Anna and Connie had gone out by the time Jasmin slumped into the kitchen, obviously upset.

No matter what they tried, she denied it but couldn't even bring herself to smile. Jacob held her for most of the day as the men took it upon themselves to clean up around the commons. She just latched onto him and mumbled that he was stupid before dropping a single kiss to his chest.

She eventually excused herself to go back into their house and Jacob sighed as he rejoined them. "She's just laying in bed, not even on her phone."

"God... uhm..." Steven placed his hands on his hips. "This doesn't call for romance. I have no idea what to do."

Adam shrugged. "I dunno. What do girls like?"

"Flowers?" Hazel tried to a shake of Jacob's head. "Right, I forgot she hates flowers. What about chocolate?"

"She hates chocolate too," Jacob uttered brokenly.

None of them could figure out why she got into the slumps she did. She was beautiful and amazing, and they didn't know how to show her that without being overbearing so it was back to square one.

"I feel so stupid," Jacob groaned. "How do I not know how to fix this?"

"It's not a you thing. Self hate can't be tamed by other people," Steven said, furrowing his brow as he thought harder. "I know we said chocolate is off of the table, but what about mac and cheese? She loved the mac and cheese we made, right?"

Jacob brightened. "Girls do like mac and cheese... Maybe we can do something with that?"

They pondered that for a moment before Hazel snapped his fingers. "Mac and cheese..."

Adam nodded his understanding. "Mac and cheese."

They spent the next hour and a half making it to absolute perfection, and with Jacob's near perfect palate that he wasted on the daily, he was able to guide them a bit more to have it be exactly like they'd made it the first time.

"A bit more salt, but I'm talking like four grains of it. Not even a dash," Jacob urged, peering into the creamy goodness jealously. "God, that looks so fucking good."

"This is such a good idea. We're geniuses," Hazel whispered as they walked up the steps rather loudly despite their efforts not to be.

Jacob clutched the plate with all his might, thanking his quick thinking to make cornbread too. "Jazzy, darling?"

She turned over and eyed them all standing by the door like strangers. "What are you guys doing?"

"W-well you were sad," Jacob stammered. "We made you mac and cheese cause we care."

She sat up and her blanket fell off to expose her chest. Suddenly they were all incredibly interested in the bedspread and the floor as she took the plate skeptically. "You made me mac and cheese?"

Uh oh, that tone was still kind of dead.

"Yeah. It's all yours. And cornbread. Jacob knows you love cornbread s-so... Yeah." Hazel winced at his weak finish.

"You also need to eat," Adam reminded her sternly. "You will not miss a single meal in this house. Girls like mac and cheese, so we made it for you."

She stared down at the shells and cheese, the savory and the sweet smells of it interacting with the cornbread and tried to continue to be sad. "I don't know what to say."

"You don't have to eat it, you know what–," Jacob reached for the plate but her glower stopped him in his movements like she'd turned him to stone. 

"Don't. Touch. My mac and cheese." She took the fork from Steven and took a bite. Soon after, tears followed. "This is so good. I love mac and cheese. I... love you guys." She leaned back against the headboard and sighed, taking another bite of what she would call perfection if she could bring herself to pause long enough. A few more bites and they were still standing there. "Are you guys going to watch me eat?"

Four heads nodded.

"Well, may as well go downstairs since I'm going to go for seconds. Heads up."

Her warning happened a split second before she revealed herself to be naked as the day she was born, and shoulder checked Hazel out of the way.

"I think we win?" Jacob stared after her. "I think mac and cheese fixed it? Is this winning?"

"I think so. I really think so," Steven told him as he placed a hand on his shoulder.

"You guys are a bunch of himbo's by the way," Jasmin called back after them.

"Still a win." Hazel pumped a fist.

Adam smirked and followed them down. "Definitely a win."