The bus pulled into the Fernandez driveway at sunset.
Section E spilled out like chaos confetti—tired, muddy, happy.
The front door burst open.
Tita Gema: "THEY'RE HOME! MY BABIES ARE HOME!"
She ran toward the bus, wooden spoon in hand.
Jasfer followed. "DID YOU WIN? DID YOU BRING ME SOMETHING?"
Serina walked gracefully behind them, smiling.
Jay's grandma was in her rocking chair on the porch, cane raised in welcome. "ABOUT TIME! I WAS GETTING BORED!"
Percy burst through the door next, Honey beside him.
Percy: "FINALLY! I'VE BEEN STARVING FOR CONTENT! CI-N! REPORT!"
Ci-n: "PERCY! WE WON! CABIN 3 FIRST PLACE! JAYFER DOMINATED! I BECAME THE MUD KING!"
Percy: "MUD KING? I NEED PHOTOS!"
Ci-n: "I HAVE SO MANY!"
They ran toward each other like reunited soldiers.
Rakki: "Those two are dangerous together."
Mica: "Dangerously chaotic."
Calix: "Same thing?"
Mica: "Same thing."
Keigan and Keiren burst out next.
Keigan: "KUYA! ATE JAY! YOU'RE BACK!"
Keiren: "DID YOU BRING US ANYTHING?"
Keifer ruffled his hair. "We brought ourselves."
Keiren: "THAT'S NOT A GIFT!"
Jay: "We also brought stories."
Keiren: "STORIES ARE ACCEPTABLE!"
Grazel Jay toddled out, bunny in hand.
Grazel Jay: "TITA JAY! TITA JAY!"
Jay scooped her up. "Hi, baby! Miss me?"
Grazel Jay: "I THREW FLOWERS EVERY DAY! FOR LUCK!"
Jay: "It worked. We won."
Grazel Jay: "I KNEW IT!"
Denzel and Grace appeared behind her.
Denzel: "She's been practicing her flower throwing for your return."
Grace: "The garden is slightly less flowery now."
Jay laughed. "Worth it."
Inside, chaos multiplied.
Tita Gema had prepared a feast. Eman helped her bring it out.
Jasfer: "I missed real food."
Tita Gema: "YOU HAD FOOD HERE!"
Jasfer: "I missed YOUR food."
Tita Gema: "FLATTERY WON'T GET YOU EXTRA SERVING."
Jasfer: "But it might?"
Tita Gema: "...Maybe."
Serina hugged Jay and Keifer together.
Serina: "I'm glad you're home safe."
Jay: "Missed you, Mom."
Serina: "Missed you too, anak."
Keifer: "Missed you too."
Serina kissed his cheek. "Good boy."
Jay's grandma hobbled over. "SO. YOU WON?"
Jay: "First place, Lola."
Jay's grandma: "GOOD. I EXPECTED NOTHING LESS."
Keifer: "Thanks, Lola."
Jay's grandma: "YOU'RE WELCOME. NOW EAT. YOU LOOK SKINNY."
Keifer: "I'm not skinny."
Jay's grandma: "YOU ARE TO ME. EAT."
Percy had cornered Ci-n in the living room.
Percy: "SHOW ME EVERYTHING. EVERY PHOTO. EVERY VIDEO."
Ci-n: "I HAVE 347 ITEMS."
Percy: "PERFECT. START FROM THE BEGINNING."
They sat together, scrolling through Ci-n's phone.
Percy: "THE RIVER CHALLENGE! YES! LOOK AT FREYA'S FACE AT THE FISH!"
Ci-n: "SHE WAS SO MAD!"
Percy: "THIS IS GOLD. PURE GOLD."
Rakki walked past. "You two are a menace."
Percy: "WE'RE DOCUMENTARIANS!"
Rakki: "Same thing?"
Percy: "SAME THING!"
Dinner was loud.
Everyone talked over everyone. Camp stories. Challenge highlights. Ci-n's mud transformation.
Freya sat between Edrix and Rory, pretending she wasn't enjoying herself.
Freya: "This is too loud."
Edrix: "You're smiling."
Freya: "I'm not."
Edrix: "Your mouth is curved upward."
Freya: "That's—gas—from the—food—"
Edrix: "Tss."
Freya: "STOP DOING THAT."
Edrix: "Never."
Rory: "I've documented her smile. For science."
Freya: "DELETE IT."
Rory: "No."
Mica and Calix shared food. Calix kept feeding her bites.
Mica: "I can feed myself."
Calix: "I like feeding you."
Mica: "Soft."
Calix: "Your soft."
Mica: "Same thing?"
Calix: "Same thing."
Drew counted his winnings from camp bets. David slept with his head on the table. Eren told Grazel Jay about Gerald the fish. Josh nodded along.
Grazel Jay: "GERALD SOUNDS NICE."
Eren: "He was the best fish."
Grazel Jay: "I THROW FLOWERS FOR GERALD."
She threw imaginary petals.
Eren: "Gerald would appreciate that."
Baster hummed a homecoming melody.
Aries and Ella sat with Jay and Keifer.
Aries: "So. One week no classes."
Ella: "We should study together."
Aries: "You want to study together?"
Ella: "I want to pass."
Aries: "Same thing?"
Ella: "Same thing."
Jay: "You two are cute."
Aries: "We're not cute."
Ella: "We're efficient."
Jay: "Same thing?"
Aries: "NOT THE SAME THING."
Keifer: "Tss."
Aries: "NOT YOU TOO."
Keifer: "Me too."
Aries: "I hate all of you."
Jay: "No, you don't."
Aries: "No, I don't."
After dinner, everyone scattered.
Some to rooms. Some to couches. Some (Percy and Ci-n) to continue their documentation marathon.
Jay and Keifer slipped onto the patio.
Stars above. Quiet around.
Jay: "Home."
Keifer: "Finally."
Jay: "Good camp?"
Keifer: "Good camp."
Jay: "Good win?"
Keifer: "Good win."
Jay: "Good team?"
Keifer: "Best team."
She leaned against him. He wrapped his arm around her.
Jay: "I love you."
Keifer: "I love you too."
Jay: "Even when you're annoying?"
Keifer: "Especially then."
Jay: "Tss."
Keifer: "Stop stealing my thing."
Jay: "Never."
He kissed her forehead.
Inside, Percy's voice: "THEY'RE KISSING ON THE PATIO! CI-N, ZOOM!"
Ci-n: "ON IT!"
Rakki: "Leave them alone."
Percy: "HISTORY DEMANDS DOCUMENTATION!"
Jay laughed against Keifer's chest.
Keifer: "Our life is ridiculous."
Jay: "Our life is perfect."
Keifer: "Same thing?"
Jay: "Same thing."