JAY'S POV — THE PLACE THAT REMEMBERS YOU
The buses emptied into noise.
Shouting. Roll calls. Teachers clapping hands too loudly like control could be summoned by sound alone.
We were herded into the main hall—long, echoing, temporary. Names were read out. Areas assigned. Sections divided and sent off like pieces on a board.
Section E moved together, instinctively.
We claimed our patch of ground near the tree line—far enough to breathe, close enough to watch. Bags hit dirt. Stakes clinked. Arguments started immediately.
"Who gave Cin the water gun?"
"I didn't give it—"
"Cin, that's not how tents work."
"Hey that's mine."
I smiled faintly.
And then—
I felt it.
A stare.
Not curious.
Not casual.
Measured.
I looked up.
One of the caretakers stood near the supply truck, clipboard in hand. Older. Neutral face. Uniform too clean. Eyes too sharp.
He wasn't staring at Section E.
He was staring at me.
Our eyes met.
Something slid into place inside my chest—not recognition, not memory.
Instinct.
I didn't know him.
But my body did.
I looked away first.
That bothered me.
Keifer was tying a rope when I touched his arm lightly. "I need to go."
He looked up instantly. "Where?"
"Back to the old school," I said. "Paperwork. Old stuff."
Cin straightened. "I'll come."
"No," I said too fast.
Both of them looked at me.
I softened it immediately. "It's boring. Counselor signatures. I'll be quick."
Cin squinted. Suspicious. "You hate boring alone."
"I'll survive," I said, already stepping back.
Keifer studied my face for a beat too long.
"Be careful," he said quietly.
I nodded.
Then turned and walked away before anyone could offer to follow.
---
The road back felt wrong in the way only home ever does.
Too familiar.
The shops hadn't changed. Same cracked signs. Same corners where shadows lingered longer than they should. The alley with the blue shutter still smelled like oil and old rain.
People noticed me.
Some slowed.
Some stared too long.
A few whispered.
Not my name.
Something older.
I kept my pace steady.
Head high.
Hands relaxed.
Holy Saints High School rose at the end of the street like it always had—white walls, iron gates, too clean to be innocent.
Classes were ongoing.
The halls were quiet.
Too quiet.
A few students spotted me and froze. Whispers moved faster than footsteps.
I ignored them.
Every step echoed.
Every turn unlocked something I'd buried carefully.
I stopped outside the counselor's office.
Not because of nerves.
Because of voices.
Laughing.
Male.
Lazy.
Cruel in a familiar way.
Two names cut through the door like knives.
Ray. Cyrus.
My two of the ex boyfriends
My fingers tightened on the handle.
Of all the ghosts—
These two had always loved reminding me they existed.
The door opened suddenly.
They stepped out mid-laugh.
And stopped.
So did I.
Time stretched.
Ray looked the same—too confident, too pleased with himself. Cyrus leaned against the wall like the world owed him space.
Their eyes traveled over me slowly.
Then they smiled.
Not friendly.
Not surprised.
Satisfied.
I didn't react.
Didn't blink.
Just walked past them and into the office like they were furniture.
The counselor barely looked up. Papers signed. Stamps thudded. Polite, detached efficiency.
I thanked her.
Turned.
And walked back out.
Cyrus brushed past me deliberately, shoulder grazing mine.
"Missed me, Jay?" he murmured.
I didn't stop.
Didn't answer.
Didn't give him the satisfaction of turning my head.
I walked straight down the hall.
Slow.
Controlled.
Only when I reached the exit did I pause.
They were there.
Leaning against the doorframe.
Blocking it without actually touching it.
Ray tilted his head. "Welcome back."
Cyrus grinned. "Thought you'd never return."
I met their eyes.
Really met them.
Whatever they expected to see—
Fear.
Anger.
Weakness.
They didn't find it.
"You should move," I said calmly.
Ray laughed. "Still giving orders?"
I stepped closer.
Close enough that they felt it.
Close enough that old power dynamics didn't apply anymore.
"I'm not here for you," I said quietly. "Don't make yourselves a problem."
Cyrus' smile twitched. Just slightly.
Then footsteps echoed down the hall.
Footsteps multiplied.
Too many.
Too fast.
Students gathered at a distance first—circles forming, phones half-raised, fear disguised as curiosity. Then voices. Then movement.
Ray didn't wait.
Neither did Cyrus.
It started like it always did with them—laughter curdling into intent.
A shove.
I stumbled back a step, caught myself, eyes already tracking hands, angles, exits.
"Still think you're untouchable?" Ray sneered.
I answered with my fist.
His nose snapped sideways. Blood sprayed. Someone yelled.
That's when the others rushed in.
Not students.
Not teachers.
Their minions.
Hands grabbed. Someone hit my ribs. Another caught my shoulder. I twisted, elbowed, kicked—muscle memory waking up like it had never slept.
I didn't scream.
I refused to.
Every hit was an invitation to break.
I wouldn't give them that.
Pain burned sharp, then dull, then everywhere. A fist caught my cheekbone. Another slammed into my back. I went down once, rolled, got back up.
Cyrus laughed breathlessly. "Look at you. Still fighting."
A blow landed hard in my stomach.
Harder than the rest.
Air left my lungs in a soundless rush. My knees buckled before I could stop them. The ground came up fast.
Someone grabbed my arms from behind.
Held me upright.
Cyrus stepped closer.
He slapped me once.
Then again.
Not hard enough to knock me out.
Hard enough to humiliate.
"Say something," he taunted. "Go on. Beg."
I tasted blood.
Swallowed it.
Stayed silent.
Ray stepped forward, rolling his shoulders like this was the part he'd been waiting for.
"End of the line," he said, drawing his fist back.
I lifted my head.
Met his eyes.
Ready.
Then—
The world shifted.
A shout cut through the crowd. Not panicked. Commanding.
"HEY."
The grip on my arms loosened.
Then vanished.
I didn't feel the punch.
Didn't feel anything hit me.
When I opened my eyes—
Keifer was there.
Between me and Ray.
Breathing hard. Jaw locked. Eyes dark in a way I'd never seen before.
Section E poured in behind him like a breaking wave.
Felix didn't hesitate—he tackled one of the boys to the ground.
Rory dragged another away from me, voice sharp and furious.
Edrix shoved someone back so hard they hit the wall.
David and cin skidded to my side, dropping instantly, hands hovering but not touching. "Jay—Jay—hey, stay with me."