The air was thick with tension as the original friend group sat scattered around the spacious living room of King and Prince's house. Snacks were untouched on the coffee table, and the usual energy that filled the room during their hangouts was nowhere to be found. Kiara stood in the middle of the group, her arms crossed and an air of determination about her.

"Alright," she said firmly. "We're not leaving this room until we talk everything out. We're not the same as we used to be, and I think we all know that. So let's fix it."

A murmur of agreement rippled through the group, and then silence settled as Kiara looked around expectantly.

Milly, sitting next to Timmy, was the first to speak. She hesitated, wringing her hands before finally blurting out, "Me and Timmy... we've felt cast aside."

Her words landed like a weight in the room. Timmy nodded beside her, his usual easygoing demeanor replaced by a rare vulnerability.

"I get it," he said softly. "Everyone's been so busy, but it felt like we weren't part of the group anymore. Like we were just... extras."

Everyone exchanged guilty glances. Cherry was the first to move, crossing the room to hug Milly tightly.

"I'm so sorry," Cherry said. "That's on us. On me. We should've been better."

The others followed suit, offering apologies and hugs that gradually lightened the mood.

Yuno, Cherry, and Victor were next. Victor spoke for the three of them, his voice steady. "We've been so focused on soccer. We didn't mean to pull away, but we get why it felt like we were ignoring everyone."

"It's no excuse," Yuno added quickly. "We should've been better at keeping in touch."

"It's okay," Prince said, grinning as he slung an arm around Yuno. "You're forgiven—but only if you promise to stop ghosting us."

They all laughed, the tension easing a little more.

Then it was Kendrick and King's turn. Prince leaned forward, a mischievous glint in his eyes. "Alright, boys. Your turn. Spill it."

Kendrick rolled his eyes. "There's nothing to spill. We're good already."

King nodded, holding up a fist, which Kendrick bumped. "Yeah, we're good."

Prince smirked. "See? Progress. You're welcome."

The group chuckled, but then the room grew quiet as all eyes turned to Star and Zara.

Zara fidgeted nervously on the couch, while Star crossed her arms, her expression guarded.

"Are we... even arguing?" Zara asked hesitantly.

Star's eyes narrowed, her frustration bubbling over. "Zara, stop. Don't act like you don't know what's going on."

"I don't!" Zara protested. "I've been trying to figure out why you're upset, but you won't tell me!"

That was all it took for Star to snap. She stood abruptly, her voice rising. "Zara, you think you're so perfect! Do you know one thing I never wanted to do? Volleyball!"

The room went silent.

"I only did it to be around you," Star continued, her voice shaking with anger. "To support you, to help you, to make you happy. That's why I've been slipping lately—my lazy passes, my lack of focus. It's because I lost my passion. I realized I've been doing this for you, not for me!"

Zara blinked, stunned. "Star, I didn't know—"

"Exactly!" Star interrupted, her voice cracking. "You didn't know because you never asked. Not once in my life have you asked me how I'm feeling. Ever."

Zara opened her mouth, but no words came out.

"Ya know what else? I spent every moment walking on eggshells when I am around you I feel unseen, invisible, a ghost, nada, a zero, and all though you make It seem like you like me I just cant seem to believe you."

"You take everything from me," Star continued, tears welling in her eyes. "Everything I have to work hard for, you do effortlessly. I don't even know how we became friends in the first place."

Zara sat frozen, processing Star's words. Slowly, she smiled—not out of amusement, but because she didn't know what else to do.

"And there you go!" Star shouted, pointing at her. "Smiling, like everything's perfect. I hate it! Do you even know what you're doing?"

Zara stood abruptly, her voice trembling. "No, Star, I don't know what I'm doing. I really don't!"

The room watched in stunned silence as Zara took a deep breath. "I thought we were fine. I didn't know you hated me, but now it feels like you do. I feel like I lost my first friend, and I couldn't even figure out why."

Star's anger faltered as Zara's voice broke.

"You didn't have to join volleyball," Zara said, her eyes glossy with unshed tears. "You didn't have to do any of it for me. But I tried to be a good friend to you. I tried to include you, to make you feel like you belonged. And I thought I was doing the right thing, but clearly, I wasn't."

