Wrong love

Chapter Twenty-One: Silver eyes

The next day felt strange.

Jace couldn't explain it.

He just felt...

different.

For once, he wasn't arguing with Mason.

Wasn't picking fights.

Wasn't insulting random people.

He wasn't even paying attention when a group of girls tried talking to him.

He simply sat in his seat.

Quiet.

Lost in thought.

Mason watched from across the room.

Then slowly leaned toward him.

"Are you dying?"

No response.

Mason blinked.

"Oh my God."

Still nothing.

Mason turned dramatically toward the classroom.

"Someone call an ambulance. Jace is having emotions."

A few students laughed.

Jace didn't react.

That worried Mason even more.

"Bro."

Nothing.

"Jace."

Nothing.

"Dog Boy."

Jace finally looked up.

Mason sighed in relief.

"Okay, good. You're still alive."

Jace rolled his eyes.

Then looked away again.

A few seats ahead sat Elara.

For several minutes she stared at her notebook.

Thinking.

Thinking way too much.

Finally—

She turned around.

Halfway.

Their eyes met.

The classroom felt oddly quiet.

Even though students were still talking.

For a second neither spoke.

Then Elara cleared her throat.

"Thank you."

Jace blinked.

The words caught him off guard.

He hadn't expected them.

Not from her.

Not ever.

After a moment he simply nodded.

A small nod.

Nothing more.

Yet somehow...

it felt like enough.

Neither said anything else.

When she turned back around, both found themselves smiling slightly.

For reasons neither understood.

---

Recess arrived.

Students flooded outside.

The basketball court sat mostly empty.

Jace found himself there without really meaning to.

The exact place where one of their biggest arguments had happened.

The exact place where she'd called him a dog.

Repeatedly.

He smiled to himself.

Then immediately frowned.

Why was he smiling?

A shadow appeared beside him.

Jace looked up.

Elara.

For a moment neither moved.

Then she quietly sat beside him.

No insults.

No threats.

Just silence.

Comfortable silence.

The kind neither had experienced together before.

Several moments passed.

Then Elara spoke.

"You know..."

Jace glanced toward her.

"Most wolves would've killed me."

His smile faded slightly.

"Yeah."

She looked down at her hands.

"But you didn't."

Silence.

"You let me live."

Jace stared at the basketball court.

"I guess."

"No."

Elara shook her head.

"You chose to."

Her voice softened.

"And I appreciate that."

Jace swallowed.

Suddenly finding the conversation difficult.

Not because he was uncomfortable.

Because he wasn't.

And somehow that felt even stranger.

Finally he laughed quietly.

A sad little laugh.

"Most wolves would call me a disappointment."

Elara looked at him.

Then smiled.

"Maybe."

Jace groaned.

"Wow."

"I'm being honest."

"That's rude."

A laugh escaped her.

A real laugh.

One that made Jace smile despite himself.

Then she nudged his shoulder.

Lightly.

"But you didn't kill me."

Jace looked over.

Meeting her eyes.

For a moment the world seemed unusually still.

Then he spoke quietly.

"I don't know."

"What?"

He looked away.

Embarrassed.

Which was unusual.

Very unusual.

"Something about you."

Elara's heartbeat sped up.

Just slightly.

Jace rubbed the back of his neck.

"I just didn't want you to go."

The words hung between them.

Neither knowing what to do with them.

Then—

Jace suddenly pointed at her.

"Wait."

"What?"

"You're not calling me dog today."

Elara laughed.

A bright sound.

Unexpected.

"No."

"Why not?"

She shrugged.

"Because you're a wolf."

Jace stared.

"That's it?"

"Yeah."

He narrowed his eyes suspiciously.

"What changed?"

Elara grinned.

"I was just trying to annoy you."

Jace looked genuinely offended.

"You mean all those dog jokes were intentional?"

"Every single one."

"That's evil."

She laughed harder.

Jace found himself laughing too.

The sound felt strange.

Good.

Comfortable.

Natural.

The exact opposite of how things used to be.

Eventually the laughter faded.

A peaceful silence settling between them.

Then Jace glanced at her hair.

The sunlight caught it beautifully.

Dark.

Blue-black.

Almost shimmering.

"I like your hair."

Elara blinked.

"What?"

"I like it."

His shoulders lifted slightly.

"It's weird."

She gasped.

"I knew there was an insult hiding somewhere."

"But nice weird."

"Oh."

"Very nice weird."

Elara smiled.

A faint blush touching her cheeks.

"Thank you."

Then she studied him for a moment.

His dark hair.

Those impossible silver eyes.

The eyes she'd hated.

Then feared.

Then become curious about.

"I like your eyes."

Jace raised an eyebrow.

"My eyes?"

"Yeah."

"Nobody compliments eyes."

"I do."

He laughed.

"What makes them special?"

Elara thought for a second.

Then smiled.

"Silver Eyes."

Jace blinked.

"Silver Eyes?"

She nodded proudly.

"That's your nickname now."

"Oh no."

"Oh yes."

Jace laughed.

Shaking his head.

"Old me would've hated that."

"What about current you?"

He looked at her.

Really looked at her.

Then smiled.

A genuine smile.

The kind nobody at school ever saw.

"Current me doesn't mind."

For a second neither looked away.

Neither spoke.

Just sat there.

Two enemies who weren't acting like enemies anymore.

And maybe—

Just maybe—

Neither of them wanted to go back.