It had been a whole damn week since the incident. Jacob trudged down the cracked sidewalk, his face a mix of exhaustion and sadness.

He stumbled, barely catching himself before glancing upward. 'I wonder where Neo is,' he thought, dragging his feet forward like they weighed a ton.

The buzz of passing cars barely registered. 'The school's been all over the news because of what happened, no surprise there. Apparently, they pinned it on Roman Torchwick and a Grimm attack.' He scoffed at the thought.

"What bullshit." His lips curled into a humorless smirk. "If anyone actually cared about Neo, they'd know it was her. She's the one who caused all that destruction."

He sighed, rubbing at his right eye. "Then again, maybe it's better she's not being blamed. I mean, the last thing I'd want is her getting thrown in jail…"

His stomach growled loudly, snapping him out of his head. He blinked down at it, his lips pressing into a thin line. "Great. Back to square one. I might've complained about that school, but going back to being homeless? Damn it… I'd kill for a hot meal right now."

Jacob let his legs carry him until he reached a park bench. With a heavy sigh, he collapsed onto it, tilting his head back to stare at the branches above.

For a moment, he let himself settle in the silence. His eyelids slid shut. When he finally opened his eyes again, he let out another sigh.

'I wonder if she's thinking about me…' His jaw tightened. 'I don't know exactly what went down, but I can guess the twins were involved. Even the school's radio silent. A few kids came back, some didn't. Everyone's believing that damn lie like it's gospel.'

Jacob tilted his head down, staring at the sneakers on his feet. 'I wanna talk to her, but I don't even know where the hell she is. Hell, does she even use her parents' last name?' He grimaced, shaking his head. 'Should've asked her. But seriously, who asks that kind of thing?'

Pushing himself off the bench with a groan, he squared his shoulders. "Whatever," he muttered under his breath. 'I gotta head back to the school. Gotta dig up something, anything. They're not gonna let me in, not with Lady Beat watching everything like a hawk. And if she catches me…'

He shoved his hands into his pockets and started walking. 'Risky as hell, but it's all I've got.'

—

Jacob walked through the city streets, passing schools, dust shops, and markets. Each was cordoned off with bright yellow crime scene tape. His hands slipped out of his pockets, clasping behind his back as his eyes stayed fixed on the cracked pavement beneath his shoes.

Snippets of conversation floated to his ears.

"Another shop got hit today," a worker muttered to his friend, leaning against a storefront with a clipboard in hand. "No bodies, no injuries, but they took off with Lien and dust. Not as much as the haul from the talent show last week, but it's still a pain in the ass."

"Any idea who's behind it?" his friend asked, crossing his arms.

"Nah," the worker replied, rubbing his chin in thought. "People are pointing fingers, though. What's his name again?"

His eyes lit up as he snapped his fingers. "Torchwick. That's it, Roman Torchwick."

The friend frowned. "Him? You think he's the one pulling this off?"

"Rumor says so. But honestly, I don't see how. Fifteen places in one day? That's just nuts. Feels more like a whole crew than one guy." He adjusted the clipboard under his arm, glancing around. "Maybe it's those Beatrix girls."

"Beatrix girls?" his friend repeated, raising a brow.

"Yeah. That fancy all-girls school? Part of it got wrecked recently. The whole area was a disaster zone, and folks around here said it was chaos. Their founder's blaming Torchwick for it, says the mess stirred up enough negativity to bring Grimm into the city. But come on, how often do you see Grimm this deep in a place like this?" He shook his head. "Doesn't add up. Torchwick causing that kind of havoc in a school crawling with huntresses-in-training? Escaping and robbing stores all over town? It's ridiculous."

Jacob didn't stop or glance their way, but his gaze flicked to the corners of the street as he walked on.

—

Jacob approached the school like he always did. Extra security was stationed around the area, their eyes scanning every inch of their surroundings. He stopped short before veering off to climb a nearby tree.

Settling on a thick branch, he crouched low, one hand gripping the bark for balance. From his point, he scanned the perimeter.

"Two on each side," he muttered.

His teeth caught the edge of a fingernail as he chewed in thought. 'Bribery? Nah, I'm broke as hell. Blackmail?' He shook his head. 'Can't blackmail people you don't know a damn thing about.'

