(delaney's outfit for this part of the chapter)

Delaney was hanging out with the gang at Sonic Boom one day when they suddenly heard a loud metal clanging sound. They glance over to see Dez in blacksmith gear, using a mallet on an anvil that's set up on a table to the side of the store.

"Uh, Dez, what are you doing?" Ally asked in confusion as she and her friends walked over to where Austin was with Dez.

"Trying out for the school play tomorrow. I'm auditioning for the role of...Blacksmith." Dez dramatically declared.

Trish stares at him in confusion. "Last time I checked, there was no blacksmith in 'Sleeping Beauty'."

Dez pouts. "Aw! Guess I ruined this trumpet for nothing." He held up the ruined trumpet, gaining a frown and an eye roll from Ally. Finn looked at his girlfriend sympathetically, wrapping an arm around her shoulders to comfort her.

"I'm trying out too." Austin admits excitedly. "I'm gonna be playing prince carmine." He clears his throat and begins to try to imitate the prince. "Hey, sleeping beauty! Don't make me kiss you! Oh."

Delaney raises her eyebrows, sharing a look with Finn. "Did he just say Prince Carmine?" Finn nods in response as he cringes. "Honey," She looks back at Austin with amusement and sympathy. "Did you mean Prince Charming?"

Finn chuckles, shaking his head as he adds. "There isn't a Prince Carmine in the play."

Austin scoffs. "I knew that." He walked over to where Delaney sat on the front counter, leaning against the counter by her.

She smiles sympathetically at him, leaning over to whisper in his ear, "Don't worry, Prince Carmine, you'll get it right next time."

Austin shot her a playful glare but couldn't suppress the grin that spread across his face. "You're really enjoying this, huh?"

Delaney shrugs innocently, her smile widening. "I can't help it—it's too easy to tease you," She replies, her tone light and mischievous. "But seriously, you'll crush it as Prince Charming. You're already charming enough as it is."

"Why, thank you, milady." Austin grinned, pretending to bow.

Delaney shakes her head, biting back a laugh. "You're such a dork."

"Your dork." Austin replied, his voice laced with affection while he kissed her cheek. 

Delaney smiles softly, blush spreading across her face as she reaches over to squeeze his hand. "My dork." She agreed, her heart swelling with love for him.

"Awe, you two are so cute." Ally awes as she smiles at the two and the couple smiles back at her. "Well," She glances at her boyfriend and friends. "I'm auditioning for the role of sleeping beauty."

"Well, you're not gonna get it, 'cause I'm trying out too." Trish admitted sassily.

"Ooh, two best friends going after the same role and only one can get the part..." Austin teases, glancing over at Delaney, wrapping an arm around her waist. "You trying out for any roles?"

"Thought about asking to be the stage manager. I always loved the behind-the-scenes stuff," Delaney replied, resting her head on Austin's shoulder. "But honestly, I'd rather be here, supporting all of you. I mean, you guys are going to be great on stage, I just know it. And sometimes it's nice to just not be on stage all the time, to take a break and watch everyone else."

Austin smiled, giving her a hug. "I'm sure you'd be amazing if you tried out for any role."

"Thanks, babe." She leaned into him, letting the warmth of his embrace wash over her. "But seriously, I'm more than happy just being all of you guys number one fan and cheering from the sidelines."

"Same here." Finn agrees. "Figured I might help with behind the stage stuff. I like the technical side of things—lighting, sound, all of that. It's like a whole different type of performance, and I can still be a part of the play without being on stage."

Delaney smiled, glancing over at Finn. "That sounds perfect for you, Finn. You've got that eye for detail, and the backstage stuff is just as important as what's happening up front." She knew Finn had always been good with technology and attention to detail, and she could already picture him making sure everything ran smoothly behind the scenes

"Exactly," Finn nodded, clearly pleased. "Plus, I think it'll be fun to see all the chaos backstage before it all comes together for the show." He glances at his girlfriend in concern when her ealized soemthing. "But wait, is it really not a problem you guys are trying out for the same role?"

