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✦ CHAPTER — LINES & LIMITS ✦
Jayjay's POV
Something felt off the moment class started.
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Too quiet.
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Too… serious.
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Keifer stood at the front.
Calm.
Unreadable.
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"Submit your assignments."
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Groans filled the room.
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Freya whispered,
"I forgot."
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"…same."
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One by one, papers went up.
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He checked them.
Silent.
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Then closed the file.
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"Those who didn't complete it—stay back."
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The class froze.
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"Sir—"
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"No excuses."
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Dead silence.
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Then—
Mica raised a brow.
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"What about Mrs. Watson?"
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My heart stopped.
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The whole class turned.
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Slowly—
he looked at me.
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Paused.
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"She's already done her part."
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The class erupted.
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"WHAT DOES THAT MEAN—"
"Sir???"
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"Enough."
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His tone shut everyone up instantly.
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But my face burned.
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Because I knew—
he said that on purpose.
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Class ended.
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Most students stayed back.
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I started packing.
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"Mrs. Watson."
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I froze.
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"…yes?"
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"Stay."
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My breath caught.
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"I did my work."
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"I know."
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"…then why—"
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"Stay."
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This time—
softer.
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Everyone slowly left.
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Whispers.
Teasing looks.
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Until it was just us.
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Silence.
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I turned.
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"…why did you make me stay?"
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He walked closer.
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"You were going to leave."
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"That's normal—"
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"Not for me."
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My breath hitched.
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He stopped in front of me.
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Too close.
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"I don't like it when you walk away."
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My chest tightened.
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"…you ignored me the whole class."
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A pause.
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His jaw clenched slightly.
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"I had to."
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"…why?"
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He looked at me then.
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Really looked.
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"Because if I didn't—"
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He stopped.
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Then quieter—
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"I wouldn't keep it professional."
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My heart skipped.
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Silence.
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Then—
before I could react—
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he leaned in.
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A quick, gentle kiss to my forehead.
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My breath caught.
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It was soft.
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But it stayed.
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"…Keifer—"
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He pulled back slightly.
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"Go home."
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"…what?"
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"I'll come later."
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And just like that—
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he stepped away again.
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Back to distance.
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Evening.
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I was already home when he arrived.
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Late.
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Tired.
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Still… him.
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"…you're late."
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He glanced at me.
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"…work."
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Of course.
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I crossed my arms.
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"You punished everyone today."
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A pause.
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"They didn't do their work."
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"And me?"
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Silence.
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He walked closer.
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Slow.
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"You stayed."
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"That's not fair."
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A slight shift in his expression.
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"Neither is you trying to leave me every time."
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My breath caught.
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"…I don't—"
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He stepped closer.
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Too close.
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My heart started racing.
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"…then don't."
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His voice dropped.
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Soft.
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Then—
he reached out.
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Tilted my chin slightly.
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And pressed a quick, gentle kiss to my lips.
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My breath stopped.
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It wasn't long.
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Just a second.
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But it felt like more.
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"…Keifer."
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He didn't move far.
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"Stay."
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My heart didn't calm down.
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Not even a little.
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"…you're confusing."
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A quiet exhale.
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"You're the only one I don't understand either."
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Silence.
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Then—
I remembered.
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"…how are you even my professor?"
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That made him pause.
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Just for a second.
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Then—
he stepped back slightly.
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"Temporary position."
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"That doesn't explain anything."
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His gaze held mine.
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Calm.
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"I didn't apply for it."
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My brows furrowed.
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"…then how?"
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A pause.
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Then simply—
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"I was given the position."
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"That's not normal."
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"No," he said quietly.
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"It isn't."
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Silence.
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Then—
he stepped closer again.
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Lower voice.
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"When you have enough power… you don't ask for things."
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My breath caught.
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"You take them."
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And suddenly—
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it made sense.
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The professor.
The control.
The way everyone listened.
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Everything.
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And before I could say anything—
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his hand found mine again.
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Holding it.
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Like earlier.
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Like always now.
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"And you?"
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My heart skipped.
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"…what about me?"
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His gaze softened slightly.
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"You're the only thing I didn't take."
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My breath caught.
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"I waited."
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Silence.
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Because that—
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that meant more than everything
✦ CHAPTER — FIRST LINE CROSSED ✦
Jayjay's POV
Break time finally felt normal.
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For once.
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No pressure.
No staring.
No… him watching every move.
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I sat with the others.
Laughing a little.
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"…so how does it feel being Mrs. Watson in class?" Freya teased.
