JAY POV —
For a second, I forgot how to move.
Grace closed the distance before I could process it—arms around me, tight, sudden, real.
"Jay," she breathed, voice breaking. "It is you."
I stiffened on instinct.
Then melted.
Because this—this—wasn't danger. It wasn't accusation. It wasn't the past coming to collect a debt.
It was warmth.
"I didn't know you were back," Grace said into my shoulder, holding on like she'd been afraid I'd disappear again. "I've thought about you so many times."
My throat closed.
I hugged her back, just as tightly, fingers curling into the fabric of her dress.
"I'm sorry," I whispered, the words spilling out before I could stop them. "For everything that got messy. For—"
Grace pulled back enough to look at me, eyes shining but fierce.
"No," she said firmly. "You don't get to carry that."
She shook her head, almost angry now—not at me, but at the memory of it all.
"You were the only one who didn't lie," she said. "You were the only one who told him to stop running. If it wasn't for you—" Her voice wavered. "I would've raised her alone."
Something small tugged at her dress.
A tiny hand.
The little girl looked up at us, brows furrowed in curiosity, dark eyes sharp and observant in a way that felt painfully familiar.
"Mommy," she asked softly, "who's she?"
The restaurant might as well have vanished.
Grace smiled down at her—soft, proud, full in a way that made my chest ache.
"This," she said gently, guiding the girl closer, "is Jay."
My breath caught.
The girl tilted her head, studying me like she was trying to solve a puzzle.
I crouched instinctively to her level, ignoring the way my vision blurred.
"Hi," I said softly. "What's your name?"
The girl straightened, chin lifting with unmistakable confidence.
"Grazel," she said.
My heart skipped.
Grace watched me carefully now, a small, knowing smile forming.
"And my full name," Grazel added, because of course she did, "is Grazel Jay."
The world tilted.
I froze.
"What?" The word barely made it out.
Grace laughed through her tears. "We wanted her to have a strong name," she said. "Someone who stood her ground. Someone who didn't let people look away from the truth."
My vision shattered.
"You—" I swallowed hard. "You named her after—"
"You," Grace said simply. "Her godmother. Even if you didn't know it yet."
Tears spilled over before I could stop them.
I reached out, hands shaking, and Grazel didn't hesitate—she stepped right into my arms like she belonged there.
Like she'd always known me.
I hugged her carefully, reverently, forehead resting against her hair.
"Hi, Grazel Jay," I whispered, voice breaking. "You're… you're perfect."
She giggled, small and bright. "You're crying."
"I know," I laughed softly. "I do that sometimes."
Grace wiped at her own eyes. "She's been asking about you," she admitted. "About the woman who helped Daddy be brave."
My chest clenched.
That was when—
Ahem.
Cole cleared his throat politely.
Celeste followed suit, equally diplomatic.
Grace looked up, suddenly remembering the world existed beyond us. "Oh—sorry. I didn't even—"
She turned.
So did I.
And that was when I saw them.
Every single one of them.
Section E stood frozen—some half-risen from their chairs, some gripping glasses too tightly, some staring like they'd seen a ghost walk straight out of their memories.
Cin's mouth was slightly open.
Felix had stopped mid-laugh, phone forgotten in his hand.
Yuri looked stunned.
Blaster looked like someone had punched him.
Edrix. Rory. Kit. Josh. Drew. Denzel—who had gone deathly pale at the sight of his daughter in my arms.
And Keifer.
He hadn't moved.
Not an inch.
He was standing now, slowly, like gravity had only just remembered him.
His eyes were locked on me.
Not wide.
Not shocked.
Just… wrecked.
Like something he'd buried six years ago had finally clawed its way back into daylight—and was looking straight at him.
I stood there, Grazel still in my arms, Grace beside me, Cole and Celeste flanking me like silent sentinels.
The past and the present collided in one impossible frame.
And for the first time since I'd stepped back into this city—
I wasn't the one hiding anymore.
I lifted my chin.
Met their stares.
And let them see me...
Grace followed my gaze.
Understanding dawned instantly in her eyes.
She tightened her hold on Grazel just a little, protective, gentle. "Sweetheart," she murmured, brushing her daughter's hair back, "let's go get dessert, okay?"
Grazel nodded easily, already distracted by the promise of something sweet. But before leaving, she leaned toward me and pressed a quick, clumsy kiss to my cheek.
"For you," she said solemnly.
