Jay-Jay POV
After everything—the beach, the laughter, the noise—we finally returned to the villa as the sun dipped lower, painting the sky orange and pink. My head felt heavy, not in a bad way… just full. Too full.
I slipped away quietly, grabbed my phone , and headed back toward the shoreline. I needed air. Space. Music always helped when my thoughts got tangled.
The breeze was soft, the waves steady. I sat on a rock, sketching nothing in particular—just beats , shadows. Everything felt calm. Almost too calm.
"Thinking hard again?"
I looked up.
Sienna.
"Oh—hey," I said, a little surprised. "What are you doing here?"
She shrugged and smiled faintly. "Nothing. Just… life."
She sat beside me, letting the sun warm her skin. For a moment, neither of us spoke. It wasn't awkward—just quiet. Different.
I studied her from the corner of my eye. I still didn't really know her. Everyone else acted like she'd always been around, but to me she still felt like a stranger standing too close.
She started asking me questions—about art, about school, about how long I'd known the others. I answered. Then she answered mine. Simple. Normal.
Then she asked, casually, "have you ever thought of why I want became friends with you?"
I blinked. "You mean… me?"
She nodded.
I hesitated. "I don't know. There are lots of people at Hamilton. Lots of people in the group."
She smiled softly. "Maybe because you were the first person I talked to."
"Oh," I said. "Okay."
She muttered something under her breath.
"What?" I asked.
She shook her head quickly. "Nothing."
Something about that made my stomach tighten—but I brushed it off.
Then she tilted her head. "I can tell you and Keifer don't hang out a lot."
"Yeah," I said slowly. "Kind of."
Her smile widened. "What if I make you two a candlelight dinner? Just the two of you."
I laughed. "You're serious?"
"Of course. Anything for a friend."
Friend.
The word felt strange coming from her mouth, but I nodded anyway. "Okay."
She stood. "Meet me back here at 8 p.m."
"Alright."
We walked back together. When we reached the villa, Keifer asked how my walk was.
"It was fine," I said. Normal. Casual. Like nothing was coming.
Later, I told him about the dinner plan. His reaction was… loud. Teasing, dramatic, way too excited. He kept saying "just the two of us" like it was a victory.
Sienna said she'd dress me. Keifer would get ready on his own. Simple.
She took me to one of the changing rooms near the beach and handed me a dress—then another. We changed once. Then again. She adjusted things, smiled, stepped back.
"I'll just check on the boys ," she said. "I'll come back to get you."
"Okay."
She left.
I waited.
Minutes passed.
I stood up and reached for the door.
It didn't open.
I tried again. Harder.
Nothing.
My heartbeat picked up.
"Hello?" I called out.
No answer.
I checked for my phone.
It wasn't there.
My breath caught.
The door wouldn't move. The handle didn't budge. No sound from outside. Just the faint echo of the ocean… far away.
This isn't funny.
For the first time since arriving at the villa, that calm feeling vanished.
And in its place—
Fear.