The next day felt just like any other.
The air was humid with the threat of rain, and the school corridors buzzed with noise from students moving between classes. Ellie walked through the halls with her friends, their voices a comforting chorus around her. Still, her mind wandered.
She hadn't seen Kyla all day.
Not in the hallways. Not outside her classroom. Not even during the usual quick glances from across the building where their eyes used to meet without trying.
After everything that happened, Ellie had tried to let go of the hope that Kyla might talk to her again. But it lingered, stubborn as ever.
They reached the canteen just before recess rush truly began. Tisha led the way to their usual table near the back, the one by the dusty old fan that never really worked. Cassandra placed her tray down with a dramatic sigh.
"I swear," she said, poking her spaghetti, "they make this worse every week."
"You say that, but you still order it," Irene replied, biting into her sandwich.
"I'm a woman of dangerous habits," Cassandra said with a shrug.
"Clearly," Veilah added. "Last week she tried to microwave orange juice."
"It was an experiment."
"A failed one."
The group laughed, the kind of laughter that made things feel normal even when life wasn't. Ellie smiled and quietly picked at her food, grateful for the distraction but still feeling the heaviness under her ribs.
Then it happened.
Kyla walked in.
Ellie didn't notice her at first. Her eyes were focused on her plate. But then Anastasia nudged her with a gentle tap and glanced toward the entrance.
There she was.
Kyla.
Wearing her favorite black hoodie and dark jeans, hair down this time, her bag still slung over one shoulder. Her expression wasn't angry. It wasn't sad, either. Just calm. Quiet. Like someone who had finally stopped running from her own thoughts.
Ellie froze.
She thought Kyla would keep avoiding her. That the slap, the misunderstanding, the look in her eyes yesterday had been the end. But now she was here.
And before Ellie could do anything, Kyla started walking toward her.
Not toward the vending machines. Not toward another table.
Toward her.
The group fell silent.
Kyla stopped right in front of them, and for a moment, no one moved. Ellie couldn't even breathe.
Then Kyla sat down beside her.
Not across from her. Not at the far edge of the table.
Right next to her.
Tisha looked at the others, then back at Ellie, eyes wide with the unspoken question: Do we leave?
Ellie barely managed a nod.
"Um," Tisha stood abruptly. "We're gonna go… to the bathroom."
Cassandra narrowed her eyes. "All of us?"
"Yes. Emergency girl meeting," Anastasia jumped in, grabbing her tray.
"Very urgent," Veilah added, already pulling Irene away by the wrist.
Irene didn't resist. "Okay, okay. But if I come back and my food's gone, someone's getting slapped."
Within seconds, they were gone, leaving the table quieter than it had been all day.
Kyla turned slightly to face Ellie.
For a moment, neither of them said anything.
Then Kyla broke the silence.
"I'm sorry."
Ellie blinked, unsure if she had heard right.
"I overreacted," Kyla continued, voice low. "And I hurt you. Twice. I shouldn't have done that. I… I let my emotions get ahead of me. And I thought you were giving those flowers to Astrid. I thought… I thought I was just a distraction."
Ellie stayed quiet, her fingers gripping the edge of her tray.
Kyla swallowed hard. "But I was wrong. Tisha told me what really happened. The banner. The tulips. That they were for me."
Ellie finally looked at her.
There was no anger in her eyes. Just something raw and soft.
"You didn't even let me explain," she said quietly.
"I know," Kyla replied, guilt clear in her voice. "And I'm really sorry for that. I just saw you smiling at her, and it felt like all those old fears came rushing in."
Ellie looked down at her lap. "So why now? Why come find me today?"
Kyla hesitated. "Because last night, I couldn't stop thinking about you. And I remembered something."
"What?"
"That time on the rooftop. When we were practicing. After everything with Astrid. You were a mess," Kyla said with a slight smile. "But you still showed up. You danced through it. You laughed with your friends. You kept going, even when your heart was breaking."
Ellie's breath caught.
Kyla continued, her voice softer now. "And I realized… you've been trying this whole time. Trying to heal. Trying to figure things out. You didn't use me, Ellie. You cared about me. You just didn't know how to say it."
"I was scared," Ellie admitted. "Of losing you. Of messing it up. Of still loving someone I shouldn't."
Kyla reached over and touched her hand. Just lightly. Carefully. Like she was asking for permission.
Ellie didn't pull away.
"I want to try again," Kyla said. "If you do too."
Ellie met her eyes. "How did you even know I'd be here?"
Kyla gave a soft laugh. "Tisha texted me this morning. She said, and I quote, 'If you're not a coward, come talk to Ellie at recess.'"
Ellie laughed, surprised. "Of course she did."
"Your friends care about you," Kyla said. "A lot. So do I."
Ellie's heart swelled at that. The walls she had built up inside her started to crumble.
"I care about you too," she said. "So much."
They sat there in the stillness of the canteen, the chaos of students all around them. But in that moment, it felt like they were the only two people in the room.
Kyla gave her a small smile. "You still owe me flowers, though."
Ellie grinned. "I'll bring a whole garden next time."
They sat side by side, closer now, the weight between them finally lifting.
A few minutes later, the rest of the group returned, doing their best to pretend they weren't eavesdropping.
"So," Tisha said as she took her seat. "Did we miss anything… or are we planning a wedding now?"
Cassandra gasped. "Can I be maid of honor?"
"No way," Irene said. "That's my spot. I've known Ellie since sixth grade."
Veilah rolled her eyes. "Y'all better let them finish talking before you start throwing rice."
Anastasia leaned over to Kyla with a smirk. "You good now?"
Kyla smiled. "Yeah. We're good."
Ellie looked around at all of them, at the way they teased, laughed, and still showed up no matter what. She reached under the table and quietly laced her fingers with Kyla's.
This time, Kyla didn't let go.
And for the first time in weeks, Ellie felt something real growing in her chest.
Not regret. Not confusion.
But peace.
And maybe even love.