Chapter: The Late-Night Call
(Aries' POV)
The apartment was quiet. Jay had been asleep for a while after all the packing and tears, curled up under the soft blankets in her room. Percy had dozed off on the couch, exhausted from the morning chaos and emotional rollercoaster. I sat by the window, scrolling through my phone, trying to distract myself, but my mind kept drifting to Keifer.
I knew he was hurting—badly. I could almost see it in my mind, the way he had looked that morning, the way his hands shook when he tried to hold himself together. I knew there was nothing I could do for him physically, but maybe… maybe a call would help him breathe, even for a little.
I dialed his number, holding my breath. It rang twice. Then his voice—low, strained, guarded—answered.
"Aries…"
"Keif. Hey," I said, keeping my tone calm. "I know this isn't easy. I just… wanted to check on you."
There was a pause. Then a deep exhale. "I'm… surviving," he muttered. "Barely."
I nodded to myself, even though he couldn't see me. "I know, man. I know it's rough. Jay leaving… it's tearing you apart. But you have to hold on. You can't let this destroy you."
"I told her things, Aries," he said, voice tight. "I told her I never loved her… that I used her. And now she hates me. And I can't… I can't fix it. Not now. Not before she goes."
I leaned back in my chair, swallowing hard. "I know. I know it's brutal. But Keif… she's strong. Jay's strong. She'll see you for who you are. Even if she doesn't understand everything yet, she'll forgive you eventually. You just… have to wait. And let her heal."
"I don't deserve her," he whispered, almost to himself. "I don't deserve her… and now she's leaving for New York, and I can't even be there. I can't—"
"Hey," I interrupted gently. "Listen to me. You can't think like that. You're not alone, and you're not powerless. Percy and I—we've got you. And Jay… she's leaving, yes. But she's leaving with people who love her. People who will make sure she's safe. And she'll always have your heart, Keif, even if you're not physically there."
"I feel like I've lost everything," he said, the strain in his voice palpable. "She's gone, and I'm just… here."
I clenched my phone a little tighter. "You haven't lost everything. You have hope. You have us. And you have her heart. That's not nothing. And you—" I paused, forcing the words through the lump in my throat. "You have to trust that she'll come back to you when the time is right."
There was silence on the other end, except for the faint sound of his breathing. Finally, he said, almost in a whisper, "I… I don't know if I can wait."
"You can," I said firmly. "You have to. For her. For yourself. You'll regret anything else. Jay… she's worth every second of patience, every tear, every heartbreak you feel. Don't throw it away because it hurts now."
I could hear a soft exhale. "Aries… you really think she'll come back?"
"I know she will," I said without hesitation. "She loves you. You love her. That's bigger than any fight, any lie, any distance. And we'll keep you updated. We'll tell you how she's doing, every little thing. You're not alone in this, Keif. You never will be."
A quiet, shaky laugh came through. "You really are like a brother to me, you know that?"
I smiled, even though he couldn't see it. "And you're like one to me, man. Just hang on, breathe, and let tomorrow come. She's going to need you to be strong for her. And you will be. I know you will."
"I… I'll try," he muttered, voice soft.
"That's all you can do right now. And it's enough," I said.
We stayed on the line for a few more minutes, talking quietly, nothing major, just words to remind him that he wasn't alone. Eventually, he sighed, and I knew he was starting to calm down, at least a little.
"Thanks, Aries," he said finally. "For… everything."
"Always," I said. "Always, Keif. Now go get some rest. Tomorrow's going to be hard enough without losing sleep."
There was a soft chuckle. "Yeah… yeah, you're right. Thanks again."
And with that, the line went dead. I put my phone down, staring at the city lights outside, thinking about Keif and Jay, about the distance, the pain, and the love tangled up between them.
It was going to be a long six years… but I knew, somehow, that they'd both survive it. And maybe… just maybe… they'd find their way back to each other.
I whispered into the night, "Hang in there, Keif. Jay needs you. And you… you need her."
And I knew he would.