The afternoon sun was setting, casting long shadows over the sidewalk as Kiara, Prince, King, and Zara walked home together. The four of them had fallen into an easy rhythm, the tension from the past few weeks dissipating like fog. Kiara and Prince were in the lead, talking about some debate topic, while King and Zara trailed behind, their steps slower and more deliberate.

Zara was still processing everything that had happened over the past few days—her confrontation with Star, the way she felt like she was losing her closest friend. The uncertainty that had settled in her chest only deepened whenever her mind wandered back to Kendrick. His friendship had always been a constant in her life, but lately, things felt... different.

As they walked, the conversation in front of them shifted, and Zara's ears perked up when she caught a snippet of what Prince was saying.

"... and then Kendrick says to me, 'I can't decide between Star and Zara,' and I'm just like—dude, pick one, already!"

Zara froze, her heart skipping a beat. Her breath hitched, and her mind went into overdrive as she processed what Prince had just casually said. He'd said it so offhandedly, like it was no big deal. But to Zara? It felt like a punch to the gut.

She stopped walking, causing King to glance back at her, confusion written on his face. "Zara? What's wrong?"

Zara barely heard him, her mind still reeling. Prince hadn't meant to say it, she could tell by the way he was looking at her now, his expression full of surprise and regret. But the damage was done.

The words echoed in Zara's mind: 'I can't decide between Star and Zara.' She felt sick to her stomach.

King, noticing the shift in her, walked back toward her. "Zara, hey, are you okay?"

Zara looked at him, her eyes wide with shock and pain. "Kendrick... he likes Star. And he likes me." Her voice trembled, though she tried to keep it steady. "I don't even know what to think."

There was a long, tense pause. King's face softened, but he didn't know how to help her. He turned to Prince, who looked guilty, but his eyes also showed a flicker of understanding.

Kiara, overhearing the exchange, stopped and turned around, walking back toward the group. She had heard what Prince said too, and Zara could see the concern in her eyes.

"I didn't mean to hurt you, Zara," Prince said, his tone apologetic. "Kendrick's... well, he's been confused. He's got feelings for both of you, and he doesn't know what to do about it."

Zara shook her head, her breath shaky as she fought to hold back tears. "It's not just that," she whispered, her voice cracking. "It's everything with Star. She—she hates me, Prince. She said I take everything from her. She said I take everything she has to work for. But she never even told me she had feelings for Kendrick. Why didn't she speak up?"

The silence that followed felt heavy, the words Zara spoke settling between them like an unspoken truth no one knew how to address. She could feel the weight of her heart breaking with each passing second, the emotional toll of it all starting to overwhelm her.

Kiara, sensing the depth of Zara's pain, placed a gentle hand on her shoulder. "Zara, I'm so sorry. It's not your fault. None of this is your fault."

Zara nodded, though her mind was still whirling. She couldn't get rid of the feeling that Star's anger toward her wasn't just about volleyball or the things they'd been through. She wondered, did Star like Kendrick too? The idea felt like a bitter pill to swallow. But if she did, why hadn't she said anything? Why hadn't she been honest with Zara about her feelings when Zara had confessed first?

Zara looked at the ground, her gaze unfocused. Her voice was barely audible when she spoke again, almost as if she was talking to herself. "I don't understand. Why didn't Star say anything when I told her I liked Kendrick? If she liked him too, why didn't she speak up? Why did she let me go on thinking I was the only one who had feelings for him?"

Kiara's expression softened, understanding the pain in Zara's words. "I think Star's been hurting too, Zara. Maybe she didn't know how to say it, or maybe she was afraid of losing you as a friend."

"But why?" Zara whispered. "Why does it feel like I'm always the one losing?"

Prince stepped forward, his voice quieter now. "Zara, it's not about losing. You're not losing anything. It's about figuring out what matters most to you—and that's your friendships, your heart. Kendrick's feelings don't have to tear anyone apart if you all talk about it."

Zara looked up at him, her face pale, her tears threatening to spill over. "I just don't know what to do anymore. I've been so focused on Star, on trying to fix things with her, that I didn't even see what was happening with Kendrick. And now it feels like everything's falling apart."

King stepped forward, his tone gentle but firm. "It's okay to be confused, Zara. It's okay to feel hurt. Just don't shut yourself off from everyone. We're here for you."

Zara nodded, but the ache in her chest didn't go away. She was caught in the middle of something messy—between her friendship with Star, her feelings for Kendrick, and the pain of not knowing where she stood with either of them. Her world felt like it was crumbling, and she didn't know how to stop it.

As they started walking again, the distance between Zara and the others seemed to grow, not physically, but emotionally. There was so much left unsaid, so much left to figure out. And Zara wasn't sure if she had the strength to face it all.

But maybe—just maybe—she didn't have to face it alone.