Eddie's anger was palpable as he watched Vic walk away from Maya, leaving her standing there, cold and confused. His chest tightened, fists clenched. The whole night had been spiraling, but now, it was reaching a breaking point.
Maya stood there, feeling the sting of Eddie's silent treatment. What was going on with him? Hadn't she just tried to push Vic away? Why was Eddie acting like this? She tried to get his attention.
"Eddie?" Her voice barely reached him.
He didn't even flinch.
She tried again, louder this time. "Eddie, what's your problem?"
Nothing. Not even a glance.
Maya's frustration surged. "Eddie! Look at me!" She grabbed his arm and spun him to face her, her heart pounding.
He finally met her eyes, but there was nothing but coldness there. "What do you want, Maya?"
Her throat tightened, and she let go of his arm. "Why are you acting like this? I haven't done anything!"
Eddie's gaze flicked over to Jackie, who was laughing, drawing attention to herself, her eyes never leaving Eddie. He looked back at Maya, his expression hardening. "You don't get it, do you?"
Maya's breath caught. "What don't I get?"
His voice was low and cutting. "Every time you play your games—flirting with whoever, acting like it's all a joke—you're just proving it, Maya. You don't care about anything except making everyone see you as the center of attention."
Her blood boiled. "I'm not playing games, Eddie! And I never have been."
But Eddie wasn't listening. His eyes went back to Jackie, who was now inching closer to him, her hand brushing his arm with a flirtatious smile.
Maya's chest tightened. This wasn't happening. He wasn't seriously going to ignore her like this—especially for Jackie?
She took a step toward him, trying one last time. "Eddie, please. I'm not interested in him. What's going on with you? I didn't do anything wrong."
Eddie didn't even flinch. He turned his back on her. "Yeah, well, maybe it's just too late for me to care."
Maya's hands shook as she clenched her fists, watching him move further away. Was this how it was going to end?
It wasn't fair.
Without even thinking, Maya stalked over to Luna and Sally, her face hot with anger. "Guys, we need to talk," she hissed, pulling them aside.
Luna raised an eyebrow. "What happened?"
Maya, nearly out of breath, spoke quickly, her frustration spilling out. "I tried talking to Eddie. I really did. But he's ignoring me for Jackie, and I don't know what's going on with him! I've had enough!"
Sally glanced across the room, her eyes narrowing as she saw Jackie draping herself all over Eddie. "Don't even look at him, Maya. He's being an idiot."
Maya wiped a tear from the corner of her eye, trying to calm herself. "I don't get it. I told him I had nothing to do with Vic, but now, he's acting like I'm not even there."
Luna, always the pragmatic one, put a reassuring hand on Maya's shoulder. "Maya, don't waste any more energy on him. If he can't see how you feel, then screw him. There's more to life than a guy who doesn't get it."
Sally grinned, her eyes sharp. "Exactly. He wants to sulk over Jackie, then let him. You deserve better."
Maya felt a pang in her chest. Better? How could she deserve better? But then Luna's words hit her hard. Maybe they were right. Maybe she needed to stop running after him, stop caring about how Eddie was treating her.
"I just… I just wanted him to see me," Maya muttered, her voice faltering.
"And he's not going to," Sally said with an edge. "You're too much of a queen for him to realize it right now."
The words were like a slap in the face, but in a good way. Maya stood straighter, her anger melting into a calm resolve. "You know what? You're right."
Luna smirked. "Hell yeah we are. Now, let's make this night about you, Maya. Let him stew over you for once."
Maya looked over at Eddie, still across the room with Jackie, a shallow smile playing on his lips. His eyes flicked to her briefly, confusion flickering there, but she didn't care.
She wasn't going to waste another second of her night on him.
"I'm done," Maya declared, her voice clear. "If he can't see what's right in front of him, then he can have Jackie. I don't need him."
Sally's grin widened. "That's the spirit."
With newfound confidence, Maya turned away from Eddie and Jackie, focusing on the music. She joined the dance floor with Luna and Sally, her movements more fluid, carefree. She let herself get lost in the music, in the rhythm, in the freedom of not caring.
For once, she was the one with the power. The eyes around her felt like a spotlight, and she thrived in it, feeding off the attention, but never letting it define her. She was more than just a pretty face. She was Maya Sinclair, and tonight was hers to own.
But just as the beat of the music reached a crescendo, she saw Eddie again—his eyes burning into her from across the room, watching her with a mix of confusion and regret.
Maya's stomach fluttered, but she pushed it down. She wasn't going to let him have that power over her anymore.
But then, she saw Jackie inching closer to Eddie, her hand gently resting on his arm, a soft laugh escaping her lips. And Eddie? He didn't pull away.
Maya's jaw clenched, and a sharp pain hit her chest. The scene was too much. The jealousy, the hurt—it all came rushing in. But instead of running to Eddie like she had done a thousand times before, she stood still.
Luna squeezed her hand, leaning in. "Let her have him. You're better than this."
Maya exhaled slowly, the weight of Luna's words settling into her bones. She turned her back on Eddie and Jackie and faced her friends, feeling lighter with every step she took away from the mess that had become Eddie and Jackie.
This was the last time.
Eddie could figure himself out, and if he wanted Jackie, she wouldn't stand in his way. Maya Sinclair wasn't anyone's second choice. She was done letting anyone control her happiness.
Maya, Luna, and Sally danced into the night, leaving Eddie behind. And this time, Maya felt more alive than she had in a long time.