Dropping his hand, he crouched deeper, his knees bent like a predator stalking prey. His eyes darted toward the front entrance. "I could try listening in," he murmured, "but there's too much noise. Too many voices, too far, and too much movement… I need to get a bit closer…" He clenched a fist in frustration. "Only shot I've got is catching someone sneaking out. But these guys?" He huffed. "They've been real hardasses about keeping everyone locked in."

His eyes lit up suddenly, a glint of reckless determination sparking in them. "I've got an idea," he said under his breath. The corner of his mouth twitched upward, but the grin was short-lived. "...Shit. If I screw this up, I'm dead. No question."

Grinding his teeth, he shifted his focus back to the huntresses patrolling the school.

With a deep breath, he shrugged off his bookbag and carefully set it down on the branch. Unzipping it, he pulled out a bundle of his clothes, his fingers lingering on the fabric.

"Alright," he muttered, his voice steadier now. "No turning back."

—

A few minutes later, Jacob emerged with a fresh disguise. His hair was styled differently beneath a hat, and he wore a jacket and pants that looked convincing enough for his plan. A microphone held in his hand as he glanced up at the school building ahead.

From his perch in the tree earlier, he spotted Scarlet Evergreen. "So that's her," he muttered under his breath. "Didn't see her much before, but the attitude checks out. Doubt she's ever heard my real voice, though…" He smirked slightly.

Sliding down from the tree, he dusted himself off and strode toward the school with confidence. Scarlet's voice rang out as soon as she caught sight of him.

"Back up! What do you want?" she yelled, her red hair whipping around as she stared at him.

Jacob hesitated for a fraction of a second before flashing a grin. "Relax! I'm just a reporter," he said, raising his microphone. "Thought I'd get the inside scoop on what really went down here."

Scarlet scoffed, running a hand through her hair in irritation. "This again? We've already released a statement. There's nothing more to say!"

Jacob leaned in slightly, microphone extended. "Oh, come on. You really think people are buying that? Everyone knows there's more to the story. Spill the details, set the record straight."

Her fist clenched at her side, and her face turned red as her temper boiled over. "WE TOLD YOU ALREADY!" she shouted, her voice echoing off the nearby walls. "WE MADE A FUCKING STATEMENT! NOW GET OUT OF HERE!"

Jacob flinched, genuinely taken aback by the force of her outburst. He lowered the microphone, his voice faltering. "I-I…" He paused, then tried again in a hushed tone. "Maybe just… a name?"

Scarlet took a step forward, ready to drive him off herself, but a hand landed on her shoulder. She turned to see Midori, her green-haired colleague.

"Let it go," Midori said softly.

Scarlet huffed, before turning back around. She gestured at Jacob with a dismissive wave. "Get lost. Now."

Jacob hesitated, reading the room. With a nod, he backed away, the intensity of both women's glares following him until he disappeared from view and hid nearby.

As Scarlet exhaled heavily, she placed a hand on her hip and grumbled, "I'm so sick of these reporters."

"Tell me about it," Midori replied, straightening her posture and cracking her neck. Her calm demeanor stood in contrast to Scarlet's frustration.

Scarlet turned to her colleague, "How long do you think we have to keep this up?"

Midori glanced at her out of the corner of her eye. "Could be a few weeks. Could be longer. No way to know for sure."

Scarlet raked her fingers through her hair again. "I just want these nosy assholes to stop showing up. We gave them a statement. What more do they want?"

Midori's gaze shifted ahead, her expression serious. After a moment of silence, she spoke. "Well, we did lie. If the truth gets out, it could ruin Lady Beat and the whole school along with her."

Scarlet's eyes widened briefly before narrowing in focus. She leaned in closer, dropping her voice to a whisper. "What's the latest on the twins? Azure, Kurri, and Sorairo?"

Midori met her eyes. "The twins are locked away, recovering. They're not allowed to talk to anyone. Azure and Sorairo are in the hospital, under their parents' care for now. As for Kurri…" She hesitated, then sighed. "She came out of it physically unharmed, but she's scared out of her mind. Thinks Trivia's coming after her for what happened to her friends."

Scarlet pulled out a cigarette and lit it. She took a long drag before exhaling the smoke. "Poor kid," she muttered.

"Which one?" Midori asked dryly, earning a soft chuckle.

Scarlet shook her head, taking another puff before speaking again. "Any news on Trivia?"

"Actually, yeah," Midori said with a faint note of surprise. "The Vanille family paid off all their debts and agreed to stay silent. Trivia's officially kicked out, same goes for Jasmine. Neither of them are coming back."

