The cracks begin to show

Kiara's mind raced as she walked into school the following Monday. The conversation she had with Kelly on Friday still lingered in her thoughts, replaying like an endless loop. She couldn't deny the truth anymore—she was falling for him. It scared her more than anything. But what frightened her the most was how everything between them was starting to shift.

It wasn't that she didn't want to be with Kelly—it was the unknown that terrified her. Would they still be able to be best friends if they took that step? Would it ruin everything?

As she walked through the hallways, she caught glimpses of Kelly with Samantha again. They were talking in the corner near the lockers, laughing like they were in their own world. Kiara's chest tightened, and the familiar pang of jealousy took root once more.

She hated this. She hated feeling like she was losing him, even though she was the one who couldn't quite express what she truly felt.

Kiara shook her head, trying to shake off the negative thoughts. She had to trust that Kelly wasn't replacing her. But it was hard. She had spent so many years being his one and only confidante. Now, it felt like there was someone else slipping into that role.

The bell rang, signaling the start of class. Kiara quickly made her way to her first-period math class, where she sat next to her best friend, Lisa. Lisa gave her a knowing look, sensing the tension in Kiara's usually easygoing demeanor.

"You've been quiet," Lisa remarked as they sat down. "What's going on with you and Kelly?"

Kiara sighed, biting her lip. "I don't know, Lisa. Everything's just… changed. I don't know how to explain it."

Lisa raised an eyebrow, clearly intrigued. "Do you like him, Kiara?"

Kiara froze for a moment before nodding slowly. "I do. But it's complicated. He's been hanging out with Samantha a lot lately, and it's like he's moving on without me, you know? And I don't know if I'm ready to admit it, but I can't deny that I'm scared of losing him."

Lisa leaned in, speaking softly. "You're allowed to be scared. But if you really feel something for him, you can't keep pretending like you don't. It's okay to be vulnerable, Kiara. You've always been the strong one, but sometimes, you have to take the leap."

Kiara's heart skipped a beat as Lisa's words sunk in. She had always been the one to hold everything together, to keep things light and easy. But the truth was, she had never felt this way about anyone. Not like this.

---

Later that day, Kiara found herself walking toward the courtyard for lunch. As she approached, she spotted Kelly sitting with Samantha, his arm casually draped around her shoulders. The sight felt like a punch to the gut, and for a moment, Kiara wasn't sure if she could face them.

But she had to. She couldn't let this consume her. She needed to confront the feelings swirling inside of her.

Taking a deep breath, Kiara walked over to their table, her heart pounding in her chest. Kelly looked up and smiled when he saw her, but it wasn't the easy, familiar smile she had grown used to. It was different, strained.

"Hey, Kiara," Kelly greeted, his voice tentative.

"Hey," she replied, her voice unsteady. She tried to ignore the tightness in her chest as she took a seat across from them.

Samantha, ever the social butterfly, flashed a bright smile. "Kiara, we were just talking about this weekend. Kelly's got a pretty exciting plan, huh?"

Kiara glanced at Kelly, who seemed almost uncomfortable under her gaze. She didn't want to create tension, but the words she had been holding back bubbled to the surface. "Yeah, I know. But, Kelly, we need to talk."

Kelly's eyes widened, his expression shifting. He glanced briefly at Samantha, who seemed to sense the change in the air. She excused herself, giving them some space, but not without shooting Kiara a playful look that made Kiara's blood boil.

"I'll see you later," Samantha said, her tone laced with something Kiara couldn't quite place—was it jealousy? Annoyance? Either way, it didn't matter. What mattered was Kelly. What mattered was *them*.

Once Samantha had walked off, Kelly turned back to Kiara, his face more serious now. "What's up?"

Kiara hesitated, her throat tight. "Kelly, I can't keep doing this. Watching you with her… it's hard. I don't want to feel this way, but I can't ignore it anymore. I can't keep pretending like everything's fine."

Kelly's face softened, and he leaned in a little, looking concerned. "Kiara, I didn't mean to make you feel like that. You're important to me. I've just… been trying to figure everything out, you know? It's not about her. It's about me, trying to figure out how to balance everything with you."

Kiara shook her head. "I don't know if it's that simple. Every time I see you with her, I feel like I'm losing you. And I don't know what to do with these feelings, Kelly. I'm confused. I'm scared."

Kelly took her hand across the table, his voice low but firm. "I'm not going anywhere, Kiara. I just need time, too. We'll figure this out. You mean too much to me for anything to come between us."

Kiara swallowed, the tears she had been holding back threatening to spill over. "But what if it's not enough? What if we're not enough?"

Kelly leaned in closer, his eyes serious and filled with something Kiara couldn't quite name. "We are enough. We just need to give ourselves a chance. We'll figure it out together."

---

The conversation left Kiara feeling both lighter and heavier at the same time. She had wanted clarity, but she wasn't sure if she'd found it. What she did know was that things between her and Kelly weren't going to be easy. But for the first time in a long while, she allowed herself to believe that they could make it work—whatever "it" was.

That afternoon, as she walked to her next class, she found herself lost in thought. She was still unsure of what the future held, but one thing was for certain—nothing would ever be the same again.

End of Chapter 12