Jay was failing Advanced Magical Theory.
Not just "oh I need to study more" failing. Actual "if I don't pass this class I might literally die" failing. Professor Elmwood had made it very clear: fail the final, fail the year. And failing the year at Black Hollow meant... well, no one really knew. But it probably involved ghosts.
So when the professor announced that struggling students would be assigned tutors, Jay was actually relieved.
Until she met her tutor.
Marcus Vane. Senior student. Head of the Academic Excellence Committee. Smart, patient, and apparently assigned to save Jay from academic disaster.
Also very, very friendly.
"Jay, right?" He smiled warmly when they met in the library. "I've heard a lot about you."
"Good things, I hope?"
"Interesting things." He pulled out a chair for her. "Don't worry. We'll get you through this."
Jay smiled back. "Thanks. I really need help."
"Happy to give it."
The first session went fine.
Marcus explained complex theories in simple words. He was patient when Jay didn't understand. He laughed at her stupid jokes. Normal tutor stuff.
But he also touched her shoulder when pointing at her notes.
Just a light touch. Friendly. Helpful.
Jay didn't think anything of it.
She also didn't notice Keifer watching from across the library.
He was there for his own studying. His own table. His own books.
His eyes never left her shoulder.
The second session, Marcus sat closer.
"It helps to see your notes together," he explained.
Jay nodded. "Sure, makes sense."
He pointed at something in her book. His arm brushed hers.
Still fine. Normal.
After the session, he walked her to her next class.
"Just in case you have questions," he said.
Jay appreciated it. Really.
She also didn't notice the temperature drop as they passed Keifer in the hallway.
Keifer didn't say anything. Didn't move. Just watched them walk by, Marcus's hand gesturing animatedly, Jay laughing at something he said.
Lyra appeared beside him.
"Cold in here, isn't it?" she said cheerfully.
Keifer said nothing.
"Must be the weather." Lyra smiled. "Or something else."
Keifer walked away.
Lyra turned to Adrian, who had materialized behind her. "Day two of observation. Subject Keifer has not spoken in six hours. Pupils dilated. Jaw clenched. Threat level: rising."
Adrian scribbled in his notebook. "Fascinating."
Day three was worse.
Marcus greeted Jay with a hug.
A quick hug. Friendly hug. "Good to see you again" hug.
Jay hugged back. Normal person behavior.
Across the cafeteria, Keifer's coffee cup cracked.
Daniel, sitting nearby, slowly pushed his chair away. "I'm going to sit over there now."
Keifer didn't respond. He was watching Marcus pull out Jay's chair. Watching Marcus lean close to explain something. Watching Marcus touch her shoulder again.
And again.
And again.
"Six shoulder touches in twenty minutes," Adrian whispered, appearing beside Keifer with his notebook. "That's a new record."
Keifer's jaw tightened.
"Also three arm brushes, two hair moves (his, not hers), and one moment where he looked at her for slightly too long." Adrian adjusted his glasses. "Statistical analysis suggests he's interested."
"I know what he's doing," Keifer said quietly.
"Are you going to do something about it?"
Keifer didn't answer. He just watched.
By day four, the whole school noticed.
Every time Marcus touched Jay, the temperature in the room dropped. Every time he laughed at her jokes, a window fogged up. Every time he walked her to class, papers scattered mysteriously in the wind.
"It's like living with a walking weather system," Mila complained. "I'm cold ALL THE TIME."
"His jealousy has measurable atmospheric effects," Adrian confirmed. "I've been tracking it. Day one: minor temperature fluctuations. Day two: localized fog. Day three: spontaneous frost on nearby surfaces." He held up his device. "Today, we're at level four. Possible snow flurries."
"SNOW?" Bella's eyes went wide. "In SPRING?"
"If Marcus touches her shoulder one more time? Yes."
Lyra was loving every second. "This is the best content we've ever gotten. Jealous Keifer is a whole new character. The silent suffering. The restrained fury. The repressed emotions. It's CINEMA."
Daniel just wanted to go back to his room. "I didn't sign up for this."
Jay was not completely oblivious.
She noticed Marcus was friendly. She noticed he touched her a lot. She noticed he walked her to class and brought her tea and remembered her favorite snacks.
But she also noticed that Keifer had been weird all week.
Quiet. Distant. Watching.
She tried to talk to him.
"Hey." She sat beside him at dinner. "You okay?"
"Fine."
"You've been quiet."
"Busy."
"Busy doing what?"
"Things."
Jay stared at him. "Things?"
"Yes."
"That's not an answer."
"It's the answer I have."
She wanted to push. But he looked tired. Stressed. So she let it go.
Big mistake.
Day five.
Tutoring session in the library. Jay and Marcus at their usual table. Marcus explaining ward structures. Marcus touching her shoulder. Marcus leaning close to point at something.
Jay was trying to focus. She really was. But she kept thinking about Keifer. About his quiet answers. About the way he watched her.
"Jay?" Marcus waved a hand. "You with me?"
"Sorry. Distracted."
"Thinking about your boyfriend?"
She blinked. "What?"
