"𝙉𝙤𝙩 𝙌𝙪𝙞𝙩𝙚 𝙊𝙪𝙧𝙨..."- 𝙅𝙚𝙖𝙣 (𝙏𝙈𝙁)

Chapter the third ^^

Y'know what? Imma keep the video. For the memories.

(The video above is NOT mine it belongs to ExquisitelyPearl. Here's her channel <3: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCTioy8BDYESkAig7qmXoZaw)

This one's...a bit messy- Might redo (AGAIN.) But try to enjoy it for now 💖

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3𝙧𝙙 𝙋𝙚𝙧𝙨𝙤𝙣 𝙋𝙊𝙑♡ ˚✦˚

Jake trudged down the stairs like someone carrying the emotional weight of a collapsing universe. His eyes were puffy, his steps heavy, and he looked like a disaster in human form.

Downstairs was... not helpful.

Milly burst into the room yelling, "Guys, guys, I found him! I actually found him!" Her voice practically shook the walls.

Luke clapped once, deadpan. "Amazing detective work."

Hailey lifted a hand. "Milly wins. Ice cream for her. You all agree, right?"

Luke nodded like a loyal soldier. Zander, however, scoffed so loudly it deserved its own echo.

"I'm not wasting my money on ice cream," he announced.

Milly smirked. "Right, sorry. Forgot you were a fashion princess."

Zander froze. "ExCUSE ME?"

Milly tried not to laugh. Failed immediately. Zander lifted a shoe like he was preparing for battle, face darkening dramatically. She backed away, hands up.

"Zan, hey, relax—"

Too late. She bolted. Zander chased her. Luke chased Zander. Hailey blinked once, sighed, and accepted her fate.

Jake slowly turned to escape the madness.

"Jake."

He stopped. Hailey approached him gently, her eyes soft with recognition. She knew that look. She remembered that look.

Because she'd once felt it herself.

LE FLASHBACK~

Jake's voice echoed in her head: I like Daisy.

She'd been walking by, minding her business, only to hear that sentence hit her like a thrown brick. Her chest had splintered right there in the hallway. She'd been certain—stupidly certain—that he liked her back.

Then Milly found her, screaming about ice cream like the world wasn't falling apart.

Hailey had smiled through the sting. Pretended she was fine. Let time do its job.

Eventually, it did.

END OF LE FLASHBACK~

"Where's Sean?" she asked softly.

Jake froze like someone had paused him mid‑animation. Hailey gave a tiny smirk. She'd hit the mark.

"I... haven't seen him," Jake mumbled, eyes shifting everywhere but her face.

She stared directly into him. "Jake. You don't need to lie to me. What happened?"

He swallowed. Looked away. "You wouldn't get it."

He walked off before she could answer.

Hailey sighed under her breath. She could only hope his other friends were smarter at getting through to him.

The bell rang.

🍑-Jake's POV-🍑 ☾𖤓~🍑~☾𖤓

I'm actually pathetic. I had one chance to talk. One. And I ruined it. Shattered it. Stepped on the pieces.