Trivia slowly opened her eyes as the rays of light shined through the window. Her eyes fluttered open, and she sat up in bed. Squinting against the brightness, she glanced around the room. Her usual brown pigtails were undone, and her long brown hair tumbled messily down her back from the sleep she'd had.
The dorm room was empty, which was normal for Trivia since none of the other girls would wake her up. She had grown accustomed to waking up on her own and typically managed to get to class on time. However, this week was an exception. Spending time with Jacob and their play fighting had left her exhausted, causing her to sleep deeply despite the soreness in her arms and legs.
A soft smile formed on her face as she thought about the week's events. She had finally achieved her dream of making a first friend, and it felt surreal. She hopped out of bed and saw Jacob sleeping on the floor.
Trivia stared at Jacob. Her illusions dissipated while she slept, leaving Jacob on the cold floor without a blanket or pillow. She walked over to him hesitantly, examining his breathing and taking in his peaceful expression. Despite the snoring and slight drool, she smiled warmly. She reached out to wake him, but stopped short, becoming self-conscious. She didn't want him to see her looking so messy and improper.
Her parents always emphasized the importance of appearance, insisting she look her best regardless of the circumstances. They drilled this into her to meet social standards, but it rarely mattered to Trivia. Her parents were often ashamed of her and rarely took her out with them, making her feel isolated and undervalued.
Trivia stared somberly at Jacob before closing her eyes and pushing these thoughts away. She walked to the bathroom, her steps lighter than usual, and viewed herself in the mirror. She splashed water on her face and tried to make her hair look as pretty as possible, putting it into her usual pigtails before stepping out of the bathroom.
She made her way back to Jacob's sleeping body. Letting out a deep breath, she reached out to grab his shoulder and gently shook him awake. Jacob slowly opened his eyes, looked around, and then stared at Trivia in silence for a few moments. "Hey..." he said in a groggy voice before slumping back into sleep.
Trivia stared at him, not knowing how to react as the room fell silent. Then she chuckled. She shook him again, this time a little harder. Jacob woke up and whined, "Ugh... five more minutes." But Trivia pouted. She was already running late and couldn't spare any more time, so she shook him more forcefully.
Jacob fully woke up this time, albeit slowly. "Fine... fine," he sighed, leaning forward while still sitting down. He took a moment to yawn and covered his mouth as he did. Trivia just stared at him, then offered her hand to help him up. He reluctantly accepted.
Jacob walked to the bathroom begrudgingly, stumbling slightly, while Trivia followed behind him with a smirk. It was amusing to see him so groggy. Once in the bathroom, Jacob turned on the water and began brushing his teeth.
Trivia's eyes widened as they brushed their teeth together. Jacob was brushing his teeth extraordinarily fast. She grabbed a whiteboard and started writing, "Dentists recommend-" but before she could finish, Jacob interrupted. "This dick. I know I shouldn't brush my teeth this fast," he said in an unamused voice. "But I'm going to do what I want," he continued.
Trivia rolled her eyes but let him continue, knowing it was wrong. She brushed her teeth slowly and thoroughly, while Jacob brushed his teeth quickly but efficiently. After they finished brushing their teeth, Jacob seemed ready to leave, but Trivia grabbed his clothing.
Jacob turned to look at her, confused. Trivia gestured for him to wash his face. He didn't want to, and his expression showed disbelief. Finally, he sighed and gave in, washing his face until she was satisfied.
After that, Jacob grabbed some Q-Tips and walked out of the bathroom. "You can do all your girly stuff, I'm gonna be out here changing," he said. Trivia simply shrugged and closed the door behind him.
She began washing her face again, then put on her uniform, applied makeup, and even tried out new hairstyles before settling for her usual pigtails. Looking in the mirror, she smiled slightly before her expression turned blank as she got lost in thought.
Trivia knew she was changing. She had been depressed at this school, hating everything and everyone, and even considering returning home to what she had thought of as a prison. But now, she felt different, more complete than she ever had. Her confidence was rising, and she wasn't sure why. "Was it really because of one friend?" she wondered. She didn't know for sure, but she was happy for herself.
Trivia walked out of the bathroom with a smile on her face, only to be shocked by what she saw. Jacob was sitting with his eyes closed, twirling the Q-Tip in his ear. Trivia quickly ran toward him, gesturing toward the Q-Tip, signaling a pushing motion and making an X with her arms to tell him, "You're not supposed to do that."
