It started with a whisper.
Not a ghost whisper. A weather whisper. The kind that meant something big was coming.
By morning, Black Hollow was buried.
Snow everywhere. Drifts up to the windows. Trees bent under the weight. The kind of snow that made everything stop.
"No classes," Principal Morticia announced over the speakers. "No meetings. No leaving the buildings. Stay warm. Stay safe. Stay inside."
The common room ERUPTED.
"SNOW DAY!" Lyra screamed. "SNOW DAY! NO CLASSES! NO RESPONSIBILITIES! JUST CHAOS!"
Adrian adjusted his glasses. "Statistically, snow days increase social bonding by 47%."
"Social bonding?" Bella asked.
"Romance. Friendships. Memories." He smiled slightly. "Good things."
Mila grabbed Jay's arm. "This is perfect. You and Keifer. Trapped. Together. All day."
"We're always together," Jay pointed out.
"Not like THIS. This is different. This is MAGICAL."
Jay looked at Keifer. He shrugged.
"It's a day off," he said. "We should enjoy it."
"Enjoy what? Being stuck inside with everyone?"
"Enjoy being stuck inside with everyone." He squeezed her hand. "And with me."
Her heart did that thing. The too-big thing.
"Fine," she said. "But if Lyra tries anything weird—"
"Lyra will definitely try something weird."
"Then we hide."
"Deal."
The common room transformed.
Blankets everywhere. Pillows piled high. Snacks dragged from kitchens. Someone found a old projector and bad movies. Someone else made hot chocolate. Lots of hot chocolate.
By mid-morning, it was perfect.
Jay sat on a pile of blankets, Keifer beside her. His arm around her shoulders. Her head on his chest. Warm. Safe. Happy.
Their friends scattered around. Lyra directing chaos. Adrian documenting everything. Bella sketching the scene. Mila reading peacefully. Daniel pretending not to enjoy himself (he was definitely enjoying himself).
"This is nice," Jay murmured.
"Mm."
"Wish we could do this more often."
"Snow every day?"
"Maybe not every day. But this. Together. No stress. No danger."
Keifer kissed her hair. "We'll make time."
"Promise?"
"Promise."
The first game was cards.
Lyra's idea. Competitive. Loud. Perfect for chaos.
Jay and Keifer teamed up. They were unstoppable. Not because they cheated—because they knew each other too well.
"Jay's about to play her high card," Keifer said calmly.
"How do you know?"
"Her eyebrow twitches."
"I don't have an eyebrow twitch."
"You absolutely do."
Lyra stared. "You know her EYEBROW TELLS?"
"I know everything about her."
"That's romantic and TERRIFYING."
They won. Obviously.
The second game was charades.
Worse. Much worse.
Jay had to act out "jealous Keifer." She pointed at herself. Made a glaring face. Pretended to break a cup.
Everyone guessed immediately.
"THAT'S HIM!" Lyra screamed. "THAT'S EXACTLY HIM!"
Keifer, watching, raised an eyebrow. "I don't look like that."
"You ABSOLUTELY look like that."
"I'm very controlled."
"You're very JEALOUS."
He looked at Jay. "Am I?"
She patted his cheek. "You're adorable. That's what matters."
The table dissolved into laughter.
Then it was Keifer's turn.
He had to act out "Jay in the morning."
He pointed at himself. Pretended to be asleep. Then woke up suddenly. Made a grabby motion. Pretended to hug something. Made a happy sigh.
The room went silent.
Then EXPLODED.
"THAT'S HER—" "HE DOES THAT—" "HE WAKES UP AND REACHES FOR HER—" "THAT'S SO SOFT—" "I'M CRYING—"
Jay's face was on fire. "Keifer!"
"What? It's accurate."
"You can't just—in front of everyone—"
"You do that every morning."
"I do NOT."
"You do. You reach for me. Even half asleep. Every single day."
The room was losing its collective mind.
Bella was sobbing into her sketchbook. "That's the most romantic thing I've ever heard."
Adrian was writing furiously. "Morning ritual confirmed. Physical affection even in sleep. Bond strength: MAXIMUM."
