"This is an intervention, not a suggestion," Tasha declared, throwing a small black dress onto Sienna's textbook. "You're going."
Sienna stared at the dress as if it were a venomous snake. "To a Sigma Tau party? Absolutely not. That's the epicenter of the Jace Rivera universe. It's a tactical nightmare."
"Exactly! It's time to go behind enemy lines. See him in his natural habitat. Besides," Tasha added, wiggling into her own sequined top, "Lydia Park will be there, probably glued to his side. You need to show face. Assert your project partner dominance."
"I don't want dominance. I want to finish this paper on Baroque art."
"Baroque is all about drama and excess. Consider this field research." Tasha tossed a makeup bag ather. "Now, are we doing this the easy way or the hard way?"
Sienna groaned, knowing resistance was futile. Tasha in mission-mode was an unstoppable force. "Fine. But I'm not drinking whatever neon concoction they're serving in a trash can."
"Deal. We'll smuggle in our own classy vodka. Now hold still, I'm going to make you look dangerous."
Across the hall, a similar scene was unfolding.
"Bro, you've been moping around all week. It's the biggest party of the semester. You're going," Mason said, tossing a clean shirt at Jace's head.
Jace caught it without looking up from his phone. "I'm not moping. I'm strategizing. This project's due in three weeks."
"You're staring at your phone hoping 'Cole' texts you. It's pathetic. You need to remember who youare."
"And who's that?" Jace asked, finally looking up with a wry smile.
"The guy who has fun. The guy people want to be around. Not the guy who gets all…" Mason waved a hand at him, "...domesticated over a girl who looks at you like you're something she scraped off her shoe."
"She doesn't look at me like that," Jace argued, though his tone lacked conviction.
"Dude. Yesterday she threatened to use your peace-offering cookies as projectiles. That's not the look of love."
"It's a process," Jace said, running a hand through his hair. "You wouldn't understand the subtlety."
"I understand that you're being weird. One night. Blow off some steam. Lydia's been asking if you're coming."
The mention of Lydia made Jace's shoulders tense almost imperceptibly. "Fine. But I'm not staying long."
An hour later, both apartments were scenes of chaotic preparation. In 3A, Tasha was applying eyeliner to a squirming Sienna.
"Hold still! I'm trying to give you smoky, mysterious eyes, not a black eye."
"This is ridiculous. He's just going to think I'm trying to impress him."
"Aren't you?" Tasha asked, not missing a beat.
Sienna fell silent, which was answer enough.
"Exactly. Now pout. But like you don't care. It's a 'I might pout but I could also destroy your entire academic career' pout. Perfect."
In 3B, Mason was critiquing Jace's outfit. "No. Too try-hard. You look like you're going to a jobinterview at a club. Wear the green Henley. It makes you look less… intentional."
Jace rolled his eyes but swapped the shirt. "Since when are you my stylist?"
"Since you started needing one to get a girl's attention. This is psychological warfare, my man. You have to look like you don't care, while secretly caring a lot. It's an art form."
"I hate this."
"You'll thank me when she can't take her eyes off you."
Finally, both doors opened at the same time.
Sienna stepped out, feeling exposed in the little black dress and more makeup than she'd worn in a year. Jace emerged, looking effortlessly cool in the green Henley and dark jeans.
They stopped dead, staring at each other in thedim hallway.
The air crackled. He looked her up and down, a slow, appreciative smile spreading across his face that made her skin feel too hot. She, in turn, was infuriated by how good he looked, how the simple shirt brought out the green in his hazel eyes.
Tasha and Mason peeked out from behind their respective charges, sharing a triumphant, knowing look.
"Well, don't you clean up nice, Cole," Jace said, his voice a low tease.
"You look… acceptable," Sienna retorted, lifting her chin.
"Acceptable? I'll take it." He grinned, stepping closer. "So, you're slumming it at a Sigma Tau party?"
"I'm conducting a sociological observation," she said, her heart hammering against her ribs. "You'remy primary subject."
"I'm honored." His gaze dropped to her lips for a split second. "Can't wait to see your field notes."
Mason clapped Jace on the shoulder. "Alright, lovebirds, let's move out. The party waits for no one."
Tasha linked her arm with Sienna's, whispering, "Primary subject? Smooth. And did you see the way he looked at you? That was not an 'acceptable' look. That was a 'holy crap' look."
As they all headed down the stairs together, an unlikely quartet, Sienna's nerves were buzzing. This was a terrible idea. She was walking directly into the lion's den, and the lion was wearing a very fitted green shirt and smelling far too good.
But as they stepped out into the cool night, the bass from the party already thumping in the distance, Jace fell into step beside her.
"Stick with me, Hazard," he murmured, his shoulder brushing hers. "I'll be your guide through the savage social jungle."
And the most terrifying part? For the first time all night, the idea didn't sound terrible at all.