The Look
The second Elena stepped outside, everything changed. I felt it immediately. Not because she said anything. Not because she moved closer. But because of the way she looked at us. At me, at Jace. Together. It wasn’t loud, it wasn’t dramatic. It was worse; it was controlled and quiet. Like something had finally clicked into place in her head, and she didn’t need to ask questions anymore. For a second, none of us spoke. The night air around the banquet hall felt colder than it should have. Jace shifted slightly beside me. Not stepping away. Not stepping closer. Just… aware. “Elena,” he said finally. Her name sounded strange in that moment. Like it didn’t belong in this silence. Elena gave a small smile. Not the warm kind. Not the polite kind either. Something sharper.
- Writer