Jacob opened his eyes and stared at her, saying, "I know, but it feels good." Trivia furrowed her brows and pouted again, folding her arms. "Have you even tried it?" he asked.
Trivia shook her head. "No." Why would she try something that's incorrect, she thought.
"Then don't judge me for it," he stated, finishing cleaning his ears. Then he got an idea and patted his lap.
Trivia looked confused, but Jacob encouraged her by saying, "Come on, it's something my mom used to do to me. It'll feel good, I promise." she looked at him skeptically but walked over and placed her head on his lap.
She felt nervous but slightly comfortable from laying her head on her friend's lap. However, she also felt vulnerable, which wasn't something she enjoyed. Jacob grabbed a Q-Tip, wet it, held the back of her hair, and gently stuck it into her ear. Trivia flinched at first; it felt weird, really weird.
But before she could protest, Jacob began to twirl the Q-Tip in her ear, which still felt weird but oddly relaxing. As he continued, Trivia started to relax, drifting deeper and deeper into his lap. She became so relaxed that she was slowly losing consciousness, but before she fully did, it was over.
Jacob patted her head to signal her to get up. When she got onto her knees, she looked at him with eyes practically begging to do it again. Trivia moved her arms up and down like a child throwing a tantrum, and Jacob just stared at her.
He let out a chuckle, finding it strangely cute, so he decided to flip her over to her other side to clean the other ear. "I thought you didn't want to be as late as we are?" Jacob said teasingly. Since she was turned towards his stomach, Jacob couldn't see her face, but she rolled her eyes before closing them to enjoy the sensation of her ears being cleaned.
"See, who cares about being late when you're having fun? Besides, we're already late. I don't think it matters at this point. Let's just finish the makeup work we get," he said while cleaning her ears.
After cleaning her other ear, Trivia felt strangely refreshed and a bit annoyed. Q-Tips weren't supposed to go in your ears, but they felt so good. She got annoyed at how something so wrong felt so good to her.
She then looked back at Jacob and gave him a soft smile, which made his heart beat faster. He blushed slightly, but she hardly noticed. Instead, she looked up and saw his messy hair.
She pointed at it and wrote on her whiteboard, "Your hair gets curlier and curlier the more the day goes on. Is that normal?" Jacob just stared at her, wondering if she had ever seen someone with different hair textures before.
"This isn't my usual hair. My hair is way curlier than this. So curly it gets tangled into itself. So, I sometimes get it done and straighten it out," he explained. Trivia squinted her eyes before writing, "So, why is it not straightened now? Why is it so messy?"
Jacob chuckled softly. "Because I didn't have time to do it this morning. Plus, I don't always straighten it. Sometimes, I just let it be natural. It's less work, and I kind of like it this way."
Trivia thought for a moment, then wrote, "I like it too. It suits you." Jacob's blush deepened, and he smiled warmly at her.
"Also because my mom usually does my hair, but she's not here. So... yeah. And if I have my usual afro, I'm not so sure I can convince the school I'm a girl," Jacob stated before pausing. "Now why is it messy?" He thought about her question briefly before explaining, "That's a bit more complicated. According to my brother, your hair creates friction with the fabric on the bed. And that friction causes electrons to loop your hair, making it tangle. The only way for curly hair to become straight is usually through heat. So my hair will always tangle; I just try to prevent it as long as possible."
Trivia seemed surprised at his knowledge of hair. She thought for a moment and decided she wanted to learn how to do his hair. It felt like a good way to repay him for all the fun she had been having. Plus, she felt a bit mischievous at the thought of being able to dress him up however she wanted if she learned to style his hair.
"So, how do you make your hair get like that?" she wrote.
"Well, you would need a comb, a brush, and a flat iron," he stated.
Trivia smiled widened for a moment before getting an idea. "And how long does it take?" she asked.
"About an hour and a half for everything," he replied.
She leaned closer to Jacob and wrote, "Show me a picture of yourself with your hair looking nice." Jacob's face felt like it was on fire with how close she was but he tried to follow her request. He grabbed his scroll, moved through his photos, and eventually showed her a picture of himself with straight hair. It was the most appealing one he could find, though his hair was still a bit messy.
Trivia looked at the picture and then wrote, "You look homeless..." Jacob looked shocked. It was a comment he got a lot, but he thought she would at least be nicer.
Suddenly, she perked up and grabbed his hand, leading him into the bathroom. His heart pounded profusely and he didn't know what was going to happen, but he didn't let his thoughts roam too much, assuming she was going to do his hair.
