Chapter: The Photo Album
(Keif's POV)
The house was unusually quiet that afternoon.
Which was strange.
Because whenever Section E was around, quiet usually meant someone was planning something stupid.
Cin and Aries were arguing in the kitchen.
Ella was laughing at something they said.
Keigan and Keiran were somewhere upstairs, probably fighting over the TV remote again.
But in the living room…
Everything felt calm.
Because Jay was sitting with me on the couch.
Actually—
Not just sitting.
She was completely curled up on me again.
Her back resting against my chest.
My arm loosely around her waist while she leaned into me like she belonged there.
Which… she kind of did.
Jay had stolen one of my oversized hoodies again.
The sleeves were too long, covering half her hands.
Her hair was messy from sleeping earlier.
And she was holding something in her lap.
An old photo album.
She had found it on the shelf earlier.
And now she was flipping through it slowly while leaning against me.
Every few seconds she would look at a picture and react dramatically.
"This is you?"
"Yes."
"You look like a potato."
"Shut up."
She laughed softly.
Then flipped the page again.
"Why are you wearing a cape?"
"I was six."
"You look stupid."
"You're very brave today."
She grinned and kept turning the pages.
Baby pictures.
School pictures.
Pictures of me with Keigan and Keiran.
Jay kept laughing quietly at each one.
Then suddenly—
She stopped.
Her fingers froze on one page.
"…Keif?"
"Hmm?"
"Who are these people?"
I looked down.
The page she was staring at had an old photograph.
A couple standing together.
The man was tall, with sharp features and a confident smile.
The woman beside him had soft eyes and long hair.
They looked… happy.
Jay tilted her head slightly.
"Are they… your relatives?"
I stayed quiet for a second.
Then I answered calmly.
"They're my parents."
Jay immediately turned around slightly to look at me.
Her expression softened.
"Oh."
She looked back at the photo again.
The picture showed my dad standing behind my mom with his arms loosely around her shoulders.
They looked like the kind of couple that laughed a lot.
Jay studied the photo carefully.
"They look nice."
"They are."
She traced the edge of the picture lightly.
Then she asked the question that always came next.
"…Where are they?"
I leaned back against the couch.
"They're in London."
Jay blinked.
"London?"
"Yeah."
She turned her head slightly.
"You mean… like… the city in England?"
"Yes, Barracuda."
Her eyebrows lifted.
"So they moved there?"
"Work."
She nodded slowly.
Then looked at the picture again.
"So you grew up here with your brothers?"
"Mostly."
She stayed quiet for a moment.
Still staring at the photograph.
Then she flipped the page again.
Another picture appeared.
This one was old too.
Me, Keigan, and Keiran sitting on the floor while my mom sat behind us.
Jay smiled softly.
"You were cute."
"I still am."
She snorted.
"Debatable."
I flicked her forehead lightly.
She yelped.
"Violence!"
"Respect your boyfriend."
She rolled her eyes but leaned back against me again.
Her body relaxing.
The album resting on her lap while she slowly continued turning pages.
For a few minutes neither of us spoke.
Just quiet.
Comfortable quiet.
Then suddenly—
Jay spoke again.
"Keif?"
"Hmm?"
"If they came back… would you live with them again?"
I thought about it for a moment.
Then shook my head slightly.
"No."
"Why?"
I looked down at her.
Because she was here.
Because my brothers were here.
Because my life was here.
And honestly?
Because she was curled up in my hoodie on my couch like she had always belonged here.
So I answered honestly.
"I already have everything here."
Jay blinked slightly.
Then she slowly smiled.
Not teasing.
Not dramatic.
Just soft.
Then she leaned back further into my chest.
Closed the album.
And mumbled quietly—
"…Good."
A few seconds later…
Her breathing slowed.
And her head dropped slightly to the side.
Sleeping again.
I sighed quietly.
"…You fall asleep everywhere."
But I adjusted my arm around her anyway.
Holding her a little closer.
Because somehow…
It felt right.
And honestly?
I didn't mind staying like that for the rest of the day.