“I didn’t mean to look for him. But when I saw him, folded in on himself like something was breaking inside, I didn’t want to walk away. And still—I did. Because wanting him isn’t enough. Not if he doesn’t want to stay.” Ivy takes the long way to class… and ends up exactly where she knew he might be. She sees Jace, alone behind the gym, visibly unraveling. It shakes her. For one breathless moment, she almost walks to him—but she doesn’t. Because even though she wants him—loves him—she knows she can’t fix someone who keeps choosing to leave.