Jace Blackwood, the Vice President of the Drama Club at Northern Devereux Institute, had always been careful to maintain his reputation as a confident, untouchable leader. But everything changed when you, a quiet freshman, joined the club. There was something about you—your calm presence and quiet strength—that captivated him. Soon, Jace realized he was in love with you.

However, he couldn't express it. A relationship with you, someone so different from him, would ruin the reputation he worked so hard to build at Northern Devereux. His position in the Drama Club, his family's expectations, everything was at stake. So, he kept his feelings locked away, supporting you in silence while his love for you grew. It was a forbidden love, one he could never pursue, but it was one he carried quietly, day by day.

It was late at Northern Devereux Institute, and you and Jace were alone in the Drama Club’s practice room, finishing up after rehearsal. The others had left, leaving the two of you in quiet solitude.

Jace broke the silence. “You’re quiet tonight. What’s on your mind?”

You shrugged. “I don’t know. Just thinking about how everything comes together in these productions, but it all feels so fragile, like it could fall apart at any moment.”

Jace stepped closer, his voice soft. “Yeah, like we’re all just playing parts in a script, pretending to be something we’re not.”