The warmth of the bonfire flickered in the cool night air, casting long shadows across the beach. Laughter and chatter echoed around Star as she sat on the edge of the circle, her legs tucked under her, arms crossed. She wasn't part of the conversation. King and Prince were making jokes about some video game, while Bubbles' loud, imaginative voice bounced around the group, her excitement infectious. Zara, of course, was in the middle of it all, looking flawless as always, her perfect smile lighting up the night.

Star shifted uncomfortably, the sounds of the group feeling more like a distant hum than the lively chatter it once was. She could see Zara laughing with King, her hair glowing in the firelight, and Bubbles enthusiastically gesturing with her hands as she talked about some wild new theory she had about the stars. But Star couldn't join in. Every time she tried to engage, her thoughts felt clouded with tension and frustration—her heart heavy with unspoken words.

"Hey, Star!" Zara's voice broke through the noise, but it didn't feel as warm as usual. Her perfect teeth shone in a smile as she waved her hand. "Come sit with us! Don't be shy!"

Star hesitated, not even sure how to respond. She forced a smile, trying to make her voice sound casual.

"I'm fine here, thanks." She waved it off, her eyes shifting to the dark ocean beyond the group, where the sound of the waves crashing against the shore made everything feel a little quieter, a little more peaceful. Zara's smile faltered for a moment, but she didn't press. She turned back to the group, her attention back on King.

Star let out a slow breath. She couldn't shake the feeling of being disconnected, like the group had somehow gone on without her. It wasn't the same anymore. As the laughter from the group carried on in the background, Star slowly stood up, feeling the sand beneath her feet. She walked away from the bonfire, her mind spinning with confusion and frustration.

The deeper she walked along the beach, the quieter everything became. The noise of the group faded into the distance, and Star found herself alone. But as she walked farther, she spotted someone sitting near the edge of the water—someone familiar. Milly.

Milly wasn't the loud, outgoing type like the others. She was always quiet, her nose buried in a book or sketchpad. Zara had invited her to the group, but Milly had always been more of an observer. Still, Star liked her. There was a calmness about Milly that Star had always appreciated.

Milly looked up when she saw Star approaching, offering a small, knowing smile.

"Hey," Milly said softly. "I didn't expect to see you out here. Everything okay?"

Star sat down beside her, brushing the sand off her legs. For a moment, there was just silence between them, the only sound the rhythm of the waves crashing against the shore.

"I don't know," Star finally muttered, letting out a long breath. "I just... don't feel like I belong there anymore, you know?"

Milly tilted her head, her eyes curious but not pushing. "At the bonfire?"

"Yeah," Star replied. "I mean, we used to be so close, all of us. It felt different. And now..." She trailed off, unsure of what to say. "I just feel... left out. Like everyone's moving on, and I'm stuck."

Milly nodded slowly, her eyes thoughtful. "I get that. I've felt like that before."

Star glanced at Milly, surprised. "You have?"

"Yeah," Milly said with a half-smile. "I spent the whole summer at an art internship overseas. I wasn't allowed to use my phone, so I didn't get to keep in touch with anyone. I came back and thought I'd be part of the group, but things felt... different. Like everything had changed without me."

Star looked down at the sand, her fingers tracing random patterns in it. "I didn't even think about that. You didn't get to hang out with everyone either, huh?"

Milly shrugged. "Not really. But it's okay. I'm used to being on my own." Her voice softened, and she gave Star a curious glance. "You remember when we were in 6th grade, right? When we all made that big plan to walk into high school together? We were going to have food fights, sing 'High School Musical' songs in the cafeteria, and just have the best time. You, me, Bubbles, Zara, Prince, King, Apollo, and Yuno—we all planned it out like it was some big, epic thing."

Star smiled faintly, remembering that day. They had all made plans like it was a movie. But when it came time for high school, things didn't go the way they imagined. They all scattered in different directions, and Star realized she wasn't as included as she'd thought. Zara had led the charge—always the one to organize everything, to pull everyone in. But somehow, Star had been left on the sidelines.

"Yeah, I remember," Star said, her voice quieter now. "I thought we'd stay close, that it would stay the same."

Milly laughed softly. "Me too. But you know how it is. Things change. We grow up. People go their separate ways. It's not always what we expect."

Star's stomach tightened as she thought about Zara, and how everything had shifted without warning. "I don't think Zara even noticed I've been pulling away."

Milly raised an eyebrow, a gentle smile playing on her lips. "Do you think she's the only one responsible for that?"

Star looked at her, the question hitting her harder than she expected. She had been blaming Zara for everything, for drifting away from the group, for taking Prince's attention. But had she been pushing herself away all along?

"I guess I... I've been distant, too," Star admitted quietly. "I didn't reach out. I didn't try to keep in touch. Maybe I thought it would be easier to just... let it go."

Milly nodded thoughtfully. "Sometimes we think that's the best way to handle things. But the truth is, you don't have to let go. You just have to show up again. It's never too late to reach out."

Star smiled faintly, feeling a weight lift from her shoulders. Maybe Milly was right. Maybe it wasn't too late to fix things, to reconnect with the people who mattered.

But as the firelight flickered behind her, Star's thoughts turned back to Zara, and she couldn't shake the feeling that the real problem wasn't just the distance between them—it was the way Zara had always seemed to take control. It wasn't that Star wanted to be the leader, but it was hard to ignore how Zara had always been the one everyone gravitated toward.

"I'll try," Star said softly, her voice determined. "But I'm not going to pretend it's easy. There's a lot of stuff I still need to figure out."

Milly smiled, her eyes kind and understanding. "I know. But you'll get there. You just have to be honest with yourself, and with them."

Star nodded. With a deep breath, she stood up and dusted the sand off her legs. The sound of the bonfire in the distance called to her, and despite all the confusion in her heart, she knew she couldn't hide from it forever.

"I'll be back," Star said. "Thanks, Milly."

Milly gave her a small wave, her face soft with encouragement. "Anytime."