**Kayla's POV**

My heart dropped as I heard Luca speak the words that sent a chill down my spine. “Cystic fibrosis.”

Fiona had cystic fibrosis. The truth hit me like a wave, crashing over my mind and leaving me breathless and stunned. As the paramedics loaded her into the ambulance, Luca moved with them, but I was left standing at the entrance of the building, frozen in shock and confusion.

My thoughts spiralled as I made my way back to the cafeteria. Was Fiona stable? How long had she been dealing with this? Why hadn't she confided in me? With each step, my worry mounted. Then I spotted Lila, Ashley, and Jake approaching, their faces a mix of concern and curiosity.

"What happened?” Lila asked, her brow furrowed with worry.

“I don’t know. Did any of you know Fiona was sick?” I responded, trying to grasp this reality.

“She's sick?” Lila echoed, bewildered.

“Yeah,” I replied, my heart sinking further.

“How bad is it?” Jake asked, a knot forming in my stomach.

“It’s awful,” I admitted, feeling the weight of the words.

“What is it exactly?” Ashley pressed.

“Cystic fibrosis,” I said, my voice shaky.

“What?” they gasped in unison, their shock echoing mine.

“And apparently, Luca knew about it,” I added, the frustration creeping into my voice.

“Is she going to be okay?” Lila’s eyes pleaded for reassurance.

“Let’s hope she’ll be,” I said, fighting to stay positive. “She has to be.”

That night, I immersed myself in research about cystic fibrosis. The information I uncovered was heartbreaking, and it dawned on me just how much Fiona had been enduring alone.

The next day, we piled into the car, our hearts heavy as we made our way to the hospital. I was anxious about seeing her, unsure of what to say or how to act. All I knew was that I desperately hoped she was doing better.

When we finally saw Fiona, she opened up about why she hadn’t told us earlier. In that moment, it didn’t matter anymore. What mattered was that she was starting a new treatment that could potentially change everything.

After spending precious time with her and sharing some laughs, it was time to head home. We said our goodbyes, promising to be there for her, and climbed into the car. The ride back was enveloped in silence, the weight of the unspoken truth hanging between Luca and me. I wasn’t angry with him for keeping Fiona’s secret; I understood why he had.

As they dropped me off at home, I could smell my mom's dinner wafting through the house. “Hey, dear! You’re back!” she greeted cheerfully.

“Hey, Ma,” I replied, trying to mask my exhaustion.

“How is she?” My mom’s voice held genuine concern.

“She’s hanging on,” I said, my heart heavy.

“Don’t worry too much. She'll be okay,” Mom replied, though her voice held a hint of uncertainty.

“I hope so. I just… I need a moment.” I headed upstairs to my room, sinking onto my bed, staring at the ceiling as my mind raced. Just then, my phone buzzed—Luca’s name lit up the screen.

“Hey,” he said, his voice laced with guilt.

“Hey,” I replied, unsure of where to start.

“I’m sorry for not telling you sooner,” he confessed.

“It’s okay, Luca. I’m not angry. Honestly, I’m still in shock. I can’t imagine what you must have felt,” I murmured.

“I was blindsided.”

“I keep feeling like a terrible friend. Maybe I should have noticed her habits so she wouldn’t have to suffer in silence,” I said, my voice trembling with emotion.

“You’re a great friend, Kayla. It’s just that life can be ridiculously unfair,” he reassured me.

“How long have you known?” I asked, my mind racing through painful possibilities.

“About a week,” he replied softly.

“Thank you for being there for her,” I said, my gratitude overwhelming.

“No problem. She’s important to me too. Have you eaten?” he asked, diverting the topic.

“Yes, but you?”

“I have. But watching her struggle… It felt like my heart was shattering,” he admitted.

“Right? And don’t even get me started on how fragile she looks now,” I said, tears welling as I remembered Fiona's once-vibrant spirit.

“She’ll be okay… she just has to be,” Luca said gently, as we both clung to hope amid uncertainty.

We spent a few more minutes on the phone before hanging up.

Tomorrow was Saturday, and we were supposed to start shopping for prom dresses as planned. We also planned to keep Fiona company while her parents went out for some errands.

After reading for a while, I retired to bed, my mind filled with thoughts about Fiona.

The next day, I woke up to a beautiful sunrise. After taking some time to enjoy the warmth of the sun, I headed back inside the house to eat breakfast. I decided to make lunch for Fiona.

After considering several options, I settled on making pizza, as it was one of her favourites. Since the group was joining us, I planned to make a large pizza.

I spent a while preparing the pizza, and once it was ready, I went to start getting myself ready.

I chose to wear baggy shorts and a cute pink Hello Kitty top, paired with white sneakers. I threw my hair into a ponytail, put on some earrings and a necklace, and voilà— I was ready!

I drove for about thirty minutes before arriving at the hospital. By the time I got there, Lila and Luca were already waiting.

"Hey, guys!" I greeted them as I walked into the room.

"Hey!" they replied.

"Fiona, how are you feeling today?" I asked.

"I'm good! How about you? What's that you have in your hand?" she responded.

"I'm doing okay! I got us pizza!" I exclaimed enthusiastically.

"Really?" she said, a faint smile appearing on her face.

"Do you want a slice now, or should we wait for the others?" I asked.

"Let’s wait for the others. Thanks, Kayla! We were supposed to start trying on dresses today, right?" she inquired.

"Yeah, but that’s not important right now," Lila interjected.

"Oh, come on! We still need to check out some dresses. Maybe I might even be able to go," Fiona replied hopefully.

"Fine! I know a few good online stores," Lila conceded.

"Yay! I’m so excited!" Fiona exclaimed.

As the clock ticked on, the door swung open, and in walked Ashley and Jake, instantly brightening the room. We wasted no time and dove into the pizza I had brought along, laughter bubbling around us as we shared stories and jokes. Fiona, still on the mend, was determined not to miss out on the fun, her spirit infectious despite her lingering fatigue.

“Let’s dive into the dress search!” Ashley exclaimed, her eyes sparkling with excitement.

Lila animatedly pulled out her laptop, eager to get started. As we scrolled through page after page of dazzling options, Fiona suddenly gasped, her gaze fixating on a stunning black velvet dress. It was strapless, hugging the figure perfectly with a daring slit that promised to turn heads. She could already envision pairing it with bold dark red lipstick and glamorous silver heels.

“I’m head over heels! This is definitely the one—I won’t be looking any further!” Fiona declared, practically mesmerized by the dress on the screen.

The rest of us continued our hunt for the perfect attire, each of us chiming in with opinions and excitement.

“I’m really drawn to this one,” Ashley exclaimed, revealing a beautiful pink tulle dress adorned with delicate floral appliques around the bodice. It looked as soft and lovely as a spring garden.

“It’s absolutely stunning, Ashley!” I replied, genuinely impressed.

“Thanks! I think I might have just found my dress,” she said, a smile plastered on her face.

After a while of scrolling with little luck for Lila and myself, we finally made the decision to check out a local store for a more hands-on experience.

Just as we were gearing up to head out, Fiona’s parents returned, and it was time to wrap things up. We said our goodbyes and began our drive back home.