The Fernandez house woke to chaos.
Not the usual chaos—the post-date chaos.
Percy's date with Honey had ended at midnight. He'd come home looking dazed, refused to speak to anyone, and locked himself in his room.
Now it was 8 AM, and he still hadn't emerged.
The living room was packed with people waiting for updates.
Ci-n: "IS HE DEAD? SHOULD WE BREAK THE DOOR DOWN?"
Rakki: "He's not dead. He's processing."
Ci-n: "PROCESSING WHAT?"
Rakki: "Feelings."
Ci-n: "OH NO. FEELINGS ARE DANGEROUS."
Mica: "Feelings aren't dangerous."
Ci-n: "HAVE YOU MET PERCY? FEELINGS ARE VERY DANGEROUS FOR HIM."
Calix: "He has a point."
Mayo: "The man has avoided genuine emotional connection for years. This is unprecedented."
Kit: "This is HISTORY."
Rory: "I've been tracking his heart rate through his phone."
Edrix: "You WHAT?"
Rory: "He gave me access to his health app. For emergencies."
Edrix: "That's invasion of privacy."
Rory: "That's friendship."
Freya: "Those are different things."
Rory: "Same thing."
Drew: "New bet! How long until Percy emerges?"
David: "Thirty minutes. 500."
Drew: "You're on."
Eren: "Wait, why are we all waiting for Percy? What did I miss?"
Everyone: "His date with Honey."
Eren: "OH RIGHT. The hot one. Did it go well?"
Everyone: "WE DON'T KNOW."
Eren: "Then why are we waiting?"
Everyone stared at him.
Eren: "What?"
Josh shook his head.
Jay and Keifer sat on the couch, watching the chaos.
Jay: "This is ridiculous."
Keifer: "This is family."
Jay: "Same thing?"
Keifer: "Usually."
Jay: "You think Percy's okay?"
Keifer: "Percy's never okay. But he's probably fine."
Jay: "That's comforting."
Keifer: "I try."
Jay snuggled closer to him. She was still in baby mode from yesterday—softer, clingier, more herself.
Keifer didn't mind.
He kissed her hair. "Tss."
Jay: "You're doing that on purpose."
Keifer: "Always."
Jay: "I love you anyway."
Keifer: "I know."
At 8:37 AM, Percy's door opened.
He emerged looking… different.
Not wrecked. Not panicked. Just… soft. Quiet. Thoughtful.
He walked downstairs slowly, entered the living room, and stood in front of everyone.
Silence.
Ci-n: "WELL? HOW WAS IT?"
Percy opened his mouth. Closed it. Opened it again.
Then: "I think… I might… like her."
The room EXPLODED.
Ci-n: "HE LIKES HER! PERCY LIKES SOMEONE!"
Rakki: "This is the biggest news since Jayfer got together!"
Mica: "WHAT HAPPENED? TELL US EVERYTHING!"
Percy: "I—she—we—" He sat down heavily on the couch. "She's amazing. She's funny and smart and she doesn't let me get away with anything. She called me out on three different exaggerations during dinner."
Mayo: "Called you out HOW?"
Percy: "I said I was 'internationally famous' and she asked for proof. I didn't have proof."
Kit: "That's beautiful."
Percy: "It's TERRIFYING. She sees through me."
Felix: "That's what you need."
Percy: "I DON'T NEED TO BE SEEN THROUGH. I NEED TO BE ADMIRED FROM A SAFE DISTANCE."
Felix: "You really don't."
Percy: "YOU DON'T KNOW MY LIFE."
Felix: "I'm your brother. I literally do."
Percy: "…Fair."
Jasfer appeared, grinning. "So when's the second date?"
Percy: "Tonight."
Everyone: "TONIGHT?!"
Percy: "She asked. I said yes. It just… happened."
Serina: "That's how the best relationships start."
Jay's grandma: "THE BLUE-EYED BOY IS FALLING. FINALLY."
Percy: "I'M NOT FALLING. I'M… cautiously descending."
Tita Gema: "SAME THING."
Percy: "IT'S NOT."
But he was smiling.
Really smiling.
The doorbell rang.
Angelo checked. "It's Honey."
Percy shot to his feet. "NOW?!"
Angelo: "She has coffee and pastries."
Percy: "I'm not ready—I look—my hair—"
Honey walked in before Angelo could stop her.
She was holding two large coffee cups and a bag of pastries, looking absolutely radiant in casual clothes.
Her eyes found Percy immediately.
"Morning, handsome."
Percy: "I—you—hi."
Honey: "Hi." She walked over, handed him a coffee. "You looked like you needed this."
Percy: "I—how did you—"
Honey: "I pay attention."
Percy: "That's—you're—"
Honey: "Also, I brought enough for everyone." She held up the bag. "Croissants. Don't fight over them."
The room erupted in grateful chaos.
Tita Gema: "SHE BROUGHT PASTRIES. I LOVE HER."
