Jay-Jay's POV
By the time we reached the school, the sun was already bright and the hallway buzzed with students.
Kiefer parked near the upper section and shut the engine off. "Safe and sound. Don't forget to be a good girl, or Angelo will murder me instead."
I rolled my eyes. "You're the one who needs to behave."
He smirked. "I'll try."
I got out, pulling my bag over my shoulder, and almost walked away when he called, "Hey, Jay."
I turned. "What?"
"If you ever… need to talk," he said slowly, like the words were heavy on his tongue, "I'm here. Even if you hate me."
For a second, my chest felt tight. I just nodded.
"Yeah. Whatever."
Inside, everyone looked at me like they knew something I didn't. Whispers floated through the air like leaves.
"Is that her?"
"Didn't she stay at Kiefer's?"
"Angelo's sister, right?"
I kept my head up, walking straight to Section E, heels clicking against the tiles.
When I pushed the door open, Kiefer was already there, lazily spinning his chair around. Yuri looked up, eyes widening the moment he saw me.
"Well, look who survived the night," he teased.
"Shut up, Rooster," I shot back automatically.
He laughed. "Same old Jay."
I slid into my seat, the chatter rising around me. Some boys nodded at me like I was suddenly allowed in their world. Others just stared.
Across the room, Kiefer watched me with that same careful look in his eyes—the one that said he knew something was wrong, but wouldn't say it out loud.
I turned my notebook open, gripping the pen tight.
Today was just another school day.
Nothing about last night's nightmare.
Nothing about Aries.
Nothing about fear.
If I pretended hard enough…
Maybe I'd start to believe it.