Winter's Faith | Ongoing

38 | Back to You

Ultimately,
the definition of bravery
Is not being afraid of yourself.
- Chogyam Trungpa

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Jacob Ericson was a loud, and expressive person ever since he was a kid.

Mainly because the people he was always surrounded with were equally as loud as him.

The soccer team that was scattered around the pizzeria were still loud and chaotic as they celebrated their own against the Witton High, one of their biggest competitors.

But something was different with Jake. Something felt off.

He didn't feel like boasting his win because Miley wasn't around to try to deflate his ego.

And Lina wasn't around to try to diffuse the playful tension that use to go on between Miley and him.

And, most of all, Faith wasn't around to cheer for him on his winning goal while wearing his jersey.

Which was still with her, because he didn't have it in him to ask for it. He had given it to her, and it was her's to keep forever.

No one on his table was fighting for the last slice of pizza.

No arguments over the silliest of things.

Just light chatter coming from the couple that was seated across from him and Astrid.

He heard Astrid growl from beside him as she glared at Allison, who had her arms wrapped around Roman.

God.

He couldn't stand the face of Roman Winter. But he had already lost his best friends and he couldn't lose the reason why he chose to believe Roman over Faith.

Gabriel and Declan had taken the easy way out, claiming they had somewhere else to be. However, Allison had begged to see the game, and, therefore, had dragged Roman to see it as well.

Oh how he wished he had the option like the other two did, he thought as he took a sip from the beer can. Credits to the owner's son, who was on the team.

His eyes once more glazed over at Astrid.

She brought out the best version in him. And she would never have left Roman's side when things got rough and Jacob wasn't strong enough to leave Astrid's side.

So he chose to trust his heart over his mind.

But he still couldn't help but feel like it wasn't right.

Because all he could think about was how much it hurt when Faith walked away from him in the alley the other day.

All he could see was the empty look in her eyes, a look that had haunted him as a child.

All he could hear were the words Miley said about leaving him behind.

And he hated it.

Astrid, unaware of the internal battling going on within Jacob, huffed out an annoyed sigh as she listen to Allison complaining once again.