The Distance Grows

The school bell rang, signaling the end of another school day. Kiara sighed, gathering her books and shoving them into her bag. The hallway outside the classroom was buzzing with the typical post-class chatter—students laughing, talking about their homework, or making plans for the weekend. The usual, ordinary chaos that Kiara had come to expect.

She slung her bag over her shoulder, stepping out of the classroom, but her eyes instinctively found the spot where Kelly always waited for her after class. He wasn't there. Instead, she spotted him a little further down the hallway, standing with a group of guys. His laughter rang out, easy and free, and for a moment, Kiara simply watched him. It was hard not to. He had this magnetic pull, this presence that seemed to draw everyone's attention. As always, his bright brown eyes were filled with that trademark energy, and his wide grin made everyone in the room feel like he was their friend.

But it wasn't just the crowd that gathered around him. It was *her*. Kiara's gaze followed Kelly's, and there, standing with him, was Cherry—flashing that perfect, flawless smile that made her the center of attention wherever she went. Cherry was, of course, the most popular girl in their class. Gorgeous, confident, and always surrounded by an entourage. Kelly was laughing with her, his arm lightly brushing hers as she whispered something into his ear.

Kiara's stomach tightened.

It wasn't that she didn't like Cherry. She didn't know her all that well. But there was something in the way Cherry seemed to always be close to Kelly now. And Kiara... well, she used to be the one Kelly talked to. She used to be the one who got all his attention, or at least most of it. They were best friends. No one had been able to come between them for years. Not until now.

Kiara shook her head, trying to brush off the uneasy feeling bubbling in her chest. She turned away and began walking towards the exit, but the familiar voice calling her name made her stop in her tracks.

"Kiara! Wait up!" Kelly's voice, always full of life, pulled her back.

Kiara turned around to face him, her lips automatically forming a smile. "Hey, Kelly."

He was grinning widely, as always. "You're in a rush or something? Want to hang out for a bit?"

"Uh, yeah. I was just heading home." She hesitated, glancing back at the group where Cherry was still laughing, now with a few other girls added to the crowd. "I didn't know you'd be busy with all... this."

Kelly raised an eyebrow, following her gaze. "You mean Cherry? Yeah, she wanted me to go over the notes from chemistry class. Said she didn't get a chance to take proper notes last week." He shrugged, not really noticing the way Kiara's face had shifted, just slightly, into something... pained.

"Oh." Kiara's voice was quieter than she intended. "I see."

"Yeah, don't worry about it, though." Kelly's expression softened slightly as he caught the distant look on Kiara's face. "You know I'm always here for you, right?"

Kiara nodded, though the words didn't feel as reassuring as they used to. She had always been the one Kelly would turn to, the one he could vent to after a bad day. They shared their secrets, their hopes, their fears. It was supposed to be them against the world. But now... now it was different.

"I know, Kelly. I just... I guess I miss hanging out with you like we used to," she said, her voice barely above a whisper.

Kelly looked a bit guilty. "I'm sorry. You know I never meant to ditch you. It's just... Cherry's been asking for help lately, and I guess I've been focusing more on her."

Kiara blinked, trying not to let her disappointment show. "Right." She forced a smile, hoping it didn't look too fake. "Well, I guess you're busy."

Kelly scratched the back of his neck, looking awkward for the first time. "I am, yeah. But hey, we'll hang out later, right? You, me, and the usual?"

"Of course," Kiara said quickly, though her heart didn't feel as light as it used to when she said it.

Kelly grinned and gave her a quick hug. "You're the best, Kiara. I swear, you always have my back."

Kiara stiffened, the hug feeling colder than she expected. Was it the hug, or was it the way his attention had shifted? Maybe it was both.

She nodded, her heart sinking just a little bit more. "Take care, Kelly. I'll see you tomorrow."

With a final wave, Kelly turned back to his friends, and Kiara watched him walk away. Her stomach churned. She couldn't deny it anymore—she hated how things were changing. She hated how Cherry was now the one getting his attention. Kelly was still the same person, the same guy she had known since childhood, but now there was something different in his eyes when he looked at her. Something that wasn't there before.

Kiara couldn't put her finger on it, but she knew this wasn't the same friendship anymore. Not now. Not with Cherry pulling him away.

For the first time in her life, Kiara realized how much she truly cared about him. But it wasn't just friendship anymore. It was something more. Something she had never planned for. And it terrified her.

As she walked out the school gates and into the fading afternoon light, she couldn't shake the nagging feeling that *this* was the beginning of something she wasn't prepared for.

End of Chapter 2