Once inside she smiled, feeling like the bathroom was the safest place to use her semblance. She reached out and touched Jacob's hair, enjoying the texture before activating her semblance and changing his hairstyle into the one shown in his picture. Jacob looked shocked and rushed to the mirror.
"What the? This feels too real? What the hell!?" He said, excitement creeping into his voice. He began to jump up and down and even tried to dap Trivia up, though she didn't know what the gesture was.
However, his reaction made her smile. She was proud to have made someone so happy with her semblance. "Yo, what about a Wolfcut, can you do that?" he asked. The mute nodded, and suddenly his hair transformed into a Wolfcut. Jacob hopped up and down again. "Yo, this is crazy!" he exclaimed ecstatically.
Trivia then changed his hairstyle to pigtails, and Jacob stopped jumping around cheerfully, his expression turning into a pout. Trivia playfully wrote the statement "Pigtail Twins" with a girly gesture. But Jacob shook his head frantically. "No! It is not pigtail twins," he said in a playful but aggressive voice.
"But you have to look girly," The mischievous mute wrote. Jacob opened his mouth to try and disprove the statement, but he couldn't. He was left speechless because he knew she was right, and all she did was have a smug expression, like she caught him in a trap.
He sighed and said, "Fine, but I like my hair to fall down my back, not be tied up." She looked at him, and since she had control of what to do, she decided to give him what he wanted, but in her own style.
She made Jacob's hair straight, long, and disheveled, but with curls at the end. He had messy bangs, similar to a tomboy, while also sporting a single golden streak in his hair.
Jacob looked in the mirror again and thought he looked amazing. He still couldn't understand her semblance, but he knew it was capable of so much. He had never seen a semblance like hers. Jacob smiled in the mirror before turning to her. "This is really cool," he said genuinely before pausing. "But I can't wear my hair like this," he stated softly.
Trivia looked up in a confused manner, slightly disappointed, searching for an answer. "I can't walk into class with dyed hair and my hair in a completely different style. It will be obvious you used your semblance. It's unrealistic for two broke students to be able to do my hair this fast," he explained. Trivia realized he was right, so she was less upset and simply nodded, letting go of the illusion.
Jacob then suggested, "However, you could make me look like my picture. That one's a bit more believable. You'll just have to keep the appearance up the whole day, can you do that?" He softly asked while looking into her eyes.
Trivia looked down for a moment, thinking about it. She had never used her semblance for long durations. Sure, she made Neo, created a tremor in the ground, and could even change appearances sometimes, but holding an illusion for 8 hours seemed impossible. However, Trivia was feeling confident. She knew their daily fighting was strengthening her aura, so perhaps she could make it last. She didn't know, but she was willing to try. She slowly looked up with a determined look and nodded her head with a smug smile, taking on the challenge head-on. She extended her hand towards Jacob, and his hair changed once again.
"Alright, let's get going," Jacob stated before walking out of the bathroom and heading to class with Trivia following behind him.
Once they entered the classroom, all eyes turned to Trivia and Jacob, and the teacher looked annoyed. "Late again I see," she stated as Trivia and Jacob made their way to their desks. "Jasmine, I hope you don't make this a common occurrence. I'd hate to punish a new student," she added sarcastically, eyeing Jacob. Then, she turned her attention to Trivia. "You," she said coldly. "How many times must we tell you? Do we have to call your parents, young lady!?"
Trivia felt her anxiety rise as the teacher approached her. Her fingers fidgeted under her desk, and she turned her head to look at Jacob, embarrassed that she had gotten in trouble. Unable to make eye contact with the teacher, she looked down, feeling nervous.
The teacher stood over Trivia, her presence looming as she addressed her sternly. Jacob watched, tense, waiting to see what would happen. The air in the room felt thick with tension, as if something bad could happen at any moment. After a few moments, the teacher let out a sigh and walked away from Trivia. "You're on thin ice, Ms. Vanille. Try not to show up late again," she said in a commanding tone before returning to her desk.
The teacher returned to her desk, snapping her fingers to use her semblance to move the assignments to Trivia and Jacob's desks.
Jacob stared at the paper before turning his attention to Trivia. He noticed her overwhelmed and anxious expression. Checking his surroundings, he leaned over while no one was paying attention and whispered to her, "Don't pay her no mind. As long as you show up and do the work, you're fine. Who cares about showing up tardy, at least we showed up," shrugging his shoulders.
