WHEN CONTROL SHATTERS
For a solid ten seconds after Jay walked in—
No one moved.
Then everything exploded.
"NO— absolutely not." "That's JAY?" "Bro I need air." "Keifer WHAT DID YOU DO."
Music was cranked higher. Someone handed Jay a drink she didn't ask for. Another person shouted her name like she'd just won something.
Jay laughed.
Actually laughed.
And just like that, the night tipped into something reckless.
She danced.
Not shy. Not careful.
Leather caught the lights as she moved, hips rolling to the bass, hands up, eyes half-lidded like she'd been born for chaos. Felix lost his mind on the floor. Cin hyped everyone like a menace. Yuri watched with a drink in hand, amused but alert.
Keifer stayed back.
Watching.
Every laugh she let out loosened something in her. Every drink she took burned something away.
Someone shouted, "JAY SHOT."
She hesitated.
Then—
"Fine."
Cheers erupted.
She tipped the glass back, throat moving, eyes briefly closing.
Keifer swore under his breath.
Jay wiped her mouth with the back of her hand, grinning.
"Wow. That's… terrible."
Cin slung an arm around her shoulders. "And yet you'll do another."
She did.
The night blurred into color and heat and noise. Sweat. Laughter. Recklessness.
Until—
Bodies slowed. Music softened. Everyone collapsed onto the floor in a loose, messy circle.
Breathing hard. Flushed. Happy.
Someone dimmed the lights to red.
Felix sat up suddenly.
"I have an idea."
Collective groans.
"No," Yuri said immediately. "Yes," Cin countered. "Oh no," Jay muttered, already smiling.
Felix grinned. "Truth. Or. Dare."
---
WHEN THE GAME BECOMES A WEAPON
They sat cross-legged, shoes kicked off, drinks scattered around them.
Jay leaned back on her hands, horns slightly crooked now, leather warm against her skin. She looked relaxed.
Too relaxed.
Keifer sat across from her, hat tilted back, jaw tight.
"Rules?" Rory asked.
"No backing out," Felix said. "No lying."
Jay snorted. "Dangerous combination."
Cin spun a bottle.
It clinked. Slowed.
Stopped.
Pointed straight at—
Jay.
"Oh?" she said lightly. "Already?"
Cin grinned. "Truth or dare, devil."
She tilted her head, considering.
"Truth."
Keifer's shoulders tensed.
Felix leaned forward. "Who in this room do you think about the most?"
The air shifted.
Jay didn't answer immediately.
She let the silence stretch.
Then she smiled—slow, sharp.
"Easy," she said. "Myself."
Groans. Laughter. Someone threw a cushion.
Felix scoffed. "Coward."
"Strategist," she corrected.
Bottle spun again.
This time—
Keifer.
The room went quiet in a very different way.
Cin's grin turned wicked. "Oh this is good."
Keifer exhaled once. "Truth."
Jay's eyes lifted.
Locked on his.
Felix leaned in. "Did you expect Jay to look like that tonight?"
Keifer didn't break eye contact.
"No," he said honestly.
Jay's eyebrow arched.
"And?" Felix pressed.
Keifer's voice dropped. "And it ruined my entire plan."
The circle went dead silent.
Jay's smile didn't fade.
But something behind her eyes sharpened.
"Oh?" she said softly. "What plan was that, cowboy?"
The bottle lay forgotten.
The game had already crossed the line.
And suddenly—
Truth or Dare wasn't a game anymore.
It was a countdown.Perfect! Let's go all in on Jay's POV during the Truth or Dare, making it elaborative, sultry, teasing, and including some moments where truths about Keifer slip out, subtly fiery.
---
JAY'S POV — WHEN THE DEVIL PLAYS
The music throbbed through the room, a heartbeat syncing with my own. Red and orange lights painted the walls, bouncing off the leather, horns, and every sharp angle of my devil costume. The room smelled like sweat, perfume, and chaos—and I loved it. I had never felt this… alive. Dangerous. Untouchable.
The bottle spun. Again. Faster.
It stopped. Me.
I grinned. "Truth," I said, voice low, teasing. Smooth. Like silk wrapping around a knife.
Cin leaned in, grinning, already sensing the heat coming. "How many exes, Jay?"
I lifted a brow, slow and deliberate, letting everyone wait. Letting the tension settle, especially him. Keifer. His dark eyes flicked toward me, and I saw the slight clench in his jaw, the flex of his hand—subtle, but it told me everything. My lips curved in amusement.
"Five," I said finally, casual, like I was naming colors.
The circle reacted immediately. Whistles. Groans. Felix practically drooled.
Keifer's hand twitched. Just barely. But I saw it. And yes… it made the smirk on my face wider.
The bottle spun again. Drinks sloshed dangerously on the floor as someone dared Blaster to dance on Felix's lap. The room erupted in laughter, chaos, and shouts, but my attention stayed sharp. I watched, calculating, teasing, observing.
The bottle spun. Fast. Chaotic. It landed on me.
"Truth," I said, voice soft but deliberate, letting the room hold its breath.
Felix leaned in, grin wide. "Most memorable kiss?"
I tilted my head, eyes flicking toward Keifer. His jaw tightened slightly, just enough to see. Oh, this was going to be fun.
I paused. Let them wait. Let him squirm just a little.
"Hmm…" I murmured, tapping my chin, exaggerated thoughtfulness. "My last boyfriend…" I let my voice drop, low, teasing, "he kissed me like he wanted the world to burn. Full-on, dramatic, impossible… like something out of a movie."
The room gasped. Whistles. Laughter. Eyes darted to Keifer.
I smirked, tilting my head, letting the lie stretch just long enough to sting. Keifer's hand clenched around his drink. His dark eyes fixed on me, sharp, dangerous. I could see it—the mix of frustration, disbelief, and something… warmer.
