Jay was quiet that day.
More than usual.
Her hands didn't move.
The sand stayed untouched.
Keifer looked at her.
"You didn't make a house."
No answer.
A pause.
"Jay?"
She swallowed.
"…I don't like home."
He frowned.
"Why?"
Silence.
Her fingers curled.
"They fight."
Soft.
Barely there.
"Who?"
"…my parents."
Keifer didn't speak.
"They shout."
A breath.
"Every day."
Her voice shook.
"I get scared."
He moved closer.
Slow.
Careful.
"I hide."
Her eyes stayed down.
"In my room."
A pause.
"I cover my ears."
Keifer's hand tightened.
"They don't stop."
Silence.
Heavy.
Jay's voice dropped.
"…I feel alone."
Keifer didn't think.
He leaned forward—
And hugged her.
Small arms.
Tight.
Jay froze.
Her eyes widened.
"…Keifer?"
"I'm here."
Soft.
Firm.
She didn't move.
Then—
Slowly—
She held him back.
Just a little.
"They won't hurt you here," he said.
Jay blinked.
"…here?"
"At school."
A pause.
"I'll take care of you."
Simple.
Certain.
Jay's grip tightened.
"…really?"
A nod.
"Every day."
Her eyes filled.
"…okay."
He didn't let go.
Not yet.
"And if you're scared…"
A pause.
"…stay with me."
Jay closed her eyes.
For the first time—
She didn't feel scared.
Jay didn't let go quickly.
Her fingers held his shirt.
Tightly.
Like if she moved—
He would disappear.
Keifer stayed still.
"I'm here," he repeated.
Soft.
Jay nodded against him.
"…okay."
Slowly—
They pulled apart.
But not far.
Not anymore.
"You can sit closer," he said.
Jay hesitated.
Then moved.
Just a little.
That was enough.
The wind passed.
Gentle.
Jay drew a small line in the sand.
"…they shout a lot."
Keifer listened.
"I don't like loud."
"I know."
She looked at him.
"…how?"
"You cover your ears."
Jay blinked.
He noticed that.
"…yeah."
A pause.
"If they shout again…"
He thought.
"…you can think about here."
Jay tilted her head.
"…here?"
"The sand."
A small point.
"And me."
Silence.
Jay's lips curved.
Tiny.
"…okay."
The bell rang.
Jay flinched.
Keifer noticed.
"It's just the bell."
"…it's loud."
He stood.
"Come."
Jay looked up.
"…where?"
He held out his hand.
"To class."
She stared at it.
Uncertain.
Slowly—
She placed her hand in his.
Small.
Cold.
Keifer didn't react.
He just held it.
Normal.
They walked.
Together.
Inside the classroom—
Kids looked.
Some whispered.
Jay's grip tightened.
Keifer squeezed back.
"Don't look at them."
"…okay."
He pulled a chair.
"Sit here."
Next to him.
Jay sat.
Careful.
The teacher entered.
"Good morning."
"Good morning," the class said.
Jay stayed quiet.
Keifer glanced at her.
"…you don't have to say it."
She nodded.
Relieved.
During class—
Jay stared at the board.
Not understanding.
Keifer leaned closer.
"It's easy."
She shook her head.
"…I don't get it."
He took her pencil.
"Look."
He drew slowly.
"This is one."
Another line.
"This is two."
Jay watched.
Focused.
"Oh."
A small sound.
"You see?"
A nod.
"…yeah."
He smiled.
Small.
After class—
"Wait," he said.
Jay stopped.
He fixed her notebook.
"You forgot this."
"…thank you."
"Don't say thank you so much."
"…okay."
They walked again.
Side by side.
Lunch time—
Jay sat.
Keifer came.
As always.
"I brought something."
He opened his box.
Jay leaned slightly.
"…what is it?"
"Sweet."
Her eyes widened.
"…really?"
He nodded.
"Try."
She hesitated.
Then took a small bite.
Her face changed.
Soft.
"…it's good."
"I know."
She smiled.
Wider this time.
"You can take more."
"No, you too."
"I will."
They shared.
Back and forth.
Easy.
A boy walked past.
Looked at Jay.
Paused.
Keifer noticed.
"What?"
The boy shrugged.
"Nothing."
"Then go."
The boy left.
Jay looked at Keifer.
"…you always do that."
"What?"
"That."
He shrugged.
"They shouldn't look at you like that."
"…why?"
A pause.
"Because you don't like it."
Simple.
Jay looked down.
Her chest felt warm.
Different.
After school—
Jay walked slowly.
Keifer matched her steps.
"You walk slow."
"…I don't want to go home fast."
He didn't ask more.
"I'll walk with you."
Jay looked at him.
"…every day?"
"Every day."
They reached her gate.
Jay stopped.
"…this is my house."
Keifer looked at it.
Quiet.
"Okay."
A pause.
Jay didn't move.
"…can you stay a little?"
He nodded.
They stood.
Outside.
Doing nothing.
Just standing.
"I hear them from here sometimes," she whispered.
Keifer listened.
The house was silent now.
"You're okay."
"…right now."
He corrected softly.
Jay nodded.
"…right now."
A small breeze passed.
Jay looked at him.
"…will you come tomorrow?"
"Yes."
"Promise?"
A pause.
Then—
"I promise."
Jay smiled.
Soft.
"…okay."
He stepped back.
"Go inside."
She didn't want to.
But she nodded.
"…bye, Keifer."
"Bye, Jay."
She walked in.
Slow.
At the door—
She turned.
He was still there.
Watching.
She felt… safer.
That night—
Voices rose.
Loud.
Sharp.
Jay sat on her bed.
Hands over her ears.
Tears in her eyes.
"They won't stop…"
Her voice shook.
Then—
A thought.
Sand.
A small house.
And—
Keifer.
"I'll take care of you."
Jay closed her eyes.
Her breathing slowed.
"…okay."
The noise didn't stop.
But something inside her—
Was quieter.
The next day—
Jay ran.
Not walked.
Ran.
To the playground.
She looked around.
Searching.
"Jay."
She turned.
Keifer.
She stopped.
Breathless.
"You ran."
A nod.
"I wanted to come fast."
He smiled.
"I came early."
She walked to him.
Closer than before.
"…I thought about here."
He tilted his head.
"Yesterday."
A pause.
"And?"
"…it helped."
He didn't smile big.
Just—
Soft.
"I told you."
Jay sat beside him.
Close.
Very close.
Their shoulders touched.
She didn't move away.
Neither did he.
"What are we today?" he asked.
Jay blinked.
"…what?"
"In the sand."
"Oh."
She thought.
"…a bigger house."
He nodded.
"Okay."
They started building.
Together.
Again.
But this time—
Jay didn't feel like it would break.
Because now—
She wasn't building it alone.