INTERTWINED FATES: THE RED STRING

CHAPTER 5

Isa and Zade's bond was growing stronger every day. Walking home together, they talked about Nabi's life, school, and the things they hadn't shared before. Isa casually mentioned to Nabi and Helena that she was friends with Zade, but she kept the deeper details—like Zade's curiosity about Nabi only between her and Helena. Meanwhile, a different connection was forming between Tiana and Thyme. They'd started talking more during lunch, their friendship blossoming in quiet corners, away from the group's usual buzz. But Helena, ever vigilant, noticed something was off. Her suspicions deepened when Tiana mysteriously disappeared from the lunchroom for a week, leaving the girl wondering what was up.

 It was another typical day until the lunch bell rang. The girls were wrapping up their practice, and Isa, as usual, was eager to head to the cafeteria. 

 "Come on, let's go!" she urged, pulling the girls toward the door. But Tiana lingered, her eyes flicking to the clock. 

 "I'll catch up later," she said, trying to sound nonchalant. 

 "Just need to practice a bit more."The others left, leaving Tiana alone in the practice room. She was about to slip out when a voice stopped her cold. 

 "Where are you going?" Helena's voice was sharp, cutting through the quiet. Tiana spun around her heart racing. 

 "Just... getting some fresh air," she stammered, her tone betraying her nervousness. Helena didn't buy it for a second. She crossed her arms, her gaze never leaving Tiana. 

 "Oh really?"Tiana sighed, realizing she couldn't lie her way out of this. 

"I'm going to meet someone," she admitted, her voice barely above a whisper. 

 "Who?" Helena asked, her tone firm. Tiana hesitated, while not making eye contact.

 "Thyme."Helena's eyebrows shot up in surprise. 

 "Thyme? The guy who fought with Zade?"Tiana nodded, looking away. 

 "Yeah."Helena sighed, her suspicion turning into something deeper, something more protective.

 "You could've just told us you were meeting him. Why didn't you?"Tiana hesitated again, her mind racing for an explanation. 

 "It's because..." But the words wouldn't come. She looked at Helena, her eyes pleading for understanding. Helena took a deep breath, her mind working over the possibilities. 

 "You know what? Just go," she said finally, her voice softer, but her eyes still filled with doubt. Tiana gave a small, grateful smile before hurrying out, but Helena couldn't shake the feeling that something was wrong. Something was about to happen. She slipped on her headphones, trying to drown out her thoughts with music, but the unease lingered as she headed to the cafeteria. 

 At lunch, Isa and Nabi were already deep in conversation when Helena joined them. She sat down, still lost in her thoughts, her headphones blaring. Isanoticed immediately and playfully tugged them off, earning a groan from Helena. 

 "What's up with you?" Isa asked, grinning as she returned the headphones. 

 "Nothing" Helena responded Nabi leaned in, curious changing the subject. 

 "So, what did you and Zade talk about?" changing the subject. 

 Isa shrugged, her tone casual. "Just songs, choreography, the usual." 

 Nabi groaned, disappointed, and Isa and Helena couldn't help but laugh at her reaction. But the light-heartedness didn't last long. As they chatted, Nabi'seyes drifted across the room and locked onto Zade. Her cheeks flushed pink, and Isa nudged Helena, both of them catching the moment. 

 "Oh, someone's got a crush!" Isa teased, her voice sing-songNabi's blush deepened, and the girls erupted into giggles, the tension momentarily forgotten. 

 Later, back in the practice room, the teasing continued, with the girls making fun of each other. The room was filled with laughter, but Helena's mind was elsewhere. She couldn't shake the feeling that something was brewing—something bigger than all of them. She watched as the others laughed and joked, her thoughts spinning in a thousand different directions. Whatever was coming, she knew they weren't ready for it.