LOGINJaceThe moment I close my dorm room door behind me, I lock it. I don’t want anyone coming in. I don’t want questions.I don’t want to explain why I walked out of the party looking like I was about to put my fist through someone’s face.Most of all, I don’t want to hear her name. I throw my keys onto the desk and pull my jacket off.It lands somewhere on the floor. I don’t bother picking it up.My room is dark except for the faint light coming through the window. The party is still going on somewhere across campus. I can hear the distant music when I stand still enough to listen.I should be there. Instead, I’m here. Alone. Exactly where I want to be. I walk to the bathroom and turn on the tap. Cold water runs over my hands.I stare at my reflection. My jaw is tight. My eyes look darker than usual. I look angry. Good.At least anger is something I understand.I splash water onto my face. It doesn’t help. Her voice comes back anyway.“I like you.”I grip the edge of the sink. Why the
JaceI don’t move. For several seconds after Skye disappears around the corner, I just stand there.Staring at the empty space where she was.“Get out of my sight Skye.”I said it. I actually said it. My hands curl into fists. I should feel relieved. This is what I wanted, isn’t it?For her to stop pretending. For her to stop looking at me like I’m some inconvenience standing between her and Ethan.For her to go back to the person she’s always wanted. So why the hell does my chest feel like it’s being crushed? I turn around and slam my fist into the brick wall. Pain shoots through my knuckles.I barely feel it. I hit it again. Harder.“Fuck!”My voice echoes through the empty space. I pull my hand back and stare at my knuckles.They’re already turning red. Good. At least now there’s something else to hurt.I laugh bitterly. What the hell is wrong with me? I knew what this was. Fake. A stupid arrangement.A way to shut everyone up and protect her from the rumors. That’s all. So why di
Skye I jerk against his grip. “Jace, let go.”He doesn’t. Not immediately.He keeps walking, pulling me away from the music, away from the lights, away from the people still gathered outside the party.“Where are we going?”He says nothing.“Jace!”He finally stops. We’re behind the old athletic building, where the noise from the party is nothing more than a distant pulse. A single security light hangs above the back entrance, throwing pale light across the concrete.Jace releases my wrist.I immediately rub it. “You didn’t have to drag me.”He turns around. His expression makes me stop. I’ve seen Jace angry before. I’ve seen him annoyed, arrogant, smug, irritated.I’ve never seen him like this. His jaw is tight. His chest rises and falls heavily. His eyes look darker than usual.“You want to know why I dragged you here?”I swallow. “I didn’t ask you to.”“No.” He laughs once, bitterly. “You never ask me anything, do you?”I frown. “What is that supposed to mean?”“It means you do wh
Jace The chair scrapes against the floor. The sound cuts through the room. For a second, nobody moves.Nobody speaks. I don’t either. I just stand there. Staring at her.“I like you.”The words keep replaying inside my head, over and over again, as if someone has carved them into my skull.I’ve liked you for years. How can you not see it?My hands curl into fists. I knew she loved Ethan. I knew it before she became my girlfriend.I knew it when she came to the football field yesterday and couldn’t take her eyes off him.I knew it when she came to the game tonight and cheered for him like I was invisible.I knew it when she dressed up and spent the entire evening searching the crowd for my brother.I knew. So why does hearing her say it out loud feel completely different? Because now everyone knows.Everyone heard her. Everyone saw the tears in her eyes.And Ethan…..Ethan is standing right in front of her. Looking at her like he doesn’t know what to do. Mia has gone completely still
Skye I don’t know how long I stand there watching them. Maybe only a few seconds. It feels like forever.Mia finally pulls away, still smiling at Ethan. “I really love the way you played tonight. It blew my mind away.”Ethan laughs. “It’s not that serious.”“Of course it is.”She touches his arm casually, like it’s the most natural thing in the world.Something twists painfully inside my chest. I look away. Don’t cry. Not here. Not in front of everyone.I take a slow breath and turn toward Kimberly. “I think I need some air.”I need to get out of here. My head pounds so loud it hurts. All I need to do is get away. But before I can take a step, Ethan calls after me. “Skye?”I stop and turn around. “What?”He’s looking at me. “You okay?”The question should comfort me. Instead, it breaks something. Because he’s being kind again. And I suddenly can’t stand it.I can’t stand that he can be sweet to me one minute and then hug another girl the next.I can’t stand spending years wanting hi
Skye The party is already in full swing by the time we get there.Music shakes the walls of the student lounge, loud enough that I can feel the bass through the floor. Students crowd every corner, some dancing, others gathered around tables covered with snacks and drinks.I barely notice any of it because Ethan is here.I spot him near the drinks table with Logan and Mason, still wearing the Royal Haven jersey from the game. His hair is slightly damp, probably from the locker room, and there is a tired smile on his face as he listens to something Logan is saying.My heart skips. “I’m going over there,” I announce.Kimberly looks at me. “Of course you are.”“Don’t start.”“I didn’t say anything.”Chloe laughs beside us. “Just go.”I don’t need to be told twice. I smooth my skirt, push a strand of hair behind my ear, and walk toward Ethan.He notices me before I reach him. His eyes widen slightly, then his lips curve into a smile.“Skye.”Just hearing him say my name like that makes me







