JAY'S POV
Prom night felt unreal.
The lights, the music, the decorations—everything was perfect. Too perfect. Like something was waiting to go wrong.
I stood just outside the entrance for a second, taking a breath before stepping in.
And the moment I did—
Everything shifted.
Eyes turned.
People stared.
But I only noticed one.
Keifer.
He was already inside.
Wearing a perfectly fitted suit, clean, sharp, effortless.
And staring.
Not casually.
Not teasing.
Just… staring.
His eyes moved slowly, taking in everything—the dress, the slit, the bare back, every detail like he was trying to memorize it.
His jaw tightened slightly.
And for a second—
He didn't move.
I walked toward him slowly, trying to stay calm, trying to act like his gaze wasn't affecting me.
It was.
Way too much.
I stopped in front of him.
"You're staring."
His voice came out lower than usual.
"You knew I would."
My heart skipped.
Before anything else could happen—
Ci-N appeared out of nowhere.
"NO TOUCHING."
I blinked.
Right.
The challenge.
And just like that—
It started.
The music played.
People danced.
And we didn't.
Not together.
Claix moved first, not paying attention to the boys warnings.
He walked straight to Mica, holding out his hand dramatically.
"Care to dance?"
Mica smirked and took it.
Denzel followed.boy's
Grace didn't even hesitate.
Ci-N went next, dragging Rakki with him while she laughed.
One by one—
They broke.
Left their spots.
Moved closer.
Touched.
Lost.
But not us.
Keifer stayed where he was.
Watching.
Not moving.
Not touching.
And somehow—
That was worse.
So I did something stupid.
I turned away.
And walked.
A guy approached me not long after, clearly nervous but trying not to show it.
"Can I have this dance?"
I hesitated.
Just for a second.
Then nodded.
"Sure."
His hand rested on my waist.
Light.
Respectful.
But still there.
And I felt it.
Immediately.
KEIFER'S POV (brief shift)
I saw it.
The second his hand touched her.
The second it stayed there.
Too long.
Way too long.
My jaw tightened.
My hands clenched slightly at my sides.
I told myself to stay still.
To not move.
To not break the rule.
Didn't work.
JAY'S POV
I tried to focus on the music.
On the steps.
On anything but the feeling of being watched.
But I could feel it.
His gaze.
Heavy.
Sharp.
Burning into me.
The guy's hand shifted slightly.
Still on my waist.
Still there.
That's when—
Everything changed.
A hand grabbed my wrist.
Firm.
Sudden.
I gasped slightly as I was pulled back.
Fast.
No warning.
No hesitation.
Keifer.
His grip didn't loosen.
Didn't slow.
He didn't say anything.
Didn't look at me.
Just dragged me through the crowd, out of the hall, past the lights, past everything—
"Keifer—what are you doing?!"
No answer.
Outside.
Cold air.
Still didn't stop.
He led me straight to a car.
Opened the door.
"Get in."
My heart was racing too fast to argue.
I got in.
The drive was silent.
Dark.
Tense.
We stopped.
A hotel.
My breath caught.
"Keifer…"
Still no answer.
He got out, walked around, opened my door, and pulled me out again, his grip just as firm as before.
Straight inside.
Upstairs.
Hallway.
Door.
Unlocked.
Opened.
Then—
Closed.
Locked.
Silence.
He finally turned to me.
Eyes darker than I had ever seen them.
Breathing controlled—but barely.
And that's where everything stopped.