Ally shakes her head, smiling reassuringly and sharing a smile with Trish. "It's no big deal. Whoever's better will get the part. No hard feelings. But it's gonna be me." Austin snickered as Dez commented 'snap' in surprise at her sudden sassy side.

"I don't think so."Trish shrugged.

"Please, I know my lines backwards and forward." Ally brags. "'I am sleeping beauty and that is my castle. Castle my is that and beauty sleeping am I.'" She dramatically recited.

"I am not impressed. impressed not am I." Trish replies in the same tone with an amused smile. "Now, let me show you how a pro does it. This is how you play 'Sleeping Beauty.'" She laid down on one of the benches, closing her eyes.

Delaney realizes a few moments later she was actually asleep. Her eyes widen as she watched with surprise. Austin waves a hand in front of her face to check if she's really asleep and got no response. "Wow." Finn breathed out, staring at Trish with shock.

"I think she's actually sleeping." Austin realized.

"How can she fall asleep so fast?" Delaney wondered, leaning over to poke her arm to double check. Trish didn't move, continuing to sleep peacefully.

Dez picks up cymbals to test it out on Trish, but Trish had only snored after he played the symbols. "Wow," He muses. "She's good."

Austin nods in agreement. "Real good."

****

(delaney's outfit for this part of the chapter)

The next day after school the group had gathered in the auditorium for the auditions for the play. Delaney now stood near where Austin sat on the edge of the stage, leaning into him with her arm around his shoulders and his arm around her waist. Dez and his girlfriend, Carrie, stood near them while Finn stood by Ally and Trish, holding hands with Ally. "Thanks for auditioning for 'Sleeping Beauty', everyone. Great hustle out there today." Coach compliments. "Unfortunately., you can't all make the team. So, playing the role of Prince Charming is..." Austin stands, clearing his throat, obviously assuming he had won it. "Dez."

Carrie gasps and then jumps up and down excitedly, cheering for her boyfriend as everyone applauded. Delaney smiles, finding it cute how excited she was for Dez. Austin looks confused while Dez is upset. "What?" Austin asked in disbelief. Delaney looked at him with sympathy, reaching over to rub his back to comfort him.

"Oh, man! I wanted to be the blacksmith." Dez frowned. Once again he was dressed like a blacksmith, ven though his friends told him there was no blacksmith int he play. Austin walked up the steps onto stage to talk to the Coach in charge of doing the play.

"Um," He chuckles nervously. "What about me?"

Coach puts a hand on his shoulder. "Moon, you're gonna be townsfolk number two."

Delaney couldn't help but snicker, covering her mouth to hold back a laugh as she watched Austin's reaction. He looked completely taken aback, trying to process what had just happened. "Number two?" Austin scoffs. "You'd think I'd at least be townsfolk number one." Finn snickered, sharing an amused look with Delaney as Austin pouted.

"No, townsfolk number one is Ally Dawson." Coach revealed.

Ally stops giggling, staring at him in surprise. "What? Um..." She laughs nervously. "But I auditioned for Sleeping Beauty."

"Yes, you did. And you'll make a great townsfolk. The role of Sleeping Beauty goes to...Trish De La Rosa." Coach announced, gesturing to Trish, who had crossed her fingers hopefully.

Her face lit up as she grins. "Oh, yes!" She fist bumped the air out of excitement as everyone cheered for her.

"I've never seen anyone sleep with such authority and passion!" Coach admitted with a grin before he walked off the stage.

"It's just sleeping. A baby could do it." Ally complained, frowning. 

Finn pulls her closer to comfort her, whispering, "Hey, you'll still be awesome. You're gonna rock that role."

Ally sighs but leans into Finn, finding comfort in his words. "I just wanted to be Sleeping Beauty...I had all my lines memorized too."

