“No. You’re acting like children,” I said flatly. “Grow up.”
Dev smirked. “Yeah, Jess.”
“You are just as bad!” I shot back. He glared at me.
“I’m not the one throwing ashtrays.”
“Fuck you, Dev,” she growled.
“What is going on in here?” A voice asked, stepping up behind me.
The room went still.
“Elliot,” Kieran said, his voice calm.
“I could hear yelling across the courtyard. Is there a problem here?” Elliot didn’t need to speak loudly. His very presence made the air heavy.
I stepped back into Ash instinctively and felt his hands on my waist, light and still.
No one answered.
Elliot’s gaze moved over the room, taking in the shattered ashtray, Jess’s wild hair, Dev’s clenched jaw, the way Ash stood just behind me.
He smiled faintly.
“I see,” he said. “Tensions are high.”
No one spoke.
“That’s understandable,” Elliot went on mildly. “You’ve all been through a great deal. New surroundings. New rules.” His eyes flicked to Jess. Then Dev. “New compromises.”
Dev straightened, suddenly precise.
Jess folded her arms, jaw tight, but she didn’t look away.
Elliot’s attention returned to me.
“Seph,” he said gently, as if we were alone. “Are you alright?”
Ash’s hands tightened at my waist protectively.
“I’m fine,” I said. “But this stops now.”
Something unreadable passed over Elliot’s face. Approval, perhaps.
“Good,” he said. “Because we can’t afford disorder here.”
He let the words settle.
“I’ll have the rooming arrangements adjusted,” Elliot continued calmly. “Until then, I expect restraint. From all of you.”
His gaze lingered on Dev a fraction longer than necessary.
“Am I understood?”
“Yes,” Kieran said immediately.
Jess nodded once. Dev inclined his head.
