Chapter 22 — Fractured Hearts
The school hallway was unusually quiet, the buzz of students in the background fading into a dull hum for Jay. She had just learned something that shattered everything she thought she knew:
Keifer.
His charm, his teasing, the way he had "fallen" for her… it had all been part of a plan.
Her chest tightened as she replayed the conversation in her mind, Keifer's cold, deliberate words echoing:
"It was all the plan, Jay. You falling for me was… expected."
The realization hit like ice. She wanted to scream, to throw something, to shake him until he told her it was a joke—but the look in his eyes didn't change. No guilt, no softness, just the calculated indifference he'd worn so perfectly before.
Jay's hands shook.
Section E Tries, Fails
Ci-n, Alys, and the others crowded around her, voices overlapping. "Jay, it's not like that! We can explain!"
"It's complicated, but it wasn't meant to hurt you!"
"You have to hear us out!"
Jay shook her head violently, tears already brimming. "No! Just… leave me alone."
Alys stepped forward. "Jay—please—"
Jay whipped around, cutting her off. "No! You too. I need to be alone right now."
And just like that, she ran, ignoring the calls and pleas of her friends. Each sob tore at her chest, each step taking her farther from the people she trusted most.
Alys stayed behind, silent and aching, letting the heartbreak sink deep into her bones. Not just for Jay and Keifer, but for herself and Drake. Slow tears slid down her cheeks, a quiet echo of everything breaking around them.
Percy's Unexpected Comfort
Jay didn't stop until she reached a quiet street, far from the school chaos. She had been exchanging messages with Percy, mostly about trivial things, but today he sensed she needed more. He waited in his car nearby, eyes soft when she approached.
"Jay…" he said gently.
Jay barely looked at him, voice trembling. "I can't… I can't even…"
Percy nodded silently, guiding her to a secluded beach he knew of. The waves lapped at the shore, the wind carrying the sound of emptiness and calm. Jay sank to her knees, letting the tears fall freely, finally allowing herself to crumble.
Percy sat beside her, careful to give her space. "I… I've been meaning to tell you something," he said quietly. "I'm your stepbrother. My dad… your dad and I… we live in New York. I wanted to tell you earlier, but I didn't know how."
Jay's sobs hit harder. "Why… why now?"
"Because you're hurting, Jay. And I… I want to be here for you. Even if just as family. You're not alone, okay?"
She didn't answer immediately. She just cried, leaned on him, and let everything spill—anger, betrayal, grief, confusion. Percy remained patient, silent but present, letting her heartbreak breathe without rushing it.
When she finally lifted her head, he gave her a small, reassuring smile. "I'll drop you home. You'll be safe there."
Returning Home
Back at her house, Jay didn't even glance at Section E or Keifer, who had clearly been trying to track her down. She didn't answer their calls, didn't see their worried faces. She trudged to her room, closing the door behind her.
Alone, she collapsed onto her bed, the sobs racking her body again. The revelation of Keifer's plan, the betrayal, the heartbreak, everything mingling into a painful weight she couldn't put down.
Outside, faintly, she could hear voices—Percy leaving, Section E searching—but Jay didn't care. For now, she only cared about the tears, the heartbreak, and the crushing loneliness she had carried all the way home.
Her hands gripped the sheets. Her chest ached. And all she could do was cry.
The chapter closes on a quiet, somber note:
The waves had calmed Percy's storm, but inside Jay, the tempest had only begun.
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Aghhhh this is so sad.
Even I'm going to cry😭
Everytime i have read book 2 I ended up crying.
Btw you guys dont even know how many times I have read the books.
LIKE EVEN I DONT KNOW HOW MANY TIMES I HAVE READ AND REREAD IT.
But all i know is i dont like reading book 1 or 2.
What do you guys like the most?