Worst actor and liar

"What's wrong?" he asked again.

Aria seemed to snap back to reality. She shook her head, gave the window one last look before turning back to Jacob with the biggest smile. "How have you been? How are your injuries?" Aria asked.

Jacob frowned, "My injuries?" "Yeah. You were knocked out unconscious the last time I saw you." she said. Realization dawned on Jacob's face and he let out a chuckle. "Of course you would be more worried about me." he said. "Don't worry, I'm fine now. Some light bruises here and there. But I'm as strong as ever." he added, flexing his muscles.

Aria chuckled lightly upon hearing this, careful not to stretch her wounds. "Good. That's good." she said. "Say, isn't Joseph with you?" she asked, turning her eyes to the window again.

"Scott?" Jacob frowned. "No. I haven't seen him since this morning. Why?" he replied.

"No reason." Aria shrugged. "I just assumed he would be waiting outside with Helen, since Miss Anhao is allowing only one person at a time."

The change in Jacob's expression was enough to convince Aria that something was seriously wrong. Even though he tried to hide it, but Jacob was unarguably one of the worst actors Aria knew.

"Okay. What in god's name is happening? What is wrong" Aria asked. "Wrong? Umm . . . . wr-wrong? Noth . . . . nothing." Jacob replied, looking everywhere but at Aria.

And he was undoubtedly one of the worst liars she knew, Aria mentally added to herself as she let out a long sigh.

"Jacob . . . . " she began, but waited until he looked at her.

But once he did, Aria decided against whatever she was about to say and just shook her head. "What?" Jacob pressed.

At that moment, when Jacob leaned forward to ask her what, Aria looked into his eyes. And she was hit by a realization, that Jacob was hurting a lot, and wanted very desperately to get back all of his friends. "I'll tell you once we are all together." Aria replied, "If I can ever get Miss Anhao to allow the three of you in together." she added as an attempt to make a joke.

But Jacob still looked depressed as he sat back in his chair and mumbled, "You're always saying you'll tell me later."

Aria sighed. Jacob right now looked so sad that all she wanted to do was give him a long hug. At this point, she did not even care how much that would hurt her, if it meant that she could take his pain away, even if for a moment.

"Jacob?" Aria called out to him again. "Don't you dare say I'll tell you later again." he replied, still sulking in the chair.

Aria chuckled and made a very small motion to spread her arms. "No. I just really wanted a hug." she said. Jacob's face lit up with a sad smile as he leaned in slowly, careful of all Aria's bandages.

It was a very awkward and a very short hug, because both of them were scared of Miss Anhao coming in to yell at them, and Aria was injured and even the slightest movement would have caused her pain.

Both of the children let out a satisfied sigh as they broke apart. "I needed this." Jacob lightly murmured.