The scent inside Jace’s car was unmistakably new—crisp leather mingling with a faint trace of fresh polish. Its glossy red paint caught every streetlamp it passed, a sharp contrast to the quiet darkness outside. Black leather seats hugged the contours of the cabin, and above us, the glass sunroof stretched open, unveiling stars scattered like silver dust across an ink-black sky.
"Want me to open it for you?" Jace asked, his voice casual but with a spark of amusement.
I glanced over at him, noting the way he handled the wheel with one steady hand, his shirt sleeves rolled neatly just past his elbows, revealing tanned forearms. There was an ease about him that made the silence less weighty.
"You mean the roof?" I clarified, trying not to sound too eager.
"Yeah. You looked like you were curious." His smile crept in at the corner of his mouth.
"Could you?" I asked, half hoping he'd say yes.
With a smooth press of a button by his door, the sunroof slid back, bathing us in the cool night air. I couldn’t resist stretching out my hand, letting the breeze rush across my fingers, as if I could capture the wind itself.
He glanced at me from the corner of his eye, a teasing tone in his voice. "You act like it’s your first time in a car."
I laughed softly, keeping my gaze on the open sky. "If I counted, I could probably use one hand for how many times I’ve been in a car."
Jace’s brow lifted, half intrigued. "How’s that?"
Sliding my hand back inside, I settled deeper into the seat, watching the city marquee pass through the window. "Buses were my usual ride, but two years ago, my parents bought me a bike, so that’s been my main way around."
"No one ever gave you a lift?"
"Gas is pricey," I replied with a shrug. "When friends and I wanted to hang out, we’d either meet there or take the bus together."
Thinking about Bianca, who never touched a bus, or Charlie and our endless games to pass the time on the ride, I smiled faintly, remembering the lightness he brought even to the darkest days.
Jace’s voice lowered slightly, concern threading his words. "Isn’t that dangerous though? With all the disappearances around New Hale, you’re cycling through town like it’s nothing."
I met his gaze, a quiet conviction steadying my voice. "I have a guardian angel."
His eyebrows rose, amused. "You believe in angels?"
"I don’t know for sure. It’s just... a feeling I cling to."
A sly grin tugged at his lips. "Well, I hope your angel’s on duty. Otherwise, the devil might just snatch you up."
His laugh was soft and genuine, a sound I wanted to hear again and again.
I leaned back like sinking into a worn couch after a long day, the hum of the car blending with the mellow notes from the radio. The music was low, a piano’s haunting melody weaving through the air with regret and longing, as if it mourned something lost forever.
"Want to play something from your playlist?" Jace asked, glancing over as he tapped the steering wheel thoughtfully.
"No, this is good. Could you turn it up a bit?" I closed my eyes, letting the sound seep into me.
The piano’s echo wrapped around us like a spectral embrace. Jace commented softly, "You’re into the classics, huh?"
Opening my eyes, I caught his curious stare, as if I’d just revealed an unexpected secret. "It’s actually the first time I’m really listening to it. I usually don’t pay attention to music—mostly just background noise from Bianca’s room or parties."
His smile deepened, warmed by the quiet intimacy between us. "You’re a strange one, Lucy. So open, yet there’s so much beneath the surface no one sees."
"Maybe because no one really asks," I murmured, turning my gaze back to the dark ribbon of road ahead as we slipped out of town.
"So, where exactly are we headed?" I finally asked, curiosity lacing my tone.
"I know a spot with a killer view," he said, eyes never leaving the street.
"Like a midnight picnic?" I brightened. "If we stopped at a convenience store, I could grab snacks. Charlie and I used to do that all the time."
Jace’s grin held that same playful edge. "I’d rather we didn’t stop. It might get a little late."
"Makes sense," I said, though a flicker of disappointment passed through me.
Talking to Jace felt easy, as if the world outside this car didn’t exist. "I want to know more about you before we get there," he said suddenly, his voice soft but earnest. "I’m afraid my curiosity might drive me crazy if I don’t."
My heart picked up, fluttering nervously beneath my ribs. "Ask me anything."
Still navigating with one hand, his fingers drummed lightly on the wheel. I couldn’t help but admire the strength in his arms—the subtle veins, the taut muscles sculpted by years of sports.
"Earlier, you said snakes and spiders don’t scare you. Did you have to get used to them?"
"All the time," I answered, smiling as I recalled my childhood. "I grew up near Blackthorn Forest. It’s between here and—"
"Ashfield," Jace finished, a knowing smile playing on his lips. "My family has a villa there. As a kid, I thought the whole world was just trees."
I straightened, my grin broadening. "Exactly! It was magical. I lived there until I was nine, right at the forest’s edge. You have no idea how many snakes and spiders I ran into."
"Makes sense," he teased. "Any kid raised in Blackthorn Forest has to have nerves of steel."
The landscape outside shifted from glowing storefronts to towering trees and winding rivers cloaked in darkness. I rested my head against the window, letting the shadows blur into memories of giant pines and secret trails.
"That forest holds some of my best memories," I said quietly. "I was sad to leave. New Hale’s close, but I haven’t found the time to go back."
He added with a teasing tone, "They say Blackthorn is haunted."
My smile faltered but never disappeared. "The ghosts were good company if you got to know them."
Jace chuckled softly. "I’m well acquainted with those ghosts."
Staring out at the dark silhouettes of trees, I pictured my younger self darting through the woods, trying to keep pace with the car speeding away from town.
"What about you?" I asked, turning to face him. "You’re Student Body President and captain of the baseball team, but what else? Why medical school?"
His lips pressed together thoughtfully. "Curiosity, I guess. I’ve always been fascinated by how the body and mind work."
"Want to save people?" I pressed, eyes locked on his.
He laughed softly, a rich, warm sound. "Maybe. But I’m afraid getting to know me won’t do you any good. Let me ask you something instead."
His deep brown eyes held mine with steady intensity. "What’s the worst thing you’ve ever done?"
For a moment, the question hung between us, heavy yet intimate, like a fragile thread binding two uncertain souls. I swallowed hard, feeling the weight of my past settle beside the night’s quiet promise.
"I’m not sure you’re ready for that answer," I whispered, voice barely audible.
Jace’s grip on the wheel tightened just slightly, and his smile softened. "Try me, Lucy. I’m listening."
The road stretched ahead, open and endless, as stars wheeled silently above. Somewhere between the shadows and the light, trust began to take root, fragile but shining.