Trivia side-eyed him, her eyes then shifting back to the paper in front of her. Her pink and brown eyes analyzed the assignment as she leaned back in her chair, letting out a deep sigh before turning her gaze back to Jacob and nodding. She attempted to focus on her assignment.
He may have told her not to worry earlier, he may have told her not to worry now, but it was harder to control her emotions than she thought. In reality, she knew she didn't have much to lose. It's not like she's restrained by her parents anymore, but the constant years of trying to be the perfect child in the past only fills her with anxiety as her pencil shakes on the paper. Her past and old habits continue to catch up with her as she struggles to even put her name on the paper.
As the clock ticks and the tension inside of her rises, her anxiety turns into frustration and anger. Her fist balls up and tightens around her pencil as she slowly looks up, her bangs covering her eyes. Trivia, so blinded by her rage and embarrassment, looks up at the teacher with hate in her eyes. Fed up and pushed to her limits, she thinks about using her semblance before a familiar voice reaches her ears. Trivia's eyes snap open as she turns to see Jacob.
"The bell rang, come on. Let's go," he says nonchalantly. She blinks in surprise as time has passed by faster than expected. She thought that maybe it was because she showed up late and wasn't paying attention in class. Nonetheless, she stands up and grabs her things, following behind Jacob as they begin to walk out of the class.
Trivia looked over her shoulder to catch a glimpse of the teacher. Still seething with anger, she continued to ball her fist, considering using her semblance. However, Jacob spoke out again. "Calm down. I can see that look on your face. Just relax," he said softly, reaching out to touch her shoulder. "I know you're mad, but it isn't worth getting suspended or expelled," he whispered calmly into her ear.
Though Trivia didn't want to hear it, she knew he was right. She looked up at him, their eyes meeting briefly, before she took in a deep breath, allowing some of her anger to dissipate. Jacob, noticing her slight calmness, removed his hand from her shoulder and began walking out of the room, with Trivia following behind him.
As the door closed behind them, Trivia twirled her finger, using her semblance to create a small figure that pushed the teacher's cup of coffee off the desk, spilling it onto the teacher before disappearing. She chuckled softly, hearing the teacher's panicked reaction, but Jacob didn't notice amidst the chatter in the hallways.
Turning to Jacob, She laughed. "What's so funny?" he asked. Trivia pointed to his face while snickering and covering her mouth. "Bruh," Jacob said, closing his eyes and continuing to walk, a slight smirk playing on his lips, knowing that at least she felt better, even if he didn't understand why.
Throughout the day, Trivia managed to maintain her illusion, even pulling off small pranks when she got upset. Finally, as the school day ended, she found herself back in her room, reclining on her bed while scrolling through her device.
Suddenly, her nose began to leak. Trivia reached up to wipe it with the back of her hand, only to find her hand stained with blood. Surprised, she felt a wave of nervousness wash over her. Then, suddenly, her aura shattered, and a pink glow emitted from her body before quickly fading away. Trivia looked around in astonishment. This wasn't the first time her aura had broken; she had experienced it during failed acrobatics practice and even when her house burned down. But this time felt different. It was from overexertion through her semblance.
Throughout the day, she had been maintaining the illusion of Jacob's hair without giving it much thought. However, just because she hadn't noticed it draining her aura didn't mean it wasn't happening. After all, she hadn't even considered where Jacob was during that time. Using her semblance for such an extended period at unknown distances was taking its toll on her.
Slowly, Trivia rose from her bed and made her way to the bathroom to clean her face and nose. Returning to her bed, she resumed watching videos, feeling exhausted. She knew that relaxing in bed would allow her aura to recharge over time, and she welcomed the opportunity to rest and recuperate.
While engrossed in her video, Trivia seemed lost in thought until she heard footsteps approaching. Looking up, she noticed Jacob with a smile on his face, though he appeared sweaty and out of breath. Trivia tilted her head, gesturing her confusion.
"I just got back from training," he said between breaths. "That's why I didn't come to the room immediately," he added, showing his understanding of her gestures without the need for her whiteboard.
Leaning forward with his hands on his hips, Jacob asked, "What are you watching?" His eyes scanned the screen of her scroll, trying to make out the content. Suddenly, Trivia became embarrassed, her face turning a bright shade of pink as she pulled the scroll away from his view and attempted to hide it behind her back. However, he reached for the scroll. The more he reached, the more she pulled back, curling herself up into a ball. In the process, Jacob overextended and ended up falling on top of her.
