"Bella is smart. She can handle it." Noah’s voice was firm. "She has resources. I heard she is from a rich family. She has tutors and time and money. Krystal has nothing. She has a sick mother and a deadline and no one to help her."

Mira shook her head. "I can’t just—"

"Please, Mira." Krystal’s voice was barely a whisper. "For my mom’s sake. Please."

Mira looked at her, at the tears, the desperation, the exhaustion. She looked at Noah, at the serious expression, the protective stance, the way his hand rested on Krystal’s shoulder.

She thought about Bella. About the long hours they had spent together, the research, the slides, the careful planning. She thought about how excited Bella had been, how proud.

She thought about Krystal’s mother. About the surgery, the hospital, the fear.

"Okay," Mira said, her voice small. "Okay. I’ll do it."

Krystal’s face lit up. "Really?"

Mira nodded weakly. "Really."

Krystal hugged her again, crying and laughing at the same time. "Thank you, Mira. Thank you. You’re a lifesaver."

Noah smiled. "Good decision."

Mira didn’t feel good. She felt sick.

But she nodded and hugged Krystal back, and told herself it would be okay.

Bella would understand.

Wouldn’t she?

⊹₊˚‧︵‿₊୨୧₊‿︵‧˚₊⊹

The next day, the morning sun streamed through the classroom windows, casting long shadows across the desks. Students chattered around them, packing bags, checking phones, shuffling papers.

Karl stood up, stretching. "I’m going to submit our group name," he said, reaching for his bag.

Bella nodded, not looking up from her notebook. She was reviewing their presentation one last time, making sure everything was perfect.

Mira’s face went pale. Her heart pounded. Her hands clutched her bag so tightly her knuckles turned white. But she quickly composed herself, forcing a smile.

"Karl," she said, her voice too bright. "How about I submit it?"

Karl looked at her. "No, I’ll do it."

Mira’s voice turned pleading. "I want to do it." She even added a little pout, something she never did. "Please?"

Karl raised an eyebrow. "Why do you care so much?"

Bella looked up from her notebook. "Don’t fight. I’ll submit it."

"NO!"

The word came out too loud. Too sharp.

Karl’s eyes narrowed. He looked at Mira, really looked, his dark eyes searching her face. "What’s going on?"

Mira’s heart raced. She forced a smile, though it felt like breaking. "I mean... you did most of the work, Bella. You and Karl. Now let me do something. Please?"

Bella smiled, oblivious. "Okay, sure."

Mira exhaled, but her chest still felt tight.

"Karl," Bella said, turning to him, "aren’t your friends calling you? The football guys?"

Karl hesitated. He looked at Mira, then at Bella. "Right," he said slowly. "They are."

He grabbed his bag and walked toward the door. At the threshold, he paused. He looked back at Mira with one long, searching look.

She smiled at him. It didn’t reach her eyes.

He left.

Bella packed her notebook. "I’m meeting Lily," she said. "She knows some fun places on campus. So I’m going out with her."

Mira nodded, staring at her hands. "That sounds nice."

Bella slung her bag over her shoulder. "Submit the group name on time, okay?"

Mira didn’t look up. "I will."

Bella waved and walked out.

Lily was waiting for her outside, her short black hair tucked behind her ears, her blue eyes bright. She was wearing a floral dress and sneakers, and she was bouncing on her heels.

"Ready?" Lily asked.

Bella grinned. "Ready."

They walked across campus, past the library, past the science building, past the football field. The sun was warm, the sky clear, and the air smelled like fresh grass and flowers.

Lily led her to a small building tucked behind the student union, a game zone filled with pool tables, air hockey, foosball, and old arcade machines.

"This is it," Lily said, spreading her arms. "My secret spot."

Bella looked around. The lights were dim, the music was loud, and a few students were scattered around, laughing and competing.

"It’s perfect," Bella said.

They played air hockey first. Lily was surprisingly competitive, slamming the puck with more force than her small frame suggested. Bella lost badly.

"Rematch," Bella demanded.

Lily grinned. "Later."

They moved to the arcade machines, an old racing game with uncomfortable seats and a sticky steering wheel. Bella won that time.

"Lucky," Lily said.

Bella smirked. "Skill."

They played foosball, and Bella discovered she had no hand-eye coordination. The little plastic men spun uselessly while Lily scored goal after goal.

"I hate this game," Bella said through gritted teeth.

Lily laughed. "You love it."

They laughed, ate stale pretzels from the vending machine, and drank soda that was mostly syrup.

Bella forgot about the presentation and other things.

She was just having fun.

When her phone buzzed, she ignored it.

When it buzzed again, she glanced at the screen.

Mira: Group name submitted.

Bella smiled and put her phone away.

She didn’t know that Mira had submitted a different group. One without Bella.

One with Krystal instead.

⊹₊˚‧︵‿₊୨୧₊‿︵‧˚₊⊹

"Teach me everything about this topic," Krystal said, her voice urgent. She had pulled Mira into the library, into a small study room at the back, away from windows and wandering eyes. The room was stuffy, the air thick with dust and old paper.

Mira nodded, her throat tight.

She spent the whole day teaching Krystal. The topic they had chosen, emerging technologies in medicine, was complex, layered, full of jargon and nuance. Krystal listened, took notes and asked questions. She was focused, determined, desperate.

But Mira felt guilty.

Every time Krystal nodded in understanding, Mira’s stomach clenched. Every time Krystal wrote something down, Mira’s chest tightened. Every time Krystal said "thank you," Mira wanted to cry.

She was betraying Bella.

Bella, who had done most of the research. Bella, who had stayed up late perfecting the slides. Bella, who had trusted her.

And now Mira was giving all of it to Krystal.

Krystal looked up from her notes. Her eyes met Mira’s. Her expression softened.

"Please don’t feel guilty," Krystal said, her voice sad. She reached across the table and touched Mira’s hand. "It’s my fault. If not for my mom..."

Her eyes became teary. The perfect, practiced tears that always made Mira emotional.

Mira’s heart ached. She squeezed Krystal’s hand.

"It’s not your fault," Mira said.

Krystal shook her head. "It is. I should have managed my time better. I should have asked for help earlier. I shouldn’t have waited until the last minute." Her voice cracked. "But I was so tired, Mira. So tired. And scared. And alone."

Mira’s eyes stung. "You’re not alone."

Krystal wiped her eyes. "I know. I have you."

They sat in silence for a moment.

Mira thought about Bella. About the presentation. About the group name she had submitted that morning, her name, Karl’s name, Krystal’s name. Not Bella’s.

She thought about telling Krystal no. About walking out. About finding Bella and confessing everything.

But Krystal was crying. And her mom was sick. And Mira couldn’t be cruel.

"Let’s keep going," Mira said quietly.

Krystal nodded, picked up her pen, and turned to the next page.

And Mira kept teaching. Kept betraying. Kept breaking inside but she didn’t stop.