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night was always peaceful. there was a sense of safety at night, especially on those friday nights after going out. especially tonight, drained from talking and the constant stimuli of the roller rink, exhausted from skating in circles for hours.
but tonight, one jay ferin wouldn't have it any other way.
the car seems to hum around her as a soft conversation between gillion and his sister plays out in the front seat and chip stares out the window, half asleep with one earbud dangling out of his ears. she exhales softly with a smile, tucking her fiery orange hair behind her ear and turning to her own window.
not even a few seconds later, a soft buzz slightly startles her. jay slips her phone out from her pocket, squinting at her dark screen.
1 new text message
chibo
are you okay
jay softly exhales, shooting the brunet a glance. chip briefly makes eye contact with her, raising his eyebrows and nodding down at her phone as he types.
chibo
txt me
dont wanna interrupt those two
give them this
jay nods and brings her phone closer to her.
jay
i'm fine, what's up?
chibo
youre looking exstitential again
exstiential
exstitiieantial
how the fuck do you spell that
existential
god
is that right
jay
yes
chibo
which one
jay
it doesn't matter
chibo
yes it does you ass
how do i spell
jay
i am not being existential, chip
chibo
oh so iy was the LAST one ok. bitch
jay
i'm putting my phone away
chibo
HEY HEY NO
JAY
GET YOUR ASS BACK HERE
DONT MAKE ME ACTUSLLY SAY SOEMTHING
JAY.
jay
yes
chibo
god dont do that
im just trying to make sure everythins good man
i dont need yoy dippinh out on me when im genunely concerned
jay
everything's fine, chip
why wouldn't it be?
chibo
dude
your fucking ass of a dad
thats why
jay
chip.
don't worry about him.
chibo
jayjay
if you ever need somewhere
jay
chip.
i'm fine.
chibo
you know i know how it can be wih a shitty guaridan figire
ok
just know.
i care about you so much ok
jay
chip
i'm fine
i promise
chibo
you can say rhat all you want
i know. it can be a lie
jay
what sparked this from you??
chibo
you know i think about you a lot
and gil
i worry for you giys
im fucking shocked i could get somewhere safe and i want you to know you can be safe too ok
gil has edyn now i know but
i still worry for you yknow
mine and lizzie's doors are always open
jay
...
thanks
/gen
chibo
anytime jaybird :)
you know i love you right?
jay
yeah
chibo
and yes ik you and lizzie are complicate dbut that doesnt matter
you can still stay woth us.if you need somewhere safe
gil's so close to fully getting it an im there
so
just lwt me know, ok?
jay
...
yeah
thanks
seriously
chibo
of course <3
jay looks up from her phone, shooting a glance at chip. he meets her eyes and flashes a soft smile, one filled with so much warmth and kindness jay can feel tears pricking at the corners of her eyes.
jay
actually
can i
take you up on that offer
even just for tonight
chibo
oh my god yeah
ill let edyn know to drop you off woth me
jay
thank you so much
i can't go back in that fucking house
just not tonight
jay sees chip nod as they both look up from their phones.
"edyn?" chip's voice is soft, breaking a small beat of silence between the tidestrider siblings.
"is everything ok?" edyn replies, shooting the two of them in the backseat a glance through the rearview mirror.
"can you drop jay off with me?"
gillion perks up. "is it okay if i go too?"
edyn just smiles. "of course. do you need me to drop anything off for either of you? jay? gil?"
gillion shakes their head. "i've left stuff there before, and even if there isn't anything, caspian probably is over and i can borrow something of aer's."
edyn nods, flicking her gaze back to jay. "what about you? i know things are weird with you and lizzie, so i can drop some clothes of mine off that you can borrow if you want."
jay nods, wiping at the corners of her eyes. "if that's okay?"
"of course it is, bluebird." edyn smiles softly into the mirror. jay exhales with a soft smile back.
"thank you. so much, seriously, you guys." jay sniffs, running her hands down her cheeks. a hand rests on her arm, and she looks over to see chip giving her the most genuine smile she'd seen in a while.
"you know we love you, ferin. we'll help you with whatever you need because that's what we do. we help each other out, we care for each other, but above all we make sure our friends are safe and okay. nobody is an exception, especially not you." chip's thumb slowly rubs against her upper arm, that smile still soft on his lips.
gillion reaches back and squeezes jay's knee, it being the closest thing he can reach. her eyes glint with a sense they know something's brewing deeper than just wanting a sleepover. "we're here for you, okay? forever and always."
jay nods, wiping at the tears now streaking her face. "again, thank you guys, god, i—"
she hiccups out a sob, feeling that hand on her arm slip up and around her shoulder as chip lightly tugs her close, voice low. "you're okay. i promise. we'll make sure you're safe, because your dad can go absolutely fuck himself."
jay chokes out a wet laugh, sniffing and wiping her eyes. "i love you guys so fucking much."
"and we love you, jay. never forget that," gillion whispers.
at that, edyn turns the car into the telltale gravelly driveway of chip's house. jay wipes her tears once more as she goes to gather her meager amount of supplies.
"i'll be back with some clothes for you, jay, okay? and other stuff if you need it," edyn says, those soft blue eyes of hers full of kindness. her ear fins flick ever so lightly, gillion's next to her making the same movement.
"yeah. thank you. so much." jay gives a soft smile as she slips out of the car, waving softly at the older triton as she shuts the door and makes her way inside the house.
said house glows with a soft yellow light, a figure moving behind the closed blinds. the door creaks open, and a familiar blue face peeks out from the doorway.
"ah! home so soon, you three?" caspian's smooth voice greets the three of them, opening the door wider. soft music bleeds out from behind him, a dark brown hand waving above his head.
"we ordered food if you guys want any," lizzie calls from behind them, "feel free to dig into whatever's left over."
"thank you, big sis," chip calls back, his voice light and teasing.
"shut the fuck up, dork, get your ass in here."
"i love you too, chipper."
chip scoffs, turning back to jay with a wide smile. "you ready?"
jay sighs softly, returning his smile. "yeah."
[LATER]
jay
hey chip?
chibo
what's up
jay
thank you
for everything
chibo
jay this sounds fucked up
are you okay
jay
i'm fine dude
i'm just.
glad i have you
chibo
jay youre scaring me
jay
stop worrying, i'm fine
not pulling anything, i promise
i'm just trying to express my gratitude for you
because i never thought i'd find someone who cares for me like ayva did
and that person ended up being you somehow
i know you were unfairly roped into that stuff
gil too
but still
i'm kinda glad you were there
because if you weren't we wouldn't be where we are now
so
thanks for being here still
chibo
jay
dude
i love you
okay
nothing woyld change that
youre one of my best friends
and i like to believe that we were meant to eb friwns
with gil too
theyre always going on and on about destiny and stuff and i think hes right
destiny brought us together
it brought me her and it brought me you
and i love you guys so much
okay?
jay
yeah
chibo
<3
jay
...
i love you too you goof