While still on top of her, he persisted in trying to reach around Trivia to grab the scroll. After a few moments of failed attempts, he leaned back, laying on her legs as she shifted under him to look him in the eyes, her face partially obscured by her hands and the scroll. With their gaze locked, she let out a soft sigh, her cheeks flushed with embarrassment. Flipping her scroll over, she extended it for Jacob to see, her blush deepening.
"How to make frien—" Jacob began to read aloud, but Trivia swiftly covered his mouth with her hands, pushing herself on top of him. He looked up at her in surprise, his own cheeks starting to redden. Trivia stared down at him, her expression one of pleading as she pouted.
Removing her hands from his mouth, she gestured between the scroll and Jacob, crossing her arms in an X. Jacob paused "I understand you've never had a friend and you don't know how to react," he said softly, leaning forward. Trivia slowly backed up, getting off him and sitting on the bed with her legs crossed.
"I have a friend like that. He, uh," Jacob searched for his words, "He was pretty similar to you. Very antisocial, didn't talk much, and mainly stuck to himself." Jacob paused, his expression thoughtful. "But not having friends doesn't mean you should be ashamed of yourself. Even not knowing how to feel is fine; it's perfectly normal," he stated sincerely. Her embarrassment slowly faded as she listened to his words, lowering her guard as she considered his perspective.
For a moment, Trivia remained silent, lowering her head as she organized her thoughts. Though her scroll was in her hand, she reached for her whiteboard near the bed to communicate. Taking the marker, she carefully began to write, "I know I'm not supposed to feel depressed or embarrassed, but how else am I supposed to feel when shame is all I'm used to?" she wrote, flipping the board for Jacob to see. Afterward, she erased the message, contemplating her next words.
"My family made me the person I am. Their words, their treatment, their issues with me," she paused while writing, "They made me who I am," she stopped and showed the message. But Jacob quickly interjected, "Your family does shape who you are, but you don't have to stay that way because of them," he said softly.
"My sister could be considered an alcoholic, my mother drank a lot when I was a child, and my dad always drank beer around me," he stated. "I could say that experience shaped me into thinking drinking alcohol is cool, but it didn't. Alcohol is okay in moderation, as long as you're not some angry drunk. I learned this growing up and seeing the effects alcohol can have."
"Even when I wanted to become a huntsman, my parents were worried about my safety and didn't want me to get injured. But I chose to follow my dreams despite their doubts and concerns for my well-being," he paused, gathering his thoughts. "I could have let their doubts shape my decisions and follow the path they wanted for me, or…" he paused again, emphasizing, "I could follow my own path, doing what I want, when I want, and giving it my all."
"Your family can influence your thoughts and doubts, but ultimately, it's up to you to decide how much weight to give those influences," he said softly. She looked down, feeling a mix of relief and sadness wash over her. She felt understood for the first time, yet the flood of emotions was overwhelming. She fought back tears and clenched the sheets of her bed, struggling to contain her feelings.
Trivia didn't know how to express her gratitude, but her body moved instinctively. She jumped into Jacob's arms, tackling him onto the bed in a tight hug. Jacob froze momentarily, taken aback by the unexpected gesture, but soon relaxed. Trivia's soft sobs echoed in the room as she buried her face into his shoulder, her tears staining his uniform.
Jacob, unsure at first, gently wrapped his arms around her, pulling her closer and rubbing her back to comfort her. His touch seemed to release a flood of emotions from Trivia, causing more tears to well up and spill over. She held onto him tightly as if clinging to a lifeline, and for a brief moment, time seemed to stand still.
As the minutes passed, Trivia gradually pulled away, her face streaked with tears and flushed with emotion. Tear drops lingered on Trivia's cheek, and he hesitated, unsure whether to wipe them away. Before he could decide, Trivia took matters into her own hands, delicately brushing her tears away. She looked at Jacob with a mixture of gratitude and vulnerability, her eyes silently conveying what words couldn't express.
As Trivia realized the situation, embarrassment crept over her. She became acutely aware of her position atop Jacob and noticed his blush, prompting her to playfully punch his arm and tease him with a written comment, "You're such a loser." However, her light-hearted mood quickly faded as she heard the voice from the video continuing "Next we're going to be talking about romantic interests". Flustered, she reached for her scroll, fumbling with it nervously before managing to turn it off.
Trying to regain composure, Trivia forced a smile to cover her embarrassment, but her eyes betrayed her as she shifted off Jacob and resumed her seated position on the bed. Jacob, sensing her shift in mood, sat up beside her. "Never had one of those either, huh?"
