Breaking the Grid

Team

I open the door, smiling as the last few of my teammates arrive. "Hey!" I greet them, stepping aside to let them in. The music starts to play softly in the background. I glance over my shoulder and chuckle. "Looks like Katie just found where the TV is," I say with a smirk to Beth and Viv.

Beth laughs, shaking her head. "Of course she did."

Viv steps forward, giving me a hug. "Missed you, Leah. How've you been?"

I squeeze her back, grateful for the familiar warmth of her presence. "Missed you too. I'm good, just been...busy with things."

As they head into the living room, I call after them, "Join the others!" I linger for a moment, taking in the sight of everyone starting to settle in. The energy is always so high when the team gets together, and I can already feel the noise level rising.

But then I remember Blair, upstairs, exhausted from the day, and still in so much pain. I quickly make my way to the group and raise my hands, trying to get their attention. "Guys, we need to keep it down a bit, alright? Blair's sleeping upstairs, and she really needs the rest."

A few heads turn to me, and the conversation quickly shifts to quieter tones. Kim, always playing the team mom, raises an eyebrow at me and crosses her arms. "So, you're living here now, huh?" she asks with a smile.

I roll my eyes with a grin. "Yeah, for now. She's been struggling since the accident. It's hard for her to get around."

Kim's face softens with concern. "How is she doing? Really, though?"

Before I can answer, Katie jumps in. "We went to the market with us earlier, and it's... rough. She can barely walk, even with crutches. Honestly, it's painful just watching her struggle like that."

Caitlin nods from beside her, her voice quieter "Yeah, you could see it in her face. She looked like she was in pain everywhere."

Just as Caitlin finishes, Kyra, who has been silent until now, suddenly speaks up, her voice sharp with surprise. "Wait, did you see her?" Her eyes widen as she turns to Caitlin, almost as if she didn't believe what she was hearing.

The room gets quieter, and everyone looks at Kyra. Caitlin blinks, a little caught off guard. "Uh, yeah... we saw her today. She was with us the whole time, helping with dinner and stuff."

Kyra's reaction makes me pause. There's something in her tone—something more than just concern. It's like seeing Blair, knowing she's struggling, hit her harder than she expected. I glance at Kyra, her face now a mix of emotions, and suddenly the room feels a little heavier, like there's more to the silence that follows than just keeping the noise down for Blair.

Kyra's eyes stay fixed on Caitlin for a moment, processing what she just heard. Then, without saying anything more, she turns away, her gaze dropping to the floor as if she's deep in thought. I can't help but feel the tension rise between her and the conversation. It's like she's keeping something bottled up, but I can't quite figure out what.

Kim clears her throat, breaking the silence. "Well, it's good she's got you helping her, Leah. Must be tough on her own."

"Yeah," I nod, though my mind is still partly on Kyra. "I mean, she's strong, but it's been hard. She doesn't really ask for help, even when she needs it."

Katie, always quick to fill in awkward pauses, leans over the counter, grinning. "But you know, with me and Leah around, she'll be up and running in no time. Might just need to bribe her with some lasagna."

Viv chuckles. "If lasagna heals broken bones, then sign me up."

The atmosphere starts to lighten up again, and for a moment, it feels like everything is back to normal. I shoot a glance over at Kyra, who's now standing by herself near the window, staring out into the garden. She hasn't said a word since her outburst, and I can't shake the feeling that something's going on with her.