Maya Reed didn't usually get nervous. She had a plan for everything, but standing on Jace Carter's porch, binder clutched to her chest like a shield, she felt like she was walking straight into a trap.
Her dad had insisted. "Go on, Maya. You'll work better without your little sister running around the house. Jace has space."
Space, sure. But did he have self-control? Highly doubtful.
She knocked, half-hoping no one would answer. Instead, the door swung open and Jace stood there, hair damp from a shower, hoodie sleeves shoved up, grin already in place.
"Well, well. Reed at my door. Shall I alert the media?"
"Don't flatter yourself," she said flatly, brushing past him into the house. "I'm only here because my dad thinks you're a nice kid."
Jace shut the door, laughing. "Smart man."
His house was… nicer than she expected. Warm light, framed photos on the walls, the smell of something cooking in the kitchen. It felt lived-in, comfortable.
"Mom's making lasagna," Jace said, tossing his backpack onto the couch. "She'll probably force you to stay for dinner, just a warning."
"I'm not staying that long," Maya replied, dropping her binder on the coffee table.
Jace plopped onto the couch across from her. "We'll see."
They lasted a whole ten minutes before the bickering started.
"You can't just throw random pictures into a slideshow and call it research," Maya snapped, flipping through his half-finished notes.
"They're not random," Jace argued. "Visual aids. You know, to keep people awake during your three-hour lecture voice."
"My lecture voice is the reason we'll actually pass this project!"
Jace leaned back, hands behind his head, grinning like she'd just proved his point. "There it is. Classic Reed meltdown. I was waiting for it."
Maya glared at him, wishing she could hurl her highlighter across the room.
Just then, a voice called from the kitchen.
"Jace! Come set the table!"
Maya blinked. "Is that your mom?"
"Yep," Jace said, standing. "Don't go snooping in my house while I'm gone."
"You didn't go through mine when you stayed for three days, I won't go through yours."
But while he disappeared into the kitchen, Maya found herself glancing at the photos on the mantel. Jace as a little kid, gap-toothed and grinning. Jace with what looked like a younger sister. Jace in a baseball uniform, dirt on his cheek, smiling like he actually cared about something.
It was… unsettling. He looked human.
When Jace returned, she quickly snapped her binder shut like she hadn't been looking. He raised an eyebrow. "You're still here. Impressive."
"Don't get used to it," Maya muttered, but her voice lacked its usual bite.
Dinner ended up happening, whether she wanted it to or not. Mrs. Carter insisted, and Maya, much to her horror, found herself laughing at one of Jace's ridiculous stories about middle school.
For a moment, she almost forgot she was supposed to hate him.
Almost.
Because when she stood to leave, Jace leaned against the doorframe and smirked.
"See? Told you dinner was non-negotiable. Admit it, Reed. You had fun."
She glared at him. "The lasagna was good. You were unbearable. Goodnight, Carter."
"It's Jace." He said quietly.
"Mine's Maya." She shot back, harsher than she'd meant to.
But as she walked down the block toward her own house, Maya realized something she really didn't want to admit:
Enemy territory wasn't as awful as she'd expected.