Pieces | Jacob Elordi

Chapter Nine

The air crackled with tension as Jacob's words hung between us like a heavy fog, suffocating and oppressive. His gaze bore into mine, dark and intense, as if daring me to challenge him.

But I refused to back down. Steeling myself against the onslaught of emotions threatening to overwhelm me, I met his gaze with equal fervor.

"It's none of your business what I do, Jacob," I shot back, my voice tinged with defiance. "And you have no right to be jealous when your girlfriend is just in the other room."

Jacob's jaw clenched, his fists balling at his sides as he struggled to contain the simmering rage that threatened to consume him. But beneath the facade of indifference, I could see the flicker of uncertainty in his eyes, a vulnerability he tried so desperately to hide.

"You don't understand, Willow," he muttered, his voice barely above a whisper. "You never have."

I bristled at his words, the sting of his accusation cutting deep. But even as anger flared within me, a small part of me couldn't help but wonder if there was some truth to his words—if perhaps I had been too quick to judge him, too eager to paint him as the villain in our tumultuous dance.

But before I could dwell on the thought, Jacob's expression hardened, his resolve steeling as he took a step closer, his presence looming over me like a shadow.

"You think you're so independent, so self-assured," he taunted, his voice laced with scorn. "But deep down, you're just as lost as the rest of us."

His words cut deep, leaving me reeling with the sting of their truth. But even as I struggled to find a retort, a part of me couldn't help but wonder if there was some truth to what he said—if perhaps, in my quest for independence, I had lost sight of who I truly was.

But as Jacob's gaze bore into mine, his eyes dark and intense, I knew that there was no going back from this. Our fragile truce had been shattered, leaving us standing on opposite sides of a divide neither of us knew how to bridge.

"The truth is, Willow," Jacob began, his voice soft yet filled with conviction, "Kaia left. She came down to London to break up with me, and it took her the entire evening to gather the courage to do so."

His words hung in the air, heavy with the weight of their implications. I felt a pang of sympathy for Jacob, realizing the gravity of the situation. Kaia's departure marked the end of their relationship, leaving behind a trail of unresolved emotions.

"I'm sorry," I offered quietly, my voice laced with genuine concern. "I had no idea."

Jacob's gaze softened, his expression a mixture of gratitude and sadness. "It's not your fault," he replied, his tone tinged with resignation. "It was bound to happen sooner or later."

As the weight of his words settled over us, a heavy silence descended upon the room. But amidst the somber atmosphere, I couldn't shake the feeling that this turn of events would irrevocably alter the dynamic between us.

But before I could respond, Jacob spoke again, his tone more determined this time. "We need to set some boundaries," he said, his gaze steady as it met mine. "Being around you all the time... it's too hard."

His words hit me like a punch to the gut, the realization sinking in that perhaps our closeness had only served to exacerbate the tension between us. Despite the warmth that blossomed in my chest at the thought of spending time with Jacob, I couldn't deny the truth in his words.

"I understand," I replied softly, a sense of resignation settling over me. "We'll keep our interactions strictly professional from now on."

Jacob nodded, his expression pained yet determined. "It's for the best," he said, his voice barely above a whisper.