It started with a whisper.
Not a ghost whisper. A rumor whisper. The kind that spread through schools like wildfire.
"Did you hear? Someone's trying to break up Jay and Keifer."
Jay heard it first from Mila. Quiet. Worried.
"What do you mean, break us up?"
"Someone's been spreading things. Making stuff up. Trying to make you doubt each other."
Jay laughed. "That won't work."
"Jay. Listen to me. This isn't just rumors. This is planned. Someone wants to hurt you."
Jay stopped laughing.
The first "evidence" appeared the next day.
A note. Slipped under Jay's door.
Did you know Keifer has been meeting with a Northwood girl? Late at night. Alone. Ask him about Seraphine.
Jay stared at the note. Seraphine. The girl Keifer had fought in the final duel. The one who'd collapsed from exhaustion.
Her stomach twisted.
"No," she told herself. "This is a trick."
But the doubt was planted.
Keifer noticed something was off.
Jay was quieter. Distant. She didn't argue about coffee. Didn't snap at him. Didn't tease.
"Jay. What's wrong?"
"Nothing."
"It's not nothing."
"I said nothing."
He stopped walking. Faced her. "Jay. Talk to me."
She looked at him. Searched his face. Found only concern.
"Someone gave me a note," she finally said. "About you and Seraphine."
Keifer's expression didn't change. "What about me and Seraphine?"
"Meeting late at night. Alone."
"I've never met Seraphine alone. I barely know her."
"I know."
"But?"
"But the doubt is there. I hate it. But it's there."
He pulled her close. Held her tight.
"Listen to me. I love you. Only you. Always you. Whatever someone is trying to do, it won't work. Not if we trust each other."
She nodded against his chest. "I know. I'm sorry."
"Don't apologize. This isn't your fault."
The next "evidence" was worse.
A photo. Taken at night. Blurry. But clearly Keifer... with a girl. Their faces close. Looking intimate.
It was delivered to Jay's room. No note. Just the photo.
Jay stared at it. Her heart cracked.
She knew it was fake. Logically, she knew. But the image burned into her brain.
That night, she didn't sleep.
Keifer found her in the courtyard at dawn.
"You didn't come to my room."
"I couldn't."
"Why?"
She showed him the photo.
He studied it. Long. Careful.
"It's fake," he said finally.
"I know."
"But?"
"But it still hurts."
He sat beside her. Took her hand.
"Jay. Whoever is doing this wants us to doubt. Wants us to fight. Wants us to break." He squeezed her fingers. "We can't let them win."
"How do we fight something we can't see?"
"Together. Always together."
She leaned against him. "I hate this."
"I know."
"I hate doubting you."
"I know that too."
"I love you."
"I love you more."
"That's not possible."
"Watch me."
She almost smiled.
The third "evidence" was the cruelest.
A letter. Handwritten. Supposedly from Keifer to Seraphine. Romantic. Detailed. Full of things only Keifer would know.
Jay read it. Her hands shook.
Because some of it was true. Small details. Private moments. Things no one else should know.
She found Keifer in his office. Didn't knock. Just walked in.
"What is this?"
He read the letter. His face went pale.
"Jay. I didn't write this."
"Then how do they know? About the closet? About the storm? About—"
"I don't know. But I swear—"
"Swear what? That you're not secretly writing love letters to someone else?"
"I would never—"
"Then EXPLAIN this."
He couldn't. Neither of them could.
Jay walked out.
Three days of silence.
The worst three days of their relationship.
Jay didn't eat. Didn't sleep. Didn't talk. Her friends tried. Failed.
Keifer threw himself into work. Found the person responsible. Tracked every clue. Ignored his own pain.
On the third night, Lyra gathered everyone.
"This has gone far enough," she announced. "We're fixing this. Tonight."
"How?" Mila asked.
"By finding the truth."
They found it in an unlikely place.
A first-year girl. Shy. Quiet. The same one who'd written Jay love letters months ago.
She was crying when they confronted her.
"I didn't mean to," she sobbed. "Someone made me. An older student. Said they'd hurt my family if I didn't help."
"Help how?" Keifer asked, voice cold.
"Giving them information. Things you'd told me. When I interviewed you for the fan club. I didn't know they'd use it for this. I didn't know."
Jay's anger crumbled. "Who? Who made you?"
"A Nightthorn. I don't know her name. Tall. Always angry."
Jay and Keifer looked at each other.
Freya.
The confrontation was intense.
Keifer confronted Freya in front of the whole school. No mercy. No hesitation.
"You tried to break us up."
Freya smiled. Cold. "Prove it."
"I have witnesses. Evidence. Everything."
"Circumstantial."
"Confession from your accomplice."
Freya's smile flickered.
"It's over, Freya. You're expelled. Effective immediately."
Her face went white. "You can't—"
"I can. I'm the Principal. And you threatened my girlfriend. My school. My students." His voice dropped. "You're lucky expulsion is all you get."
Freya was led away. Screaming. Cursing. Gone.
Jay found Keifer in his office that night.
He was sitting at his desk. Head in his hands. Exhausted.
She didn't knock. Just walked in. Sat on his lap. Wrapped her arms around him.
"I'm sorry," she whispered.
"For what?"
"For doubting you. For believing them. For walking away."
He held her close. "You had reason to doubt."
"No. I had fear. There's a difference."
He kissed her hair. "I love you."
"I love you too. So much. I'm never walking away again."
"Promise?"
"Promise."
They stayed like that. Holding. Healing.
The next morning, Lyra's whiteboard was full.
THE JEALOUSY TEST
Fake Evidence Created: 3 pieces
Days of Doubt: 3
Times Jay Almost Broke: Too many
Times Keifer Never Gave Up: ALL OF THEM
Freya's Fate: EXPELLED
JAYFER STATUS: ETERNAL (TEST-PROOF)
Bond Strength: STRONGER THAN EVER
LEARNINGS:
Doubt is normal. Trust is choice.
Keifer will always fight for her.
Jay will always come back.
Freya should have stayed away.
Jay read it. Smiled.
Keifer appeared beside her. Coffee in hand.
"Ready for normal?"
"Define normal."
"Classes. Meetings. Arguing about coffee. No more fake evidence."
"Perfect."
They walked away together.
Normal. Perfect. THEIRS.