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✦ CHAPTER — TOO CLOSE ✦
Jayjay's POV
I couldn't focus.
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Not after that.
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Not after Kyle.
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Not after—
him.
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My heart still hadn't settled.
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Even though break was over.
Even though everyone went back.
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Even though everything looked normal again.
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It didn't feel normal.
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"…Jay?"
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Freya's voice pulled me back.
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"Hm?"
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"You've been staring at the same page for five minutes."
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"Oh."
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I looked down.
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I hadn't even realized.
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Before I could say anything—
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"Mrs. Watson."
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My breath caught.
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That voice.
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I looked up.
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He was already looking at me.
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Of course he was.
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"Come here."
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My heart skipped.
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"…now?"
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A pause.
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His gaze didn't change.
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"Now."
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Silence filled the room.
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Freya nudged me slightly.
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"Go."
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I stood up slowly.
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Every step toward him felt louder than it should.
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Closer.
Closer.
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Until I was right in front of him.
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"…yes?"
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He didn't answer immediately.
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Just looked at me.
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Too long.
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Too quietly.
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Then—
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"Stay after class."
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My breath caught.
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"…why?"
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A slight tilt of his head.
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"Do you always question me?"
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My cheeks warmed.
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"…no."
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"Then don't start now."
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And just like that—
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he looked away.
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Like nothing happened.
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But everything did.
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After class
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The room emptied slowly.
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Too slowly.
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I stood there.
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Waiting.
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Not knowing why my heart was racing like this.
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The door closed.
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And it was just us.
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Silence.
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"…what did you want?"
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He didn't answer right away.
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Just walked toward me.
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Step by step.
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Slow.
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Controlled.
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But something felt different.
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Not distant.
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Not cold.
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Something else.
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"Why didn't you move away?"
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My breath caught.
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"…from Kyle?"
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His jaw tightened slightly.
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"Yes."
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I swallowed.
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"I didn't think it was that serious."
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A pause.
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He ran a hand through his hair.
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Exhaling quietly.
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"I know."
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Softer this time.
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"That's the problem."
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My chest tightened.
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"…what do you mean?"
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He stepped closer.
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Closing the distance.
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"You don't see it."
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"See what?"
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His eyes held mine.
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Too intense.
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"The way people look at you."
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My breath caught.
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Silence.
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"…what do I do?"
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The question slipped out before I could stop it.
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And something in his expression shifted.
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Softer.
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More dangerous.
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He stepped closer again.
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Now there was barely any space left.
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"You do this."
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My heart started racing.
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"What?"
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He didn't answer.
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Not with words.
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He just looked at me.
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Really looked.
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Then—
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he leaned in.
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My breath caught instantly.
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Everything stilled.
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His face so close—
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too close.
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I could feel his breath.
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My eyes fluttered slightly.
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Waiting.
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Without even realizing it.
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Just a little more—
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Just—
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He stopped.
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Right there.
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So close that if I moved even a little—
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I'd close the distance myself.
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My heart was pounding.
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Loud.
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Fast.
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"…Keifer…"
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His eyes closed for a second.
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Like he was holding something back.
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Fighting something.
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Then—
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he stepped back.
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Suddenly.
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Too suddenly.
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My breath broke.
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The moment shattered.
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"Not here."
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His voice was lower now.
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Rougher.
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Like that almost—
cost him something.
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I couldn't speak.
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Couldn't move.
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Because I felt it.
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That shift.
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That tension.
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That something between us—
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that wasn't there before.
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Or maybe—
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it was.
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And now—
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we just couldn't ignore it anymore.
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He looked at me one last time.
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Then turned away.
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"Go home."
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Soft.
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But final.
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And I did.
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But my heart didn't calm down.
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Not even a little.
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Because now—
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I knew.
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We were getting too close to something—
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neither of us was ready to stop. 😭🔥🤍
✦ CHAPTER — SLEEPLESS ✦
Jayjay's POV
The ride home was quiet.
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Too quiet.
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Not awkward.