Trivia shook her head in response and wrote on her whiteboard, "I couldn't even make it past step 1, let alone find a romantic interest." Jacob listened quietly, unsure of what to say but wanting to offer support. His hands rested on his lap as they both sat in the quiet of the room.
Feeling a need to continue the conversation, Trivia wiped the whiteboard clean and wrote another question with a hint of vulnerability, "Have you ever been in a relationship before?" She held the board out to Jacob.
Jacob leaned in to read Trivia's question on the whiteboard, his expression turning thoughtful as he prepared to answer. "Yeah, I've had a couple. Two big ones that lasted three years and a few small ones here and there," he began, "One of them, I was cheated on six times by one girl," he admitted with a hint of resignation. "The other, we had a normal breakup... well, semi-normal," he corrected himself, his tone reflecting lingering hurt. "Okay, it wasn't normal. I'm still hurt about it, admittedly."
As Jacob fell silent, Trivia's eyes reflected empathy and curiosity. She reached for her whiteboard once more, her fingers tracing the marker as she wrote, "Do you mind telling me about them?"
"It's a long story, are you sure you want to hear it?" Jacob asked, glancing at Trivia to gauge her interest. Despite any reservations, Trivia nodded eagerly. Time was on her side, and she leaned forward, crossing her legs with a warm smile.
Jacob sighed as he began to narrate his story, taking Trivia back to his middle school days in Mistral, a time when he was just in grade 5. A younger version of Jacob, with lighter skin and innocent brown eyes, was sitting alone atop a stage during recess. Around him, other kids were engrossed in games of basketball, tag, and lively conversations, but Jacob remained alone, deeply focused on a game called "Grimm Grid." This game involved strategic placement of pieces featuring grimm or huntsman characters to achieve a line of four in a row to win.
"I was always alone as a kid, but I always wanted friends. During this time, I was particularly interested in girls," Jacob explained to Trivia, his voice tinged with nostalgia. "I had the biggest crush on this girl back then. Let's just call her Keys,"
As Jacob played Grimm Grid alone, absorbed in testing different strategies, the atmosphere around him shifted when Keys approached. "Not many people would come up to play with me. And even if they did, the matches were short and I would usually win. It was rare for anyone to approach me actually." Jacob monologues. Keys then took a seat across from Jacob.
After looking nervous, they began playing against each other. Barely talking and focused on winning. Finally after Jacob won a few times, the girl stood up and looked down at Jacob who was sitting down. "Do you like me?" the girl asked bluntly. Jacob's eyes widened and his heart pounded in his chest. Keys, the girl that he was obsessing over and fell in love with, the girl he was crushing over just played a game with him and asked if he liked her. Jacob wanted to lie and tell her no, but something in him told him to be honest. Swallowing his nerves, he met her gaze and responded "Yeah, I like you" Jacob said. The girl had a smile on her face before blushing and admitting "I like you too"
Jacob couldn't stop smiling, it felt like he was floating, like he ascended in some sort of way. Jacob's smile couldn't leave his face as the girl began to walk back to her friends. Jacob couldn't help but stare as she left.
After that moment, Jacob went back to playing Grimm Grid but he couldn't get her out of his mind, it was like she caught him in a hex. He was infatuated with her and shortly after, they began dating. Things started off nice and wholesome. They would do school work together, eat, share food, and even talk to each other in class.
"However the next year she ended up cheating on me with one of my friends. I didn't really care because I didn't understand, so I went back to her. I asked to be her boyfriend again and we started dating"
However, being in sixth grade introduced Jacob to a new dynamic. He began making more friends, but this social circle came with its own drawbacks. His peers, trying to fit into the mold of tough and cool, would tease Jacob whenever he was around Keys. For Jacob, who already stood out due to his unique appearance and gentle demeanor in a school dominated by kids aspiring to be tough and cool, the constant teasing was infuriating.
He couldn't simply tell his friends to stop—they wouldn't listen. This strained his relationship with Keys. To avoid the gossip and drama, Jacob found himself withdrawing from her bit by bit every day and then she cheated again.
Grade 7 arrived, and Jacob found himself gravitating back to Keys despite the history. However, with each return to her, Jacob felt his depression deepening. His academic performance suffered. Now, he was dealing with Ds and Cs. This decline did not escape his mother's notice. She, like the rest of his family, had always placed high expectations on Jacob, viewing him as the prodigy who would bring honor and success to their name.
