MAYA

I walked out of the bathroom in only a towel, with a shower cap over my hair only to find Violet on my bed scrolling through her phone.

"There's a reason why people knock before entering a room you know. What if I was naked?"I asked.

"Nothing I haven't seen before."She replied with a grin and I rolled my eyes at her.

I left her on the bed and entered my closet making sure to properly lock the door this time. After carefully drying myself I made sure to properly moisturize before getting dressed. I put on a black bra, a matching pair of boy shorts before finally standing in front of my closet deciding on something to wear. What was one supposed to wear to dinner with her ex best friends family?

"Maya what's taking you so long?"Violet asked from the bedroom.

I ignored her and a minute later the lock jiggled when she tried to get in but she found the door locked.

"Maya open up. Sisters don't lock doors on each other."She grumbled jiggling the lock some more.

"I'll be out in a few, be patient."I demanded.

I heard her huff then walk away. I looked at my selection of dresses one more time and finally decided on an green ankara dress with puffy sleeves. It was one of the dresses I'd brought with me from Nigeria. It had a tight upper bodice then flowed into a skater design from the waist down and reached the top of my knees.

Elijah's family was full of giants and with my short frame, I didn't want to feel out of place so I wore a pair of blank heeled ankle boots to boost my height. I removed the shower cap and let my dreadlocks fall free to my waist pinning them back on both sides away from my face. I finally grabbed a purse with a few lady essentials and left the closet.

Violet's eyes widened as soon as she saw me. She immediately dropped her phone to gawk at me.

"Why are you dressed up looking all cute and respectful?"She asked me getting off the bed.

"I have dinner plans tonight."I replied.

I hadn't told her about going to the Olsen's for dinner.

"With who? I thought we had plans?"She questioned.

"What plans? I wasn't aware we had any plans"I retorted.

"Well I've yet to come up with something but here you are dressed up about to go to a dinner you didn't tell me about or invite me to."She pouted.

"It was a single invitation."I said putting my phone and some cash in my purse.

"It's a date? Wait, you have a date and you didn't tell me."She scolded.

"No it's not a date."I replied with an eye roll walking out of my room with her hot on my heels.

"Then where are you going to dinner and why can't I come with you."She whined.

I entered the kitchen where my aunt was busy wrapping up some dish. She looked up as soon as she saw us and smiled.

"You look beautiful darling, are you ready to leave?"She asked me.

"Thank you auntie and yes I am."I replied.

"You told mama G and didn't tell me. How long have you two been making plans behind my back?"Violet asked.

"No one made plans behind your back."Aunt Gloria replied on my behalf.

"Then why am I only hearing about this right now?"Violet asked.

"Hush now Violet. Maya you will take this to them, you can't go empty handed."Aunt Gloria said pushing the food she had been wrapping towards me.

"Auntie it's a dinner, there will be food there, why do I have to bring more food."I complained.

"Because it's rude to go empty handed."She replied.

"Then why can't I take some wine or flowers."I retorted.

"And you are."She replied retrieving a whole gift basket from a cabinet in the kitchen.

She placed it on top of the counter and making me gasp.

"Helooo, can anyone here me?"Vee huffed but I was too engrossed in all the stuff my aunt was making me take to pay attention to her.

There was wine, beer, flowers, chocolate, coffee, sweets and other stuff I couldn't see.

"Auntie no."I cried in protest.

"Yes you are, now make sure to have a good time and be back by eleven."She replied kissing my forehead.

I knew there was no point fighting with her since I wouldn't win anyway. Looks like I was bringing food and a gift basket to the Olsen family.

"Vee can you please drive me to the Olsen's?"I requested politely.

"Oh now that you need me, you acknowledge me. Wait, did you just say the Olsen's? You're having dinner with Elijah's family?"Violet asked and I nodded.

"How?"

"Amanda, one of his sister's invited me. Now will you drive me or should I get an uber?"I asked her.

"Don't get your panties in a bunch shortie, I'll take you. Let me just get my shoes and keys."She replied turning back around and running up the stairs.

Five minutes later we were on the road headed towards the Olsen's house. Amanda had told me that they still lived in the same house which according to Violet was only ten minutes away.

"Wait, does Elijah know about you going for dinner?"Violet asked me.

"Amanda told me that she would tell me so he probably does."I replied.

"Well at least he can't be a douche to you in front of his whole family."Violet reasoned.

I shrugged because I didn't know if she was right or not.

