Chapter 27 — Chaos and Laughter
The sun was shining, the birds were chirping, and the courtyard of the school was alive with the usual buzz. But today felt different—lighter, warmer, full of small moments that made the week feel… like life could actually be okay again.
Jay strolled in, Percy at her side, Alys trailing behind. Even the rest of Section E seemed to radiate a kind of mischievous energy.
"You guys," Jay said, exasperated, "I don't even know what you're plotting today, but I swear…"
"Plotting?" Felix said innocently, tossing a crumpled paper airplane in her direction. "Who, us? Never."
"Yeah," David added, dramatically raising his hands. "We're strictly professional today."
Jay rolled her eyes, a small grin tugging at her lips. Somehow, ridiculousness had become comforting.
Games and Pranks
By lunchtime, Section E had commandeered an empty classroom for a mix of games: charades, truth-or-dare, and some poorly thought-out paper plane competitions.
Percy insisted on narrating everything in his "sports commentator voice," complete with slow-motion hand gestures.
Jay tried to keep a straight face but lost every time he made some ridiculous comment about her aim with the paper planes.
Alys, laughing despite herself, joined in, her tension easing as she accidentally tripped over her own feet—Felix dramatically catching her before she hit the ground.
"See?" Percy whispered to Jay, grinning. "Chaos therapy. Works every time."
Jay snorted, almost falling over laughing. "You're insane."
Double Date Chaos
By late afternoon, they had spontaneously decided on a mini double date. Jay and Percy were a weird "dynamic duo," while Alys and Drake were… well, awkwardly attempting to coexist.
They went to a small café nearby. Percy insisted on ordering the weirdest desserts just to make Jay laugh.
Jay and Percy ended up in a whipped cream fight that left both of them sticky and laughing so hard they had to sit outside.
Alys rolled her eyes at Drake, who just looked embarrassed and silent, while Percy commented, "Ah yes, the slow-burn romantic disaster. Classic."
Silly Moments
Even amidst the chaos, there were small, tender moments.
Jay leaned against Percy for support as they tried to balance on a tiny seesaw, both cracking up.
Alys finally let herself laugh at something Drake did—spilling a cup of cocoa over his own lap—and for a moment, the tension between them eased.
End of the Day Joy
By sunset, the group sprawled on the school lawn, exhausted and sticky from dessert, paper planes, and laughter.
Jay looked around at all of them—Percy laughing at his own jokes, Alys leaning against Drake silently, Section E teasing one another endlessly—and realized: this was happiness. Simple, messy, ridiculous happiness.
"Okay," Jay said, lying back on the grass, "I'll admit it… maybe this is what normal feels like."
Percy smirked. "Stepbrother mission accomplished."
Alys rolled her eyes, though the faint smile on her lips betrayed her relief.
Even Drake, quietly observing, allowed a small, rare smile to appear, though no one noticed but Jay.
Chapter 27 closes with laughter echoing across the courtyard, sticky hands from desserts, paper planes in the sky, and a warm, chaotic sense that, for now, life was a little brighter—and maybe, just maybe, everything could be okay again.