Keifer POV
The room had finally settled into that soft hospital silence. The kind that felt like the world pressing a finger to its lips and saying, easy now.
Jay was still awake. Of course she was.
She was staring at the TV, even though it had been muted for a while now. Some cooking show was on. A man was aggressively chopping onions like they had personally offended him.
"You know," she said, eyes still on the screen, "if he cuts like that at home, his onions are definitely scared of him."
I let out a small laugh before I could stop myself. "You're judging his chopping technique?"
"I'm judging his personality," she replied. "That's not calm chopping. That's revenge chopping."
I turned my head to look at her. "You're impossible."
She smiled proudly. "Doctors say I'm stable. Not boring."
We stayed quiet for a bit, watching the man on TV set something on fire.
"See," Jay muttered. "I warned you."
I shook my head. "You're supposed to be resting."
"I am resting," she said. "Mentally. Physically, I'm trapped."
I smirked. "Angelo would love that description."
She groaned. "Don't remind me. 'Jay, stop complaining. Jay, lie down. Jay, breathe.' I breathe just fine."
"You complained about breathing?" I asked.
She looked at me seriously. "It was optional breathing. I didn't agree to it."
I laughed again, this time it pulled slightly at my ribs, but it was worth it.
Jay glanced at me. "Does it hurt when you laugh?"
"A little."
She nodded thoughtfully. "Okay. I'll be funnier in moderation."
"That's not how that works."
"Oh, it is," she said. "Watch. I'll switch to serious mode."
She cleared her throat and sat up a little straighter. "Keifer Watson. What are your plans after discharge?"
I played along. "Recover. Avoid being chased. Eat real food."
She gasped. "Wow. Such ambition."
I shrugged. "What about you?"
"Go home," she said instantly. "Sleep in my own bed. Argue with Angelo. Count how many days I have before school starts and panic."
"Four days," I reminded her.
She groaned dramatically. "See? Panic justified."
I smiled. "You'll be fine."
She tilted her head. "You say that like you're sure."
"I am," I said. "You survived this. School doesn't stand a chance."
She laughed softly, then paused. "When we're discharged… we should do something normal."
"Define normal."
She thought for a moment. "No guns. No chasing. No hospital gowns."
"Very high standards," I said.
She grinned. "I know."
Just then, the phone on the side table started vibrating again.
Jay's eyes flicked to it. "Your mom's phone is buzzing."
I leaned over and checked the screen.
HEX calling
I sighed. "Of course."
Jay's smile turned mischievous. "Put it on speaker."
"Why do I feel like that's a bad idea?"
"Because it is," she said sweetly. "Do it."
I tapped accept.
"KEIFER," Hex's voice blasted through the room, way too loud for a hospital. "ARE YOU ALIVE?"
Jay winced. "Lower your voice before the walls file a complaint."
"Oh," Hex said. "Jay's awake?"
"Yes," she answered. "Unfortunately, so are you."
He gasped. "Wow. She's mean even injured."
"Don't test me," she replied.
I couldn't stop smiling