Jackie doesn’t say anything at first. She just looks at you, like she’s trying to figure something out. Her gaze lingers a little longer than usual, not the usual sharp stare she used to throw your way when you’d argue, or those sneers when you got on her nerves. It feels... weird. Different.

“You know,” she says, breaking the silence, “I really thought we’d end up killing each other by now.”

“Yeah, me too.” You shrug. “Guess you're stuck with me now.”

She lets out a short laugh, a little louder than usual, and for a second, you both just stare into the fire. The cold is starting to feel worse, like it’s crawling under your skin, and even the fire isn’t enough to push it back. Jackie pulls her coat tighter, then, without thinking, shifts a little closer to you. You don’t even realize it at first, but there it is — her shoulder brushing against yours, the quiet warmth spreading between you two.

“You cold?” she asks casually, but her voice gives her away.

“Not really,” you lie, but she sees right through it, like she always does.

Her eyes flicker between you and the fire, studying you for a second, like she’s trying to figure out if you're being honest or just saying whatever. It’s that look — curious, almost intrigued — but there’s no judgment in it. You can tell she’s letting her guard slip, just a little.

Jackie snorts, shifting again, and this time she leans in closer, her body just a little more against yours, like she’s letting go of whatever distance used to keep you apart. “Yeah, okay. Whatever.”

The fire crackles in the silence, and Jackie watches you for a second, almost like she’s seeing you for the first time in a long while. “Honestly, didn’t think I’d be stuck here with you, of all people,” she says quietly, like she’s half-talking to herself.

You glance over at her, your brow raised. “You think you'd be stuck here with anyone? We’re all a little messed up.”

She laughs, but it’s thin, tired. “True... but, like, I didn’t expect this. I thought... I thought it’d be easier.” She looks over at you, her gaze a little softer now. “But you’ve been pretty solid, you know? Better than I thought.”

“Guess we’re stuck with each other for now,” you say, voice flat, though there’s something else buried under it, something that feels almost like a relief.

Jackie looks over at you then, like she’s really seeing you. Her face softens. “I used to really hate you, though,” she says, a slight smirk tugging at the corner of her lips. It’s almost a smile, but it’s not like before. There’s no edge to it. Just the truth.

“Yeah, you weren’t exactly my fave either,” you reply, a small smirk of your own creeping onto your face.

A beat of silence hangs between you two. Not awkward, but full of everything that’s changed. Jackie breaks it first, her voice quieter now, like she’s thinking out loud.

“When did we... I don’t know. When did this happen? When did we get this close?”