Unaware of Jacob's worsening mental state, his mother expressed her disappointment over his slipping grades. The pressure of living up to the pedestal they had placed him on combined with the relationship left Jacob feeling like his life was unraveling.
In this time, Jacob found solace in his friend Roads, who became his anchor. Roads, a creative soul and an artist, spent his class time creating stick figure comics under the series "Stan and Carl." Jacob was inspired by these comics and felt compelled to create his own, titled "Simon and Dick," playfully abbreviated as SAD.
It had become routine for Jacob to enter class and eagerly work on his comics, often to share with Roads later. If he finished his assignments early, he'd dedicate the remaining time to his series.
One day, as Jacob was engrossed in his comic writing, he was abruptly interrupted by the teacher. "Why are you drawing!?" The sudden attention made Jacob feel embarrassed, especially with the eyes of his classmates now on him. Sheepishly, he responded, "I finished my work, so I have free time to draw."
The teacher snatched Jacob's papers from his desk, scrutinizing them briefly before returning them with a command to cease drawing. Jacob's expression turned saddened, but he complied with the teacher's directive, setting aside his comics for the remainder of the class.
Throughout the week, this frustrating pattern persisted, with Jacob continuing to draw during his free time after finishing his assignments. However, things escalated when the teacher became increasingly aggressive. One day, as Jacob was immersed in his drawing, the teacher abruptly snatched the paper from his hands and crumpled it up before throwing it away. Jacob was taken aback and angered by this disrespectful act.
Jacob, typically quiet and respectful, struggled with how to respond. He didn't want to confront the teacher or cause a scene, but he also felt unfairly singled out. Despite his efforts to continue drawing, the teacher repeated her actions, snatching each new paper as Jacob tried to start again. The situation became so tense that the teacher threatened to call Jacob's mother, leaving him feeling embarrassed and defeated.
Sitting in the middle of the class due to his poor vision, Jacob couldn't understand why he was being targeted when Roads, seated near the teacher's desk, drew just as frequently without consequence. Frustrated and disheartened, Jacob reluctantly decided to give up drawing for the day, feeling like his creative outlet had been unfairly taken from him.
As the days passed and Jacob stewed over Ms. Johnson's actions, his frustration only grew. His comics were being consistently taken or discarded. The situation reached a breaking point when Jacob's friend, Howitzer confirmed seeing Ms. Johnson rifling through Jacob's desk, explicitly looking for his drawings.
Jacob's anger boiled over. He couldn't tolerate this invasion of his privacy any longer, especially not in a place where he already felt unjustly targeted. With Keys' betrayal still fresh in his mind, the loss of his comics felt like another blow to his already fragile emotional state. Even his passion for rapping felt dull and inadequate.
When Ms. Johnson announced a parent-teacher conference in the following weeks, Jacob saw it as an opportunity. Despite his typically reserved demeanor, he was determined to confront her. He meticulously planned his arguments. The thought of reclaiming his rights and standing up for himself gave Jacob a newfound sense of purpose and determination. He wasn't just seeking justice; he needed vindication after enduring months of mistreatment.
As Jacob prepared for the conference, he felt a mix of nerves and resolve. This was his chance to assert himself, demand respect, and reclaim what was rightfully his.
As days passed, Jacob decided to draw a picture that included nudity—not because he wanted to, but because he wanted to tease his friend Roads. Knowing Roads didn't like anything involving nudity, Jacob spent some time creating a nude image before heading to school.
While walking to school, Jacob followed his usual routine until he reached science class. It was then that he was unexpectedly called to the office for the parent-teacher conference. Nervous but prepared, Jacob made his way downstairs to the first floor and entered the room designated for the meeting.
Inside, he found the principal, his mother, and Ms. Johnson, his teacher. Jacob's mother gestured sternly for him to sit next to her, and he nervously complied. Despite having planned for this moment, the atmosphere was overwhelmingly tense. Jacob cautiously settled into his chair, his eyes darting around the room as he assessed the situation.
He noticed the expression on his mother's face, contrasting with the indifferent demeanor of Ms. Johnson. The principal appeared neutral, perhaps preparing to mediate the conversation. Jacob braced himself for what was to come, knowing he had rehearsed his arguments and grievances against Ms. Johnson countless times in his mind.
