Doubtful me

The corridor stretched before them, eerily empty. Aerith's heart raced, the tension getting thick between them as they walked in silence, as they walked side by side, the tension thick enough to suffocate her. She kept her eyes fixed on the floor, too afraid to meet Jake's gaze. What would she see there, regret? Guilt? Or worse, indifference?Jake didn't speak for what felt like an eternity, his footsteps steady, his hands still shoved deep into his pockets but his presence next to her should have been comforting, but lately, it felt like a weight pressing down on her chest. She could feel his eyes on her, his gaze sharp and calculating, though his expression was unreadable. With each second that passed felt like a lifetime. Aerith could feel the weight of the unspoken words hanging between them, and the silence only made her more anxious.Finally, they stopped near the staircase at the far end of the corridor, where the noise of the remaining students was distant and muffled. Jake turned to face her, and Aerith's heart skipped as she saw the serious look on his face. It was a look she hadn't seen in him before, detached like he was already far away from her.She swallowed hard, forcing herself to speak, even though her throat felt dry. "Jake, what's going on?" she asked, her voice barely more than a whisper. Jake sighed, running a hand through his hair, his jaw tense. He didn't look at her right away, his eyes flickering to the side as if he were searching for the right words.Jake turned to face her, his hands slipping out of his pockets. His eyes softened, and his lips curved into that familiar smile, the one that had always made her feel safe, made her believe everything was fine but today, something about it felt different."Aerith," he began, his voice low and sweet, dripping with charm. "You've been worrying about nothing, haven't you?"Aerith's breath caught in her throat. "I-I don't know," she stammered, suddenly unsure of herself. The paranoia that had been eating at her all day now felt foolish under the warmth of Jake's gaze. He had a way of making her feel small like all her fears were just overreactions. "I just... I thought maybe something was wrong."*Complicated.* was all she could think of. It felt like a confirmation of everything she'd feared. Her thoughts swirled in a mess of doubt and paranoia, and before she could stop herself, the words tumbled out."Is it Hazel?" The question hung in the air, fragile and desperate. Aerith hated how her voice wavered, but the question was already out, impossible to take back.Jake's eyes widened for a moment, caught off guard. "What? No," he said quickly, shaking his head. "It's not like that."But his hesitation, his surprise, had already struck her like a knife. He wasn't denying there was something wrong, just that it wasn't Hazel. Was there someone else? Or was she simply not enough anymore?"Then what is it, Jake?" Aerith asked, her voice tinged with frustration now. She couldn't take this vague distance anymore. She needed to know the truth, no matter how much it hurt. "You've been pulling away from me for weeks. I can feel it. Everyone can see it."Jake chuckled softly, stepping closer. He reached out and gently tucked a strand of her hair behind her ear, his fingers brushing against her cheek in a way that sent shivers down her spine. "You're always overthinking, babe. There's nothing wrong. Hazel and I? We're just friends. You know that." Aerith blinked, her thoughts spinning. His touch, his words, they were so convincing. She wanted to believe him, wanted so badly to trust that everything was okay. But the memory of their closeness, the laughter between him and Hazel, still gnawed at her."But you've been distant," she said quietly, her voice barely a whisper. "You don't text me as much anymore. You don't... seem the same."Jake sighed, shaking his head with a mix of frustration and amusement. "It's just school, Aerith. Football practice, exams... You know how it is. I've been busy, but it doesn't mean I don't care about you. I'm still here, aren't I?"Aerith nodded, biting her lip. He always had a way of making everything seem so simple, so logical. The doubt that had clouded her mind moments before now seemed to fade under his calm, reassuring tone."Come on," he said, his voice softening even further, laced with sweetness. "You know I love you, right? You're the only one I want."Aerith's heart skipped a beat at the sound of those words. Love. He said it so easily, so confidently. She searched his eyes, looking for any sign that he was lying, but all she saw was that familiar warmth, the one that had made her fall for him in the first place."I... I love you too," she whispered, feeling her defences crumble.Jake smiled, that charming, disarming smile that always made her feel like everything would be okay. He stepped closer, wrapping his arms around her, pulling her into a hug. "There's my girl," he murmured, his breath warm against her ear. "You're so good to me, Aerith. I don't know what I'd do without you."His words made her heart swell, pushing away the last remnants of doubt. Maybe she had been overreacting. Maybe it was all in her head, like Jake said. He had a way of making her feel foolish for worrying, but his affection always followed, soothing the sting."But..." Aerith hesitated, her voice wavering. "Hazel, sh—"Jake pulled back just enough to meet her eyes, his expression suddenly serious but still gentle. "Hazel means nothing compared to you," he said firmly, his voice so soft, so convincing. "You're my girl. Don't let anyone make you think otherwise, okay?"Aerith nodded, biting her lip as she tried to push the lingering doubts from her mind. Maybe *I'm just being insecure*, she thought. Jake had always been there for her. He had always made her feel special, loved. Surely, he wouldn't hurt her, not like this.Jake's hand moved to her cheek, tilting her face up to meet his. "You trust me, don't you?" he asked, his voice gentle but with a subtle edge, like a challenge.Aerith nodded again, more firmly this time, though her stomach still twisted with uncertainty. "Yes, I trust you."He smiled, his fingers trailing down her jawline, and for a moment, the warmth of his touch made her forget everything, the whispers, the laughter, the lingering looks. All that mattered was Jake, standing here with her, telling her what she so desperately wanted to hear."That's my girl," he murmured, pressing a soft kiss to her forehead. "You don't need to worry about anything. I've got you."Aerith closed her eyes, leaning into him, letting herself believe it. Letting herself believe that everything would be okay, that Jake was still hers. He was always so good at making her feel safe, even when things were falling apart.But deep down, a small part of her still nagged at the back of her mind—a tiny voice that wondered if Jake was telling the truth, or if she was just too gullible to see what was really happening.But for now, she let herself fall into the comfort of his words, letting the doubt slip away, at least for a little while.