Delaney gave her a supportive smile. "I know, Ally. But honestly, you're going to make a great townsfolk. Plus, you'll get to see everything from the front row."

"And here's a list of who's playing what." Coach announced, putting up a list on the bulletin board before walking away.

"I'm gonna be the narrator." Miles admitted quietly yet excitedly. Everyone all looked at him with confusion, not hearing him and all either voiced 'what' or 'huh'. He repeated, a little bit louder.

Ally stares at him in disbelief. "You're gonna be the narrator?" Miles nodded with a grin and walked away.

"Wow, who would've thought he wanted to be the narrator." Finn mused, surprised someone as shy as him wanted the role.

Kimmy, a preppy cheerleader walks up to Trish. "I wanted to be Sleeping Beauty, but I'm gonna be a wicked witch." She perkily adds, "I'm furious about it!" She then did cartwheels out of the room.

"Does she creep anyone else out or just me?" Delaney asked, watching her go warily. She never understood why Kimmy was always so perky and happy, but it was definitely unsettling.

"Yeah, she's weird." Finn agreed, watching her leave with furrowed eyebrows as he shook his head.

Margo then walked over to congratulate Trish and even hugged her too. But Delaney could clearly sense jealousy in her too just like with Kimmy. She planned on keeping an eye out for her and Kimmy just in case. "I didn't even get a name," Ally's comment gains her attention and she turns to see Ally looking through the script. "Just townsfolk number one. Why not 'Julie who lives in the town'?"

"Well, it could be worse. We could be playing one of the trees." Austin tried to comfort her and Ally nodded in agreement.

"Guys," An excited Carrie joins the group after checking the list. "I'm playing one of the trees!"

"That's great, babe." Dez smiles at her. "That's what you wanted." He hugged her and Delaney smiled at them. It was sweet how much Dez supported Carrie, even though her role as one of the trees was a little...Unconventional. But Carrie seemed genuinely excited, and that was all that mattered.

As the group gathered their things and began to head out, the buzz of excitement for the upcoming play filled the air. Despite some quirky roles and unexpected surprises, everyone was looking forward to the experience, knowing that their friendship would make it all worthwhile. Delaney watched as Dez and Carrie shared a quiet, supportive moment, her heart warmed by the bond they all shared. Ally, though initially disappointed, was already brainstorming ways to make her part stand out, while Austin, despite his teasing, was starting to see the humor in his role. Margo and Kimmy lingered in the background, but Delaney kept an eye on them, sensing a bit of tension. No matter what, she knew that no matter what happened on stage, their friendships were the true stars of this show. With a final smile, Delaney stepped out with the group, excited to see how everything would unfold.

****

Later that day Delaney was sitting on one of the benches as she watched Dez, Trish, and Carrie practice their roles for the play. Dez was actually pretty good with memorizing his lines. But when it got to the kiss, Trish quickly said that's enough of rehearsal for now and sat up since she had been lying down.

"I'm sorry. Did I mess that up?" Carrie asked nervously.

"No, babe, you were great." Dez assures her. "Best tree ever!"

"Are you sure? I can't decide between an oak tree..." Carrie then did a tree pose. "Or a pine tree." She did the same pose again, well, it looked like the same pose to Delaney so she decided not to say anything about it.

Dez puts a hand on his chin as he thinks. "Hmm, can you do an elm tree?"

"I think." Carrie took a deep breath before doing another pose that just looked the same to her.

Dez grins at her. "That's the one."

Delaney shares a confused look with Trish, relieved to see sshe wasn't the only one confused about this. "Ahh, you decided to go with elm tree." Austin noticed as he walked in with Ally. He smiles at Carrie. "Good choice."

Delaney looks at him with confusion. "How did you know that?"

Austin shrugs with a grin. "I overheard them talking about it earlier. And let's be honest, Carrie could pull off any tree she wants. She's pretty flexible with those poses."

