Chapter 26 — Healing, One Step at a Time
The classroom smelled faintly of chalk and leftover snacks from lunch, but the air felt lighter than it had in weeks. Section E had gathered with one purpose: getting Jay to forgive them.
"You guys have literally been planning this since forever," Jay muttered, arms crossed, glaring at the group.
Eman cleared his throat. "Technically, we stopped it ages ago!"
"Yeah," Felix added, trying to look innocent, "the plan's been… officially retired."
Jay raised an eyebrow. "Officially retired?"
Felix stepped forward. "Like a president. We have documents!" He waved a crumpled piece of notebook paper that said 'Plan Termination Notice'.
Jay snorted. "You guys are ridiculous."
Funny Moments of Healing
Despite herself, Jay couldn't help the faint smile tugging at her lips. The rest of the afternoon became a series of attempts to make her laugh:
Ci-n tried juggling pencils, dropping all three on the floor.
Percy decided to prank Jay by sticking googly eyes on her books while she wasn't looking.
Kit dramatically apologized in the most over-the-top Shakespearean monologue, complete with fake tears and flourishes.
Jay groaned, then laughed. "I hate all of you… but maybe just a little less."
Even Alys, sitting beside her, chuckled quietly, the tension in her shoulders easing.
Drake's Quiet Struggle
The laughter couldn't reach Drake. He sat at the edge of the group, arms crossed, lips pressed into a thin line. His quiet sadness was obvious, even to Jay, who caught him staring at her briefly before quickly looking away.
Percy noticed first. "Hey… Drake, you're looking like a sad cat who lost his favorite nap spot. Want to join the chaos?"
Drake shook his head, forcing a faint smile. "I'll… just observe."
Jay's heart pinched. Even amidst the humor and healing, she realized how much everyone had suffered, not just her.
Small Steps Toward Forgiveness
By the end of the day, Jay had started to let go of some of the anger toward Section E. Not completely. Not yet. But laughter, ridiculous antics, and the quiet acknowledgment of their remorse had softened the edges of her pain.
She caught Alys giving her a small, supportive smile and returned it with a tired but genuine one of her own.
Even Drake, though still quiet, had a hint of relief in his eyes as Jay allowed the tiniest trace of forgiveness to shine through.
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