My Sister Is Actually A Cat

Absolutely! Here's the revised version, extended to around 1050 words with more humor and fun added to the interactions. I've aimed to keep it funny while still maintaining the emotional tension.

Chapter 21: "The Cat That Ruined Everything"

Eddie wasn't a snooper. Really. He'd just never been the type to pry into people's lives—unless he had a very good reason. And this was a very good reason. After that conversation with Maya, the one where she said she was unloved, he couldn't shake it. It had been gnawing at him, like a weird brain itch he couldn't scratch. He needed answers. And who better to get those answers from than Luna and Sally?

So, there he was, sitting at lunch, feigning casualness as he slouched at the table. "Hey, so… how long ago did Maya's sister die?" Eddie asked, keeping his tone as light as possible. He didn't want to seem too obvious, but he couldn't help it. Maya had mentioned her sister, and if he could figure out the story, maybe he'd understand why she seemed so… messed up sometimes.

Luna looked up from her phone, squinting. "What?"

Sally, who had been eating her sandwich, blinked and nearly choked. "What the heck are you talking about, Eddie?"

Eddie quickly backpedaled. "Uh, no, no, I just heard her mention it once. About her sister. Like, how long ago did she die?"

Sally and Luna exchanged confused glances before they both burst out laughing. Eddie felt like an idiot.

Luna gasped for breath between giggles. "Oh, you poor thing. You don't even know?" she said, wiping a tear from her eye.

Eddie frowned. "Uh, no? Should I?"

Sally choked out a laugh. "Maya's sister is her cat, Eddie. Her cat! Mila, remember?"

Eddie's brain stopped working for a moment. "Her cat? Oh. Oh no."

Luna nodded seriously. "Yeah, Maya had a full-on funeral for that cat. Like, black clothes and everything. She made us all stand around and say things like, 'Mila was the greatest cat to ever walk this Earth.'"

Eddie stared at them, unsure how to process this. "You're telling me… she had a funeral for a cat?"

"Yep," Sally said, smirking. "And she didn't just grieve like a normal person, either. She was obsessed. That cat had more personality than some of the people I know."

Eddie had no idea how to respond to that. He rubbed his face with his hands. Maya's cat was her sister?

"Well, if that's the case, I can't wait to hear the eulogy when her goldfish dies," Eddie muttered under his breath, his tone dry.

Luna and Sally didn't hear him, too busy laughing at his expense. Eddie felt a wave of embarrassment but also… relief? It wasn't a real sister. It was just a cat. That was somehow better, right?

The next day, he couldn't stop thinking about Maya and her bizarre attachment to the feline world. So, he did what any confused nerd would do—he approached her locker.

"Hey, Maya," Eddie called, trying to act casual as he leaned against the locker like he owned the place.

Maya's face immediately hardened when she saw him. "What do you want, Eddie?"

Eddie flashed a half-grin. "So, like, Mila—did she prefer tuna or chicken?"

Maya blinked at him, looking like she had no idea what was going on. "How do you know about Mila?"

"Just… heard things," Eddie said nonchalantly, nodding like it was no big deal. "You know, I'm trying to figure out what kind of cat she was. Tuna or chicken?"

Maya stared at him, eyes narrowing. "How do you really know about Mila?"

Eddie smirked. "I did some research. Anyway," he shrugged, "you never told me—why'd you lie about that? You really treated her like a sister?"

Maya's jaw tightened, but she wasn't going to let him know that it bothered her. Not like this. "It wasn't just a cat, Eddie," she snapped, turning away to stuff her books in her bag. "You wouldn't understand."

"I guess not," Eddie said, shrugging. "But, it's not really about Mila, is it? It's about you lying about it." His voice softened. "Why'd you lie about something like that, Maya?"

Maya froze, a knot forming in her chest. She could feel his eyes on her back, his hurt seeping into her skin like a chill. She wanted to say something to make it better, but all she could think of was how to avoid the conversation altogether.

"You're really hurt, huh?" Maya asked suddenly, looking over her shoulder. "Are you starting to care about me, Eddie?"

Eddie's eyes went wide. "What? No!" He looked away, but he couldn't shake the feeling that she was getting under his skin. The idea of Maya actually caring about anything—him—brought a strange sense of confusion. He hated it. She was the one who was a mess, not him.

But then, in a rare moment of clarity, Eddie realized she had done it. She had gotten under his skin. His heart thudded in his chest, a mix of frustration and something else he couldn't quite put his finger on. He'd never let her get this close.

"Well, whatever," he muttered, turning to walk away. "I'll just leave you to it."

Maya watched him go, feeling a pang of guilt. She wanted to fix it, but she didn't know how. She hadn't meant to hurt him, but she'd been too busy lying to herself to care about anyone else's feelings.

She sighed and caught up with him. "Okay, fine. Mila was my cat. But I considered her my sister. I loved her more than my real sister. And she was the only one who understood me. She had more personality than anyone else I knew. She was… strong. And I wish I could be like her. I wish I had her kind of… confidence."

Eddie looked at her, his face softening just a little. "So… your cat was the ultimate role model, huh?"

Maya nodded. "Pretty much. Don't judge me. She had character."

Eddie rubbed his temples. "Maya, you are a mess."

"And you love it," Maya said with a grin, the first genuine smile she'd offered all day.

Eddie stared at her for a moment, trying to ignore the fact that she'd just hit him with the truth. "Whatever. I'm done with this. It's hopeless," he muttered. "You're a hopeless cause."

Maya felt the sting of his words, but before she could say anything, he was already walking away, leaving her standing there. He was shutting her out again.

But this time, she wasn't letting him go without a fight.

She followed him to the door and, before he could leave, she called out, "You know what, Eddie? I may be a hopeless cause, but you care, and that's why you can't let me go. You care, and you know it."

Eddie didn't turn around. But Maya could see the tiniest hint of a smirk tugging at his lips.

Title Suggestion: The Cat That Ruined Everything