Slowly but surely, the tensions within the group began to ease. It had taken time—months—but the sharp edges of hurt feelings and awkwardness dulled into something a lot more manageable. Things would never quite be what they were, but at least they could all be in the same room without everything feeling like it might fall apart.
It was a lazy Saturday afternoon, and they were all at Cat's sprawling house. The living room, sleek and modern but with a warm touch of Cat's personality, was the perfect place to lounge. Tori was curled up in an oversized chair, scrolling through her phone. Andre had commandeered the couch, his feet propped up on the coffee table, while Jade leaned against the back of the couch next to him, arms crossed as she observed the group. Beck was by the window, fiddling with a guitar he'd found in one of Cat's spare rooms, and Robbie was throwing a small ball up and down in his hands.
Cat, in the middle of it all, was sitting cross-legged on the floor, absentmindedly flipping through a magazine. She looked up when Andre chuckled.
"Yo, Cat," Andre said, grinning as he turned his phone toward her. "Another 'Who is Caterina dating?' article."
Cat groaned, leaning forward to snatch the phone from him. "Ugh, who is it now?"
Andre smirked. "Apparently, you're secretly married to that singer you were spotted with last week. Look at this."
He showed her a photo of her kissing a fellow pop star on the cheek at a recent party. It was harmless, friendly even, but the tabloids had spun it into a full-blown romance.
"Oh my god, Andre, stop," Cat whined, her face scrunching up as she handed the phone back. "That's so stupid. I was just saying hi!"
"Sure, sure," Andre teased, leaning back with a laugh. "Next headline: 'Caterina's secret wedding revealed!'"
Tori laughed, shaking her head. "You've officially made it. You can't even breathe near someone without people thinking you're in love."
Beck chimed in, not looking up from the guitar. "At least they didn't photoshop a ring on your finger this time."
Cat rolled her eyes but couldn't help laughing. "I swear, you guys see these rumours more than I do."
"You're the one making headlines for kissing random singers."
Cat burst out laughing. "Hey, don't knock it 'til you try it."
As the group joked, Jade shifted slightly in her spot, her expression momentarily unreadable. The photo wasn't anything serious—she knew that. Cat was a public figure now, and these things came with the territory. But still, seeing it, hearing everyone joke about it, stirred something uncomfortable in her chest, her eyes flickering briefly over to Cat as the group continued to laugh. For the most part, it didn't bother her. She was used to seeing Cat in the spotlight now, laughing with the people in her world, living this high-profile life that Jade knew she couldn't be a part of. They'd moved on, after all. They had to.
But sometimes, in moments like this, when everything was calm and normal—when there was no resentment between them, no awkwardness—she couldn't help but feel a dull ache in her chest. It wasn't about Cat's laugh or the easy way she slid into conversation with the others. It was the fact that they were no longer what they once were. No longer them.
They both knew they couldn't go back. They'd had those tough conversations, the kind that made both of them feel raw and exposed, realising that their personalities, their needs, just didn't match in the ways they used to think they did. Cat needed space to breathe, to be herself without the weight of their past pulling her down. And Jade—Jade needed stability, a relationship that she could show off and be proud to share. In the end, the tough times had exposed how much they clashed when things went wrong, and neither of them could overcome it.
But on days like today, when everything felt easy, when they were just sitting in a room together and joking like they used to, Jade couldn't help but remember what it was like. Back when their biggest problem was trying to get Cat a passing grade in maths. Back when they were a together and happy.
She could hear Cat's laugh, that full, bright sound that made Jade feel warm inside. She could feel the comfort of their connection, the kind that had once been effortless. And it hurt. Not in a way that made her angry or resentful, but in a quiet, aching sort of way—like an old wound that never fully healed but was buried under the surface.
It wasn't just about the romantic side of things either. They'd been best friends for so long, and now they were both so different—so much had changed. Cat wasn't the person Jade had once shared everything with. And Jade wasn't the same girl Cat had relied on when everything felt overwhelming. They both had their own lives now. They were their own people, carving out paths that didn't intersect as often anymore.
So Jade stayed quiet, watched them joke, felt that familiar sting of something that might have been, and tried to focus on the present. It was easier when she wasn't looking at Cat directly. Easier when she could pretend it was just another hangout with the group, the way it used to be.
