The turning point came one evening when Clara invited both Lena and Jace to a small gathering at a friend's house. It was supposed to be a casual night of movies and snacks, but the tension between Lena and Jace had been building for too long, and that night, everything came to a head.
Lena had tried to avoid sitting too close to Jace, but as the night wore on, it became increasingly difficult to ignore the way their bodies seemed to gravitate toward each other. Every time their hands brushed, every time their eyes met, the pull between them grew stronger.
At one point, Lena found herself alone in the kitchen, trying to steady her racing heart. She knew that she was losing control, that her feelings for Jace were becoming impossible to hide. Just as she was about to leave, Jace entered the room, his expression tense.
"We can't keep doing this," he said, his voice low and filled with frustration.
Lena's chest tightened. "I know."
Jace took a step closer, his eyes burning with intensity. "I don't care what anyone thinks anymore, Lena. I'm tired of pretending."
Before Lena could respond, he closed the distance between them, his lips crashing against hers in a kiss that was filled with all the emotions they had been holding back. The world seemed to stop, and for a moment, everything else faded away.
But just as quickly as it had begun, Lena pulled away, her heart pounding in her chest.
"We can't," she whispered, her voice trembling. "Not like this."
Jace stared at her, his breathing heavy, and for a moment, she thought he might argue. But instead, he nodded, stepping back.
"You're right," he said quietly. "I'm sorry."
Lena's heart ached as she watched him leave the room, knowing that things between them had reached a breaking point. And while she didn't know what the future held, she knew that nothing would ever be the same.
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