✅ The full girl squad:
Jay → Main character, masculine girl, 17 years old, junior year
Taira
Stéphanie → elina best friend (they're super close)
Monaï (Jay's best friend)
Colombe (Jay's ex-crush)
Marylin
---
💬 CHAPTER 1 — "Lunch Breaks in the Courtyard"
> Noon. Jay's favorite time of day. Not because she liked the cafeteria food — never — but because it was the real break.
The only moment she could actually be herself, without having to explain her style, her tone, or the way her gaze was always too cold.
> As usual, she was the first one on the low wall, at the far end of the courtyard, where the sun still hit a little. Headphones on, hoodie half-up, looking chill — but deep down, always a bit on guard.
> She spotted Taira arriving, with Stéphanie right behind her, stuck to her like always.
> — You're always early, huh? said Taira with a half-smile.
> Jay turned down her music.
> — I avoid the chaos. And annoying people, she replied without even looking up.
> Stéphanie frowned but stayed silent. She sat across from her, giving Taira a quick glance.
Jay felt the tension.
> A few minutes later, the rest of the squad showed up: Monaï , Colombe, and Marylin. Laughs, gossip, the usual teasing.
But Jay wasn't really in the mood.
Not today.
> She could feel Taira eyes on her, now and then. Not heavy, not intrusive. But there. And it irritated her.
Because for too long, Taira had looked at her like an enemy.
And today? It was something else.
> — You're awfully quiet, Jay. Something changed? Marylin teased with a grin.
> — Maybe she's finally thinking, muttered Taira.
> Something was definitely going on. And Jay didn't like it.
> — Yeah, I'm thinking, Jay replied softly.
— About what? asked Colombe.
— The weather, she joked. Nothing important.
> But truth was, she was lying.
She was thinking about Taira.
And she hated that.
> Because before, it was simple: Jay and Taira hated each other. Since elementary school. Too many fights, too many sharp comments, too much awkwardness.
But now?
Now Taira was talking to her. Gently. Kindly.
And Jay hated not knowing how to react.
---
✍️ CHAPTER 2 — Getting closer
> I don't even know when it shifted. One day, we were throwing jabs. The next, Taira was tugging on my shirt like a little kid every time I turned my back.
I didn't say anything.
I even laughed, at first. But deep down, I was like:
"Is it just me or is she acting weird with me? Is she playing or what?"
> What made it even messier was that everyone still thought I was hung up on Colombe.
And okay, yeah — I was obsessed for a while. Like, heart-eyes, texting her at 1 a.m., dumb dreams where she kissed me on the bus.
But she rejected me. Twice.
Once nicely. The second time... not so much.
> And yeah, that's just how I am. I can fall for someone, then switch. Flirt here, flirt there.
Some days I'm sure I'm into a girl. The next? I'm not.
It's not that I'm playing. It's just... my heart's starving, I think.
> Anyway. Point is — Taira was making me glitch.
And the worst part?
She knew.
She knew exactly what she was doing.
> We were all sitting on the steps outside room E-22, like we did every lunch. Sun on our faces, endless jokes, nonstop laughter.
And Taira wouldn't stop touching me. Shoulder taps. Shirt tugs. Playful slaps that screamed anything but "I hate you."
> — You're pretty quiet today, she said, glancing at me real quick — like she was testing my reaction.
> — Trying not to mentally fall for someone, I replied, faking a serious tone.
> She burst out laughing. That laugh. Always too loud. Always too real.
---
👀 Enter Stéphanie:
> That's when I noticed Stéphanie's stare.
Sitting a little further away, but not far enough to miss anything. She was watching Taira. Then me. Then our hands. Our gestures.
Nothing obvious. But I felt the tension rising.
> Her brows slightly furrowed.
That strange silence.
Her — the one who usually jumped into every convo with a snarky comment or a joke... Now? Nothing. Just this heavy silence, aimed at me.
> And suddenly, it hit me.
She sees me as a threat.
Not just some girl in the group. Not someone she tolerates.
But someone who could ruin the bond she has with Taira.
