Exiled by Blood

Maya slipped on her heels, adjusting the hem of her dress as she stood by the door. Eddie, who had been leaning against the counter, exhaled sharply, his arms crossed tightly over his chest.

"You're really leaving?" His voice was low, controlled, but she could see the tension in his jaw.

Maya smirked, tilting her head. "What's with that face? You look like a psychopath about to lock me up in your basement."

Eddie scowled. "That's not funny."

"It's a little funny," she teased. "I know you like having me around, nerd, but I'm not a stray cat you can keep."

His fingers twitched at his side. "That's not what I—"

Maya stepped closer, tapping a finger against his chest. "Relax. I won't die without you, and you won't die without me."

Eddie's lips pressed into a thin line. "I doubt that."

She hesitated. Something about the way he said it—so certain, so quietly devastated—made her chest tighten. But she forced herself to shake it off and reached for the door.

"Bye, nerd."

She walked away without looking back.

Maya arrived home, only to freeze in her tracks.

Her house—her house—was packed with elegantly dressed people, glasses clinking, soft music playing in the background. The scent of champagne and expensive cologne lingered in the air. Servers walked around, offering trays of hors d'oeuvres. It was an event fit for royalty.

And then she saw her.

Jackie stood at the center of it all, glowing under the golden chandeliers, her hands delicately linked with her mother's as they stood beside Maya's father.

Jackie was wearing one of Maya's dresses.

Maya's blood ran cold. Her breath hitched, but she forced her feet to move forward, past the crowd of well-dressed strangers who barely noticed her presence.

Then her father's voice rang out through the speakers.

"I want to thank you all for being here tonight," he announced, beaming. "It is with great joy that I share this news. I am officially engaged to the wonderful woman standing beside me—" He turned, squeezing Jackie's mother's hand. "—and I couldn't be happier to welcome Jackie into our family."

Applause erupted. Glasses clinked.

Maya felt like she had been punched in the stomach.

Jackie's eyes found hers immediately, filled with nothing but smug triumph. Without hesitation, she stepped forward, her dress swishing elegantly as she closed the distance between them.

"Oh, Maya," Jackie's voice dripped with fake concern as she scanned Maya's outfit. "You should've told me you were coming. I would've let you borrow one of my dresses. Oh, wait…" She giggled, running her fingers along the fabric of the designer dress she had stolen. "I already did."

Maya clenched her fists so hard her nails dug into her palms.

"Still," Jackie continued, tilting her head in mock sympathy, "I always thought you cared about your appearance. But look at you…" She gestured at Maya's simple outfit—something she had thrown on in a rush. "Not very 'Maya' of you."

Sally and Luna stood off to the side, their faces pale with shock.

Maya exhaled sharply, schooling her features into a cold smirk. "Even my old clothes don't fit a piece of garbage like you."

The crowd gasped. A few people even chuckled.

Jackie's smile faltered.

Her eyes darkened, but she quickly recovered, leaning in closer. "You're so bitter," she whispered. "You already lost Vic. Now, you're losing your home, your family. Everything."

Maya's breath caught in her throat.

Jackie smiled. "I told you, Maya. I always get what I want."

Maya refused to let Jackie see her crumble. She turned on her heel and stormed inside the house, rage burning through her veins. The party, the music, the laughter—it was suffocating. It was like she had been erased from her own life.

She sprinted up the stairs, throwing her bedroom door open.

And then she saw it.

Her closet was a mess—Jackie had gone through her things. She had touched her clothes. She had worn them, paraded around in them like she owned them.

Maya saw red.

She yanked a suitcase from the corner and started shoving in clothes, shoes—whatever she could grab. She didn't care where she was going. She just had to leave.

Then the door burst open.

Her father stood there, his face dark with anger.

"What the hell do you think you're doing?"

Maya didn't stop packing. "What does it look like?"

"You're not going anywhere."

She scoffed. "I don't take orders from you."

His face twisted. "Stop acting like a spoiled brat. You knew this was coming—"

"I knew nothing!" she snapped. "You couldn't even warn me? You let me find out with a bunch of strangers while Jackie parades around like she owns this house?"

His jaw tightened. "Maya, be reasonable—"

"I don't want to be reasonable! I want to leave!"

His voice rose. "I am still your father, and you will respect me!"

Maya let out a bitter laugh. "Respect? You want respect?" She turned, hazel eyes blazing. "You're a coward. A weak, selfish, heartless coward who threw away his family for some cheap replacement."

His face paled. "Maya—"

"I don't want a father like you."

Silence.

Something flickered in his eyes—shock, hurt, desperation—but Maya didn't care.

She zipped up her suitcase and pulled it off the bed.

Her father's voice shook. "You're making a mistake."

She met his gaze, her expression cold. "No. I made a mistake ever thinking you cared about me."

She pushed past him, dragging her suitcase down the stairs. People were still drinking, laughing, celebrating.

Jackie's gaze followed her as she reached the front door.

"Where are you even going?" her father called after her.

Maya didn't turn around. "That's none of your damn business."

And then she walked out.

Maya barely made it to her grandmother's house before she broke down completely.

The moment she stepped inside, she collapsed into her grandmother's arms, sobs wracking her body.

Her grandmother held her tightly, murmuring soothing words as she ran a hand through Maya's golden-brown hair. "Shh, my love. It's okay. I'm here. Tell me what happened."

Through her tears, Maya choked out, "Why don't they love me?"

Her grandmother's grip tightened. "Oh, Maya… It's them, not you."

But that didn't make it hurt any less.

Maya curled into her grandmother's embrace, her breathing still uneven. "I tried so hard, you know?" Her voice cracked. "To be the daughter they wanted. To make them proud. But it was never enough."

Her grandmother kissed the top of her head, sighing. "You are enough, Maya. They're just too blind to see it."

Maya wiped at her tears, swallowing hard. "Then why does it feel like I've lost everything?"

Her grandmother held her closer. "Because you've been fighting alone for too long, my love. But you're not alone anymore."

Meanwhile, Eddie sat in his room, gripping his phone.

He had been staring at Maya's contact for the past hour, debating whether to call. Would she even answer?

Frustrated, he called Zeke instead.

Zeke picked up instantly. "Oh, this should be good."

Eddie exhaled sharply. "I need you to ask Sally where Maya is."

There was a pause. Then—laughter.

"Dude." Zeke's voice was filled with amusement. "You're down bad."

"Zeke."

"Alright, alright, I'll ask."

A moment passed, then Zeke whistled. "Oof. Yeah, uh, Sally just told me. Maya's at her grandma's. Big drama went down at her house."

Eddie sat up straight. "What happened?"

"I don't know the full details, but Jackie and her mom are moving in, and her dad—" Zeke sucked in a breath. "Yeah, man. It's bad."

Eddie's stomach twisted.

He had never felt so useless in his life.

Later that evening, Maya sat curled up on her grandmother's couch, phone in hand.

Sally and Luna were on call, gossiping as usual.

"You won't believe it," Sally said. "Eddie was looking for you."

Maya's heart skipped, but she forced a scoff. "He probably just feels sorry for me."

Luna hummed. "You sure about that?"

Maya wasn't sure about anything anymore.