Scarlet furrowed her brow. "That's gonna look sketchy. They just crushed it at the talent show. Sure, things went to hell when people told Trivia that fake cheating story, but still…" She trailed off, shaking her head. "Schools were gonna be interested in those two. Now they're just gone? That's not gonna fly."

Midori nodded, her voice quiet but firm. "We'll need to address that with Lady Beat. If we don't figure out how to handle this, it's only a matter of time before the press digs deeper. And when they do…"

Scarlet sighed, extinguishing her cigarette underfoot. "Yeah. We're screwed."

—

Jacob's eyes widened as he caught snippets of the conversation, his thumb pressed against his canine tooth.

"So that's why she isn't showing up…" he muttered, his voice low and strained. "She thinks… I cheated on her…"

His hand dropped from his mouth, trembling slightly as a realization crept over him. "Fuck," he whispered. His chest felt tight, and his thoughts spiraled as he muttered aloud. "I don't even know where to find her. It's been a week! Does she even care anymore?"

His pace quickened, his frustration bubbling over as he ground his teeth. "Fuck, fuck, fuck… Why does my luck with women always suck? First I'm homeless, now I've lost the only person I fucking had. No, no, no… This can't be happening!"

He tugged at his hair, his afro springing under his grip as his thoughts tangled and festered. "This is fine, though, right?" he said with an empty chuckle before snapping at himself, "No! How the hell could this be fine?"

He groaned, throwing his hands in the air, his voice growing louder with each word. "Ugh, why am I arguing with myself? Fuck, dude. Fuck! What am I gonna do?"

His hands clenched tighter in his hair, his nails grazing his scalp as his eyes darted wildly. "I knew walking away was a mistake! I should've stayed, I should've!"

The sound of his own voice reverberated back at him, and he suddenly became aware of the world around him. His panic had drawn stares, people watching with varying degrees of concern and curiosity.

Jacob's shoulders slumped as the adrenaline drained from his body. He cast his eyes downward. "Sorry," he mumbled, his voice barely audible as he shuffled forward.

—

A knock echoed from the door. "I'm coming in," Carmel announced as she stepped inside, a small, uncertain smile on her face.

"Any luck finding your boyfriend?" she asked gently,

Neo shook her head.

Carmel sighed, her gaze flicking to the window before returning to her daughter. "Have you checked the school?"

Neo rolled her eyes the moment she heard the question. A faint shimmer of light sparked above her head, forming her reply: "That's the first place I looked which was met with 'Go away, we haven't seen her'."

"Alright, alright… no need for the sass," Carmel said softly. She moved closer, a saucer and cup in her hands, and set them carefully on Neo's desk.

Neo's eyes flicked to the tea, then back to her mother. The hesitation in Carmel's posture caught her attention. With a roll of her wrists, Neo gestured for her to speak her mind.

Carmel shifted uncomfortably before sighing. "Oh, well…" she began hesitantly, her voice dropping. "I know you've been looking everywhere for him, and you want to see him again, but…" She trailed off, chewing her lip before blurting it out. "What if he really did cheat? I mean, someone who's innocent shouldn't be this hard to find, right? It's almost like he's… hiding."

Neo's expression hardened instantly. Her fingers tightened against the desk as she shot her mother an annoyed glare, shaking her head emphatically.

Carmel fell silent, her eyes analyzing Neo's face. "You're sure he didn't cheat," she murmured. "You've thought it through, haven't you? Just what makes you so confident?"

Neo hesitated for a moment, her gaze dropping to the desk. Then, her eyes lit up. A faint, confident smile curled on her lips as she turned back to her mother.

Seeing the fire in her daughter's expression, Carmel relented with a soft sigh. She moved to sit on the edge of the bed, folding her hands neatly in her lap and leaning forward slightly, her tone now more gentle.

"You've got your reasons, then," she said, her voice warm. "Alright. I'll stop doubting. Just… be careful, okay?"

—

Jacob trudged down the street. The city around him seemed to mirror his mood, shadows stretching long and cold under the flickering streetlights. 'Why am I even surprised?' he thought bitterly.

'This was bound to happen,' his mind continued. 'You were on borrowed time, and there was nothing you could've done to fix it.'

The wind howled, tugging at his jacket as neon signs blinked on and off, casting reflections in the puddles off the pavement. Shops closed one by one, their shutters slamming down.

