keifer pov
Class had barely begun when the teacher walked in, dropped his bag on the desk, and said the one sentence that made my stomach sink.
"Bring out the research I asked you guys to do."
My mind went blank.
Research…?
Research…?
No.
No way.
I turned to Yuri slowly, like if I moved too fast the truth would slap me harder.
"What research?" I whispered.
David glanced back. "The one on startup business models and how they scale in modern markets."
My head rang.
Right.
That one.
The room felt too hot. My thoughts scrambled—home, my room, the bed, the picture of Jayjay in my hand. I remembered lying down. I remembered closing my eyes.
I never remembered opening that notebook again.
The teacher began calling names.
Each name felt like a countdown.
Then—
"Mark—Kiefer Watson. Please read yours."
My heart slammed against my ribs.
I stood up, legs stiff.
"Read your version," the teacher said again.
Say something.
Anything.
"Sir, please… my work, um—"
My voice failed me. I hated that. I hated sounding unsure. I hated standing there exposed.
Then—
"Sir, please. I have Kiefer's work here."
The air shifted.
I turned slowly.
Sienna.
"I think it fell from his bag in the parking lot."
Of course.
Of all people.
The teacher looked at me. "Is that true?"
"Yes—yes, sir," I said quickly. "I left it on my car ."
She walked toward me and handed it over. Our hands didn't touch this time, but it still felt too close.
"Thank you," I muttered.
When I read what was written then sat down and closed the notebook, my breath caught.
It wasn't my name.
It was hers.
My fingers tightened around the cover.
Why would she—
Why does she always—
I shut the book.
Hard.
Class continued, but my mind wasn't there anymore. It kept drifting—Jayjay's face, her laugh, the way she looks when she's planning something dangerous and cute at the same time.
Where are you?
The bell rang.
I left first. I needed space. Air. Something.
After the men's room, I headed to the cafeteria and grabbed a juice box. My hands were steady, but my thoughts weren't.
Then I saw her.
Sienna.
Sitting alone.
Just walk past.
You don't owe her anything.
I took one step.
Then stopped.
She helped you.
You don't like owing people.
I turned back.
"If you don't mind," I said, keeping my voice flat, "you can come sit with us. Don't get the wrong idea—it's just because you helped me in class. That's all."
She smiled. Calm. Too calm.
"Okay."
She picked up her tray and followed.
When we reached the table, I sat down immediately. She didn't sit next to me—just at the same table. The guys welcomed her easily.
I barely noticed.
Ten minutes passed.
Then the cafeteria doors opened again.
My eyes lifted without thinking.
Jayjay.
She walked in with another girl, both of them juggling backpacks. Jayjay looked exhausted—like she hadn't slept, like her mind was somewhere else.
My chest tightened.
It's only 10:37 a.m.
Why do you look like that?
Why weren't you with me today?
I stared longer than I should've.
Something was happening.
And for the first time, I wasn't part of it.