𝐏𝐋𝐄𝐀𝐒𝐄 𝐏𝐋𝐄𝐀𝐒𝐄 𝐏𝐋𝐄𝐀𝐒𝐄¹, jack champion

073, 𝐧𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐫 𝐦𝐢𝐧𝐝

073, 𝐧𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐫 𝐦𝐢𝐧𝐝
irl
(listen to 'loml' — taylor
swift, for this chapter!
this isn't incredibly long
but it hurts💔)

THIRD PERSON +
july 3, 2024

The third of July loomed heavy over Jack, like an ominous storm cloud refusing to break.

He had spent the last few days stewing in his own thoughts, knowing that the conversation with Juniper had to happen. Ever since she'd returned from Dublin two days ago, he had chickened out of telling her the truth about his extended stay in New Zealand.

He had considered waiting until after her birthday—giving her those eight days of happiness and peace—but the guilt gnawed at him. How could he ruin everything just days before he was set to leave? It felt cowardly, and he knew it. The whole decision itself felt cowardly, but what else was he to do?

The past few nights, sleep had been a fleeting illusion for him. He lay awake, staring at the ceiling, thinking about their future—every plan they'd made, every dream they'd talked about—feeling them slowly unwind in his hands. He could feel the crushing weight of the decision that was now almost inevitable. Every time he thought about it, tears welled up in his eyes. He despised the thought of losing her, of letting her go, but even more, he hated the idea of her sacrificing everything she'd worked for just to keep them afloat.

Ten months.

It seemed like an eternity.

Jack loved Juniper more than he thought was humanly possible, but being halfway across the world for that long—with her busy tour schedule, her growing career—it seemed impossible to maintain what they had. He didn't want to be the one to make her suffer through it, or worse, force her to choose between him and her career. And so, he had made up his mind.

As much as it tore him apart, as much as his heart screamed to hold on—

he had to break up with her.

His brain insisted it was for the best, even though every fibre of his being recoiled at the thought.

That night, he finally gathered the courage to tell her. They were sitting on the couch in her apartment, where the warm glow of the city that knew their love filtered in through the windows, casting soft shadows on the walls.

Jack sat stiffly, hands fidgeting in his lap, unable to meet her eyes.

"Juniper, I... I need to tell you something," he began, his voice heavy.

She shifted slightly, pulling away to look at him. The concern on her face was immediate at the use of her name and not a term of endearment or nickname.

"What's wrong?" she asked softly, sensing the weight behind his words.

He took a deep breath, his heart pounded in his chest, the feeling of this unmovable weight on his chest constricting his lungs of air until he says the words.

"I'm going to be in New Zealand for ten months," he finally said, his voice barely above a whisper.

Her brow furrowed, confusion crossing her face.

"Wait—what? Ten months?" She looked at him, trying to comprehend what he was saying. "You didn't tell me it was going to be that long."

"I didn't know until recently," Jack admitted, his hands fidgeting in his lap. "I thought it was just a couple of months, but... it's most of the shoot."