This story is all about Jiara! I'll be focusing mostly on JJ and Kiara's story, diving deeper into their connection and where things might go for them.
Just to clarify, these characters aren't mine, they belong to Outer Banks! But I'll be bringing i...
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⚠️⚠️- S.A
Kiara had finally started to feel like she was "in" at Kook Academy. It had taken a while to get comfortable with it, but Sarah had really been there for her, pulling her into the social scene, introducing her to people, making her feel less like an outsider. She really appreciated that.
"Sarah, your birthday is coming up!" Kiara said one day, smiling at her friend as they walked through the school hallway. "Are you going to have a party?"
"Uhm... no," Sarah replied, hesitating as she adjusted the strap on her backpack. "I'm actually not doing a party this year."
"Oh, really?" Kiara said, trying to keep her tone light, though she couldn't hide her surprise. Sarah loved parties—she'd find a reason to throw one every other week if she could. "How come?"
Sarah shrugged, looking away. "I don't know. I just... want to keep it low-key, y'know?"
Kiara nodded slowly, though she felt a pang of disappointment. "Right... yeah, that's cool." But in her mind, she was already reimagining the plans she'd mentally made. She'd thought they'd celebrate together, even if it was just the two of them. She didn't want to push it, though, so she just smiled. "Well, we'll do something fun anyway, okay?"
Sarah gave her a quick nod and changed the subject, diving into something about school. Kiara pushed down her disappointment, hoping maybe Sarah was just planning a surprise or didn't want to make a big deal about her birthday.
As the week went on, though, Kiara noticed how distant Sarah seemed. On Sarah's birthday, Kiara tried to push away her worry. She wasn't going to be with her friend that day since there was supposedly no party or get-together. So, instead, she poured her energy into making a handmade gift, something unique and special that would show Sarah how much she meant to her. She spent the morning crafting it, imagining Sarah's reaction when she saw it.
When it was done, Kiara texted her: "Hey Sarah, happy birthday! Love you! ❤️"
She hit send, feeling the excitement bubble in her chest. After a few minutes, the message changed to "Seen." But Sarah didn't respond. Kiara waited, glancing at her phone every few minutes, each glance turning into an hour. Eventually, she tried to convince herself Sarah was probably just busy.
But as night fell, Kiara's mood shifted. She found herself scrolling through Instagram, her thumb moving aimlessly until she saw something that stopped her cold. On her friend Lindsay's story, there it was—Sarah's birthday party. It was a full-blown event, complete with lights, music, and the entire Kook Academy crowd. Kiara's heart sank. After everything, Sarah hadn't even invited her?
What the hell? she thought, staring at the screen in disbelief. Why would Sarah lie to her? Kiara felt a tightness in her chest, and anger started to replace the hurt. She had been nothing but loyal to Sarah, always there, ready to defend her against everyone who didn't understand her. And Sarah had repaid her by hiding this?
