Chapter: The Bunny Who Didn't Matter
(Jay's POV)
Halloween lights flickered around the park, kids running everywhere, fake cobwebs on trees, pumpkins glowing.
Keigan, Keiran, and Ci n were arguing about whose costume was the best.
I was walking beside Keifer, pretending I wasn't enjoying the calm moment.
That's when she appeared.
White bunny ears.
Fluffy tail.
Short white skirt.
Glossy lips.
Confidence level: unnecessary.
She walked straight toward us.
Not toward the group.
Toward him.
"Hi," she said, smiling at Keifer.
He nodded politely. "Hi."
I already didn't like this.
"I like your style," she continued, eyeing him up and down. "You didn't even dress up but you still look good."
Oh.
We're starting like that.
"Thanks," he replied casually.
She stepped a little closer.
Too close.
"Are you here alone?"
Before he could answer, I spoke calmly, "No."
She glanced at me briefly.
Then back at him.
"I meant you," she said lightly.
Keigan whispered dramatically behind us, "Jay about to explode."
I ignored him.
Keifer answered, "I'm with them."
She smiled again.
Then she did it.
She touched his arm.
Lightly.
But I saw it.
He didn't move immediately.
My chest tightened.
"You should come hang out with us later," she said softly. "We're doing a little Halloween thing near the lake."
Just him.
Not us.
"You'd have fun."
Fun.
Right.
He scratched his neck casually. "I don't think so."
She leaned slightly closer. "Why not?"
I stepped beside him.
Close.
Close enough that our shoulders almost touched.
"We already have plans," I said.
She gave me a polite smile. "I wasn't asking you."
The audacity.
Keifer finally shifted, stepping slightly toward me without even thinking.
Subtle.
But I felt it.
"I'm not coming," he said clearly this time.
She studied us both.
Then smiled again.
"Girlfriend doesn't like sharing?"
My heart skipped.
Girlfriend.
I stayed silent.
Keifer glanced at me for half a second.
Then back at her.
"It's not about sharing," he said calmly. "I just don't leave my people."
My people.
She looked mildly disappointed.
"Alright," she shrugged. "Maybe next time."
And then she walked away.
No name.
No introduction.
Just bunny ears bouncing into the crowd.
Silence.
I immediately turned and started walking.
"Jay."
"I'm fine."
"You're not."
"I said I'm fine."
"You're jealous."
"I'm not."
"You are."
I stopped and turned to face him.
"Why didn't you move when she touched you?"
He blinked. "Because it lasted two seconds."
"That's two seconds too long."
He almost smiled.
"This is cute."
"Don't call it cute."
"Why?"
"Because it's annoying."
He stepped closer.
"You don't like when girls flirt with me?"
"No."
"You don't trust me?"
"I do."
"Then what is it?"
I hesitated.
Then said it.
"I don't like feeling like I'm competing."
His expression changed slightly.
"You're not."
"It felt like it."
"She's a random bunny."
"That's not the point."
"What is the point?"
I looked away.
"I don't know what I am to you."
There.
The real thing.
He went quiet.
Then he stepped closer.
"You're not random."
"That's not what I said."
"I know."
He lowered his voice slightly.
"I didn't move away fast enough because I didn't think she mattered."
"She doesn't."
"Exactly."
Silence stretched between us.
"You stepped closer when she said girlfriend," he added quietly.
"That doesn't mean anything."
"It means something."
"It doesn't."
"You were claiming space."
I glared at him.
He smirked slightly.
"I liked it."
"Liked what?"
"You being territorial."
"I was not territorial!"
"You were."
I crossed my arms tighter.
"I just don't like bunny costumes."
"Liar."
He leaned a little closer.
"You think I'd leave you to go hang out with someone I met two minutes ago?"
I didn't answer.
He continued, voice softer now.
"I didn't even notice her once you stepped in."
That made me look at him.
"And for the record," he added quietly, "I don't need to know her name."
Good.
Because she didn't give it.
And he didn't ask.
Which somehow made my chest feel lighter.
"I don't like this jealous feeling," I muttered.
He looked at me gently.
"It's okay to care."
I rolled my eyes slightly.
"You enjoy this too much."
"A little."
"Idiot."
He smiled faintly.
"But I stayed," he said.
And that was true.
No matter how many bunny ears showed up—
He stayed.
Right next to me.