Tiana wasn't going.
That decision was clear.
Very clear.
"…I'm not going," she said, tying her hair in front of the mirror.
She paused.
"…I'm definitely not going."
A beat.
"…Why am I getting ready like I'm going?"
She stared at herself.
Then sighed.
"This is exactly how bad decisions start."
Later—
She was outside.
Walking.
In the direction of the event.
"…I'm just passing by," she muttered.
That was a lie.
She knew it.
Still—
She kept walking.
The sound reached her first.
Music.
Voices.
Energy.
Bigger than last time.
"…Oh."
That was new.
There were more people.
Lights.
A small setup.
Not just random anymore.
"…This is worse," she whispered.
"Hey—you came back."
Tiana turned.
The same girl from the dance class.
"…I didn't come back," Tiana replied.
"I just happened to be here."
"Sure."
Tiana ignored that.
"You didn't tell me it would be like this."
"Like what?"
"…Organized."
The girl laughed.
"You started it."
"I did not start anything."
"You're part of it now."
"No, I'm not."
"…You are."
Tiana shook her head.
"I'm just watching."
"That's what you said last time."
"…And look what happened."
They both paused.
"…Exactly," the girl said.
Tiana exhaled.
"…I'm not going up there."
"Okay."
That answer came too easily.
Tiana frowned slightly.
"…You're not going to convince me?"
"No."
"…That's suspicious."
The girl smiled.
"I don't need to."
Tiana didn't like that.
Across the crowd—
A phone was lifted.
"…Wait," someone said.
"Isn't that her?"
Another person leaned in.
"…Yeah. That's the girl from the video."
A third voice joined—
"No way. She actually came back?"
Tiana didn't hear them.
Not yet.
She was still standing with the girl.
"…I'll stay for five minutes," she said.
"Of course you will."
"Five."
"Sure."
At the edge of the crowd—
Someone else was watching.
Not close.
Not part of the noise.
Just… watching.
Phone in hand.
The video paused on the screen.
Then—
Lifted slightly.
Comparing.
Then lowered again.
"…It is her."
He didn't move closer.
Didn't call out.
Just stood there for a second longer than necessary.
Then looked away.
Back in the crowd—
"Alright!" the host called out.
"Looks like we have a familiar face tonight!"
Tiana froze.
"…No."
Too late.
People were already turning.
Looking.
Recognizing.
"Oh—it's her!"
"That's the girl!"
"She's here again!"
Tiana blinked.
"…This is exactly what I was trying to avoid."
The girl beside her laughed.
"You're famous."
"I'm leaving."
"Too late."
The host pointed.
"There she is!"
Tiana took a step back.
"…No."
"Come on up!"
"No."
"You did great last time!"
"That was an accident!"
The crowd laughed.
Not at her.
With her.
That somehow made it worse.
"…I don't like this," she muttered.
"You're already involved," the girl whispered.
"I don't want to be involved."
"Too late."
At the edge—
The man who had been watching earlier glanced back once more.
Then turned away.
But not completely.
Back in the crowd—
"Just one minute!" the host insisted.
Tiana stared at him.
"…You people don't understand the word no."
"Please?"
"…That doesn't help."
Laughter again.
Tiana exhaled.
"…This is how it happened last time."
"Exactly!" someone shouted.
That was not reassuring.
She looked around.
Too many eyes.
Too much expectation.
"…Fine," she said.
Immediately—
She regretted it.
"Give it up for her!" the host called.
The crowd reacted.
Tiana stepped forward slowly.
"…This is a mistake."
But she kept going.
Because somehow—
Walking away felt harder now.
At the edge of the crowd—
That same figure paused again.
Just briefly.
Watching.
Then finally—
Walked off.
Tiana reached the center.
Took the microphone.
Looked at the crowd.
Then—
Exhaled.
"…You all need to stop recognizing me," she said.
The crowd laughed instantly.
And just like that—
She was back in it.