As much as she wanted to move on, she couldn't fully let go of that version of them. The one that still felt alive inside her heart, even if it was just a memory now. And that was the hardest part.
"Jade," Cat said again, a bit louder this time, trying to bring her out of her thoughts.
Jade blinked, coming back to reality. "What?"
"What ice cream do you want?" Cat asked, grinning.
"Ice cream?" Jade repeated, still a bit dazed, before she looked at Cat with a raised eyebrow.
Cat nodded eagerly. "Told you she wasn't listening." She looked at Robbie who shrugged back. "We're going out for ice cream, come on."
Jade let out a small laugh, still a little confused but amused by Cat's energy. "Seriously? Ice cream? This is what you're dragging me out for?"
"Yup!" Cat said, standing up and pulling at Jade's arm gently. "It's ice cream. What's not to love?"
The group piled into their cars for a casual hangout. Cat was behind the wheel of her sleek new Mercedes-Benz, one of her many post-tour purchases. She didn't drive much but it was nice to do it, she could tell Tori was still trying to hide her awe, eyes wide as she settled into the passenger seat.
"I will never get over this car," Tori said, grinning as she ran her hand along the leather interior. "You're seriously living the dream."
Cat smirked, her hands gripping the wheel as she pulled out through the gates. "Yeah, it's pretty sweet, right?"
"Sweet is an understatement," Tori replied, shaking her head. "This is more like 'I don't even know what world you're living in.'"
"Do you say that every time you're in her car?" Beck's voice came through the speakers, a teasing tone to it. He, Robbie and Andre were in his car just behind, and the whole group could hear their conversation.
"What I'm just complimenting it." Tori defended.
Beck's voice was back in an instant. "And I wanna compliment the speed. Come on, Cat. You're telling me you won't race me? I thought you were a thrill-seeker!"
"Not happening," Cat shot back, shaking her head. "I'd rather not deal with a speeding ticket today."
"But you could so afford it," Beck teased.
Tori leaned in closer to Cat, whispering so Beck couldn't hear. "You really won't race him?"
Cat rolled her eyes. "Please, I could've gotten faster cars and more expensive ones. I'm just trying to enjoy the ride, not risk my life on a stupid bet."
"Beck's really insistent about it, huh?" Tori said, looking at the rearview mirror where Beck's car was lingering just a little too close.
"He's always like that," Cat said, easing her car into the lane ahead.
The two cars came to a stop side by side at a red light, and Beck's voice blared through the speakers. "Come on, Cat, just a little drag race? A quick one. I promise it'll be fun."
Cat shot him a side glance through the window, a playful smirk pulling at her lips. She could hear the challenge in his voice, but she wasn't in the mood to make it a big deal. "Fine," she said with a shrug, her foot pressing firmly on the gas as the light turned green.
It wasn't a huge performance car, but it definitely had a little more kick than Beck's older, rusted car. Within seconds, she was already ahead, cruising effortlessly past Beck.
"Easy," Cat called out, her grin widening. She didn't even push the car to its limits—just enough to show him that it was no contest.
Beck pulled up behind her, trying to act unfazed but with a raised brow. "I was just getting warmed up!" he teased.
"Uh-huh," Cat said, not bothering to hide her amusement. "Sure you were."
The lighthearted back-and-forth continued as they pulled into the ice cream shop. When they got out, the girls exchanged a glance before bursting out laughing, their laughter echoing through the parking lot. They didn't even try to hide it. It felt good—good to just laugh, to forget the weight of everything else and feel like normal kids again.
Beck, Robbie and Andre were standing by Beck's car, trying to act casual, but they couldn't help but overhear the laughter and exchanged a look that screamed defeat.
"What?" Cat said, still laughing. "You guys are adorable."
Andre raised an eyebrow, glancing over at Beck. "Looks like someone's taking an L today."
"Whatever," Beck said, hands up in mock surrender. "I'm not that competitive."
"You guys are the worst," Tori giggled, giving him a playful shove.
They made their way into the shop, the ice cream counter overflowing with options, but for the first time in what felt like a long time, everything felt simple. They didn't have to worry about appearances, or schedules, or relationships—just the small, carefree joy of hanging out with friends.
In that moment, there was nothing complicated about it. They were just a group of normal kids getting ice cream, and it felt... right. Even if just for a bit.