I had to go. I had no choice. Avoiding him will only cause me more pain.

But this wasn't about him. This was about supporting my friend. I'm going to be there for him no matter what.

"I'm so excited. Nate's going to be great," Sarah leaned in and said. I pressed my lips together and smiled.

"Are you okay?" Sarah asked.

"Ya. I'm okay," I assure her.

"Don't worry about Jace. You are here with us," she said. I knew she was trying to comfort me, and it was what I needed, but I couldn't feel it.

Though I wanted to pay attention to the game and support Nathan and everyone else.

It felt like I was constantly turning my head to look over my shoulder.

And by the time the game ended and we had won our last game. It felt like I had missed the whole thing.

We all walked towards Nathan.

"You were great, Nate," I said. Nate was a great player, and even if I had a hard time focusing, I already knew he was good.

"Ya, I'm surprised, brother," Sky said, crossing her arm. Nathan only rolled his eyes.

"You were amazing," Sarah said.

"Thank you, guys," he said with a giant smile. "I almost thought we weren't gonna win, but the guys definitely had each other's back," he said, turning to look over at Liam with his friends.

My eyes met Liam's, and he smirked and winked at me. And I couldn't help the smile that formed as I looked at him.

Once again, I remembered all that happened between us and remembered how good he made me feel, and the thought of being with him made me feel safe.

And as he began walking towards me, his friends behind him. The fear I felt before disappeared.

I thought back to the fear I once felt when I saw him approaching me. And I wanted nothing more than to be anywhere else.

But right now, that was all gone. I wanted to be right here.

He came to stand next to me, his hands immediately wrapping around my waist. I noticed my friends' eyes, who were just surprised as I was, by his sudden gesture.

But they didn't say anything.

"Hey," he said with a wide smile. I returned that smile.

"Hi," I said. "You were great," I said.

He smirked, leaning down to my ear. "Oh, ya. There are other things I'm pretty great at, too," he whispered, pulling back.

My breath hitched, and I felt hot all over again.

"There's a party after this. You should come," he said, casually like he hadn't even realized what he had said just before.

"Really??" Sky asked before I even could. She looked at Nate, slapping his arm. He winced, rubbing the part she had hit him. "Why didn't you tell me?" She asked him.

"Well, I was about to," he said.

"We're going! It's been a while since I had been to a party," she said.

"No one wants you to come," Isaac said, rolling his eyes.

I thought Sky was about to throw multiple punches at him, but she didn't say anything to my surprise and everyone else's.

But she wasn't even glancing at him. She had a giant smile on her face, and I could see the red forming on her cheeks when she looked right behind us.

"Jace's here," Nate uttered.

And I pressed my body against Liam in need of desperate comfort. I can feel the panic rush to me, and I thought that my legs would give out.

But Liam held me. His hands around my waist tightening. I looked up to meet his eyes, and he gave me a slight nod. Telling me, he was right here.

Sky rushed to him when he came to stand next to us. Her arms around his neck.

"I missed you!" She said.

"I missed you too. I missed you so much," his eyes were glued to me—his familiar British accent tick as ever. The tone in his voice made chills run up my spine. I looked anywhere but at him.

But I could still feel his gaze. And my breath suddenly started to quicken, and my hands fisted.

"Nate," he walked to Nate, pulling him into a side hug. "Good game, mate," he said.

"Thanks, man. I didn't think you were coming?" Nate said.

"Ya, why wouldn't I come. This is your last game, right?" He asked. Nate nodded his head.

"Jace, there's a party. If you wanna come?" Skyler told him.

I wanted to curse.

"Really? Sure, why not," he shrugged his shoulder.

I looked up at Liam, who looked angry. But he kept his mouth shut.

"I'll see you all at the party. I've got to go now tho," he said. Waving his goodbyes but not before giving me one last look.

"We don't have to go if it bothers you," Liam whispered to me. I looked up at him.

