Two weeks until graduation.
Two weeks until freedom.
Two weeks until the biggest exams of their lives.
The Fernandez house had transformed into a study fortress.
Books covered every surface. Flashcards decorated the walls. Coffee flowed like water. Tita Gema set up a 24-hour snack station.
Jasfer: "This is intense."
Serina: "This is necessary."
Jay's grandma: "THIS BRINGS BACK MEMORIES! I ONCE STUDIED FOR THREE DAYS STRAIGHT!"
Keigan: "Lola, you never went to school."
Jay's grandma: "I STUDIED IMAGINARY EXAMS! VERY STRESSFUL!"
Keiren: "Did you pass?"
Jay's grandma: "I PASSED IN MY DREAMS! SAME THING?"
Keiren: "Not the same thing."
Jay's grandma: "IT IS TODAY!"
Section E arrived in force.
Books. Laptops. Energy drinks. Determination.
Ci-n burst through the door first. "I'M READY! LET'S LEARN! LET'S CONQUER!"
Rakki followed. "You forgot your books."
Ci-n: "OH NO."
Rakki: "They're in my bag. I grabbed them."
Ci-n: "YOU'RE MY HERO!"
Rakki: "I know."
Mica and Calix came next, arms full of notes.
Mica: "I have seven highlighters. Seven."
Calix: "I have faith in us."
Mica: "Faith won't pass exams."
Calix: "Faith AND studying will."
Mica: "Acceptable."
Freya entered looking elegant despite the stress. Edrix beside her. Rory behind them.
Freya: "I refuse to fail."
Edrix: "You won't."
Freya: "How do you know?"
Edrix: "Because I won't let you."
Freya paused. "...Shut up."
Edrix: "Never."
Rory: "I've created a study schedule. Optimized for maximum retention."
Drew: "I'm taking bets on who finishes first."
David: "Jay. 500."
Drew: "Safe bet."
Eren wandered in. "Wait, we're studying? I thought this was a party."
Josh handed him a textbook.
Eren: "Oh. It's really studying."
Josh nodded.
Baster hummed a study playlist.
Percy arrived with Honey. He wasn't studying—just documenting.
Percy: "THE FINAL EXAM COUNTDOWN! HISTORIC! CI-N, ANGLE!"
Ci-n: "ON IT!"
Rakki: "Those two."
Mica: "Dangerous."
Calix: "Chaotic."
Freya: "Perfect."
Jay and Keifer sat at the center of the chaos.
Books spread. Notes organized. Coffee nearby.
Jay: "I can't believe this is it."
Keifer: "Two more weeks."
Jay: "Then graduation."
Keifer: "Then freedom."
Jay: "Then what?"
Keifer: "Then us. Always."
Jay: "Smooth."
Keifer: "Honest."
Jay: "Tss."
Keifer: "Stop."
Jay: "No."
He kissed her forehead.
Percy: "DOCUMENTED!"
Ci-n: "FROM THREE ANGLES!"
The first study session was brutal.
Math. Science. History. Everything blending together.
Ci-n's head hit the table. "I'M TIRED."
Rakki: "You've been studying for twenty minutes."
Ci-n: "TWENTY MINUTES IS A LONG TIME!"
Rakki: "It's really not."
Ci-n: "IT IS IN MY WORLD!"
Mica highlighted everything. Calix organized her highlights.
Mica: "This color is for formulas."
Calix: "This color is for definitions."
Mica: "This color is for panic."
Calix: "Panic has a color?"
Mica: "Neon yellow."
Freya stared at her book. Edrix watched.
Freya: "I don't understand this."
Edrix: "Let me explain."
He did. Slowly. Patiently.
Freya: "...I get it now."
Edrix: "Good."
Freya: "You're actually smart."
Edrix: "I have my moments."
Freya: "Don't let it go to your head."
Edrix: "Too late."
Rory calculated study breaks. Drew took bets on test scores. David slept with his book open. Eren befriended a lizard outside. Josh meditated between chapters.
Baster hummed a "keep going" melody.
Aries and Ella arrived after lunch.
Aries: "We need help."
Ella: "We need serious help."
Jay: "Sit. We'll figure it out."
They joined the group. Aries overwhelmed. Ella determined.
Keifer helped with math. Jay with science.
Aries: "I don't get this formula."