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"Freya—"
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"What? We're all thinking it."
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Mica grinned.
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"I'd fail on purpose just to see his reaction."
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"Don't even try," Sarah laughed.
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"Man is terrifying."
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"…he's not that bad," I muttered.
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"Of course you'd say that."
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Before I could respond—
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"Hey."
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A new voice.
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We all turned.
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Kyle.
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I'd seen him before.
Around campus.
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But we never talked.
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"Can I sit?"
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Freya raised a brow.
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"Since when do you ask?"
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He smirked slightly.
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"Today."
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Before I could say anything—
he sat.
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Next to me.
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Too close.
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I shifted slightly.
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"…hi."
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"Hi," he said, looking straight at me.
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Not casual.
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Focused.
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"You're Jay, right?"
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"…yeah."
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"I've heard about you."
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Of course.
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Everyone had.
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I forced a small smile.
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"Good things, I hope."
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A soft chuckle.
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"Depends."
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Something about that—
felt off.
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Then—
he leaned closer.
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"You always this quiet?"
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My breath caught slightly.
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"I'm not—"
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"You are."
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His voice dropped just a little.
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"And it's interesting."
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Freya and Mica exchanged looks.
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Because now—
it wasn't just conversation.
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It was… something else.
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"Kyle—"
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"Relax," he said lightly.
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"I'm just talking."
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But he didn't move back.
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Didn't give space.
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And my chest tightened.
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Because I didn't like it.
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Keifer's POV
I saw him.
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Before she did.
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Before anyone did.
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The way he walked in.
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The way he looked at her.
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I knew.
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And I didn't like it.
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Not even a little.
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I stayed where I was.
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Watching.
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Because I wanted to see—
how far he'd go.
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Mistake.
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He sat too close.
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Talked too much.
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Didn't read the room.
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And she—
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she didn't push him away immediately.
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That irritated me more than it should've.
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My jaw tightened.
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Enough.
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I started walking.
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Slow.
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Controlled.
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But not calm.
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Never calm when it came to her.
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Jayjay's POV
Something changed.
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I felt it.
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That shift in the air.
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Heavy.
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Familiar.
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My breath caught.
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I turned.
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And there he was.
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Keifer.
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Walking toward us.
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Slow.
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Too calm.
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And that scared me more than anything.
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The group went quiet.
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Completely.
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Kyle noticed too.
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But didn't move.
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Didn't step back.
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Bad idea.
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Keifer stopped beside me.
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Close.
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Too close.
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His hand slid to my waist instantly.
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Pulling me into him.
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Like it was nothing.
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Like it was natural.
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"Baby."
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My breath caught.
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That word—
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in front of everyone.
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Again.
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Kyle leaned back slightly.
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"…didn't know you were this open about it."
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Keifer didn't respond immediately.
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His hand tightened just slightly.
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Not enough to hurt.
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Just enough to remind.
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Then—
his voice came.
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Calm.
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Cold.
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"Is there a reason you're sitting this close to my wife?"
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Silence.
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The word wife hit harder this time.
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Because this—
this was the first time it sounded like a warning.
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Kyle didn't flinch.
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"We were talking."
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Keifer's gaze didn't move.
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"Then talk from there."
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A beat.
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Then quieter—
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"Not here."
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The meaning was clear.
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Very clear.
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Kyle held his gaze for a second.
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Then slowly leaned back.
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Hands up slightly.
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"Alright."
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But his eyes flicked to me again.
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"I didn't mean anything by it."
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Keifer didn't answer.
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Didn't move.
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Didn't even blink.
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Until—
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Kyle stood up.
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And walked away.
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Only then—
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the tension broke.
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But not completely.
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Because his hand was still on my waist.
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Still holding me there.
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Like he wasn't done.
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"…Keifer."
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He looked down at me.
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And this time—
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there was something different in his eyes.
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Not just anger.
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Something deeper.
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"…did he make you uncomfortable?"
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My breath caught.
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"…a little."
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His jaw tightened.
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Not at me.
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Never at me.
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At that.
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"I don't like that."
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His voice dropped.
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Low.
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Controlled.
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"I know."
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Silence.
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Then—
his grip softened slightly.
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But didn't leave.
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"Next time," he said quietly,
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"you move away."
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My heart skipped.
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"…okay."
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A pause.
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Then softer—
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"Or I will."
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And something about that—
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sent a shiver down my spine.
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Because this wasn't just jealousy.
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This was—
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him not letting anyone cross that line again