"Cruel Indifference"

I couldn't shake off the feeling of rejection as I walked back to the couch, trying to play it cool despite the sting of Jace's indifference. I glanced at Alex, who was watching us with an unreadable expression, and felt a pang of guilt for even caring about Jace's reaction. I was here with Alex, after all, and I needed to focus on him. As I sat down beside Alex, he reached out and took my hand, giving it a gentle squeeze. I smiled at him, trying to push aside the lingering emotions from my encounter with Jace. Ethan was still fast asleep, and the room was quiet except for the occasional sound of Jace munching on his ice cream. I leaned my head on Alex's shoulder, feeling a sense of comfort and security in his presence. He wrapped his arm around me, pulling me close, and I closed my eyes, letting the warmth of the room and the sound of his heartbeat lull me into a state of relaxation. But my mind kept wandering back to Jace. What was wrong with him? Why had he reacted that way? I thought we were friends, or at least, I thought we had a connection. I opened my eyes and glanced over at him, but he was still watching TV, his expression impassive. Alex noticed my gaze and followed it to Jace. "Hey, everything okay?" he asked, his voice low and concerned. I hesitated, unsure of how much to reveal. "Yeah, everything's fine," I said finally, not wanting to ruin the mood. But Alex's eyes lingered on Jace, and I could sense his unease. He knew Jace's reputation, and I could tell he was wondering what had just gone down. As the night wore on, the tension in the room remained, but I tried to focus on Alex and the time we were spending together. We chatted and laughed, and I made an effort to push aside my feelings of hurt and confusion. But just as I was starting to relax, Jace got up and walked over to us, his eyes locked on mine. "Lila," he said, his voice low and rough. "Can I talk to you for a minute?" My heart skipped a beat as I exchanged a glance with Alex, who raised an eyebrow. "Sure," I said, getting up and following Jace to the kitchen. As we stood by the counter, Jace turned to me, his eyes searching. "I'm sorry about earlier," he said, his voice a little softer. "I was just...having a bad night." I studied his face, trying to read his expression. Was he telling the truth, or was this just another one of his games? I wasn't sure, but I knew I had to tread carefully. "It's okay," I said finally. "Let's just forget about it, okay?" Jace nodded, his eyes lingering on mine. For a moment, I thought I saw something there, something that looked almost like...longing. But then it was gone, and he turned away, leaving me wondering if I had just imagined it.