The gym was alive with echoes—sneakers squeaking against polished hardwood, balls bouncing in the distance, and the clipped commands of the cheer coach calling out positions. But beneath the routine hustle, there was a heavy, invisible weight pressing down on everyone.
Especially on Finola.
She sat on the edge of the bleachers, watching the squad stretch half-heartedly on the mats. Their energy was off. Their formation a little sloppy. And it was all because Harriet hadn't been there. Not for three days now.
Poppy tossed her phone onto her gym bag with a loud sigh. "Straight to voicemail again. Honestly, what's even the point?"
"She's ghosted the group chat, what's gotten into her?" Courtney added, rolling her eyes.
Finola didn't respond. She just stared at the gym doors, jaw tense. None of them really understood. They just saw the absence, not the pain behind it.
She knew something the rest didn't.
Then—finally—the doors creaked open, and the room seemed to hold its breath.
Harriet stepped inside, moving like her body had turned to stone. Her usually neat cheer uniform was wrinkled, her socks mismatched, and her ponytail—once slick and high—was a limp mess hanging low on her neck. Her face looked pale, hollowed out, like something inside her had fractured and she hadn't figured out how to piece it back together.
Finola was on her feet in an instant. She jogged over, intercepting Harriet before the others could get to her with side-eyes or passive-aggressive comments.
"Hey." she said softly, trying not to spook her. "You made it."
Harriet gave the smallest of nods, eyes fixed on a spot on the floor. "Yeah."
"You look like hell." Finola said gently, offering the ghost of a smile. "You want to sit down for a sec? You don't have to jump in right away.. "
Harriet hesitated, then followed her wordlessly to the side of the gym. They sat against the cool cinderblock wall, the sounds of practice fading behind them like background noise in a bad dream.
"I didn't think you'd show up.." Finola said after a moment. "I've been worried. This is the third practice you've missed.. Coach was getting worried.. Poppy has had to step up as captain whilst you've been gone.. "
Harriet pressed her palms against her thighs. "I didn't want to show up. I still don't, really."
Then Harriet breathed out slowly. "Thanksgiving was a joke.."
Finola waited.
"It was already tense. Grandma was on one of her rants. Harper was being... Harper. You know how she gets when she's cornered—cutting, sarcastic. She made some comment about Scott, at the dinner table and it just set me off."
"She said Scott was cheating." Harriet whispered, voice cracking. "She found out when she went to get her nails done.. said she saw Scott come in and kiss this girl-.."
"Oh my god."
"So I confronted him. Right there. In the bathroom." Harriet looked away, her hands trembling. "I asked him point blank if he was sleeping with someone else, and he didn't even deny it. Kept telling me to calm down. I told him I made a fool of myself in front of my family. I stuck up for him in front of Harper. Said he would never do that."
"Jesus."
"I broke a plate. We got into an actual fight." Harriet said with a shaky laugh. "Like, actually physical. Then Harper left, and I just... I wanted to hurt someone back, when she said those words..."
Finola's stomach twisted.
"What did you say, H?"
"You outed her."
Harriet's voice dropped to a whisper. "I told everyone.. found a photo of Harper and some girl kissing at the fair.. threw it down onto the table.. You should've seen her face, Fin.."
"Oh, Harriet."
"She just panicked. Just looked at me. Like I wasn't her sister anymore. And honestly? I don't blame her."
Finola placed a steady hand on her knee. "You were hurting. Your boyfriend has been cheating on you."
"I was spiteful." Harriet snapped, tears welling in her eyes. "And now she won't talk to me. Not like our relationship was blossoming anyway, she hates me regardless.. but it's still not good enough. I was wrong. I tried apologising but she was having none of it."
Finola let the silence stretch before speaking. "Do you regret it?"
Harriet's voice cracked. "Every second."
"Then tell her. When she's ready, tell her everything. You owe her that. Not just an apology. The truth."
"I didn't mean to out her. I was just so angry. And betrayed. And humiliated. And I—I wanted to punish someone."
"Then punish Scott. Not Harper. He's the one who lied. He's the one who treated you like you were disposable. But Harper? She's your sister. She still needs you."
"I don't think she wants me."
Finola gave a small, sad smile. "Then show her she has you anyway. Sometimes that's how healing starts."
