Chapter 49: The Great Snack Rebellion
(Jay Jay's POV)
The Watson mansion was quiet again.
Too quiet.
Which usually meant one thing.
My brain had time to think.
And when my brain thought…
It made bad decisions.
Earlier that evening Keifer had made a terrible rule.
A completely unfair rule.
A rule that should probably be illegal.
Keifer's rule:
"Five snacks a day."
Five.
Five!
After buying half the mini mart!
I was currently sitting on the couch, arms crossed, staring at the snack pile on the coffee table like it had personally betrayed me.
Keifer sat across from me reading something on his phone.
Calm.
Relaxed.
Completely unaware of the rebellion forming in my head.
Jay:
"Five snacks is cruel."
He didn't even look up.
Keifer:
"It's healthy."
Jay:
"I got shot."
Keifer:
"Yes."
Jay:
"That means I deserve snacks."
Keifer:
"That means you deserve recovery."
Jay:
"And snacks help recovery."
He finally looked up.
Keifer:
"Nice try."
I glared at him.
Jay:
"You're controlling my happiness."
Keifer:
"I'm controlling your sugar intake."
Jay:
"That's the same thing."
He shook his head and stood up.
Keifer:
"Five snacks."
He pointed at the pile.
Keifer:
"You've already eaten four today."
Jay:
"So technically I still have one left."
Keifer narrowed his eyes.
Keifer:
"Yes."
Jay:
"Good."
I grabbed a chocolate bar dramatically.
Keifer:
"That's the last one."
Jay:
"We'll see."
He sighed like a tired parent.
The evening passed peacefully after that.
We watched a movie.
I ate my "last snack."
Keifer pretended to trust me.
And eventually…
We went to bed.
But around midnight…
I woke up.
And suddenly…
I had a problem.
I was hungry.
My brain immediately remembered the snacks downstairs.
All of them.
Waiting.
I slowly slipped out of bed.
Carefully.
Quietly.
Like a professional thief.
(Keifer's POV)
Something moved.
My eyes opened instantly.
Years of dangerous living had trained me to wake up at the smallest sound.
I reached for Jay Jay automatically.
Empty.
I sighed.
Already knowing exactly what was happening.
Me:
"…No."
I got out of bed and walked toward the hallway.
Sure enough…
A faint light glowed from the living room.
And when I walked in—
There she was.
Jay Jay sat cross-legged on the floor.
Surrounded by snacks again.
Chocolate bars.
Cookies.
Candy.
Chips.
She looked up slowly.
Jay:
"…Hi."
I closed my eyes for a second.
Trying very hard not to laugh.
Or scream.
Me:
"You're unbelievable."
She held a chocolate bar defensively.
Jay:
"I got hungry."
Me:
"You broke the rule."
Jay:
"The rule is unfair."
Me:
"You agreed to it."
Jay:
"I lied."
I walked over and picked up the snack pile.
Jay:
"HEY!"
I lifted the bowl out of her reach.
Jay:
"Keifer!"
Me:
"You've had enough sugar for today."
Jay:
"No I haven't!"
Me:
"Yes you have."
Jay:
"You're being a dictator!"
Me:
"I'm being responsible."
Jay:
"You're being annoying!"
Me:
"You're being impossible!"
Jay:
"You started the snack war!"
Me:
"You escalated it!"
Jay:
"Give them back!"
Me:
"No."
Jay:
"I refuse to move until you give them back."
She crossed her arms dramatically.
And sat firmly on the floor.
I stared at her.
Me:
"You're protesting."
Jay:
"Yes."
Me:
"In the living room."
Jay:
"Yes."
Me:
"Over chocolate."
Jay:
"Yes."
I rubbed my face with one hand.
Trying to process my life choices.
Me:
"You're seventeen-almost eighteen years old."
Jay:
"And hungry."
Me:
"You're stubborn."
Jay:
"Correct."
Me:
"You're not getting the snacks."
Jay:
"Then I'm not moving."
Silence.
I sighed.
Deeply.
The sigh of a man who had lost control of his life.
Then I walked over to her.
Jay:
"What are you doing?"
I bent down and picked her up in bridal style.
Jay:
"HEY!"
Me:
"Protest denied."
Jay:
"PUT ME DOWN!"
Me:
"No."
Jay:
"I'M ANGRY!"
Me:
"I know."
Jay:
"THIS IS UNFAIR!"
Me:
"I know."
Jay:
"I HATE YOU!"
Me:
"You love me."
She glared at me.
Furiously.
I carried her upstairs anyway.
Into the bedroom.
I placed her carefully on the bed.
She immediately turned away dramatically.
Back facing me.
Jay:
"I'm still angry."
I climbed into bed beside her.
Wrapped my arms around her waist.
She tried to stay mad.
But didn't move away.
Jay:
"You kidnapped me."
Me:
"I rescued you from sugar poisoning."
Jay:
"That's not a thing."
Me:
"It is tonight."
She huffed again.
Still stubborn.
Still dramatic.
I pulled her closer gently.
Then I kissed her forehead softly.
And whispered quietly.
Me:
"Good night… my snacks-eating troublemaker."
(Jay Jay's POV)
My brain short-circuited instantly.
My anger…
Completely melted.
I tried to stay mad.
Really.
I tried.
But his voice was warm.
His arms were tight around me.
And the forehead kiss ruined everything.
Jay:
"…You're annoying."
Keifer chuckled quietly behind me.
Keifer:
"Go to sleep."
I sighed.
Relaxing against him.
Jay:
"Tomorrow I'm eating seven snacks."
Keifer:
"We'll negotiate."
Jay:
"Eight."
Keifer:
"Sleep."
His arms tightened slightly around me.
Protective.
Warm.
Comforting.
And slowly…
The mansion returned to silence again.
But this time…
The silence wasn't empty.
It was peaceful.