the alchemy, jude bellingham

chapter fifteen

THE ALCHEMY chapter fifteen
jude bellingham.
may 2023

OLLIE sat on the edge of her bed, her heart pounding as she waited for jack to arrive. she had rehearsed the conversation a hundred times in her head, but now that it was about to happen, she felt a wave of anxiety wash over her. she glanced at the clock. any minute now.

the doorbell rang, and she took a deep breath before walking to the door. jack stood there, looking as handsome as ever, but there was a hint of concern in his eyes.

"hey," he said softly, stepping inside and giving her a quick kiss on the cheek. "everything okay? you sounded... off, on the phone."

ollie nodded, motioning for him to sit on the couch. she joined him, tucking her legs under her as she faced him. "jack, there's something we need to talk about."

he looked at her, his expression shifting to one of worry. "what's going on, ollie?"

she took another deep breath, trying to steady her voice. "i've been thinking a lot about us, about our relationship. and... i don't think it's working."

jack's face fell, but he didn't interrupt her. he just listened, his eyes never leaving hers.

"you're an amazing guy, jack. you're kind, and sweet, and you've always been there for me. but... i feel like we're not on the same page. our lives are so different, and it's starting to take a toll on us."

he nodded slowly, processing her words. "is this about me not understanding your lifestyle?"

ollie bit her lip, nodding. "partly, yes. i need someone who gets it, who can be a part of it with me. and you deserve someone who fits into your world too, someone who makes you happy in a way that i can't."

jack was silent for a moment, then he sighed. "i had a feeling this was coming. i could see it in the way you've been acting lately. but... is there more to it than that?"

ollie looked down, her fingers twisting together. "what do you mean?"

"i mean... is there someone else? is it jude?" his voice was calm, but she could hear the hurt and a hint of soft anger underlying it.

her head snapped up, eyes wide. "jack, no. jude and i... we're just friends. we've always been just friends."

"are you sure?" he asked, his tone firmer now, a mix of frustration and hurt in his eyes. "because i've seen the way you two talk to each other, and the way you look at him... it's different, ollie. it feels like there's something more."

she shook her head, tears brimming in her eyes. "jack, i promise you, there's nothing going on between jude and me. but... you're right. our connection is different. he's been a part of my life for so long, and maybe that's confusing things for both of us."

jack's jaw tightened, and he looked away for a moment, trying to keep his emotions in check. "so, it's not just about me not understanding your lifestyle. it's also about jude being in the picture, isn't it?"

ollie felt a pang of guilt. "jack, jude has always been a part of my life, but he's not the reason I'm breaking up with you. it's about us and what we need."

"but can you honestly say that he hasn't influenced your decision at all?" jack's voice was soft but edged with frustration and a rising tension.

she hesitated, and that was enough of an answer for him. "i knew it," he muttered, shaking his head. "it's like I've been competing with him this whole time, and i didn't even realize it."