Chapter: Parking Lot Exposure
(Jay's POV)
The worst part about almost-confessing?
You think you can act normal afterward.
You can't.
Especially not in Section E.
And especially not when Aries exists.
School ended.
The hallway was loud, lockers slamming, boys shouting, engines starting in the parking lot outside.
I walked toward the exit like I had dignity.
Like I didn't get pinned against a wall by Keifer Watson thirty minutes ago.
Like I didn't grab his collar first.
Like my heart wasn't still replaying every second.
I hate my brain.
"Jay."
His voice came from behind me.
I didn't turn immediately.
"Yes?"
"Are you walking home?"
"Obviously."
"You're not taking the bus?"
"No."
"Good."
"Why?"
"So I can make sure no one smiles at you."
I stopped walking.
Slowly turned.
"You're impossible."
He shrugged casually. "You started it."
We stepped out into the parking lot.
The sun was lower now, golden light hitting the rows of bikes and cars.
And there he was.
Leaning against his motorcycle like he had been waiting for drama.
Aries.
Of course.
He looked at us.
Then looked between us.
Then smirked.
"Oh," he said.
I instantly knew that tone.
"What?" I snapped.
"Nothing," he replied. "Just wondering why you two look like you survived a battlefield."
Keif walked past him casually. "Mind your business."
Aries pushed off the bike and followed us slowly.
"I tried," he said. "But then I saw Jay storming toward the staircase earlier like she was about to commit murder."
My steps faltered for half a second.
Recover. Recover.
"I was not storming," I said calmly.
"You were vibrating," Aries corrected.
Keif coughed to hide a laugh.
I glared at both of them. "Shut up."
Aries tilted his head slightly. "So… should I ask what happened?"
"No," both me and Keif said at the same time.
Aries's smirk widened.
"Ohhh," he said dramatically. "Same answer. Interesting."
He walked in front of us, walking backward now so he could see our faces.
"Let me guess," he continued. "Jay saw something she didn't like."
"Aries," Keif warned.
"She grabbed your collar."
Silence.
My face heated instantly.
Aries' eyes lit up.
"Oh my God, she did, didn't she?"
"I didn't," I said quickly.
Keif glanced at me sideways.
"You did," he said calmly.
I almost tripped.
"Why would you confirm that?!" I whispered harshly.
Aries clutched his chest. "Jay. You're possessive."
"I am not."
"You're the only girl in Section E and somehow still acting like mafia boss."
"I was not acting like anything!"
Keif looked at Aries. "She told me I belong to her."
I stopped walking.
I turned slowly toward him.
"You promised you wouldn't say that."
"I did not promise that."
Aries froze dramatically mid-step.
"She what?"
"Nothing," I said quickly.
"She said I belong to her," Keif repeated calmly.
Aries put a hand over his mouth like he was witnessing history.
"Jay," he said slowly, "do you hear yourself?"
"It was an angry statement."
"Oh sure," Aries nodded. "Very casual. 'You belong to me.' Totally normal."
Keif leaned slightly toward me. "You were jealous."
"I was not jealous."
"You grabbed me."
"You let me."
Aries gasped loudly. "OH MY GOD."
"Stop reacting like that!" I snapped.
He circled us like we were entertainment.
"Wait," he said. "So you two had a full dark romance staircase scene and didn't invite me?"
"Aries," Keif said through his teeth.
"Relax, I'm joking."
He wasn't.
He was enjoying this way too much.
I crossed my arms. "Why are you even still here?"
"Because this is better than Netflix."
Keif shook his head. "Go home."
"Not until Jay admits it."
"Admits what?" I challenged.
"That she was jealous."
"I already said I was jealous."
Both boys froze.
I blinked.
Why did I say that out loud?
Aries' jaw dropped. "You admitted it??"
"I did not mean to say that."
Keif's expression changed slightly.
Less teasing.
More intense.
"You were?" he asked quietly.
I avoided his eyes.
"Yes," I muttered. "Okay? Happy?"
Aries clapped once dramatically. "Character development!"
"Aries, leave," Keif said flatly.
But Aries wasn't done.
"So what happened after that?" he asked. "Did he confess? Did you confess? Did someone dramatically walk away?"
I stayed silent.
Keif stayed silent.
Aries' eyes widened.
"Oh my God," he whispered. "She almost said it."
I glared at him. "You are guessing."
"You almost said you love him."
My face burned.
Keif's gaze locked onto me instantly.
"I—"
"You did, didn't you?" Aries continued mercilessly.
"I did not finish the sentence."
Keif stepped closer to me slightly.
"You didn't deny it either," he said softly.
Aries made an exaggerated choking sound. "I cannot believe this is happening in a parking lot."
"Aries," I warned.
He raised both hands. "Fine, fine. I'll stop."
He didn't stop.
"But just for the record," he added casually, "Keif was jealous too."
I snapped my head toward Keif.
"You were?"
"Yes," he said simply.
"Of who?"
"Kiko. And anyone who looks at you like they have a chance."
Aries nodded. "It's true. He looked like he wanted to fight air."
I stared at Keif.
"You never said that."
"You never asked."
The parking lot suddenly felt quieter.
Aries looked between us again and sighed dramatically.
"You two are exhausting."
"Then leave," I said.
He stepped toward his bike.
But before putting his helmet on, he pointed at both of us.
"Just so we're clear," he said, "if you two don't figure out what you are soon, I will announce it myself in front of Section E."
"You wouldn't," I said.
"Try me."
He put his helmet on.
Then added one last thing—
"Also, Jay?"
"What?"
"You don't look scary when you're jealous."
"I was not trying to look scary."
"You look… soft."
I threw a pebble at him.
He laughed and drove off.
Silence fell between me and Keif.
Golden sunlight.
Emptying parking lot.
Just us.
He looked at me.
"You're soft?" he asked quietly.
"Don't start."
He stepped closer, but not invading.
Just close enough to feel present.
"You grabbed my collar."
"You keep bringing that up."
"You said I belong to you."
"Stop."
"You admitted you were jealous."
"I will actually walk away."
He leaned slightly closer.
"And you almost said you love me."
My breath caught.
"That's not fair."
"Why?"
"Because you haven't said it either."
He didn't answer immediately.
Instead, he studied my face like he was searching for something.
"Do you want me to?" he asked quietly.
My heart pounded.
The parking lot suddenly felt too open.
Too exposed.
"I don't know," I whispered honestly.
He nodded slightly.
"Then we'll wait."
"For what?"
"For you to stop being afraid of the word."
I looked down at my shoes.
"I'm not afraid."
"You are."
Maybe I was.
Maybe saying it would make it real.
And real things can be lost.
He gently flicked my forehead.
"Stop thinking so much."
"I don't overthink."
"You over-feel."
That hit.
I looked up at him.
"You're still mine," I said stubbornly.
He smiled softly this time.
"Then say it properly."
"I'm not saying it again."
"Say what?"
"That you belong to me."
He stepped closer, voice low but steady.
"I do."
My stomach flipped.
"But only if you admit you want me to."
I opened my mouth.
Closed it.
Then turned away quickly.
"I hate you."
"No, you don't."
I started walking.
He followed.
Side by side.
Not touching.
But close.
And even though Aries teased us mercilessly—
Even though I almost confessed—
Even though nothing is official—
There was something different now.
It wasn't just jealousy.
It wasn't just tension.
It was mutual.
And that?
That's more dangerous than any staircase scene.