Chapter 6: You chose her over me.

Jace

“Why are you all keeping quiet?” Ethan’s voice slices cleanly through the stunned silence.

Every head turns toward him. For a moment, even Tiffany forgets to breathe.

My brother stands at the end of the hallway wearing a gray hoodie over yesterday’s football practice shirt.

His dark hair is still damp from the shower, and confusion is written all over his face as his eyes move across the crowd.

First Tiffany, then me, and finally Skye. She’s still leaning against the wall, one hand pressed against her reddened cheek.

Her eyes are glassy, like she’s barely holding herself together. Something twists unpleasantly in my chest, and I force myself to ignore it.

Ethan steps closer, looking between the three of us. “Somebody care to explain?”

Nobody answers. The students glance at one another, waiting for someone else to speak first. Tiffany is the one who breaks the silence.

She lets out a disbelieving laugh. “Oh, perfect timing,” she folds her arms on her chest before pointing directly at me. “Ask your dear brother why he suddenly decided to replace me.”

Ethan frowns. “What are you talking about?”

“He just announced to the entire dorm that this…” she gestures toward Skye with obvious disgust, “…is his new girlfriend.”

Murmurs immediately ripple through the hallway again.

Ethan blinks once. Then looks at me. “Are you serious?”

“I don't joke about things like this.”

His eyebrows pull together. “What about Tiffany?”

“We broke up.”

“When?”

“Last night.”

His expression hardens. “You didn't tell me.”

“I didn't think I needed your permission.”

A few students snort, enjoying the tension between us. Tiffany’s face turns scarlet. “So that’s it?” she snaps. “You dump me and humiliate me in front of everyone?”

“I didn't humiliate you.”

She laughs bitterly. “No? You chose her over me.”

“I made a choice.”

“You made the wrong one.”

For the first time since this mess started, I hear movement behind me. Tiny. Barely noticeable. Skye.

I don't turn around; I already know what she’s doing. Trying to make herself invisible, like she always does when people stare at her. It never works. Not here. Not with this crowd.

Suddenly, someone in the crowd shouts, “Does Ethan know his brother stole his girlfriend?”

Laughter erupts.

Ethan immediately looks toward Skye, his expression softening. “Skye...”

She flinches; just hearing her name from him makes her shoulder tense. “I wasn’t…” Her voice cracks before she can finish. She lowers her head.

Damn it.

Another student whistles. “So she confessed to one twin yesterday and woke up dating the other today. Fastest rebound in history.” More laughter.

I feel my jaw tighten. “It’s enough.” My voice is not loud, and it doesn't need to be.

The hallway falls silent immediately.

I slowly scan the crowd. “If I hear one more comment...” I leave the sentence unfinished. I don't have to finish it.

Everyone knows exactly what I mean. One by one, the laughter dies. Phones begin disappearing into pockets. Good.

Tiffany stares at me like I've become a total stranger. “You have never defended anyone like this before.”

“ I am now.”

“Why?”

The question hangs in the air. Why?

Because I couldn't stand watching her cry? Because every tear felt like someone was twisting a knife inside my chest?

Or because I’ve spent years pretending she meant nothing while noticing every little thing about her?

No. None of those answers can leave my mouth, so instead, I shrug. “I felt like it.”

She scoffs. “You are lying.”

Maybe. Maybe not. I honestly don't know anymore because when I saw that post, when I watched hundreds of people laughing at Skye, something inside me snapped.

I wasn't thinking, wasn't planning. I just… moved.

My eyes drift toward her again. She’s staring at the floor, completely unaware that everyone is still looking at her.

Just like when we were kids, she always looked down whenever she was embarrassed. Back then… she would hide behind Ethan. Today, she’s hiding behind me.

The thought catches me off guard. A strange feeling settles in my chest before I shove it away. Dangerous. Very dangerous.

Ethan studies me carefully; I’ve known that look my entire life. He’s trying to figure me out.

I've spent years making sure nobody can. Not even my own twin.

Finally, he exhales. “Can we talk?”

“Later.”

“No.” His tone is firm. “Now.”

Around us, students lean in again; they can smell drama.

Tiffany wipes angrily at the tears gathering in her eyes before glaring at Skye one last time. “This is not over.”

She spins on her heels and storms away. Tracy and Betty scramble after her.

The crowd slowly begins to disperse, disappointed that the show is ending.

Only Ethan and Skye remain.

I finally turn toward her properly. She’s still avoiding my eyes. She looks exhausted, broken. Afraid. For the first time in years, I have absolutely no idea what to say to her.

“Jace.” Ethan’s voice cuts in again. “We are talking.”

I meet his gaze, then look back at Skye, then to him again, because I know fully well that the conversation is going to change so many things.

And it might as well force me to bring out things I buried deep inside me.