"Really?" someone prompted, voice teasing.
"Oh, absolutely," I said, eyes glinting, voice low, suggestive. "Tongue, teeth, the whole cinematic disaster… unforgettable."
Keifer's jaw flexed. His hand twitched. He didn't speak. He didn't need to. I could see every thought racing behind that calm facade.
I laughed softly, leaning back just enough to let my horns catch the light. "Too bad you weren't there, huh?" I added casually, letting the teasing linger like a spark in the dark.
The tension in the circle was thick now, everyone sensing the unspoken chemistry, the little game of fire we were playing.
Keifer's eyes darkened, fixating on me. Not angry. Not upset. Raw. Wanting. Dangerous.
I sipped my drink, letting it mirror the heat coiling inside me, enjoying every second of the silent storm I was brewing.
Because the truth was—every exaggeration, every tease, was mine to control. And Keifer… he was losing control.
Perfect.
That was the word echoing in my head as I leaned back, drink warm in my hand, watching Keifer pretend he wasn't unraveling.
The bottle spun again before anyone could recover.
It slid across the floor lazily.
Stopped.
David.
"Ohhh," Felix laughed. "This night keeps giving."
David groaned. "I already regret everything."
"Truth or dare?" Cin asked, way too pleased.
David squinted. "Truth. I'm not dancing again."
Felix didn't hesitate. "Who were you texting during the whole Imelda mess instead of sleeping?"
The laughter dipped. Just a little.
David sighed, rubbing the back of his neck. "Jay."
Every head snapped to me.
I blinked. "Excuse me?"
He shrugged. "You don't panic. You calculate. I needed to know if we were about to burn the school down or survive."
Cin laughed. "Valid."
I raised my glass toward him. "You should've slept."
"Couldn't," he replied. "You had that look. The 'I'm about to dismantle someone' look."
Keifer's gaze flicked to me again.
He said nothing.
The bottle spun.
Cin.
"Oh no," he said immediately. "I know your faces."
"Truth," Yuri said calmly. "What's the one thing you'd never admit sober?"
Cin stared at the floor.
Then grinned. "That I act stupid on purpose."
Groans.
"Liar," Felix said.
Cin shrugged. "If I don't joke, I think. And when I think, I spiral. So—comedy."
That landed harder than expected.
I studied him quietly.
File that under things people hide behind laughter.
The bottle spun again.
Keifer.
The air shifted.
This time, Yuri leaned forward instead of Felix.
"Truth," Yuri said, voice level, sharp. "What's the one thing about you that scares people for the wrong reason?"
Keifer didn't answer immediately.
He stared at the bottle like it had personally offended him.
Then he said, quietly, "That I don't lose control."
Silence.
Yuri nodded once. "Meaning?"
Keifer's jaw tightened. "People think I'm angry. Or reckless. Or dangerous when I snap."
His eyes lifted.
Met mine.
"But the truth is—I always know exactly what I'm doing."
Something in my chest tightened.
Yuri didn't look away. "Even tonight?"
Keifer hesitated.
Just a fraction.
"…Yes."
The answer wasn't proud.
It was honest.
I took a slow sip of my drink, heart beating a little faster.
The bottle spun again before anyone could unpack that.
Felix.
"Dare," he shouted immediately. "Before you expose my soul."
Cin grinned. "Dance battle. You versus Rory."
Chaos.
Absolute chaos.
They jumped up, music blasting, terrible moves, screaming laughter. Someone spilled a drink. Someone fell over. Someone cheered like this was a championship event.
I laughed so hard my stomach hurt.
My head felt light.
Too light.
The room blurred at the edges in that warm, floaty way.
The bottle came back around.
It pointed at me again.
"Truth," I said automatically, words slower now.
Cin squinted at me. "You okay, devil?"
"Fantastic," I lied cheerfully.
Felix leaned in. "Do you regret exaggerating that kiss?"
The room went quiet again.
I tilted my head, thinking.
Then smiled—lazy, honest, drunk.
"No," I said. "But I regret that I had to."
Keifer's fingers tightened around his glass.
I didn't look at him this time.
The bottle rolled away.
More dares.
More laughter.
Someone dared Edrix to confess his worst habit. Someone dared Rory to text his ex (he didn't). Someone dared Cin to sing (we suffered).
Time slipped.
Music softened.
Bodies sagged.
Some people left—laughing, stumbling, calling rides.
Others claimed couches like fallen soldiers.
I curled up on the floor at some point, horns abandoned, boots kicked off, hoodie stolen from someone—maybe Keifer, maybe not.
The room felt warm.
Safe.
Heavy.
My head lolled to the side.
Keifer crouched in front of me.
"You're done," he said quietly.
I blinked up at him. "Am I?"
"Yes."
I smiled. "You sound like you're in charge."
His expression softened just a little. "Go to sleep, Jay."
"I don't sleep at parties."
"You do tonight."
I felt hands slide under my knees, behind my back.
"Oh," I murmured. "This is new."
He lifted me easily.
The world tilted.
I laughed once, then sighed, cheek falling against his shoulder.
"You're warm," I said sleepily.
"Yeah," he replied. "I know."
The house was quiet upstairs.
He nudged a door open.
Set me gently on the bed.
Pulled a blanket over me like it mattered.
I caught his wrist weakly.
"Keifer?"
He paused. "Yeah?"
"You didn't ruin your plan," I murmured.
He stilled.
"…Go to sleep."
I smiled.
Already drifting.
Because if this was a plan—
It was the most human mistake he'd ever made.
And I fell asleep before I could say anything else.
Downstairs, the party died.
But upstairs—
Something had already changed.