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There’s a peace surrounding the cabin despite the giant death ring above them. Jesse wonders how many hours the Admins spent around her; well before Fred and Xara left…briefly, she wonders how long Romeo stuck around before finally leaving as well.
The inside wasn’t that much different from the outside.
The notable thing is the three coloured beds at one red of the room: purple, blue, and red. One for each Admin…one for each friend that used to live here.
It reminds Jesse of the treehouse.
They spent so much time there over the past five years before one day they just stopped going back. Jesse wasn't sad about it, knowing one day that they would return…someday.
Would they though?
When they do meet up, they meet in Beacontown or Lukas’s house. Even when someone suggests going to the treehouse, it’s met with a change in topic from someone else.
“Let’s just find the weapon and get out of here,” Petra said without giving Jesse a second glance.
Jesse nods and steps further into the cabin - taking in the objects and the heavy layer of dust that coats everything. However, she couldn’t help but keep an eye on Petra, who was browsing a bookshelf.
Something has been bothering her for a while now.
Something that has been causing her grief for the past year or so.
Jesse has a feeling about what’s bothering her friend but doesn’t want to bring it up first, just in case she’s wrong.
Instead, Jesse gives her attention to the rest of the room and spots an armor stand.
“It’s like the one we used to have…back at the treehouse.” Jesse didn’t think it would be this sad looking back on happy memories. “Until someone – you – broke it.”
She looks over to Petra, who’s kneeling in front of a bookcase pretending to browse through it; giving nothing more than an ‘uh huh’ in response.
Jesse steps away from the armor stand and kneels next to Petra; scanning over the books.
A few enchanting books, a couple that look like Villagers had made them, one from Soren somehow, and a few handcrafted ones. She wonders if Fred made some of these for his friends; stories for Xara and Romeo to look back on their adventures, share a few laughs and give feedback.
Similar to what Lukas has been doing for them.
Fred seems like the type of guy who would do anything for his friends.
Jesse pulls away from the books and knocks shoulders with Petra. “Remember I used to read all the time? Now, I barely do.” If it’s not documents or letters, Jesse never finds the time to read anything anymore.
“Things change.”
And isn’t that the truth?
“Yeah…”
There’s so much history within this small space – so similar to the treehouse that still stands out in the woods, waiting for the day that its owners return. Unlike the cabin, Jesse and her friends plan on one day returning to the treehouse though it’s unknown when that will be.
Soft sobs draw Jesse’s attention and notice that it’s coming from Petra, who’s struggling to hide them. “Petra? What’s wrong?” Even though she already knows what’s going on, Jesse wants to hear it from her friend.
“N-nothing.” Petra tries to hide, wiping away what tears did escape. “It just reminds me of, uh…this –this story…about puppies.” Gripping tightly on a book that looks well-worn and very well-loved. Glancing up, Jesse notices that the symbols on the book and the banner are the same. “Really…sad story. You know me…can’t help crying about dumb stuff like that. Puppies, little chickens…rabbits that can’t find carrots.”
A sigh escapes her as she loosens her grip.
“Just, er…gets me every time.”
“Come on, Petra. You’re lying. We both know it.”
“No!” Petra denies but they both know that’s not true. “Puppies just make me really sad, okay?”
Jesse held Petra’s gaze, a challenge but Petra just looked away without a fight. This only happened once before back during the Wither Storm when Jesse convinced Petra to stay behind because she had done enough. It was the only time since Jesse had known her friend to have back down. What’s upsetting Petra is enough to cause this.
A sigh escapes from Petra.
“Fine. I-it’s not about the puppies.” Petra put the book on top of the bookcase before turning to face Jesse, gesturing to the area around them. “Doesn’t this remind you of anything? Our friends? We used to hang out in that treehouse all the time. Now, we barely talk.”
So, that’s what this is.
Jesse kinda figures all of this would lead back to that.
“Why does this keep happening? Everyone leaves and I’m – I’m just…” Petra looks away from Jesse, wanting to hide away from her instead of facing this problem. “By myself again. I…I don’t know what I’m doing wrong. I see them one by one just…leaving.”
Jesse remembers the first time Olivia and Axel haven’t returned as they planned. She thought she would be upset or something but instead Jesse accepted it and moved on. It’s like she came to accept that her friends have their lives and she has her own. Redstonia, Boom Town, and Beacontown. Separated but still together in their own way.
Never once did Jesse think how this would affect anyone else.
Lukas hasn’t said much about the lack of Olivia and Axel but maybe Jesse should check up on him when this is all over.
“Axel and Olivia are barely around and we already lost Jack. Didn’t take long for the New Order of the Stone to fall apart, did it? My fault for thinking it would be different. Held together longer than most. That doesn’t make it hurt any less, though.”
