Jay saw Keifer at the end of the hallway.
She turned around so fast she almost dislocated her spine.
Bella grabbed her arm. "Jay—what are you doing?"
Jay hissed, "I'm avoiding him."
Adrian blinked. "Why?"
Jay glared. "BECAUSE HE CONFESSED."
Bella: "And you said nothing." Jay: "I PANICKED." Bella: "You still said nothing." Jay: "STOP REMINDING ME—"
The lights flickered.
Jay froze. "No. No. No—NOT AGAIN—"
A gust of wind blew down the hallway. A teacher screamed. Someone's hair extensions flew off.
Crimson Oaths yelled, "SHE'S MALFUNCTIONING—" Nightthorns yelled, "SHE NEEDS HER MAN—" Jay yelled, "HE IS NOT MY MAN—"
A book floated off a shelf.
Jay screamed, "PUT THAT DOWN—"
The book did not put itself down.
Jay ducked behind a vending machine.
Bella whispered, "Jay, you can't hide all day—"
Jay whispered back, "WATCH ME."
But then—
Jay saw it.
Keifer.
Talking to a girl.
A pretty girl.
A tall girl.
A girl who was smiling at him.
Jay's eye twitched. "Who is THAT."
Bella sighed. "A student."
Jay glared. "WHY IS SHE TALKING TO HIM."
Bella: "Because you ignored his confession." Jay: "I DID NOT—" Bella: "You literally said nothing." Jay: "I PANICKED—"
The lights flickered again.
A chair caught fire.
Aiden screamed. Daniel whispered, "I'm transferring TODAY."
Jay stomped her foot. "WHY IS HE SMILING AT HER—"
Bella stared. "Jay… are you jealous?"
Jay choked. "NO—NO—NO—ABSOLUTELY NOT—"
The window cracked.
Bella: "Jay." Jay: "I'M NOT JEALOUS—" Bella: "The window disagrees." Jay: "SHUT UP—"
Jay marched toward them.
She didn't mean to.
Her legs just moved.
Her magic sparked.
Her heart sprinted.
Keifer turned just as she reached him.
He looked calm.
Too calm.
"Jay," he said.
Jay glared. "Why are you talking to her."
The girl blinked. "Um—hi?"
Jay ignored her completely. "WHY ARE YOU TALKING TO HER."
Keifer raised an eyebrow. "Why do you care?"
Jay opened her mouth.
Nothing came out.
Her magic flared.
A spark shot out of her hand and hit a trash can.
It caught fire.
The girl screamed and ran away.
Keifer watched Jay.
Slowly.
Carefully.
Then he smirked.
"You're jealous."
Jay exploded. "NO I'M NOT—"
"You are."
"I'M NOT—"
"You are."
Jay shoved him. "STOP SAYING THAT—"
The lights flickered again.
Aiden fainted. Daniel walked away whispering, "I'm REALLY transferring."
Keifer stepped closer.
Jay stepped back.
He leaned in slightly. "If you didn't care, your magic wouldn't react."
Jay's face burned. "I—DON'T—CARE—"
Keifer smiled.
A real one.
"Liar."
Jay's heart did a full somersault.
She shoved him again. "STOP—TALKING—"
He didn't move.
He just looked at her like she was the only person in the hallway.
Jay whispered, "I hate this."
Keifer whispered back, "But not me."
Jay froze.
Butterflies everywhere.