Chapter: The Things She Never Says
(Keifer's POV)
I waited until she went inside.
Until she stopped shaking.
Until Section E distracted her with their stupid jokes.
Then I walked out.
"Aries."
He was leaning against the corridor wall like nothing happened.
Like he didn't just hold her while she was crying.
"Why were you holding her like that?" I asked.
My voice was steady.
Controlled.
Too controlled.
Aries looked at me for a second before answering. "Because she needed it."
"I was there."
"I know."
"Then you should've stepped back."
He let out a slow breath. "You think this is about stepping back?"
My jaw tightened. "Then what is it about?"
For a moment, he didn't say anything.
Then his tone changed.
"She and I were really small when it started."
Something about the way he said that made my chest feel heavy.
"Her mother left her father," Aries continued quietly. "After that… she married different men. One after another."
I felt my hands curl into fists.
"She thought Jay was just baggage. Those men didn't like her being around."
My breathing slowed.
Not calm.
Just slow.
"They used to scare her. Yell at her. Sometimes worse." His voice dropped. "One of them… there was a lot of blood that day."
Everything inside me froze.
Blood.
That's why.
"She was little," Aries continued. "Too little to understand what was happening. But she remembers the red. The shouting. The fear."
I couldn't speak.
"She doesn't talk about it," he said. "She pretends she's strong. Pretends it doesn't affect her."
My chest felt tight.
"She hates blood. Even a little. It brings everything back."
The image of her screaming on the court replayed in my mind.
Her shaking hands.
Her eyes.
She wasn't scared of the pain.
She was scared of the memory.
"And you think I didn't notice?" I asked quietly.
Aries looked at me. "I know you care."
"Care?" I laughed once. It wasn't humor. "If I had known—"
"You would've what?"
I didn't answer immediately.
Because what I wanted to say was violent.
What I wanted to say was dangerous.
What I wanted to say was that if anyone ever made her feel like that again—
I wouldn't stay calm.
"I would've protected her sooner," I finally said.
Aries studied me carefully. "That's why I held her. Not to compete with you. Not to show anything. I just reacted."
I stepped closer.
"You don't get to be the only one who knows her pain."
"I never said that."
"Then don't act like I'm late."
Aries didn't flinch. "Then don't stand there watching next time."
That hit.
Because he was right.
I saw her panic.
And for one second—
I froze.
Aries moved first.
That won't happen again.
"I'm not your enemy," Aries said calmly. "But if you ever make her cry—"
"I won't," I cut him off.
My voice wasn't loud.
But it was final.
Silence stretched between us.
Then I said it.
"From now on… if she bleeds, if she cries, if she even looks scared— I'm there first."
Aries gave a small nod.
"Good."
I turned to leave.
But before walking away, I added—
"And Aries?"
"Yeah?"
"If anyone from her past ever comes back…"
My eyes hardened.
"They won't get near her."
Not while I'm breathing.
When I walked back into Section E, she was laughing at something Mica said.
Like nothing happened.
Like she didn't break down twenty minutes ago.
She looked up when she saw me.
Rolled her eyes. "Why are you staring at me like that?"
I walked to her desk.
Leaned down slightly.
"Next time," I said quietly, so only she could hear, "call me first."
She frowned. "For what?"
"For everything."
She blinked.
Then scoffed. "You're so dramatic."
Maybe.
But when she looked away, I saw it.
Her fingers were still trembling slightly.
And something inside me settled.
No one gets to scare her again.
Not the past.
Not blood.
Not anyone.
Especially not while I'm here.