Jay's POV
The next morning came too bright for how heavy my head felt.
The faint hum of chatter floated from downstairs — Stella laughing softly, David clinking dishes, Percy arguing with Cole about "how toast isn't a breakfast, it's a snack."
Normal.
Too normal.
I sat at the edge of my bed, hair still tangled from last night, my mind replaying fragments of what I'd overheard — their promise, Percy's words, "she just wanted somewhere she could be loved unconditionally."
It stung, because it was true.
Breakfast smelled like cinnamon and coffee, but the silence around me was louder than anything. I forced a small smile when Stella handed me a plate.
"Morning," she said gently, eyes searching mine for signs of the storm.
"Morning," I murmured, barely touching the toast.
By the time Percy walked in — messy hair, hoodie half-zipped looks like he stayed last night— I'd already decided to leave early. I couldn't sit under their worried gazes another second.
"Heading to school?" Percy asked, sipping from his mug.
"Yeah," I lied, grabbing my bag.
He looked at me for a long moment, like he knew I needed space. "Stay safe, little sistah."
I gave him a faint smirk. "You too, big idiot."
Outside, the air was crisp — too crisp for how warm my skin felt. The world was moving again, and I wasn't sure if I wanted to follow.
I made it two blocks before a voice called from behind me.
"Jay!"
My stomach twisted.That voice.That stupidly familiar voice.
I didn't turn around.
"Jay, wait up!"
Footsteps quickened.
"Go away, Braselton."
"Just listen for a second—"
"No. You already had your second. And your chance. And your lie."
He caught up, breathless but determined. "You don't get to decide this ends without me saying something."
I stopped walking, turned, glare sharp enough to cut through the morning sun. "You were part of it."
His jaw tightened. "I didn't—"
"You did. Don't you dare say you didn't know."
Silence.The kind that burns.
For a second, he looked smaller — not the loud, confident guy from Section E, but someone trying not to shatter.
"Jay," he said quietly, "it wasn't supposed to go that far.Keifer— he—"
"Don't." My voice cracked. "Don't say his name ."
We stood there, two ghosts haunting the same street, until he finally gestured toward the small café on the corner.
"Please. Five minutes. You can walk out if you still hate me after that."
I hated that part of me still missed him enough to follow.he was my best friend but when he kissed me that night, he knew about everything and chose to keep it from me...
Inside, the café smelled like burnt espresso and old sugar — the kind of place we used to hide in after missions, when Section E still felt like family.
We sat by the window. The silence between us was thick, fragile. I wrapped my hands around the coffee cup, letting the warmth bite my skin.
He looked at me, guilt heavy in his eyes. "I knew they had a tracker in you phone to trace you and your calls. I thought it was just a precaution, not—"
"Not a betrayal?" I cut in, bitterly. "Because that's exactly what it was."
He exhaled, hands trembling slightly. "I swear, Jay, I wanted to protect you. We all did."
I laughed — low, hollow. "You don't protect someone by treating them like a target."
Braselton didn't argue. He just sat there, quiet, eyes glassy.
For a moment, I saw the version of him that used to bring me snacks during class, the one who used to swear he'd always have my back the one who gave the best advice. And I hated him for still feeling familiar.
"You know what's funny?" I said finally, voice soft but shaking. "I spent so long trying to find a place that felt like home. And every single time I thought I did, someone burned it down."
He looked like he wanted to say something — maybe to apologize, maybe to break — but I stood up before he could.
I walked out and then was was stopped by percy... I asked him"what are you doing here? "
He said "jay listen to David I know it's hard for you to trust but you have to listen to him he did what he had to.. "
Reluctantly I sat down looking straight in his eyes and then asked him the question
"Why did you kiss me? "