The Breaking point

Kiara couldn't focus. It had been nearly a month since Kelly started dating Cherry, and everything in Kiara's life had shifted. She couldn't concentrate in class, she barely had the energy to talk to her other friends, and she found herself obsessing over Kelly and Cherry's relationship. The more time she spent away from him, the more her feelings grew. The more she pushed those feelings down, the more they clawed their way back to the surface.

It was a Thursday afternoon when it all came to a head.

Kiara was sitting by the lockers, waiting for her brother, Kaden, to finish his meeting with his teacher. She had planned on using the time to catch up on some homework, but the only thing she could focus on was the sound of Kelly's laughter down the hall. She peeked around the corner to see Kelly and Cherry, talking and laughing as if they had no cares in the world. Cherry was leaning close to him, her hand on his arm. Kelly didn't even seem to mind.

Kiara's breath caught in her throat, her heart pounding in her chest. She couldn't stand it anymore. She couldn't stand seeing Kelly like this—so carefree, so happy with someone else. She had been the one who was always there for him, always by his side. But now… Now she was just the girl in the background, the one who had to watch from afar.

Her chest tightened with a mix of anger and sorrow, and without thinking, she stood up and walked toward them. She had no plan in mind. No words to say. She just knew she couldn't take it any longer.

"Kelly," Kiara said, her voice shaking as she walked up to him and Cherry. "Can we talk?"

Kelly looked up, startled. His expression softened when he saw her, but Kiara could tell that something had changed in his eyes. The closeness they once shared seemed to have faded.

"Uh, sure. What's up, Kiara?" he asked, glancing briefly at Cherry before turning back to Kiara.

Kiara took a deep breath, trying to keep her voice steady. "You've been spending so much time with Cherry. I don't even know where I fit in anymore."

Kelly frowned. "Kiara, I told you, I'm still your friend. Things are just… different now."

Kiara shook her head, a lump forming in her throat. "Different? No, Kelly. It's not just different. You're changing. You're not the person I knew anymore."

Cherry, standing off to the side, raised an eyebrow. "Kiara, don't be so dramatic. Kelly's allowed to have a life outside of you. He has a girlfriend now, and that's just the way things are."

Kiara shot Cherry a sharp look but then turned back to Kelly. "I don't want to lose you, Kelly," she whispered, her voice breaking. "I don't want to be left behind."

For a moment, there was silence. Kelly looked at her, his face unreadable. He glanced at Cherry again before finally speaking.

"I… I don't want to lose you either, Kiara. But this is just how things are right now."

Kiara's heart shattered as the finality of his words hit her. She nodded, forcing a smile, though it felt like the most painful thing she'd ever done.

"Yeah," she whispered. "I guess so."She turned and walked away, feeling the weight of his words pressing down on her chest. This was it. She had tried to hold on, but now she knew it was time to let go.

End of Chapter 6