Eventually, Jacob found himself beneath an overpass, the sound of cars roaring above with the faint drip of water and the occasional clatter of loose debris falling from the structure. He slumped down against the cold, graffiti-smeared concrete, tilting his head back to stare at the underside of the bridge.

"I mean… it's not like she needed me, ya know?" he muttered, his voice barely carrying over the ambient noise. "She could find better… and all that. I couldn't even protect her, so, like…" His words cracked mid-sentence, his throat tightening.

Shaking his head, he rubbed his trembling lips. "Nah, I shouldn't think like that. But, like…" His hand dragged down his face.

"What do I do?" he whispered, his voice breaking. "I don't know where her family lives, she's not at the school… fuck, man…" His hand fell limply over his knee as he let out a defeated sigh.

He tried to laugh, but it came out as a hollow, shaky exhale. "I should be happy, right? More free time, no babysitting… no trying those weird snacks. I mean, spending money I didn't even have was stupid anyway, so… this is fine."

He hunched over, his leg slipping to the side as both hands covered his face. His breaths came out uneven, ghosting cold against his palms.

For a moment, he stayed like that, his world narrowed to the sound of his breathing and the pounding ache in his chest. Slowly, his hands fell, revealing hollow, vacant eyes staring at nothing.

'What do I do now?'

He exhaled through his nose, his gaze unfocused until a spark of desperation, of possibility ignited in his mind. "With all this time… maybe I can make money. People know me for my performances, right? I could rap, maybe even animate. I've still got my laptop… I could pull some commissions together…"

The faintest glimmer of hope returned to his eyes. He straightened slightly, his back pressing against the wall as he stared up at the darkened sky.

"Yeah," he murmured, "That sounds like a plan. You're gonna be fine, Jacob… you'll figure this out."

—

In the morning, Jacob stirred awake, his eyes cracking open as he leaned upright against the cold concrete of the bridge. A faded red quilt draped over him offered little comfort against the chill. Above him, the roar of cars echoed, a reminder of life moving on without him.

He exhaled deeply, blinking the sleep from his heavy eyes. Pulling the quilt close, he stuffed it into his worn-out bookbag and slung it over one shoulder. His hand lingered on the strap before he let it drop, rubbing the grogginess from his face.

The wind whipped past, tousling his messy, curly afro as he stumbled forward, his legs sluggish and unsteady. He reached around his neck and grabbed his headphones, sliding them into place.

With a grimace, Jacob fished his scroll out of his pocket, his thumb lazily swiping to ensure the headphones were connected. Opening an app labeled Grimmify, he hit the shuffle button and pressed play. The melancholic chords of an acoustic track flooded his ears as he slipped the scroll back into his pocket.

He walked on, aimlessly letting his feet guide him through the city's waking streets. Eventually, he found himself at a marketplace. Fluorescent lights flickered above escalators, and rows of small shops lined the halls. Jacob entered with the demeanor of a ghost, head low and shoulders slumped.

Passing by a tea shop, he paused. With a resigned sigh, he turned and shuffled inside, collapsing onto an empty stool near the counter.

The place was lively, filled with soft chatter and the clinking of cups, but Jacob tuned it all out. His bag hit the counter with a thud as he pulled out his laptop. Opening it with tired fingers, he immediately brought up a blank document. His eyes darted to another tab, navigating to GrimmTube to search for acoustic beats.

He selected the first instrumental that popped up, letting it play as he returned to the blank document. His gaze lingered on the blinking cursor for a moment before typing "Verse:" and pressing Enter a few times.

The beat flowed through his headphones, but his mind felt clogged. His lip quivered as frustration bubbled to the surface. He shoved his hands into his hair, gripping it tightly. "Come on, man," he muttered under his breath.

With an exhale, he forced his hands down, halting the instrumental on GrimmTube and refocusing on the document. His fingers hovered over the keys, hesitating, before he began to type:

"I was a fool to think people would just notice me / Different appearance, I'm hoping to find some dopamine."

His hands froze. Jacob's peripheral caught a flicker of movement, and he glanced to his side. A girl with brown hair sat a few stools away. He took a closer look, his expression faltered, but she wasn't who he thought.

Sadness and disappointment settled over him as he turned back to his laptop, his fingers ready to resume typing, but they hesitated above the keyboard.

Jacob's shoulders slumped, and he let out a shaky sigh, his gaze falling to the counter.