Delaney raises an eyebrow. "Okay, but they all look the same to me."

"That's because you're not appreciating the subtle differences, Delaney." Austin teases, crossing his arms.

Delaney chuckles, shaking her head. "I guess I just don't have an eye for tree variety." She looks over at Carrie, still practicing her poses. "But she does make a convincing tree."

Carrie perks up at that, grinning at her. "Really?"

Delaney smiles and nods. "Yeah, I mean, you're definitely rocking the tree vibe. Whatever tree you choose, you're gonna make it your own."

Carrie's face lights up. "Thanks, Delaney!"

Delaney smiles back at her and then walks over to her boyfriend, smiling at him. "So, where have you guys been for the past three hours?"

"Practicing our one line." Austin groaned, leaning on her dramatically, burying his face in her neck and wrapping his arms around her.

"For three hours?" Delaney asks in surprise, reaching up to play with his blonde hair. She was one of the few people he allowed to mess with his hair and honestly he liked it too. "My poor boyfriend." She teases. She glances over at Ally. "Ally, did you really practice your one line that long?"

"Yep." Ally nods, acting as if it was normal to practice one line for three hours. She looks at Austin with disappointment. "And you haven't done it right yet." Austin lifts his head off Delaney's shoulder, looking at her with confusion and offense. "Let's try it with prince charming."

Austin sighs heavily as he stands, letting go of Delaney reluctantly. "Fine." Delaney chuckles, dropping her hand and kissing his cheek which made him smile a little. He looks over at Dez. "Dez?"

Dez recites his line dramatically and while Ally recites her line dramatically, Austin does it normally, but Ally doesn't seem to approve of it still. "That's not how you're gonna do it, is it?"

"What was wrong with that?" Delaney asks her in confusion. "All he says is 'over yonder'."

Ally shakes her head, clearly unsatisfied. "It's not about what he says, Delaney, it's how he says it. The tone, the delivery. It's all about the drama, the flair!" She gestured grandly as she said this, making it clear that she's not backing down from her theatrical approach.

Delaney looks at Austin, trying to hold back a laugh. "I think it's a little bit much, don't you think?"

"Yeah, it's just two words." Austin agrees, looking at Ally with confusion. "There's only so many ways you can say it." He says 'over yonder' a few different ways and Ally patted his shoulder with a grimace.

"And all of those are wrong."

"Hey, guys," Finn greets the group with a smile. "Nice elm tree pose, Carrie." He commented, gaining a grin from the blonde.

Delaney threw her arms up in the air in exasperation. "Okay, I give up. How can you possibly tell the difference between all these tree poses?" She looks from Carrie to the group, clearly confused.

Dez chuckles at Delaney's frustration. "Well, it's all about the energy, Delaney. Each tree pose has its own unique vibe."

Delaney shakes her head, holding back a laugh. "Alright, alright. I'll just trust you on that."

Finn walks over to Ally, giving her a quick peck on the lips and a hug. "How'd the rehearsal go?"

"Not well." Ally admits, sighing and leaning into him. "Austin still isn't getting his 'over yonder' line right."

"How hard can it be? There's not many ways to say it." Finn shrugged.

Austin grins at him and fist bumps him. "Exactly! He gets it! How was lacrosse practice?"

Finn shrugs, grinning. "Same old, same old. A lot of running and yelling. You know, the usual. But hey, I made it out without any major bruises, so I'd call it a win."

Delaney chuckles, giving him a teasing look. "So, you didn't end up in the medic tent this time?"

"Nope, not this time," Finn chuckles and shakes his head. "But who knows? Maybe next practice." He's not the most clumsy person in the world, but sometimes he has his moments on the field.

"Hey, check it out." Trish speaks up, gaining everyone's attention to see she was looking at her iPad. "They have a website for the play."