> And in her eyes, it wasn't "romantic jealousy."
No. It was something else.
Like she spotted the crack in her duo with Taira
And I was that crack.
> I looked away.
I wasn't looking for drama.
But I already knew — this wasn't going to stay calm.
---
✍️ CHAPTER 3 — "That Kind of Message"
> I should've seen it coming.
That stare, I knew it too well.
That silence, that weird distance while everyone else was laughing…
Stéphanie wasn't the type to ignore something she saw as a threat.
> That evening, I was chilling on my bed, music on, phone in hand.
And the message dropped.
From Stéphanie.
No "hey," no emojis. Just this:
> "You know Taira and I are like sisters. I see right through you. Leave her alone."
> I read it three times.
No question mark. No doubt.
A threat. Clear. Cold. Straight.
> I typed a reply. Deleted it. Typed again. Deleted.
Then finally wrote:
> "If you've got a problem with me, say it to my face."
> She replied instantly:
> "I don't have a problem.
But if you keep clinging to her like that, you will."
> My heart was racing, but I didn't freak out.
I just got it now — why she'd been staring at me like I was gum stuck to her shoe.
She was scared of losing Taira.
And she saw me as some toxic chick, a player, unstable.
> Okay… maybe I am unstable.
But I'm not fake.
And I hadn't done anything wrong.
> Since Taira and I started talking more, everything had just… happened. Naturally.
It was her coming to me. Her laughing. Her touching me. Her throwing weird glances whenever someone else talked to me.
> And I wasn't about to pretend I hadn't noticed.
Because I felt something too.
Even if it was messy. Even if I wasn't ready to name it.
> The next day, when I met the group in front of the classroom, I didn't say a word to Stéphanie.
She didn't either.
But her eyes had already told me everything.
✍️ CHAPTER 4 — "Silences and Cracks"
The next day, everything looked normal for the rest of the group. Jokes, bursts of laughter, gossip flying around like always.
But me? I was somewhere else.
Taira gotten into the habit of sitting close to me — almost glued to my side.
Her laugh echoed too loudly in my ears, her fingers always looking for an excuse to tug at my sleeve, pull on my hoodie.
And I tried to stay stoic. As if I didn't feel a thing.
But I felt it. Too much.
Every time she laughed, my eyes would meet Stéphanie's.
Her smile never reached her eyes.
She didn't say a word, but her whole body screamed the same thing: "I've got my eye on you."
---
— Jay, you coming with us to the cafeteria? Monaï asked, snapping me out of my thoughts.
I shrugged.
— Not hungry.
Taira turned her head toward me.
— As always, huh? You've got the weirdest excuses.
— Because they're true, I shot back, a little sharp.
She stared at me for a few seconds, like she was trying to read right through me. Then, quick as ever, she yanked out one of my earbuds to listen to my music.
— You always listen to the same songs, she teased, smirking.
I was about to clap back, but my eyes crossed Stéphanie's again.
She was watching us. Not obviously, but enough for me to feel it burning in the back of my neck.
---
And in that moment, I knew something was going to break.
Maybe not today. Maybe not tomorrow.
But soon.
Because me? I was incapable of pushing Taira way.
And Stéphanie? She was never going to let go.
CHAPTER 5 — "Confrontation"
It happened faster than I thought.
Three days after her message, Stéphanie was waiting for me at the school gate.
Her back against the wall, arms crossed, eyes dark.
She didn't even need to speak for me to know: she was waiting for me.
I stopped in front of her, my heart racing but my face unreadable.
— So? You gonna keep sending me threats, or this time you'll say it to my face? I snapped.
A cold smile tugged at her lips.
— I didn't threaten you. I just warned you.
— Warned me about what? Breathing too close to her?
She pushed herself off the wall, stepping closer.
— You play with everyone, Jay. Colombe, now Taira … Who's next? You think I haven't noticed how you change crushes like you change hoodies?
Her words hit home. Too sharp. Too true.
But I refused to look away.
— You think you know who I am, but you don't know a damn thing, I shot back.
