The classroom buzzed with leftover chaos from yesterday's jealous‑Keifer moment. Jay tried to sit as far away from him as possible. Keifer, of course, sat where he always did—calm, confident, and staring at her like she was the only person in the room.
Jay pretended not to notice.
She failed.
The teacher walked in with a stack of papers. "Today, we begin a long‑term project. You will work in pairs."
Jay's soul left her body.
Bella whispered, "If you get Keifer again, I'm screaming."
Adrian whispered, "If she gets Keifer again, I'm recording."
Daniel whispered, "If she gets Keifer again, I'm leaving the country."
Mila whispered, "She's getting Keifer again."
Jay whispered, "SHUT UP."
The teacher cleared her throat. "Partners will be assigned randomly."
Jay prayed to every god, ghost and tree spirit in the forest.
The teacher read the list.
"Lyra and Adrian."
Adrian fist‑pumped.
"Bella and Mila."
Bella squealed.
"Daniel and Aiden."
Daniel groaned. Aiden smiled politely.
Jay held her breath.
The teacher looked at the last paper.
"Jay… and Keifer."
Jay slammed her forehead onto the desk. "I HATE THIS SCHOOL."
The entire class exploded.
Crimson Oaths: "JAYFER! JAYFER! JAYFER!"
Nightthorns: "WHY THEM AGAIN?!"
Aiden: "Seriously?" Bella: "THIS IS DESTINY."
Adrian: "THIS IS A SOAP OPERA."
Daniel: "I'm moving to another dimension."
Jay glared at the ceiling. "WHY ME?!"
Keifer stood up slowly, walked over to her desk, and held out his hand.
"Come on," he said calmly. "We're partners."
Jay slapped his hand away. "I'm not holding your hand!"
He smirked. "I didn't ask you to. Yet."
Jay choked on air.
The class screamed again.
They sat together at the back of the room. Jay scooted her chair as far away as possible.
Keifer dragged her chair right back beside his.
Jay hissed, "STOP DOING THAT."
"You're too far," he said.
"I LIKE BEING FAR."
"I don't."
Jay wanted to throw the table at him.
The teacher explained the project: "Partners must work closely. You will need trust, communication, and cooperation."
Keifer leaned in. "We have trust."
Jay: "NO WE DON'T."
Keifer: "We have communication."
Jay: "STOP TALKING TO ME."
Keifer: "And we have cooperation."
Jay: "I WILL BITE YOU."
Keifer smiled. "See? We're perfect."
Jay's brain melted.
While they worked, Keifer kept leaning closer.
Too close.
Jay could feel his breath on her cheek.
"Can you not sit so close?" she whispered.
"I'm helping," he said.
"You're breathing on me."
"I like breathing near you."
Jay nearly flipped the desk.
Bella watched from across the room, mouthing "JAYFER" every five seconds. Adrian kept giving thumbs‑up. Daniel looked like he wanted to disappear. Aiden glared at Keifer like he wanted a rematch.
Jay whispered, "Everyone is staring."
Keifer shrugged. "Let them."
"YOU LIKE THIS ATTENTION."
"I like you."
Jay's heart stopped.
Her pencil fell out of her hand.
Her brain shut down.
Her soul left her body.
Keifer smirked. "You okay?"
"No," she whispered.
"Good."
The teacher walked by and said, "You two seem very… close."
Jay: "WE'RE NOT—THIS IS—HE'S—WE'RE—NO—STOP—HELP—"
Keifer calmly said, "We work well together."
Jay stared at him like he was a demon.
The teacher nodded. "Good. You'll be partners for the next three weeks."
Jay screamed internally.
Keifer leaned closer, voice low.
"Three weeks with me," he whispered. "Try not to fall in love."
Jay threw her notebook at him.
He caught it with one hand.
Smiling.
And that was how the universe forced Jay and Keifer together again— and made the entire school lose their minds all over again.