"A bunch of people have comments." Carrie noticed as they all excitedly gather around her to check out the website. Delaney had no idea the school had a website for the play, but she thought it was a cool idea and immediately pulled her phone out to check it out too.

"I didn't even know they had a website for this kind of thing. This is actually pretty awesome." She says, scrolling through the comments. "I mean, this is super cool. Who knew we'd get this much attention for a school play too."

"'Trish is gonna be a great sleeping beauty.'" Trish read off ne of the comments and smirks. "Hm, I agree."

"Oh, look at this one." Austin points out on Trish's iPad. "'I've seen Trish fall asleep in class, and I can't wait to see her do it on stage.'"

"And this one," Delaney sat by Trish on the bench to show her the comment she was talking about. "'I'm so impressed and lowkey jealous how fast she can fall asleep anywhere. She's truly a professional sleeper.'"

The group laughs, and Trish shakes her head, chuckling. "Well, I guess I'm typecast as the sleep expert. Maybe I should start offering sleeping tips at the next rehearsal."

"Nice." Ally smiles. "Did anyone say anything about the townsfolk?"

Finn smiles, wrapping an arm around Ally's shoulder as he leans in close to her. "I didn't see any comments about the townsfolk yet, but I'm sure they'll be just as impressed by you."

She smiles up at him, her eyes lighting up. "Aww, you're sweet," she says, giving him a quick kiss on the cheek.

Finn grins, his eyes twinkling. "Just speaking the truth." He presses a light kiss on her forehead, making her smile even wider.

Delaney watches them with a grin. "You two are gross, but it's cute."

Austin pouts at her. "Hey, we act like that." He leans into her, leaning his chin on her shoulder. "You calling us gross?"

Delaney laughs, playfully swatting at his chest. "You know I don't mean it like that, Austie. I meant like, you guys are just so in love it's a little bit sickening, but in the sweetest way possible. And I guess I'm saying that about us too." She admitted with a sheepish chuckle.

"That's better than us being called gross," Austin chuckles, hugging her from behind. "You know, if we're being honest, you're right. We are kind of cute... just with a lot of sarcasm mixed in."

Delaney leans back into his arms, smiling softly. "Exactly. We're like the perfect balance of adorable and annoying." She turns her head to glance at him. "But I wouldn't trade it for anything."

Austin grins, planting a light kiss on her cheek. "Me neither. Besides, who else would put up with me and all my ridiculousness?"

"True," Delaney laughs, resting her head against his. "You're lucky you're cute."

"Hey, I know it," Austin smirks, holding her a little tighter. "Lucky you get to be with me."

Delaney chuckles, pulling away slightly to face him. "Oh, I'm so lucky. You're a real gem, Austie." She gives him a teasing look, raising an eyebrow. "But seriously, you are kind of the best."

Austin grins, his eyes softening as he looks at her. "I try my best." He places a hand on her cheek, gently brushing a strand of hair behind her ear. "And I'm glad it's working."

She smiles, feeling a warmth spread through her. "It definitely is."

"Hey, here's another one about Trish." Dez points out on the iPad. "'Trish stinks like rotten onions. They should call the play 'stinking beautey'."

"Well, that wasn't very nice." Ally murmured with a frown.

"Yeah," Delaney agrees. "That was just rude."

"And they spelled 'beauty' wrong." Ally added sheepishly.

"It's okay. People can say whatever they want. I don't care." Trish shrugged.

"I'm glad you feel that way," Austin starts, frowning when he spotted another mean comment as he looked over Delaney's shoulder at her phone. "But you might not want to read the next comment."

Delaney's frown deepens when she read the next comment Austin was talking about. She felt so bad for Trish, she didn't deserve this kind of negativity. The comment read: "Trish isn't pretty enough to be playing sleeping beauty. They should call the play 'sleeping not beautey'." Everyone looked at her sadly as she read it out loud, her clearly felt the sting of the words. Her smile faltered, and for a moment, she stared at the screen, unable to hide the hurt in her eyes. It was a rare sight—Trish, usually so confident and unfazed, now looking vulnerable.

