Never Just Friends

First Fight Between Jacob and Ciara

The evening wore on, but the tension between Jacob and Ciara only grew. Jacob had been watching her, noticing the way her eyes kept drifting toward Hanna and Finn, her jaw tight with barely concealed jealousy. He’d tried to ignore it, to focus on enjoying the night with her, but her attitude was impossible to overlook.

“Ciara,” he said finally, his voice low but firm as they stood by the refreshment table. “What’s going on with you tonight?”

She glanced at him, her eyes narrowed. “I’m just observing, Jacob. Not everyone is as… clueless as you seem to be.”

Jacob’s eyes flashed with frustration. “What’s that supposed to mean? This was supposed to be our night. You’re too busy worrying about other people to even enjoy it.”

Ciara rolled her eyes, crossing her arms defensively. “It’s not my fault if Hanna and Finn keep sneaking around. Maybe if you weren’t so blindly loyal to your sister, you’d see what’s actually going on.”

“Enough, Ciara,” Jacob snapped, his patience wearing thin. “Your jealousy is getting out of hand. This isn’t about Hanna or Finn—it’s about you not being able to let go of the past. You say you’ve changed, but you’re still doing the same things, trying to tear people down to make yourself feel better.”

Her face twisted with hurt, the accusation hitting deeper than she expected. “So now I’m just some jealous, insecure girl to you? Thanks, Jacob. That really means a lot.”

With one last glare, Ciara turned on her heel and stormed off, her anger simmering as she pushed through the crowd. She was tired of being seen as the bad guy, tired of people like Hanna getting everything they wanted. When she spotted Marco standing alone near the doors, his own gaze dark and brooding, something clicked.

She walked up to him, her expression softening as she put a hand on his arm. “Marco, there’s something you need to know. Hanna… she hasn’t been honest with you.”

Marco’s eyes snapped to hers, suspicion flickering in his gaze. “What are you talking about?”

Taking a deep breath, Ciara leaned in, her voice low and filled with a carefully crafted sympathy. “I saw her, Marco. Hanna… she kissed Finn. I thought you should know before you keep wasting your time on her.”

The words hung between them, sinking in as Marco’s face hardened, a storm brewing in his eyes.