—

Neopolitan sat silently in the passenger seat, her eyes on the road ahead as the cream-colored luxury car hummed along the street.

Her mother, hands steady on the wheel, glanced at Neo. "Are you sure he'll be here?" Carmel asked, her voice soft but tinged with uncertainty.

Neo nodded, her expression unwavering.

Moments later, Carmel eased the car to a stop by the curb. Neo immediately reached for the door handle, ready to step out, but her mother's voice stopped her.

"Are you sure you'll be okay?" Carmel asked, her tone more cautious now. "You don't need me to come with you?"

Neo paused, turning her head just enough to meet her mother's eyes. She shook her head slowly, a smirk tugging at the corners of her lips.

Carmel studied her daughter for a moment, her features softening with a mix of pride and admiration. With a quiet sigh, she reached over and unlocked the door.

Neo wasted no time. She pushed the door open and stepped out, the wind immediately catching her pink-and-brown hair, causing it to ripple around her face. The soft thud of the door closing followed as Carmel lingered for a moment, before driving away.

Neo stood still for a second. The sound of the car faded into the background as she turned forward, and moved toward her destination.

—

Jacob finished typing the last words of his verse with a long exhale. Closing the laptop with a soft click, he slid it into his bag, slung the strap over his shoulder, and stood.

Without a word to anyone in the tea shop, without so much as a glance around, he made his way to the door. His head remained down, his shoulders slouched, as he shuffled toward the escalator.

Stepping on, he stood still, gripping the railing loosely as the conveyor carried him upward. Other people surrounded him, but Jacob stayed locked in his own world, his eyes fixed downward.

When he reached the top, the shopping mall stretched before him. Ignoring the displays and commerce, he walked past carts, trinkets, and sweets until he reached the back, where rows of freezers lined the wall. He reached out, opening one of the doors and pulling out three bottles of alcohol without hesitation.

Joining the checkout line, Jacob found himself behind two other customers. While waiting, he pulled out his scroll and opened his bank app. The balance of 8,481.01 lien stared back at him, accompanied by a bright orange warning:

"Don't go under 6,329.11 lien. You will be charged daily if you do."

Shoving the scroll back into his pocket, he sighed and stepped forward as the cashier waved him over.

The bottles clinked softly as he placed them on the counter. The cashier, a bored-looking woman in her early 20s, scanned each bottle without much interest. "Want a bag?" she asked.

Jacob shook his head silently.

The transaction was quick. He tapped his scroll against the scanner, the payment processing instantly, and gathered the bottles in his arms. Turning on his heel, he headed straight for the escalator.

The downward ride was just as uneventful as the ascent. Once outside, the air greeted him. He walked a short distance to a set of steps near the marketplace entrance, sitting onto them.

Placing the bottles between his legs, Jacob grabbed one, twisted off the cap, and peeled away the seal. The cap found its way into his pocket as he stared at the bottle's neck, his empty eyes reflecting back at him.

'She's probably living her best life right now,' he thought, his grip tightening around the glass. 'Parents probably patched things up, big-ass house, decent meal... What about me? What the hell about me?'

Without hesitation, he tipped the bottle back, the burn of alcohol rushing down his throat. He didn't stop until nearly half the bottle was gone, pulling it away to breathe and wipe his mouth with the back of his hand.

"I hate this shit," he muttered under his breath. "I hate feeling like this."

His shoulders slumped further as he stared at the bottle. "But what can I do, huh? Gotta keep going. Gotta rise and get my work done." He let out a laugh before taking another swig, downing it until the bottle was three-quarters empty.

Passersby glanced his way, some with pity, others with disgust, but Jacob didn't care.

Time passed in a haze until a voice snapped him out of it.

"Hey, man, it's sunrise. You should probably get going. You're kinda blocking the way."

Jacob looked up to see a huntsman, dressed in casual gear, standing nearby.

"Oh, sorry," Jacob mumbled. He stood, gathering the empty bottles and stuffing them into his bag.

The man's gaze lingered on Jacob's face. "You look familiar... Like this girl I've seen. She was on stage. What was her name?"

Jacob froze, his expression hardening. "Jasmine," he said flatly.

"Yeah, her! You look a lot like her. Were you at that talent show by chance?"

"No," Jacob replied, avoiding eye contact. "Just saw clips online. Heard she rapped. It was entertaining."

The huntsman shrugged. "Ah, one of those internet kids, huh? Cool. So... why're you out here drinking like this? You seem young, but you're drinking like life's already chewed you up and spat you out."