Thinking about Elijah reminded me of his behavior the previous day when he had handed me the boxing shorts. He had actually all on his own accord sought me out and practically demanded that I wear them. I only obeyed because I didn't want to give him more reasons to hate me. The girls had made a big deal out of the gesture but I tried to stay level headed and not read too much into it. It did sort of give me hope though that I was getting through to him, well until lunch when he refused to swap his apple for my orange. I knew how much he hated apples, he always had ever since we were little. He was caring one minute, making the boys apologize to us then rude the next by being a complete asshole to me. I did deserve it anyway so I didn't comment much on it. Hopefully going to dinner with his family would help with his behavior towards me.

"We're here."Violet announced pulling up to the familiar two storey house.

It looked the same to me bringing up a lot of warm childhood memories. Hosing each other done with Elijah when we got flower watering duty. Teaching each other how to ride bicycles up and down the driveway. And that last day when we sat on the porch and had enough candy to make both of sick. That had been one of the best and worst days of my life and I hoped Elijah would give me the chance to fix things.

I got out of the car and looked up, the attic light was on which meant two things, Elijah was home and he still lived in the attic. There were many more cars in the driveway meaning everyone had arrived. Violet helped me carry the fruit basket up to the door since it was too heavy for me to carry at the same time with the food.

"Call me when it's time to come pick you up. Best of luck to you cousin."Violet said laying the gift basket next to me, before running off.

I took a deep breath balanced the warm dish in my hands and rang the door bell. There was a lot of noise coming out of the house so after a minute I rang the door bell again when no one came to answer the door.

"Someone get that."A female voice yelled loudly inside and a few moments later the door was opened.

I hadn't realized that I was holding my breath until I sighed in relief when it wasn't Elijah who opened the door. I definitely didn't need his negativity so early in the evening.

"Hi, how may I help you?"The tall strange man asked.

"I'm here for the Olsen's, Amanda invited me."I replied the dish getting heavy in my hand.

What the hell had my aunt cooked? Stones.

"Yeah of course come in, let me help you with that."He said opening the door wider to let me in as he picked up the gift basket.

"Thank you."I replied politely walking in.

"Honey there's a strange little black girl asking for you and she brought food and gifts."The man bellowed behind me startling me.

Oh so he was Amanda's husband, the marine. He definitely looked the part with his clean cut buzz and broad stance. But he could have at least tried to announce my arrival better.

"Who?"Amanda asked as she walked into the hallway from the kitchen drying her hands on a kitchen towel.

Her face lit up as soon as she saw me.

"Maya hi. I'm so glad you could make it."She said burying me into one of the famous Olsen hugs.

It was a little awkward because of the food I was carrying but neither of us minded.

"Thank you for having me. I brought food and gifts."I declared holding up the dish my aunt had made.

"You didn't have to but thank you. Come on in and meet everyone. I see you've already met my husband Daniel. Forgive his manners, he actually thinks he's funny, but he's really not."She said whispering the last part making me smile.

She took the food from me, looped her hand with mine and led me into the kitchen where most of the noise was.

The house looked practically the same but new in a way. Like it had been recently renovated but they had tried their best to maintain it's original charm. There were family photos all over the walls like I remembered, old and new as the family became bigger.

"Guys look who just arrived."Amanda announced loudly as soon as we got into the kitchen.

All conversation stopped and nine pairs of eyes turned to me. Way to be put on the spot Amanda.

"Yeah I'm just going to take this and leave. Nice to meet you Maya."Daniel said grabbing the cans of beer I'd brought with me and disappearing into the living room.

"Nice to meet you too."I mumbled to his retreating back.

"Did he just say Maya?"

"Which Maya?"

"Elijah's Maya."

"Oh my God it is her."

"She's so tiny."

I couldn't tell who said what since they were all talking at the same time. After the initial shock of seeing me wore off it was chaos after that as I was pulled into multiple hugs by all the Olsen women. For a few minutes I disappeared in a sea of really tall Amazonian women with red hair and green eyes.

"You really are back? I thought Amanda was just making you up when she told us."Valerie commented.

"Yeah today marks two weeks since I arrived actually. It's so nice to see you all again, glad to know I'm still a dwarf compared to you guys."I replied making them laugh.

"Welcome back home dear, you have been missed."Florence, Elijah's mom said hugging me once more.

She had always been a second mom to me when we were younger and I was glad to know that she didn't hate me.

"Thank you, it feels like home."I replied honestly.

I had always been showered with love anytime I was with the Olsen's and I was happy to know that that hadn't changed.

"No wonder Elijah has been so prickly all week."Grandma Mabel commented.

"I'm sorry."I apologized knowing my return was causing issues with Elijah.

