Days went by faster than Kiara expected.
Mexico had started feeling less like a holiday and more like a little break from everything waiting for her back at Tix.
She spent most of her days with her dad, Dina, and sometimes Andrew and Dylan. They went out, ate together, drove around the city, argued over the smallest things and laughed until Kiara's stomach hurt.
And, of course, Kiara never really stopped talking to the people back at Tix.
Almost every day, her phone was in her hand.
Sometimes it was Cyma.
Sometimes Tyler.
Sometimes Vinny.
Sometimes she and Peter would spend almost an hour texting about absolutely nothing.
And, Leo had also become someone she talked to from time to time.
Not in the way Peter did.
Not even close.
But Leo would randomly send her something stupid, complain about something, or simply ask what she was doing.
Leo: Mexico better be treating you well.
Kiara: It is.
Leo: Good. Don't come back looking too rich.
Kiara: I'm already richer than you.
Leo: Impossible.
Kiara: Do you want me to send you pictures of my dad's car?
Leo: No.
Kiara: Scared?
Leo: Bored.
Kiara: Jealous.
Leo: Goodnight, Kie.
She always laughed when she read his messages.
She also kept posting.
Pictures with Dina.
Pictures with Dylan.
Pictures with everyone.
Pictures with her dad.
Pictures of food.
Pictures from the beach.
Videos of her and Dina dancing badly in the middle of the street.
One particular video of Dina attempting to teach Kiara a Mexican dance went viral within their little circle because Dina nearly fell over at the end.
The comments from Tix were ridiculous.
Vinny: Please come back. Dina is embarrassing you.
Kiara: You're just jealous.
Tyler: Why is everyone fighting in the comments?
Cyma: Because they're them.
And Peter always liked Kiara's posts.
Every single one.
Sometimes he commented.
Sometimes he just liked them.
But Kiara noticed.
She always noticed.
Back at Tix, the Blings had their own problems.
The town was preparing for a special dinner to welcome Mr Richard, the new mayor.
Naturally, Tiffany had turned the whole thing into an event.
She wanted everything perfect.
The decorations.
The food.
The music.
The guest list.
Even the people attending.
Especially the people attending.
"Everything has to look good tonight," Tiffany said, walking around the room.
Angela rolled her eyes.
"It always has to look good with you."
Tiffany ignored her.
"My dad is the mayor. This isn't some random school dinner."
"Nobody said it was," Angela muttered.
Tiffany turned around.
"What did you say?"
"Nothing."
"Good."
She continued checking the arrangements.
That was when she saw Douglas standing outside with somethings to deliver
She smiled.
"Douglas!"
He turned.
"What?"
"You're coming tonight."
Douglas frowned.
"Coming where?"
"The dinner."
"I don't think so."
"I already picked your suit."
Douglas stared at her.
"You what?"
Tiffany walked over and handed him a garment bag.
"I chose it myself."
"I don't need a suit."
"You do."
"Tiffany...."
"I already paid for everything."
Douglas looked at the bag.
"You paid?"
"Yes."
"Why?"
"Because I invited you."
He sighed.
"I don't really fit in with your friends."
Tiffany smiled.
"You'll be fine."
"I'm serious."
"So am I."
She walked away before he could argue again.
Douglas looked down at the garment bag.
"Great."
That evening, Douglas showed up.
And the moment he walked in, Angela's face changed.
She looked him up and down.
"You came."
Douglas nodded.
"Apparently."
Angela glanced at the expensive suit.
"Nice suit."
"Tiffany picked it."
"Of course she did."
A few other Blings exchanged looks.
Douglas noticed.
He immediately felt uncomfortable.
He looked around for Tiffany.
She wasn't there.
She was busy moving around, checking things and talking to people.
He waited.
Ten minutes.
Then twenty.
Still nothing.
Finally, Douglas walked outside.
He took off the jacket and sighed.
"Shouldn't have come."
