Lena had expected the tension between her and Jace to subside after their confession, but instead, it only grew. The moments they shared felt both exciting and overwhelming, but there was always the looming presence of their family and the potential consequences of getting too close.
One evening, Clara pulled Lena aside after dinner. Her usual bubbly demeanor was subdued, and her tone hinted at something deeper than her typical cheerfulness.
"Is everything okay between you and Jace?" Clara asked, her eyes searching Lena's face.
Lena stiffened. "What do you mean?"
Clara fidgeted, biting her lip. "I don't know. It's just... You two seem different lately. You barely talk when we're all together, and I feel like something's going on."
Lena felt her heart pound. Could Clara sense what was happening? Panic surged inside her, and she forced a smile. "We're just... getting used to things, I guess. It's still weird for all of us."
Clara didn't look convinced. "I hope it's nothing bad. I know Jace can be hard to read, but he really cares about you, Lena. I just don't want anything to get in the way of that."
Lena nodded, though inside, her emotions churned. She cared about Clara too, and the last thing she wanted was to hurt her. But how could she navigate her feelings for Jace without everything crumbling around them?
That night, Lena found herself lying in bed, staring at the ceiling. The lines between what was right and what she wanted were blurring, and she knew that sooner or later, they would have to make a choice.
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