The house was peaceful… which should have been the first warning sign.
Jay was lying across Kiefer's lap scrolling TikTok.Lia was leaning against Kairav, pretending to relax but actually plotting the assassination of whoever annoyed her next.Mayo and Kit were arguing about hair products again.Freya had stolen snacks.Cin was upside-down on the sofa for reasons no one understood.
Then Lia's phone rang.
LARA.
Lia answered normally.
"Hi Lar—"
And the peaceful afternoon died.
"WHAT?!" Lia shouted.
Jay sat up instantly, already in "fight mode."
"NO. NO. NO. LARA WHY WOULD YOU INVITE HER?!"
Jay ripped the phone from Lia's hand.
"LARA WHAT DO YOU MEAN KIARA IS COMING HERE IN 10 MINUTES?!"
Everyone froze.
Kairov blinked.
"K-Kiara? The braggy one from your family?"
The girls whipped their heads toward him.
"BRAGGY?!" Lia shouted.
"BRAGGY IS TOO NICE!"
Jay exploded next:
"She's the reason half the family thinks I need therapy!"
Aries whispered to Angelo,
"Oh boy, the demons have awakened."
Angelo nodded, "We must not anger them further."
Jay threw the phone on the couch.
Lia punched a pillow.
Both were shaking with rage.
Jay: "I swear if she walks in here acting innocent—"
Lia: "I will actually throw myself out the window."
Kairov tried approaching Lia, but she raised a finger at him like a warning laser beam.
"Don't. Talk. To. Me. I'm angry."
He stopped immediately.
Kiefer attempted to calm Jay.
"Wifey—"
"NO."
He backed up too.
Rory whispered,
"We need protective gear."
Ion whispered back,
"I need life insurance."
Jay and Lia paced back and forth like two dragons charging fire.
Lia muttered furiously,
"She told my whole story. MY story. Without asking!"
Jay added,
"She told mine too! She's like a walking, talking violation of privacy!"
Lia: "And now she's coming HERE?"
Jay: "TODAY?!"
Lia: "UNINVITED?!"
Jay: "BY LARA?!"
Both girls:
"WE'RE GOING TO IGNORE HER."
Everyone blinked.
Aries: "I thought you'd yell at her?"
Jay: "No yelling."
Lia: "We don't waste breath on trash."
Jay: "We ignore her."
Lia: "BRUTALLY."
Jay: "SILENTLY."
Both:"COMPLETELY."
Aries put a hand over his heart.
"I've never been more proud."
Angelo whispered,
"She's going to cry."
Ion nodded,
"Or leave. I support both."
Then—
A soft, fake, friendly knock.
The kind of knock that said, I think I'm the main character.
Jay inhaled sharply.
Lia rolled her neck like she was preparing for battle.
Kairov whispered,
"You sure you don't want us to block the door?"
Lia and Jay, in unison:
"No. Let her in."
Jay yanked the door open—
And there she was.
Kiara.
Perfect hair.
Perfect fake smile.
Perfect "I'm better than you" aura.
"Hi gu—"
Jay and Lia walked away without looking at her.
Not a glance.
Not a blink.
Not a word.
They brushed past her like she was a piece of furniture.
Kiara froze.
"Oh! Uh— hi Jay? Lia?"
Silence.
Lia sat beside Kairov like Kiara was invisible.
Jay sat on Kiefer's lap and started scrolling her phone aggressively.
Kiara blinked."Um… did you guys hear me?"
More silence.
Aries popped a chip in his mouth."Ohhhh they heard you."
Angelo nodded."They're just ignoring your entire existence."
Kiara looked offended."What? Why? What did I do?"
Ion coughed."Do you want the list alphabetically or chronologically?"
Kiara: "???"
Jay turned her volume up louder.
Lia flipped her hair dramatically and talked to the plant instead of Kiara.
Kairov leaned over and whispered sweetly to Lia,"You're doing amazing."
Kiefer kissed Jay's head."Queen of ignoring."
Kiara clenched her fists."GUYS. I'm TALKING."
Jay didn't even look up:"Not to us, you're not."
Lia sipped water without breaking eye contact with absolutely NOTHING.
Kiara's voice wobbled."Did… I do something?"
Aries:"Yes."
Angelo:"So much."
Rafael:"Honestly a shocking amount."
Kiara looked around, confused, overwhelmed.
"Can someone PLEASE explain—"
Jay stood up, walked past her, and said:
"If you wanted attention, pick someone else."
Lia followed behind, saying:
"Ignoring you is peaceful."
The boys followed them, leaving Kiara alone in the doorway.
Ion:
"Good luck, though!"
Rory:
"You'll need it."
And with that…
Jay and Lia dragged everyone upstairs, away from Kiara, leaving her standing there alone, confused, and dramatically offended.