Outside, Mika sat quietly on one of the benches.
She had invited Rhea.
She didn't know exactly why.
Maybe because she wanted someone who wasn't part of the Blings.
Someone she could actually talk to.
Rhea sat beside her.
"You okay?"
Mika nodded.
"Yeah."
"You don't look okay."
She laughed softly.
"That's the problem."
"What?"
"The Blings."
Rhea looked at her.
"What about them?"
Mika sighed.
"It's tiring."
"Being popular?"
"No."
She looked toward the building.
"Being perfect."
Rhea stayed quiet.
Mika continued.
"Everybody thinks we're supposed to have everything together. Perfect clothes. Perfect relationships. Perfect grades. Perfect lives."
She laughed bitterly.
"But we're not perfect."
"I know."
"Do you?"
"Yeah."
Mika looked at her
"How?"
"Because you're sitting outside complaining about your perfect life."
She laughed.
"That's not funny."
"It is a little."
She smiled.
Then she looked down.
"I just get tired of pretending."
Rhea nodded.
"You don't have to pretend with me."
Mika looked at her
For once, she didn't have anything sarcastic to say.
"Thanks."
"No problem."
Across the park, Jeremy had seen them.
He had come looking for Mika, cause it's been long they've even spoken especially after she told him about Alex knowing about Jeremy and Tara.
But when he saw her talking to Rhea, he stopped.
He didn't want to interrupt.
He stood there for a moment.
Then he sighed.
"Whatever."
He turned around.
And somehow ended up walking toward the park.
He wasn't even sure why.
Then he saw Tara.
She was sitting under a tree.
She noticed him.
"Jeremy?"
He smiled.
"Tara."
"What are you doing here?"
"I could ask you the same thing."
"I was here first."
"Fair."
He sat beside her.
For a few seconds, neither said anything.
Then Tara looked at him.
"Did you run away from something?"
Jeremy laughed.
"Maybe."
"From a party?"
He looked at her.
"Why does everyone know everything?"
"Because you are terrible at hiding things, you're literally dressed in an expensive suit"
Jeremy shook his head.
" Yeah...I borrowed this, would return it to the store later" he lied
" You don't have to impress them you know"
" Who?"
" The Blings"
" Oh"
" Especially the Smiths"
" Oh... What about them?"
" They're ruthless, just stay away from there"
His face dropped
" Oh... I will"
" Enough about them, how are you doing?"
" I'm good as you can see"
"Yeah."
"No."
She smiled.
Jeremy looked at her.
"What?"
"Nothing."
"You're annoying."
"I know."
He smiled.
She grabbed a small leaf and threw it at him.
He threw one back.
"Hey!"
"You started it."
"No, you did."
And before either of them realized it, they were laughing.
Tara tried to run away.
Jeremy chased her around the tree.
"Come back here!"
"No!"
"You can't run forever!"
"Watch me!"
She almost slipped, and Jeremy caught her arm.
They both stopped.
Then looked at each other.
And burst out laughing.
It was simple.
No pressure.
No pretending.
No expectations.
Just two friends being stupid together.
For the first time that night, Jeremy completely forgot about being a Bling
And Mika, still sitting outside with Rhea, had no idea what was going on in the world
Inside, the Blings continued their perfect little dinner.
Outside, everyone was slowly discovering that sometimes the people who made you feel most comfortable weren't always the people you expected.
The dinner had already become loud by the time Elena walked in.
Nobody noticed her at first.
Then Jenna did.
She stopped halfway through a conversation.
Her eyes widened.
"You're kidding me."
Jason followed her gaze.
"Oh."
Jenna folded her arms.
"She actually came."
Elena walked into the room like she had been invited specifically for her.
Her dress was impossible to ignore, her hair perfectly done, and she carried herself with the kind of confidence that made it obvious she wanted every single person in the room looking at her.
And they were.
People turned.
Whispers started.
Elena didn't care.