Not cold.
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Just…
heavy.
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Like both of us were thinking about the same thing—
and pretending we weren't.
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I looked out the window.
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Trying not to remember how close he was earlier.
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How he almost—
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My breath caught softly.
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Don't think about it.
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Beside me—
he was silent too.
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One hand resting near mine.
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Not touching.
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But close enough that I noticed it the entire drive.
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And somehow—
that felt worse.
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The moment we got home—
I tried escaping to my room.
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Tried.
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But before I could fully walk away—
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his hand caught my waist.
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My breath hitched.
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"…Keifer."
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No answer.
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He just pulled me back slightly.
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Not enough to stop me completely.
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Just enough to keep me close.
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My heart started racing again.
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"What?"
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His chin rested lightly on my shoulder from behind.
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Warm.
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Too warm.
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"You've been quiet."
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I swallowed.
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"So have you."
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A pause.
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Then—
I felt his breath near my neck.
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"That's because I'm trying very hard right now."
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My breath caught instantly.
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"…trying what?"
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Silence.
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Then softly—
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"Not to do something stupid."
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My heart nearly stopped.
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I turned slightly—
just enough to look at him.
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Big mistake.
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Because he was already looking at me.
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Too intensely.
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Too softly.
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And suddenly—
I couldn't breathe properly again.
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"…you're staring."
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A slight shift in his expression.
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"So are you."
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I looked away immediately.
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Embarrassed.
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His arm tightened around my waist slightly.
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And for some reason—
he didn't let go.
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Not while we walked.
Not while I talked.
Not even while I tried getting water later.
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Every time I moved—
he followed.
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Like he couldn't help it.
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Like he needed to know I was still there.
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And the worst part?
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I didn't hate it.
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Night came slowly.
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Too slowly.
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I couldn't sleep.
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Again.
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I turned in bed.
Once.
Twice.
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Then sighed softly.
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Water.
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Maybe that would help.
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I walked downstairs quietly.
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The kitchen light was already on.
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My steps slowed.
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Because he was there.
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Of course he was.
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Keifer leaned against the counter.
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Sleeves rolled slightly.
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Looking tired.
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But the moment he saw me—
something in his expression shifted.
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Neither of us spoke.
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The silence felt louder now.
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I grabbed a glass slowly.
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Tried acting normal.
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Failed miserably.
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Because I could feel him looking at me.
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Constantly.
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"…you're awake."
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Smooth, Jay.
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A quiet exhale left him.
Almost amused.
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"So are you."
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Right.
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I looked down quickly.
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My fingers tightened slightly around the glass.
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Then—
footsteps.
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Closer.
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My breath caught immediately.
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He stopped right in front of me.
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Too close again.
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Always too close now.
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"You've been avoiding me."
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My eyes widened slightly.
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"I haven't."
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A pause.
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Then his hand lifted slowly.
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Carefully.
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Tilting my chin up gently.
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"Then look at me."
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My breath stopped.
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Because I was.
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And now—
I couldn't look away.
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Not when he was this close.
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Not when his eyes looked like that.
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Everything around us felt quiet.
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Still.
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Like the world paused for a second.
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Then—
without thinking—
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I leaned forward slightly.
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Barely.
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But enough.
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Enough for his breathing to change.
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Enough for his eyes to lower to my lips.
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And suddenly—
the air felt too warm.
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His hand tightened slightly against my jaw.
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"…Jay."
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My heart was pounding.
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Loud.
Fast.
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But I didn't move away.
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Neither did he.
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We stayed there.
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Close enough to kiss.
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Close enough to ruin everything.
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Then—
he closed his eyes briefly.
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Like he was forcing himself to stop.
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And slowly—
he rested his forehead against mine instead.
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The softest touch.
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But somehow—
it felt more intimate than anything else.
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"You make this really hard."
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His voice came out rough.
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Quiet.
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Real.
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My breath shook slightly.
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Because I knew—
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he wasn't just talking about tonight.
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And neither was I. 😭🔥🤍