Tightrope

Just For Today

The reaction was instantaneous, simultaneous and unanimous.

"Uh, what?" Daria, Alex, Chance and Jace said. The look of shock on their faces would have almost been comical if I didn't feel like falling into a pit and never returning. Austin certainly looked amused.

I feigned ignorance. "What do you mean?"

"You were just polite to me," said Jace, baffled. He was still standing, staring down at me with an expression that lingered somewhere between confusion and horror.

"I'm a polite person," I said.

Jace raised an eyebrow in disbelief. Inwardly, I applauded him. At least someone recognised the complete absurdity of my actions. Alex and Chance seemed to think I was acting rationally; as if my eternal hatred for Jace had always been irrational, and I was only now coming to my senses. They seemed pleased, even. Hartley, thankfully, seemed moments away from calling the CIA and announcing an alien invasion.

My cheeks hurt from the effort of smiling, and forcing myself not to allow that smile to become a grimace.

Hartley still looked confused. I gestured vaguely to the empty seat next to Daria, urging him silently to sit. Just as a polite person would do. He hiked the bag further up his back and slowly lowered himself into the seat, his eyes fixated on me and his back never for a moment turning. It was as if he was expecting a sneak attack or something.

Smart boy.

If I wasn't being blackmailed, that's probably exactly what I would've done.

"I, for one, am very confused," said Alex. Then he narrowed his eyes. "Oh, for god's sake, Lena, please tell me you didn't actually go to Marc McGovern's party alone and do crack or something."

Jace sat up straight in his seat. "You did what?" he demanded.

I didn't give him the finger.

"She is definitely still high," Alex muttered.

Chance shrugged. "Anyone got a permanent dealer? Let's drug her every morning. She's delightful like this. For once, I don't feel anxious. It's nice not to be caught in the middle of an impending brawl."

I resisted the urge to scoff at them all. Stupid Austin. "I did not do drugs at Marc McGovern's party."

Jace was staring at me intently. "Did you go? Elle, please tell me you didn't go by yourself."

"I really appreciate the concern, Jace, honestly. But I didn't end up going. So you can all untwist your panties," I said.

Alex looked relieved. Out of the corner of my eye, I saw Hartley mouth Jace? to Daria, who shrugged in response. She seemed thrilled with my newfound attitude.

"Witchcraft," Hartley mumbled.

Daria smiled. "Well, Lena, I don't know what brought this on, but I'm so glad. Maybe we could all hang out tonight? A new ice-cream place just opened up next to Main Street."

Internally, I cursed Daria. Two periods, lunch, and a hang out? I almost glared at her, before my brain kicked in and recognised that it was Daria. Negative emotions toward Daria were banned. But I still had to find time to collect supplies for Knight from the shops. And not kill Jace.

It's only a little longer, Lena. Just a day. A single day. You can do it, you can do it.

"Not ice-cream," said Jace. "Remember that time Lena ate too much at Jess Holt's party and puked in an antique vase? Poor Nick Dunne had been into her, until that moment. Probably lucky for him that she had explosive vomit. Definitely saved himself there." Then he winked at me and grinned.