Jay stormed down the hallway like a thundercloud with legs.
Keifer followed like gravity.
But this time, something shifted.
Jay wasn't just annoyed.
She wasn't just flustered.
She was done.
She spun around so fast Keifer almost walked into her.
"STOP FOLLOWING ME."
He stopped.
Students froze mid‑step.
Crimson Oaths peeked from behind lockers.
Nightthorns leaned over railings.
Aiden was already stressed.
Daniel whispered, "Here we go again."
Jay jabbed a finger at Keifer's chest. "You don't get to act like nothing happened."
Keifer blinked once. "I didn't say nothing happened."
"You kissed me in front of the entire school!"
"You didn't move."
Jay's face burned. "THAT'S NOT THE POINT."
"It is to me."
Jay groaned loudly. "You're impossible."
Keifer stepped closer.
Jay stepped back.
Keifer stepped closer again.
Jay stepped back again.
Until—
Jay hit a locker.
Again.
But this time, Keifer didn't cage her in.
He didn't lean in.
He didn't smirk.
He stepped back.
A full step.
The hallway gasped.
Crimson Oaths whispered, "He backed up??"
Nightthorns whispered, "Is he sick??"
Aiden whispered, "Is this… character development?"
Daniel whispered, "I'm hallucinating."
Jay blinked. "What are you doing?"
Keifer's jaw tightened. "Giving you space."
Jay froze.
He continued, voice lower than usual. "You're upset. I don't want to make it worse."
Jay stared at him like he'd grown a second head. "You… care if I'm upset?"
"Yes."
"You never care if anyone's upset."
"I know."
"People say you don't apologize."
"I don't."
"People say you don't back down."
"I don't."
"People say you don't care about anyone."
"I don't."
Jay's breath caught. "Then why—"
Keifer looked at her like the answer was obvious.
"You're not 'anyone.'"
The hallway exploded.
Crimson Oaths screamed.
Nightthorns clutched their chests.
Aiden dropped his books.
Bella started crying.
Adrian whispered, "THIS IS BETTER THAN THE KISS."
Daniel whispered, "I'm transferring."
Jay's heart did a full gymnastics routine. "You can't just—just—say things like that!"
"I can," Keifer said quietly. "And I will."
Jay's voice cracked. "Why?"
Keifer didn't hesitate.
"Because you're the only one I'd ever apologize to."
Jay's brain shut down.
Her face turned red.
Her hands shook.
Her heart sprinted.
She whispered, "I'm still mad."
"I know."
"I'm still ignoring you."
"You're talking to me."
Jay froze.
Keifer's mouth twitched—almost a smile.
Jay shoved him lightly. "I hate you."
"No," he said softly, "you don't."
Jay turned away, flustered beyond repair. "I'm going to class."
Keifer followed.
But this time—
He kept a respectful distance.
And that?
Was somehow worse.
Because Jay realized something terrifying:
She missed him close.