"Hillary looks off today, don't you think?" Tyson muttered quietly to Max, who was sitting right next to him. 

It was Monday afternoon, and the Bladebreakers were sitting rather tensely at their table. The mood from yesterday's argument seemed to have carried into the next day too.

Max peered across the cafeteria to the table Hillary and her friends were occupying. "She seems fine to me..." Max shrugged.

Tyson shook his head. "No, no... Look closely," he urged. "All her friends are talking and laughing and having fun, but she kind of seems detached. Look at her now, looking down and sighing deeply." He insisted.

"Maybe she's just... tense? I heard the National Swim Championships are just a week away. We were also pretty tense during the World Championships, weren't we?"

"Maybe..." Tyson agreed, even though he wasn't very convinced.

"By the way, I heard Kenny and Dizzy had already come up with a few ideas!" Max gushed, eyes alight with excitement. Tyson couldn't bring himself to respond with the same amount of enthusiasm, so he just nodded along.

Tyson quickly stole a glance around the table. Ray and Mariah were huddled together, Mariah enthusiastically catching Ray up on all the latest rumours. 

Kenny had switched to another table for the day, telling them all about how he was participating in some technical competition. Honestly speaking, Tyson didn't understand a word of what he said, but had cheered him on just the same. Kai sat alone at the head of the table, back to his quiet and moody self. It had been quite some time since Kai had sat alone at their table, Tyson realised with a jolt. Two months to be exact, he further added to his train of thought, quickly stealing a glance at Cassie.

She had just filled up her plate and was moving to the same table Hillary sat at. Tyson was glad Cassie had a group of friends she could fall back into, given that her own friends were in jail. 

Tyson was also not happy with the fact that Kai had broken up with her at the exact same time. He was even more shocked that Kai had it in him to manipulate other people's lives like he did with Cassie and Laura.

He never liked Laura much, he also knew Laura had it coming for dealing with drugs on such a large scale, but it was still wrong of Kai to use her to get back at her uncle... Tyson couldn't believe that someone like Kai—someone he'd trusted, respected, looked up to—could do something like that. 

And then using Cassie's weakness of being lonely to lure her out of her own friend's circle was just mind boggling. But whatever Kai said, he didn't think Kai didn't care for Cassie. He thought back to all those times they used to huddle together, even if they weren't as close to each other as Ray and Mariah, talking quietly about god knows what. 

Tyson had never seen him smirk or talk as much as he did with Cassie around. Also, Cassie was also a wonderful person to hang out with, just slightly behind Hillary. He missed having her at the table. 

To be honest, their table had gotten rather quiet and boring ever since she stopped joining them for lunch. Tyson leaned back in his chair, frowning at his empty plate. 

The table always felt heavy these days—too still, too silent. Every laugh, petty argument he used to share with Hillary echoed in his head, like a memory that refused to fade. 

Mariah, despite being very close to Ray, would always be an outsider, as she was an active member of another team. 

Cassie had filled the gap for a while, bringing some life back to the team, but now even that spark was gone. 

What was left of the Bladebreakers was a growing stack of secrets, quiet stares, and half-healed grudges holding them together. 

He sighed softly, realising how much the Bladebreakers had changed. Without Hillary, their group wasn't really them anymore—just fragments that deeply cared for one another, desperately trying to pretend they were still a team.

*****

It was Tuesday morning and Kai was absolutely dreading going to AP Chemistry class. He didn't have any problem with the subject in itself. What he did have a problem with was the person waiting for him in that lab.

His lab partner.

Hillary.

The only downside of Jason figuring everything out this early was that Kai now had to actually tell her everything. And Kai was so not ready for the job.

He'd unexpectedly come face to face with her the day before, and Kai had tactically avoided her. Looking at her alone brought back flashes of that damn video in his mind, and the fury that rose in him was so intense that it took him a few minutes just to calm down again. 

There was also the National Swim championship that was coming up this weekend. He knew how hard Hillary had been working for that. He was also aware of how drastically this revelation would affect her performance. And Kai didn't want to take that chance. 

So, he'd made up his mind — he'd wait until after the championship.

Kai thought back to yesterday evening, when he'd told Jason of his decision. Jason had slept in the whole day, waking up only after he got home from school, and only because he was hungry. 

