The warning

Sienna stared at the door.

Then at Maya.

Then back at the door.

“Did you invite someone?”

Maya was half-asleep, her head buried in her pillow.

“No.”

“Are you sure?”

“Yes.”

Another knock.

“Sienna?”

Jace.

Definitely Jace.

Sienna's stomach did something unpleasant.

Maya finally lifted her head.

“Is that Jace?”

“No.”

Maya blinked.

“He just said your name.”

“I know.”

“So that's Jace.”

“Thank you, detective.”

Maya sat up.

“Why is he here?”

“I don't know.”

“Did you invite him?”

“No.”

“Did he invite himself?”

“I don't know.”

“Then open the door.”

Sienna stared at her.

“Why?”

“Because I'm curious.”

“You're a terrible friend.”

“I've accepted that.”

Another knock.

“Sienna?”

She took a deep breath.

Then opened the door.

Jace stood there wearing a black hoodie and gray sweatpants, his hair still slightly damp from a shower.

Sienna stared.

“You're dressed.”

He raised an eyebrow.

“Were you expecting me naked?”

Her eyes widened.

“No!”

He laughed.

“Good.”

She stepped aside.

“What are you doing here?”

“I need to talk to you.”

“At eleven at night?”

“It's not that late.”

Sienna looked at the clock.

“It's eleven twenty-three.”

Jace glanced at it.

“Okay. That's a little late.”

Maya sat up straighter.

Sienna pointed at her.

“Don't.”

“I haven't said anything.”

“Your face is saying enough.”

Maya smiled.

“Hi, Jace.”

“Hey.”

Sienna looked between them.

“Why are you two acting normal?”

Maya shrugged.

“I've met him before.”

“You never told me that.”

“You never asked.”

Sienna sighed.

“This is why I need new friends.”

Jace laughed.

“Can we talk?”

Sienna crossed her arms.

“You're already talking.”

“Privately.”

She hesitated.

Then stepped into the hallway and closed the door behind her.

Jace looked at her.

“I wanted to apologize.”

“For what?”

“Earlier.”

Sienna frowned.

“When?”

“When Vivienne came over.”

“Oh.”

She shrugged.

“You don't need to apologize for her.”

“I know.”

“Then why are you?”

“Because she was rude.”

Sienna smiled.

“You noticed?”

“I notice things.”

That sentence made her pause.

For half a second, the hallway felt colder.

Then she smiled again.

“Congratulations.”

Jace laughed.

“You're impossible.”

“You've said that already.”

“Because you keep proving me right.”

They stood there in silence for a moment.

Then Jace leaned against the wall.

“You don't like Vivienne.”

Sienna shrugged.

“I don't know her.”

“But?”

“But she looked at me like she knew something about me.”

Jace's expression changed slightly.

“She doesn't.”

“You're sure?”

“Yeah.”

“How?”

“Because if Vivienne knew something, she'd already have told everyone.”

Sienna laughed.

“That's comforting.”

“I try.”

She looked at him.

“So that's why you came?”

“Partly.”

“What's the other part?”

He smiled.

“I wanted to see you.”

Sienna blinked.

“Oh.”

Jace smiled wider.

“You don't know what to say.”

“I know what to say.”

“Then say it.”

“No.”

He laughed.

“You're blushing.”

“I am not.”

“You are.”

“It's hot.”

“It's freezing.”

“Maybe I'm sick.”

“You're always sick when you're embarrassed.”

She narrowed her eyes.

“You've known me for four days.”

“And I'm learning quickly.”

Sienna smiled despite herself.

That was the problem.

She liked talking to him.

She liked how easy it was.

She liked that he made her laugh when she wasn't trying to.

And she absolutely hated that.

Jace suddenly looked serious.

“Can I ask you something?”

“Depends.”

“Why did you come to Westbridge?”

Sienna's smile disappeared for a fraction of a second.

There it was.

The question she'd been avoiding.

She looked at him.

“School?”

He laughed.

“Obviously.”

“You asked.”

“I mean... why Westbridge?”

“Because I got accepted.”

“Sienna.”

She smiled.

“What?”

“You know what I mean.”

She looked away.

“I wanted a change.”

Jace studied her.

“A change from what?”

“Life.”

“That sounds dramatic.”

“I'm a dramatic person.”

He smiled.

“Fair.”

She looked back at him.

“Why are you so interested?”

He shrugged.

“I don't know.”

“You don't know?”

“I just am.”

Sienna didn't answer.

Jace pushed away from the wall.

“Forget I asked.”

“No.”

He looked at her.

“I came here because I wanted to start over.”

It wasn't exactly a lie.

Just not the whole truth.

Jace nodded slowly.

“Okay.”

Then his eyes dropped to her hand.

“You're shaking.”

Sienna immediately tucked it into her pocket.

“I'm cold.”

“You said you were hot five minutes ago.”

“I change quickly.”

He laughed.

“Right.”

A phone buzzed.

Sienna froze.

It was hers.

She pulled it from her pocket.

Unknown number.

Her heart sank.

You're asking the wrong questions.

Her eyes moved to Jace.

He was watching her.

“Everything okay?”

Sienna locked the screen.

“Yeah.”

“You sure?”

“Absolutely.”

He didn't look convinced.

Before he could say anything else, another message appeared.

Three years ago wasn't an accident.

Sienna's blood ran cold.

She quickly turned the phone off.

Jace frowned.

“Who was that?”

“My aunt.”

“You turned your phone off because your aunt texted you?”

“She talks a lot.”

He smiled slightly.

“Okay.”

But he still looked suspicious.

Sienna forced a laugh.

“So... anything else?”

Jace shook his head.

“No.”

He started walking away.

Then stopped.

“Actually.”

He turned around.

“Come to the game on Saturday.”

“Another game?”

“You came to the last one.”

“Because Maya dragged me.”

“Then I'll ask Maya to drag you again.”

Sienna smiled.

“Confident.”

“Very.”

He started walking again.

“Goodnight, Sienna.”

“Goodnight.”

He disappeared around the corner.

Sienna waited until she couldn't hear his footsteps anymore.

Then she leaned against the wall and exhaled.

Her phone buzzed again.

She didn't want to look.

She did anyway.

You were warned.

Her fingers tightened around the phone.

Then another message appeared.

Stay away from Jace.

Sienna stared at the words.

For the first time, she wasn't amused.

Someone wasn't just watching her.

They were trying to control her.

And that meant they were getting closer than they should.

Sienna slipped the phone into her pocket.

She turned toward her room.

Then stopped.

At the end of the hallway, someone was standing in the shadows.

Watching her.

Sienna couldn't see their face.

But the moment she looked over, they turned and walked away.

Her heart began pounding.

She didn't follow.

Not yet.

Instead, she quietly whispered,

“Okay.”

A small smile returned to her lips.

“If you want to play…”

She looked toward the empty hallway.

“…let's play.”