The front door burst open with a dramatic shove and a loud sigh that could only belong to Ethan.
"Finally!" he groaned, stepping into the living room like a soldier returning from battle. "Done. I'm officially done with my summer job."
His backpack hit the couch with a thud, and he collapsed right between Maya and Tessa, arms spread wide, head tilted back.
Tessa raised an eyebrow. "Well, someone's dying with pride."
Ethan smirked without opening his eyes. "Not dying...resting. Like a champion."
Maya leaned closer, eyes glinting with mischief. "A champion, huh? So where's the trophy?"
Ethan peeked one eye open. "What trophy?"
"The money, genius." She crossed her arms. "If you really worked your butt off this summer, then let's see the proof."
Tessa grinned. "Yeah, come on, show us the loot, Mr. Working Man."
Ethan rolled his eyes, reached into his pocket, and pulled out a folded stack of bills. With exaggerated flair, he spread them out like a fan. "Feast your eyes on greatness."
Tessa gasped, impressed. "Whoa. Look at you, all grown up and earning." She gave him a playful high five. "Way to go, Ethan! Congrats on becoming a man."
Ethan sat up straighter, puffing his chest like he'd just been knighted. "So, you finally see me as a man now?"
Tessa chuckled, tilting her head. "I mean, you're technically a man…" She paused for effect. "But you'll always be like a little brother to me."
The smile slipped from Ethan's face faster than a switch. "Right," he muttered, forcing a grin that didn't quite reach his eyes.
Before either of them could say another word, he snatched the apple Tessa had been munching, took a huge bite, and walked toward his room. "Goodnight," he mumbled, his voice lower now.
They watched him go, confused.
"What's up with him?" Tessa asked.
Maya shrugged. "Who knows. Maybe you just bruised his ego."
"Me? How?"
"Maybe he doesn't want to be the little brother anymore."
Tessa snorted, tossing a pillow at Maya. "Please. He's a kid."
"He's nineteen, Tessa."
"Still a kid."
Maya laughed softly.
The TV hummed in the background, filling the quiet that followed. For a while, neither of them spoke. Then Tessa suddenly leaned forward, her eyes lighting up. "Oh! I almost forgot to tell you...I overheard something last night."
Maya gave her a look. "Should I be worried?"
Tessa grinned. "Depends. It's about your half-sister."
"Sophie?"
"Yep." She lowered her voice dramatically. "Her birthday's coming up."
Maya blinked. "It is?"
"Yeah. She was on the phone with her mom, practically begging her to come home. It was… kind of sad. Her mom kept saying she was too busy."
Maya frowned, her expression softening. "You overheard that?"
"Uh-huh. Last night. While you were busy dreaming about Damien."
Maya's head snapped up. "What...what are you talking about?"
Tessa smirked. "You know what I mean."
"I do not!"
Tessa leaned back, putting on her best mock-serious expression. "Maya, you were calling his name in your sleep."
Maya froze. "No, I wasn't."
"Yes, you were."
"Tessa..."
Tessa held up her hands, grinning like a cat who'd found cream. "I swear! You sighed it all dreamy and soft...'Damien…' like he was right there, whispering back."
Maya's face turned a shade redder than the apple Ethan had stolen. "Shut up!" She grabbed a pillow and threw it at her, hitting her square in the face.
Tessa burst into laughter, muffled behind the pillow. "You should've seen yourself! You were smiling in your sleep!"
"I was not!" Maya squeaked, now standing, arms crossed, cheeks burning.
"You so were."
"I...oh my god, Tessa!"
"Fine, fine," Tessa said, giggling. "I'll stop teasing. But for the record, if you keep dreaming like that, you might need a therapist."
Maya groaned, pressing her hands over her face. "I can't believe you."
"Believe it." Tessa smirked. "Anyway, I think Sophie's birthday is on the twenty-first."
Maya peeked through her fingers. "The twenty-first?"
"Yup. And I kind of feel bad for her. She's rich and spoiled, yeah, but… she doesn't have anyone who actually gives a damn. Her mom's always gone, your dad's off on another one of his 'business trips'..." she added air quotes..."and she's stuck here pretending not to care."
Maya sighed. "Yeah. I've noticed."
Tessa's tone softened. "I mean, imagine it. Living in that big house, all alone. Even money would start to feel useless." She shuddered. "I'd lose my mind."
"Maybe that's why she acts the way she does," Maya murmured.
"Probably." Tessa frowned, thoughtful now. "You know… she actually reminds me of you when I first met you."
Maya blinked. "What?"
Tessa shrugged. "Yeah. You both had that same guarded, 'I don't need anyone' look. Only difference is...you got me."
Maya smiled faintly. "Lucky me."
Tessa grinned. "You bet your life."
That night, silence blanketed the house.
Maya's lamp glowed faintly beside her bed, casting a warm light over her face. She lay curled up, her breathing soft, eyes half-shut -- until a sound cut through the quiet.
A sob.
Soft, broken, muffled.
She sat up instantly, her heart skipping. Her eyes darted toward the wall that separated her room from Sophie's.
The crying came again.
Maya glanced toward Tessa, asleep and lightly snoring beside her, and carefully slipped out of bed. The floorboards creaked under her feet as she tiptoed into the hallway.
The house was dim, only the moonlight seeping in through the curtains. She reached Sophie's door and hesitated, fingers brushing over the knob.
She took a slow breath and turned it quietly.
The door creaked open.
Sophie was sitting on her bed, her face buried in her hands, shoulders shaking. The room smelled faintly of her perfume and salt tears.
Maya's chest tightened. "Sophie?" she whispered.
Sophie jolted, wiping her face quickly. "What are you doing here?" Her voice was small, trembling, as if she hated that someone had caught her crying.
"I couldn't sleep," Maya said softly, taking a cautious step forward. "Mind if I stay with you for a bit?"
Sophie didn't answer right away. She just stared at her -- red eyes, wet cheeks, breathing uneven. Then, wordlessly, she nodded.
Maya crossed the room and sat beside her. The silence stretched, fragile and heavy.
Then, without warning, Sophie turned toward her and wrapped her arms around her neck.
Maya stiffened, caught off guard. But when she felt Sophie trembling harder -- silent tears soaking into her shoulder -- she slowly brought her arms up and held her close.
Sophie's breath came out in shaky hiccups. "I just wanted her to come home," she whispered, voice breaking. "Just once."
Maya's throat tightened. She patted Sophie's back gently. "I know," she murmured. "It's okay. I'm here."
Sophie clung tighter, her sobs quieter now, her breathing settling.
Maya sat there, stroking her hair, whispering small things that didn't really matter but somehow felt right. The moonlight fell over both of them -- two girls from different worlds, bound together in that quiet, fragile moment.
When Sophie finally drifted into sleep against her shoulder, Maya stayed still, her hand still resting lightly on her back.
For the first time, she saw the loneliness beneath Sophie's arrogance. The ache behind the sharp tongue and smug smiles.
And she realized that for all their differences, they weren't that different after all.
As Maya looked down at the sleeping girl, she whispered, almost to herself, "You're not alone anymore."
The clock ticked softly in the dark, steady and slow.