Unmasked

When Jay meets Kacen for the first time, she's only 16. Kacen is 26.
Jay just came back from her Exchange Year in America, Kacen served in the army a few years back. For Jay, life has always been hard even though she grew up in a loving family. She never felt understood and has never been able to open up to anyone. Always betrayed by people she considered close friends, Jay has shut down and hides behind sarcasm and a Don't-fuck-with-me-attitude. But when she talks to Kacen that very first time about her year away from home, she feels like he understands.
Kacen seems to see that she hasn't gotten over being in America and how much she misses it. Jay loved talking to him, but he is one of her cousins best friends and she only sees him for a few hours over drinks when she was visiting her cousin.
Ten years later, Jay hasn't forgotten Kacen and Kacen still remembers the girl that was a lot older than she should be for her age. Kacen and Jay finally have the chance to get closer to each other, but Jay holds back. Kacen can see the walls she built around herself, but he doesn't know why.
Jay knows that she is close to the edge. Always tired, always alone she knows she has to change. But she is afraid, a feeling that she doesn't know. But Kacen does. Having fought for his life, he knows all to well and he also knows that hiding only makes it worse.

(I don't have any rights for the picture)