She smiled as she walked past them.
Jenna scoffed.
"Of course she had to come dressed like that."
Jason glanced at her.
"Don't."
"Don't what?"
"Don't react."
"I'm not reacting."
"You are literally glaring at her."
Jenna rolled her eyes.
"She disappeared for days and suddenly comes back here like nothing happened."
"I know."
"And after everything she did to Leo..."
"Jenna."
She looked at him.
Jason lowered his voice.
"Just overlook it."
Jenna sighed.
"Fine."
Elena suddenly stopped beside them.
"Jenna."
Jenna looked at her.
"Elena."
Elena smiled.
"Nice to see you."
"Can't say the same."
Jason closed his eyes briefly.
"Jenna."
Elena laughed.
"Still as hot tempered as ever."
"And you're still as annoying as ever."
Elena's smile disappeared for a second.
Jason immediately stepped between them.
"Okay. We're not doing this tonight."
Jenna looked away.
"Whatever."
Elena smiled again.
"Enjoy the party."
She walked away.
Jenna watched her.
"I hate her."
Jason sighed.
"You don't mean it."
Peter was standing near one of the tables, talking to Jason earlier, but now he was alone.
Elena noticed him immediately.
She walked over.
"Peter."
He looked at her.
"You're here."
"Surprised?"
"A little."
She smiled.
"I've been busy."
Peter nodded.
"Okay."
She stood beside him.
"You haven't asked about Kiara."
Peter's expression changed slightly.
"What about her?"
Elena pulled out her phone.
"Nothing."
She opened her gallery.
"I just thought you might want to see something."
Peter frowned.
"What?"
She turned the phone toward him.
There was a picture of Kiara and Dylan.
Peter stared at it.
"When was this?"
"Mexico."
"So?"
Elena swiped.
Another picture.
Kiara and Dylan laughing together.
Another.
The two of them dancing.
Another.
Kiara sitting beside Dylan.
Peter's expression slowly changed.
"Where did you get these?"
"Kiara's been posting everything."
Peter took the phone from her.
He scrolled through the pictures.
Elena watched his face carefully.
"She looks happy."
Peter didn't answer.
"Really happy."
"She's on holiday."
"I know."
Elena smiled faintly.
"And she's been spending a lot of time with Dylan."
Peter handed the phone back.
"He's her ex."
"Exactly."
"So?"
"So nothing."
She shrugged.
"I'm just showing you what she's been doing."
Peter looked at her.
"Why?"
Elena smiled.
"I thought you deserved to know."
Peter's jaw tightened.
Elena continued scrolling.
"There are videos too."
She played one.
Kiara and Dylan were dancing at the party.
They looked comfortable.
They were laughing.
Peter watched silently.
"That's just a dance."
"Of course."
Elena smiled.
"Another one?"
She played another.
Kiara and Dylan were talking closely.
Then another.
The two of them posing together.
Peter looked at her.
"She talks to me you know, and I've seen all these before"
"You have but not closely, and does she really talk to you?"
Elena's voice was soft.
"Or does she just tell you what she wants you to know?"
Peter didn't respond.
Elena moved closer.
"I wouldn't worry if I were you."
"I'm not worried."
"Good."
She smiled.
"Then you won't mind when I say that she might not be coming back."
Peter looked at her sharply.
"What?"
Elena shrugged.
"Think about it."
She showed him another picture.
"She's having fun. She's with Dylan again. Maybe she realized she made a mistake."
"She didn't say that."
"She doesn't have to."
Peter stared at the phone.
Elena lowered it.
"You know what I think?"
"I don't care."
She smiled.
"I think she went to Mexico and remembered what she had with Dylan."
Peter's expression hardened.
"And you're telling me this because?"
"Because you're my friend."
Peter gave her a look.
"Since when?"
Elena laughed softly.
"Fine. Maybe I'm just trying to save you from getting hurt."
Peter stepped away.
"I can handle myself."
