Class was normal for exactly ten seconds.
Then the door slammed open.
Principal Morticia Black Hollow walked in, long black coat flying behind her like she was entering a crime scene.
Everyone froze.
Crimson Oaths gasped. Nightthorns sat up straight. Aiden dropped his pencil. Daniel whispered, "I'm dead."
Morticia pointed at Jay and Keifer.
"You two. Office. Now."
The whole class screamed.
"WHAT DID THEY DO—" "IS IT THE MAGIC—" "THE LIGHTS EXPLODED—" "JAYFER IS IN TROUBLE—" "AIDEN DON'T CRY—"
Jay hid her face. Keifer stood up calmly like this was a normal Tuesday.
They followed Morticia down the hall while the entire school trailed behind them like excited ducks.
Morticia shut the door so hard the windows shook.
She stared at them.
Jay stared at the floor. Keifer stared at Jay.
Morticia sighed loudly. "You two caused a forbidden aura reaction."
Jay blinked. "A what?"
Morticia pointed at her. "Your magic exploded."
Jay pointed at Keifer. "BECAUSE OF HIM—"
Keifer shrugged. "She reacted to me."
Jay threw her hands up. "STOP SAYING THAT!"
Morticia slammed a book on the desk.
Both jumped.
"Listen," Morticia said. "If your auras react again, the school could break. Walls. Lights. Maybe the roof."
Jay: "THE ROOF?!" Keifer: "We'll be careful." Jay: "STOP BEING CALM—"
Morticia opened a dusty old rulebook.
"Until your magic settles," she said, "you two must do something very simple."
Jay leaned forward.
Keifer leaned forward.
Morticia said:
"You must touch hands for ten seconds every morning."
Jay's soul left her body.
"WHAT—NO—NO—NO—"
Keifer nodded. "Okay."
Jay spun toward him. "NOT OKAY—"
Morticia continued, "Skin-to-skin. Ten seconds. Every morning. Or your magic will explode again."
Jay: "THIS IS A NIGHTMARE." Keifer: "This is fine." Jay: "STOP ENJOYING THIS—"
Morticia waved them out. "Go. And don't break my school."
The moment they stepped out, the entire school was waiting.
Crimson Oaths: "WHAT DID SHE SAY—" Nightthorns: "ARE YOU SUSPENDED—" Aiden: "ARE YOU ALIVE—" Daniel: "I'm leaving."
Jay opened her mouth.
Keifer spoke first.
"We have to hold hands every morning."
The hallway exploded.
"WHAT—" "THEY'RE BASICALLY DATING—" "MAGICALLY BONDED—" "THE SCHOOL WILL EXPLODE IF THEY DON'T TOUCH—" "AIDEN DON'T CRY—" "JAYFER IS REAL—"
Jay turned bright red. "STOP—STOP—STOP—"
Keifer leaned in slightly.
"Ten seconds," he reminded her.
Jay shoved him. "DON'T SAY IT LIKE THAT—"
The lights flickered.
Crimson Oaths screamed. Nightthorns ducked. Aiden fainted. Daniel walked away whispering, "I'm transferring."
Jay groaned. "I hate this."
Keifer smirked. "I don't."
And the whole school watched them walk away—
knowing tomorrow morning…
they'd have to hold hands.
For ten seconds.
Or the school might explode.
And Keifer?
He was counting the minutes.