Why?
* * * Maya is almost fourteen here.
Summary: Maya asks Mr. Matthews about her father, a question that makes her realizes who is really important in her life. Those who stay. Cory/Maya fatherly fluff. Drabble/one-shot. Pre-Forgiveness Project.
"Does anyone have any questions?" Mr. Matthews asked. Maya raised her hand slowly as most of the kids ran out, excited to get out of class. She made a point to wait until they were gone to tell.
"Yes, Miss Hart?"
"I have a question." Cory nodded for her to ask it.
"Why do men always leave people?" She asked quietly, her blue eyes wide and full of emotion Cory couldn't read. Hurt, innocence, pain... He remembered seeing the same emotions in Shawn's eyes that he tried to hide.
"Maya," Mr. Matthews sighed sadly as Maya started crying. "What's on your mind?"
"Why do bad things happen to good people? Why can't I seem to trust anyone except you and Riley?" Maya paused, her voice cracking. "I guess it's just... There was this old football he'd throw around with me on his good days, when mom was at work or something. It must have fallen off of my dresser yesterday, because when I cam home Mom told me she had accidentally stepped on it. Why do I still love him, Mr. Matthews? I used to think he would eventually come back, but know I know it was just a fairytale dream. But why did he leave me? And my mom?"
"Maya... Love is a promise. And the people who really matter, they'll keep it. It's natural to still love him. It's not your fault. It's your dad's loss. When was the last time you saw him?"
"My tenth birthday. He got off work at five thirty, but wasn't home until after eleven. He had been drinking. Mom and him got into it. That's the night he took off. I always thought Mom told him to leave. He forgot my tenth birthday."
Mr. Matthews hugged her as she dried her tears. After about fifteen minutes of talking he wrote her a pass on a bright pink slip of paper, handing it to her silently.
"Thank you, Mr. Matthews," Maya said as she turned to leave.
"For what?" Mr. Matthews asked.
"Always being there for me..." She let the sentence lay unsaid in the air.
Like a father.
oOoOoOo
"You are all going to be eight graders really soon. I want you all to bring in something important to you to bury tomorrow. Kind of like a time capsule," Mr. Matthews had instructed the class after Maya's private confession to Mr. Matthews.
The next day, Maya brought in that old worn out football and a picture of her, Farkle, Riley, and Lucas, everyone of their faces grinning. Riley brought in a stuffed animal that Maya had given her when she got her tonsils taken out I the first grade, Farkle brought his first science trophy, and Lucas brought his cowboy hat.
"Are you sure about this, Maya?" Mr. Matthews clarified, smiling at the blonde.
"I want to bury it deep," she responded confidently as she handed him the football.
A/N: Happy New Year! ;D This might not be my best work, I hope y'all like it!
Do it for Johnny y'all,
- Alee xXx