Delaney immediately moves closer to her, putting a comforting hand on her shoulder, her voice soft but filled with concern. "Trish, don't let that get to you. Whoever wrote that is just being petty and cruel."

Ally couldn't help but chime in, "They spelled 'beauty' wrong again."

****

(delaney's outfit for this part of the chapter along with matching pink sneakers)

Delaney felt so bad for Trish. She knew what she was going through though. As a famous singer, there would always be haters. And she learned how to deal with it over the years, but the first time she had dealt with haters was hard. But luckily, her friends and family were there to help her through it. And Delaney was going to be there for Trish to help her get through this tough time even though she wished she didn't have to go through this. But the next day at school, the bullying got worse for her.

A cracked mirror and soap was taped to her locker and almost everyone were laughing or snickering at her. Delaney's blood was boiling and she wanted to yell at everyone for bullying her friend, but she also knew she had to keep her anger in check and remain calm. Though Austin surprised her and called everyone out. But no one seemed to care, even when Dez chimed in too. They just got soaps thrown at them in response.

Trish was so cool about it though, not letting them get to her. It was clear that her confidence had taken a hit, but she was doing her best to hide it. And Delaney admired her strength, but she also knew that it was hurting her, whether she admitted it or not. She couldn't help but feel protective of her and wished that she could do more. Trish had walked away and after Ally was commenting about how Trish was as tough as it gets, Delaney decided to go check on her. She agreed with Ally. Trish was one of the toughest people Delaney knew, but even the strongest of people had their breaking points. 

Delaney wasn't going to let Trish face this alone, especially when the weight of it seemed to be wearing her down. She followed Trish at a distance, keeping her gaze fixed on her friend as she walked away, not wanting to invade her space but also not wanting her to feel isolated. Delaney's heart sank as she watched Trish sit on the steps of the stage, her head buried in her hands. The sight of her friend, usually so confident and strong, breaking down hit Delaney harder than she expected. She didn't hesitate for a second. Without thinking, she made her way to the stage, her footsteps soft and measured as she approached Trish, who hadn't noticed her yet.

When Delaney reached the bottom of the steps, she paused for a moment, taking a steadying breath. She didn't want to intrude on Trish's space, but she couldn't stand to see her like this. She took a few more steps forward, her heart aching at the sight of Trish's quiet sobs. Without saying a word, Delaney sat down beside her, close enough to let her know she wasn't alone, but not so close as to overwhelm her. She reached out, her hand gently resting on Trish's shoulder. Trish flinched at first, but then her body relaxed, and she leaned into Delaney, her tears continuing to flow freely.

Delaney didn't speak; she didn't need to. She simply wrapped her arm around Trish, pulling her close, offering comfort in the only way she knew how. No words could fix what Trish was feeling, but Delaney knew the power of being there—of just holding space for her when everything else felt too heavy. Trish leaned into her, she was grateful for the quiet support, the warmth of Delaney's embrace. It wasn't just the comfort of the hug, but the reassurance that she wasn't alone in this moment. 

Trish's sobs gradually softened as she allowed herself to lean into the strength of her friend, letting go of the pride that had made her try to handle everything on her own. Delaney stayed silent, just holding her and rubbing her back to comfort her, allowing Trish the space she needed to let her emotions flow. The silence between them was heavy, but it wasn't uncomfortable. Delaney knew that sometimes words weren't enough, that simply being present could make all the difference.

After what felt like an eternity, Trish finally pulls back slightly, wiping her eyes with the back of her hand. She takes a shaky breath, her voice barely above a whisper. "I hate feeling like this. I hate letting it get to me. I should be stronger."

Delaney met her gaze, her expression firm but kind. "You are strong. You are so strong, Trish. One of the strongest people I know. But even the strongest people need to lean on others sometimes. It's okay to let your guard down."

