Kat had been quiet all evening, her gaze distant even as you tried to joke with her. Practice had been brutal, her coach’s criticism sharper than usual, and Serena’s flawless run-throughs hadn’t helped. You could see the weight pressing down on her shoulders.

So instead of walking her home, you tugged gently on her hand.

“Come with me,” you said.

“Where?” she asked, suspicion flickering in her tired eyes.

“You’ll see.”

Ten minutes later, you were climbing a small hill just outside of town, a blanket tucked under your arm. Kat kept grumbling that you were insane, but she followed anyway. When you finally spread the blanket across the grass and lay down, she gave you a skeptical look.

“You dragged me out here for… nothing?”

“Not nothing,” you said, patting the spot beside you. “Look up.”

With a sigh, she joined you, stretching out on the blanket. For a moment she didn’t react—but then her lips parted slightly, her eyes softening as she took in the endless stretch of stars above.

“It’s… beautiful,” she whispered.