"Don't be darling, he's always prickly, just a little extra this week but I'm glad to see that your precious face is the reason."She replied pinching my cheeks.

I smiled gratefully overwhelmed by all the love I was receiving.

"You came just in time dear. The men are handling the barbecue at the back and they are just about done, let's go join them."Florence declared.

Everyone grabbed something from the top of the counter, food, utensils, plus the food I'd brought with me and we walked through the living room into the backyard. If I thought the Olsen women were tall, the men were even taller but none of them got to Elijah's height. There were also kids running around the backyard.

"Little mouse, is that you?"Bernard, Elijah's dad exclaimed when he saw me.

He had come up with the nickname little mouse when I had been younger and always seemed proud to call me that.

"Hi, Pa."I greeted giving him a shy wave.

Suddenly I was engulfed in a feet dangling bear hug. I chuckled holding onto burly arms so I didn't fall. My second father, oh how good it felt to be home.

"You haven't grown an inch but it's so good to see you again little mouse."Bernard commented puting me down.

"And you Pa keep getting bigger, have you been working out?"I teased making him grin.

"Thank you for noticing, no one else does around here."He retorted making the ladies roll their eyes at him.

"Well I've noticed Pa, you look good."I complimented.

"I'd forgotten how much I missed having you call me that. It's nice to have you back kiddo."He said his voice getting an octave deeper.

I'd always called him Pa since I couldn't call him by his name or dad that would have been too weird. Papa was reserved for my father only so Bernard got pa.

"Thank you for having me, I missed you too."I replied.

"Okay she's my guest so let me have her back please."Amanda demanded pulling me away.

Bernard glared at her but you could still see the smile at the corner of his lips nonetheless.

Amanda introduced me to Jean's husband Colt and their three kids; Warren was seven and a half and the perfect replica of his dad, Millie was five and had her mom's red hair and dad's brown yes and two year old Leo who had the cutest red curls and big green eyes like his mom.

I then met Grace's husband Matt and their two kids Alice who was six and looked like the spitting image of her mother and Grover who was three and his dad's twin.

She introduced me to Valerie's husband, Emmett last and their nine month old son Carter who's hair and eyes I couldn't see since he was sleeping and wearing a beanie.

The family really had grown in the eight years I had been away, which was good because they all looked very happy.

The table was set for eighteen, minu the three youngsters who had to be held and fed by their own parents.

"Time for dinner everyone, Warren do me a favor, run up to the attic and call your uncle Eli down for dinner."Florence requested.

"Yes grandma."Warren replied running into the house.

Here comes trouble, I thought to myself when I heard that Elijah was joining us. Oh and trouble did he bring.

A few minutes later, Elijah walked into the backyard, Warren in his arms as they talked animatedly. He set him down when they got close to the table. When he looked up, I was the first person he saw as we locked gazes. I held my breath waiting for his outburst and he did not disappoint.

"What is she doing here? What are you doing here?"He asked angrily in a loud voice making all conversation around the table stop as everyone looked at him.

I looked at Amanda who was looking at me apologetically meaning she hadn't told Elijah that I would be joining them for dinner. Thank you for throwing me under the bus Amanda, I thought to myself.

"She's my guest."Amanda replied firmly.

"I need her gone." Elijah demanded.

"Eli what has gotten into you? We do not speak to guests that way in this house, especially those who are like family."Florence scolded looking appalled by her son's behavior.

"She is not family and she is leaving."Elijah insisted.

"No she is not, she is my guest and I say she stays."Amanda retorted.

"Fine, if she's staying then I'm going."Elijah declared.

"No you don't have to, I'll leave."I said pushing my chair back and getting up.

I felt bad causing a rift between the family and knew that the best way to fix things was to leave.

"No one is leaving!"Grandma Mabel roared in such an intimidating tone that the whole table went silent.

"Elijah sit your ass down, you too Maya. Elijah your best friend is back and instead of being happy you've been walking around all week scratching like an irate puppy. You two might have issues to solve but we are a family and we're all going to sit down and share a meal together."Grandma Mabel declared and no one dared speak after that.

Elijah didn't even say a word, just sat down like the disgruntled teenager that he was while I settled back down. Grandma Mabel had come to my rescue this one time but she wouldn't always be there. I just wished that Elijah would be more open to listening to me. We would already be on our way to mending our relationship.

"Now let's hold hands and pray."Florence demanded.

I gazed at Elijah one more time before closing my eyes and he was glaring at me. He had definitely erased the whole warm welcome I'd been given earlier by everyone. I was not looking forward to the whole awkward dinner coming but I didn't have a choice but to sit through it while getting hateful glares from Elijah all through.