Trish sniffles, her eyes still red but starting to clear. "I just...I hate feeling weak, you know? Like I should be able to brush it off. But it hurts, D."

Delaney squeezes her tighter, her arms providing a shield against the harshness of the world outside. "I get it. It doesn't make you weak, though. It just makes you human. We all have our moments. That's why we have each other. And you shouldn't listen to what any of those mean comments say. You are so beautiful, inside and out, and nothing they say can change that." Delaney's voice was unwavering, filled with all the love and conviction she had for her friend. "You don't need to prove anything to anyone. You're enough, just as you are."

Trish leans her head against Delaney's shoulder, the weight of the past few days beginning to lift, even if just a little. "I don't know what I'd do without you."

"You'll never have to find out," Delaney whispers back, pressing a kiss to the top of Trish's head. "I'm not going anywhere. We'll get through this together."

A small, genuine smile tugged at Trish's lips as she pulls back slightly to look at her friend. "Thanks, Del. I think I needed to hear that."

"Anytime." Delaney smiles back, her eyes soft and warm. "And you're not alone, okay? Ever. Whatever happens next, I've got your back."

Trish nodded, the weight in her chest easing just a little as she felt Delaney's steady support, her friend's warmth wrapping around her like a shield. With a deep breath, Trish allowed herself to relax into the embrace, knowing that no matter how tough things got, Delaney would be there by her side. For the first time in days, a sense of calm washed over her, and she let out a soft sigh, feeling the comfort of knowing she didn't have to face it all alone.

****

Trish hasn't been to school in three days and Delaney was even more worried about her than she had been before. She'd reached out a few times, but Trish hadn't responded, which only made Delaney more anxious. Trish had always been the strong one, the one who kept everything together, but Delaney knew that even the strongest people needed time to heal—and sometimes, that meant reaching out for help. It was a few days later, after school, when Delaney finally decided to check in on Trish again. She grabbed her jacket and headed over to Trish's house, hoping that her friend would be willing to talk. She wasn't sure what she was going to say, but she knew she couldn't just wait around and hope Trish would reach out when she was ready. Delaney wanted to be there for her, whether she was ready to open up or not.

When she arrived, Trish's mom answers the door with a tired smile. "Hey, Delaney. I'm glad you're here. Trish is in her room," She said softly. "She's been really quiet lately, but I think seeing you might help."

Delaney nodded, her stomach tightening with worry. She thanked Trish's mom and made her way up the stairs, pausing outside Trish's room. She knocked softly, waiting for a response. When she heard a faint "Come in." she opened the door to find Trish sitting on her bed, looking down at her hands. Her eyes were red, and her usual spark was missing. Trish didn't immediately look up when Delaney entered, and for a moment, Delaney stood there, unsure of how to begin. She knew Trish was struggling, but the weight of the silence between them felt almost too heavy to cut through. Delaney took a deep breath, walked over, and sat down next to her on the bed. She didn't push for Trish to talk. Instead, she simply sat there, offering her presence, the same way she had when Trish needed her most.

After a long pause, Trish finally speaks, her voice barely above a whisper. "I'm sorry. I should have come to school, but I just..Couldn't. I didn't know how to face everyone after all that happened."

Delaney places a gentle hand on her friend's back. "You don't have to apologize, Trish. You're allowed to take the time you need to process all of this. You don't owe anyone an explanation."

Trish let out a shaky breath, leaning her head against Delaney's shoulder. "I just feel like I'm letting everyone down, like I'm not good enough."

Delaney pulls her closer, wrapping an arm around her. "You're more than enough. You're incredible, Trish. And if anyone has a problem with that, they don't deserve a second of your energy."

Trish didn't respond, but Delaney could feel her relax a little, the tension in her shoulders easing. "I'm here for you, always," Delaney continues. "You don't have to face this alone. You've got me, and I'll be right by your side every step of the way."

