The library was unusually lively that afternoon. Sunlight streamed through tall windows, illuminating floating dust motes like glitter in the air. Sara had come here seeking silence, but instead she found chaos — of a peculiar kind.
Adrian was sprawled dramatically across a chair, tossing a pen into the air. Ryan sat across from him, scrolling through his phone with a frown, while Leo hunched over a notebook, scribbling as if his life depended on it. Lina stood beside the table, arms crossed, her patience clearly thinning.
Sara hesitated, then smiled faintly. "This doesn't look like studying."
Adrian shot upright at once, his grin spreading. "Ah, princess! You wound me. This is serious intellectual debate. See, Ryan claims that—"
"—you're an idiot," Ryan interrupted without looking up.
Adrian gasped, clutching his chest. "The betrayal!"
Lina groaned. "He's been doing this for an hour. Sara, save me before I lose my mind."
Sara laughed softly and slid into the empty seat. For a moment, she felt lighter than she had in days.
She glanced at the three boys curiously. "You're always together. Why?"
Ryan finally put down his phone. "Why not?"
Leo looked up, adjusting his glasses. "It's more than that. Daniel anchors us."
Sara tilted her head. "Anchors you?"
Adrian leaned forward, grin fading into something more genuine. "He's the quiet type, but when things get messy, he's the one who stays steady. Trust me, we're all disasters in our own ways."
Ryan snorted. "Speak for yourself."
Adrian smirked. "Oh, please. Without Daniel, you'd have been expelled twice over."
Ryan didn't deny it. He leaned back, shrugging. "He pulled me out of fights more times than I care to admit. Guess I owe him."
Leo's voice was calm, deliberate. "And he never treated me like just the brainy one. Everyone else saw me as a tool for answers. Daniel… saw me as a friend."
Adrian grinned again, though it was softer now. "And me? My family's rich but broken. Too many parties, too much noise, no one who listens. Except him."
Sara listened quietly, her heart stirring. She had always seen Daniel as distant, untouchable. But here, through their stories, she saw him differently — not as a prince above everyone, but as a boy carrying pieces of his friends' burdens.
Lina tapped the table. "And don't forget me."
Adrian smirked instantly. "Impossible."
Lina smacked his arm. "Not like that! I mean, Sara has me. I'm her anchor, whether she likes it or not."
Sara smiled gratefully. "I know."
Lina's voice softened. "You may not realize it, but people are noticing you. Emily can't silence everything. You're stronger than you think, Sara. And you're not fighting alone."
Warmth spread through Sara's chest. These weren't just classmates anymore. They were… something more.
Adrian suddenly leaned back, sighing dramatically. "Alright, confession time. If Emily tries anything at the festival, I'm volunteering to cause chaos. Leo can mastermind, Ryan can punch things, and Lina can yell at us afterward."
Ryan smirked. "Sounds about right."
Leo gave a resigned sigh but didn't disagree.
Lina groaned. "You're all impossible."
Sara laughed — a clear, genuine laugh that startled even her. For the first time in so long, she felt like she belonged somewhere.
Later, as she walked home, she replayed the moment in her mind. Emily might be plotting, her stepmother might be scheming, but Sara wasn't standing on quicksand anymore.
She had people around her now — imperfect, chaotic, but real.
For the first time, hope didn't feel like a fragile dream.
It felt like a bond.