Chapter 6 Secrets Aren't Dorm-Proof

Whispers traveled fast in Hillcrest, especially when they started behind dorm doors.

By Friday, someone had already seen Jace leaving Zara's room late at night. And while no one said it to her face, the looks were enough-curious, sharp, judging.

Lia finally brought it up, closing the door behind her. "Zara... are you and Jace... involved again?"

Zara froze, pretending to scroll through her phone. "No."

"Then why does he look at you like he still owns you?"

She didn't answer. Because she didn't know what they were.

She didn't want to feel like some tragic girl who couldn't move on, but her emotions didn't care about labels. What she and Jace had was never simple. It never fit in neat little boxes.

Later that night, a text lit up her screen.

Jace: Meet me on the rooftop. 11 PM.

She stared at it for a long time. Her thumbs hovered. She didn't reply.

But at 11:03, her footsteps echoed quietly up the rooftop stairs.

He was waiting. Of course he was.

"You came," he said with that soft half-smile.

Zara folded her arms. "You make it hard to stay away."

He stepped closer. "Then stop trying."

They didn't kiss. Not yet.

But their silence said everything.

Something unfinished was blooming again.

And secrets never stayed buried for long.