Saturday, April 27 – Midnight / Midtown Apartment – Jay's Rooftop
The Wind Down
The rooftop looked like the aftermath of a candy hurricane.
Crushed cups. Half-eaten pastries. A beanbag chair someone definitely tackled during a dramatic game moment. Sofia was still sprawled across two blankets like she owned gravity. Noah sat nearby, trying to balance a breadstick on his nose.
"We are," Tyler mumbled from the floor, "champions of nonsense."
"I'm full," Miles muttered, face-down in a pillow. "Like emotionally and physically."
Luna added softly, "I think I forgot how to blink."
Yuki stood, calmly picking up a paper plate. "That means the party was a success."
Jay couldn't help but smile as he grabbed a trash bag and started cleaning.
Cleanup Crew Chaos
Sofia groaned. "I refuse to acknowledge cleanup. I am now one with the rooftop."
"You said that twenty minutes ago," Emma replied, stacking cups with soldier-like precision. "And I still handed you a broom."
Tyler was halfway into dragging the empty cooler toward the door when he tripped over a cushion and dramatically collapsed.
"My spine!" he shouted. "I'll never walk again!"
Amaya laughed from the snack table. "You tripped over cotton. Calm down, Shakespeare."
Jay moved between them all, not saying much—just soaking it in.
The light. The warmth. The ease.
Goodbye Parade
"Alright, I need to catch the last train," Miles announced, finally sitting up. "If I vanish mysteriously, blame Sofia."
"Rude," she replied, hugging him tightly. "Text when you get home or I'll assume the worst and post a dramatic goodbye online."
Luna left with him, giving everyone a soft wave and a sleepy smile.
Noah followed after, saluting like a disaster captain. "Godspeed, rooftop warriors."
Yuki nodded once. "Efficient gathering. Acceptable outcome. Goodnight."
Emma raised a brow. "That's the nicest review we'll get all year."
The Core Four Remain
Eventually, only four remained: Jay, Tyler, Amaya, and Emma.
Tyler slumped on the couch with a soda. "Y'know… we really needed this."
"Yeah," Jay said. "We did."
"Thanks for hosting, man."
Jay gave a soft smile. "Thanks for showing up."
There was a short, gentle silence. No pressure. No noise. Just the city humming around them and the night sky overhead.
Amaya stood, brushing crumbs from her lap. "I should head home too."
"I'll walk with you," Tyler offered, stretching.
"Okay," she said, voice light.
They both headed toward the stairs, waving as they went.
Jay turned to see Emma slipping her phone into her jacket pocket, eyes on the rooftop floor as she adjusted her bag.
"You heading back alone?" he asked.
Emma looked up, surprised by the question. "Yeah. It's not far. Just the station."
"I'll walk you," he said simply.
"You don't have to."
"I know," he replied. "Still want to."
She studied him for a second—searching for something. But there was no teasing, no smug tone. Just him, standing there, jacket half-zipped, hands in his pockets.
"Alright," she said. "But only if you don't try to psychoanalyze me along the way."
"No promises."
Sidewalk Talk – En Route to Station
The city at midnight was quieter than usual. The streetlights stretched long across the pavement, and their footsteps echoed softly in the open space between buildings.
Jay walked beside her, not saying much at first.
Emma broke the silence with a dry smile. "You know this is weird, right?"
"What is?"
"You. Walking people home. Being soft. Acting like a well-adjusted human."
"I'm full of surprises."
"No. You're full of secrets. That's different."
Jay smirked. "Maybe. But tonight… I'm just full of cupcakes."
Emma let out a breath that was almost a laugh. "That's fair."
Beneath the Streetlight
They stopped at the corner near the station entrance. A tall streetlamp buzzed quietly above them, casting a warm circle of light.
Emma turned to face him, arms folded lightly, her tone quieter now.
"Thanks. For tonight."
"You're thanking me for cleaning up your mess."
"I planned the idea. You executed. It was a team effort."
Jay gave a small nod. "Still… it was good. You were good."
Emma blinked. "Was that a compliment?"
"Don't get used to it."
She smirked. Then, after a pause, her voice dropped just slightly. "Hey, Jay?"
"Yeah?"
"You're… different. But not in a bad way."
Jay tilted his head. "Different how?"
She didn't answer at first. Just looked at him for a beat too long. Then, casually:
"You laughed tonight. Twice."
"Dangerous precedent."
"And you didn't hide. Not once."
Jay didn't know what to say to that.
So, he said nothing.
She stepped closer. Not dramatically. Just… enough.
For a second, the air shifted again.
Something unspoken.
Something fragile.
But then a train horn echoed in the distance.
Emma blinked, stepped back, and smiled softly. "That's my cue."
Jay opened his mouth to say something else, but stopped himself.
Emma turned, stepping toward the entrance—then paused.
Over her shoulder, she said, "You throw a good party, Rep."
And this time, when she smiled, it wasn't teasing.
It was real.
He stood there a few seconds longer, watching the station lights flicker in the distance.
Then he turned, hands in his pockets, and headed back down the sidewalk toward home.
His rooftop waited.
His friends had gone.
But something about tonight—something about all of it—felt like a win.
Small. Quiet. Honest.
The kind of moment that didn't need to be bigger.
The kind of night that mattered just because it existed.
Jay looked up at the stars one more time.
And walked into the warm glow of the city.