"Keifer. The President." Marcus smiled. "Everyone knows about you two. You're kind of famous."
Jay's face heated. "Oh. Yeah. I mean—we're—yes."
"He's lucky."
"What?"
Marcus shrugged. "To have someone like you. Smart, funny, pretty. He's lucky."
Jay didn't know what to say. "I—thanks?"
Marcus smiled again. "Anyway. Back to wards."
He touched her shoulder one more time.
The library door slammed open.
Keifer walked in.
Not walked. Stalked. His eyes were fixed on the table. On Marcus's hand. On Jay.
The temperature dropped so fast Jay saw her own breath.
Marcus's hand slowly retreated.
Keifer crossed the library in about five seconds. Stopped right beside their table. Looked down at Marcus.
"I'll take it from here," he said.
His voice was calm. Too calm. The kind of calm that happened right before something exploded.
Marcus blinked. "What?"
"Tutoring. I'll handle it."
"You're not her tutor."
"I am now."
"Keifer—" Jay started.
He didn't look at her. Didn't take his eyes off Marcus.
"You can leave," he said.
Marcus looked at Jay. Looked at Keifer. Slowly stood up.
"Okay," he said. "I was just—"
"I know what you were doing."
Marcus's face flickered. Guilt? Fear? Both?
He left. Fast.
Keifer sat down in Marcus's chair. Right next to Jay. Close. Possessive.
Jay stared at him.
"Keifer."
"Yes."
"What was that?"
"Tutoring."
"THAT was not tutoring. THAT was you scaring away my tutor."
"Get a new one."
"I CAN'T just—" She stopped. Looked at his face. His jaw was tight. His eyes were dark. His hand was gripping the table so hard his knuckles were white.
"Oh my god," she whispered. "You're jealous."
"No."
"You ARE. You're jealous of Marcus."
"I'm not jealous."
"You just chased him out of the library."
"He was touching you."
Jay blinked. "What?"
"Your shoulder. He kept touching your shoulder. Eighteen times in three days. I counted."
"You COUNTED?"
"Nineteen including today."
"KEIFER."
"He was too close. He laughed too loud at your jokes. He brought you tea. YOUR tea. The kind you like. He knew your order." Keifer's voice was getting lower, rougher. "He walked you to class. He hugged you. He looked at you like—"
"Like what?"
Keifer finally looked at her. His eyes were burning.
"Like he wanted you."
The words hung in the air.
Jay's heart stopped.
"You're jealous," she breathed.
"I'm... aware."
"Of Marcus."
"Yes."
"The tutor."
"Yes."
"The nice, friendly, harmless tutor."
"He's not harmless."
"He's literally just helping me with wards."
"He wants more."
"Keifer—"
"I know what I saw." He leaned closer. "I know what that look means. I used to look at you like that. Before. When I didn't think I could have you."
Jay's mouth opened. Closed. Opened again.
"You're jealous," she repeated. Like she couldn't believe it.
"Yes."
"You're actually, genuinely jealous."
"Yes."
"Of a tutor."
"Yes."
"A senior student who is just being nice."
"He's not just being nice."
"HE BROUGHT ME TEA."
"I bring you tea."
"YOU bring me tea because you're my BOYFRIEND."
"Exactly. He's not your boyfriend. He shouldn't bring you tea."
Jay stared at him. His jaw was set. His eyes were fierce. His hand was still gripping the table like he wanted to break something.
And she realized something.
He was cute when he was jealous.
Really cute.
"You're ridiculous," she said.
"I know."
"You chased away my tutor."
"I'll find you a new one."
"Someone less touchy?"
"Someone who never touches you."
"Keifer, people touch each other. It's normal."
"Not him."
"Anyone?"
"Anyone." He paused. "Except me."
Jay burst out laughing.
She couldn't help it. He was so serious. So intense. So completely, utterly, adorably jealous.
"You're INSANE," she said between laughs.
"Probably."
"I love you."
His expression softened. Just slightly. "I love you too."
"But you're still insane."
"I know."
"And you're going to help me with wards now?"
"Yes."
"Because you scared away my actual tutor?"
"Yes."
"And you're going to be patient and helpful and not break anything?"
He considered. "I'll try."
"That's not very reassuring."
"It's the best I can offer."
Jay shook her head, still smiling. "Fine. Teach me wards."
He pulled her chair closer. Close enough that their legs touched. Close enough that his arm pressed against hers.
"What are you doing?" she asked.
"Tutoring."
"You're sitting very close."
"Helps with focus."
"You're impossible."
He looked at her. His eyes were warm now, the jealousy fading into something softer.
"You love me anyway."
"Unfortunately, yes."
He smiled. That real one. Only for her.
"Good."
They studied for two hours.
Keifer was actually helpful. Patient. Clear. He explained things in a way that made sense. He didn't touch her shoulder, but he didn't need to. His presence was enough.
At the end, Jay understood wards better than she had in weeks.
"See?" he said. "I'm a good tutor."
"You're an okay tutor."
"Better than Marcus?"
She pretended to think. "I don't know. Marcus brought me tea."
"I'll bring you tea."
"Marcus laughed at my jokes."
