The first day of college arrived like a storm.
State University was massive. Buildings everywhere. Students rushing. Chaos in every direction.
Jay and Keifer walked in together. Hand in hand.
Jay: "This is huge."
Keifer: "This is overwhelming."
Jay: "Same thing?"
Keifer: "Same thing."
Jay: "Tss."
Keifer: "Stop."
Jay: "No."
He kissed her forehead.
They checked their schedules.
Same program. Business.
But different classes.
Jay: "We're not together?"
Keifer: "Different sections."
Jay: "I don't like this."
Keifer: "Me neither."
Jay: "But we'll meet after?"
Keifer: "Always."
Jay: "Promise?"
Keifer: "Promise."
Jay's first class was fine.
Professors. Syllabi. Introductions.
But her mind kept drifting to Keifer.
Is he okay? Is his class okay? Is anyone flirting with him?
She shook the thought away.
Keifer's first class was... complicated.
Professor assigned group projects. Random partners.
Keifer got paired with a girl named Chloe.
Chloe: "Keifer, right? I'm Chloe. We're partners."
Keifer: "Okay."
Chloe: "You're cute."
Keifer: "...Thanks."
Chloe: "We should meet after class. Discuss the project."
Keifer: "I have lunch with my girlfriend."
Chloe: "Girlfriend?"
Keifer: "Future wife."
Chloe: "Oh."
She didn't look happy about it.
Lunchtime.
The cafeteria was packed. Section E gathered at a large table.
Ci-n: "FIRST DAY! HOW WAS IT?"
Rakki: "Loud."
Mica: "Long."
Calix: "Lectures."
Freya: "Boring."
Edrix: "Productive."
Freya: "Shut up."
Edrix: "Never."
Rory: "I've already mapped the entire campus."
Drew: "I took bets on who would get lost first."
David: "Eren. I won 500."
Eren: "I wasn't lost! I was EXPLORING!"
Josh nodded supportively.
Baster hummed a first-day melody.
Aries and Ella arrived. Aries: "This place is huge."
Ella: "This place is overwhelming."
Aries: "Same thing?"
Ella: "Same thing."
Percy wasn't there (not a student), but Ci-n had him on video call.
Percy: "SHOW ME EVERYTHING! THE CAFETERIA! THE FOOD! THE JAYFER!"
Ci-n: "I'M SHOWING YOU!"
Rakki: "Those two."
Mica: "Never change."
Jay arrived first. Sat down. Waited.
Then Keifer walked in.
With a girl.
Jay's eyes narrowed.
Keifer sat beside Jay. Kissed her cheek.
Keifer: "Hey."
Jay: "Hey. Who's that?"
Keifer: "Project partner. Chloe."
Chloe followed. Stood at the table.
Chloe: "Hi, everyone. I'm Chloe. Keifer's partner."
Silence.
Ci-n: "KEIFER HAS A PARTNER?"
Rakki: "Project partner."
Ci-n: "OH. OKAY."
Chloe: "Keifer, we should discuss the project."
Keifer: "Not during lunch."
Chloe: "It's important."
Keifer: "This is my time with my people."
Chloe: "It'll just take a minute."
Keifer: "No."
Chloe: "You're being difficult."
Keifer: "I'm being clear."
Jay's jaw tightened.
Chloe looked at Jay. "You must be the girlfriend."
Jay: "Future wife."
Chloe: "Right. Well, I need Keifer for the project."
Jay: "He said no."
Chloe: "He doesn't speak for the project."
Jay: "He speaks for himself. And I'm speaking for us."
Chloe: "This is ridiculous. We have work to do."
Jay stood.
Jay: "Let me make something clear. That's my future husband. The man I've loved since we were seven. The man I fought a villain with. The man who's going to be the father of my children."
Chloe's eyes widened.
Jay: "So if you want to keep your teeth, you'll respect his boundaries. Understood?"
Chloe: "I—you—this is—"
Jay: "Understood?"
Chloe: "...Fine."
She walked away.
Silence.
Then EXPLOSION.
Ci-n: "SISTER JAY JUST THREATENED ANOTHER GIRL!"
Rakki: "That was intense."
Mica: "I'm so proud."
Calix: "I'm terrified."
Freya: "I'm impressed."
Edrix: "Very impressed."
Rory: "I recorded it."
Drew: "New bet! How many more girls try to flirt with Keifer?"
David: "Unlimited. Jay's on a roll."
Eren: "Wait, what happened?"
Josh pointed at Jay. Gave a thumbs up.
Aries: "She's your sister, huh?"
Ella: "Scary."
Aries: "Impressive."
Ella: "Same thing?"
Aries: "Same thing."
Keifer just stared at Jay.
That soft expression. That proud smile.
Jay: "What?"
Keifer: "You did that. For me."
Jay: "She was bothering you."
Keifer: "I could have handled it."
Jay: "I know. But I wanted to."
Keifer: "Tss."
Jay: "That's YOUR thing."
Keifer: "OUR thing."
Jay: "Same thing?"
Keifer: "Same thing."
He pulled her close. Kissed her forehead.
Percy's voice from the phone: "DID SHE JUST THREATEN SOMEONE? CI-N, REPLAY!"
Ci-n: "I HAVE IT FROM THREE ANGLES!"
Rakki: "Those two."
Mica: "Dangerous."
Calix: "Chaotic."
Freya: "Perfect."
Edrix: "Agreed."
Freya: "Shut up."
Edrix: "Never."
The gossip spread fast.
By afternoon, the whole campus was talking.
"Did you hear? Jay Mariano threatened some girl over Keifer Watson."
"They're engaged?"
"Future husband, she said."
"Jayfer? Is that their couple name?"
"Apparently."
"ICONIC."
Chloe avoided them after that.
Good.
Section E laughed about it all day.
Ci-n: "SISTER JAY IS A LEGEND!"
Percy: "I'M MAKING T-SHIRTS!"
Rakki: "Of course you are."
Mica: "This is going to follow us all semester."
Calix: "Worth it."
Freya: "At least it's entertaining."
Edrix: "Very entertaining."
Freya: "Shut up."
Edrix: "Never."
Jay and Keifer walked home together.
Jay: "Today was wild."
Keifer: "Today was you."
Jay: "Is that bad?"
Keifer: "It's perfect."
Jay: "Smooth."
Keifer: "Honest."
Jay: "Tss."
Keifer: "Stop."
Jay: "No."
He kissed her.
Percy called Ci-n immediately.
Percy: "ARE THEY KISSING?"
Ci-n: "YES! FROM THREE ANGLES!"
Rakki: "Those two."
Mica: "Forever."
Calix: "Always."