Breaking the Grid

Thunder

The moment I walked through Blair's door, I couldn't hold it in anymore. The weight of everything I'd overheard earlier—the kiss Leah had tried to steal, her tearful confession, the fact that Blair hadn't told me any of it—was a knot in my chest that had only grown tighter.

Blair stood in front of me, her green eyes searching mine, her concern etched all over her face. "Kyra?" she said softly, stepping toward me. "What's wrong?"

I stayed by the door, my fists clenched at my sides. "Why didn't you tell me about Leah?" I blurted, my voice sharper than I intended.

Blair froze, her lips parting slightly as the words hit her. "What?"

I stepped closer, my tone rising. "Leah. She's in love with you, Blair. She tried to kiss you. And you didn't think I deserved to know?"

Her face fell, guilt flashing across her expression. She ran a hand through her hair, stepping back slightly. "Ky, I—"

"You what?" I interrupted, my voice shaking. "You forgot? You didn't think it was important?"

"No!" Blair said quickly, her voice rising defensively. "I didn't forget. I didn't—" She stopped, sighing heavily. "I didn't want to make it awkward. She's your teammate, Kyra. She's our friend. I thought if I told you, it'd just make everything worse."

"Worse?" I repeated, a bitter laugh escaping my lips. "Blair, do you know how awkward it already is? Do you know how Leah's been looking at me all week? Like she's trying to figure out why it's me and not her?"

Blair's expression crumpled, and I saw the way her shoulders sagged, the guilt weighing heavier with every word. "Kyra, I'm sorry," she said softly, stepping closer to me. "I swear, I didn't mean for this to happen. I didn't know how to tell you—I just... I didn't want to hurt you."

"Hurt me?" I said, my voice breaking. "Blair, do you even hear yourself? It hurts more knowing you didn't tell me! It hurts knowing that Beth knows more about this than I do!"

Blair flinched at that, her hand dropping to her side as she looked away. "I wasn't trying to hide it," she said quietly, her voice trembling now. "I just... I didn't want this to turn into a fight."

"Well, congratulations," I snapped, the frustration boiling over. "Because it's already a fight, Blair!"

Blair's lips tightened, and I saw the way her hands fidgeted at her sides. "I was trying to protect you," she said quietly, her voice trembling.

I let out a bitter laugh, throwing my arms up in frustration. "Protect me? From what, Blair? From the truth? Because keeping me in the dark doesn't make me feel protected—it makes me feel like you don't trust me! Do you understand that even Beth knows before I do, and everyone else is going to know?"

Blair's jaw tightened, and for a moment, I thought she'd fire back. But instead, she sighed, letting out a small, almost bitter laugh as she looked away.

"So that's what this is about?" she said, her voice rising slightly. "You're more upset about everyone finding out we're together than the fact that Leah has feelings for me?"

Her words hit me like a slap, and I froze, staring at her in disbelief. "That's not fair," I said, my voice trembling.

"Isn't it?" she shot back, her green eyes flashing with anger. "You're so worried about what people will think, about how awkward it'll be, but do you even care how this feels for me?"

"What are you talking about?" I asked, my frustration bubbling over.

"You're not the only one who feels something, Kyra!" she screamed, her voice cracking. "Do you know what it's like to feel like a secret? To feel like you're ashamed of me?"