"Crossing Boundaries"

I snuggled deeper into Alex's side, feeling a sense of contentment wash over me as he wrapped his arms around me. We were lounging on the couch, watching a movie, and I couldn't help but steal glances at him. He was laughing at something on the screen, his eyes crinkling at the corners, and I felt my heart swell with affection. As I leaned in to kiss him, I caught sight of Jace standing in the doorway, his eyes fixed on us with an intensity that made me shiver. For a moment, we just stared at each other, and I could sense the tension emanating from him. I felt a flutter in my chest as I realized he was watching us, his eyes burning with a mixture of emotions. I turned back to Alex, trying to brush off the feeling of unease that had settled over me. But as I kissed him again, I couldn't help but notice Jace's gaze lingering on us. He looked... jealous. The thought sent a spark of excitement through me, and I found myself wondering if I had misread his emotions entirely. As if sensing my gaze, Jace turned and walked away, disappearing into the kitchen. I felt a pang of guilt, but I pushed it aside, focusing on Alex instead. I wrapped my arms around him, pulling him close as we settled in to watch the rest of the movie. It wasn't until later, when we were getting ready for bed, that Jace reappeared. He walked into the living room, his eyes fixed on us with a look of quiet intensity. "You know, Lila," he said, his voice low and even, "you and Alex are cute. But let's be real, your relationship is a joke." I felt a surge of defensiveness, but Alex just laughed, wrapping his arms around me. "Hey, watch it, Jace," he said, his voice light. "We're happy, and that's all that matters." Jace snorted, his eyes rolling. "Happy? You call that happy?" He shook his head, his expression skeptical. "You two are just pretending to be something you're not. It's a charade, and everyone can see it." I felt a sting from his words, but I refused to back down. I knew that Jace was trying to push my buttons, and I wasn't going to let him get to me. "I knew I loved Alex," I said, my voice firm. "And I'm not going to let you or anyone else dictate how I feel." Jace's eyes flashed with anger, and for a moment, I thought he was going to say something else. But then he turned and walked away, leaving us standing there in silence. I felt a shiver run down my spine as I realized that I had just crossed a boundary, and I wasn't sure what the consequences would be.