Jasfer: "She's already family."
Serina: "Give her time."
Jasfer: "FINE. FUTURE FAMILY."
Ci-n grabbed three croissants before anyone could stop him. Rakki chased him. Mica and Calix split one peacefully. Mayo critiqued the flakiness. Kit agreed.
Rory and Edrix argued about who saw her coming first. Freya "wasn't watching" them argue. Drew took bets on how many pastries would survive the next five minutes. David somehow got one in his sleep.
Eren: "Wait, is she dating Percy now? Does that mean she's around more? Because she's really—"
Everyone: "NO."
Eren: "I didn't even finish!"
Josh silently took a croissant and radiated calm.
Denzel gave Grazel Jay a tiny piece.
Grazel Jay: "YUM. NEW AUNTIE GOOD."
Grace: "Baby, she's not your auntie yet."
Grazel Jay: "YET."
Denzel: "She's got a point."
Keigan and Keiren grabbed pastries and ran.
Honey settled beside Percy on the couch, close enough that their shoulders touched.
Percy: "You brought pastries."
Honey: "I did."
Percy: "For everyone."
Honey: "I know how to make an entrance."
Percy: "You definitely do."
Honey: "Also, I wanted to see you again. Sooner rather than later."
Percy: "You saw me six hours ago."
Honey: "Six hours too long."
Percy's face went red.
The room collectively melted.
Mica: "SHE'S SMOOTH."
Rakki: "VERY smooth."
Ci-n: "I'M LEARNING."
Rakki: "You really shouldn't."
Mayo: "The woman has skills."
Kit: "Professional level."
Freya: "I'm taking notes."
Edrix: "For what?"
Freya: "Shut up."
Edrix smiled.
Jay watched the scene with pure delight.
"She's perfect for him."
Keifer: "Absolutely."
Jay: "He's completely gone."
Keifer: "He's been gone since she walked in yesterday."
Jay: "True."
Keifer: "Tss."
Jay: "Stop."
Keifer: "No."
Jay: "KEIFER."
Keifer: "JAY."
They stared at each other.
Then Jay laughed, pulling him close. "I love you."
Keifer: "I know."
Jay: "Even when you're annoying."
Keifer: "Especially when I'm annoying."
Jay: "Unfortunately."
The day passed in comfortable chaos.
Honey integrated seamlessly into the group. She teased Percy mercilessly but also defended him when Eren made a comment. She helped Tita Gema in the kitchen. She complimented Serina's elegance. She even made Jay's grandma laugh—a rare achievement.
Jay's grandma: "I LIKE HER. SHE HAS SPINE."
Honey: "Thank you, Lola."
Jay's grandma: "YOU'RE WELCOME. DON'T HURT MY BLUE-EYED BOY."
Honey: "Never."
Percy: "I'm RIGHT HERE."
Honey: "I know." She kissed his cheek. "That's the point."
Percy's face went red again.
Ci-n: "PERCY IS BLUSHING! DOCUMENT THIS MOMENT!"
Rakki: "Percy doesn't blush."
Ci-n: "PERCY IS BLUSHING RIGHT NOW!"
Percy: "I'm NOT blushing. I'm—flushed. From the—temperature. In here."
Honey: "It's 72 degrees."
Percy: "I run hot."
Honey: "I noticed."
Percy: "THAT'S NOT—I MEANT—"
Honey laughed, warm and genuine.
Percy shut up.
Felix: "I've never seen him like this."
Aries: "Neither have I."
Ella: "It's beautiful."
Aries: "It's disturbing."
Ella: "Same thing."
That night, after Honey finally left (with a promise to return tomorrow), the house settled into quiet.
Percy sat on the patio, staring at the stars.
Felix joined him.
Felix: "You okay?"
Percy: "Yeah. I think so."
Felix: "She's really something."
Percy: "She's really something." He paused. "I like her. Like, actually like her. Not just—dramatic like. Real like."
Felix: "I know."
Percy: "It's terrifying."
Felix: "It's supposed to be."
Percy: "That's not comforting."
Felix: "It's the truth."
Percy was quiet for a moment.
Then: "Thanks for being here. For not leaving. Even when I was gone."
Felix: "You're my brother. I'm always here."
Percy: "Even when I'm dramatic?"
Felix: "Especially then."
Percy: "Tss."
Felix: "What?"
Percy: "Nothing. Keifer thing."
Felix: "You're picking up Keifer habits now?"
Percy: "We live together. It's contagious."
Felix laughed.
They sat there, brothers, under the stars.
Inside, Jay and Keifer were curled up on the couch.
Jay: "Today was good."
Keifer: "Today was chaotic."
Jay: "Same thing."
Keifer: "You're picking up my habits too."
Jay: "We live together. It's contagious."
Keifer: "Tss."
Jay: "Stop."
Keifer: "Tss."
Jay: "KEIFER."
Keifer: "JAY."
She kissed him.
He kissed her back.