Keifer: "It's like the obstacle course. Step by step."
Aries: "That actually helps."
Keifer: "Good."
Aries: "Don't let it go to your head."
Keifer: "Too late."
Ella: "Tss."
Aries: "Did you just—"
Ella: "Maybe."
Aries: "I hate you."
Ella: "No, you don't."
Aries: "No, I don't."
Hours passed.
Snacks were devoured. Coffee was consumed. Knowledge was (hopefully) absorbed.
Tita Gema brought dinner. "EAT! BRAINS NEED FUEL!"
Jasfer helped serve. "I'm morally supporting."
Serina: "You're eating the snacks."
Jasfer: "MORAL SUPPORT THROUGH SNACK CONSUMPTION!"
Jay's grandma watched from her rocking chair. "THIS REMINDS ME OF WAR! EXCEPT WITH BOOKS!"
Keigan: "Lola, you've never been to war."
Jay's grandma: "I'VE BEEN TO EMOTIONAL WAR! SAME THING?"
Keiren: "Not the same thing."
Jay's grandma: "IT IS IN MY HEART!"
Grazel Jay toddled through, throwing "study flowers."
Grazel Jay: "FLOWERS FOR KNOWLEDGE!"
Denzel followed. "She's been doing this all day."
Grace: "The garden is suffering."
Denzel: "Worth it."
Grazel Jay: "WORTH IT!"
By midnight, everyone was exhausted.
Ci-n asleep on the floor. Rakki using him as a pillow. Mica and Calix curled together. Freya asleep at the table, Edrix's jacket over her. Rory passed out on his laptop. Drew counting dreams. David being David. Eren outside with his lizard friend. Josh meditating peacefully.
Baster hummed in his sleep.
Aries and Ella on the couch. Ella asleep against him. Aries awake, watching her.
Aries: "She's heavy."
Jay: "You love it."
Aries: "I tolerate it."
Jay: "Same thing?"
Aries: "Not the same thing."
But he didn't move.
Jay and Keifer on the patio. Stars above.
Jay: "We're going to pass."
Keifer: "I know."
Jay: "We're going to graduate."
Keifer: "Together."
Jay: "Then what?"
Keifer: "Then everything."
Jay: "Everything?"
Keifer: "You. Me. Family. Future."
Jay: "Sounds perfect."
Keifer: "Sounds like us."
Jay: "Tss."
Keifer: "Stop."
Jay: "No."
He kissed her.
Inside, Percy's voice: "THEY'RE KISSING ON THE PATIO! CI-N, WAKE UP!"
Ci-n: "MMM... FIVE MORE MINUTES..."
Percy: "THERE'S NO TIME!"
Rakki: "Go to sleep, Percy."
Percy: "HISTORY NEVER SLEEPS!"
But he yawned.
Honey pulled him down. "Sleep."
Percy: "BUT THE DOCUMENTATION—"
Honey: "Tomorrow."
Percy: "...Fine."
He slept.
Morning came.
Sunlight. Stretching. Chaos waking slowly.
Tita Gema had breakfast ready. Jasfer helped. Serina smiled at the sleeping bodies.
Jay's grandma: "THEY SURVIVED NIGHT ONE! MANY MORE TO GO!"
Keigan: "Lola, it's morning."
Jay's grandma: "I KNOW! I'M CELEBRATING EARLY!"
Grazel Jay woke everyone with flower throws.
Grazel Jay: "WAKE UP! STUDY TIME! FLOWERS!"
Denzel: "Baby, it's 7 AM."
Grazel Jay: "KNOWLEDGE DOESN'T SLEEP!"
Grace: "She's not wrong."
Section E dragged themselves up.
Coffee. Food. Books.
Another day. Another study session.
Jay and Keifer at the center. Together.
Jay: "Ready for day two?"
Keifer: "Ready for anything with you."
Jay: "Smooth."
Keifer: "Honest."
Jay: "Tss."
Keifer: "Stop."
Jay: "No."
He kissed her forehead.
Percy: "DOCUMENTING!"
Ci-n: "FROM THREE ANGLES!"
Rakki: "Those two."
Mica: "Dangerous."
Calix: "Chaotic."
Freya: "Perfect."
Edrix: "Agreed."
Freya: "Shut up."
Edrix: "Never."
The study session began.
Two weeks to go.
They were ready.
Together.