the morning sun streamed weakly through the clouds, casting long shadows across the school courtyard. sara stepped onto the grounds with a cautious rhythm, her bag hanging heavy on her shoulder, as if it carried not just textbooks but every thought about jace that refused to leave her mind. the past days had been a whirlwind — the detention, the stolen glances, the almost-confessions, and the suffocatingly electric tension — and she couldn't seem to find her footing. she wanted to act normal, to blend into the crowd, but the moment she saw him leaning against the lockers, arms crossed, that smirk playing on his lips, her resolve cracked.
"good morning," he said, voice carrying just enough warmth to make her stomach twist.
"morning," she muttered, trying not to show how flustered she was.
he stepped closer, lowering his voice. "you okay?"
"i'm fine," she replied quickly, but the words felt hollow, even to her. she knew he wouldn't believe her, and part of her was relieved — it meant he cared, even if it was infuriating.
"sure?" he pressed, eyes scanning her face like he could read every thought.
sara swallowed, unsure if she wanted him to know. "yeah," she said, though the quiver in her voice betrayed her.
he nodded slowly, not pushing further, but his presence hovered like a magnet she couldn't resist. every step toward the first class felt heavier than usual, weighted with anticipation, frustration, and something she refused to name.
---
first period — history class
sara sank into her seat just as mr. bennett began discussing the intricacies of revolutions and their causes. she tried to focus, jotting down notes, but her mind kept drifting to the previous day — the brush of his hand as they passed papers in chemistry, the quiet intensity of his gaze in the library, the way his shoulder had brushed against hers.
"miss?"
she jumped slightly, realizing the teacher's voice was aimed at her.
"yes?" she asked, hurriedly lifting her pen.
"care to share your thoughts on the French Revolution?"
she hesitated, scanning the room. jace's smirk was faint but there, just at the edge of her vision. she drew a deep breath. "um… i think revolutions happen when people feel unheard. like they're forced into silence, and eventually, they snap. the consequences are… chaotic, but necessary for change."
mr. bennett nodded approvingly. "excellent point. well said, sara."
she sank back into her seat, cheeks warm. jace, of course, noticed, and the way he raised an eyebrow at her made her pulse spike. she wanted to look away, to ignore the heat creeping up her neck, but part of her wanted to revel in the small victory.
---
mid-morning — gym
gym was chaos, the perfect storm for sara's nerves. basketballs bounced, whistles blew, and sweat hung thick in the air. she tried to blend into the background, sticking to the edge, avoiding the inevitable encounter with jace.
"ready?"
she looked up. jace stood beside her, towel slung over his shoulder, grinning like he had won some invisible game.
"i… guess," she said, though her heart betrayed her uncertainty.
the game started, and chaos ensued. every time she tried to focus on the ball, jace's presence distracted her. his teasing comments, his accidental brushes, the way he leaned in slightly to block her view — it was all deliberate, and maddeningly effective.
"hey, watch it!" she snapped when he nudged her shoulder gently.
"watch it? i'm just making sure you don't fall," he said, eyes twinkling with mischief.
"you're impossible," she said, panting.
"i know," he admitted, as if it were a badge of honor.
the gym became a battlefield of nerves and tension, each pass, each dodge, each glance escalating the slow, simmering fire between them. by the end, both were breathless, hearts racing, but neither fully able to articulate what they felt.
---
lunch break — under the old oak
sara grabbed her lunch and slipped outside, hoping for a few moments of peace. the old oak at the corner of the courtyard was her sanctuary, the quiet spot where she could gather her scattered thoughts. she unpacked her sandwich slowly, savoring the silence — until she heard it.
"mind if i join?"
her head snapped up. jace stood there, casual as ever, though there was a softness in his gaze that made her chest flutter.
"i… guess," she muttered, not looking at him directly.
he dropped down beside her, and for a long moment, they didn't speak. just the wind in the leaves, the distant chatter of students, and the subtle proximity that made every nerve in her body hum.
finally, he spoke. "i didn't mean to mess things up yesterday."
"you didn't," she replied softly, her fingers tracing the edge of her notebook. "i… i just don't know how to… handle this."
"handle what?" he asked, voice low.
"us," she whispered, barely audible.
he didn't answer immediately. instead, he reached out, brushing a strand of hair from her face. the contact was brief, electric, enough to make her pulse spike.
"sara," he said finally, voice steady, "whatever this is… we'll figure it out. together. no running, no pretending, no hiding."
her chest tightened. the weight of the unspoken promise pressed down, thrilling and terrifying all at once.
---
afternoon — library
the library offered no escape. jace was there, sitting across from her, pretending to read, but his eyes never left her. sara tried to concentrate on her notes, on the psychology homework that awaited her, but every glance he stole, every subtle movement, drew her focus back to him.
"you're distracted," he whispered, leaning forward slightly.
"i'm not," she said quickly, flipping a page.
"sure," he smirked. "about what?"
she hesitated. "you," she admitted, voice soft.
"me?" he repeated, voice low, steady.
"yes," she murmured, feeling heat rise to her cheeks.
he didn't push, didn't tease further. he just watched, eyes soft, as if daring her to admit the truth fully. sara felt her heart racing, the weight of her feelings pressing down, impossible to ignore. she had tried to resist, to act indifferent, but it was futile.
"sara," he said finally, reaching out to brush her hand, "i'm not letting go. not now, not ever."
her chest fluttered. she wanted to argue, to deny, to flee, but she didn't. she met his gaze, really met it, and for the first time, admitted — just a little — that she was falling.
---
after school — the quiet confession
the sun dipped low, bathing the schoolyard in golden light. sara walked slowly toward the gate, thoughts swirling, heart hammering. jace fell into step beside her, silent but steady, his presence grounding and electrifying all at once.
"today was…" she started.
"intense?" he offered.
"yeah," she admitted.
"good intense or bad intense?"
"good," she whispered.
he smiled softly. "good. because we're figuring it out… together."
"together?" she asked, voice trembling slightly.
"yeah," he said, eyes serious. "whatever this is… we handle it together. no running, no pretending, no hiding."
sara's chest fluttered. she didn't step back. she didn't resist. she wanted this, wanted him, wanted the unspoken promise that lingered in the air between them.
they walked side by side, shoulders brushing, hands dangerously close, hearts in sync, breathing in the quiet, electric tension. every step forward was a risk, a thrill, a surrender to the slow-burn fire that had consumed them both.
because with jace, every moment was unpredictable, every touch unforgettable, every silence a conversation of its own. and for sara, that was more terrifying — and exhilarating — than anything else.