It started with a drink.
Just a normal drink. Water. From the cafeteria. Jay was thirsty after class, grabbed a cup, drank it down.
It tasted weird. Slightly sweet. Slightly wrong.
She didn't think anything of it.
The first sign came five minutes later.
Jay and Keifer were walking to the library. Normal. Hand in hand. A first-year girl passed them, glanced at Keifer, smiled shyly.
Jay's eye twitched.
"Did you see that?" she asked.
"See what?"
"That girl. Smiling at you."
"She smiles at everyone. She's friendly."
"She was smiling TOO much."
Keifer looked at her. Confused. "It was a normal smile."
"It was a FLIRT smile."
"It was literally just a—"
"I SAW WHAT I SAW."
Keifer blinked. "Okay?"
Jay grabbed his hand tighter. Pulled him closer. Glared at the first-year's retreating back.
The first-year, sensing death, walked faster.
In the library, it got worse.
They sat at their usual table. Studying. Quiet. Normal.
A boy from their Magical Theory class approached. "Hey, Keifer. Got a second? Need help with the assignment."
Jay's head snapped up. "No."
The boy froze. "What?"
"He's busy. With me. Go away."
The boy looked at Keifer. Keifer looked at Jay. Jay looked murderous.
"I'll... come back later," the boy said quickly. And fled.
Keifer turned to Jay. "What was that?"
"He wanted your attention."
"He wanted homework help."
"SAME THING."
"It's really not."
"IT IS."
"Jay—"
"Don't 'Jay' me. I saw how he looked at you."
"He looked at me like I'm a study resource."
"He looked at you like you're a STUDY SNACK."
Keifer opened his mouth. Closed it. Had no idea what to say.
By lunch, things had escalated.
Jay glared at every girl who walked near their table. Snapped at every boy who said hello. Even gave the side-eye to a teacher who complimented Keifer's essay.
"Miss Mariano, is everything okay?" the teacher asked nervously.
"FINE. Everything's FINE. Why wouldn't everything be FINE?"
"Because you're holding your fork like a weapon?"
Jay looked down. She was, in fact, holding her fork like a weapon.
"I'm just... hungry."
The teacher backed away slowly.
Their friends watched from across the cafeteria.
"What's wrong with her?" Mila asked.
"I don't know. She's been like this all morning."
Lyra's eyes sparkled. "Is she... jealous?"
"Of what?"
"Of EVERYONE. Look. She's glaring at that first-year again."
The first-year in question was just walking past. Minding her own business. Jay's eyes tracked her like a hawk.
"This is AMAZING," Lyra breathed. "Jay is jealous. JAY. The girl who never gets jealous."
Adrian was already taking notes. "Fascinating. Subject Jay displaying unprecedented territorial behavior. Pupils dilated. Jaw clenched. Fork-gripping intensity: maximum."
Bella was sketching furiously. "The way she's looking at that girl. Like she wants to fight her. I need to capture this."
Daniel just shook his head. "Someone did something to her. This isn't normal."
Daniel was right.
At dinner, Jay snapped at a Nightthorn who simply nodded at Keifer in greeting.
"DON'T nod at him. He's not for nodding."
The Nightthorn stared. "I was being polite."
"Be polite somewhere else."
"Jay." Keifer touched her arm. "Calm down."
"I AM calm."
"You're not calm."
"I'm VERY calm."
"You just threatened a girl for nodding."
"It was an AGGRESSIVE nod."
Keifer sighed. Looked at their friends. "Something's wrong with her."
"Obviously," Lyra said. "The question is WHAT."
Adrian approached with his device. "Scanning. Her magical signature is slightly elevated. Unusual patterns." He paused. "There's a trace of something. A potion, maybe?"
"A potion?" Jay blinked. "I didn't take any potion."
"You drank something this morning? Tasted weird?"
Jay thought. "The water. From the cafeteria. It tasted sweet."
Adrian nodded grimly. "Jealousy potion. Low grade. Usually a prank. Heightens possessive feelings for about 12 hours."
The table went silent.
Then Lyra burst out laughing.
"JEALOUSY POTION? She's been jealous ALL DAY because of a POTION?"
"It's not funny," Jay growled.
"It's HILARIOUS." Lyra was crying with laughter. "You threatened a first-year for SMILING. You told a boy to go away for ASKING FOR HELP. You glared at a TEACHER."
Jay's face went red. "That was the potion."
"Sure it was."
"It WAS."
"The potion made you do it?"
"YES."
"Not the fact that you're secretly possessive?"
"I'm NOT possessive."
"You just spent all day being possessive."
"Because of the POTION."
Lyra grinned. "Keep telling yourself that."
Keifer, to his credit, tried to help.
He took Jay aside. Held her hands. Looked at her calmly.
"Jay. Listen to me. The potion will wear off. Just breathe. Try to relax."
She looked at him. His beautiful face. His perfect eyes. His stupid perfect hair.
"I don't want to relax," she said. "I want to fight everyone who looks at you."
"That's the potion talking."
"Maybe. But also... you're really pretty."
He blinked. "Thank you?"
"And I don't like people noticing."
"That's very... honest."
"I want to put you in a box and keep you forever."
Keifer paused. "That's... concerning."
"I know. I'm sorry. The potion is making me say things."
"What things?"
"Possessive things. Weird things. Things I don't actually mean."
"But you think I'm pretty?"
"Obviously. That's not the potion. That's just true."
He smiled. That real one. "Good to know."
The potion lasted exactly 12 hours.
