--: Keifer's POV: --
The silence of the shoreline was absolute, a perfect sanctuary where the only things that existed were the cool sand, the bioluminescent glow of the waves, and the weight of Jay-Jay leaning against my side. I had my arm wrapped firmly around her, pulling her into the crook of my shoulder, feeling her breath even out as we walked. For the first time all day, I felt the tension in my jaw finally begin to snap.
But peace is a fragile thing when you're on a trip with Section E.
"YO! FOUND THEM!"
The shout shattered the tranquility like a stone through glass. I felt Jay-Jay jump slightly in my arms as two flashlights cut through the darkness, their beams bouncing erratically off the dunes before landing squarely on us.
Drew and Blaster came sprinting down the slope, their faces lit with that characteristic, hyperactive energy.
"Man, you guys are like ninjas! We've been looking for you for ten minutes!" Drew panted, stopping in front of us with his hands on his knees.
"The bonfire is dying down, and someone just came up with the plan of the century," Blaster added, grinning like a maniac. "We're doing a Night Stargazing activity! Everyone is dragging beach chairs, pillows, and blankets down to the North Point plateau. We're sleeping under the sky tonight! And at dawn, we're all trekking up to the High Rock to watch the sunrise. The exact place where we went last time for seeing the sunrise."
"No," I said immediately. My voice was flat, hard, and left zero room for negotiation.
--: Jay-Jay's POV: --
I blinked, blinded by the flashlights. "A stargazing activity? Sleeping outside?"
"Yeah!" Drew cheered. "It's going to be epic. We've got enough beach chairs for everyone, and the girls are already gathering the snacks. It's a full-night event!"
Keifer's grip on my shoulder tightened, and I could practically feel the dark clouds gathering around him. He stepped slightly in front of me, his eyes narrowing at Drew and Blaster.
"I said no," Keifer repeated, his voice dropping into that low, dangerous register he used when he was truly annoyed. "We are going back to the cottage. We have...We have things to do. Go find someone else to stare at the sky with."
My face went hot. I knew exactly what "things" he was referring to. The "unfinished business" from this afternoon was clearly the only thing on his mind, and he wasn't doing a very good job of hiding his frustration.
--: Keifer's POV: --
I wasn't being subtle because I didn't feel like being subtle. I had waited through a three-hour "nap" that was just a nap nothing else, a chaotic lunch, and a volleyball game. I had earned the right to have my girlfriend to myself behind a locked door. The last thing I wanted was to spend the night on a plastic beach chair surrounded by thirty snoring idiots.
"Oh, come on, Keifer!" Blaster laughed, oblivious to the murder in my eyes. "The High Rock sunrise is legendary! You can't miss it!"
I growled. "Jay-Jay is tired. I'm tired. We're going back—"
Crunch.
A sharp, agonizing pressure landed squarely on the top of my foot. I gasped, my words cutting off into a muffled groan as Jay-Jay ground her heel into my toes.
"What Keifer is trying to say," Jay-Jay said, her voice dripping with a sugary sweetness that was terrifyingly fake, "is that he's just so surprised by such a great idea! Right, Keifer?"
She didn't move her foot. She twisted it.
"Jay—" I started, but she glared at me with a look that said 'Shut up or I will actually break your toe.'
"We'd love to!" Jay-Jay continued, smiling at the guys. "Sleeping under the stars sounds so romantic and fun. We'll meet you there!"
--: Jay-Jay's POV: --
Drew and Blaster cheered, fist-pumping the air. "YES! They are also in! Okay, everyone is heading back to their rooms right now to grab pillows and blankets. Don't be late!"
They took off back toward the bonfire, their flashlights dancing away into the distance.
The second they were out of earshot, I stepped off Keifer's foot. He immediately doubled over, clutching his toes and hissing through his teeth.
"Are you insane?" he rasped, looking up at me. "I was five minutes away from getting you back to that cottage! Why did you say yes to sleeping on a beach chair?"
"Because we're on a trip with our friends, Keifer!" I whispered-yelled, crossing my arms. "If we disappear again, the teasing will never stop. Besides, it's stargazing! It's the High Rock! We can finish our 'business' tomorrow. Or the day after! Just be a team player for once!"
