Chapter 14 - This chapter is a special and does not affect the main timeline.

🎄 Christmas Special

Jayjay's POV

I arrived at Kiefer's house too early.

Not "a little early."

Not "oops, traffic was light" early.

I mean Christmas-tree-is-on-but-the-house-is-still-half-asleep early.

And somehow—somehow—I ended up sleeping in Keiren's room.

Which would've been fine.

Totally fine.

Perfectly innocent.

Except—

"Why are you sleeping in his room?"

That voice.

That tone.

That dangerously calm, jealousy-loaded tone.

I cracked one eye open and there he was—Kiefer Watson—standing by the door, arms crossed, Christmas sweater on, hair messy, eyes screaming betrayal.

My brain immediately panicked.

Jayjay. Think. THINK. This is not what it looks like.

Except it kind of looks exactly like what it looks like.

Keiren, traitor that he is, stretched beside me and said cheerfully,

"She snores, by the way."

I sat up so fast I nearly launched off the bed.

"I DO NOT—"

Kiefer turned around.

Walked out.

Door slammed.

Keiren blinked. "Oh. He's jealous."

"I noticed," I muttered, already dying inside.

🎁 The Room Incident (Before the Party)

I found Kiefer in his room, sitting on the edge of the bed, tying his shoes like Christmas had personally offended him.

"Kiefer…"

Silence.

I stepped closer. "You're really jealous of your own brother?"

He looked up. "I don't compete. I dominate."

I laughed. That was my mistake.

He pulled me by the wrist—gentle but firm—and suddenly I was sitting between his knees.

"Jayjay," he said quietly, "you slept next to another guy."

"It was Keiren!"

"Exactly."

I stared at him. "You are impossible."

"And you," he leaned in, voice low, "are early."

That kiss?

Not sweet.

Not gentle.

That was a 'we almost forgot we're hosting a Christmas party' kiss.

Deep. Slow. Dangerous.

My thoughts were absolutely useless.

Okay. This is how I die.

Not by embarrassment.

By Kiefer Watson's lips.

A knock slammed against the door.

"BROTHER," Keiren yelled, "THE GUESTS ARE COMING AND ALSO YOU'RE BEING WEIRD."

We jumped apart like guilty teenagers.

Christmas survived. Barely.

🎉 The Party Begins (Chaos Immediately)

People started arriving in no particular order, just vibes and noise.

Laughter everywhere.

Christmas music fighting for its life against yelling.

Someone screaming "WHO TOOK MY COCOA?"

Ci‑N and Ciel were absolutely terrorizing David.

"Blink twice if you need help," Ci‑N said.

David blinked once.

Ciel nodded. "He's fine."

Felix was showing off basketball tricks indoors.

Eman was arguing about food like a professional chef (because he is).

Edrix was hacking the Bluetooth speaker "for better bass."

Calix was flirting with Christmas ornaments.

Rory filmed everything.

Sir Alvin arrived and immediately regretted it.

"This," he said slowly, "is why I drink coffee."

Then—

The door opened.

Valerie.

Alive. Smiling. Real.

Adrian froze.

Everyone froze.

She walked in like Christmas itself had legs.

Sir Alvin stared. "Valerie…?"

She grinned. "Did you miss me?"

He sighed. "You nearly got expelled twice."

She laughed. "Only twice?"

The house exploded with noise.

Someone cried.

Someone screamed.

Someone hugged her so hard they nearly fell.

And then—

She sang.

Just a short one.

Catchy.

Soft.

🎶 Snow on the ground, hearts all around,

If love's still here then we're safe now… 🎶

Even Kiefer stopped pretending not to feel things.

🎲 Truth or Dare (Mistake. Huge Mistake.)

Truth or Dare should be illegal at Christmas.

Secrets came out.

Embarrassing ones.

Sweet ones.

Felix admitted he practices speeches in the mirror.

Calix admitted he falls in love every Tuesday.

Ci‑N dared David to sing. Regretted it instantly.

Sir Alvin refused all dares "for legal reasons."

Then—

"Jayjay," someone said. "Truth."

My heart dropped.

"What's the most dangerous thing you've ever done?"

I glanced at Kiefer.

He was already smiling.

"…fall for him."

The room exploded.

Kiefer leaned over and kissed my temple like he won something.

Later—much later—we ended up back upstairs, quiet at last.

I lay beside him, head on his chest, listening to his heartbeat.

This is it, I thought.

This is the moment I'll remember when everything else changes.

Downstairs, laughter echoed.

Christmas lights blinked.

And for once—

Everything felt right.