Chapter 17: The truth comes out

The following week felt like an emotional rollercoaster for Lira. She was tangled in her own confusion, and every time she tried to sort out her feelings, they only seemed to grow more complicated.

She had seen Zayn less and less. He was always distant, giving her those fleeting glances that left her wondering if she had imagined everything. At times, he'd act like nothing had changed, but at other moments, it was clear that something was off. It felt as though he was purposely keeping his distance, and Lira couldn't figure out why.

Jace, on the other hand, had been watching her more closely. His usual teasing nature was still there, but it was like he was trying to gauge her every reaction. He'd drop little comments here and there, as if trying to provoke some kind of response. And then, there were the long moments when he'd just stare at her, the intensity of his gaze making her heart skip a beat.

It was late one afternoon when it all came to a head. They were gathered in the library, working on the skit. The project had been consuming their time, and even though they were technically supposed to be rehearsing, there was an undercurrent of tension that none of them could ignore.

Lira was sitting next to Jace, flipping through the script when he suddenly leaned over, his voice low and serious. "Lira, we need to talk."

Lira froze. She had been avoiding this conversation for days. "About what?"

"You know about what," Jace said, his eyes locking with hers. "I can't keep pretending like I don't see what's happening."

Lira's heart pounded in her chest. "What's happening?"

Jace sighed, his hand running through his hair in frustration. "You and Zayn. I know you're both acting like everything is fine, but I can see it. I can see how you're starting to look at him differently. And I can't ignore it."

Lira stared at him, her mouth going dry. "Jace, I—"

"Lira," he interrupted, his voice gentle but firm, "I'm not mad. I just need to know what's going on. You don't owe me anything, but I can tell that something is changing between you two. And I don't want you to get hurt."

Lira felt a lump form in her throat. "I don't know what's going on, Jace. Honestly, I don't. I'm confused."

Jace nodded, his expression softening. "I can see that. But I need you to understand something. I like you, Lira. I have for a long time. And I don't know if you feel the same way, but I don't want to see you get involved with someone who isn't being upfront with you."

Lira was speechless. She hadn't expected this—Jace—of all people—to say something like this. She'd always thought of him as a close friend, someone who teased her and kept her grounded, but now… things were different.

"I don't know what to say," Lira whispered.

Jace leaned back, running a hand through his hair again. "You don't have to say anything. But I want you to be careful with Zayn. He's got a lot of mysteries, and you deserve someone who can give you more than just riddles."

Lira's heart fluttered. Did she like Zayn? She didn't know. But she did know that there was something about him—something magnetic—that she couldn't ignore. And the more she tried to understand him, the more complicated everything seemed.

"I'll think about it," Lira said softly, unsure of what to say next.

Jace gave her a small, understanding smile. "Just don't ignore your feelings, Lira. Don't let yourself get lost in something that doesn't make sense.