Breaking the Grid

Mix

As Kimi calls out to Kyra, she get up from her seat and makes her way over, settling down next to him. Their conversation quickly takes off, filled with laughter and animated gestures. I can't help but watch them, feeling a mix of admiration and longing. Meanwhile, Katie continues chatting with me, but my focus drifts back to Kyra, who looks effortlessly beautiful tonight.

Kimi eventually declares he's heading to the bar. "I'll be right back!" he shouts over his shoulder as he gets up. I can't help but yell after him, "No alcohol!"

He doesn't turn back, but I see him give me a thumbs-up from behind. Typical Kimi, always up for a good time regardless of my protests.

The energy in the room shifts as he leaves, and suddenly, it's just Kyra and me sitting there in silence. I glance at her, noticing how she's avoiding eye contact, staring at the floor awkwardly. My heart races. This isn't how I imagined this moment would go.

Trying to break the tension, I muster the courage to say, "Did somebody tell you that you look stunning tonight?"

For the first time, the words come out smoothly, without any stuttering. I can hardly believe it myself.

Kyra's head snaps up, her eyes meeting mine, wide with surprise. The awkwardness seems to dissipate slightly, replaced by a flicker of something—curiosity? Shyness? I can't tell, but it's enough to make my heart skip a beat.

"Uh, thanks," she replies, a soft smile spreading across her face, and I can't help but smile back. It feels like the air between us has shifted, the distance closing just a little.

"Seriously," I add, my voice a bit steadier now. "I mean it. You really do look amazing. did you do something with your hair?"

Her cheeks flush, and for a moment, it seems like she's trying to find the right words. "I... I didn't think anyone would notice," she admits, her gaze dropping again but not before I catch a hint of a smile tugging at her lips.

"Of course we notice," I say, feeling a surge of confidence. "You're hard to miss."

She laughs softly, and it feels like a small victory. I'm grateful that I decided to speak up, even if it was just a compliment. Nothing bad can happen, right?

——

I feel my cheeks burning, and I absolutely hate it. Why does it keep doing that? Every time Blair says something nice, something sweet, it's like my body betrays me. It's not like I haven't been complimented before. But when it's Blair... it's different. It makes me feel exposed, like she sees through all the layers I keep up around everyone else. And then, when she smiles at me, it's over. She's the prettiest girl in the room, no contest, and everyone can see it. That smile... it's like something out of one of those rom-coms. The heartbreaker, the one that everyone falls for, and she probably doesn't even realize it.

I was just about to say something back, maybe give her a compliment, tell her she looks amazing too—but, of course, we're interrupted. Kimi comes back, two drinks in hand, and throws himself right onto Blair's lap like he doesn't have a care in the world. I catch something in her face, though—a slight wince. She tries to play it off, but I can tell it hurt. Her leg is still broken; should he really be sitting there? I want to say something, but Kimi's already moving the drinks away from Blair and placing them in Leah's hand, like it was all part of some joke. God, this boy.

Blair pushes him playfully, telling him to get up, and he finally does without even looking at her, already lost in some deep conversation with Leah. Blair leans over, trying to grab her crutches, but they slip from her hand and clatter to the floor. I instinctively reach down and pick them up for her, handing them over before she can even ask.