The school hallway was louder than usual.
Or maybe Jay just felt it more.
Every step she took felt… noticeable.
Not because people were staring—
(but also, what if they were?)
No. Focus.
Walk normal.
She adjusted her bag on her shoulder, keeping her expression neutral, controlled—like always.
Except today wasn't "always."
Today, everything felt slightly off.
Her pace slowed unconsciously.
"…why am I walking like this," she muttered under her breath.
"You're walking like you fought a war."
Jay froze.
Slowly turned her head.
Cin.
Of course it had to be Cin.
Leaning casually against the lockers like she'd been waiting for this exact moment, eyes already scanning Jay from head to toe.
Jay straightened instantly.
"I am walking normally."
Cin pushed herself off the lockers, circling her once like a detective.
"No," she said. "No, you are not."
"I am."
"You look like your muscles filed a complaint."
Jay glared.
"You're dramatic."
Cin leaned closer, lowering her voice.
"What happened."
Not a question.
A demand.
Jay looked away immediately, opening her locker.
"Nothing."
Cin snorted.
"Yeah, and I'm the principal."
Jay grabbed her books a little too quickly.
"Drop it."
"Not happening."
Before Jay could escape, more voices joined.
"Who's the principal?" Rory asked, walking over with Mayo and Kit behind him.
"Apparently me," Cin replied.
"Unfortunate," Mayo said calmly.
Jay groaned.
"Why are all of you here."
"Because," Kit said, eyes narrowing slightly at Jay, "something is off."
Eman and Felix joined seconds later, followed by Denzel and Josh, turning the small space into full chaos.
David and Edrix were leaning against the opposite lockers, watching like this was free entertainment.
Eren walked in last—quiet, observant as always.
And unfortunately… very good at reading people.
Jay shut her locker harder than necessary.
"I'm going to class."
"No you're not," Cin said, grabbing her wrist.
Jay stopped.
Slowly turned.
"…let go."
Cin didn't.
Instead, she leaned in again, eyes sharp.
"You're avoiding eye contact. Your posture is weird. You snapped at me in under five seconds," she listed. "Something happened."
Jay opened her mouth—
"Also," Mayo added calmly, "you keep shifting your weight like standing is uncomfortable."
Jay's soul nearly left her body.
"I do not—"
"You do," Eren said quietly.
Jay looked at him.
He didn't smirk. Didn't tease.
Just stated it like a fact.
Which was worse.
Way worse.
Before she could defend herself—
"Morning."
Kiefer's voice.
Right behind her.
Jay went completely still.
Cin's eyes lit up instantly.
"Oh," she whispered. "Oh this just got interesting."
Jay didn't turn immediately.
Didn't breathe.
Didn't exist.
Then, slowly—
She turned.
Kiefer stood there like nothing in the world bothered him.
Relaxed. Hands in his pockets.
But his eyes?
Straight on her.
And just for a second—
A tiny smirk.
Jay's face heated instantly.
Cin saw that.
Everyone saw that.
"…oh my god," Rory said.
"No way," Denzel added.
Josh grinned.
"NO way."
"Way," Felix confirmed, already enjoying this.
"I hate all of you," Jay muttered.
Kiefer stepped closer.
Not too close.
Just enough.
"You left early," he said casually.
Jay blinked.
"That's what you're saying right now?"
"What should I say?"
Cin made a noise like she was about to explode.
"YOU TWO—"
Mayo covered her mouth.
"Let it unfold."
Kiefer tilted his head slightly, eyes still on Jay.
"You okay?"
Jay narrowed her eyes.
"You're enjoying this."
"A little."
She crossed her arms.
Bad idea.
"…okay no," she muttered, immediately uncrossing them.
That did not go unnoticed.
Not by him.
Not by anyone.
The silence that followed was deadly.
Then—
Cin lost it.
"OH MY GOD SOMETHING HAPPENED."
"WE KNOW," Rory said.
"CLEARLY," Denzel added.
Jay pointed at all of them.
"None of you know anything."
Kiefer leaned slightly toward her, lowering his voice just enough—
"Should I tell them?"
Her head snapped toward him.
"You wouldn't."
He smiled.
That dangerous smile.
"Try me."
Jay stepped closer, glaring up at him.
"Don't you dare."
Cin clutched Mayo's arm.
"THIS IS BETTER THAN DRAMA CLUB."
Eren sighed quietly, but there was the faintest hint of amusement in his eyes.
Edrix shook his head.
"They're not surviving this week."
David nodded.
"Not a chance."
Jay exhaled sharply, running a hand through her hair.
"Nothing happened," she said firmly.
Kiefer hummed.
"Yeah?"
She shot him a warning look.
"Yeah."
A pause.
Then—
"…so last night meant nothing?"
The group went DEAD silent.
Jay's heart stopped.
"You—" she stared at him. "You're unbelievable."
"You started it."
"I did not—"
"You walked up to me like you were about to fight someone."
"I was not—"
"You literally pulled me away mid-conversation."
"Because she was—"
Jay stopped.
Too late.
Cin screamed.
"JEALOUS."
"I WAS NOT JEALOUS."
"You WERE."
"I WASN'T."
Kiefer leaned in slightly.
"You were."
Jay stared at him.
Then looked away.
"…maybe a little."
The group LOST it.
"OH MY GOD."
"I KNEW IT."
"THIS IS GOLD."
Kiefer looked way too satisfied.
Jay glared at him again.
"You're not innocent either."
"Oh?" he said. "What did I do?"
"You were flirting."
"I was talking."
"You were smiling."
"I always smile."
"Not like that."
"Oh? And how do I smile?"
Jay opened her mouth—
Stopped.
Realized.
Shut up.
Too late.
Kiefer's grin widened.
"Go on," he said. "Explain."
"I hate you."
"No you don't."
"…I strongly dislike you in public spaces."
"That's new."
Before she could respond, the bell rang.
Loud. Sharp. Interrupting everything.
Everyone groaned.
"Aww," Rory said. "Cliffhanger."
"We're continuing this later," Cin warned.
Jay grabbed her bag quickly.
"No we're not."
"We absolutely are."
Kiefer stepped back slightly, letting her pass.
But as she walked by—
He leaned in just enough to murmur—
"Walk slower."
Jay froze for half a second.
Then turned, glaring at him—
while the rest of the group watched like this was the best show of their lives.
"…you're dead," she whispered.
He just smiled.
"Worth it."
And just like that—
Nothing was normal anymore.