— What I know is that you're going to hurt her. And I won't let that happen.
Her tone was like a blade, sharp and final.
I felt the tension knotting in my throat, but I didn't flinch.
— Maybe it's not up to you to decide, I said, fists clenched.
— No. But I'm the one who protects her,
---
CHAPTER 6 — "The Line Drawn"
The silence between us was heavy, almost unbearable. Her words still cut through me, even after she stopped speaking. Stéphanie's presence was suffocating, like a wall I couldn't break through.
I forced a smirk, though my chest was burning.
— You really think you're her knight or something? Always standing guard, like she needs saving?
Her jaw tightened.
— She does. From people like you.
That stung more than I wanted to admit. I bit my tongue, swallowing the anger that was boiling inside.
— You don't get to decide what I feel, Stéphanie. Or what she feels.
Her eyes narrowed, piercing, unrelenting.
— You confuse obsession with love. And when it falls apart, she'll be the one bleeding. Not you.
I hated how steady her voice was, how certain. Like she already knew the ending of a story I hadn't even begun to write.
I stepped closer, close enough that anyone passing by would think we were about to fight.
— If you're so sure about me, then keep watching. But don't you dare think you can scare me off.
For the first time, a flicker of hesitation crossed her face. Only for a second, before she masked it with that same icy glare.
— Fine. I'll be watching. And the second you hurt her, Jay, I'll make sure you regret it.
Then she turned on her heel and walked away, leaving me alone at the gate with my pulse racing and my fists trembling.
I hated her.
I hated how much her words sounded like the truth I didn't want to face.
And worst of all…
I hated that deep down, a part of me feared she was right.
CHAPTER 7 — The Silence Between Us
The day dragged on, heavy and oppressive. In the schoolyard, the usual group had gathered, but the atmosphere was nothing like it used to be. Jay, sitting on a bench slightly off to the side, stared at her phone without really paying attention. Her long black hair fell like a curtain across her face, hiding the gleam of her eyes that remained impassive.
A few steps away, Taira couldn't take the distance anymore. For days, she had been trying to patch things up, to understand the icy wall Jay had built between them. So, as usual, she approached—clingy, almost desperate.
"Jay…" she murmured as she sat down next to her, her tone hesitant.
No answer. Jay briefly lifted her eyes from her screen, her expression hard, then returned to her silence as if Taira hadn't spoken at all.
Taira swallowed hard. She placed a hand on Jay's arm, but Jay straightened, pulled away, and pretended to shove her things back into her bag. A sharp, cold, almost cruel gesture.
"You're really going to ignore me like this?" Taira whispered, her lips trembling slightly.
Jay said nothing. She slipped her headphones back in, scrolled through a random song, and fixed her eyes on the horizon. Anything to avoid the pleading look in Taira's eyes.
The rest of the group watched from a distance. Monaïcha gave Colombe a worried glance, and Colombe pressed her lips together. No one dared to intervene. The air vibrated with tension.
Unable to accept the silence, Taira pressed on. She stood up, stepped in front of Jay, blocking her path.
"Say something, anything. Even if it's to yell at me… but stop treating me like I don't exist!"
Jay finally looked at her. But that look… cold, distant, empty. A silent slap.
"Get lost," she muttered at last, her voice low but sharp.
Taira flinched. Her heart tightened violently, her eyes watered. But she stayed rooted to the spot, fingers clenched around the strap of her bag. She refused to give up. She would rather endure that coldness than accept the idea of losing Jay for good.
The rest of the day went on like that: Jay avoiding, ignoring, sidestepping every attempt from Taira. In the hallways, she quickened her pace whenever she heard Taira call her. In the cafeteria, she switched tables as soon as Taira sat too close. Every silence became another barrier between them, every indifference another wound.
And Taira, stubborn, clinging like a shadow, still hoped to crack that ice.
CHAPTER 8 — Pressure and Refusal
The courtyard was heavy with tension. Jay stood leaning against a wall, silent, while the group surrounded her. Taira, determined, positioned herself right in front of her.
