Saturday, April 27 – Morning to Evening / Midtown Apartment – Jay's Place
Chaos Wakes Early
The group chat had already exploded before Jay even opened his eyes.
SOFIA: ok party planning squad where u at
TYLER: still in bed but spiritually at Jay's rooftop
NOAH: I'm wearing a velvet cape for this event. No one stop me.
MILES: If anyone plays music past 11pm I'm filing a noise complaint
SOFIA: bold of you to assume we care
EMMA: Jay, I'm coming over early to supervise.
Amaya: I'll Bring some snacks.
JAY: ...Can I shower first?
Jay sighed, rubbing his eyes as the messages kept coming. Saturday morning sun slanted across his bedroom floor, warm and golden. This wasn't going to be a relaxing day, but for once, he didn't mind.
This was his place.
His friends.
II. A Knock Before Noon
By the time Jay got dressed and half-cleaned the apartment, a knock hit the door right on cue.
Of course it was her.
Emma Sinclair stood in the hallway—clipboard tucked under one arm, hair in a loose side braid, oversized white shirt tucked into fitted black shorts. Her expression was as sharp as usual.
Her eyes? A little smug.
"You cleaned. I'm impressed," she said, brushing past him into the apartment without waiting.
"You threatened me in the group chat," he replied, shutting the door behind her. "Fear is a great motivator."
She glanced around. "Minimalist. Borderline spartan. Are you trying to look poor?"
"I call it vaguely mysterious rich boy with a tragic past."
She hummed, walking into the kitchen, opening cabinets like she owned them. "We'll need more bowls. Where's your speaker system?"
Jay leaned against the doorframe. "You don't believe in hello?"
Emma didn't answer—she just stood on her toes to reach for a box on the upper shelf. The stretch pulled her shirt tighter across her back, a little skin peeking out as the hem rose just a little too high.
Jay's eyes flicked once, instinctive.
She noticed.
And when she turned, she held the bowl with a deliberate slowness. "Eyes up here, Rep."
"I was admiring your interior design choices," he said smoothly.
"Oh, we're doing this today?"
"We always do this."
Emma set the bowl down—then walked closer, just enough to narrow the space between them. "You've got that look again."
"What look?"
"The 'I'm about to say something that's going to make you blush or throw something' look."
Jay smirked. "Only because it works."
She was close now. Not dangerously so. But enough that he could smell that faint cinnamon-mint perfume again.
Danger.
Her hand rested lightly on the countertop beside him. "You know, for someone who pretends to avoid attention, you sure know how to stir things up."
He tilted his head. "Only with you."
That pause.
That half-second of silence where neither of them moved.
Then her eyes dropped, not quite to his lips—but close enough to register.
Jay didn't move.
Emma leaned in a fraction.
"You know," she murmured, "if you keep this up, someone might think you're trying to get me alone."
"Am I failing?" he asked.
"Not at all."
The heat in the room shifted. The air wasn't thick—but it was charged. Jay's hand brushed hers on the counter. Not accidentally. Not subtly.
Just enough to test the boundary.
Emma's breath caught. She didn't pull away.
"I came to help decorate," she said softly.
"Right. Streamers. Balloons. Intense eye contact."
She smirked. "If I kissed you right now, would you still joke?"
He blinked.
That one hit like lightning.
Before he could answer, Emma stepped back—smooth, controlled, deadly.
"Too bad I won't. You still owe me three class reports."
Jay exhaled slowly. "You're evil."
"You like it."
And just like that, she walked off into the kitchen like nothing happened, hair swaying like punctuation on a power move.
Jay stood frozen for a beat longer, lips twitching upward.
Yup.
She was going to ruin him.
Late Arrivals & Early Chaos
By afternoon, the doorbell rang again. This time: Amaya.
She came carrying two big boxes—one full of baked goods, the other full of snacks shaped like cats for some reason.
"Hi," she said, a little out of breath but smiling. "I brought everything. Hope it's enough."
"It's perfect," Jay said, taking one box from her. "I think your cookies are going to outshine the whole party."
"I don't mind," she replied softly, stepping inside. "As long as everyone smiles."
Jay paused, watching her move gently through the space, placing her things with quiet care. She didn't ask where to go. She just… fit.
Like she'd always belonged here.
Emma, now sitting cross-legged on the floor while organizing plates, glanced up and nodded politely. "Amaya. Welcome to the chaos zone."
Amaya smiled back. "I brought extra forks. Just in case."
Sofia showed up next, blasting music from her phone as she walked in. "THE QUEEN HAS ARRIVED—aaaand the vibe is deliciously tense. Did someone flirt in here already?"
Emma and Jay said nothing.
Sofia smirked. "I'll take that as a yes."
Rooftop Setup – 5:45 PM
By early evening, the rooftop was finally coming together.
Paper lanterns strung across the fencing, Tyler arranging a makeshift dance corner, Noah trying to rehearse a karaoke number without falling off a stool, and Yuki silently hanging lights with surgical precision.
Jay stood by the railing, looking out at the capital skyline as the sun dipped low.
His friends. His space. His memories.
Somewhere behind him, Emma's voice called out, "Rep—less brooding, more helping."
He turned, smirking. "Yes, Vice Rep."
And just like that, they slipped back into the rhythm again.
Final Moment – 6:29 PM
The rooftop lights flicked on just as the sun began to kiss the horizon.
Amaya had lit little battery candles along the snack table. Tyler was laughing too loud. Sofia had already posted twenty photos. Noah was adjusting his fake crown. Yuki sat quietly by the railing, earbuds in but eyes soft.
Jay opened the door to go downstairs—and paused when he heard voices.
More friends arriving.
More footsteps on the stairs.
More of his world… coming to life.
He smiled.
This?
This was worth everything.