Chapter: Laughter Amid Chaos
(Aries' POV)
The house felt… different that day. Light, somehow. Less heavy. Less full of tension. Jay had been cooped up in her room all morning, sulking, staring at nothing, and my stomach ached watching her like that. Percy and I exchanged a look over the breakfast table. Time to act.
"Operation Make Jay Laugh is officially a go," I whispered to Percy. He nodded, grinning like a mischievous accomplice.
We tiptoed toward her room, but of course, Jay was ready. She had that glare in her eyes, the one that could kill a man with just a look.
"Don't even think about it," she warned, crossing her arms.
"Relax, I just brought reinforcements," Percy said, holding up a small pillow as if it were a peace offering. I smirked, pulling another pillow from behind my back.
"What are you guys—" she started, but I lunged forward, tossing the pillow lightly.
The chase began. Jay shrieked, running toward her bed, Percy hot on her heels. I jumped on the bed beside her, flicking a pillow at her side. She shrieked again, laughing involuntarily despite herself.
"No! Stop!" she shouted, giggling now, trying to dodge our pillow attacks.
Percy launched another pillow with perfect aim, and it bounced off the wall, hitting me square in the face. Jay laughed so hard that I swear I felt it shake the entire room.
"You guys are impossible!" she shouted, still laughing, hair falling into her face.
"Oh, come on, Jay!" I said, grinning. "You can't tell me that wasn't funny!"
Percy joined in, tickling her sides lightly while I ruffled her hair. She tried to squirm away, but the laughter had taken over. Her shoulders shook, her cheeks flushed pink, and for the first time in what felt like forever, her eyes sparkled with joy.
"I—hahaha! Stop! Stop!" she gasped, clutching her stomach, collapsing onto the bed.
"Victory!" I yelled, dramatically raising my pillow like a sword. Percy cheered beside me.
Jay glared at us but couldn't stop laughing. "You… you're evil," she said between giggles.
"Evil geniuses," Percy corrected her with a smirk.
And in that moment, watching her laugh, watching the weight on her shoulders lift just a little, I realized something. Even when life got messy, even when everything seemed broken—moments like this reminded me why we were always going to have each other's backs.
Jay's laughter filled the room, infectious and beautiful, and for the first time in days, the house felt alive. Not just alive—but like home.
I grinned at Percy. Mission accomplished.
Jay was laughing. And for now… that was enough.