Two weeks into college.
Chloe had finally backed off. The project was almost done. Peace was restored.
Or so Jay thought.
It started in business class.
A new group project. Random partners again.
Jay got paired with a guy named Marcus.
Marcus: "Hey, you're Jay, right? The one who threatened that girl?"
Jay: "Word travels fast."
Marcus: "This campus is small. Everyone knows about Jayfer."
Jay: "Jayfer?"
Marcus: "You and Keifer. That's your couple name."
Jay: "People named us?"
Marcus: "People ship you."
Jay: "Huh."
Marcus: "Anyway, partners?"
Jay: "Partners."
Marcus was friendly. Too friendly.
He laughed at her jokes. Sat close during meetings. Found excuses to text her after class.
Jay didn't think much of it.
She was focused on Keifer. Always.
But Keifer noticed.
Day one of partnership.
Keifer: "How was class?"
Jay: "Good. New project partner. Marcus. He's nice."
Keifer: "Marcus?"
Jay: "Yeah. Business major."
Keifer: "Hmm."
Jay: "What?"
Keifer: "Nothing."
Jay: "Keifer."
Keifer: "Nothing."
Day two.
Marcus walked Jay to lunch.
Marcus: "You want coffee? I'm buying."
Jay: "I'm meeting Keifer."
Marcus: "He can wait."
Jay: "He doesn't wait. I go to him."
Marcus: "Loyal."
Jay: "Always."
They reached the table. Keifer was already there.
Eyes on Marcus.
Marcus: "Hey, you must be Keifer. I'm Marcus. Jay's partner."
Keifer: "I know who you are."
Marcus: "Cool. Well, see you around, Jay."
He left.
Keifer watched him go.
Jay: "What was that?"
Keifer: "Nothing."
Jay: "Your eyes were shooting lasers."
Keifer: "They were not."
Jay: "Tss."
Keifer: "Stop."
Jay: "No."
Day three.
Marcus sat with them at lunch.
Marcus: "Hope you don't mind me joining. Jay and I have project stuff to discuss."
Keifer: "We're eating."
Marcus: "This won't take long."
He pulled out notes. Started talking.
Keifer said nothing.
Ate his food. Watched. Waited.
Ci-n whispered to Rakki: "KEIFER LOOKS MAD."
Rakki: "He looks calm."
Ci-n: "THAT'S THE DANGEROUS KIND!"
Percy was on video call. "WHAT'S HAPPENING? WHY IS KEIFER STARING?"
Ci-n: "MARCUS IS SITTING WITH JAY!"
Percy: "OH NO. JEALOUSY ARC. DOCUMENTING!"
Marcus finished. Left.
Jay turned to Keifer.
Jay: "You okay?"
Keifer: "Fine."
Jay: "You've said 'fine' five times today."
Keifer: "Because I'm fine."
Jay: "Liar."
Keifer: "Maybe."
Jay: "Talk to me."
Keifer: "Later."
Later came.
They sat on the patio. Stars above.
Jay: "Now. Talk."
Keifer: "I don't like Marcus."
Jay: "Why?"
Keifer: "He's too close. Too friendly. Too—"
Jay: "Too what?"
Keifer: "Too interested in you."
Jay blinked.
Jay: "Keifer. I'm with YOU."
Keifer: "I know."
Jay: "I love YOU."
Keifer: "I know."
Jay: "Then what's the problem?"
Keifer: "The problem is ME."
Jay waited.
Keifer: "I see him with you. Laughing with you. Walking with you. And I think—what if you realize you could have someone easier? Someone less complicated?"
Jay: "Keifer..."
Keifer: "I know it's stupid. I know you love me. But my brain—" He tapped his head. "—doesn't always listen."
Jay grabbed his face. Made him look at her.
Jay: "Listen to ME."
Keifer: "I'm listening."
Jay: "I've loved you since I was seven. I loved you when we were apart. I loved you when I was with someone else. I loved you when you were sick and gross and refusing to take medicine."
Keifer: "The pill was huge."
Jay: "Shut up."
Keifer: "Yes, ma'am."
Jay: "There is no one else. There never was. There never will be. You're it for me, Keifer Watson."
Keifer: "Jay..."
Jay: "So stop being jealous of some guy who doesn't matter. Okay?"
Keifer: "Okay."
Jay: "Tss."
Keifer: "Stop."
Jay: "No."
He kissed her.
Long. Deep. Full of everything.
They pulled apart. Foreheads together.
Keifer: "I love you."
Jay: "I love you too."
Keifer: "Even when I'm stupid?"
Jay: "Especially then."
Keifer: "Tss."
Jay: "That's MY thing."
Keifer: "OUR thing."
Jay: "Same thing?"
Keifer: "Same thing."
Inside, Percy was updating Ci-n.
Percy: "THEY KISSED! JEALOUSY RESOLVED!"
Ci-n: "FROM THREE ANGLES?"
Percy: "I ONLY HAVE ONE ANGLE! THE WINDOW!"
Ci-n: "NOT ENOUGH!"
Rakki: "Go to sleep."
Percy: "HISTORY NEVER SLEEPS!"
But he yawned.
Rakki: "Liar."
The next day.
Marcus approached the table again.
Marcus: "Hey, Jay, ready for our meeting?"
Keifer stood.
Keifer: "She's eating."
Marcus: "I was talking to Jay."
Keifer: "And I'm talking for both of us."
Jay: "Keifer—"
Keifer: "One sec."
He looked at Marcus.
Keifer: "She's my future wife. She's loved me since we were kids. She's fought villains for me. Threatened girls for me. And she chose me. Every time."
Marcus: "Okay...?"
Keifer: "So whatever you're trying to do—stop. She's not interested. And neither am I in watching you try."
Marcus blinked.
Marcus: "I wasn't—I mean—"
Keifer: "Good."
He sat down.
Jay stared at him.
Jay: "That was..."
Keifer: "What?"
Jay: "Hot."
Ci-n: "KEIFER SAID HOT FIRST! NOW JAY SAID IT!"
Rakki: "This is out of control."
Mica: "JAYFER IS TOO POWERFUL!"
Freya: "I need a new notebook."
Edrix: "I have one."
Freya: "Give it."
Edrix handed it over.
Freya: "You're prepared for everything."
Edrix: "For moments like this."
Freya: "...Shut up."
Edrix: "Never."
Marcus didn't bother them again.
The project finished without drama.
And Keifer's jealousy?
Gone.
Replaced by something better.
Confidence. Trust. Love.
That night. Patio.
Jay: "You were hot today."
Keifer: "I'm always hot."
Jay: "Modest."
Keifer: "Honest."
Jay: "Tss."
Keifer: "Stop."
Jay: "No."
He kissed her.
Percy's voice from inside: "THEY'RE KISSING! CI-N, WAKE UP!"
Ci-n: "MMM... FIVE MORE MINUTES..."
Percy: "THERE'S NO TIME!"
Rakki: "Go to sleep."
Percy: "HISTORY NEVER—"
He fell asleep mid-sentence.
Rakki covered him with a blanket.
Rakki: "Idiot."
Mica: "Our idiot."
Calix: "Same thing?"
Mica: "Same thing."