Shy [ Book 1]

"Hey." Ace slid into the seat next to Indianna, casual as ever. She barely glanced at him before lowering her eyes again.

"Don't do the silent thing with me," he said with a soft laugh. "I know you talk to Greyson, and I'm a lot nicer than him."

Indianna didn't respond right away, but her grip on her pen tightened.

Ace leaned closer. "He's a lot to handle, huh?"

That pulled a quiet, sarcastic breath out of her. "You could say that."

"I do say that. Regularly." Ace paused. "You okay? You've looked like you're about to bolt all day."

Indianna exhaled through her nose, still not meeting his eyes. "I don't know."

There was silence between them—comfortable for Ace, nerve-wracking for her.

"I've been hearing things," she blurted, surprising even herself.

Ace didn't flinch. "Like… hearing voices?"

"Just one." Her voice dropped. "His. In my head."

Now Ace did pause, and she saw his easy expression shift into something more serious.

"I thought I was imagining it," she said, swallowing. "But it kept happening. And he—he knew things. Things I didn't say. Things I never told anyone."

Ace leaned back slightly, his voice measured. "And you're sure it's him?"

She nodded. "It's his voice. I'm sure."

"That's... rare," he said slowly. "But not impossible."

Indianna's eyes snapped to his. "So I'm not crazy?"

"No. Not crazy," Ace said gently. "Just… connected in a way most people don't understand."

"But why me?"

Ace hesitated. "You're… not like most people either."

"What does that mean?" she asked, a flicker of panic in her voice.

"I don't know everything," he said quickly. "But I know you've been through stuff. More than most. And you've got something... different inside you. I think Greyson sees it too."

Indianna looked down at her wrist, unconsciously covering the scar there.

Ace followed her gaze. "That happened during the attack, didn't it?"

She nodded, slowly.

"I heard the stories," he said. "But I didn't know it was you."

"It's always been me," she whispered. "But no one ever saw it."

"I see it," Ace said softly.

She looked up at him, startled.

"I don't mean the scar," he clarified. "I mean... the weight you carry. I know what it's like to pretend you're fine when you're breaking inside."

Indianna looked away, blinking fast. "I don't want to be a part of any of this."

"You already are," Ace said gently. "But that doesn't mean you're alone."

They sat in silence again, but this time it wasn't heavy.

"I don't trust easily," she admitted.

"I don't expect you to," Ace replied with a smile. "I'm not Greyson. I'm not here to push or control you."

Indianna allowed herself a small, guarded smile. "You really are nicer than him."

"Don't tell him that. It'll ruin my reputation."

She laughed quietly. For the first time all day, the weight on her chest felt lighter.

"Hey, Indie?" Ace said, voice softer now. "If you ever hear him again, and it gets too much... you can talk to me. I mean it."

She nodded slowly.

"I don't have all the answers," he added, "but I've got ears. And snacks. And sarcasm. Basically everything you need to survive a supernatural breakdown."

Indianna let out a half-laugh. "You're weird."

"I've been called worse."

She shook her head, but she was still smiling when the teacher entered the room. As the class began, she glanced at Ace from the corner of her eye.

He wasn't like Greyson. He wasn't dangerous. But something about him still hinted at secrets.

And for once, Indianna wasn't terrified of finding them out.