Aries' POV
The rain outside hadn't stopped all evening.
Thunder rolled across the sky while the wind pushed the rain against the large windows of the Marino house.
Inside, the living room lights were warm and bright.
But the mood wasn't.
Mom sat on the sofa, arms crossed.
Gemma paced around the room.
Dad stood near the window watching the storm outside.
And I was sitting on the arm of the couch.
Everyone was waiting.
For Jay.
Gemma checked her phone again.
"She's not answering."
Mom frowned.
"She never ignores calls like this."
Dad turned from the window.
"Maybe she stayed late at school."
Gemma shook her head.
"During a storm like this?"
I sighed and rubbed my forehead.
"Relax. She's probably fine."
Even though… I was starting to feel uneasy too.
Just then—
My phone vibrated.
I pulled it out.
A message.
From Keifer.
I frowned slightly and opened it.
Come to the school storage room after the rain stops.
Bring the keys.
I stared at the screen.
"…What?"
Gemma immediately noticed.
"What is it?"
I stood up.
"I think I found Jay."
Mom looked relieved.
"Where?"
"School."
Dad raised an eyebrow.
"In this weather?"
I grabbed my jacket.
"I'm going."
But Dad immediately stopped me.
"Aries."
I looked at him.
"Wait until the rain stops."
I looked toward the window.
The storm outside was still heavy.
Lightning flashed across the sky.
Dad continued calmly.
"Driving now is dangerous."
I sighed.
"…Fine."
So we waited.
For almost an hour.
Eventually the rain slowed.
The thunder faded.
And the sky became quiet again.
I stood up immediately.
"I'm going."
This time Dad didn't stop me.
"Take Yuri and the boys with you," he said.
"Just in case."
About twenty minutes later…
We were standing outside the dark school building.
Me.
Yuri.
David.
Felix.
Ci-N.
Rory.
Endrix.
The rain had stopped but the ground was still wet.
The entire school was dark.
Felix looked at the building dramatically.
"This is how horror movies start."
David elbowed him.
"Shut up."
I unlocked the front gate and we walked inside.
The hallways were completely dark.
Yuri turned on his phone flashlight.
"Creepy."
Soon everyone turned their phone lights on.
White beams of light moved across the walls as we walked.
Our footsteps echoed through the empty building.
"Gym should be this way," I said.
We moved down the hallway.
Then finally reached the gym doors.
I pushed them open.
The large gym was dark and silent.
Only the faint sound of dripping rain could be heard.
Felix whispered dramatically,
"If a ghost appears I'm blaming you."
David shoved him forward.
"Move."
We walked toward the equipment hallway.
And then we saw it.
The storage room door.
Locked.
I pulled the keys from my pocket.
"Stand back."
The lock clicked open.
Slowly…
I pushed the door.
The door creaked as it opened.
Everyone lifted their phone lights.
The beams filled the small room.
And then—
Everyone froze.
Because of what we saw.
Jay was sitting against the wall.
Asleep.
And Keifer…
Was lying on her lap.
His head resting comfortably while Jay's hand was still near his ear.
Both of them completely asleep.
Felix's jaw dropped.
"…NO WAY."
David whispered loudly,
"BRO."
Ci-N covered his mouth trying not to laugh.
Yuri shook his head.
"This is unbelievable."
Felix whispered dramatically,
"They look like a married couple."
"Shut up," I muttered.
I walked inside.
The boys continued whispering behind me.
"How long were they like that?"
"Since when does Keifer sleep on people?"
"This is historical."
I ignored them and walked closer.
"Jay."
She didn't move.
"Jay."
Still nothing.
I gently tapped her shoulder.
"Jay."
Her eyes slowly opened.
She blinked lazily.
"…Aries?"
"Yeah."
She stretched slightly.
"Oh."
Then she noticed the room full of boys staring.
"…Why are you all here?"
Behind me David whispered,
"You tell her."
I sighed.
"We came to find you."
Jay yawned and gently moved her legs.
That's when Keifer woke up too.
He blinked slowly.
Then realized where he was.
And immediately sat up.
Felix whispered dramatically,
"THE KING HAS AWAKENED."
Keifer shot him a glare.
Felix pretended to zip his mouth.
I crossed my arms.
"Jay."
She looked at me.
"How did you get in here?"
Jay stretched her arms casually.
"I was locked up in here."
"…By who?"
She shrugged.
"Freya probably."
I sighed.
Of course.
Then I looked at Keifer.
"What about you?"
Keifer stood up and brushed his jacket.
His expression returned to its usual calm look.
"I have nothing to explain."
He walked toward the door.
Then paused beside Jay.
"Take care."
Jay nodded slightly.
"Yeah."
Keifer turned to the boys.
"Let's go."
David grinned.
"Oh we're definitely talking about this later."
Felix pointed at Jay and Keifer.
"This is not over."
Yuri laughed.
"Move, idiots."
The boys followed Keifer out of the room.
Their whispers slowly faded down the hallway.
Soon it was just me and Jay.
I looked at her.
"Ready to go home?"
She nodded and stood up.
"Yeah."
She went to her class and grabbed her bag and stretched again.
"Everyone is waiting for you," I said.
Jay sighed dramatically.
"Great."
We walked out of the classroom together.
I turned off the lights and locked the door then gave the key to the guard.
Then we left the quiet school building.
Heading to the car.
While somewhere behind us…
The storm clouds slowly drifted away.