— Jay, tell me finally what's going on! insisted Taira, hands on her hips. You can't keep ignoring me!
— I'm not ignoring you… I'm just choosing to stay quiet, Jay replied, icy.
— Quiet? You call avoiding me for days "quiet"?! shouted Taira. I want to know why you're acting like this!
Jay looked away. Silence. Taira raised her hands, exasperated.
— For heaven's sake, Jay! she shouted. You think staying silent is going to fix anything?
— …Stephanie threatened me. She told me not to come near her. That's what's wrong, Jay finally replied, her tone cold and harsh.
A heavy silence followed. Stephanie, shocked, froze in place.
— Stephanie! intervened Taira, eyes piercing. You're going to apologize. In front of everyone. Now.
Stephanie lowered her eyes, nervous.
— Jay… I… I'm sorry… I didn't mean to hurt you…
Jay stared at her for a moment, but said nothing. The group, with Colombe and Monaïcha leading, tried to convince her:
— Jay… it's not fair to stay mad. She's sincere, murmured Colombe.
— Yes… added Taira. Come on, just a small gesture. Accept her apology.
Jay shook her head, eyes dark:
— No. I want nothing.
Taira, more insistent and playful, leaned slightly toward her:
— Then at least… a hug. Just a hug.
Jay blinked, shocked and almost amused, but shook her head:
— Are you kidding? No. Never.
Taira sighed, exasperated but smiling:
— You'll never change…
The rest of the group remained silent. Despite their insistence, Jay wouldn't give in for the moment. But Taira had at least managed to make Jay speak and get an apology from Stephanie. The ice was cracked, even if it remained thick.
CHAPTER 9 — Pressure and Reconciliation
The high school courtyard was filled with tension. Jay leaned against the wall, silent, while the group surrounded her. Taira, determined, positioned herself right in front of her.
— Jay, tell me finally what's going on! insisted Taira, hands on her hips. You can't keep ignoring me!
— I'm not ignoring you… I'm just choosing to stay quiet, Jay replied, icy.
— Quiet? You call avoiding me for days "quiet"?! shouted Taira. I want to know why you're acting like this!
Jay looked away. Silence.
— For heaven's sake, Jay! shouted Taira. You think staying silent is going to fix anything?
— …Stephanie threatened me. She told me not to come near her. That's what's wrong, Jay finally replied, her tone cold and harsh.
Stephanie froze, lowering her eyes, and murmured:
— I… I'm sorry, Jay… I didn't mean to hurt you…
Taira, unsatisfied, crossed her arms:
— That's not enough! Come on, Jay… accept her apology.
— I… I don't know… Jay stammered, hesitant.
Colombe stepped in:
— Jay, look at her… she's sincere. You can't stay like this; you won't solve anything.
Taira, a bit harsher and angry:
— Seriously, you two! How much longer are you going to keep arguing? If you don't reconcile, I… I'm going to… well, I'm almost going to cry! she said, her voice trembling.
The silence weighed for a few seconds. Jay looked at her, a mix of surprise and tension on her face. She realized the depth of Taira's emotion and her anger mixed with worry.
After several minutes of gentle but persistent pressure from Taira and Colombe, Jay finally gave in, eyes still a little hard:
— Fine… your apology is accepted.
Taira sighed, relieved but still slightly angry at Jay and Stephanie for creating this conflict. She stepped slightly closer to Jay, an expression soft but firm:
— Alright… now we can finally move forward.
Jay said nothing, but a small spark of relief crossed her eyes. The group, relieved, finally exhaled. The ice was cracked, and even if everything wasn't perfect, a step had been made toward reconciliation.
Chapter 10 — Cracks in the Ice
The following days, the atmosphere in the group remained fragile. Even though Jay had accepted Stephanie's apology, a tension still lingered in the courtyard. Jay sometimes laughed with Monaïcha, throwing jokes as if to chase the awkwardness away, but her eyes often avoided Taira's.
Taira, for her part, swung between anger and worry. She wanted everything to go back to the way it was, but Jay seemed to be putting up a deliberate wall. Colombe, meanwhile, watched silently, always ready to step in if things got worse.
