The classroom hummed with soft chatter as Mr. Harris paced in front of the whiteboard, droning on about trade routes and their economic impact. Star stared blankly at her open notebook, the pen in her hand unmoving. She wasn't even pretending to take notes.

Next to her, King tapped his pencil against the desk rhythmically, a habit that would normally irritate her but now barely registered.

"You okay?" King whispered, leaning closer.

Star blinked, pulled out of her haze. "Yeah. Why?"

"You've been zoning out all class," he said.

"Just... distracted," she muttered, her voice low.

"Distracted by what?" he pressed, his expression curious but soft.

Star hesitated. How could she explain the whirlwind of thoughts running through her mind? About the bonfire, about her place in the group, about how she felt torn between wanting to reconnect and wanting to stay distant?

Before she could answer, Mr. Harris's voice cut through the quiet buzz.

"King. Star. If what you're discussing is so riveting, please share it with the class."

All eyes turned to them, and a ripple of laughter spread across the room.

"Sorry, Mr. Harris," King said casually, leaning back in his chair like he owned the place.

Star, on the other hand, wanted to sink through the floor. She shot a glare at King, but he only shrugged, his smirk unfazed.

"I've had enough," Mr. Harris said, exasperated. "Both of you—hallway. Now."

The class ooohed in unison, and Star felt the heat rise to her cheeks as she grabbed her things and trudged toward the door.

As she passed Kendrick's desk, she caught the briefest glimpse of his expression: furrowed brows and a pointed glare aimed directly at King.

King, ever nonchalant, rolled his eyes.

Star frowned. What was that about?

The Hallway

The door clicked shut behind them, muffling the sound of Mr. Harris continuing his lecture. Star leaned against the lockers, arms crossed.

"Okay," she said, her tone sharp. "What's your deal?"

King looked genuinely confused. "What do you mean?"

"You're acting... weird," she said, searching for the right word. "What was that look with Kendrick? And why are you suddenly so concerned about me?"

King scratched the back of his neck, avoiding her eyes. "I'm not acting weird."

"You're dodging the question," Star pointed out.

He sighed, leaning against the lockers beside her. "Fine. You want the truth?"

She nodded, crossing her arms tighter.

"I like you, Star," he said, the words tumbling out so quickly she almost didn't catch them.

Her eyes widened. "What?"

"I like you," he repeated, this time slower. "And I have for a while."

Star's mouth opened, then closed. "I—I don't know what to say."

"You don't have to say anything right now," he said quickly. "But I need to know... why have you been so distant? Did I—or we—do something wrong?"

Star stared at him, her mind racing. This was too much. She wasn't ready for this conversation, not with everything else weighing on her.

"It's not that," she said finally, her voice quiet. "I just... I thought you guys didn't need me anymore. Everyone seemed fine without me, and I didn't want to be the person who clung to something that wasn't there."

King shook his head, his expression somewhere between frustration and disbelief. "Star, that's the dumbest thing I've ever heard. We missed you. I missed you. The group isn't the same without you."

His words hit her like a punch to the chest, and for a moment, she didn't know how to respond.

"I don't know," she said, her voice barely above a whisper.

King stepped closer, his hand resting lightly on her shoulder. "Please, just think about it. We want you back. I want you back."

The sincerity in his voice made her throat tighten. She didn't trust herself to speak, so instead, she hugged him.

Kendrick's Perspective

Inside the classroom, Kendrick had been watching through the small window in the door. His jaw tightened as he saw King lean closer to Star, his hand on her shoulder.

When Star hugged him, Kendrick looked away, his stomach twisting in a way he didn't like.

"What's their deal?" someone whispered behind him.

Kendrick didn't answer. He didn't have one.

Back in Class

When Star and King re-entered the classroom, Kendrick didn't look at them. But Star couldn't ignore the tension hanging in the air, even if she didn't fully understand it.

The rest of the lesson dragged on, but Star's mind was elsewhere. She couldn't shake King's words—or Kendrick's expression.

Later That Day

Star walked through the hallways after class, her thoughts heavy. She turned a corner and nearly bumped into Kendrick.

"Hey," he said, his voice clipped.

"Hey," she replied, unsure of what else to say.

"You and King looked pretty... close," he said, his tone carefully neutral.

Star blinked. "What's that supposed to mean?"

Kendrick shrugged, but his expression gave him away.

Before she could respond, King appeared behind her. "Ready to go?"

Star nodded, giving Kendrick a quick glance before walking away with King.