Harper sat alone on the cracked bench near the maintenance shed at the far edge of the St. Phillips sports field, her legs tucked up, arms wrapped tight around her knees. The cold November wind swept through the yard, scattering dead leaves in swirling spirals across the concrete. She wasn't wearing her blazer, just the plain school blouse that felt too thin for the weather—but she didn't care. Her insides were already numb.
Across the road, students from Westerleigh Prep were spilling out of their gated campus like ants from a hive. Most were loud, playful, their yellow and blue blazers stark against the grey sky. Harper scanned the crowd automatically until her eyes landed on her—Josie, threading her way across the street with one hand shoved deep into her hoodie pocket and the other holding her phone loosely at her side.
She spotted Harper immediately and crossed over without hesitation, her gaze softening with concern.
"Hey, you." Josie said, voice low and careful, like she already sensed the weight hanging over the moment.
Harper tried to smile but it barely formed before falling away. "Hey." she echoed, her throat dry.
Josie sat down beside her, close but not touching. Not yet. She didn't push. She waited.
Harper stared down at the ground, watching the toe of her shoe dig into the loose gravel. "Thanks for coming. I know lunch break's not long."
"I'd skip a whole week of classes if you needed me to." Josie replied gently.
That cracked something in Harper. Her lips trembled for a second, and then the words began to spill out—slow at first, then unstoppable.
"Thanksgiving was a mess.." she began. "I seen Harriet's boyfriend, Scott.. at the nail salon.. he was seeing another girl.. Anyway, I thought I'd tell Harriet.. we just started arguing. She didn't wanna believe it."
Josie watched her quietly, eyes never leaving Harper's face.
Harper paused. Her chest rose and fell sharply.
"She just took the photo of me and you at the fair out of her pocket and slammed it on the table.."
"Jesus." Josie breathed.
"I hadn't told anyone yet. Not even my mom. I hadn't even figured it out fully for myself. And now suddenly I was sitting there, in a room full of people who were pretending to chew their food while avoiding eye contact with me."
Josie reached for her hand then, threading their fingers together. Harper didn't flinch. She held on tight.
"I got up. Threw food at her and She followed me. Said I was making a scene. Said I was always making things about me. I told her she crossed a line.. and then we just... lost it."
Josie's eyes widened a little. "What do you mean 'lost it'?"
"I pushed her." Harper admitted quietly. "She shoved me back. I think I slapped her. I don't even remember how it happened. I just remember Cody just yelling and someone pulling us apart. Harriet was crying. So was I. But it wasn't the kind of crying that fixes anything. It was rage. Hurt. Confusion."
She sniffled and wiped the back of her hand roughly across her face. "We haven't talked since. She did try to apologise the next day but.. I wanted to leave."
Josie squeezed her hand.
"Now everyone in my family knows," Harper said bitterly. "But no one says anything. They just... treat me like I'm fragile. Or worse, like I'm invisible. My mom acts like nothing happened. My little cousins won't sit near me. And Harriet—she's just carrying on like she didn't tear a hole through my chest."
Josie let out a soft sigh. "I'm so sorry, Harper. You didn't deserve any of that."
"I feel like I got robbed." Harper whispered. "Of my choice. Of my moment. Of me."
They sat in silence for a while, the wind howling gently around them. Eventually, Harper leaned her head against Josie's shoulder. Josie rested her cheek on top of Harper's hair, letting the moment stretch as long as Harper needed.
After a few minutes, Harper spoke again. Her voice was steadier now, anchored by Josie's presence.
"It's Aura and Jackson's birthday tonight. My parents have booked this place.. " she paused. "I was wondering if you'd come with me? As my plus one?"
Josie tilted her head, surprised. "You sure?"
Harper hesitated, then nodded. "I mean... I didn't want people to know about it yet. But... I want you there. No point hiding anymore, is there?"
Josie smiled softly. "Then I'll be there. And I'll stay in the background or hold your hand—whatever you need. I've got you."
Harper let out a shaky breath, half-laugh, half-sigh. "You're kind of great, you know that?"
"Don't let the fancy blazer fool you." Josie teased. "I'm a mess under here."
Harper looked up at her, eyes shining with something warm and grateful. "Yeah, well.. can't be more of a mess than me."