Nothing Jesse can say will get through to Petra, not right now at least.
That doesn’t mean she couldn't try.
“People change, Petra.” It’s the truth and for a moment Jesse looks towards Romeo’s banner. She wonders what Fred had told Romeo that night when he confronted him; clearly not getting through to his friend but maybe his words are still lunged up there. “They grow apart sometimes, that’s not a bad thing.”
“That’s easy for you to say.” Petra glares back at Jesse before softening. “I’m the one who always ends up alone.” She turns back to the beds and the banners on the wall. “I know this isn’t important right now. Let’s just find the weapon and get out of here.”
Jesse pat Petra on the shoulder before going about the puzzle which wasn’t that hard to figure out and gotten, hopefully, the weapon that could put an end to this. However, it wasn’t the end to Petra’s troubles as she compares herself to the Admin, believing that she turned out just like him just because their friends are moving on.
It’s a hard lesson to learn about accepting that things change.
“You have to do what’s best for you, Petra.” Jesse can see the worry and the hidden fear in her friend but this isn’t something Jesse can do for her. “And no matter how far away that takes you…” Petra needs to figure this out on her own, the life that she wants to lead, but Jesse doesn’t plan on going anywhere. “You’ll always know where to find me.”
Tears weld up in Petra’s eyes before Jesse suddenly finds herself in a bone-crushing hug that she gives right back. Not realizing just how hard all of this actually is. Jesse feels bad about getting Petra’s shirt all wet with her own tears.
“I always knew you were a big ol’ softy.”
Petra let out a wet laugh as her hold loosened just a little. “You’ll never be able to prove it.” With another squeeze, she pulls away and wipes away whatever tears she can. “We’d better get that book back to the portal.”
“Right, let’s go stop the admin.” Jesse just wants this whole adventure to be over. “His days of being ‘Jesse’ are over.”
…
Standing between two choices isn’t something new for Jesse but why does this one hurt so much?
From the very beginning, Jesse already made up her mind since she never planned on leaving Beacontown.
Of course, she entertains the idea from time to time. Making huge plans; where she’d go, who she would visit. All in the cover of darkness in her office at the Hall until the morning light comes filtering through the windows.
Jesse looks towards Petra – “I’ll always wait for you” – and can see that life that she only dreamed about all those days ago. A fantasy that Jesse thought would be fun until she went back to work.
Maybe she would have accepted the offer before the Admin, maybe she would have left if Petra had asked a year or two ago but not now.
Not when Jesse has her whole life here.
However, when she looks back towards Beacontown – towards Radar and Lukas – she can see her tomorrow, the plans that have been made, and the dinner that Lukas had planned for them back at his place. Radar – after everything that he has gone through – looks ready to run after her, wanting an answer to his question.
Jesse steps away from Radar and walks towards Petra, who looks surprised and stops from walking through the gate. Until Jesse wraps her arms around her, clinging tightly, before letting Petra go again.
“Take care of yourself out there.”
Petra went to say something but instead, she withdraws with a nod.
“You as well, Jesse.”
Jesse turns away from that dreamland back to her reality where Radar looks relieved and Lukas is just amused about this whole thing.
“Beacontown’s pretty cool.” It wouldn’t make sense for Jesse to leave when the town is still getting back on its feet, especially since so many still don’t trust her after the whole Admin thing. Leaving will feel like running away from the problem instead of facing it. “I don’t wanna miss seeing it get even cooler.”
“Ohhh I was hoping that’s what you’d say.”
Jesse looks back one last time to see Petra had done the same, both giving a wave goodbye. However, they are bound to see one another again because that’s the kind of world that they live in.
“See ya, Petra.”
The words weren’t said very loudly but Jesse felt like Petra had heard them.
Lukas and Radar have been talking about the whole intern thing and frankly, Jesse found the whole thing stressful. Leaving Radar behind in the Underneath was proof of that, maybe it’s time for a title change just to make things easier.
“Oh, well your internship is definitely over with.” She noticed the way that Radar’s face fell at those words, almost making her want to take it back but doesn’t. “How about you just be my friend?”
Radar brightens up suddenly causing Jesse to jump a bit. “That’s my favourite job title I’ve ever heard.” He struggles to hold back tears, causing Lukas to notice.
“Holding back the waterworks okay there?”
“No promises.”
Jesse chuckles, shaking her head at the two of them.
“C’mon you guys, let’s head back to the Hall.”
Tomorrow will be another day when they can continue building.
Today they can take a moment to relax and regroup.
Jesse has long since accepted that this is her life but wonders just how long the peace will last before another problem arises. Nonetheless, she knows that her friends will be there when the time comes.
They always do.