Lyra grabbed Jay's shoulders. "He REACHES FOR YOU. In his SLEEP. That's not just love. That's SOUL LEVEL."
Jay looked at Keifer. He smiled. That real one.
"Shut up," she whispered.
"Never."
By afternoon, the movies started.
Bad movies. Old movies. The kind everyone made fun of.
Jay lay with her head in Keifer's lap. His fingers combed through her hair. She was warm. Content. Almost asleep.
Their friends were scattered around. Some watching. Some napping. Some just enjoying the quiet.
Lyra appeared beside them. "You two are disgustingly cute."
"Thank you," Keifer said.
"That wasn't a compliment."
"I took it as one."
Lyra grinned. "That's why I love you. Both of you." She sat down nearby. "Seriously though. This is nice. All of us. Together."
Jay opened her eyes. "Yeah. It is."
"No drama. No danger. Just... us."
"Just us."
Lyra was quiet for a moment. Then: "I'm glad you found each other. You know that?"
Jay looked at Keifer. He looked at her.
"Us too," she said softly.
Later, someone turned off the lights.
Not on purpose. The storm knocked out power. Just for a moment. Complete darkness.
Then candles appeared. Someone was prepared.
The common room glowed. Soft. Warm. Romantic.
Lyra saw her opportunity.
"Jay. Keifer." She pointed at a closet. "In there. Now."
"What?"
"JUST KISS ALREADY."
"We're ALREADY together."
"THEN KISS MORE."
"We're not going in a closet."
"FINE." Lyra grabbed a blanket. Threw it over them. "There. Private blanket cocoon. KISS."
Jay laughed. Actually laughed. "You're insane."
"I'm ROMANTIC. Same thing."
Keifer pulled Jay closer under the blanket. "Happy?" he murmured.
"Very."
He kissed her. Soft. Sweet. Just for them.
Under the blanket. In the candlelight. Surrounded by friends who loved them.
Perfect.
When they emerged, Lyra was waiting.
"FINALLY. I was timing you."
"You were TIMING us?"
"Four minutes. Not bad."
"We were KISSING. Not—"
"Four minutes of kissing. That's dedication."
Keifer looked at Jay. "She's never going to stop."
"Nope."
"Should we be worried?"
"Nope." Jay smiled. "This is love. Lyra style."
Lyra beamed. "EXACTLY. Now more hot chocolate. I need sustenance for more matchmaking."
The night ended softly.
Snow still falling outside. Candles flickering. Friends scattered around, sleeping or nearly sleeping.
Jay and Keifer lay together on their blanket pile. His arms around her. Her face against his chest.
"Best snow day ever," she whispered.
"Mm."
"I love you."
"I love you too."
"Even though you're wrong about coffee?"
"Even though you're wrong about everything."
She poked him. He didn't move.
"Keifer?"
"Yeah?"
"I'm really glad we're together."
He kissed her forehead. "Me too."
"Like, really really glad."
"I know."
"Like—"
"Jay. Go to sleep."
"Fine." She snuggled closer. "But I'm still glad."
"I'm glad too." He pulled her tighter. "Now sleep."
She smiled. Closed her eyes.
Perfect.
The next morning, Lyra had a new whiteboard.
THE SNOW DAY
Hours of Togetherness: 14
Games Played: 4
Times Lyra Tried to Force Romance: 7
Blanket Cocoon Duration: 4 minutes
Jayfer Cuteness Level: MAXIMUM
JAYFER STATUS: ETERNAL (SNOW-PROOF)
Bond Strength: STILL UNBREAKABLE
NEXT MILESTONE:
More snow days (hopefully)
More blanket cocoons (definitely)
More Lyra interference (obviously)
Jay read the board. Laughed.
Keifer appeared beside her. Coffee in hand.
"Ready for reality?"
"Not really."
"Me neither."
They stood together. Looking at the snow. Looking at their friends. Looking at each other.
"Same time next year?" she asked.
"Same time every year." He kissed her cheek. "Promise."
"Promise."
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🚨 🚨 NEW BOOK ALERT 🚨 🚨
Guys, I wrote a new book called when Ceo Meets A Doctor-Jayfer. Pls support me there too. Your support means a lot. Thank you so much!