Chapter 15: The Date Disaster
Jay's POV
The alarm went off again, like it was mocking me for daring to sleep peacefully after what happened yesterday.
I stretched, groaning, and the first thing my fingers touched was the silver necklace around my neck - his necklace.
The small letter "J" charm glinted in the sunlight sneaking through my curtains.
Jay: "Watson, you really didn't have to..."
I whispered to no one and rolled out of bed. My brain hadn't caught up with my body yet.
Aries was already yelling downstairs, because of course he was.
Aries: "Jay! You'll be late again!"
Jay: "I'm up! I'm up!"
I got dressed, threw my hair into a ponytail, and went downstairs to find Mom and Aries already eating breakfast.
Mom: "Morning, sweetheart."
Jay: "Morning, Mom."
Aries just gave me that look. You know, the one that says 'I know your secrets, traitor.'
Jay: "What?"
Aries: "Nothing. Just... don't forget your umbrella."
Jay: "I hate you."
Aries: "Love you too."
I grabbed my sandwich and left before I threw it at him.
At school, Maya was waiting - this time with coffee and muffins.
Jay: "Morning, coffee fairy. Muffins too?"
Maya: "Of course! You need sugar after all that stress your brother's giving you."
Jay: "He knows."
Maya: "Knows what?"
Jay: "Everything. The rain, the kiss, the confession. Everything."
Maya: "OHHH-"
Jay: "Don't you dare scream."
Maya: "Okay fine. But like... are you okay?"
Jay: "Barely."
She nodded like a therapist and shoved a muffin in my hand.
The morning classes went as normal as they could. Which, in my life, means: Keifer smirking at me from behind his desk, Maya whispering gossip in my ear, Aries glaring at Keifer every time he walked by our classroom door, and me pretending to take notes while my brain screamed, 'You're dating him now, act normal!'
Then, right after lunch, I found a note in my locker.
Note:
Since you agreed to being my girlfriend, I think it's time we go on a proper date.
No arguments.
After school.
Be ready.
- K
Jay: "No arguments, my foot..."
Maya appeared right behind me. Of course.
Maya: "A date?! A DATE?!"
Jay: "Maya, please-"
Maya: "Jay. This is history. This is the start of the Jayfer Era."
Jay: "Maya, I will block you in real life."
She only giggled.
The final bell rang, and my heart might've actually stopped for a second. I went outside, and there he was - leaning against his motorcycle like something straight out of a teen movie. Black hoodie, messy hair, that stupid grin.
Jay: "Watson, you look like a movie cliché."
Keifer: "Good. Means I'm doing it right."
Jay: "You said date. Where?"
Keifer: "Surprise."
I rolled my eyes but climbed on the bike anyway. I should've been scared - but with his hand gently steadying me, I wasn't.
He drove us to a small diner at the edge of town - cozy, old-fashioned, the kind with fairy lights and strawberry milkshakes that taste like nostalgia.
Keifer ordered fries and two milkshakes, while I tried to calm down the hurricane in my chest.
Keifer: "So, Ms. Mariano... tell me something I don't know about you."
Jay: "You already know too much."
Keifer: "Not enough."
Jay: "Fine. I can't cook."
Keifer: "That's fine. I can."
Jay: "You? Really?"
Keifer: "Ask Keigan and Keiren."
Jay: "Who?"
Keifer: "My brothers."
Jay: "Oh. You actually have siblings?"
Keifer: "Two. Keigan's ten. Keiren's seven. You'd like them."
I blinked. I hadn't expected him to just... open up like that.
Jay: "You sound like you really care about them."
Keifer smiled softly. "They're my world."
Somewhere between laughing about fries and him stealing my milkshake, I realized I wasn't as nervous anymore. He was fun, kind, and disarmingly genuine.
After we finished eating, he took me on a walk through the park nearby. It was quiet except for the sound of the leaves rustling. We found a small pond, and he skipped stones across it while I tried (and failed) to do the same.
Jay: "How are you so good at this?"
Keifer: "Because I'm good at everything."
Jay: "Arrogant much?"
Keifer: "You like it."
Jay: "...maybe."
He laughed and pulled me closer by my hand. It wasn't the teasing kind of touch he used to do. This one was gentle. Intentional. Real.
Then - of course - I heard a twig snap.
Jay: "What was that?"
Keifer: "Probably a squirrel."
Jay: "That sounded too heavy for a squirrel."
Keifer frowned, looked around... and froze.
Keifer: "...Why is your brother hiding behind a bush?"
Jay: "What?!"
I turned - and sure enough, behind a tree, Aries was crouched, wearing sunglasses like a secret agent. And beside him? Maya. Holding binoculars.
Jay: "MAYA?!"
Maya: "I can explain!"
Aries: "No, you can't. You made me come here."
Maya: "I had to make sure she was safe!"
Jay: "FROM WHAT?!"
Keifer couldn't hold it in anymore. He laughed so hard he had to sit down on the bench.
Keifer: "You two are unbelievable."
Aries: "Stay away from my sister, Watson."
Keifer: "Too late, brother-in-law."
Aries turned red. Maya was dying of laughter. I wanted the earth to swallow me.
Jay: "I hate all of you."
Keifer: "You love me."
Jay: "Unfortunately, yes."
We ended up having to share the table at the diner when they joined us - uninvited. Aries glared at Keifer the whole time while Maya whispered, "This is iconic" every five minutes.
When the day finally ended, Keifer dropped me home.
Before I went inside, he handed me a small flower he'd picked from the park.
Keifer: "For surviving our first date - and your personal FBI agents."
Jay: "You mean my brother and my best friend?"
Keifer: "Exactly."
He leaned down and kissed my forehead.
Keifer: "See you tomorrow, my tornado."
And just like that, he drove off. I stood there for a while, smiling like an idiot, the flower