It was all I wanted. I didn't want to go. I wanted to stay at home.

But then I looked up at my friends. Sarah's eyes met mine, and I could sense she could feel how I felt, and I knew she felt uncomfortable standing there too.

"No, it's okay. I'll go," I told Liam. I knew Sarah would want me to go. Even if she didn't need me there, I knew I would feel safe if I was there for her.

-

Sarah and I arrived at the party a while later than everyone. Liam had offered to bring me here, but I had told him it was okay.

"Where's Sky?" Sarah asked as we both scanned the room for her.

"Hey!" Someone came behind us. We turned, thinking it would be Sky but instead found a slight but already tipsy Nathan.

"Nate, are you okay?" I asked him. He chuckled. "I'm better than okay!" he said. He turned his head to look over at Sarah. "Do you wanna dance?" he asked her.

She giggled. "Okay," she said. "Will you be okay here?" she asked me.

I nodded my head. "yes, go have fun," she smiled.

Nathan grabbed her hand and led her to what I assumed was the dance floor. I watched as they danced and laughed together.

Seeing them both like this made me smile. I felt happy seeing as they were both enjoying themself and having fun.

"Happy, aren't they?" I felt the presence of someone behind me. I looked over my shoulder to see Luke coming to stand next to me. He had a drink in hand, and I knew he had to be drunk because the Luke I knew would have never spoken to me.

"Shouldn't they be?" I asked. I saw his face fall.

I knew Sarah liked Luke despite everything he had done to her. She wanted him, and I didn't blame her or judge her because I was not the person even to question her.

But from the beginning, I knew Luke. Maybe not well, but I knew Luke who hurt Sarah and me. However, the man that was standing next to me didn't seem to be him.

He looked to be the one that was hurt.

"She deserves to be happy," I told him.

"Do you think it's with him?" He asked.

I didn't know what to think to have him speak to me the way he is about Sarah made me wonder what had actually happened between them.

Once again, I wanted nothing more than to tell him that yes. Nathan is who she deserves to be with. But it's not what Sarah wanted.

"I think it's with whoever she wants to share it with," I said. He looked up at me, his eyes meeting mine. But he didn't say anything. He turned his head and looked back at Sarah and left just like that.

It was odd talking to him without him insulting me in some type of way. But it was different.

He was not the guy to show emotions to anyone and let alone me. Yet, I think he needed to hear what I had told him.

I looked back at the crowd to find that Sarah and Nate were no longer dancing and were nowhere to be seen. I searched the room but didn't see a sight of them.

Great, now I was alone.

I had no idea where anyone was.

And whether it was a useful thing or a bad, I found myself making my way outside. It was a relief to be out of the crowd of people. The backyard of this house was surprisingly huge, and no one was even out here.

I noticed the massive inground pool and decided on sitting down and socking my feet inside the water.

I enjoyed the breeze of the cold air, and the feeling of the cold water touch my feet.

I could still hear the loud music from inside the house, but it was muffled, and it actually began to be relaxing to hear.

"Enjoying the party, love," I heard his voice again. My heart sunk. The anxiety that wasn't there for a short while returned.

I had almost forgotten about him.

I couldn't move. Even when he came to sat beside me soaking his own feet inside the water.

"Fun ain't it?" He asked. His eyes met mine, and he took a long sigh. "I know you're afraid of me. I could see it in your eyes, but you know I'm not the enemy," he said.

My mouth fell dry, and even if I tried to speak, nothing came out.

"That day, I only told you the truth,"

****

Hello, my lovelies! How are you guys doing? I hope you all had a fantastic holiday.

Sorry, I've been MIA for a while, but I'm back now.

I hope you all enjoyed this chapter!

What did you guys think about Jace's return? How bout the moment between Luke and Storm? And what's going to happen next?

Leave all your amazing theories and comments down below, and please don't forget to vote!

Lots of love,

Just another girl