Zara wiped at her eyes, taking a shaky breath. "I just want to understand. That's all I've ever wanted."

The room was silent for a long moment, the weight of their words hanging in the air. Finally, Kiara stepped forward, her voice calm but firm.

"Star, Zara, this isn't going to get fixed in one night," she said. "But you two need to figure out if you even want to fix it. And if you do, it has to start with honesty—on both sides."

Star glanced at Zara, who met her gaze. For the first time in a long time, they looked at each other not as adversaries, but as two people trying to make sense of a mess.

"I'll think about it," Star said quietly.

"Me too," Zara replied.

The group exhaled collectively, the tension easing ever so slightly. It wasn't a perfect resolution, but it was all zara wanted. 

"Well now all we're missing Is Apollo!" Bubbles laughed.

"HEY! You can't take my place as group jokester!" Prince shot at bubbles. 

The group laughed

"Wait what happened to Apollo again ?" Bubbles asked. 

"Hes just overseas akthough I miss him Im happy with where we are" Kiara added. 

Bubbles nodded. Kiara glanced around the room, taking in the familiar faces of her friends—some tear-streaked, others laughing—but all here, trying. It wasn't perfect, not yet, but for the first time in a long time, it felt like they were moving forward.

"Alright," she said with a small smile. "Let's keep working on this. Together."

As laughter bubbled up from another one of Prince's jokes, Kiara caught Zara and Star exchanging a tentative smile. The doorbell rang, cutting through the tension in the room. Kiara's eyes flicked to the clock.

"Who's here?" she asked, slightly puzzled.

Prince stood up and headed toward the door, his usual grin plastered on his face. "Probably Apollo," he joked, though his tone seemed lighter than it had in weeks.

Kiara followed him to the door, her curiosity piqued. When she opened it, she was met with a sight she hadn't expected: a delivery of takeout bags from their favorite place.

"Did you order this?" she asked Prince, raising an eyebrow.

He gave her an exaggerated shrug. "No idea. But hey, look! Food!"

Kiara laughed, but there was something else behind her smile—something a little more tender. She hadn't realized how much she'd missed this, missed them, until now.

Prince handed her a bag, and she felt her fingers brush his for a split second. The touch was brief, but it sent a spark of warmth through her chest. She looked up at him, but he was already looking away, his grin back in place.

"What's the matter, Kiara?" he teased. "Don't tell me you've forgotten how to enjoy food after a long, stressful evening."

"No," she replied, her smile lingering. "I just think it's nice to have some good things, even when everything else feels complicated."

Prince studied her for a moment, then smirked. "So we're just ignoring the fact that I totally saved the day with this amazing takeout?"

Kiara raised an eyebrow. "Saved the day? You locked two of our friends in a janitor's closet."

"Which was a genius move, thank you very much," he shot back with mock offense.

Kiara rolled her eyes, but the laugh that bubbled up in her chest couldn't be contained. She didn't realize until that moment how much she had missed their playful banter—the way he could always make her smile, even in the darkest moments.

As the group gathered around the table, the room began to feel lighter. For the first time in what felt like forever, they were all together again—not just physically, but emotionally.

Zara and Star sat beside each other, their conversation quiet but genuine, a sign of the healing still to come. Kendrick and King sat across from them, talking about the game next week, though their words held a new weight, a new understanding between them. Even Yuno, Cherry, and Victor were laughing, the earlier awkwardness dissipating as the night went on.

Kiara sat next to Prince, her heart beating in a way she wasn't quite sure how to explain. She knew things weren't perfect, and maybe they never would be. But as she looked around at her friends—at the people who had once been everything to her, and now, slowly but surely, were becoming that again—she realized something: it was enough. It was more than enough.

"Alright," Prince said, reaching for the food and starting to pass it around. "To new beginnings. And to not locking anyone else in closets."

Kiara smiled, bumping her shoulder into his lightly. "I think I can get behind that."

And as the group settled in, the laughter and warmth in the room felt like a promise. Things would get better. Slowly, but surely.

After Math

Kiara sat cross-legged on a desk In a quiet classroom, absentmindedly scrolling through her phone. The meeting had ended an hour ago, but she lingered, unsure why. The room was eerily quiet now, the echoes of pens scratching and shouting politics replaced by the hum of dimmed lights.

