CIARA’S POV

The silence that followed Sarah's explosion felt like it stretched for hours, though it was probably only seconds. Every conversation around us had stopped. Students turned to stare, drinks frozen halfway to their lips, whispers starting to ripple through the crowd.

My face burned with humiliation. Sarah's words echoed in my head: I don't need you. The hurt cut deeper than I'd expected, but underneath it was something else. Confusion. I'd been trying to protect her, trying to keep ...