FRIENDS INDEED

CHPTER ELEVEN

Kingsley arrived unannounced.

That was how he always did- no dramatic entrances, no formal warnings. One moment the house felt too quiet, and the next, his voice echoed through the house like he'd never left.

"Evelyn?"

she froze mid-step in her bedroom.

she turned slowly. "Kingsley?"

He stood there with a duffel bag slung over his shoulder, hair slightly damp, looking like he'd come straight from training. He grinned when he saw her.

"Miss me?"

she crossed the room in three steps and hugged him hard. "You said you weren't coming until next week."

"plans change," he said lightly."And Mom threatened to stop sending snacks."

she laughed into his shoulder,the sound shaky in a way she hadn't expected.

Kingsley pulled back just enough to look at her face.

"...what happened?"

Evelyn scoffed."Nothing."

He raised an eyebrow."Try again."

She exhaled slowly."Everything."

He dropped his bag and flopped onto her bed."Okay.start talking."

she didn't.Not yet.

The nexg morning at Sullivan High, Evelyn didn't follow becca.

she waited.

Becca was halfway down the corridor when Evelyn called her name."Becca."

Becca stopped.Slowly.Like she'd been expecting this.

They stood facing each other, students passing around them,the space between them charged and fragile.

" you've been avoiding me,"Evelyn said quietly.

Becca looked at the floor."I've been busy."

"That's not true."

Becca lifted her head then.Her eyes weren't angry.

They were tired.

"You didn't help me," she said.

Evelyn stiffened."Help you with what?"

"With Cyrus," Becca replied softly,"with everything."

Evelyn swallowed."I didn't know you needed help."

"Yes you did."

"No I didn't."

Becca laughed once,sharp and humorless."You always know when I need help."

Silence stretched.

"You chose him," Becca continued,"without even realizing you were choosing."

Evelyn's chest tightened,"I never chose him over you."

"You chose silence,"Becca said."And silence always picks a side."

Evelyn shook her head."I didn't know what to do."

"You watched," Becca replied."You watched him look at you.You watched me disappear."

"That's not fair," Evelyn whispered.

Becca's voice softened."I know.But it still hurts."

They stood there, surrounded by noise, wrapped in their own quiet.

" I didn't want to lose you,"Evelyn said

" You already did,"Becca replied gently.

And walked away.

That evening, Evelyn sat Cross legged on her bed, staring at nothing.

Kingsley knocked once and leaned into the room." So. You're officially miserable now."

She huffed," You're very comforting."

He entered fully and sat beside her,"Did you talk to Becca?"

Evelyn nodded

"And?"

"She hates me."

"She doesn't," Kingsley said calmly.

Evelyn turned sharply." You weren't there."

" She hates being invincible." He corrected

Evelyn flinched.

He leaned forward, elbows on his knees,"You froze,You didn't choose wrong.You just didn't choose her."

Evelyn pressed her palms to her eyes.

"You don't lose friendships in fights," Kingsley continued quietly."You lose them in moments where someone needed you and you stayed quiet because it was easier."

Her breath itched.

"You still have time," he added."But not much."

That night,Evelyn lay awake, replaying Becca's words.

You watched me disappear.

For the first time since Cyrus had entered her life,Evelyn understood something terrifying;

She hadn't just been losing Becca.

She had been letting go.