"I laugh at your jokes."
"You smirk. It's different."
"It's the same."
"It's really not."
"IS."
"IS NOT."
"IS."
"IS NOT."
They were nose to nose now, arguing about nothing, smiling at each other.
"Still wrong," Jay said.
"Still wrong about what?"
"Everything."
"Specifics?"
"No."
He kissed her. Quick. Soft. Right there in the library.
"Still love you," he murmured against her lips.
"Still insane."
"Still yours."
She kissed him back.
They left the library holding hands.
The hallway was suspiciously empty. Except for one bench. Where five of their friends sat in a row, staring at them.
Lyra had a clipboard.
"Observations from the Jealous Keifer Incident, Day Five," she announced. "Subject Keifer entered library at 3:47 PM. Subject Marcus exited at 3:48 PM. Looking scared. Subject Keifer remained inside for two hours. Subjects emerged holding hands. Smiling. Romantic tension resolved."
Adrian was writing furiously. "The atmospheric effects normalized at 4:52 PM. Coinciding with first physical contact. Hypothesis: jealousy decreases when possessiveness is physically expressed."
"Meaning?" Mila asked.
"He needed to touch her," Adrian said. "To feel her. To know she was his."
"EW," Daniel said. "That's romantic. I hate it."
Bella was crying. "He chased away her tutor because he loved her. That's beautiful."
"It's UNHINGED," Daniel corrected.
"Romantically unhinged," Lyra agreed. "The best kind."
Jay stopped in front of them. "Are you guys done?"
"Never," Lyra said. "This is our life's work now. Documenting Jayfer."
Keifer looked at the clipboard. "What's that?"
"A jealousy scale. We've been ranking each incident. Day one: mild discomfort. Day two: atmospheric cooling. Day three: silent treatment. Day four: window fogging. Day five: full confrontation and resolution." She pointed at a chart. "You're currently at 9.5 out of 10 on the Jealousy Intensity Scale."
"I have a scale?" Keifer asked.
"You have multiple scales. Adrian made graphs."
Jay looked at Adrian. "Graphs?"
"Pie charts too." He held up his notebook. "Would you like to see?"
"No."
"They're very informative."
"NO."
Keifer squeezed her hand. "Let them have their fun."
"YOU'RE DEFENDING THEM?"
"They documented my jealousy. That takes dedication."
"IT'S WEIRD."
"It's love."
Lyra gasped. "HE SAID LOVE. ABOUT US. PUT THAT IN THE NOTES."
Jay groaned.
But she was smiling.
That night, Jay lay in Keifer's bed, wrapped in his arms.
"You know," she said quietly, "you really didn't need to be jealous."
"I know."
"Marcus was just being nice."
"I know."
"He didn't want me."
"I know that too." He pressed a kiss to her hair. "I still didn't like it."
"Why?"
He was quiet for a moment.
"Because you're mine," he finally said. "And I don't share."
"I'm not a toy."
"I know. You're more." His arms tightened. "You're everything."
Jay's heart did that thing again. The too-big, too-full, too-much thing.
"You're so dramatic," she whispered.
"You love it."
"I love YOU."
"Same thing."
"It's really not."
"IS."
"IS NOT."
"IS."
"IS NOT."
He kissed her. She kissed back.
The argument could wait.
The next morning, Jay walked into the cafeteria and found Marcus at a table. Alone.
He saw her. Looked away quickly.
Jay walked over.
"Hey," she said.
"Hey." He didn't meet her eyes.
"About yesterday—"
"I'm sorry." He finally looked up. "I didn't realize. About you and Keifer. I mean, I knew, but I didn't... I was being weird. I'm sorry."
Jay blinked. "You're apologizing?"
"He's the President. And your boyfriend. And he looked at me like I was already dead." Marcus shuddered. "I've never been that scared in my life."
"He's not that scary."
"Ma'am, with all due respect, he is TERRIFYING."
Jay laughed. "Okay, fair. But he's also really sweet. When you get to know him."
"If you say so." Marcus stood up. "I'll stay away from your tutoring. And from you. And from anywhere within fifty feet of either of you."
"That's not necessary—"
"It's absolutely necessary. For my survival." He backed away slowly. "Tell him I'm sorry. Tell him I meant nothing. Tell him I'll transfer schools if I have to."
He left.
Fast.
Jay turned around.
Keifer was standing right behind her.
"How much did you hear?" she asked.
"Enough."
"You didn't need to scare him that badly."
"I didn't do anything."
"Your EXISTENCE scared him."
"I can't help that."
"You LOVE that."
He smiled. "Maybe."
She shook her head. "You're impossible."
"You love me."
"Yeah." She took his hand. "I do."
They walked to breakfast together.
Their friends watched from their usual table.
"Jealousy level for today?" Lyra asked.
Adrian checked his devices. "Baseline. He's calm. She's holding his hand. No threats detected."
"Finally," Daniel muttered. "Peace."
"It won't last," Mila said wisely.
"It never does."
They were right.
But for now, Jay and Keifer sat together, ate breakfast, and argued about coffee.
Normal. Perfect. THEIRS.