𝐇𝐄𝐀𝐑𝐓𝐀𝐂𝐇𝐄𝐒 || 𝐣.𝐚.

008 | 𝐡𝐨𝐨𝐤, 𝐥𝐢𝐧𝐞, 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐬𝐢𝐧𝐤𝐞𝐫

𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐄𝐕𝐄𝐍𝐈𝐍𝐆 air was still as Jacob walked alongside Y/n, following her directions to her house. His steps were steady, his posture relaxed, but there was an unspoken tension lingering between them after the encounter with Austin. Y/n was quiet for most of the walk, her eyes cast downward, occasionally glancing at the street as if lost in thought. Jacob stayed close, glancing at her every so often, his mind focused on making sure she got home safely. After a few turns and short exchanges about which direction to go, they arrived at a small, charming house with a pale blue door.

It was a modest home tucked into the corner of a quiet neighborhood.

Jacob glanced around, taking in the surroundings. Something about this place felt familiar. His brows furrowed as he scanned the area, trying to piece together why this street seemed so recognizable. And then, it hit him.

Just down the road, barely visible through the trees, stood his own house. His eyes widened in mild surprise as the realization settled in. "I didn't know we were neighbors," Jacob spoke up, his voice light but edged with amusement as Y/n fumbled in her pocket for her house keys.

Y/n froze mid-search, her head snapping up to look at him, confusion etched into her face. "We are?" she asked, her eyebrows raised, eyes wide as if she couldn't believe it.

Jacob had to suppress a chuckle. The way her face scrunched up in that moment—it was downright adorable. "Sure are," he nodded, tilting his head toward the house just down the road. "I live just over there." He said, pointing with his thumb toward the house on his right-hand side, just a few doors down.

Y/n blinked, following the direction of his gesture. She looked from the house back to Jacob, her surprise only deepening. "Huh... so it would appear so..." she replied, her voice softer, still processing the coincidence.

Jacob couldn't help but feel a strange sense of satisfaction wash over him. All this time, they'd been living so close without realizing it. It felt like fate, a hidden connection between them before they even met. And now, he knew exactly where Y/n lived. It wasn't a detail he planned to exploit... but the knowledge sat warmly in his chest, a secret gift that made him feel even closer to her. Y/n, though, shifted awkwardly on her feet, finally pulling out her keys but not yet unlocking the door. She glanced back at him, her lips parting as if searching for the right words. "Thank you... for today. It was nice," she said, though her tone was tinged with uncertainty. "I mean, I really appreciate you spending time with me. I've been feeling kinda... out of it lately." She rambled slightly.

Jacob smiled gently, though it didn't quite reach his eyes. "I'm glad we got to hang out, too. I just... I wish it could've gone a bit smoother." He paused, rubbing the back of his neck, his voice softening. "I'm sorry about Austin. He ruined the whole thing."

Y/n quickly shook her head, stepping forward as if to dismiss his apology. "No, no. It's not your fault. That guy's been a problem for a while. I should be the one apologizing... I'm sorry he put you in that position. I didn't think we'd run into him like that." She admitted.

Jacob's scowl returned momentarily at the mention of Austin, but he quickly masked it. "Still... I didn't handle it as calmly as I should have." His voice held a tinge of regret, though he couldn't deny that grabbing Austin by the collar had felt immensely satisfying at the time. He'd do it again in a heartbeat if it meant protecting Y/n.

Y/n smiled faintly, but her expression remained uneasy. She fiddled with the keys in her hand, her fingers trembling slightly. "You were just trying to help. I appreciate that more than you know," she murmured, her voice soft and sincere, though her eyes stayed downcast, focused on the metal glinting in her palm. "Plus, I don't care that things got a little tense. I'd let you knock that bastard flat on his ass if we wouldn't get the cops called on us."