The next morning, the sunlight felt harsh, almost accusing, as I walked through the quiet streets toward school. My mind was a storm of thoughts, memories, and feelings, each one pulling me in a different direction. The kiss with Jace yesterday, Carter's steady gaze, the ache in my chest, the confusion, the guilt it all weighed heavily, making each step feel like a struggle.
By the time I reached the school gates, I felt exhausted, as if the world had already demanded too much of my heart. I didn't notice Jace leaning casually against the brick wall near the entrance until he spoke.
"You're avoiding me," he said softly, a hint of teasing in his voice, though the concern behind his eyes was unmistakable.
"I'm not avoiding you," I whispered, though my voice trembled. "I… I just need time to think."
He stepped closer, and the pull between us was immediate and undeniable. "Time," he repeated, voice low. "Sienna, your heart is already making choices, whether you admit it or not."
I flinched at his words, unable to hide the truth in my gaze. Before I could answer, Carter appeared from the side, his presence calm but firm. "Sienna," he said quietly. "Can we talk?"
My chest tightened. Both of them here, both of them waiting, both of them claiming a piece of my heart I wasn't ready to give.
I swallowed and nodded. "Okay."
Carter led me to the small courtyard behind the school, away from prying eyes. He gestured to the bench beneath the old oak tree. "Sit," he said softly. "I just… I need to be honest with you."
I sank onto the bench, my hands trembling slightly. Carter knelt in front of me, his gaze steady, unwavering. "Sienna," he began, "I know you're confused. I know Jace has this… fire that makes everything intense. And I can't compete with that in ways that are flashy or exciting."
I bit my lip, guilt gnawing at me. "Carter… I…"
He held up a hand, stopping me. "Let me finish. I'm not asking you to choose me over him. I'm asking you to be honest with yourself. Feel what you feel, even if it scares you. And know that no matter what, I'm here. I've always been here."
Tears pricked at the corners of my eyes. "I care about you… both of you," I admitted, voice breaking. "And it hurts. It hurts to feel like I might hurt one of you. Or both of you."
Carter's hand reached out, brushing mine gently. "You're not hurting me by feeling. I just want to know that you're not closing your heart completely. That you'll let me in, even if it's messy, even if it's confusing."
I nodded, unable to speak, my heart pounding in my chest.
From behind us, a familiar voice called softly. "Sienna."
I turned to see Jace stepping into the courtyard, his eyes dark with emotion, yet calm. "I know this is hard," he said. "And I know Carter… he's been here for you. I see that. But I can't hide how I feel either."
I swallowed hard. "Jace… I…"
He walked closer, his hands lifted slightly, almost in surrender. "I'm not asking you to make a choice right now," he whispered. "I just… need you to know that I care. That I want you. And that I'll wait, but I can't pretend I don't feel this."
The air between us was electric. Both of them here, both of them vulnerable, both of them honest. My heart ached, torn between two forces that both demanded my attention, my care, my love.
I closed my eyes, trying to center myself, trying to breathe through the storm inside. "I… I don't know what to do," I admitted.
Jace knelt beside me on the other side, his hand brushing mine gently, his eyes locked on mine. "Then don't do anything yet," he murmured. "Just let yourself feel. Let your heart decide, not your fear, not guilt. Let it speak."
Carter's hand squeezed mine softly, steady, grounding. "He's right," Carter said quietly. "Feel. But also know that I'm here. I won't disappear. I want to be part of your life, no matter what. But I need your honesty, Sienna. That's all I'm asking."
I swallowed, overwhelmed, my heart pounding so fast it felt like it might burst. Both of them were here, both of them wanted me, both of them trusted me. And I… I trusted them. I trusted them to understand, even if my heart was a storm, even if it was messy.
I looked from Carter to Jace, tears slipping down my cheeks. "I… I don't know how to choose," I whispered.
"You don't have to," Jace said softly. "Not yet. Just be here. Just feel this moment with me, with both of us. Let it teach you something about your heart."
Carter nodded, his gaze warm but firm. "And know that I'll wait too. No matter how long it takes, Sienna. I'll wait."
For a moment, the world felt still. The courtyard, the oak tree, the late morning sun all of it faded into the background. There was only the three of us, the pull of two hearts, and my own racing pulse.
And then, slowly, I reached out, placing one hand in Carter's, the other brushing against Jace's. The warmth, the comfort, the fire it was all there, all at once. My heart ached, but I allowed myself to feel everything: love, desire, guilt, excitement, and fear.
I realized then that the storm wasn't about choosing just yet. The storm was about understanding, feeling, and letting my heart guide me honestly.
For the first time in weeks, I felt alive. Vulnerable, yes, but alive. And I knew that whatever came next, whatever choices I would face, I was ready to face them with honesty, with courage, and with both hearts in my hands.
Because sometimes, the heart didn't follow rules. It followed what it felt, what it wanted, and what it couldn't ignore. And mine… mine was pulling me in two directions, and I wasn't ready to let go of either yet.