Chapter 20: Cracks in the Mirror

(Sapphire's POV)

Sapphire stood before her mirror, the reflection staring back at her feeling like a stranger. Her usual poise and confidence had dulled, replaced by shadows under her eyes and an uncertainty that made her stomach churn. Her hair, once flawlessly styled each morning, was now lazily tied back. Even the carefully curated outfits she wore daily felt like a hollow ritual.

It wasn't the whispers in the halls that got to her—it was the look in people's eyes. The pity, the judgment, the curiosity. Sapphire, the queen who lost control.

She took a deep breath, leaning forward to rest her hands on the bathroom counter. Amara's face flashed in her mind, her words replaying like a broken record. "I was afraid you'd leave me."

Amara had made mistakes, and Sapphire knew it. But the vulnerability in her voice during that confession lingered. Sapphire wanted to be angry, to lash out, but all she could feel was exhaustion.

For so long, she had been the untouchable one—the one who could weather anything. But this was different. The web of lies and half-truths surrounding her was suffocating. And the knowledge that others—Celeste especially—seemed to relish watching her stumble only made it worse.

Focus, she told herself, straightening her posture. There was no room for weakness. Not now.

---

The library was quieter than usual when she entered later that afternoon. The soft hum of fluorescent lights filled the space as students sat hunched over their books. Sapphire moved to her usual table near the back, ignoring the glances thrown her way.

But as she sat down and opened her notebook, she couldn't focus. Her mind kept drifting to Ivy.

Ivy's presence had been a steady comfort for so long, but now there was a distance between them that Sapphire couldn't bridge. Ivy hadn't been outright hostile, but her sharp tone and clipped words were impossible to ignore.

Sapphire tapped her pen against the notebook, frustrated. She didn't blame Ivy for being upset, but she missed her.

Maybe I should talk to her, Sapphire thought. But the idea of reaching out made her chest tighten. What could she even say?

The sound of a chair scraping against the floor snapped Sapphire out of her thoughts. She looked up to see Ivy standing across the table, her expression unreadable.

"Do you mind if I sit?" Ivy asked, her voice cool but not unkind.

"Of course," Sapphire said, gesturing to the chair.

Ivy sat down, pulling out her own notebook. For a moment, they worked in silence, the tension between them thick but not unbearable.

Finally, Ivy spoke. "Are you okay?"

Sapphire blinked, caught off guard by the question. "I… I'm fine," she said, though her voice wavered.

Ivy raised an eyebrow. "You don't look fine."

Sapphire let out a shaky laugh, running a hand through her hair. "Yeah, well… things have been a little complicated lately."

"That's an understatement," Ivy said, her tone softening.

Sapphire looked at her, searching for some hint of the warmth they once shared. "I'm sorry," she said quietly. "For shutting you out. For… everything."

Ivy's expression softened, and she let out a sigh. "I know you're under a lot of pressure. But you don't have to handle it all by yourself, you know."

Sapphire swallowed hard, her throat tightening. "I don't know how to let people help me," she admitted. "I've always felt like I had to do everything on my own."

"You don't," Ivy said firmly. "You've got me. And Amara. Even if she's a mess sometimes, she cares about you. And, for what it's worth, I care too."

Sapphire felt a lump form in her throat. She nodded, unable to find the words to express her gratitude.

They fell back into silence, but this time, it felt lighter. The weight on Sapphire's chest eased just a little, and for the first time in days, she felt like she could breathe.

---

That night, Sapphire returned to her dorm room feeling more grounded. She sat on her bed, pulling out her journal. Writing had always been her way of making sense of the chaos in her life, and tonight, she had a lot to process.

As she wrote, her mind kept returning to Ivy's words.

You don't have to handle it all by yourself.

It was such a simple sentiment, yet it carried so much weight. Sapphire had spent years building walls around herself, but maybe it was time to let them down.

She closed the journal, setting it on her nightstand. The path ahead was still uncertain, but for the first time in a long time, she felt like she wasn't facing it alone.

...

Sapphire woke up the next morning feeling lighter, though the weight of everything still lingered on the edges of her mind. For the first time in weeks, she didn't immediately feel the need to plaster on a mask of confidence. Instead, she took her time, standing by her window as sunlight filtered through the blinds.

Ivy's words echoed in her mind: "You don't have to handle it all by yourself."