"I know."
She reached out and lightly touched his arm.
"But sometimes people don't see the truth until it's too late."
Peter looked at her hand.
Then at her.
"Are you done?"
Elena smiled.
"For now."
She walked away.
Peter remained there, staring at the floor.
He pulled out his phone.
He opened Kiara's chat.
He stared at her name.
His thumb hovered over the keyboard.
He wanted to ask her.
Are you getting back with Dylan?
But he didn't type it.
Instead, he locked the phone.
Elena walked away with a small smile.
She didn't care whether Peter believed every word.
She only needed doubt.
That was enough.
Her anger toward Kiara hadn't disappeared.
If anything, it had grown.
In Elena's mind, Kiara was the reason everything with Leo had fallen apart.
Kiara had been there.
Kiara had seen things.
And Elena was convinced that Kiara had told Leo about the kiss with Vinny.
Since then, Leo had barely looked at her.
He had walked away from her.
Ignored her.
And refused to forgive her.
Elena blamed Kiara for all of it.
She took everything from me.
So if she couldn't have Leo back easily, she was determined to make sure Kiara didn't get her happy ending either.
And tonight, she had just planted the first seed.
Peter was still standing alone when Jason approached.
"You okay?"
Peter looked at him.
"Yeah."
Jason studied his face.
"You don't look okay."
"I'm fine."
"What's Elena been telling you?"
Peter looked toward where Elena had disappeared.
"Nothing."
Jason raised an eyebrow.
"Peter."
"I said nothing."
Jason sighed.
"Whatever."
Peter looked at his phone again.
For some reason, he couldn't stop thinking about the pictures.
About Kiara laughing with Dylan.
About how happy she looked.
And despite everything Elena had said, one thought kept bothering him.
Why didn't Kiara tell me?
Meanwhile, across the room, Elena watched him.
And smiled.
Peter sat alone on the edge of his bed, his phone in his hand.
He had been staring at the same screen for almost five minutes.
Kiara's latest post.
He had already seen it.
Actually, he had seen it several times.
The first time, he had just scrolled past it.
The second time, he smiled.
The third time, he started noticing things.
And now...
Now he was looking at every little detail like his life depended on it.
He hated himself for it.
"This is stupid," he muttered.
He locked his phone.
Two seconds later, he unlocked it again.
The picture appeared.
Kiara was standing beside Dylan, both of them laughing.
Peter stared at it.
There was nothing romantic about it.
At least, there shouldn't have been.
Dylan was her ex.
Her childhood friend.
The guy she had already told Peter she was done with.
And yet, something about seeing them together made his chest feel strangely tight.
Peter scrolled down.
Another picture.
Kiara and Dina.
Then another.
Kiara, Dina, Dylan, Andrew.
Then a video.
Kiara was laughing while Dylan said something beside her.
Peter watched it twice.
"Why am I watching this again?"
He threw his phone on the bed.
It bounced once before landing face down.
Peter stood up.
He walked toward his wardrobe.
Stopped.
Turned around.
Picked up his phone again.
"Pathetic."
He opened Kiara's profile.
Her newest post was still there.
The caption caught his attention.
Back to where I belong. ❤️
Peter's eyebrows pulled together.
"Back to where I belong?"
He read it again.
Then again.
"What does that even mean?"
He knew exactly what it meant.
Mexico.
Her father.
Her old life.
He knew that.
Kiara had told him she was happy to see her dad.
She had told him she missed Mexico.
So why was his brain suddenly turning a completely innocent caption into something else?
Peter sighed.
"This isn't about me."
He dropped the phone again.
But then he remembered something Elena had said.
Maybe she realized she was happier there.
Maybe Dylan isn't as much of an ex as you think.
Look at how comfortable they are.
Peter frowned.
"Shut up, Elena."
He wasn't even talking to her.
Yet somehow her voice was still in his head.
He opened the post again.
There was a picture of Kiara and Dylan sharing a drink.
