The sun had barely climbed above the school gates when the group saw something none of them expected.
Ellie walked into campus holding hands with Astrid.
It should've been a sweet sight a rekindled romance maybe, but something about it was off. Ellie's eyes weren't smiling. Her shoulders drooped. Her grip on Astrid's hand was limp, more like an obligation than affection.
Cassandra noticed first. He stopped mid-step, his mouth falling open.
"Okay... what the hell is going on?" he asked, pointing.
Anastasia squinted. "Is that Astrid? Didn't she disappear after that rooftop drama?"
"She's back," Steph muttered. "And with Ellie. But Erica looks like she's walking to her own funeral."
Kyla appeared from the hallway just in time to see the scene unfold. She froze. Her hands clenched by her side.
Cassandra turned to her. "Kyla, what is happening?"
Kyla shrugged, blinking quickly. "I.....I don't know. She didn't tell me anything."
She walked away without another word.
The group stared at one another. Then Cassandra slammed a hand on the wall dramatically.
"Okay team," he said. "Time to activate Plan Spy-a-lot."
Veilah grinned. "Are we seriously doing this again?"
"Always," Irene said, already pulling out sunglasses from her bag like a secret agent. "We're splitting up. Me, Veilah, and Anastasia will follow Kyla. You and Tisha are on Astrid and Ellie. Let's figure out what the hell is going on."
They high-fived and scattered.
All day, Cassandra and Tisha kept eyes on Astrid and Ellie. They saw the way Ellie kept her eyes downcast, the way she didn't speak much, how she flinched slightly whenever Nicole leaned close.
Meanwhile, Veilah, Anastasia, and Irene followed Kyla like shadows. She was quieter than usual, forcing smiles, staring out the windows of the café where they all usually ate. She didn't touch her food either.
"Something's wrong," Anastasia said.
"Something's really wrong," Veilah echoed.
By afternoon, the groups regrouped behind the gym. Tired, confused, frustrated.
"We got nothing solid," Cassandra grunted, flopping onto the grass. "Just Ellie being... miserable."
"And Kyla's clearly heartbroken," Irene added. "But why won't Ellie say anything? What changed?"
Then, as if summoned by the intensity of their loyalty and concern, a miracle happened.
Ellie spotted them.
She looked exhausted. Her eyes were sunken, her lips dry. When she saw the group trying to duck behind a tree, she gave the faintest of smirks.
Astrid was on a call, distracted.
Ellie walked toward the group quickly. "Follow me. Now."
They hurried after her, up the stairs, to the rooftop where it had all begun weeks ago. Once the door closed behind them, Cassandra burst out first.
"Ellie, what the hell is going on?!"
"You look like a prisoner," Tisha said, her arms crossed tightly.
"We've been worried sick," Anastasia added. "We thought you..."
"Guys, stop let her speak," Irene cut in gently.
The wind tugged at Ellie's hair as she stepped to the edge of the rooftop, gripping the rail. She looked out, silent for a long beat.
"Astrid... is blackmailing me," she said finally.
Gasps erupted.
"WHAT?!" Tisha shouted.
"With what?" Cassandra asked, stepping forward.
Ellie swallowed. "The video. Of me and Kayla. That time in the storage room. She took a video. She said if I didn't leave Kyla... if I didn't come back to her... she'd post it everywhere."
Everyone fell silent.
Irene clenched her fists. "That... manipulative... witch."
"She's disgusting," Anastasia added.
"I'm sorry I didn't tell you sooner," Ellie said, eyes glassy. "I didn't know what to do. I thought maybe if I played along... I could buy time. I didn't want to risk Kyla's reputation."
Cassandra grabbed her hand. "You're not alone in this. We'll fix it. We'll stop her."
"You can't let Astrid know I told you," Ellie said quickly. "Promise me. Please."
Tisha nodded. "You have our word."
Later that evening, the group huddled in an empty classroom.
Kyla was there. She looked up as they entered.
Ellie wasn't with them.
Tisha sat beside her. "We know everything."
Kyla blinked. "What?"
Anastasia nodded. "Astrid's blackmailing Ellie. That's why she's been distant."
Kyla's eyes filled with emotion. Her voice cracked. "She was protecting me... the whole time."
Cassandra placed a hand on her shoulder. "And we're going to get her back."
They began to plan.
The room buzzed with whispered strategies and notebook scribbles until suddenly a knock.
Everyone fell silent.
Cassandra opened the door.
A tall boy stood there, hoodie halfway zipped, dark bags under his eyes like he hadn't slept in a week.
"Yo," he said.
Cassandra grinned. "Guys, meet Ken. My cousin. Tech genius. Hacker extraordinaire."
Ken gave a lazy salute. "Heard you need help wrecking someone's digital life. I'm in."
That night at Astrid's house, Ellie barely touched her food.
Astrid raised an eyebrow. "You're not eating. Is this about Kyla again?"
Ellie stared at her with eyes that had cried too many nights.
"I'm not hungry."
Astrid stood. "I'm trying here, Ellie. I gave you everything. Why can't you just forget her?"
Ellie stood too. "Because I love her. And you'll never be her."
She walked away, heading to her room, slamming the door shut behind her. She collapsed on her bed and stared at the ceiling.
What if Kyla had moved on? What if it was too late?
But she believed in her friends. She believed in Kyla.
Graduation Day.
The stadium was packed.
Eliie stood at the podium, delivering a moving speech as the class valedictorian. Her voice was strong, but her heart pounded. Her eyes searched the crowd.
Kyla stood near the back, hidden behind the others.
Then, as the applause thundered, Astrid walked on stage. She wrapped her arms around Ellie.
Ellie froze.
"I'm proud of you," Astrid whispered.
"Don't be."
Suddenly, the group surrounded them. Cassandra bumped into Astrid deliberately. "Oops. Sorry."
Veilah stepped in. "Picture time!"
As Astrid turned to pose, Tisha tossed Angel her car keys.
Kyla darted forward, grabbed Ellie's wrist, and pulled her down the stairs.
"Wait... Kyla?!"
Ellie didn't resist.
They bolted into the parking lot, jumped into Tisha's car. Kyla floored the gas.
"Where are we going?" Ellie shouted over the wind.
"Somewhere she can't follow."
The car screeched to a stop at a secluded overlook.
Kyla turned to Ellie, breathless. "Did she try to kiss you again?"
Ellie opened her mouth to respond, but Kyla leaned forward and kissed her.
Soft.
Slow.
Real.
When they broke apart, Kyla whispered, "I don't care what she did. You're mine. You've always been mine."
Tears pooled in Ellie's eyes. "I missed you. So much."
Kyla brushed hair from Ellie's face. "We're going to be okay. I promise."
Back at school, Astrid opened her phone in front of the group.
"You think you've won? I'll post it. I'll destroy her."
She tapped her gallery.
The video wasn't there.
"What....what the hell?"
She searched every folder. Nothing.
Tisha smirked. "Oops. Looks like someone hacked your little toy."
"You're bluffing."
Cassandra appeared behind them, grinning, holding up a USB.
"Try me."
Astrid's face turned white.
Cassandra stepped forward. "You lost. Walk away. Don't you ever come near Ellie again."
Astrid said nothing.
She turned and disappeared into the crowd.
Later that night, Ellie and Kyla sat on the rooftop. Just the two of them.
"Everything's over," Ellie said softly. "Finally."
Kyla took her hand. "No more secrets. No more hiding. Just us."
Ellie smiled, leaning in.
And this time, when she kissed her, it wasn't stolen or forced or hidden.
It was hers.
Free.
Real.
Forever.