We walked back home in a silence that scared me more than it should have. He seemed to deep in thought to actually react if I would have said anything, so, even without the want to do so I remained quiet leaving him be.

His eyes were cloudy, and he was more than likely daydreaming. It scares me, to know that he has gone through so much, I've barely scratched the surface of knowing him. I don't even know the full story of Felix, and I've lived through most of it with him!

Right now he looks, agitated? Fearful? Anxious?...Crazy? I have no idea. And that's what's making it so god damned nerve wracking because if I can't figure out an emotion I don't know how to approach the situation.

His head was facing downwards so he glared at the pavement while he walked, I could see tears well up in his eyes every now and again yet he would swallow them down. Still, they always came back. When we were almost home, deciding I shouldn't bother with going back to school since that bitch of a teacher would only nag at me, he finally decided to speak up.

"Do you think even the worst of people can change, Maerk?" He paused in his tracks, and when he did, he turned and gave me one of the saddest looks I have ever seen. The usual perked up or lost in thought expression shattered as his lips tucked into a hopeful frown.

"...Jack, you're not a bad person." Jack's eyebrows creased, drawing closer together. And the breath he was holding evaporated into the air causing his shoulders to drop in a sigh.

"I wasn't talking about me, I just want to know." Jack's eyes still remained foggy, and the nagging feeling of not wanting to screw the answer up caught inside of my mind. Like he was testing me to see if I would pick the correct one.

Hesitance and doubt urging me to step down and remain silent, I tilted my head ever so slightly so it drew closer to my shoulder, I made sure I was looking Jack in the eyes. And, on instinct, my hand placed itself on his back gently. Where it felt like it should be.

".....Well, it depends on how many chances you happen to give them." I focused on the warmth spreading through me as I kept my hand on his shoulder blade. Thinking I had helped, my pride of giving the right answer vanished into anxiety when he continued asking.

"And if they had used them all?" A flash of colour sped through Jack's eyes, and what I assumed would be green was...The ring of yellow. This yellow, though, was way more faded out than the others. It just didn't fit in. It was so light in fact, you could have mistaken it for white.

Trying to summon up the courage and words, both I didn't know how to use properly, Jack continued to stare with patient, sombre eyes. Awaiting my answer and the hope that somewhat shimmered in his iris' was now gone.

".....Then no, I don't think they could change, but everyone is different, so you have to give chances to everyone." Jack nodded his head slowly after a little while. Processing what I had said and, supposing it was valid, didn't speak until we got into the house.

When I pushed the door open after shoving the key in the lock and unlocking it, Jack slipped in before me and made his way over to the Kitchen where I could hear noises and sounds of shuffling throughout it.

Following him inside to the Kitchen, my expression fell when I saw him scurrying around grabbing random items and shoving them onto the counter. Eyeing the ingredients, what I saw had left me confused.

Butter, sugar, brown sugar, eggs, vanilla extract, all purpose flour, rolled oats, salt, baking powder, baking soda, grated milk chocolate, chocolate chips. Raising an eyebrow as I looked up from the counter covered in ingredients, I saw Jack turn around and stare at me with a genuine smile.

"I make cookies when I want to be happy but I can't. It's the one thing I remember doing with my family..." I couldn't tell how he felt, but judging by the way he said it so casually I decided not to push on with the topic.

Walking over so I was by his side, I stared at Jack deeply, waiting for instructions on what to do but he continued buzzing around doing most of the things by himself. Clearing my throat in hopes he would get the message, he continued ignoring me so I forced myself to spit it out.

"Can I do anything?"

"No." He laughed. Turning to look at me as if I were mad, I frowned and he instantly turned back to crack the eggs, pouring everything except the shell into the bowl as he began to whisk. Mixing all the contents together slowly yet surely.

"Why not?" Reaching a hand out and placing it on Jack so he couldn't walk to the other side of the Kitchen and pretend to be doing something productive as he ignored me. Jack merely emitted a groan as he turned to face me.

"You do enough for me as it is Maerk." Now it was my turn to laugh at that. Jack raising an eyebrow at me, I shook my head disagreeing completely with him. So far, I've been a pretty shitty friend. I know I could do better. He deserves so much more and I rarely give him anything.

"That's bullshit. What have I done?"

"Let me out of the asylum I've been stuck in for years." 

"Oh yeah...." Jack forcing a smile and starting to walk away, I tightened my grip fearfully, and made sure to pull him closer so I was now hugging him as he stayed, not surprised, where he was.

We stayed like this for a little while, my hands wrapped around him as he stood there. He didn't move, nor did I, but we just.....Let it happen. He didn't push me away, and I didn't let go. We enjoyed the affection, or, at least, I was.

Minutes passed by and soon after a beep went off sounding that the oven had finished preheating and was ready to get to work. The batter fully mixed in by Jack before I had engulfed him into a hug, he tilted his head upwards so he was staring up at me, and placed a hand soothingly onto my cheek, rubbing it back and forth. 

I stared back. He looked so god damned small and tired in that moment that even later that night I would still be thinking about it. Jack's lips were cracked and dry, yet they still managed to perk upwards into a smile as he slowly took his hand away from my face. The warmth leaving that spot as well, I frowned to hear the answer he had finally given me.

"Let me do the work, I'll let you taste test. Okay?" Opening my mouth to object, he stood up on his tip toes and planted a kiss on my cheek, causing fires to spread rapidly across my entire body as he walked away and over to the oven where he continued with his work.

Pressing a hand up to my cheek, it tingled with heat and blossomed across my entire face. Lungs squeezing in tightly on me, I stared at Jack. A voice in my head screaming to say something, anything other than what I had said. It repeated over and over inside of my head but I still don't know why I hadn't said it. They spoke at the same time, and it shattered me.

'I love you.'

"Fine....."