Jay escaped the classroom the moment the bell rang. She needed silence. She needed peace. She needed a place where Keifer couldn't appear behind her like a dramatic shadow.
So she went to the library.
Quiet. Calm. Safe.
She found a table in the corner, opened her notebook, and whispered to herself, "Finally. No Keifer. No Aiden. No—"
A chair slid out across from her.
Jay froze.
She didn't even have to look up.
Only one person moved chairs like that—slow, confident, like the chair belonged to him.
Keifer sat down.
Jay slammed her notebook shut. "WHY ARE YOU HERE?!"
He rested his chin on his hand. "You left without me."
"I LEFT TO ESCAPE YOU."
He nodded. "I noticed."
Jay groaned. "Go away."
"No."
"Why?!"
"You're my partner."
"That doesn't mean you have to stalk me!"
He leaned forward. "I'm not stalking. I'm sitting."
Jay wanted to scream into a pillow.
Jay tried to read.
Keifer stared at her.
Jay tried to write.
Keifer stared harder.
Jay slammed her pencil down. "STOP STARING AT ME."
"I'm not staring," he said calmly.
"You literally haven't blinked in five minutes!"
"I'm observing."
"THAT'S WORSE."
He smirked. "You're cute when you're angry."
Jay's soul left her body.
Aiden walked into the library, saw Jay, and waved.
Jay waved back politely.
Keifer's head turned so fast it was almost supernatural.
Aiden walked over. "Hey Jay. Mind if I sit with you?"
Keifer answered before she could.
"Yes. She minds."
Jay kicked him under the table. "STOP."
Aiden blinked. "Uh… okay? I just wanted to ask if you needed help with the project."
Keifer leaned back, arms crossed. "She doesn't."
Jay glared. "I CAN SPEAK FOR MYSELF."
Aiden smiled at her. "So… do you?"
Jay opened her mouth—
Keifer slid her notebook toward himself. "She's working with me."
Aiden frowned. "You don't own her."
Keifer's voice dropped. "I know."
Jay blinked. Aiden blinked. The entire library seemed to hold its breath.
Keifer continued, softer this time, "But she's my partner. And I take care of what's mine."
Jay's heart exploded.
Aiden stepped back, confused and flustered. "Right… well… I'll see you later, Jay."
He walked away.
Jay turned to Keifer, furious. "WHAT WAS THAT?!"
"Honesty," he said.
"YOU CAN'T JUST—JUST—SCARE PEOPLE AWAY!"
"I didn't scare him."
"YES YOU DID!"
Keifer shrugged. "He'll live."
Jay buried her face in her hands. "I hate you."
"No you don't."
"I DO."
"You don't."
"I REALLY DO."
He leaned closer, voice low. "Then why didn't you move when I sat down?"
Jay froze.
Her heart betrayed her. Her brain betrayed her. Her entire soul betrayed her.
"I—uh—I—THAT'S NOT—SHUT UP."
Keifer smiled like he won a prize.
Jay tried to focus again.
Keifer leaned closer.
Too close.
"Jay," he whispered.
"What?!"
"You smell like my blanket."
Jay nearly died. "I—WHAT—WHY—HOW—STOP TALKING."
He leaned back, satisfied. "You're fun."
"I AM NOT FUN."
"You are to me."
Jay shoved her notebook into her bag. "I'm leaving."
Keifer stood up instantly. "I'll walk you."
"NO."
"Yes."
"NO."
"Yes."
Jay stomped toward the door.
Keifer followed.
And that was when the Crimson Oaths noticed.
Lyra gasped dramatically. "OH MY GOD—THEY'RE LEAVING TOGETHER."
Adrian clapped like a seal. "JAYFER IS REAL. CONFIRMED. CANON. OFFICIAL."
Bella squealed so loudly the librarian shushed her from across the room. "THEY LOOK LIKE A COUPLE IN A MOVIE."
Mila covered her face. "I can't watch this. I'm watching this."
Daniel sighed. "This is my life now."
Jay turned red. "STOP IT! WE'RE JUST—WE'RE—NOTHING IS—STOP!"
Keifer didn't even blink. "Ignore them."
Lyra yelled, "WE WILL NEVER IGNORE YOU TWO."
Adrian added, "KISS ALREADY!"
Jay threw a book at him.
Keifer smirked behind her.