— See? whispered Monaïcha to Marilyn. Jay is pretending, but her smile is fake.
— Yeah… and Taira's going to explode soon, Marilyn replied, eyes locked on the scene.
One afternoon, while they were all sitting on the grass, Taira snapped.
— Jay, stop. Stop pretending everything's fine while you keep pushing me away.
The group froze. Jay stayed silent, but this time her mask cracked. Her eyes darkened.
— You don't understand, Taira. If I stay near you… it gets too complicated.
The words hit Taira like a blow. Before she could respond, Jay stood up and walked away from the group.
---
Chapter 11 — The Weight of Absence
The days that followed were heavy. Jay no longer ate lunch with the group. She disappeared into the library or wandered alone in the hallways.
Taira, usually so lively, seemed dimmed. She no longer laughed, her replies were short. Even Monaïcha and Colombe didn't know how to comfort her.
— It's driving me crazy, Taira admitted, clutching her bag. I just want her to talk to me… to stop running away.
— Then go find her, Colombe said softly. Jay isn't the type to come back on her own. If you really care about her… prove it.
Those words stayed in Taira's mind. That evening, she gathered her courage and waited for Jay at the school gates. When she saw her, earphones in, she blocked her path.
— Jay… stop running away. If you walk off again, I won't forgive you.
Jay stared at her for a long moment. Her eyes shone with both pain and hesitation. But instead of answering, she brushed past her, barely grazing her shoulder, and vanished into the crowd.
Taira stood frozen, heart breaking.
---
Chapter 12 — The Night of Truths
Saturday evening, Monaïcha had invited everyone over to her house. The idea was clear: to force Jay and Taira into the same space.
The evening started with music, snacks, laughter that sounded a little too forced. But soon, the tension thickened. Jay sat in a corner, half-buried in her phone, while Taira couldn't stop staring at her.
— This is unbearable, Stephanie muttered to Colombe. They look like they're about to explode.
— That's the point, Colombe whispered back, a sly smile on her lips.
Finally, Monaïcha stood up.
— Enough. You two, Jay and Taira, you're staying here. The rest of us are leaving.
Before either of them could protest, the group walked out, closing the door behind them. Silence filled the room.
Taira took a shaky breath, her hands trembling slightly.
— Jay… enough running away. You're going to tell me what's going on. Now.
Jay turned her gaze away.
— …There's nothing.
— Stop lying, Taira shot back firmly. For weeks you've avoided me, turned cold, disappeared. So tell me the truth!
Jay clenched her jaw, silent. But Taira didn't back down. She stepped closer, planting herself in front of her with determined eyes.
— Jay, I won't move until you tell me what you're hiding.
Finally, Jay cracked. Her fists trembled, her eyes shone with anger and fear.
— You really want to know? You want to break me even more?
— I don't want to break you, Taira whispered, voice trembling. I want to understand.
The silence that followed was heavy. Jay inhaled deeply, her whole body tense.
---
Chapter 13 — A Rejected Confession
The words burst out at last, impossible to hold back any longer:
— I love you, Taira. That's why I avoid you. Because it scares me. Because I don't know how to handle it.
Taira froze, breath caught. Her lips trembled, but no sound came out.
Jay, already uneasy, continued with a weaker voice:
— If I keep my distance, it's so I won't destroy everything. So I won't lose what we already had.
The silence that followed weighed heavy. Taira looked away, cheeks burning, but instead of responding, she forced herself back into a composed posture, as if she wanted to erase the moment.
— …You're overthinking, she said with a strained laugh. We were fine before, why complicate things?
Jay's eyes widened, disbelief flashing across her face.
— You think this is nothing? You think it's easy for me to say this?
Taira shrugged, avoiding the subject, as if trying to bury what she had just heard.
— We can just… stay the way we were. Forget what you just said, okay?
Those words cut into Jay like a blade of ice. Her jaw tightened. She stood up abruptly, her eyes darkening.
— Forget? You think I can forget this?
