April 6 – Saturday Evening / Jay's Apartment – Midtown District
The Night Thickens
The pizza had arrived two hours ago.
Tyler and Miles were now locked in an arm-wrestling match over the last slice. Sofia had stolen Jay's blanket and turned the couch into her personal lounge throne. Luna had appeared out of nowhere, sat quietly on the floor by the window, sketching the scene like she'd always been there.
Amaya was curled up in the window seat again, her notebook open but untouched.
Emma sat at the dining table, going over notes and diagrams. Meticulous. Focused.
Jay walked into the kitchen, holding two mugs of tea.
One for him.
One for her.
Kitchen Quiet
Emma looked up as Jay set the mug down beside her.
"You didn't have to," she said.
"I know," Jay replied. "Still did."
She took a sip, then nodded. "It's good."
Jay leaned against the counter. "Better than the sandwiches?"
"Considerably."
For a while, they didn't speak. The apartment behind them buzzed with noise—Tyler laughing too loud, Miles arguing, Sofia threatening someone with a throw pillow.
But here, in the kitchen light, everything slowed.
"I didn't say it earlier," Jay began quietly, "but… you held this class together."
Emma blinked.
"When I left," he continued, "you stepped in. And didn't just fill the spot. You carried it."
Emma looked at him, surprised. "How did you…?"
"I asked Mr. Brooks yesterday," Jay said. "He told me you handled the group meetings, class votes, the budget sheet, the schedule—everything."
Emma flushed slightly. "I just did what needed doing."
Jay smiled. "You were always better at responsibility than I was."
"But you made people feel like things would be okay," she said softly. "That's something I could never do."
Jay shook his head. "You did. You still do."
They stood in silence.
Then Emma looked down at her tea. "Are you really okay now?"
Jay hesitated.
Then nodded. "Not perfect. But trying. And that feels like progress."
She nodded too. "Good."
Then, suddenly— "It wasn't easy, you know. Picking up after you."
Jay froze.
Emma didn't say it cruelly. Just honestly.
"You left," she said. "And I had to act like it was fine. Like you hadn't been the heart of this class. Everyone looked to me like I was supposed to be you."
Jay stepped closer, the weight of those words finally landing.
"I'm sorry."
Emma looked up. "I didn't say it to make you feel guilty. I just… wanted you to know. It meant something. You meant something."
Jay nodded.
"I should've told you sooner," he said.
Emma exhaled. "You're telling me now."
The Window Seat
Later, Jay wandered toward the living room. Sofia had passed out with a pillow over her face. Tyler and Miles were too distracted by some dumb trivia game to notice anything else.
But Amaya sat in the corner window still. Quiet. Alone.
He walked over and sat across from her.
"You, okay?" he asked.
She looked up. "Mm-hm."
"Liar."
Amaya gave a tiny smile. "Just tired."
Jay tilted his head. "Of the group, or of me?"
She didn't answer right away.
Then: "You're different."
Jay leaned back slightly. "Yeah. I feel it too."
"But…" she began. "You're still here. And I think that's what matters."
Jay smiled softly. "You're still the calm in the storm."
Amaya looked down. "I was scared. When you left. I thought maybe you wouldn't come back."
"I almost didn't."
She looked up, startled.
"But I missed this," he said. "I missed you."
Her cheeks flushed faintly. She opened her mouth to speak—
"Truth or dare!" Tyler yelled from the kitchen.
Jay chuckled. "We're being summoned."
"You go," Amaya said. "I'll catch up."
Jay hesitated.
Then lightly bumped her shoulder. "I'm glad you came today."
She smiled. "Me too."
Under the Stars
Later that night, when most of the noise had died down, Jay stepped out onto the small apartment balcony.
Cool wind brushed his face. The city lights sparkled below.
A soft click came behind him.
Emma stepped out too, arms crossed for warmth.
"Couldn't sleep?" she asked.
Jay shrugged. "Just needed air."
They stood side by side, overlooking the city.
"Do you regret it?" she asked. "Coming back?"
He shook his head. "No. I think I needed to disappear to realize what mattered."
Emma looked at him.
He looked back.
For a moment—just a moment—it felt like the distance they'd built up for months… melted.
Emma stepped closer.
Not quite touching.
But close enough that Jay could feel the warmth radiating from her shoulder.
"You're allowed to be happy," she said again. "You know that, right?"
Jay smiled faintly. "I'm starting to."
They didn't speak for a while.
Just watched the stars.
Just stood.
Together.