She smiled faintly, still holding onto the conversation they shared in the library. It had been a small moment, but it meant everything. Sapphire wasn't naive—she knew that one talk couldn't fix all the cracks in their relationship, but it was a start. And right now, that was enough.

---

The cafeteria was buzzing with the usual morning chaos when Sapphire walked in. Trays clattered, voices overlapped, and the faint aroma of coffee and toast filled the air. She scanned the room, her eyes landing on Ivy at a corner table.

Ivy noticed her too, giving a small nod. It wasn't much, but it felt like an invitation. Sapphire crossed the room, nerves tingling in her chest.

"Mind if I join?" she asked.

Ivy shrugged, though the hint of a smile tugged at her lips. "Go ahead."

Sapphire sat down, her tray clinking softly against the table. They ate in comfortable silence, and for the first time in weeks, Sapphire didn't feel the suffocating pressure of everyone's stares.

"You seem… calmer today," Ivy observed, breaking the quiet.

Sapphire nodded. "I guess I am. Talking to you helped."

Ivy's cheeks turned a faint pink, but she quickly masked it with a sip of her coffee. "Good. You need people in your corner, Sapphire."

"I know," Sapphire said, her voice steady. "And I'm trying to do better about letting them in."

Their conversation was interrupted by a loud laugh from across the room. Sapphire's gaze flicked to Celeste, who was holding court at her usual table. Her laugh rang out like a bell, drawing the attention of everyone nearby.

"She's always making herself the center of attention," Ivy muttered, her tone sharp.

Sapphire smirked. "That's her talent, isn't it?"

"Talent or strategy?" Ivy countered, raising an eyebrow.

Sapphire didn't answer, but the question lingered in her mind. Celeste was many things—manipulative, charismatic, infuriating—but she was also undeniably clever. And if there was one thing Sapphire had learned, it was to never underestimate her.

---

The rest of the day passed in a blur of classes and quiet moments. Sapphire kept her head down, focusing on her work and avoiding the whispers that still followed her in the halls.

But as the afternoon wore on, she found herself drawn to the music room. It had always been a place of solace for her—a space where she could let her guard down and lose herself in the rhythm of the piano.

She pushed open the door, only to freeze when she saw Celeste sitting at the piano. Her fingers danced over the keys, filling the room with a haunting melody that sent chills down Sapphire's spine.

"Didn't expect to see you here," Celeste said without looking up.

"I could say the same," Sapphire replied, stepping inside.

Celeste finally glanced at her, a smirk playing on her lips. "This is my escape. Didn't think anyone knew that."

"I come here too," Sapphire said, crossing her arms. "Though I usually avoid it when I think you might be here."

Celeste laughed softly, the sound tinged with amusement. "Afraid of me, Sapphire?"

"Hardly," Sapphire shot back, though her heart raced at the challenge in Celeste's tone.

Celeste stood, moving around the piano to face her. "You're interesting, you know that? For someone who's always in control, you seem to unravel so easily when things don't go your way."

Sapphire stiffened, her walls snapping back into place. "And you're always so quick to poke at other people's vulnerabilities. What are you trying to prove, Celeste?"

Celeste tilted her head, her smirk softening into something more sincere. "Maybe I just like seeing the real you. The Sapphire who's more than just the perfect image you project to everyone else."

The words struck a nerve, and Sapphire felt her defenses waver. For a moment, she saw something in Celeste's eyes—something raw and unguarded.

"I don't need your psychoanalysis," Sapphire said, her voice sharp but not unkind.

"Maybe not," Celeste replied, stepping closer. "But you might need a friend."

Sapphire didn't know how to respond. The air between them crackled with tension, the lines between rivalry and something else blurring.

"I should go," she said finally, her voice barely above a whisper.

"Of course," Celeste said, stepping back with a knowing smile. "But think about what I said, Sapphire. You might find it's not so terrible to let someone see the real you."

Sapphire turned and walked out of the room, her thoughts swirling. Celeste's words stayed with her long after she left, planting seeds of doubt and curiosity she couldn't shake.

---

That evening, Sapphire sat at her desk, staring at a blank page in her journal. She wanted to write about what had happened, but the words wouldn't come.

Instead, she closed the journal and looked out the window, the moonlight casting long shadows across the room.

The countdown to graduation felt heavier than ever, each passing day pulling her closer to a future she wasn't sure she was ready for. But if there was one thing Sapphire knew, it was that she couldn't face it alone.

And maybe, just maybe, she didn't have to.

---