The conversation had gone about as smoothly as Kai had expected — meaning, not at all. Jason had been nearly packed, a flight ticket to Venice already booked for that night, when Kai brought this up.

"Kai, you can't just sit on this." Jason started, voice fraying. "She has every right to know what was done to her—"

"But it doesn't have to be right now. Not before the championship at least. She's trained for months for this, the least I can do is give her one week of peace."

Jason shook his head. "A peace built on lies?"

"Built on the wish of not watching her break before she even gets there." he snapped in reply.

That shut Jason up for a second, long enough for him to press on. "She's already gone through hell once—"

Jason's knuckles went white around the trolley handle. "I know that! I just want to do what's best for her—"

Kai's voice dropped low. "You drugged me last time you thought you knew what was best for me. So, forgive me if I don't really trust your judgement on this matter."

The words hit their mark — Jason's hand stilled. "That was different."

"Was it?" Kai snapped. "You decided I couldn't handle it, so you took the choice out of my hands. Tell me, how's that any different from what you're accusing me of now?"

Jason threw his hands up in the air. "You're twisting this to suit your situation!"

"I'm not. I'm learning from it though." 

Silence stretched between them, thick and strained. Jason sighed, realising that  he'd already made up his mind. "Just... don't wait too long, alright? The longer she's left in the dark, the harder it'll hit. And she'll be absolutely wrecked if she gets to know this from anyone else."

Kai didn't answer. He didn't know what to say to that.

Jason lingered for a second longer, eyes flicking over Kai, searching for some sign of acknowledgment. "Take care of yourself," he said softly, voice stripped of all edges. "Don't let all this... all this mess eat you alive. You've handled more than anyone should ever have to."

Kai didn't respond, looking away instead, the words sinking in more than he wanted to admit.

Jason stepped closer, a brief hesitation in his movements, then gave him a light hug. Kai stiffened, not pulling away—but he  didn't return it either.

"I know I don't always do things the 'good' way. At this rate, it's more of an occupational hazard really... But... I've always got your back. Even when you hate me for it. Especially when you won't believe me to be working for your best interests only."

Kai's jaw tightened, but there was something in Jason's tone—tired, sincere, protective—that tugged at his heart.

"I'll... I'll check in when I can," Jason added, finally stepping back, giving Kai one last, lingering look before walking away. 

Kai hated how right Jason was.

But he hated the thought of being the one to shatter Hillary's calm before she got to touch that national medal even more.

So, he'd wait.

Just a week longer.

*****

Hillary was just discussing the club's presentation with Cassie about their future plans for the Amity club. 

Their Chemistry teacher was running late, and this had given the girls ample amount of time to plan out their presentation for the principal scheduled after school. 

"I'm sure the principal will approve this." Cassie agreed, though her smile didn't quite reach her eyes. 

She was obviously upset over something, Hillary deduced, and given the way she was chewing at her lip, she was seconds away from blurting it out.

Hillary braced herself to hear an earful about how she was once again playing unfair, getting double the practice for months without sharing it with anyone and what not. Cassie did have a history of getting worked up whenever she remotely outperformed her in the swim track. 

But what Casssie brought up was completely unexpected. "I'm worried for Laura." She started suddenly. Everything doesn't revolve around you, she chided herself. Cassie was worrying about her best friend's life and all she was doing was think about the extra practice she'd gotten.

The least she could do was try to be neutral and kind towards Cassie, she realised. "I didn't get the chance to see the rulings myself," she started kindly,  "-but I overheard Luke saying something about how everyone got off rather easily..."

Cassie shook her head, "Yeah, everyone did get off pretty easily... but Laura's name wasn't on the list."

That tit-bit of information took Hillary by surprise, "What?"

Cassie continued. "Somehow, Laura's name wasn't in the list of people whose proceedings were yesterday. Every other student's ruling came out yesterday publicly, except hers..." her brows knit together. "It's just... weird, you know?"

Hillary forced a small, reassuring smile. "Maybe it's just some glitch in the system. Maybe they just missed mentioning it on the news or something."

Cassie looked unconvinced. "You think so?"

"Yeah," Hillary nodded, tone kind. "And given that she's a minor, it can't be that bad..."

