"It is. Can I go now?"
"Fine. I guess."
"I'll see you at school tomorrow." She said, standing up.
"I'll walk you home." Said Lucas.
"That's not necessary. I have a bike. Bye."