Moose 😍

😍:

Are you mad at me or something?

no, why?

😍:

Well I don't know... we finally announced our relationship and then you just kind of dropped off the face of the earth?

i'm fine, j.

😍:

You're full of shit. I'm coming over.

you don't have to, jared.

😍:

I know. But I'm going to anyway.

Jared knocked on the door of Willow and Jackson's house a little while later and Willow answered the door in a pair of Jared's sweatpants and an old t-shirt. Jared looked her up and down thoughtfully, automatically wondering what was wrong.

"Hey, little one..." he said, trailing off as he stepped past her into the house.

"Hi," she said quietly, sighing heavily.

"Talk to me," he instructed her, sitting down on the couch and opening his arms for her to sit with him. After a moment of thought, she did. He watched her, waiting for her to speak. When she finally did, her words surprised him.

"I don't know if we should be together, Jared," she told him, and his eyes instantly went wide.

"What?" he asked, shaking his head. She thought for another long moment before continuing.

"We're not... a good match," she said, and he cocked his head to the side in question.

"What does that mean?" he asked, and she thought again.

"You're... you. You have all these fans and supporters and family and people who love you, and I just... I'm not that. I have my brother and Dom sometimes and that's it. I don't know how to navigate that world. I don't know how to navigate the world where I'm constantly being told that my boyfriend's ex-wife was a better match with him and they're definitely getting back together at some point. And I know. I know I shouldn't take it all to heart, but I can't help it sometimes. There are times but I just can't help but let it make me feel shitty, and it's too much. I already feel shitty enough most of the time, I don't need a million people telling me my relationship for sure isn't going to work on top of it," she rambled, tears falling freely from her eyes.

Jared studied her, taking in everything she'd said. He didn't really know what to say; he'd seen the Instagram comments about him and Elaine and he'd even blocked a few of the people that were overly aggressive about it. He'd seen it all, but hadn't really been sure what to do about it.

"I love you, Willow," he told her quietly. "I love you so much, but I understand. If you want... if you want out, I won't blame you. I know it's not really what you signed up for," he told her, tears welling up in his own eyes.

"I love you too, Jared, I do. I love you more than I've ever loved anyone else. But I just... I just don't think I can do it," she said, nodding and standing up off the couch. "I think... I think you should go," she whispered, her voice raw.

Jared nodded, standing and walking towards the door. He cast a glance over his shoulder at her as he walked to see that she was very obviously just barely holding herself together. He was about to say something else, but the front door opened and Jackson and Dom stepped inside the house. Obviously aware they'd walked into an awkward situation, they just kind of hovered between Jared and Willow, unsure of what to do. Jared turned back around and walked out the door without another word.

As soon as the door was closed, Willow wordlessly launched herself into her brother's arms, sobbing violently.