The Great War

😇 Innocent 😇

The song in the title is "Innocent" by Taylor Swift.

Hailey's POV

Should I guess you really did it this time
Left yourself in your warpath
Lost your balance on a tightrope
Lost your mind tryin' to get it back

Wasn't it easier in your lunchbox days?
Always a bigger bed to crawl into
Wasn't it beautiful when you believed in everything
And everybody believed in you?

It's alright, just wait and see
Your string of lights is still bright to me
Who you are is not where you've been
You're still an innocent

Said some things you can't rethink of
But at night you live it all again
You wouldn't be shattered on the floor now
If only you had seen what you know now then

Wasn't it easier in your firefly-catching days?
And everything out of reach
Someone bigger brought down to you
Wasn't it beautiful runnin' wild 'til you fell asleep
Before the monsters caught up to you?

It's alright, just wait and see
Your string of lights is still bright to me
Oh, who you are is not where you've been
You're still an innocent

It's okay, life is a tough crowd
16 and still growing up now
Who you are is not what you did
You're still an innocent

Time turns flames to embers
You'll have new Septembers
Everyone of us has messed up too
Minds change like the weather
I hope you remember
Today is never too late to be brand new

Lost your balance on a tightrope, oh
It's never too late to get it back

3rd Person POV

Jake and Hailey turn their attention to Zander, their playful banter halted. The others in the room also become quiet, their expressions turning sober.

As Zander catches Jake and Hailey's attention, his expression is stern, and there's a hint of irritation in his voice. "I know you two are all happy and lovey-dovey," he says, his eyes flickering between them, "but we need to have a serious talk."

Jake immediately senses the tension in Zander's voice, his playful demeanor replaced by a more serious expression. He nods, his hand still holding Hailey's, his thumb tracing soothing circles over her knuckles. "Yeah, what's up?"

Zander holds Jake's gaze for a moment before shifting his focus to Hailey. "I've been doing some thinking," he says, his tone carefully controlled but firm. "And I don't think it's a good idea for you to continue this relationship with Jake."

Hailey's eyes widen in surprise, a mix of confusion and disbelief etched across her face. "Wait, why?" she asks, her voice filled with disbelief. Jake, on the other hand, doesn't seem as surprised. His expression is stoic, almost resigned, as if he had expected this topic to eventually come up.