Jay's POV
For a few seconds after we fell…
Neither of us moved.
Our faces were still very close.
Too close.
My brain finally started working again.
So did my reflexes.
I immediately pushed myself up.
"Okay!" I said quickly. "That did not happen."
Keifer sat up too, running a hand through his hair.
"Agreed."
I crossed my arms.
"That was entirely your fault."
He looked at me.
"My fault?"
"Yes."
"You tried to hit me."
"You moved!"
"You aimed for my head!"
"Well maybe your head deserved it!"
Keifer laughed quietly.
I tried to stay serious but ended up laughing too.
The tension slowly disappeared.
We both leaned back against the gym mats.
For a moment neither of us spoke.
Then I sighed.
"…You know what's strange?"
"What?"
"Why hasn't anyone come looking for us yet?"
Keifer shrugged.
"Maybe they think you ran away."
I glared at him.
"Very funny."
He smirked.
"Or maybe they're enjoying the peace."
I rolled my eyes and looked around the storage room.
Balls.
Cones.
Gym mats.
Dust.
"So we're just stuck here."
"Looks like it."
Silence filled the room again.
Then suddenly an idea popped into my head.
I turned to him.
"Let's play a game."
Keifer looked horrified.
"…No."
"Why not?"
"Because games with you sound dangerous."
I grinned.
"It'll be fun."
"No."
"Come on."
"No."
I clasped my hands dramatically.
"Pleeeease."
Keifer shook his head.
"Absolutely not."
So I did the only logical thing.
I made the saddest face possible.
Big eyes.
Slight pout.
Almost crying.
"Please?"
Keifer stared at me.
"…You're unbelievable."
I leaned closer.
"Please."
He groaned loudly.
"Fine."
Victory.
"Yes!"
He pointed a finger at me.
"If this ends with someone injured, I'm blaming you."
"Relax."
"So what game?"
I looked around the room.
Then I grabbed a basketball from a shelf.
"Simple challenge."
He raised an eyebrow.
"Basketball?"
"Yes."
I bounced it once.
"We stand here."
I pointed to a small open space.
"Each person gets three shots into that crate."
I pointed to a plastic equipment bin across the room.
"Miss and you lose."
Keifer folded his arms.
"That's it?"
"Yes."
"That's boring."
"Winner gets to make the loser do one thing."
He paused.
"…Now it's interesting."
I tossed the ball to him.
"You go first."
Keifer stood up.
He spun the ball on his finger briefly like he was showing off.
Then he threw it.
SWOOSH.
Straight into the crate.
I blinked.
"Show off."
He smirked.
Second throw.
THUNK.
Also in.
I frowned.
"Stop that."
Third throw.
It bounced off the rim and missed.
I grinned.
"My turn."
I grabbed the ball confidently.
First throw.
Miss.
Keifer laughed immediately.
"Oh this is going to be easy."
"Shut up."
Second throw.
It bounced off the crate and rolled away.
Keifer crossed his arms.
"You're terrible."
I picked up the ball again.
"One more."
I took careful aim.
Then threw it.
The ball bounced off the wall… off the shelf… then dropped straight into the crate.
We both stared at it.
Keifer blinked.
"…That doesn't count."
"It absolutely counts."
"That was luck."
"Skill."
"Luck."
"Skill."
He shook his head.
"So technically I win."
I crossed my arms.
"No."
"Yes."
"No."
"Yes."
I pointed at him.
"Fine. What do you want?"
He pretended to think.
Then he smirked.
"I'll decide later."
I narrowed my eyes.
"That sounds suspicious."
He laughed.
Then suddenly—
Tap. Tap. Tap.
A sound hit the roof above us.
I looked up.
"…Rain?"
Keifer listened.
The sound grew louder.
Soon the rain started pouring heavily outside.
I walked toward the small window in the storage room.
The sky outside was dark gray.
"Wow."
Then—
BOOM.
Thunder exploded across the sky.
I jumped slightly.
"Okay that was loud."
Lightning flashed across the window.
The rain got stronger.
I turned toward Keifer.
"Looks like we're really stuck here."
But when I looked at him…
Something felt wrong.
Very wrong.
His expression had changed.
Completely.
His face looked pale.
His eyes were fixed on the floor.
Another lightning flash lit the room.
CRACK!
Thunder followed immediately.
Keifer suddenly dropped to his knees.
My eyes widened.
"Hey—"
He was breathing strangely.
His hands were shaking.
"Keifer?"
He didn't answer.
"Hey."
I stepped closer.
"What's wrong?"
He shook his head quickly.
"N-no… nothing."
Another thunderclap exploded outside.
BOOM!
Keifer flinched violently.
His shoulders trembled.
Now I was seriously concerned.
"Really?"
I crouched beside him.
"You call this nothing?"
He avoided looking at me.
Then I noticed it.
His hands.
They were shaking badly.
Another lightning flash.
Then thunder again.
Keifer's breathing grew faster.
His body tensed like he was trying to hold himself together.
I placed a hand on his shoulder.
"Keifer."
He whispered quietly,
"…I'm fine."
But the way he said it…
Was anything but fine.
And the shaking only got worse.
End of Chapter 24 ⛈️