My chest cracked open all over again.
Grace squeezed my hand. "We'll talk later," she whispered. "Don't disappear again."
"I won't," I promised. This time, I meant it.
They stepped outside.
And the air shifted.
Footsteps approached.
Not loud anymore.
Careful.
One by one, Section E moved closer—like boys who'd once been fearless had learned what it meant to be afraid.
Cin was first.
His eyes were red already. His jaw trembled like he was holding himself together with sheer will.
"Jay…" His voice broke on my name. "We—we didn't mean to do that to you."
No one interrupted him.
Rory swallowed hard. David stared at the floor. Calix rubbed his face with both hands. Drew's fists were clenched at his sides.
Mayo looked like he couldn't breathe. Blaster's bravado was gone completely. Felix's eyes shone, unhidden.
Josh and Kit stood shoulder to shoulder, bracing each other. Eren wiped his eyes angrily like tears offended him. Edrix stared at me like I'd vanish if he blinked.
Denzel looked hollow—ruined and grateful all at once.
"We were wrong," Cin went on, voice shaking harder now. "All of us. We shouldn't have let you walk away like that. We shouldn't have pretended it was easier without you."
My chest ached so badly it felt physical.
"You were one of us," Felix said hoarsely. "You are one of us."
"And we failed you," Rory added quietly.
Tears slipped down my cheeks before I could stop them. I didn't wipe them away.
Cin stepped closer.
Then—without warning—he dropped to his knees.
The sound echoed.
"I was alone after you left," he sobbed openly now, breaking in half in front of everyone. "You were my sister. My best friend. The only one who actually saw me. And I didn't stop it. I didn't fight hard enough."
His hands shook as he pressed them to the floor.
"I missed you every day," he cried. "Please, Jay. Please. I'm sorry."
The sound that left my chest wasn't a sob.
It was a wound reopening.
One by one, chairs scraped.
David knelt.
Calix followed.
Drew. Josh. Kit. Felix. Mayo. Blaster. Eren. Edrix. Denzel.
All of them.
Apologies spilling out—overlapping, messy, sincere.
Only two remained standing.
Yuri—rigid, jaw clenched, guilt written all over his face like a confession he hadn't learned how to speak yet.
And Keifer.
Still.
Silent.
Unreachable.
I stood frozen while my heart shattered in real time.
Cole's hand came to my back—steady, grounding.
Celeste stepped closer to my side, her presence a quiet shield.
I swallowed.
Then slowly—carefully—I bent down.
Cin looked up at me like a child afraid of being abandoned again.
I wrapped my arms around him.
He broke completely.
"I can't forgive everything," I said softly, honestly, my voice trembling against his hair. "And I can't forget it either."
He nodded frantically. "I know. I know. I'll wait. I'll do anything."
"But," I whispered, pulling back just enough to look at all of them, "I can try."
That was all it took.
They surged forward.
Arms everywhere. Familiar. Overwhelming. Warm.
For one brief, impossible moment, I was seventeen again—laughing too loud, arguing over food, believing we were unbreakable.
When the hug loosened, Yuri stepped toward me.
His mouth opened—
"Don't," I said gently but firmly, holding up a hand.
He stopped immediately.
Not offended.
Just… respectful.
Keifer still hadn't moved.
He didn't apologize.
Didn't speak.
He just looked at me like the ground beneath him had given way and he was deciding whether to fall.
I turned away first.
Cole's arm wrapped around my shoulders instantly.
"let's go," he said calmly, already guiding me toward the door.
Celeste stayed close on my other side.
I didn't look back.
---
INSIDE THE CAR
The door shut.
The world blurred.
I folded in on myself, breaking apart the second the engine started.
The sobs came hard and fast—ugly, uncontrollable, years overdue.
Celeste pulled me into her arms in the backseat, rocking me slightly. "Let it out," she murmured. "You don't have to be strong here."
Cole drove silently, one hand tight on the wheel, the other reaching back just enough for me to hold onto.
"I didn't know it would hurt like this," I choked. "I thought I was past it."
"You don't get past people who were family," Celeste said softly. "You just learn how to survive the ache."
I cried until my chest burned.
Until my throat hurt.
Until exhaustion finally dulled the pain enough to breathe.
Behind us, the restaurant lights faded.
And somewhere inside that noise and memory—
They all still stood where I'd left them.
Unmoving.
Unforgiven.
Unfinished...