"Because it has," Jacob said bluntly, as he stared at the ground.

His breath hitched as he continued, "Girl trouble. She thinks I cheated. Haven't talked to her in a week. I'm homeless, broke, and don't know what to do with my life."

The huntsman frowned. "No family or job?"

Jacob shook his head. "Family's in Mistral. I was supposed to go to Beacon, but that plan's toast. No job, no prospects... nothing."

The man hesitated before offering, "I graduated from Beacon. Maybe I can put in a word with Professor Ozpin."

Jacob chuckled bitterly, finally meeting the man's eyes. "Wouldn't matter. But if you really wanna do something, tell him to check the transcripts I sent. Name's Jacob Macon. Should've arrived with the rest of the applications."

Turning away, he walked down the steps.

"Where are you going?" the huntsman asked softly.

"Don't know," Jacob replied, raising a hand in a half-hearted wave. "Thanks for letting me vent."

The man watched as Jacob disappeared into the horizon, his figure stumbling into the unknown. A heavy silence settled over the huntsman before he turned back toward the marketplace, a look of sympathy on his face.

—

Jacob kept walking, the sun hanging low behind him, casting an orange glow that painted the sky like a canvas on fire. His steps were heavy, fatigue pulling at his every movement. His mind raced, flashing back to everything that had happened.

'Maybe it was better we never met,' he thought, the memory of that day in the cafeteria still fresh in his mind. He remembered the way Trivia had timidly approached him, rejected by everyone else. She had asked if she could sit near him, and he'd let her. He could still see her nervous expression, the way she'd looked at him with gratitude. She had been so different then, so unsure.

'I made it harder for you. I dragged you into my mess and then tried to act like the big nice guy,' he thought bitterly, his steps sounding hollow against the concrete. His head hung low as he crossed the bridge, the water rippling beneath him.

Then, in his peripheral vision, he saw a flash of pink. His heart skipped a beat, but he quickly looked away, the figure standing just ahead of him.

He kept walking, and as they passed one another, their backs turned, he couldn't help but ask in a shaky voice, "So… what brings you here?"

Her eyes rolled as she shot him a side-eye, taking in his sad expression without a word.

He didn't turn to face her. His gaze was fixed ahead, but his voice cracked as he spoke. "So… Did you find out the truth? Y'know… about what happened?"

She reached up, fingers lingering just over her throat before she hesitated, dropping her hand back down. Instead, she tilted her head, and Jacob caught the motion from the corner of his eye.

"About the cheating… and probably what all the girls have said about me," he murmured, his voice barely audible as the sun bathed his back in its warmth.

She leaned against the railing, her arms crossing as she looked out at the sea, her lip trembling. She exhaled softly before answering.

"I've always known… from the very start." She paused.

Jacob's eyes widened in disbelief. He looked over his shoulder, his chest tight, fighting the wave of emotion that hit him. The tears welled up, but he blinked them away.

"That person I saw on video… it wasn't you," she continued, her eyes focused as she turned to face him. "The way they moved, the way they talked, even down to the food they ate. You've never been to Atlas. You would never order something like that, and you hate seafood." She looked him in the eyes, "I realized that the person I trusted from the start… wasn't who I thought they were."

Jacob's breath hitched in his chest. His fists clenched as the memories of their time together swirled in his mind.

Her words softened, and her voice shook slightly, but it was filled with warmth as she spoke, "You were the person I fell in love with from the very start."

His heart pounded in his chest. His breath came in shallow bursts. Then, slowly, a small smile tugged at his lips.

She stepped forward and wrapped her arms around him, burying her face against his chest. The sound of the waves crashing in the distance filled the silence. Jacob closed his eyes, letting out a soft breath. "Yeah, I've missed you too," he said, his voice barely above a whisper as he held her close.

They pulled apart slightly, walking side by side. Her arms were behind her back as she strolled next to him, a small grin on her face.

"Since you've been gone, you're gonna have to show me your new song," she said, her tone light, teasing.

Jacob's eyes widened in surprise, and he turned to her, "How'd you know?"

She gave him that wide grin she always gave before speaking. "You always make a song. You can't go three days without one," she said, her voice filled with fondness as they continued walking together across the bridge.

Jacob chuckled softly, shaking his head, the weight of the world feeling just a little bit lighter. Maybe things weren't so broken after all.