The Fight Before the Fall
Jay hadn't spoken much since the hallway.
She didn't pull away from Keifer - not physically, at least. But her replies got quieter. Her eyes looked past him. And she didn't laugh at his stupid jokes anymore.
And Keifer?
He noticed everything.
He found her alone again, curled up on the edge of the couch, cast resting on a pillow, laptop open but untouched.
"You're mad," he said softly.
"I'm not."
"Then talk to me."
"I don't want to fight."
"Then why does it feel like you already gave up?"
Jay closed the laptop.
And said, low, "Because I don't know what this is anymore."
Keifer blinked. "This?"
"You... me. Us." She stood, wincing slightly as she moved her arm. "This started because of our families. Because we were supposed to be something. Not because we were."
"We are now."
"But would we be," she asked quietly, "if we weren't forced to be together?"
Keifer's expression cracked.
"Is that what you really think?" he said. "That I'm only here because of some stupid promise?"
Jay didn't answer.
So he kept going.
"You think I would've stayed after all this - after you pushed me, punched me, kissed me, ignored me, nearly got yourself killed - just because of our parents?"
"You didn't even want this in the beginning!" she snapped. "You had Ella. You were fine!"
"I was pretending."
Jay's voice cracked. "So am I."
Silence.
Then-
"Fine," he said.
"Fine," she echoed.
He walked out.
She didn't stop him.
But the door closing behind him sounded a lot like heartbreak.
The Next Day - Practice Field
Jay didn't see Keifer at breakfast.
Not at school.
Not during lunch.
She pretended it didn't matter. Until Aries texted her.
"He took a hit during practice. Sprained wrist. Minor concussion. He's fine. Thought you'd wanna know."
Her phone almost slipped from her hands.
That Evening - His Room
Jay let herself in.
He was on the bed, hoodie pulled over his head, wrist wrapped, eyes half-lidded with exhaustion.
He looked up.
Didn't say anything.
She sat beside him silently and opened the small first aid kit she brought.
"You don't have to."
"I know."
She gently unwrapped his wrist. Disinfected the scrapes. Avoided his eyes.
"Why are you really here?" he asked, voice quiet.
She didn't look up. "Because you're stupid. And reckless. And I'd rather be mad with you than scared without you."
Keifer's breath hitched.
Jay finally looked up, tears burning her lashes. "I'm scared that if I really let myself love you... you'll leave. You'll wake up one day and realize it was just convenient. Temporary. That I was temporary."
He reached for her.
Held her broken hand like it was made of glass.
"I've known a lot of things since we were kids, Jay," he whispered. "But the one thing I've never been unsure of... is you."
And Jay broke.
She didn't kiss him.
She just leaned forward until her forehead touched his chest and let herself feel.
He didn't say anything.
Just held her.
Like he was scared too.