The principal's office felt heavy, like the air itself was pressing down on them.
Lia stood near the window, arms crossed, expression unreadable. Jay sat straight in her chair, shoulders tense but controlled. Aries leaned against the wall, restless. Angelo stood near the desk, calm but watchful.
Kiefer stayed close to Jay.
Not because anyone told him to —
because he knew.
Principal Ramos spoke slowly, carefully. "What happened today crossed a line."
Jay lifted her eyes. "They blocked us."
"That doesn't justify—"
"They touched Lia," Jay said quietly.
Lia didn't turn around. "I warned them."
Silence.
Ramos sighed. "Three days detention. After school."
Jay nodded once.
Lia didn't react.
Kiefer exhaled softly. Detention meant they were still safe — for now.
"Go," Ramos said. "Before this turns into something bigger."
Detention passed in silence.
Jay sat with her hands folded tightly in her lap. Lia leaned against the wall, eyes closed. Aries and Angelo stayed quiet.
Kiefer glanced at Jay more than once.
"You okay?" he murmured.
Jay nodded. "Yeah. I'm fine."
She wasn't shaking. But she wasn't relaxed either.
Lia opened her eyes. "You did good."
Jay's shoulders eased just a fraction. "You were there."
That was the truth.
The second fight came without warning.
Near the stairwell. Too many people. Too much noise.
A shove from Section D. A curse. Then chaos.
Jay moved instinctively, stepping in front of Lia.
"Stay with me," Lia said quietly behind her.
Jay breathed in.
The first hit came fast. Jay blocked it, twisting away. Lia moved beside her, controlled, precise, every motion deliberate.
Section E rushed in to protect their own.
Aries pulled someone back. Angelo blocked another strike. Kit and Eren forced space around Jay and Lia.
Then someone fell hard.
A sharp crack.
Blood hit the floor.
Jay saw it.
Her breath caught. Her hands tightened.
Kiefer's heart dropped.
This was the moment he feared.
Jay's eyes flicked to Lia.
Lia met her gaze immediately.
"I'm here," Lia said. Calm. Steady. Unmoving.
Jay swallowed.
The fear didn't vanish. It never did.
But it stopped controlling her.
She looked away from the blood and focused on Lia's voice, her presence, her grounding weight beside her.
"Back off," Jay said firmly.
Her voice didn't shake.
She moved again — careful, controlled — ending the fight without losing herself.
Teachers arrived seconds later, shouting, pulling people apart.
Jay stepped back beside Lia.
Her hands trembled slightly now — but she was still standing.
Still in control.
Later, Section E sat together.
No one spoke.
Aries stared at his desk. Angelo leaned back, thoughtful. Kit swallowed hard.
They were all thinking the same thing.
She didn't break.
Kiefer knew better.
Jay hadn't changed. The fear was still there.
But with Lia beside her — she didn't fall apart.
Jay caught Kiefer looking at her.
She didn't smile. She just nodded once.
He nodded back.
Section E stayed silent.
But something unspoken settled between them —
As long as Lia stood beside Jay, she wouldn't lose control.
And that was enough.