Reyna’s POV
Sitting on my bed, I pulled my knees to my chest, staring out the window as I spoke to Stephanie. She was lounging on the chair near the dresser, brushing her hair but listening intently.
“I know Diane set me up,” I said, breaking the silence. “She’s been waiting for any opportunity to embarrass me, but thankfully John didn’t give her the satisfaction.”
Stephanie smirked and set her brush down. “You’re lucky John handled it so quickly. Diane’s schemes are getting ridiculous, but she won’t stop. You need to be on guard.”
“I know,” I replied with a sigh. “I can’t let her get to me, though. That’s what she wants-to push me out of the way.”
Stephanie tilted her head, studying me. “You’re stronger than her, Reyna. And let’s be honest, she’s desperate. It shows.”
I smiled faintly at her encouragement, but my thoughts quickly drifted elsewhere. “By the way, have you seen Jake today?” I asked, trying to sound casual.
Stephanie raised an eyebrow. “Not since dinner last night. Why?”
I hesitated before answering. “I haven’t seen him since he asked me to be his date for the party. Do you think… do you think he’s avoiding me?”
Stephanie leaned back in her chair, crossing her arms. “Honestly? Probably. You did turn him down, Reyna. And to be fair, it’s Jake. He’s not exactly the kind of guy who handles rejection well.”
I bit my lip, feeling a pang of guilt. “I didn’t mean to hurt him. I just didn’t know he’d ask me. I mean, we’ve never really gotten along before. How was I supposed to know he felt that way?”
Stephanie shrugged. “Well, it’s clear he’s upset. If it bothers you so much, maybe you should talk to him.”
“You’re right,” I said, standing up. “I need to see him. I can’t let this tension between us linger, especially with everything else going on. I need to understand what he’s thinking… and apologize.”
Stephanie gave me a small smile. “Good luck. He’s probably sulking somewhere.”
With a deep breath, I left my room and made my way to Jake’s quarters. The corridors were quiet, the air heavy with the anticipation of the upcoming Moonlight Party. When I reached his door, I hesitated for a moment before knocking.
“Come in,” his voice called, low and indifferent.
I pushed the door open slowly, stepping inside. Jake was sitting by the window, his broad shoulders tense as he gazed outside. When he turned to see me, his expression shifted to one of surprise.
“Reyna,” he said, standing up. “What are you doing here?”
I closed the door behind me, fidgeting slightly under his intense gaze. “I wanted to talk to you,” I said softly.
He raised an eyebrow, crossing his arms. “About what?”
I stepped closer, trying to gauge his mood. “About yesterday. About the party. Why didn’t you ask Diane to be your date instead?”
His jaw tightened, and he turned back to the window. “Why does it matter?”
“It matters because I need to understand,” I said, my voice firming. “Jake, I didn’t know you were going to ask me to be your date. If I had known-”
“You would’ve still chosen John,” he interrupted, his tone sharp. “Don’t pretend otherwise, Reyna.”
I winced at his words but refused to back down. “I’m not here to argue with you. I’m here because I don’t want things to be awkward between us. We’ve never really gotten along, and I didn’t think… I didn’t think you saw me like that.”
Jake turned to face me then, his eyes flashing with something I couldn’t quite decipher. “What do you want me to say, Reyna? That I’m fine? That I’m not angry? Because I can’t do that. I asked you because I thought-”
He stopped himself, running a hand through his hair in frustration.
“You thought what?” I pressed, taking a step closer.
He sighed, his shoulders sagging slightly. “I thought maybe things could be different. I thought you’d see me differently, but it doesn’t matter now.”
“It does matter,” I insisted. “I need to understand you, Jake. I don’t want this tension between us. We’re in the same clan, and-”
“Stop,” he said, cutting me off.
I blinked, taken aback by the force of his voice.
“You don’t understand, Reyna. You’ve never understood,” he said, his tone softer now but still edged with pain. “And maybe you never will.”
He walked to the door, his movements brisk. When he opened it, he looked back at me, his expression unreadable. “You should go.”
I stared at him, my heart sinking. “Jake…”
“Please,” he said, his voice almost a whisper.
Realizing there was no point in arguing further, I nodded slowly and walked toward the door. As I passed him, I hesitated for a moment, wanting to say something anything but the words wouldn’t come.
When I stepped out into the corridor, he closed the door behind me without another word.
I stood there for a moment, the weight of the conversation pressing down on me. Jake’s words lingered in my mind, filling me with a sense of unease. I had come to mend things, but it felt like I had only made them worse.
With a heavy sigh, I turned and began walking back to my room, unsure of how to fix the growing rift between us.
___
Stephanie’s POV
The evening air was cool and soothing as I strolled through the garden, taking in the quiet rustle of leaves and the faint scent of blooming flowers. The party preparations were well underway, and the buzz of activity in the house was almost suffocating. I needed a break.
I moved deeper into the garden, finding solace among the tall hedges and vibrant rose bushes. Just as I was about to sit on one of the stone benches, my phone buzzed in my pocket. Pulling it out, I frowned at the sight of an unknown number.
Curiosity got the better of me. Who could it be? Making sure no one was nearby, I moved farther into the garden, away from any prying ears, and swiped to answer.
“Hello?” I said cautiously.
“Stephanie,” a familiar voice whispered on the other end.
My heart nearly stopped. “Sarah?”
“Yes, it’s me,” she confirmed, her tone low but urgent.
I gripped the phone tighter, my mind racing. It had been so long since I’d heard from Sarah, and I thought… “Where are you? What’s going on? Are you okay?”
“I’m in hiding,” Sarah replied, her voice trembling slightly. “Sally is searching for me, Stephanie. He’s working with Marcus and his group. They won’t stop until they find me.”
My breath caught in my throat. Sally and Marcus two people I wouldn’t wish on my worst enemy were after her. “What? Why? What did you do to make them chase you like this?”
“It’s complicated,” Sarah said. “But I need to stay off their radar. I can’t let them find me.”
I paced the garden, trying to make sense of everything. “Where are you? I need to know you’re safe.”
“I can’t tell you over the phone,” Sarah said hesitantly. “It’s too dangerous. If Sally or Marcus tracks this call…”
“Then text me your location,” I interrupted, my voice firm. “I need to see you, Sarah. I need to know you’re okay. Please.”
There was a pause, and I could hear her exhale softly on the other end. “Fine. I’ll text you the address. But Stephanie, you can’t come here alone. They’re ruthless, and if they suspect you’re helping me…”
“I can handle myself,” I said quickly, though the thought of Marcus or Sally made my stomach churn. “Just send me the address, and I’ll figure something out.”
Sarah hesitated for a moment before relenting. “Alright. I’ll send it after this call. But promise me you’ll be careful.”
“I promise,” I said, my voice softening. “And Sarah… it’s good to hear your voice.”
“Yours too,” she said, a hint of emotion slipping through her guarded tone. “Goodbye, Stephanie.”
“Goodbye.”
The line went dead, and I lowered the phone, staring at it as if it might give me more answers. My heart was pounding in my chest, and my mind swirled with questions. Why was Sally after Sarah? What was Marcus’s involvement? And how did I fit into all of this?
A faint rustling sound nearby snapped me out of my thoughts. I quickly glanced around the garden, half-expecting to see someone lurking, but it was empty. Still, I couldn’t shake the feeling that I was being watched.
Tucking my phone into my pocket, I made my way back toward the house. Whatever Sarah was involved in, I needed to know more. And I needed to act fast.