(Author's POV)
The decision was made quietly.
No arguments.
No hesitation.
Which somehow made it worse.
The table slowly fell silent again after that, the weight of everything settling heavier than before. NYC.
Not nearby.
Not temporary.
Far enough that once Jay left, things wouldn't feel the same anymore.
Luna was the first to stand, gathering a few plates just to do something with her hands.
"We should leave tomorrow morning," she said softly.
Daniel nodded once. "Less attention at night. Easier to move during the day."
Alex was already thinking ahead, his expression unreadable. "I'll arrange the route."
Cora glanced toward Jay. "You should rest while you can."
Jay almost laughed at that.
Rest.
Right.
Instead, she pushed her chair back slowly and stood without saying much. Her body still hurt more than she admitted, but she ignored it the same way she ignored everything else lately.
No one stopped her when she walked away.
But all of them watched her leave.
Because even now—
Jay still walked like nothing could touch her.
And that was exactly the problem.
The hallway was quiet by the time Jay reached her room.
She closed the door behind her and finally exhaled properly for the first time all night.
The room looked exactly the same as before.
Nothing changed.
Nothing moved.
Her eyes drifted automatically toward the window, then the desk, then the edge of the bed.
And against her will—
toward the hoodie laying carelessly over the chair.
Keifer's.
Jay stared at it for a second too long before looking away immediately.
Bad idea.
She sat down slowly on the edge of the bed, one hand pressing lightly against her side when pain pulled sharply through her ribs again.
"Great," she muttered under her breath.
A knock interrupted the silence.
Jay frowned slightly. "Come in."
The door opened carefully.
Daniel walked in holding… a bag of chips.
Jay blinked once.
"…what?"
Daniel looked down at the chips like he forgot he was holding them. "I was hungry."
"You came into my room to eat?"
"I wanted privacy."
Jay stared at him flatly.
Daniel ignored that and casually sat on the chair near her desk before tossing the chips toward her lap.
"You look miserable."
"I'm injured."
"Same thing."
Jay rolled her eyes slightly, opening the packet anyway.
Silence lasted about five seconds.
Then—
"So," Daniel said casually, "you miss Keifer yet?"
Jay nearly choked on air itself.
Her glare snapped toward him instantly. "Get out."
Daniel started laughing immediately. "That's not a no."
"Daniel."
"Oh, that's definitely not a no."
Jay threw a pillow directly at his face.
He caught it easily, still grinning. "You left dramatically and everything too. Poor guy looked like his soul got ripped out."
Jay looked away before her expression could shift too much.
"He'll survive."
Daniel's smile faded slightly at that.
"Yeah," he said quietly. "Probably."
The room softened for a second after that.
Then Daniel's eyes dropped briefly toward the way she was holding her side.
And his expression changed completely.
"You tore your stitches again, didn't you?"
Jay said nothing.
Daniel stared at her.
"…Jay."
"It's fine."
"No, it's not."
She leaned back slightly. "I've had worse."
"And that's supposed to make this better?"
Before Jay could answer, another knock interrupted them.
The door opened before she responded this time.
Cora walked in holding a small medical kit.
Jay narrowed her eyes immediately. "You people don't believe in privacy?"
"No," Cora replied calmly.
Daniel snorted.
Cora looked between them once before speaking. "Luna sent me to 'check on you.'" She paused slightly. "Daniel volunteered himself."
"I did not."
"You literally ran upstairs."
Daniel looked offended. "That was tactical concern."
Jay gave him a look.
Cora moved closer, setting the medical kit down beside Jay carefully. Her expression stayed calm, but her eyes were sharper now.
"Let me guess," she said. "You ignored the pain until it became a problem again?"
Jay crossed her arms slightly. "It's manageable."
"That's what reckless people say."
Daniel nodded immediately. "Exactly."
Jay looked betrayed. "Why are both of you acting like I'm dying?"
"Because," Cora said simply, "you almost did."
That shut the room quiet for a second.
Jay's expression shifted slightly, but only slightly.
Then another knock came.
This time Luna walked in carrying a mug.
She stopped the moment she saw everyone already there.
"…why are you all here?"
Daniel pointed at Cora instantly. "Medical intervention."
Cora pointed at him. "Emotional support."
Jay deadpanned, "This feels more like harassment."
Luna smiled faintly before walking over and handing Jay the mug carefully.
"Tea."
Jay looked down at it suspiciously. "Am I being drugged?"
"A little."
"LU-"
"I'm joking."
Probably.
Jay sighed quietly before taking a small sip anyway.
Luna sat beside her gently, her expression softening almost immediately when she noticed the way Jay was still protecting her injured side without realizing it.
"You need to stop acting like getting hurt doesn't matter," Luna said quietly.
Jay looked away. "I know how to handle it."
"No," Cora corrected calmly. "You know how to survive it."
Silence.
Daniel leaned back in the chair slightly, watching her carefully now.
"There's a difference."
Jay didn't answer.
Because the worst part was—
they were right.
Alex appeared at the doorway a moment later, taking in the entire scene in one glance.
"…why does this look like an intervention?"
"It is," Daniel said immediately.
Jay groaned softly. "Can everyone leave my room?"
"No," all four answered together.
That almost made her laugh.
Almost.
Alex stepped inside finally, his expression calmer than the others but no less serious.
"The flight's arranged," he said. "We leave for NYC tomorrow afternoon."
The room quieted again after that.
Reality settling back in.
Jay lowered her eyes slightly toward the tea in her hands.
Tomorrow.
Everything changes tomorrow.
And for the first time since she came back—
she wasn't sure she was ready for that at all.