Peter stared at it.
It was probably nothing.
Actually, it was definitely nothing.
They were at a party.
Someone probably handed them the same bottle.
Still...
Why did she have to post it?
He scrolled again.
Another video.
Dylan held out his hand.
Kiara grabbed it and he helped her up from the ground.
Peter's jaw tightened.
"That's it?"
He stared at the screen.
"He helped her stand up."
He almost laughed at himself.
"Congratulations, Peter. You've discovered friendship."
He tossed the phone aside.
Then picked it up again.
He hated this.
He hated how every harmless thing suddenly looked suspicious.
He hated even more that he couldn't stop thinking about it.
His thumb hovered over Kiara's chat.
He opened it.
Their last conversation was still there.
He had been the last person to send a message.
He had expected her to message him.
She hadn't.
Peter looked at the empty chat box.
Hey.
He typed it.
He stared at it.
Deleted it.
Typed again.
How are you?
Deleted it.
"Why am I struggling to send a normal message?"
He tossed the phone onto his bed.
Then picked it up.
Again.
He went back to her profile.
Nothing.
No new message.
Peter leaned back against the headboard.
"She hasn't even checked on me."
That thought hurt more than he expected.
But then another thought came.
Maybe she's busy.
He immediately rejected it.
"No. She can send one message."
He stared at the screen.
One message.
That was all he wanted.
Just one.
Meanwhile, thousands of miles away...
"KIARA!"
Kiara jumped.
"What?"
Dina stood in the middle of the room with both hands on her waist.
"Are you actually planning to take all of that?"
Kiara looked down at the pile of clothes on the bed.
"Yes."
"You're going to the beach, not relocating to another country."
"I need options."
"You've been saying that for thirty minutes."
"And?"
"And we have been packing for a beach trip since this afternoon."
Kiara looked at the suitcase.
"It's not my fault."
"It absolutely is."
Dina grabbed a bikini top from the bed.
"You packed this three times."
"I was checking if it matched the shorts."
"It doesn't."
"I know."
"Then why did you pack it?"
Kiara shrugged.
"Because maybe I'll find shorts tomorrow that match it."
Dina stared at her.
"You're exhausting."
"And yet you love me."
"Unfortunately."
Kiara laughed.
Dina threw the bikini at her.
"Fold it."
"You fold it."
"You're the one going."
"It's my suitcase."
"Exactly."
Kiara rolled her eyes and folded it.
Her phone buzzed.
She glanced at it.
A notification.
She smiled.
"Who?"
"Cyma liked my post."
Dina immediately grabbed her phone.
"Let me see."
"No."
"Give me."
"Dina!"
They wrestled over the phone.
"Give it!"
"Stop!"
"You're hiding something."
"I am not!"
Dina finally got the phone.
She looked at the screen.
"Aw."
"What?"
"Your Mr annoying"
Kiara snatched the phone back.
"Don't call him that."
"Why?"
"Because I know you."
Dina grinned.
"You're blushing."
"I am not."
"You are."
"I'm hot."
"It's air-conditioned."
Kiara threw a pillow at her.
Dina caught it.
"Violence...Typical."
Kiara laughed.
She looked at the screen again.
Peter hadn't messaged.
She frowned slightly.
Dina noticed.
"What?"
"Nothing."
"You did the face."
"What face?"
"The 'something is bothering me but I'm pretending it isn't' face."
Kiara shrugged.
"Peter hasn't texted."
Dina's expression changed immediately.
"Excuse me?"
"He hasn't."
"Since when?"
"Since yesterday."
Dina slowly put the pillow down.
"And you haven't texted him?"
"No."
"Why?"
"I don't know."
"You two had a fight?"
"No."
"He's angry?"
"I don't think so."
"Did you do something?"
"No."
"Did he do something?"
"Not that I know of."
Dina narrowed her eyes.
"Then why aren't you talking?"
Kiara s