School after The Night was… different.
Before, Jay and Keifer were a rumor, a drama, a "will-they-won't-they" soap opera the whole school watched.
Now? They were a "fact". A walking, hand-holding, blush-inducing fact. And their friends and the entire Crimson Oath faction had decided it was the best thing that had ever happened to Black Hollow.
The teasing started the moment they walked into the Crimson common room for breakfast.
Adrian, the scientist, was ready. He'd made a chart.
"Good morning!" he chirped, holding up a big piece of paper. "I've been tracking data. Based on observed proximity, frequency of eye contact, and blush saturation levels in Jay's cheeks, I predict a 98.7% chance that you two are officially… "a thing"."
Jay tried to grab the chart. "Adrian, I swear to—"
Lyra slung an arm around her shoulders, steering her toward the food. "Don't mind him, sweetie. He's just jealous his love life isn't a magical, school-shaking phenomenon. Now, you need to eat. You need your strength." She winked, exaggerated and slow. "For… "things"."
Keifer just calmly took a tray, a faint smile on his face. He seemed completely unbothered. This, of course, made it worse.
Bella had her sketchbook out. "Don't move! This pose is perfect! It's called 'President Boyfriend Gets His Girlfriend an Apple.' The romantic tension is… palpable." She sighed dreamily. "My muse has never been so inspired."
Jay buried her face in her hands. "There is no romantic tension over an apple!"
Keifer picked up the apple and took a loud, crisp bite, his eyes never leaving hers. "Isn't there?"
The whole table of Crimson students OOOOOH"-ed in unison.
Mila was the "voice of reason," which meant she was just a subtler menace. "Jay, honey, I'm just concerned. Are you getting enough sleep? You look… well-rested. "Very" well-rested. Peaceful, even." She smiled innocently.
Jay kicked her under the table.
Daniel, the long-suffering one, just pushed his food around his plate. "I used to worry about ghosts and curses," he muttered. "Now my biggest fear is walking in on a 'magical aura synchronization' session. The trauma is real."
Everywhere they went, it was the same.
Walking to class? A group of first-year Crimsons would point and whisper-giggle, then one brave soul would shout, "WE SUPPORT YOU, JAYFER!" before they all scampered away.
In the library? The librarian, a stern old man, shushed them not for talking, but because, "The palpable romantic energy is distracting other students, Miss Mariano. Please contain it."
The worst was Aiden. He'd see them and give a sad, wobbly smile. "I'm happy for you guys. Really. It's great. The way you… glow together. It's fine. I'm fine." He'd then walk directly into a wall.
The love drama wasn't just teasing, though. It was changing things.
Freya and the Nightthorns were colder than ever, shooting icy glares that could freeze fire. But the bite was gone. It was more of a grumpy acceptance. They'd lost. Everyone knew it.
The real drama popped up in Magic Fundamentals.
The teacher paired everyone randomly for a simple charm. Jay got paired with Ethan, a friendly, handsome Crimson boy from the year above.
Ethan smiled. "Hey, Jay. Heard you're an expert at… synergistic magic now."
Keifer, paired with a shy Nightthorn girl across the room, went completely still. He didn't look over. He didn't say a word. But the temperature in the room dropped about ten degrees.
Jay, trying to focus, fumbled her wand. "Ha. Yeah. Something like that."
Ethan leaned in to help her correct her grip. "Here, like this—"
CRACK.
The crystal orb on Keifer's desk fractured, a clean split right down the middle. His partner squeaked. Keifer didn't even look at it. He was staring at Ethan's hand near Jay's.
The whole class froze. The teacher sighed, pinching the bridge of her nose. "Mr. Watson. Control. Miss Mariano, perhaps switch partners with Miss Shy over there before President Jealousy here implodes the curriculum."
Blushing furiously, Jay switched. When she sat next to Keifer, he finally looked at her. His jaw was tight.
"You were standing very close," he said, his voice low.
"He was showing me a wand grip!" she hissed back.
"He has eyes."
"So do you! And they're currently being very dramatic!"
A slow smirk finally broke through his stormy expression. He leaned closer, his voice a private rumble just for her. "You're mine. I don't like sharing."
Her anger fizzled into a flutter. "Possessive much?"
"Absolutely."
Later, in the courtyard, the Crimson Oaths ambushed them for a "team meeting."
Lyra stood on a bench. "Listen up! Our leaders are in LOVE! This is a strategic advantage! Their combined, smoochy power is unstoppable! But!" She pointed a finger at Keifer. "Mr. President, no more breaking school property when you get jealous. We can't afford the fines." She pointed at Jay. "And you! No blushing when other boys breathe in your direction! You're making our fearless leader lose his cool, and it's hilarious, but slightly dangerous."
Jay looked at Keifer. He looked back, a challenge in his eyes. The surrounding students held their breath.
Then, Keifer did something no one expected. He pulled Jay to him and kissed her—right there in the middle of the courtyard—not a soft, sweet kiss, but a quick, firm, claiming one.
The Crimson Oaths ERUPTED. Cheers, whistles, someone started chanting "JAYFER! JAYFER!"
He pulled back, ignoring the chaos, his eyes only on her. "Let them talk," he said.
And Jay, her heart doing backflips, realized something. The teasing, the drama, the jealous glares… it was all just noise. Annoying, embarrassing, constant noise.
But his hand in hers? That was quiet. That was real. And as another wave of their friends' laughter washed over them, she squeezed his hand, stood on her toes, and whispered back, just for him, "You're still annoying."
He smiled, the real one that was only for her. "I know."