Jay's pov
Jay woke up slowly.
Not all at once—just in pieces.
First the warmth.
Then the weight of the blanket.
Then the dull ache that made her very aware of every small movement.
She frowned slightly, still half-asleep, shifting just a little—
—and immediately froze.
"…nope," she whispered, eyes still closed. "Bad idea."
A quiet, unmistakable laugh came from right next to her.
"Already regretting your life choices?"
Jay's eyes flew open.
Kiefer.
Of course.
Lying there like he had absolutely no problems in the world, one arm behind his head, watching her like this was the most entertaining thing he'd seen all week.
"This," she said slowly, turning her head to glare at him, "is your fault."
His eyebrow lifted, amused.
"My fault? That's a bold accusation."
"You didn't stop me."
"You didn't want to be stopped."
Her cheeks flushed instantly.
"I— that's not— you—" she groaned, dragging the blanket up to cover half her face. "Why are you like this in the morning?"
"Because you're like this in the morning," he shot back easily.
She peeked at him over the blanket, eyes narrowed.
"I'm completely normal."
"You just declared war on basic movement."
"That's different."
Kiefer let out a soft laugh, shifting slightly closer—but not enough to crowd her.
Just enough that she noticed.
"And why exactly," he said, voice dropping a little, "can't you move?"
Jay immediately looked away.
"Don't start."
"I didn't even say anything yet."
"You were about to."
"I was thinking it."
"Kiefer."
That tone again.
He grinned anyway.
"Okay, okay," he said, holding his hands up in mock surrender. "I'll be nice."
She gave him a look that clearly said I don't believe you for a second.
Silence settled for a moment.
Not awkward—just… full.
Jay stared at the ceiling again, trying very hard to act like everything was normal.
Like last night hadn't been—
No. Don't think about it.
Bad idea.
Her mind ignored her.
The music.
The flashing lights.
The way she'd spotted him across the room—
Talking to her.
Too close. Too comfortable.
Jay's jaw tightened slightly even now.
"…She was annoying," she muttered under her breath.
Kiefer blinked.
"Who?"
She turned her head sharply.
"You know who."
"Oh," he said, pretending to think. "The one you weren't jealous of?"
"I wasn't jealous."
"You literally walked up and—"
"Kiefer."
He laughed, cutting himself off.
"Okay, fine. Not jealous," he said. "Just very… motivated."
Jay huffed, crossing her arms slightly—then immediately regretted it.
"…ow."
His expression changed instantly.
Not teasing this time.
Concern.
"Hey," he said, sitting up a little. "You sure you're okay?"
Jay hesitated.
That softness always caught her off guard.
"I'm fine," she said, quieter now. "Just… don't make me do anything athletic today."
A pause.
Then, slowly, his smirk came back.
"Wow," he said. "That bad, huh?"
She grabbed the nearest pillow and smacked him with it.
"Don't."
"I'm just saying—"
"You're about to get hit again."
"Worth it."
She actually laughed a little at that—quick, soft, and gone almost immediately.
But he noticed.
He always noticed.
Kiefer leaned back again, watching her more quietly now.
"You know," he said, "you weren't exactly subtle last night."
Jay groaned, covering her face fully this time.
"Can we erase the memory?"
"Nope."
"I hate you."
"No you don't."
"…I strongly dislike you right now."
"I'll take it."
She lowered her hands slowly, glancing at him.
"…You were jealous too."
He didn't answer right away.
Didn't joke.
Didn't deflect.
"Yeah," he said simply.
Jay blinked.
That… wasn't what she expected.
"Of who?" she asked before she could stop herself.
Kiefer looked at her, expression calmer now. More honest.
"That guy near the drinks table," he said. "The one who wouldn't stop staring at you."
Jay frowned slightly, trying to remember—
Then her eyes widened a little.
"Him?" she said. "He wasn't—"
"He was," Kiefer cut in. "And you didn't even notice."
Jay looked at him for a second.
Really looked.
And suddenly… the teasing from earlier didn't feel the same.
"Oh," she said softly.
A small silence followed.
Not heavy.
Just… real.
Jay fiddled with the edge of the blanket.
"I didn't like seeing you with her," she admitted, quieter now.
Kiefer's gaze softened.
"Yeah," he said. "I figured."
Another pause.
Then—
"You looked kind of scary, by the way."
Her head snapped toward him.
"I did not."
"You did," he said, clearly entertained again. "I thought you were about to fight someone."
"I could have."
"I know. That's the scary part."
She tried to stay serious.
Failed.
A small smile slipped through.
Kiefer noticed that too.
His hand moved without thinking, brushing lightly against hers where it rested on the bed.
Jay stilled.
Not pulling away.
Not moving closer either.
Just… staying.
"Hey," he said quietly.
She looked at him.
"Next time something bothers you," he added, "just tell me. Don't start a whole war."
Jay tilted her head slightly.
"…Where's the fun in that?"
He laughed softly.
"Unbelievable."
She smiled a little more this time.
Then, after a second—
"…Last night wasn't all bad," she admitted.
Kiefer's expression shifted—just a little.
More serious.
More something.
"Yeah," he said. "It wasn't."
Their eyes held for a moment.
Longer than before.
Jay felt her face heat up again and quickly looked away.
"Okay, that's enough feelings for one morning," she muttered.
Kiefer smirked.
"Agreed."
She tried to sit up again—
—and instantly froze.
"…nope. Still a bad idea."
He laughed again, shaking his head.
"Yeah, you're not going anywhere for a while."
Jay glared at him.
"Don't sound so happy about it."
"Oh, I'm very happy about it," he said. "You're finally forced to stay still."
She threw the pillow at him again.
He caught it this time.
"Violence won't fix your situation."
"It'll make me feel better."
"Fair."
Jay sighed, sinking back into the bed.
After a second, she shifted slightly closer without really thinking about it.
Kiefer noticed—but didn't comment.
Just adjusted a little so she was more comfortable.
No teasing.
No jokes.
Just quiet.
Jay glanced at him.
"…Don't get used to this," she said.
He smirked faintly.
"Too late."
She rolled her eyes—but didn't move away.
And this time…
Neither of them rushed to fill the silence.