Chapter: The Ride Back
(Keifer's POV)
The retreat was officially over.
And honestly?
It felt like the longest two days of my life.
Between Jay chasing people with a knife, drunk confessions, a nightmare, a snake bite, and half of Section E almost dying from chaos… I was surprised the teachers even allowed us to return home.
The sun was already starting to go down when everyone gathered near the buses.
And of course…
Section E looked exactly like Section E.
Complete chaos.
Cin was arguing with Rory about who almost died more times during the trip.
"I ALMOST GOT COOKED BY JAY!"
Rory crossed his arms.
"You're exaggerating."
"EXAGGERATING?! SHE HAD A KNIFE!"
Blaster laughed loudly.
"Bro, that was the highlight of the retreat."
Josh added,
"Best entertainment ever."
Meanwhile Drew and Denzel were fighting over who got the window seat.
"MOVE."
"No."
"MOVE."
"NO."
Eren suddenly climbed into the bus and yelled,
"SHOTGUN THE BACK SEAT!"
Felix immediately ran after him.
"HEY THAT'S MY SPOT!"
Teachers were already tired.
One of them just sighed and muttered,
"Why did we bring Section E…"
I was standing near the bus door with Jay.
She looked exhausted.
The treatment earlier had helped, but the snake bite still made her weak. The bandage on her leg was wrapped carefully under her jeans.
She leaned slightly against me.
"You okay?" I asked.
"…sleepy."
"That's not an answer."
"It is."
I rolled my eyes.
Behind us someone suddenly spoke.
"Well well."
I turned.
Aries.
Standing beside Ella.
Aries smirked the moment he saw us.
"So the famous Barracuda survived the snake attack."
Jay groaned.
"Please don't call me that."
Ella laughed softly.
"I heard the story."
Jay buried her face in my shoulder.
"I'm never coming to retreats again."
Aries grinned.
"Oh no. Next year we're definitely coming again."
Jay glared at him.
"You're not invited."
He shrugged.
"Too late. We're joining the bus."
Cin suddenly popped his head out of the bus window.
"KEIF! GET IN! RORY IS TRYING TO STEAL YOUR SEAT!"
I sighed.
"Let's go before they start another war."
Jay nodded tiredly.
We climbed into the bus.
And immediately—
Chaos.
Cin was standing on a seat explaining something dramatically.
"AND THEN SHE RAISED THE KNIFE—"
"SHUT UP CIN," I said.
Everyone laughed.
Rory smirked.
"Barracuda is here."
Jay glared weakly.
"I will bite you."
Blaster pointed at the seats near the middle.
"Keif! Sit there!"
I led Jay to the seat.
The moment we sat down…
Jay curled up beside me.
No warning.
She simply turned sideways and rested her head against my chest.
Her arms wrapped around my waist.
Like it was the most natural thing in the world.
Within seconds…
Her breathing slowed.
Sleeping.
Again.
I stared down at her.
"…seriously?"
Cin immediately leaned over the seat.
"BRO SHE'S OFFLINE AGAIN."
Josh laughed.
"She used all her energy chasing you yesterday."
Aries, sitting a few rows behind us with Ella, smirked.
"She sleeps like she owns him."
Ella nodded.
"That's actually cute."
I ignored them.
Jay shifted slightly in her sleep, curling closer against me.
Her hand grabbed the front of my hoodie like she was making sure I couldn't move.
Great.
Human pillow again.
Rory whispered loudly,
"Keif can't escape."
Blaster added,
"Bro is trapped."
Drew said dramatically,
"Love prison."
I sighed.
"Can all of you shut up?"
Cin grinned.
"No."
The bus engine started.
Slowly pulling away from the retreat area.
Outside the window the forest started passing by.
Trees.
Sunlight.
Long winding roads.
Inside the bus people were still loud.
Denzel and Felix started playing music on someone's phone.
Eren and Calix were arguing about something stupid again.
Aries was teasing Ella about taking too many photos.
But I barely listened.
Because Jay moved again.
She mumbled something quietly in her sleep.
"…Keif…"
I looked down.
"Yeah?"
Her eyes stayed closed.
She just tightened her grip on me.
"…don't go."
My chest tightened slightly.
"I'm not going anywhere."
She relaxed again.
Sleeping peacefully.
Cin looked back at us and whispered loudly to Rory,
"Bro she trusts him like a pillow."
Rory nodded seriously.
"An emotional pillow."
Aries chuckled from the back.
"Keifer, congratulations."
"For what?"
"You're officially her personal bed."
Everyone laughed.
I rolled my eyes.
But honestly…
I didn't move.
Not even a little.
Because Jay was curled against me, fast asleep.
And for once…
Section E's chaos actually felt peaceful.