The truce, Sienna decided by Friday morning, was a fragile, terrifying thing. It hung in the air between their apartments, a temporary cease-fire that required a new set of unspoken rules. The main one being: Acknowledge, but do not engage.
She was testing this theory on her way to her 9 a.m. seminar, earbuds in but no music playing, hyper-aware of her surroundings. So when the door to 3B opened just as she reached for the stairwell, she didn't flinch. She simply gave a tight, neutral nod.
Jace, looking unfairly refreshed for a Friday morning, fell into step beside her. "Cole."
"Rivera."
"Big plans for the day? Other than glaring at textbooks?"
"The glaring is a full-time job," she said, keepingher eyes forward. "It requires focus."
He chuckled. "Right. Well, I'm off to caffeinate. The Beanery calls my name."
Sienna's stomach did a traitorous little flip. The Beanery was her destination. It was the only place on campus that made a latte she didn't want to throw at a wall. Of course, it was his too.
They walked in silence for a moment, the sound of their footsteps echoing in the stairwell. It was… not entirely uncomfortable. That was the most disconcerting part.
"You know," he said, holding the main door open for her, "for a truce to work, there has to be some basic communication. It's in the Geneva Convention, I'm pretty sure."
She stepped out into the bright morning air. "I'm communicating. I haven't thrown anything at you yet.""See? Progress."
They walked across campus, and Sienna could feel the eyes on them. Whispers trailed in their wake like exhaust fumes. Jace seemed utterly oblivious, or more likely, completely accustomed to it.
"So, the Bach," he said, effortlessly matching her pace. "Strictly a studying thing, or do you actually like it?"
She glanced at him, surprised. "I like it. It's… orderly. The world makes sense when Bach is playing."
He nodded thoughtfully. "I get that. Basketball's like that for me. All motion, but there's a structure underneath. A pattern."
It was the most genuine thing he'd said to her. No smirk, no teasing. Just a simple, honest statement. The wall around her resolve developed another hairline fracture.They reached The Beanery, and the morning rush was in full swing. The line snaked almost to the door, a dense thicket of sleep-deprived students.
"Okay," Jace said, rubbing his hands together. "Game face on. It's a jungle in here."
She managed a small smile. "Just don't start jump-roping."
His laugh was loud enough that a few people turned to look. Their eyes widened when they saw who he was with. Sienna immediately looked at the floor, her face heating.
The line inched forward. The awkward silence returned, now charged with the stares of a dozen strangers. Sienna focused on the menu board as if it held the secrets to the universe.
Finally, they reached the front. The barista, a guy with blue hair and a nose ring, looked bored.
"Large black coffee, two shots," Jace said. He glanced at sienna "what's your poison"