Finally, Trish looks up at her, a faint smile on her lips. "Thanks, D. I really needed to hear that."

Delaney smiles back, squeezing her hand. "Anytime, Trish. We'll get through this together. But please come back soon. Margo is honestly not great at being sleeping beauty, nobody cando it like you." Trish let out a small laugh, the sound almost foreign after days of silence. It felt like a little crack in the wall she'd built around herself.

"I miss rehearsing," Trish admits softly, her voice still tinged with vulnerability. "I miss being in the play. But I don't know if I can just...Show up again like nothing happened."

Delaney nods, understanding. "You don't have to rush back, Trish. Take the time you need. But when you're ready, everyone will be waiting for you. And they'll be just as excited to see you as you are to be back. You're not alone in this, okay?"

Trish looks at Delaney, her gaze searching for reassurance. "Do you really think they'll still want me after everything?

"Of course," Delaney said without hesitation. "Everyone knows how amazing you are, and one or two mean comments can't take away from that."

Trish's smile grew a little brighter. "Thanks, D. You always know just what to say."

"I just call it like I see it." Delaney replied, shrugging. "Besides, you know I've got your back. Whatever happens next, we'll figure it out together."

"You're the best," Trish whispered, her eyes filling with tears again, this time, they were the happy kind. "Really, I appreciate it more than you know."

"You'd do the same for me," Delaney said softly, her voice filled with warmth and sincerity. "That's what friends do. We lift each other up, especially when things get tough."

"Yeah..." Trish's smile faded slightly, her gaze dropping again. She shifted uncomfortably, and Delaney could sense that something else was weighing on her.

Finally, after a long moment of silence, Trish speaks again, her voice trembling with a mixture of exhaustion and frustration. "D, there's...There's something else. I don't think I can go back to school. I can't keep pretending like everything's fine when it feels like everyone's just waiting for me to fall apart." Her voice cracks, and her eyes filled with tears once more. "I've been getting these...These horrible pictures posted online. People are making fun of me, spreading rumors. And the prank calls, D...They won't stop. I can't even go to school without feeling like everyone's just laughing at me behind my back. It's like I'm not even human to them anymore."

Delaney felt a lump form in her throat as her heart ached for her friend. She hadn't realized just how bad things had gotten for Trish. The thought of Trish enduring such cruelty in silence made Delaney's blood boil. She wrapped her arms around her friend once again, pulling her close.

"I'm so sorry, Trish," Delaney whispers, her voice thick with emotion. "You don't deserve any of this. But I understand why you feel the way you do. I know it must feel impossible to go back, but please know that you don't have to go through this alone. We can figure something out together."

Trish sniffles, wiping her tears away with the back of her hand. "I just...I can't do it anymore, D. I feel like I'm drowning, and every time I think about walking into that school, I just...I don't know how to face everyone. I don't want to keep hiding, but I don't think I can take the stares or the whispers anymore. It's like I'm some kind of joke to them."

Delaney shakes her head, her expression determined. "You're not a joke, Trish. You are strong, you are worthy, and you are a good person who doesn't deserve any of this. People who spread lies and cruelty are the ones who are broken, not you."

Trish looks at Delaney, her eyes red-rimmed but filled with a flicker of hope. "But what if it doesn't stop? What if they never stop bullying me?"

Delaney squeezes her hand, her voice soft but firm. "Then we fight back. We show them that we won't let their words define us. We report it, we stand up for what's right, and we find ways to take back control. This isn't your fight to fight alone. You've got people who love you, who will stand by you no matter what."

Trish's lips trembles as she whispers. "I don't know if I can be that strong."

Delaney smiles gently. "You don't have to be strong all the time, Trish. You just have to take it one step at a time. We'll get through this together, okay? One day at a time."  

A/N got to focus more on trish & delaney's friendship, i love them so much