Chapter 9:The line between us

The next few days were… strange.

Jace was suddenly around her more, cracking jokes, casually throwing his arm over her shoulder like it was nothing. But then there were moments when his smile would falter, when his gaze would linger just a little too long.

Lira wasn't dumb. She noticed the way his usual teasing had turned into something softer. The way he seemed to be paying more attention to her—listening when she talked, waiting for her reactions, making sure he was always close.

Mara was completely oblivious, still gushing about him whenever she had the chance.

"I swear, Lira, he's like… actually sweet? Who knew, right?" Mara giggled, twirling her pen between her fingers as they sat in the cafeteria.

Lira forced a smile. "Yeah. Who knew?"

Mara nudged her playfully. "Hey, don't look so weirded out! I mean, sure, he used to annoy the hell out of me, but I think he's different now. He's kind of… cute when he's not being a pain."

Lira stabbed at her food with her fork. "Yeah. I guess."

But her mind was elsewhere—on Zayn.

He was still distant, but in a way that felt intentional. Like he was watching her from afar, waiting for her to figure something out on her own. And the worst part? She wasn't sure what she was supposed to figure out.

Was it about Room F? Was it about the things he wasn't telling her?

Or was it about the way he made her feel—like she was standing at the edge of something dangerous, and she wasn't sure if she wanted to fall or run?

"Lira?"

She blinked and looked up to see Jace staring at her, his eyebrows slightly furrowed.

"You okay?" he asked.

"Yeah," she said quickly. "Just thinking."

Jace studied her for a moment before giving her a crooked smile. "Thinking about me?"

Lira rolled her eyes. "Shut up, Jace."

But he only grinned wider. "I'm just saying. If you ever need a distraction from whatever's making you so serious lately, I got you."

Mara sighed dreamily. "Ugh. Why don't I get that kind of treatment?"

Jace shot her a teasing look. "Because you'd punch me if I tried."

Mara scoffed. "That's fair."

Lira laughed, but the whole time, she could feel Zayn's gaze on her from across the cafeteria.

That night, Lira found herself standing outside Room F.

She wasn't sure why she had come. Maybe it was curiosity. Maybe it was something else.

But when she stepped inside, she wasn't alone.

Zayn was there, sitting on one of the old desks, staring out the window. The moonlight cast shadows over his face, making him look even more unreadable than usual.

"You keep coming back here," he murmured without looking at her.

Lira exhaled. "So do you."

A small smirk played on his lips. "Yeah. Guess we both like chasing ghosts."

Lira hesitated before walking closer. "Tell me something real, Zayn."

Zayn finally turned to her, his sharp eyes locking onto hers. "I thought I already did."

"Tell me something else," she said, surprising herself with how desperate she sounded.

Zayn was quiet for a long time. The air between them felt heavy, like something was about to shift—like she was about to hear something that would change things.

And then, finally, he said, "I don't let people in, Lira."

She frowned. "Why?"

He tilted his head slightly, like he was studying her. Then, in a low voice, he said, "Because when you care about someone… that's when you lose them."

Lira's chest tightened. "You don't know that."

Zayn let out a quiet, bitter laugh. "Yeah. I do."

Something in his tone sent chills down her spine. This wasn't just him being mysterious. This wasn't just him being the new guy with secrets. This was something deeper.

"You lost someone," she said softly.

Zayn's jaw clenched. "Yeah."

Lira swallowed. "Was it the friend you told me about? The one who disappeared?"

Zayn's eyes flickered with something unreadable. "He was more than just a friend."

Lira took a step closer. "Who was he?"

Zayn sighed, running a hand through his hair. "He was my brother."

Lira's breath caught. "Brother?"

Zayn nodded, his expression dark. "Not by blood. But he was the closest thing I had to family. And then, one day, he was just… gone."

Lira's heart ached at the way he said it. The pain in his voice, the weight behind his words—it was real.

"I'm sorry," she said quietly.

Zayn let out a hollow chuckle. "Don't be. It won't change anything."

Lira bit her lip. "Is that why you're here? To find out what happened to him?"

Zayn didn't answer right away. Then, finally, he said, "That's part of it."

Lira frowned. "And the other part?"

Zayn looked at her, his expression unreadable again. "You'll find out soon enough."

Lira exhaled sharply. "You always do that."

"Do what?"

"Give half-answers."

Zayn smirked. "You're still here, though."

Lira crossed her arms. "Maybe I just like solving puzzles."

Zayn's eyes darkened slightly. "Or maybe you just like me."

Lira's breath hitched. The way he said it—so casually, yet so intensely—made her heart stutter.

She forced herself to scoff. "You're so full of yourself, Monteverde."

Zayn chuckled. "Yeah, maybe."

Silence stretched between them, but it wasn't uncomfortable. It was charged, like something unspoken was hanging in the air.

And then, out of nowhere, Zayn said, "Be careful around Jace."

Lira frowned. "What? Why?"

Zayn looked at her for a long moment before shaking his head. "Just trust me."

Lira's stomach twisted. "Zayn—"

"Goodnight, Lira," he said, pushing off the desk and walking past her, his shoulder brushing hers.

She turned to watch him leave, her mind spinning.

Zayn had too many secrets. And now, she had even more questions.

But one thing was clear—whatever was happening between her, Zayn, and Jace…

It was only just beginning

To be continued…