Chapter: "Say My Name Again"
(Jay's POV)
Detention.
Because apparently arguing with Keifer during class is a "disturbance."
Unbelievable.
The final bell rang and Section E ran out like prisoners escaping. Yuri waved dramatically. David saluted me. Rory whispered, "Enjoy your date."
I almost threw my notebook at him.
Now the classroom was empty.
Except for me.
And Keifer.
He was leaning against the window, hands in pockets, looking way too calm for someone stuck in detention.
Rain started pouring heavily outside.
Thunder rolled across the sky.
Great. Just perfect.
The teacher had ordered us to clean the classroom before leaving.
I grabbed the duster aggressively and started wiping the board.
"You're attacking the board," Keifer said lazily.
"Shut up, Keif."
He smirked.
"You're still mad?"
"I am not mad."
"You called me Keif with attitude."
I ignored him.
Thunder cracked loudly, making the lights flicker.
I froze for half a second.
Just half.
But he noticed.
"You don't like thunder?" he asked.
"I don't care about thunder."
Another loud crack.
My fingers tightened around the duster.
He walked toward the door after we finished cleaning.
He tried opening it.
It didn't move.
He tried again.
Still locked.
"…Don't tell me," I muttered.
He looked at me calmly.
"Looks like the guard locked this wing early."
"What?"
Rain was too loud. The hallway outside was completely empty.
I rushed to the door and pulled it hard.
"Are you serious?!"
"It'll probably open later."
"Later? Later when? Tomorrow?!"
He looked almost amused.
I stepped closer to him, frustration rising.
"This is your fault."
"How?"
"You distracted me during class."
"You started it."
Thunder boomed again, louder this time.
The lights flickered harder.
The room dimmed.
My chest tightened.
I hated loud storms.
I hated feeling trapped.
And now I was stuck in a locked classroom with the one person who makes my heart unstable.
Perfect.
I tried calling the guard from my phone.
No signal.
"Of course," I muttered.
Keifer noticed my silence.
"You okay?"
"I'm fine."
"You don't look fine."
"I said I'm fine, Keifer."
Another thunder strike.
I flinched.
Just slightly.
But this time, he walked closer.
"Jay."
"Don't."
"You're shaking."
"I'm not."
"You are."
He gently caught my wrist.
Not tight.
Just enough to stop me from turning away.
"Look at me."
"I don't want to."
Thunder cracked again.
And instinctively—
I grabbed his shirt.
I didn't even realize I did it.
My fingers clutched the fabric near his chest.
Silence.
Only rain outside.
He looked down at my hand.
Then back at me.
"I thought you weren't scared," he said softly.
"I'm not scared."
"Then why are you holding me?"
My cheeks burned.
I quickly tried to pull back—
But he didn't let go.
Instead, he stepped closer.
Now there was barely any space between us.
"Let go," I whispered.
"You first."
"I'm not the one holding."
"You started it."
Thunder roared again, and without thinking, I moved closer.
His hand slid to my waist to steady me.
My breath hitched.
"Keif…" I murmured.
He leaned slightly closer.
"Say it again."
"What?"
"My name."
"Keifer."
"No."
His eyes darkened slightly.
"Say it the way you say it when you're angry."
I swallowed.
"I'm not angry."
"You are."
"I am not."
"You only use my full name when you're angry."
I glared at him.
"Move."
"Say it."
"I won't."
He stepped even closer.
My back hit the wall.
My heart slammed in my chest.
He placed one hand beside my head against the wall.
Not trapping.
But close enough.
The rain was loud.
The classroom was dim.
And he was too close.
"Say it, Jay."
I lifted my chin.
"Mark Keifer Watson."
The air shifted.
His jaw tightened slightly.
He leaned closer.
"You only say that when you're really mad."
"I am mad."
"Because?"
"Because you're annoying."
"Liar."
"Because you're arrogant."
"Try again."
"Because you think you're always right."
He didn't move.
Didn't blink.
"Not the real reason."
I hated how he could see through me.
"I don't like you," I said stubbornly.
Thunder struck again.
The lights flickered.
And his hand moved slightly closer at my waist.
"You don't?" he asked quietly.
"No."
"Then why does my full name sound different when you say it?"
I froze.
"What do you mean?"
"When you say 'Keif' or 'Keifer', it's normal."
His voice lowered.
"But when you say 'Mark Keifer Watson'… it sounds like I belong to you."
My heart stopped.
"That's ridiculous."
"Is it?"
I tried to push him away.
He didn't budge.
"I don't belong to anyone," he said.
"Good."
"But if I did…"
His forehead almost touched mine.
"It wouldn't bother me if it was you."
Silence.
Only rain.
Only thunder.
Only my heartbeat.
"You're crazy," I whispered.
"You're shaking again."
"That's the thunder."
"Sure."
He slowly moved his hand away from the wall.
Giving me space.
But not leaving.
"Don't be scared," he said softly.
"I'm not."
"I'm here."
That sentence.
Why did that feel dangerous?
I looked up at him.
"You're not my boyfriend."
His eyes held mine.
"Then what am I?"
I had no answer.
Because if I said it—
Everything would change.
The rain slowly softened.
The thunder became distant.
And somehow…
Being stuck didn't feel suffocating anymore.
Because he was standing there.
Close.
Watching me like I was the only thing that mattered in that empty classroom.
And for the first time…
I didn't want the door to open.
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