At midnight, Jay collapsed on his bed, exhausted.
"Is it over?" she whispered.
"Adrian said 12 hours. It's been 12 hours."
She took a deep breath. Let it out. "I don't feel like fighting anyone anymore."
"That's progress."
"I'm so embarrassed."
"You should be."
"KEIFER."
He lay beside her. Pulled her close. "I'm kidding. It wasn't that bad."
"It was AWFUL. I threatened a first-year. I snapped at a Nightthorn. I glared at a TEACHER."
"You were very protective."
"That's not the word I'd use."
"What word would you use?"
"Crazy. Unhinged. Possessive."
He kissed her forehead. "I liked it."
She stared at him. "What?"
"The possessiveness. The jealousy. Knowing you care that much." He paused. "It's nice. Being wanted like that."
"Keifer... I always want you like that. I just don't usually threaten people about it."
"I know. But for one day, I got to see it. All of it. Unfiltered."
She buried her face in his chest. "I'm never leaving this room again."
"Yes you will. Tomorrow. And everyone will tease you about it."
"I know." Her voice was muffled. "I'm already dreading it."
The next morning, the teasing was LEGENDARY.
Lyra had a new whiteboard ready.
THE JEALOUSY POTION INCIDENT
Hours of Possessiveness: 12
People Threatened: 7 (including one teacher)
Fork Weaponization Incidents: 3
Times Jay Said "He's Mine": 15
Squirrel Confrontation: 1 (alleged)
JAYFER STATUS: ETERNAL (POTION-PROOF)
Possessiveness Level: APPARENTLY HIGH (even without potion)
LEARNINGS:
Jay is secretly VERY possessive
Keifer finds this attractive (weird)
Never give Jay weird-tasting water
Squirrels should be feared
Jay read the board. "Squirrel confrontation? I didn't fight a squirrel."
"You glared at one," Mila said. "For looking at Keifer."
"It was a SUSPICIOUS squirrel."
"There's no such thing."
"That squirrel was PLOTTING."
Bella showed her a sketch. It was Jay, pointing at a squirrel, with the caption: "Stay away from my man."
Jay covered her face. "I hate all of you."
"No you don't," Lyra said happily. "You love us. You're just embarrassed."
"I'm VERY embarrassed."
"Good. That's the point."
Keifer appeared beside her. Coffee in hand. Normal. Perfect.
"Ready for class?" he asked.
"Ready to never make eye contact with anyone again."
"That's not realistic."
"Then ready to die."
He kissed her cheek. "I'll protect you."
"From who?"
"From everyone you threatened yesterday."
She laughed. Weak but real. "That's a long list."
"I know. I made a list."
"You made a LIST?"
"Adrian helped. We're going to apologize to everyone. Together."
Jay's eyes burned. "You'd do that for me?"
"I'd do anything for you." He squeezed her hand. "Even apologize to a squirrel."
"THERE WAS NO SQUIRREL."
"There was definitely a squirrel."
"KEIFER."
He smiled. That real one.
"I love you," he said. "Potion or no potion."
"I love you too. Even though you attract admirers like a magnet."
"I don't attract admirers."
"You literally had a girl NOD at you and I wanted to fight her."
"That was the potion."
"Was it?"
He paused. "Was it?"
She thought. "I don't actually know anymore."
He laughed. Pulled her close. "Let's just go with 'it was the potion.'"
"Good plan."
They spent the morning apologizing.
To the first-year girl. "I'm sorry I glared at you. It was a potion."
To the boy who asked for help. "I'm sorry I snapped at you. It was a potion."
To the Nightthorn. "I'm sorry I threatened you. It was a potion."
To the teacher. "I'm sorry I glared at you. It was a potion."
Everyone accepted. Everyone laughed. Everyone said "don't worry about it."
But also everyone said "but also... you were really scary."
Jay wanted to die.
At lunch, Lyra had updated the whiteboard.
APOLOGY TOUR: COMPLETE
People Apologized To: 7
Times Jay Wanted to Die: 47
Times Keifer Held Her Hand: 47
Squirrel Status: STILL SUSPICIOUS
JAYFER STATUS: ETERNAL (EMBARRASSMENT-PROOF)
Bond Strength: STRONGER THAN EVER
NEXT PREDICTION:
Jay will never live this down
Keifer will bring it up forever
They're still perfect
Jay read it. Sighed.
"I'm never going to forget this, am I?"
"Nope," Lyra said happily. "We're going to mention it at your wedding."
"My WEDDING?"
"Obviously. 'Remember when Jay threatened a squirrel?' It'll be beautiful."
"There was NO SQUIRREL."
"Sure there wasn't."
Keifer squeezed her hand. "I'll defend you. At the wedding."
"Against who?"
"Everyone who brings up the squirrel."
"THERE WAS NO SQUIRREL."
He kissed her forehead. "I know. But it's fun to pretend."
She glared at him. No heat. Just love.
"I hate you."
"No you don't."
"No. I don't."
That night, in his room, they lay in the dark.
"Jay?"
"Yeah?"
"I meant what I said. About liking it. The possessiveness."
She turned to look at him. "Really?"
"Really. It's nice. Knowing you feel that strongly."
"I always feel that strongly. I just hide it better."
"I know. But for one day, I got to see it all."
She kissed him. Soft. "You're weird."
"You love it."
"I love YOU."
"Same thing."
"It's really not."
"IS."
"IS NOT."
"IS."
"IS NOT."
He kissed her. She kissed back.
The argument could wait.