Inside, the bar pulsed with bass, lights strobing across dancing bodies. Kara grabbed a drink straight from Alec's table, downed it, and ordered another before anyone could ask. Willow trailed behind her, smile plastered on like makeup, but Kara could feel the fracture between them widening with every beat.
Alva slung an arm around Kara's shoulders. "There she is! the life of the party!"
Kara laughed too loud, too sharp. "Hell yeah." She pulled Willow close, kissing her hard in front of everyone, like proving something maybe to them, maybe to herself.
"Babe…" Willow whispered against her lips, almost pleading.
But Kara only grinned, eyes glassy. "Dance with me."
They moved to the floor. Kara pressed against her, spinning, laughing, kissing again and again, every move a rebellion against the ache in her chest. She kissed Willow's cheek, then her mouth, then turned away to let the music swallow her.
Drink after drink blurred the edges, turned heartbreak into haze. She clung to the moment, to the illusion of love still alive between strobe lights and sweat. If she laughed enough, kissed enough, maybe the betrayal would stop burning.
By the time Alec announced it was time to leave, Kara was leaning heavy into Willow, giggling like she hadn't cried in the car an hour ago.
They drove Alec's girlfriend home, then Willow. Kara kissed her at the curb, whispering, "Be strong. Whatever you do. Be strong."
Willow nodded, tears in her eyes again. Kara didn't wait to see them fall—she was already asleep in the back seat by the time Alva helped Alec carry her inside.
The morning hit Kara like a hammer. Her head throbbed, her mouth dry, the faint echo of bass still pulsing somewhere deep in her skull. She groaned, pulling the blanket over her eyes, but then reached blindly for her phone.
The screen lit up.
10 August.
Her heart jolted. Tomorrow. Tomorrow she would be gone—on a plane with her mother, starting the new chapter she'd dreamed about and dreaded all at once.
Kara lay there for a long moment, the weight of everything pressing on her chest. She thought of Willow, of last night, of vanilla-scented air and broken promises in a fogged-up car. Her thumb hovered over Willow's name, but she set the phone down with a sharp exhale. Not today. Not now.
She had to focus.
Downstairs, the maid was already sorting piles of clothes. Alva and Alec joined in, teasing her about how much junk she wanted to bring.
"Seriously, Kara," Alec said, holding up three pairs of nearly identical sneakers. "You moving to Bali or opening a shoe store?"
"Shut up," Kara muttered, swiping them from his hands, though a smile tugged at her lips. "They're different. This one's for class, this one's for gigs, this one's for..."
"showing off to your Bali crushes?" Alva cut in, grinning.
Kara rolled her eyes, but the banter made the ache in her chest loosen just a little. By the afternoon, their room was a chaos of boxes, folded clothes, and bubble wrap.
When the packing grew too heavy, they escaped. The arcade near their old hangout was loud and flashing, their laughter bouncing against the machines. Kara took silly photobooth pictures with them, hugging Alec so hard his face smushed, kissing Alva's cheek until she shoved her away, then posing solo with her tongue out, middle finger raised.
At home, they sprawled in Alec's room, controllers in hand, shouting over video game deaths and victory streaks. For a while, Kara let herself believe nothing was changing. That tomorrow wasn't waiting.
Evening fell, and her phone buzzed. Willow's name lit the screen. Kara froze, heart thudding. Then she answered.
"Hey," Willow's voice was soft, almost trembling. "I just… I don't want us to end like this. Can we… see each other? One more time? Just as friends."
Kara's throat tightened. She hesitated, then whispered, "Okay."
The café was nearly empty when Kara walked in. Willow was already there, hands wrapped around a mug, eyes tired but still carrying that smile Kara had always fallen for. They didn't talk much. Just sat across from each other, sipping coffee, staring at the familiar walls that had seen so many of their arguments and reconciliations.
When the cups were empty, Willow reached into her bag. She pulled out two simple bracelets black cord with a small silver charm.
Her voice wavered as she held one out. "Matching. So you won't forget… us."
Kara's breath caught. She took it, fingers brushing Willow's, a thousand unspoken words pressed between them.
She slipped it on, eyes stinging. "I won't forget. Ever."
Willow's smile trembled, her own bracelet already tied around her wrist.
For a moment, neither of them moved. They just sat there, the weight of goodbye heavy but softened by the quiet promise glittering between their hands.
The café emptied around them, but Kara and Willow lingered, neither willing to be the first to move.
Kara traced the bracelet with her thumb, the silver charm cold against her skin. "So this is it, huh?"
Willow's lips pressed together, trembling. "I don't want it to be. But… yeah. This is it."
Kara forced herself to meet her eyes. "Then let's at least promise one thing. No matter where we end up… we carry this. Even if it's just a reminder."
Willow nodded, tears catching the light. "Deal."
They hugged outside the café, tighter than either expected. Kara inhaled the familiar scent of Willow's hair lavender shampoo, smoke from the street, something purely her. She didn't want to let go, but she did. Because she had to.