Love is Beautiful (She's so Ugly)

Chapter Twenty Two (part two)

Jacob was heading toward where he parked his car when he spotted Merida leaning against Leo's. She was smiling at her phone, thumbs flying, grinning so wide it almost made his chest ache. She looked... happy. Too happy.

And Leo was nowhere in sight.

Jacob approached before he could stop himself. "Hey."

Merida's grin faded into a flat line. "Hi."

"You alone?" he asked, pretending he hadn't seen Leo earlier.

"No. He just went back inside to grab something." Her tone was clipped, disinterested. The kind of tone that told him she had no interest in small talk with him.

Jacob swallowed. "You've... changed."

Merida let out a short, sharp laugh, flipping her hair and fixing him with a raised brow. "Pain changes a lot of things, Jacob. If it hurts you enough—emotionally, physically—you'll do whatever it takes to stop the pain."

"I know I hurt you. I regret it. But don't twist yourself into someone else just because of that!" His voice came out harsher than he meant, frustration bleeding through.

Merida scoffed, eyes narrowing.

"I like this," she said firmly. "I like who I'm becoming. Confident. Beautiful on my own. If anything, it's not 'change'—it's just finally being cautious around people like you." She took a step closer, her voice lowering. "So if you stopped by just to criticize me, you should leave."

Jacob's chest tightened, anger twisting with guilt. He wanted to pull her back, to remind her of the girl who used to hang on his every word. But what came out instead was cruel, a dagger he didn't even mean to throw.

"Fine. Be like that," he snapped. "You're still the same ugly, desperate loser you've always been."

The words hung heavy in the air. Jacob's stomach dropped instantly. He hadn't meant it—God, he hadn't—but it was too late.

Merida froze, her throat tightening. Tears welled before she could stop them. "Don't... touch me!" she screamed when Jacob instinctively reached out. She shoved him back, trembling with fury and heartbreak. "I'm not ugly. Not anymore. And I don't need you—of all people—to tell me I'm beautiful. I already know. So get lost, Jacob. You should've done that a long time ago."

Her tears streamed down, but her voice carried steel.

Jacob staggered a step back, shame crushing him. He wanted to say something, anything—but her glare left him no room. He turned, shoulders heavy, and walked away. Each step felt like punishment. He'd lost her for good.

From a distance, Leo had seen everything. He'd wanted to intervene but held himself back, watching Merida stand her ground. She was stronger now. Still hurting, but stronger.

When Jacob finally disappeared, Leo walked up. Merida spotted him, and before he could speak, she flung herself into his arms, sobbing into his chest.

"He called me ugly," she choked. "Am I ugly?"

Leo gently cupped her face, forcing her to look at him. His thumb brushed away her tears. "Are you?" he asked softly.

Merida didn't answer, just clung tighter to his shirt.

"Listen to me," Leo said, steady and sure. "People will call you ugly, trash, whatever comes to their small minds. But that's not who you are. Those words only stick if you let them define you. And you don't have to anymore. Show them the real you—the one I see." His voice softened. "Just like at that play, I'll always be in the front row, cheering."

Merida's tears broke into a shaky laugh. "I wish I'd befriended you first," she whispered.

Leo smiled faintly, though there was a shadow in his eyes. "I wish I had more time." For a beat, they just looked at each other, unspoken things heavy between them. Then he grinned. "Now, let's go cook some egg rolls. I'm starving."

Merida laughed and let go, the heaviness lifting for just a moment. Leo opened the car door for her, but before climbing into the driver's seat, he caught sight of Jacob watching from afar. Their eyes locked briefly—Leo's face hard, unreadable; Jacob's torn with regret.

Leo got in without a word. That's what you get for being a fool, he thought as he started the engine.