The night before graduation.
Campus was quiet. Almost peaceful.
But the gymnasium was alive.
Senior talent show. Annual tradition. Each group performed something.
Section E had debated for weeks.
Ci-n wanted to dance. Rakki vetoed.
Percy wanted to document. Honey vetoed.
Mica suggested a group song. Everyone groaned.
Then—
Jay: "Keifer and I will sing."
Silence.
Ci-n: "SISTER JAY AND BROTHER KEIFER ARE SINGING?"
Jay: "Yes."
Keifer: "We are?"
Jay: "We are."
Keifer: "News to me."
Jay: "Trust me."
Keifer: "Always."
The gym filled.
Students everywhere. Teachers. Families.
Section E sat in the front row.
Ci-n: "I'M SO EXCITED!"
Rakki: "Calm down."
Ci-n: "I CAN'T!"
Percy was recording. "THIS IS HISTORIC! JAYFER VOCAL DEBUT!"
Mica: "They've sung before."
Percy: "NOT LIKE THIS!"
Calix: "He's not wrong."
Freya: "This could be a disaster."
Edrix: "Or amazing."
Freya: "Shut up."
Edrix: "Never."
Rory: "I've calculated a 87% probability of success."
Drew: "I'm taking bets on how many people cry."
David: "Everyone. 500."
Drew: "Safe bet."
Eren brought Kevin the Sixth. "He's here for moral support."
Josh nodded. Gave the bird a tiny seat.
Baster hummed an anticipatory melody.
Serina and Jasfer sat in the audience.
Serina: "I'm nervous."
Jasfer: "They'll be fine."
Serina: "They're my children."
Jasfer: "OUR children."
Serina: "Same thing?"
Jasfer: "Same thing."
Jay's grandma sat with Yuri's grandma. Still arguing.
Jay's grandma: "MY GRANDDAUGHTER IS SINGING TONIGHT!"
Yuri's grandma: "MY GRANDSON IS WATCHING! THAT'S ALMOST THE SAME!"
Jay's grandma: "IT'S NOT!"
Yuri's grandma: "IT IS IN MY HEAD!"
Jay's grandma: "YOUR HEAD IS WRONG!"
Yuri's grandma: "MY HEAD IS PERFECT!"
Tita Gema brought snacks. "EAT! SINGING NEEDS ENERGY!"
Grazel Jay ran around throwing flowers. "AUNTIE JAY IS SINGING! FLOWERS FOR AUNTIE JAY!"
Denzel: "She's been saving these for weeks."
Grace: "The garden is a memory."
Grazel Jay: "WORTH IT!"
Other groups performed.
Dancers. Poets. A guy juggling fire (badly).
Then—
"Next up: Jay Mariano and Keifer Watson."
The crowd ERUPTED.
Jay and Keifer walked on stage.
Microphones in hand.
Jay in white. Keifer in black. Matching. Always.
Jay looked at him.
Jay: "Ready?"
Keifer: "With you? Always."
Jay: "Tss."
Keifer: "Stop."
Jay: "No."
He kissed her forehead.
The crowd SCREAMED.
First song.
"I Choose You" by Sara Bareilles.
Jay started.
Her voice soft. Clear. Full of love.
"Let the world stop turning, let the sun stop burning..."
Keifer joined.
Deep. Warm. Perfect harmony.
"Let them tell me love's not worth going through..."
They looked at each other.
Only each other.
"If it all falls apart, I will know deep in my heart..."
Their voices blended.
"The only dream that mattered had come true."
"In this life, I chose you."
The gym was silent.
Then—
Thunderous applause.
Ci-n was sobbing. "I'M NOT CRYING! YOU'RE CRYING!"
Rakki: "We're all crying."
Mica: "That was beautiful."
Calix: "Really beautiful."
Freya: "Okay. That was good."
Edrix: "Really good."
Freya: "Shut up."
Edrix: "Never."
Rory: "Probability of success revised to 100%."
Drew collected his winnings. David smiled in his sleep.
Eren: "Kevin the Sixth loved it."
Josh nodded. Wiped a tear.
Baster hummed the melody.
Serina cried. Jasfer held her.
Jay's grandma: "THAT'S MY GRANDDAUGHTER!"
Yuri's grandma: "THAT'S MY GRANDSON'S FRIEND'S FUTURE WIFE!"
Jay's grandma: "THAT'S A STRETCH!"
Yuri's grandma: "I MADE IT WORK!"
Second song.
"A Thousand Years" by Christina Perri.
Keifer started.
"Heart beats fast, colors and promises..."
Jay joined.
"How to be brave, how can I love when I'm afraid to fall..."
They moved closer.
"But watching you stand alone, all of my doubt suddenly goes away somehow..."
Their voices rose together.
"One step closer."
"I have died every day waiting for you."
"Darling, don't be afraid, I have loved you for a thousand years."
"I'll love you for a thousand more."
The song ended.
Silence.
Then—
Standing ovation.
Everyone on their feet.
Jay and Keifer stood on stage. Hand in hand.
Jay: "We did it."
Keifer: "We always do."
Jay: "Tss."
Keifer: "Stop."
Jay: "No."
He kissed her.
Right there. On stage. In front of everyone.
The crowd lost their minds.
Percy: "DOCUMENTING! FROM THREE ANGLES!"
Ci-n: "FOUR ANGLES!"
Rakki: "Those two."
Mica: "Forever."
Calix: "Always."
Freya: "Finally."
Edrix: "Perfect."
Freya: "Shut up."
Edrix: "Never."
Backstage.
Jay and Keifer leaned against the wall. Breathing hard.
Jay: "That was terrifying."
Keifer: "That was amazing."
Jay: "Same thing?"
Keifer: "Same thing."
Jay: "I love you."
Keifer: "I love you too."
Jay: "Graduation tomorrow."
Keifer: "Wedding soon."
Jay: "Scared?"
Keifer: "Never."
Jay: "Liar."
Keifer: "Maybe."
Jay: "Tss."
Keifer: "Stop."
Jay: "No."
He kissed her.
Section E found them.
Ci-n: "THAT WAS THE BEST THING I'VE EVER SEEN!"
Rakki: "It was really good."
Mica: "I'm still crying."
Calix: "Same."
Freya: "I'm not crying."
Edrix: "You are."
Freya: "Shut up."
Edrix: "Never."
Percy: "I HAVE 47 VIDEOS! 347 PHOTOS! THIS IS MY MASTERPIECE!"
Honey: "I'm so proud of you."
Percy: "OF ME?"
Honey: "Of them. And you."
Percy: "ACCEPTABLE!"
The night ended.
Jay and Keifer on the patio.
Stars above. Quiet around.
Jay: "Tomorrow we graduate."
Keifer: "Tomorrow we start forever."
Jay: "Promise?"
Keifer: "Promise."
Jay: "Jayfer forever?"
Keifer: "Jayfer forever."
He kissed her.
Inside, Percy's voice: "THEY'RE KISSING ON THE PATIO!"
Ci-n: "DOCUMENTING!"
Rakki: "Go to sleep."
Percy: "HISTORY NEVER—"
He fell asleep.
Ci-n fell asleep too.
Rakki covered them.
Rakki: "Idiots."
Mica: "Our idiots."
Calix: "Same thing?"
Mica: "Same thing."