Across the Rivalry Line

Episode 2: Common Ground

By Monday, the whole school knew.

Maya Ellison was working with Jace Monroe, and everyone had an opinion.

"Traitor," someone whispered at her locker.

"Good luck," said someone else, not unkindly.

Priya leaned against the next locker and crossed her arms. "Okay, tell me everything. Is he as insufferable as he looks?"

"Worse," Maya said, shoving books into her bag. "He's late to everything, he doodles on important documents, and he thinks 'winging it' is a strategy."

"So you hate him."

"Obviously."

"Then why are you smiling?"

Maya froze. "I'm not."

Priya just raised an eyebrow.

The first joint planning session was held at Ridgemont, in a cramped room behind the gym that smelled like old sneakers and floor wax.

Maya walked in with her binder and stopped in the doorway. Every head turned. Twenty Ridgemont students stared at her like she'd wandered into a wolf den wearing a steak.

"Westbrook's here," someone muttered.

"Be nice," Jace said, stepping out from the back. He didn't raise his voice, but the room went quiet. "She's here to help. Same as us."

Maya blinked. He had just defended her. In front of his own team.

"Don't look so shocked," he murmured as he passed. "I'm not a monster."

"The jury's still out."

"Noted."

The meeting went better than she expected, which annoyed her. Ridgemont's team was loud and chaotic, but they were creative. Jace was the same, fast with ideas and quick to hand credit to others. By the end, they had a stage plan, a food vendor list, and a name for the event's finale: The Lantern Walk.

"Everyone releases a paper lantern at the same time," Jace explained. "Both schools, one sky."

Maya had to admit it was beautiful. She just wasn't going to say so.

When the room emptied, she stayed behind to pack up. Jace stayed too, stacking chairs in silence.

"You didn't have to stick up for me," she said finally.

"I know."

"So why did you?"

He shrugged, but he wouldn't meet her eyes. "Because you showed up. Most people wouldn't have."

His phone buzzed on the table. Maya's eyes flicked to the screen before she could stop herself.

Unknown Number: 3 missed calls.

Jace snatched it up and shoved it in his pocket. "It's nothing."

"You keep saying that."

"Because it keeps being true."

"Jace." It was the first time she had ever said his first name. It felt strange in her mouth. "If there's something going on, I won't tell anyone. We're partners, remember?"

He stared at her for a long moment, and something raw flickered in his expression.

"Partners," he repeated quietly. "That's the first time you've said that."

"Don't get used to it."

The corner of his mouth lifted. For one second, the wall between them felt a little thinner.

Then the gym lights buzzed off, plunging the room into darkness.

"Seriously?" Maya groaned.

"Janitor does that." Jace's voice was suddenly close. "Don't move. I know where the door is."

"I'm not scared of the dark."

"Never said you were."

A hand found hers, warm and steady, and led her carefully through the black. Neither of them spoke. Maya's heart was pounding, and she told herself it was the dark.

It wasn't.

At the door, the hall light spilled over them. Jace let go quickly, like he'd touched a flame.

"Sorry," he muttered.

"It's fine."

They stood there, two rivals who suddenly couldn't look at each other.

"Same time Thursday?" he asked.

"Thursday," she agreed.

Maya walked to her car with her pulse still racing. Behind her, Jace stood in the doorway, watching her go, one hand pressed against his pocket where the phone kept buzzing.

And in the shadows by the parking lot, someone was watching them both.

To be continued...