Keifer stood up straight, his face a mask of disbelief. "Tomorrow? Jay, my 'little one' has been waiting since 2:00 PM. He doesn't care about the High Rock. He cares about you."
I felt my face turn a shade of red that probably glowed in the dark. I grabbed his hand and started pulling him toward the cottage area. "Stop talking! Go get the pillows! And grab the thickest blanket we have—it's going to be cold."
--: Keifer's POV: --
I followed her, grumbling under my breath about the unfairness of the universe. We reached the cottage, and I watched as Jay-Jay began frantically grabbing the plush duvets and the softest pillows from the bed—the bed we were supposed to be in.
"I can't believe this," I muttered, stuffing a blanket into a travel bag. "I'm traded for a rock and some stars."
Jay-Jay walked over and pressed a soft, lingering kiss to my cheek. "I'll make it up to you, I promise. But tonight, we're going to be part of the group. Okay, baby?"
I looked at her—her hair still a bit wild from the ocean, her eyes bright with excitement—and I felt my frustration melt, replaced by that familiar, heavy devotion. I sighed, leaning down to kiss her forehead.
"Fine. But if someone kicks my chair in their sleep, I'm throwing that person into the ocean."
--: Jay-Jay's POV: --
We made our way to the North Point plateau. It was a beautiful, flat stretch of grass overlooking the sea. The rest of Section E was already there, dragging their long beach loungers into a giant circle.
"THE POWER COUPLE!" Ci-N shouted, waving a flashlight. "Over here! We saved you the spots next to the snacks!"
We settled our loungers side-by-side, spreading the massive duvet over both of us so we were tucked into a single, warm cocoon. To our left, Aries and Ella were already settled, Aries looking deeply uncomfortable in a sleeping bag. To our right, Thyme was arguing with Gorya about which star was the North Star.
"It's actually beautiful," I whispered, lying back and looking up. The sky was a velvet carpet of diamonds, more stars than I had ever seen in my life.
"Yeah," Keifer murmured. He didn't look at the stars. He turned on his side, his arm sliding under the blanket to pull me flush against him. His gaze was fixed entirely on me, his eyes dark and full of a quiet, simmering promise. "But I've seen better views."
I smiled, leaning my head against his shoulder. Around us, the chatter of the squad slowly died down into whispers, then eventually, the steady rhythm of breathing. The ocean breeze was cool, but under the heavy duvet, pressed against Keifer's warmth, I felt perfectly safe.
We lay there for a while, talking in hushed tones as we pointed out the biggest stars and the hazy line of the Milky Way. But the long day of swimming, the intense sun, and the heavy dinner finally started to take their toll.
--: Keifer's POV: --
I felt Jay-Jay's breathing start to slow. Her head drifted onto my shoulder, and her hand, which had been tracing the constellations, fell still against my chest. I pulled the duvet higher, tucking it around her chin.
Despite my earlier annoyance, the sound of the ocean and the rhythmic breathing of the group around us was surprisingly peaceful. I watched her sleep for a moment, her face soft in the moonlight, before I finally let my own eyes close.
The unfinished business was still there, a low hum in the back of my mind, but as I drifted off, I realized that just having her here—safe, warm, and by my side—was enough for now.
--: Jay-Jay's POV: --
"WAKE UP! IT'S TIME! TO THE HIGH ROCK!"
A bullhorn blared right in the middle of the circle. I bolted upright, my heart hammering, nearly knocking Keifer off the lounger. The sky was no longer pitch black; it was a deep, charcoal grey with a faint, thin line of indigo stretching across the horizon.
"Ci-N! I am going to kill you!" Keifer roared, sitting up and rubbing his face. He looked like he wanted to commit a crime, but everyone else was already scrambling, shivering and laughing as they threw off their blankets.
"Leave the gear! We're coming back for it!" Ci-N shouted, already leading the charge toward the trail. "The sun waits for no one!"
I grabbed Keifer's hand, pulling him up. "Come on! We made it this far!"
Keifer sighed, but he didn't let go of my hand. He grabbed our flashlight and a bottle of water, and together, we joined the shivering, sleepy-eyed crowd of Section E as we began the trek up the steep, rocky path toward the highest peak of the island.