Taira faltered, unable to answer.
Jay turned away, heart heavy.
— You know what? I should've kept my mouth shut…
And without another word, she stormed out, leaving Taira behind with nothing but guilt and confusion.
---
Chapter 14 — Silence Between Them
The next morning, Jay didn't join the group as usual. Her absence was like a shadow draped over everyone, though no one dared to mention it outright.
Taira sat with the others, laughing at Monaïcha's jokes, pretending everything was normal. But her eyes betrayed her—they searched the courtyard, always drifting toward the empty space where Jay should have been.
Colombe finally leaned closer, her voice low:
— Did something happen between you two?
Taira's fork froze halfway to her mouth. She forced a smile that didn't reach her eyes.
— Nothing. She's just… busy.
But her hands trembled as she set the fork down.
That night, lying in her bed, Taira replayed Jay's words in her mind. I love you. That's why I avoid you. The confession she had tried so hard to erase refused to vanish. Instead, it echoed, louder with every heartbeat.
She pressed a pillow to her chest, whispering to herself:
— Why… why couldn't I just answer?
Her phone buzzed. A message from Jay. Just three words:
Don't look for me.
Taira stared at the screen until her eyes blurred with tears.
---
Chapter 15 — Breaking Point
Days passed, each heavier than the last. Jay kept her distance. At school, she avoided Taira completely, her coldness deliberate, almost cruel.
Taira tried to mask her unease, but Marylin noticed.
— You two had a fight, didn't you?
Taira laughed it off again, but her voice cracked.
— It's nothing. Really.
But when she turned the corner later and saw Jay leaning against the wall, headphones in, eyes locked on her with unreadable intensity, her mask slipped.
Their gazes collided. Taira's steps faltered.
Jay pulled out her earphones and said flatly:
— Don't pretend anymore. If what I said meant nothing to you, then stop looking at me like that.
Taira's breath caught. She wanted to speak, to explain, but her throat closed. Jay walked away first, leaving her trembling.
That night, Taira cried for the first time in months. She hated herself—for her fear, her silence, her inability to face what her heart truly wanted.
---
Chapter 16 — When Walls Crack
It was raining. The courtyard was almost empty, the sky pouring cold silver onto the concrete. Taira stood under the shelter, lost in thought, when Jay suddenly appeared, soaked to the bone.
Their eyes met again, but this time Jay didn't look away. She stepped closer, her voice raw:
— Tell me, Taira. Do you feel nothing?
Taira's lips parted, but no words came. The rain roared around them, drowning out the rest of the world.
Jay clenched her fists.
— I can't keep doing this. If you really don't care… say it. Out loud. Look me in the eyes and tell me I don't matter to you.
Taira's heart pounded violently, her body shaking. She opened her mouth, but instead of denial, a whisper escaped:
— I… can't.
Jay froze. Her anger faltered, replaced by raw vulnerability.
Taira's tears mixed with the rain as she confessed in a trembling voice:
— I do care. Too much. And that's why it terrifies me.
The walls she had built around herself cracked, just for a second. And in that fragile space between them, everything shifted.
Chapter 17 — So Close
The silence between them seemed to thicken, despite the rain still pouring all around. Jay hadn't stepped back. She had moved a step closer, so near that Taira could feel the warmth of her body despite the icy dampness.
Their faces were only a few centimeters apart. Jay's eyes burned with a mix of anger, pain, and desire.
— Do you think you can run from this forever? she asked, her voice hoarse.
Taira weakly shook her head. Her lips trembled. She wanted to speak, to finally say what she had never dared… but her throat closed up.
Jay raised her hand, hesitated, then brushed her cheek with her fingertips. Taira held her breath, her heart pounding so hard she feared Jay might hear it.
Time seemed to freeze. They were a breath away from surrendering. But at the very last moment, Taira pulled back abruptly, as if burned.
— I… I can't, she whispered before fleeing, leaving Jay alone under the beating rain.
Jay lowered her head, fists clenched.
