Goddess of Empathy

Back off

Rapunzel and Nico had been on a bit of a rocky path lately. Their usual banter and effortless connection seemed to be faltering, especially after Jacob's unsettling advances. Rapunzel noticed the shift in Nico's demeanor and couldn't help but worry. She was determined to figure out what was causing this distance between them.

It was another day at school, and Rapunzel was walking through the hallways, her fashionable outfit attracting admiring glances. Her firecracker personality, which had once seemed so effortless, now felt like a façade she was struggling to maintain. As she rounded a corner, she saw Jacob standing by Nico's locker, his usual smirk replaced by an intense, almost desperate expression.

"Hey, Nico," Jacob said, his voice a bit too smooth, "Can we talk?"

Nico, who had been leaning against his locker, rolled his eyes. "Jacob, I've told you before. I'm not interested in talking. Back off."

Jacob's eyes narrowed slightly, but he masked his frustration with a forced smile. "Come on, Nico. We used to be friends."

Nico's gaze hardened. "We're not friends anymore. Just leave me alone."

Rapunzel, who had been watching from a distance, saw Jacob's reaction and approached Nico. "Hey, everything okay?"

Nico shrugged, trying to act nonchalant. "Yeah, just dealing with Jacob."

Rapunzel's eyes narrowed as she looked at Jacob, who was now walking away with a hurt expression. She turned to Nico. "What's his deal?"

Nico sighed, running a hand through his dreads. "He's been acting weird. I don't know what's going on with him, but it's getting out of hand."

As Jacob walked away, he couldn't hide the growing obsession that was festering inside him. He had a plan, and it involved getting closer to Nico—no matter the cost.