Chapter 70: A night to remember

Jace's morning was uneventful. He woke up, had breakfast with his father, who gave him one of his knowing glances but didn't say much, and spent most of his time lazing around. School had been exhausting lately, and honestly, he just wanted a break from everything: music, the stage, the expectations. That's when his phone buzzed—Miranda. "Be ready by 5 PM. I'm taking you somewhere." Jace stared at the message, frowning. Taking me where? "Where?" he texted back. Her reply came instantly: "Just be ready." He sighed. Miranda and her surprises. There was no point arguing. If she wanted him to go somewhere, she'd make sure he did. At exactly 4:55 PM, she called. "You ready?" she asked. Jace glanced at himself in the mirror. He was dressed casually in jeans and a black shirt. "Depends. Where are we going?" "Come outside. Now. I'm waiting at the bus stop on your street," she said. He frowned, staring at the screen. She hadn't given any context, no explanation, just a direct order. With a sigh, he grabbed his car keys and stepped outside. The evening breeze was cool against his skin as he walked toward his car, scanning the area for Miranda. When he saw her standing near the bus stop down the street, waving at him, he shook his head. What is she up to this time? He pulled up in front of her, unlocking the passenger door. "Are you going to tell me what this is about?" he asked as Miranda slid into the seat, a smug smile on her face. "Nope." Jace let out a tired sigh. "Miranda...." "Just drive," she interrupted, fastening her seatbelt. "I'll give you directions." He glanced at her suspiciously. "And if I refuse?" "Then I'll sit here all night." She folded her arms. "Fine. Where to?" "Take a left," she said, grinning. And so, they drove, with Miranda giving directions while refusing to reveal the destination. Each time he tried to pry it out of her, she just smirked and told him to keep going. "Miranda, are we going to a secret military base or something?" He sighed. She laughed. "Nope. Just keep driving." "This better not be some horror prank." She smirked. "If it was, I wouldn't tell you." He gave her a side glance but followed her directions. The closer they got to their destination, the more curious he became. The streets were getting busier, and he could see bright lights ahead. Finally, after nearly thirty minutes, they reached a crowded area with flashing lights and loud music in the distance. Jace parked the car, stepping out with a skeptical look. "Miranda, what is this?" She grinned, reaching into her bag and pulling out two tickets. "Surprise! We're going to a Justin Bieber concert." Jace froze. "No," he said instantly. "Absolutely not." Miranda raised an eyebrow. "I'm not..." But then he made the mistake of looking at her. She wasn't pouting. She wasn't mad. She just looked... disappointed. Her eyes held an unspoken plea, a mix of determination and excitement that made his resistance crumble. Jace exhaled sharply. Her expression wasn't one of someone forcing him to do something he hated; it was the expression of someone who knew he needed this. Jace sighed heavily. "Miranda...." "You don't have to sing. You don't have to go on stage," she said softly. "Just listen. Just feel it." Jace swallowed hard. He didn't want to admit it, but he did miss music. Maybe... maybe just for tonight, he could forget everything else. "Fine. Let's go." He let out a defeated breath. Miranda beamed. "You're impossible." Jace saw her expression. "And you love me for it," she teased, dragging him toward the entrance. The arena was packed, fans screaming as the lights dimmed and the first beats of a song filled the air. Jace watched the stage, feeling an odd mixture of emotions. He felt like he had stepped into another world. The energy, the music, the roaring crowd—it was overwhelming, yet strangely nostalgic. He could almost feel what it was like to be the one standing up there, the weight of eyes watching, waiting, expecting. Then there was Miranda. She was alive, jumping, dancing, and screaming lyrics at the top of her lungs. Her excitement was contagious, and for the first time in a long while, Jace found himself chuckling. "You're ridiculous," he muttered, shaking his head. Miranda grinned, still bouncing to the beat. "You love it." He didn't respond, but his smirk gave him away. For a moment, as he watched the artist on stage, he wondered what if that were him? Something he still loved. Could he ever get past the fear? Could he ever do this again? Would he ever stand on a stage like this, without fear? For the first time in forever, he wanted to. After the concert, Miranda wasn't done. As they stepped out into the cool night air, Jace took a deep breath. "That wasn't so bad, was it?" Miranda asked. "I'll admit... it was cool." He glanced at her. She smirked. "You mean amazing." Jace rolled his eyes but smiled. "Alright. Amazing." She grinned. "Good. Now, the night isn't over yet. Let's go." Jace groaned. "One more stop," she announced as they left the arena. Jace raised a brow. "You're joking." "Do I look like I'm joking?" She shot him a look. He sighed, getting back into the car. "Where to now?" "A park," she said simply. "I thought I was driving us home." Miranda grabbed his wrist and pulled him toward the car. "Nope. Drive, driver." Jace sighed but obeyed. They pulled up at an amusement park. The moment Miranda stepped out of the car, she spun to face him. "Race you to the entrance." Jace blinked. "What....?" Before he could finish, she bolted. "Miranda..." He groaned but found himself chasing after her anyway. The night air was filled with laughter as they moved from ride to ride. Miranda dragged him onto the roller coaster, screaming her lungs out while Jace sat with an unimpressed expression. She made him try the shooting game at the stalls, which he won effortlessly, earning her a stuffed animal she immediately named Jacey. As they walked past the ferris wheel, Jace was still thinking about the concert. About how much he missed that world. Miranda slowed her steps, glancing at Jace. "Penny for your thoughts?" Jace knew where this was going. Instead of answering, he smirked. "You were so embarrassing at that concert." Miranda gasped dramatically. "Excuse me? I was living my best life." "You were screaming so loud that even everyone turned to look." "I was showing support," she defended, crossing her arms. Jace chuckled. "Sure." She rolled her eyes, but her smile lingered. The night had cooled down by the time they left the park, but just as they were about to head back, Miranda's stomach grumbled loudly. Jace raised a brow. "Was that... you?" She cleared her throat, looking anywhere but at him. "Nope." Another grumble. Jace smirked. "Yeah, let's get food." They ended up at a quiet restaurant. They sat by the window, eating fries and drinking milkshakes. Jace watched as Miranda talked about something probably the concert but he wasn't listening. The way her eyes lit up when she talked. The way she smiled. The way she casually stole his fries as if they were hers. He was staring. The way the dim lighting softened her features, the way her eyes lit up when she spoke, the way she absentmindedly played with the straw in her drink. She was beautiful. Wait. Jace froze. Did he just....? He quickly looked away, his heart doing something weird. Something in his chest tightened. What am I feeling? Miranda noticed. "What?" she asked. Jace shook his head. "Nothing." She gave him a suspicious look but shrugged. "You've got something on your face," he muttered. "Where?" Miranda asked, immediately wiping at her mouth. Jace smirked. "Just kidding." She glared. "You're the worst." Jace took a sip of his milkshake, trying to ignore the sudden realization swirling in his mind. Why did he suddenly feel like this? What was this feeling? He had no idea. The realization crept in slowly, catching him off guard. He blinked, shaking his head. But he was still looking at her, still wondering what had just shifted inside him. And for the first time, he didn't have an answer. But one thing was certain: tonight had changed something. He wasn't just thinking about music. He was thinking about her.