In recent days more of Lincoln's sisters had started to apologize and make up with him. Lincoln's grounding had come and gone and he was out and about in royal woods again. He had forgiven all of his sisters and he could see they were really making an effort. Even his parents had changed their attitude and realized their mistake. His family started to accept his relationship with Maggie. While Lincoln stood by some of the changes he made and he doesn't fully trust his family just yet but it was a start. The one person that hadn't patched things up with Lincoln was his friend Stella who didn't yet have the nerve to talk to him both due to the guilt of ratting him out to his family and her jealousy and Maggie.

One day at Royal Woods Middle School Stella was walking down the halls with her head down with sadness. Stella walked down the halls of Royal Woods Middle School, her head hung low and her steps dragging. The usual buzz of the school seemed distant to her as she replayed the events that led to her current situation. The guilt of having ratted out Lincoln to his family gnawed at her, and the jealousy she felt towards Maggie only added to her misery. She missed Lincoln, but every time she thought about talking to him, the weight of her actions stopped lunch, Stella found a quiet spot. She sat on a bench, poking at her sandwich without much interest. She glanced around, seeing groups of friends laughing and talking, and felt a pang of loneliness not having the courage to sit with Lincoln and her friends. Suddenly, she heard a familiar voice.

"Hey, Stella," Lincoln said, walking up to her. His tone was cautious but not unfriendly.

Stella's heart skipped a beat. She looked up, meeting his eyes for the first time in what felt like forever. She could see the sincerity and hope in his gaze.

"Lincoln," she murmured, feeling a lump form in her throat. "I... I'm so sorry."

Lincoln sat down beside her, giving her a small smile. "I know. And I miss you, Stella. We all make mistakes, I should know I make more than anyone."

"Lincoln, that's not true." Stella said.

"Yeah it is Stella."

"That's why I've made some changes so I can start fresh, I'm done making plans and schemes that always fail or backfire." He explained.

"But Lincoln, you've alway been the man with the plan." Stella said.

"Not anymore I am done no more being humiliated, no more being a pushover, no more being my sister's slave, no more being a lightning rod for my sisters issues and no more being my family's punching bag." Lincoln said.

"I had no idea you felt that way." Stella said.

"I've felt that way for most of my life, you probably never noticed cause I've been used to it for a long time." Lincoln said.

Stella looked down, her guilt deepening as she realized how much she had overlooked in their friendship. She had always seen Lincoln as the resilient one, the friend who could bounce back from anything with a smile. But now, hearing him speak so candidly, she understood that his strength had come at a cost.

"Look Lincoln I didn't just tell your family cause I was worried about you, I told them because I was jealous." Stella said.

"Jealous of what?" Lincoln asked.

"Jealous that she got to spend so much time with you and that you liked her so much." Stella said.

"Wait Stella what are you saying?" Lincoln asked.

"I'm saying that I like you, Lincoln, I love you." Stella said as Lincoln's eyes widened with a gasp at this confession.