Over the next few days, Lena tried to focus on unpacking her things, trying to ignore the growing sense of discomfort in her chest whenever she saw Jace. He was always around, in the background, just out of her reach. He would occasionally glance in her direction, but his eyes would quickly look away, as if he hadn't even noticed her presence at all.
Clara, on the other hand, was always eager to include Lena in every little thing, from picking out new curtains for the living room to planning a weekend movie marathon. While Lena appreciated her kindness, there were moments when it felt like Clara was pushing her too much, as if trying to force a bond that wasn't there yet.
One afternoon, Lena found herself sitting on the couch, idly flipping through a book when she heard the sound of someone approaching. She didn't have to look up to know it was Jace. She could feel his presence in the room, like a pull in the air.
"Hey," his voice was quiet, almost as though he wasn't sure she would respond.
Lena's heart skipped a beat, but she forced herself to stay calm. "Hey," she said, not looking up from her book.
A brief silence followed, and then Jace spoke again, his tone more hesitant this time. "I saw you unpacking your stuff earlier. Need help with anything?"
Lena could feel the tension in his words, a mixture of reluctance and a desire to make some sort of connection. She looked up from her book, surprised. "Uh, no, I'm good. Thanks."
Jace shifted awkwardly, his eyes flicking toward the window, then back to Lena. "Right. Just... thought I'd offer."
Lena's curiosity got the better of her. She sat up a little straighter, trying to read his expression. "You know, you don't have to be so... distant."
Jace's eyebrows furrowed as if he didn't quite understand what she meant. "What do you mean?"
"I don't know," she shrugged, feeling suddenly vulnerable. "You're always around, but you never talk to me. Not even when we're in the same room. It's like I'm invisible or something."
Jace's lips parted slightly, and for a moment, he just stared at her. His expression softened, but he quickly masked it. "I'm not trying to ignore you. I just... I don't really know how to do this," he said, his voice quieter now, almost like he was confiding in her.
Lena blinked, taken aback. "How to do what?"
"Live with a step-sister," he admitted, looking down at his hands as if they were suddenly more interesting than the conversation. "I didn't ask for this. My dad didn't ask for this. So... it's hard for me. I don't know how to act."
Lena felt a knot form in her stomach. She hadn't realized it, but she'd assumed Jace was indifferent, maybe even annoyed by her presence. The truth was, he was just as lost as she was, trying to figure out how to make their new family dynamic work.
"I get that," Lena said softly, her heart easing a little. "It's not easy for me either. But we're both in this, so... maybe we can try to make it work?"
Jace looked up at her, and for the first time, there was something real in his eyes. He nodded, though there was still uncertainty there. "Yeah. Maybe."
There was a long pause, and then Jace gave a small smile. "So... what's the book about?"
Lena glanced at the book in her hands, the awkwardness fading a little. "It's about a girl who moves to a new town and has to fit in with a new family."
Jace chuckled softly. "Sounds familiar."
Lena smiled faintly. "It's not as easy as it sounds."
Jace gave a small shrug. "Yeah. I guess not."
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