The familiar hum of chatter and the clinking of glasses filled the juice bar as the group settled into their usual booth. The air carried the faint scent of fresh fruit, a comforting aroma that normally would have put Sunny at ease. But tonight was different. Despite the celebratory reason for their gathering—the completion of their collaboration with Zane—an unspoken tension hung over the table.
Sunny sat between Laura and Axel, her golden hair slightly disheveled and her radiant smile in place, though it lacked its usual conviction. Zane was across from her, leaning casually against the booth, his crimson jacket slung over his shoulder. His confident grin didn't quite reach his eyes tonight. Even Laura and Axel, who usually filled silences with light banter, seemed quieter than usual, their glances toward Sunny heavy with concern.
Sunny tried to keep the mood light, raising her glass of mango juice and forcing a cheerful tone. "To us! We pulled it off. Another amazing project in the books."
The others joined her toast, their smiles strained. Zane raised his glass with a slight smirk. "To making magic, even if it's a one-time thing."
Sunny's grip tightened around her glass. His words struck a chord she hadn't been ready to face. She sipped her juice, her mind spinning as the weight of everything she'd been holding in pressed down on her. The noise of the crowded bar seemed to grow louder, each laugh and conversation a grating reminder of how out of place she felt.
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As the evening wore on and the juice bar began to empty, the table fell into an uneasy quiet. Sunny glanced at her friends, her heart pounding. She'd been trying so hard to convince them—and herself—that she was fine. But the truth had been bubbling beneath the surface, and now, with the bar quieter and fewer eyes around, she felt it was time.
She took a deep breath, her voice barely above a whisper. "I don't know about you, but… I'm going to miss Zane. A lot."
The others froze, their gazes snapping to her. Sunny stared at the table, her fingers tracing idle patterns on her glass. "Isn't it… sad that it's done? I see little reason to celebrate, to be honest."
The silence that followed was deafening. Laura's normally composed expression softened with concern, while Axel leaned back slightly, his dark blue eyes narrowing as he studied her. Even Zane's usual smirk faded, replaced by something almost vulnerable.
"Sunny…" Laura began, her voice hesitant, uncharacteristically unsure of what to say.
Sunny looked up, her golden eyes shimmering with unshed tears. "It's not just about Zane leaving. It's everything. School, the band, my parents, the whispers at school…" She paused, her voice breaking. "I'm trying so hard to keep it together, but it feels like I'm breaking apart."
Axel leaned forward, his voice gentle. "You don't have to keep it together for us. You know that, right?"
Sunny's lip quivered as she nodded, but the weight of her emotions didn't lessen. She turned to Zane, her voice trembling. "I'm happy we got to work together. I really am. But knowing it's over? That you'll go back to being a solo artist? It feels like I'm losing something I wasn't ready to let go of."
Zane's gaze softened, his usual bravado replaced with an honesty he rarely showed. "Hey, this isn't goodbye forever," he said, his voice quieter than usual. "Who knows? Maybe our paths cross again. But I get it. It's… tough."
Laura reached over, placing a steady hand on Sunny's. "We're here for you. Always. And you're not losing us."
Sunny managed a weak smile, her tears spilling over as the group closed in around her with their quiet reassurances. It wasn't a perfect fix, and it didn't erase the pain she felt. But for the first time in what felt like forever, she didn't feel so alone in carrying it.