Before Jacob could gather his thoughts to respond, Ms. Johnson took the opportunity to speak first. "Your son hasn't been paying attention in my class," she began, "he has been drawing inappropriate comics." Jacob felt a knot tighten in his stomach as his mother, Daisy, leaned forward and started reading the comics aloud. The humor in Jacob's comics, meant for teenagers, was lost on the adults in the room. They perceived them as crude and filled with dark humor that they found disturbing.
Jacob attempted to defend himself, but he faltered as his mother's gaze silenced him. She continued to read aloud, adding to Jacob's embarrassment and frustration. Just as he tried to interject, the principal intervened with a statement. "Jacob, are you okay? These tendencies are usually results of a school shooter," the principal said, her tone mixing concern with caution.
Jacob's nerves spiked. He wasn't prepared for this accusation. Before he could articulate a response, his mother told him to shut up. The meeting spiraled out of control as Jacob struggled to assert himself against the accusations and misconceptions. Each attempt to clarify his intentions or defend his creativity was met with resistance and dismissal. Hours seemed to pass in the room as Jacob fought against being misunderstood, his emotions threatening to overwhelm him each time he tried to speak.
Suddenly, Jacob couldn't hold back the flood of emotions any longer. He began to cry uncontrollably, his sobs echoing loudly. He felt the strain in his voice as he tried to speak through his tears, but the feelings that had been building up inside him erupted all at once. He glanced at his mother, expecting her to be furious at his display of emotion, but all he saw on her face was disappointment, anger, and disbelief.
The teacher seized the opportunity to present a thick folder filled with Jacob's comics that she had confiscated over the months. His mother took the folder and began to sift through the pages, scattering them across the table. Jacob watched in shame as she read through them, unable to explain why he had created such crude content. She had always known him as a kind, innocent child, not someone who delved into topics like those depicted in his comics.
In a moment of frustration and perhaps misunderstanding, his mother grabbed a large stack of papers and tore them right in front of Jacob's eyes. Everything he had worked so hard on, his creative outlet, the stories he wanted to share with Roads and maybe even turn into a series one day, was destroyed in an instant. The pain of seeing his efforts ripped apart by the one person who was supposed to support and understand him was too much to bear.
Jacob's crying intensified. It felt like no one in the room understood him or was willing to listen to his side of the story. The weight of their words, each one cutting deeper than the last, pushed him further into despair. He felt utterly alone and misunderstood, surrounded by adults who saw only what they wanted to see, not the reality of his intentions.
After all of the accusations they finally asked a question "What made you write these things?" Jacob felt the weight of their questioning. "If I tell them my humor is like this because of GrimmTube they'll monitor me, but if I say nothing they'll check my scroll and know about my addiction" Jacob thought as his heart raced. His mother's presence only heightened his anxiety, knowing that any further disappointment from her would crush him.
"Do you have a scroll?" The principal asked and Daisy responded immediately "Yes, he does.". "May we check your scroll?" The principal asked. Panic surged through Jacob. He knew his scroll contained nothing harmful to others, but the personal embarrassment it would bring if they found out about his addiction was unbearable. He couldn't let them see the truth, couldn't let his mother see that side of him.
In a desperate moment, Jacob latched onto a fairy tale he had read. He remembered a PG-rated tale about four girls aspiring to become huntsmen and huntresses. It was a story he could deflect towards, a safer narrative than the truth about his addiction.
With no other viable options and under pressure, Jacob decided to shift the blame onto this fairy tale. "SLVR! It's team SLVR… It's a fairy tale I used to read." It was a calculated risk, hoping it would satisfy their questions without exposing his deepest secret.
The atmosphere in the room shifted abruptly as Daisy began reading the fairy tale on her scroll. Her brows furrowed in concern and disbelief as she interpreted innocent elements of the story as something demonic, attributing curses to its influence on Jacob. Her religious convictions clashed starkly with what she perceived as a potential corrupting influence on her son, fueling her anger and disappointment.
The room fell into a silence once Daisy voiced her conclusions. The accusation and condemnation hit Jacob like a tidal wave, leaving him stunned and speechless. His attempts to explain or defend himself were drowned out by his mother's disapproval.
Just as the tension seemed unbearable, the principal intervened, calling for security "Take Jacob upstairs and make sure he grabs all of his stuff". The directive was clear and immediate, signaling the end of the conference and leaving Jacob no room to negotiate or explain further.
With tears streaming down his face, Jacob was ushered upstairs, each step feeling heavier than the last. His mind raced with unanswered questions and a sense of injustice, but he dared not voice them. The weight of broken dreams and shattered hopes hung heavily on his shoulders as he faced an uncertain future.