- okay so cairo and aaliyah have been in the same class since like. probably middle school ish? they've been like. aware of each other but never really talked or had any desire to talk

- and then after the breakdown but before finale, second semester starts and cairo and aaliyah share a science class

- the whole thing about riley being the killer and cairo being one of the accessories to the crime just got out and nobody wants to go anywhere near cairo

- their science teacher lets them pick seats and nobody sits next to cairo, which she pretends not to care about

- and then aaliyah picks up her stuff and moves to sit next to cairo

- neither of them says anything, but cairo is surprised but happy that someone doesn't hate her

- they talk a little, say hi occasionally

- pretty much everyone is avoiding the cheer squad, and cairo doesn't get along with kate and annleigh, feels weird around reese, and feels guilty around mattie, and while eva is chill, aaliyah is literally the only person who doesn't constantly remind cairo of those nights at riley's

- so she doesn't realize it at first but she starts seeking aaliyah out sometimes

- they sit together at lunch, talk while they walk out to the parking lot after school

- at some point, they exchange numbers "for homework help" but they never talk about homework

- aaliyah started as just the only person cairo could talk to without thinking about the whole murder thing, but then she becomes more than just that, she's someone cairo genuinely likes and gets along with and she can't believe she didn't try to be friends with this girl forever ago

- aaliyah, ofc, is volleyball captain, and one day cairo finds herself at one of her volleyball games, and when aaliyah sees her in the stands, she beams and cairo can't help her smile

- cairo starts coming to all the volleyball games

- and then when the cheer team gets their shit together enough to start coming to football games again, cairo sees aaliyah in the stands, watching the cheer team more than the football team

- (she's not the only one watching them, but she is the only one not gossiping about them)

- they start hanging out a little bit after games, giving each other rides home, etc

- they flirt a lot, too, at this point