Jacob Frye x Reader

Chapter 27 - Distance between us

I admired the quiet that surrounds me once Evie leaves me to my thoughts. Once she is gone, I look up to the shining stars, with the moonlight surrounding me, and let my thoughts wonder. 'From now on, no more thinking about the feelings I hold for Jacob, they would only distract me. I refuse to let them control the way I act around him, or even the way in which I handle things. As of this moment, it's all about freeing London from the clutches of Starrick. However, what comes after is anyone's guess. Perhaps I should stay in London and see where life takes me. I mean, what exactly do I have waiting for me back at home? Sure, there's George who took care of me when my mother was murdered, but that's about it. Maybe, just maybe, I should stay.' My thoughts ceased after that as I decided to just forget about everything and enjoy the rest of the night.

Mini time skip

"Welcome back (Name)." Evie said as soon as she saw me arrive back to the train.

"Thanks Evie, I really needed that." I replied.

"Of course. Sometimes all you need is take a break, to compose your thoughts to move forward. I hope you've been able to do that."

"I have. Well, it's getting late and it's been a long day. I'll see you in the morning Evie."

"Goodnight (Name)." Nothing more was said as I made my way to the carriage, exhaustion beginning to set in. I didn't get far before a familiar voice spoke out from behind me.

"(Name)?" I felt my heart slightly speed up from his voice, but then I quickly composed myself and plastered a fake smile on my face as I turned around to face him.

"Good evening Jacob. How are you?" I could see that he was slightly shocked from both my words and the tone in which I spoke them. I couldn't exactly blame him considering how I left things before.

"Are you...alright?" He asked, completely disregarding my question. His question caught me off guard, but I wasn't going to let him see that.

"Of course I am. Why do you ask?"

"After what happened...I just want to know if you're alright."

"I assure you, everything is fine. I just needed some time to think about what I was going to do...once this is all over." I couldn't help but slightly whisper the last few words.

"Are you...really going to leave us...leave me?" He words were nothing more than a whisper as he spoke, and I couldn't help but feel warmth from his words, as if he didn't want me to leave them, to leave him. Quickly dismissing such a thought as to not let my feelings determine my answer, I replied with.

"Perhaps I was too brash in making a decision about leaving London. Besides, other than George, I have nothing else that's waiting for me back home. To be honest with you...I don't think I could leave you...and Evie as well. According to her, I have a home here, with you guys." I looked down to the ground, hoping that he wouldn't notice that I was implying that I didn't want to leave him. 'Bloody hell, having feelings really messes with your mind. If I want to forget about them, I need to distance myself from Jacob.' I was brought out of my thoughts as I felt his hand on mine and I couldn't help but look at him in shock.

"You'll always have a home here (Name), if you want it." Nothing more was said as we simply looked at each other in silence. Noticing how he was suddenly closer than before, I quickly removed his hand from mine and turned around.

"Well...goodnight, Jacob." I quickly walked away from him, wanting to create as much distance as I can between us.

Jacob's POV

"You'll always have a home here (Name), if you want it." I said as I placed my hand in hers, loving the warmth I feel within from such a simple act. However, she quickly pulled away, leaving an empty feeling where her hand once was. I couldn't help but look at her with a slightly hurt look, but then I noticed how she had turned away from me.

"Well...goodnight Jacob." Before I could say anything else, she walked off rather quickly, not once looking back. I could feel the distance between us growing with each step she takes away from me. '(Name), please don't create distance between us.' I think as I mentally pray. 'I don't know what's going through your head but, I don't want there to be any distance between us. I don't want us to grow apart for reasons I am unable to fathom. Whatever is going on, I'm sure we can work it out and have things go back to the way they were. Just, don't shut me out, please.' As I think, I place my hand on my chest as a hollow feeling begins to take place. A feeling I am unfamiliar with, a feeling that doesn't particularly sit well with me, a feeling I hope that will disappear soon.

'Please (Name), don't grow distant from me. Yell at me, you can even hit me if you want to, just don't distant yourself from me, please.'

End of POV

Making my way to my carriage, a hollow feeling begins to arise in my chest, a feeling that leaves me empty, a feeling that I'll need to grow use to in order to remain distant from the one I've grown to care a lot for in a short amount of time.

'I'm sorry Jacob, but this needs to happen. I can't find myself growing close to you in fear of it getting in the way of freeing London. This distance between us, it needs to happen, no matter how much any of us don't want it to. I can't allow myself to succumb to these feelings any longer, they are but a mere distraction. Things can't go back to the way they were, no matter what. I just hope that, at the end of the day, you understand. I hope you can forgive me, Jacob.'