— You're destroying me, Taira…
---
Chapter 18 — The Mask Cracked
In the following days, Taira tried to slip back into her role: smiling, joking, pretending nothing had happened. But her friends noticed the cracks.
One lunch, Monaïcha frowned:
— You're not okay, Taira. You've been somewhere else for weeks.
Taira forced a laugh.
— I'm fine.
And yet, her eyes still searched for Jay in the crowd, as if against her will.
And Jay, for her part, had locked herself behind an icy coldness. She spoke to everyone except Taira, barely answering when forced to. But sometimes, when their eyes met — it was as if Jay's mask cracked, just for a second.
One evening, back home, Taira stared at herself in the mirror. She whispered to her reflection, almost sobbing:
— Why am I so afraid to love her?
She knew her walls were crumbling. And that she couldn't hold them up forever.
---
Chapter 19 — The Fracture
On a Saturday night, the whole group gathered for a little improvised party. Music, laughter, drinks in hand. But between Jay and Taira, the tension was palpable, so thick that even the others went quiet whenever the two ended up in the same room.
In the middle of the evening, an outsider guy tried to talk to Taira — a bit too close, a bit too insistent. She politely dodged, but Jay saw it.
Her jaw tightened. She stepped forward, grabbed the boy's wrist, and said in an icy voice:
— Let her go.
Silence fell over the room. The boy stepped back, offended, and left without another word.
All eyes turned to Jay. But it was Taira who spoke, her voice trembling, tinged with anger:
— Why are you doing this? You reject me, you ignore me, and now you play protector as if… as if you had that right!
Jay stood still, her dark gaze locked on her. Then, in a low voice, she replied:
— Because, whether you like it or not, I still love you.
A shiver ran through the room. Monaïcha and Marylin exchanged a worried glance, while Taira, frozen, bit her lip to hold back tears.
That night, the fracture between them became impossible to hide.
Chapter 20 — Shattered Glass
After that evening, the atmosphere in the group grew heavy. Everyone pretended not to notice, but the glances they exchanged were enough to reveal their worry.
Taira avoided Jay. She sat on the opposite side, always found an excuse not to be alone with her. But the more she tried to put distance between them, the more her heart pulled her back.
One evening, while the group was laughing together, Jay suddenly said, in front of everyone:
— Do you really want us to keep lying, Taira?
The room froze. The laughter died instantly.
Taira opened her mouth, eyes wide, but no words came out. Her face cracked, broken by shame and fear. She ended up running away, leaving behind her a tense atmosphere and stunned friends.
Jay remained frozen, her eyes glinting with restrained rage, as if her own emotions were choking her.
---
Chapter 21 — Facing the Mirror
Taira slammed her bedroom door shut and collapsed against the wall. Her breath trembled, her hands clutched her face as if to keep herself from crying.
She saw Jay again in her mind, her gaze, her words. I still love you. Shards of truth too sharp for her to ignore.
Her sister Léa entered quietly, worried.
— Taira? What's going on?
Taira shook her head, unable to explain. But Léa sat beside her, laying a gentle hand on her arm.
— You know… sometimes, what scares us the most is exactly what we want the most.
Those words struck Taira straight in the heart. She stayed silent, but inside her, something shifted. A crack widened in the wall she had built.
---
Chapter 22 — The Face-to-Face
A few days later, Taira received a message from Jay. Simple, blunt, impossible to ignore:
We need to talk.
They met after school, under the gray sky. The air was heavy, charged with electricity.
Jay spoke first, her voice sharp:
— I can't stand this game anymore. Either you tell me the truth, or I'm gone for good.
Taira clenched her fists.
— Do you think this is easy for me? That I can just… accept everything without being afraid?
Jay stepped closer, her eyes hard but filled with genuine pain.
— What I believe is that you're hiding. And I can't be the only one fighting anymore.
Taira finally lifted her eyes to her, tears brimming.
— Then what do you want me to say? That I love you too? That I'm ready to lose everything for you?
Jay held her breath. For the first time, the words so feared, so long-awaited, were there, hanging between them.
And in that burning silence, an irreversible truth was taking shape.