Morticia Black Hollow didn't even wait until morning.
She stormed into the cafeteria during lunch, slammed her cane on a table, and pointed straight at Jay and Keifer.
"You two. Training room. Now."
The entire cafeteria screamed.
Crimson Oaths: "WHAT DID THEY DO NOW—" Nightthorns: "THEY'RE IN TROUBLE AGAIN—" Aiden: "I can't breathe." Daniel: "I'm transferring."
Jay groaned. "Why us—"
Morticia cut her off. "Your auras are unstable. You need controlled training. Together."
Jay's soul left her body. Keifer looked like he'd been waiting for this moment his whole life.
The room was huge, glowing, and filled with floating crystals.
Jay stepped inside and immediately felt the magic buzzing.
Keifer followed her in.
Morticia shut the door behind them.
"You have one hour," she said. "Hold the resonance orb together. Match your breathing. Match your energy. Or the room will shake."
Jay: "THE ROOM WILL WHAT—" Morticia: "Good luck."
The door locked.
Jay turned to Keifer. "This is your fault."
Keifer picked up the glowing orb. "Hold it."
"No."
"Jay."
"No."
He stepped closer.
Jay backed up.
He stepped closer again.
Jay hit a crystal.
The crystal glowed bright red.
Jay screamed, "OKAY FINE—GIVE ME THE STUPID ORB—"
She grabbed it.
The orb lit up instantly.
Jay's magic sparked. Keifer's aura darkened. The orb glowed brighter.
Jay whispered, "Why is it doing that—"
Keifer smirked. "Because you're nervous."
"I AM NOT—"
"You are."
"I—"
The orb pulsed.
The room shook.
Jay squeaked, "STOP TEASING ME—THE ROOM IS GOING TO EXPLODE—"
Keifer leaned in slightly. "Then stop reacting to me."
Jay's face went red. "I HATE YOU."
"No you don't."
"YES I DO—"
The orb glowed so bright Jay thought it would burst.
Keifer's voice dropped. "Jay."
She looked up.
He was staring at her again.
Soft. Focused. Too close.
"You still didn't answer me," he said quietly.
Jay froze. "Answer what?"
"You know."
Jay's heart sprinted. "Keifer—don't—"
He stepped closer.
Jay stepped back.
The orb pulsed.
The room shook harder.
Keifer whispered, "I meant what I said."
Jay swallowed. "Stop."
"I like you."
Jay's breath caught.
Her magic flared.
The orb exploded with light.
The room shook so violently Jay fell forward—
right into Keifer.
He caught her.
One arm around her waist. The other still holding the orb.
Jay's face burned. "LET GO—"
"No."
"KEIFER—"
"You're shaking."
"I AM NOT—"
"You are."
Jay shoved him away, flustered beyond repair.
The orb dimmed.
The room stopped shaking.
Jay whispered, "I'm not answering you."
Keifer nodded once. "I know."
Jay blinked. "You're… okay with that?"
"For now."
Jay's stomach flipped.
The door unlocked.
Jay and Keifer stepped out—
and the entire school was waiting.
Crimson Oaths screamed. Nightthorns screamed. Aiden fainted. Daniel whispered, "I'm transferring TODAY."
Bella yelled, "WHAT HAPPENED—" Adrian yelled, "WHY ARE YOU BOTH RED—" Someone else yelled, "DID YOU KISS—" Another yelled, "JAYFER IS REAL—"
Jay covered her face. "NOTHING HAPPENED—"
Keifer smirked. "She fell on me."
The hallway exploded.
Jay shoved him. "STOP TALKING—"
He leaned in slightly. "Make me."
Jay's heart did a full flip.