Prince's voice jolted her from her thoughts. "Hey, Sunshine. You hiding from someone, or just deep in thought?"

She looked up to see him leaning against the doorway, his usual smirk firmly in place. He was still wearing his Football gear, his hair damp from what she guessed was a particularly grueling practice.

"Neither," Kiara replied, tucking her phone into her bag. "Just needed some quiet."

Prince strode toward her, his footsteps light on the polished floor. He plopped down beside her on the desk , close enough that their shoulders brushed.

"Quiet, huh?" he teased. "You know, you're the only person I know who comes to a gym for peace and quiet."

Kiara rolled her eyes but couldn't help the smile tugging at her lips. "What are you doing here, anyway? Shouldn't you be off playing pranks or charming someone?"

Prince feigned offense, clutching his chest dramatically. "Ouch. I'm hurt, Kiara. You think so little of me."

"Not little," she shot back. "Just... accurately."

He laughed, a sound that echoed in the empty gym. "Fair. But actually, I came to find you."

Kiara raised an eyebrow. "Me?"

Prince leaned back, resting his elbows on the row behind them. "Yeah. I wanted to check on you after that whole... 'lock everyone in a room and force them to talk about their feelings' thing. That was bold."

"Bold or stupid?" Kiara asked, crossing her arms.

"Both," he said with a grin. "But it worked. Mostly. You're like the group therapist no one asked for."

"Someone has to keep you all from falling apart," she said, her tone half-joking.

Prince tilted his head, studying her. "Yeah, but who keeps you together?"

Kiara blinked, caught off guard by the question. "I... don't know. Myself, I guess."

"See, that's not fair," Prince said, his voice softening. "You're always there for everyone else, but who's there for you?"

The sincerity in his tone made Kiara's chest tighten. She wasn't used to people noticing that about her, let alone calling it out.

"I'm fine," she said quickly, brushing off the moment.

Prince didn't look convinced, but he let it go. "Alright, fine. But if you ever need someone, I'm around. No jokes, no pranks. Just... me."

Kiara turned to him, her expression softening. "Thanks, Prince. That means a lot."

For a moment, neither of them spoke. The silence wasn't awkward, though—it was comfortable, like the two of them had stumbled into a pocket of peace in the chaos of their lives.

"Hey," Prince said suddenly, breaking the quiet. "Wanna do something crazy?"

Kiara narrowed her eyes. "Define 'crazy.'"

He grinned, his mischievous energy returning. "You'll see. Come on."

Before she could protest, he grabbed her hand and pulled her to her feet.

Fifteen minutes later, Kiara found herself standing in the middle of the soccer field, barefoot and laughing as Prince dribbled a ball around her. The cool grass tickled her toes, and the night air was crisp and refreshing.

"You're terrible at this," Prince teased, dodging her half-hearted attempts to steal the ball.

"I don't play soccer!" she shot back, doubling over to catch her breath. "This isn't fair."

"Life's not fair," he quipped, stopping the ball and leaning against it. "But you're fun to mess with, so it balances out."

Kiara rolled her eyes, but she was smiling. "You're impossible."

"And you're adorable when you're annoyed," he said, the words slipping out so casually that it took her a second to register them.

She froze, her cheeks flushing. "What?"

Prince's grin faltered for a split second, but he recovered quickly, giving her a lopsided smile. "You heard me."

Kiara stared at him, unsure whether to be flustered, annoyed, or... something else entirely. "You're ridiculous."

"Maybe," he said, stepping closer. "But you like it."

Her heart skipped a beat as he leaned in slightly, his playful demeanor shifting to something softer. "Or maybe," he continued, his voice quieter now, "you just like me."

Kiara's breath caught in her throat. For once, she didn't have a snappy comeback.

Prince chuckled softly, his gaze never leaving hers. "Relax, Sunshine. I'm just messing with you."

But the look in his eyes said otherwise, and Kiara couldn't shake the feeling that there was more to his words than he let on.

As the two of them stood there, under the stars on an empty soccer field, Kiara realized something: for all of Prince's jokes and antics, there was a side to him she'd never seen before. And maybe, just maybe, she wanted to see more of it.