Chapter: One More Day
(Keif's POV)
The house was loud again the next morning.
Not the chaotic loud from pillow fights or Percy yelling "baby sista," but the loud that happens when people are packing and leaving.
Bags were on the floor.
Ci n was stuffing snacks into his backpack like he was preparing for a month-long trip.
Aries stood near the door checking his phone.
And Percy Mariano was leaning against the wall, watching Jay like a suspicious bodyguard.
"I still don't trust this," Percy muttered.
Jay rolled her eyes.
"You never trust anything."
"I especially don't trust him."
He pointed directly at me.
I crossed my arms.
"Wow."
Aries sighed.
"Can we leave before Percy starts another speech?"
Ci n grabbed another bag of chips from the table.
"Wait, I'm bringing this."
"That's the fifth one," Aries said.
"Emergency food."
Percy walked toward Jay and crouched slightly in front of her.
"You're really staying here?"
Jay shrugged casually.
"Maybe."
Percy narrowed his eyes.
"Why?"
Before she could answer, I spoke.
"I asked her to stay."
Four heads immediately turned toward me.
Percy looked personally offended.
"You WHAT?"
Jay glanced at me, surprised too.
I shrugged slightly.
"Just one more day."
Aries smirked a little.
"Oh?"
Ci n gasped dramatically.
"Romantic."
Jay threw a pillow at him.
"Shut up."
Percy looked like he was about to start a war.
"My baby sista is not staying alone with you."
Jay groaned.
"Percy."
He crossed his arms.
"No."
"Yes."
"No."
Aries stepped between them.
"Relax."
He looked at Percy.
"They're literally dating."
Percy looked betrayed.
"That doesn't mean I approve."
Jay stood up and walked toward him.
"Percy."
He looked down at her.
She poked his shoulder.
"I'm staying one more day. I'll come tomorrow."
Percy sighed like the world was ending.
"Fine."
Then he pointed at me again.
"But if anything weird happens—"
"Percy."
"What?"
"You walked in on us yesterday."
Ci n burst out laughing again.
Percy turned red.
"THAT WASN'T MY FAULT."
Aries grabbed his bag.
"Okay we're leaving before this becomes another argument."
Ci n slung his backpack over his shoulder.
"Bye lovebirds."
Jay threw another pillow.
"GET OUT."
Percy walked toward the door but stopped in front of me.
He leaned closer and whispered dramatically,
"I'm watching you."
I smirked.
"Sure."
He turned to Jay again.
"Text me if he's annoying."
"He's always annoying."
"Exactly."
Aries opened the door.
"Let's go."
Ci n waved dramatically.
"Bye Jay!"
Jay waved back.
"Bye!"
Percy pointed at me one last time before leaving.
"Remember what I said."
Then the door closed.
And suddenly—
The house became quiet.
Really quiet.
No Percy yelling.
No Ci n laughing.
No Aries commenting on everything.
Just silence.
Jay stood in the middle of the living room for a moment.
Then she looked at me.
"Well."
I leaned against the couch.
"Well."
She crossed her arms slightly.
"You planned that."
"Maybe."
Jay narrowed her eyes.
"You asked me to stay."
"Yeah."
"…Why?"
I shrugged a little.
"Because the house is boring without you."
Jay stared at me for a second.
Then she tried to hide a small smile.
"That was cheesy."
"Still worked."
She walked over and dropped onto the couch.
"Fine."
I sat beside her.
"One more day."
Jay picked up her book again.
"Don't make me regret it."
I smirked.
"No promises."
And for the first time in days—
The house was quiet.
Just the two of us.
And honestly?
I didn't mind it at all.