Cassie exhaled, shoulders relaxing a little. "Maybe you're right."

"Of course I am," Hillary said lightly, even though the thought weighed heavily on her chest. She didn't like Laura much—never had—but she also couldn't remember why that feeling sat so uneasily in her.

Before Cassie could reply, the classroom door swung open. Their Chemistry teacher entered, muttering apologies about a last-minute staff meeting. The students scrambled to their places, and Cassie quickly gathered her notes.

"Don't forget," Hillary whispered as Cassie stood. "We're all meeting outside the principal's cabin as soon as school's over. That way, we'll get ten minutes to prepare before the principal calls us in."

Cassie nodded, smiling again. "Alright, I'll tell the others."

Hillary slipped quietly into her seat beside Kai, a quiet resolve settling in her chest. When she couldn't fall asleep yesterday night, she'd briefly wondered if he was truly avoiding her or if it was all just in her head. 

Either way, sitting next to him was bound to make things clear. If she'd been right, she'd see it soon enough—and if she'd only been overthinking, that would show too.

*****

"Everything sorted?" he asked, eyes still on the glass.

"Mostly," Hillary sighed, "Cassie was just... worried about Laura."

That made Kai glance up for the first time. His expression barely shifted, but the movement of his fingers against the desk stilled completely. "Laura?"

"Yeah," Hillary nodded, her voice sympathetic. "Apparently her ruling didn't come out with the others. Cassie's convinced something's wrong."

Kai's throat worked, but he managed a neutral hum. "Maybe it's just delayed."

"That's what I told her!" Hillary smiled faintly. "Laura's still a kid. They can't go too hard on her, can they?"

Hillary was trying to be light and conversational, but that only made Kai withdraw further, concentrating on his notebook as he breathed deeply. "Right."

She hesitated, studying him for a moment. Kai was back to his usual hmms for reply, but there was something off with his whole demure.

*****

Kai adjusted the Bunsen burner, eyes flicking between the flame and the solution as he worked. Hillary moved beside him, carefully measuring reagents. Their movements synced almost instinctively; no words were needed to keep the rhythm.

"Everything sorted?" he asked, eyes still on the glass.

"Mostly," Hillary sighed. "Cassie was just... worried about Laura."

Kai glanced up, fingers still against the notebook, but the movement stilled. "Laura?"

 Hillary continued, not noticing the shift in his tone. "Apparently her ruling didn't come out with the others. Cassie's convinced something's wrong."

Kai's throat worked as he swallowed, keeping his voice even. "Maybe it's just delayed."

"That's what I told her!" Hillary smiled faintly, stirring the solution slowly. "Laura's still a minor. They can't go too hard on her, can they?"

Kai's jaw tightened imperceptibly. Watching her worry about someone who had hurt her was absolutely infuriating. The video flashed in his mind again—every detail he'd tried to shove away, every sound and movement, all replaying as if he was watching it again for the first time. 

Her calm face, her trust in people... it made the memory burn hotter. He pushed down the urge to pull away from her, to shake her and make her see, but he couldn't. 

Not yet.

"Right," he said finally, keeping his voice low , neutral. 

Hillary hesitated beside him, eyes searching. Kai met her gaze for a fleeting moment before turning back to the beaker. 

He exhaled slowly, forcing himself to return to work . The solutions, the measurements, the precise motions—they were the only things he could control right now.

*****

Words: 2291

*****

A/N: Hey guys!! Seems like the publishing date has kind of shifted to every Friday from now on. So keep checking this day from now on.

What do you think of this chapter? We finally had to say bye to Jason... But don't worry! This won't be the last time we'll see him.

Tyson worrying about Hillary and realising how important she was to the team is pure gold, isn't it?

What do you think about Kai's reasoning about telling Hillary the truth? Do you think he'll be able to stick to it?? What do you think about Cassie and Hillary's budding allyship? Do you think it will last?

What do you think about Kai's and Hillary's final convo? Very infuriating, right? Our sweet innocent girl speaking kindly about the person who hurt her? And what Kai's going through is another sort of hell, watching her say it all but not being able to tell her anything??

What do you think will happen next? Tell me your theories! I love hearing from you all!!!

Vote and comment guys!!

Happy reading!!