𝐋𝐎𝐌𝐋², jack champion

007, 𝐟𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐡 𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐫𝐭

007, 𝐟𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐡 𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐫𝐭
irl + social media

THIRD PERSON +
july 20, 2024

The past sixteen days felt like a blur for Juniper—an agonising blur of heartbreak, confusion, and emotional exhaustion.

It had been sixteen days since Jack had broken her heart, sixteen days since the world she thought was stable and strong had crumbled beneath her feet. And now, here she was, standing at LAX with three suitcases and a heavy heart, trying to find some semblance of peace in a city she hadn't called home in over a year.

Two days ago, Juniper made the impulsive but necessary decision to relocate back to Los Angeles. Every corner of New York City, from the cosy cafes she and Jack used to frequent to the subway stations where they had shared stolen glances, felt suffocating. Even her apartment—once a sanctuary—was now tainted with memories of him.

Jack was everywhere, and every trace of him was like a constant reminder of her broken heart. She knew that if she had any chance of healing, she had to leave. She had to distance herself from the memories, from the places they had called theirs.

It wasn't that Juniper was abandoning New York forever. She loved the city too much for that. But for now, she needed to step away.

Los Angeles, despite being a city that held its own share of memories, was different. It represented a fresh start. At least until she had to travel to London for her Eras Tour in twenty-six days.

Juniper hadn't been very active on social media lately. In fact, it had been almost a month since she had posted on her main accounts, and that was deliberate. She didn't want to face the endless speculation about her breakup with Jack, the rumors that were swirling online, or the intrusive gossip that was feeding the tabloids.

Every time she logged in, there were new stories, new fabrications about what had happened. Her manager and PR team were doing their best to shield her from the noise, but eventually, she knew she would have to address it. She just wasn't ready.

The flight from New York had been uneventful, but the moment she touched down in Los Angeles, her phone buzzed with a call from Vinnie.

She smiled, feeling a rare sense of warmth and relief wash over her. Vinnie had been a constant support throughout the past couple of weeks. He had checked in on her daily, sending her funny memes or dumb TikToks to make her laugh. His efforts weren't in vain—he was one of the few people who could still make her smile, even if just for a moment.

She answered the phone, already anticipating his usual playful tone, she could always practically hear his signature grin through the phone.

"Turn around," Vinnie said, his voice filled with excitement.

Juniper frowned but did as he said, turning her head to scan the airport terminal. And there he was, standing around ten feet away with that familiar grin on his face. The sight of him, standing there like a beacon of normalcy, was enough to make Juniper's eyes light up for the first time in what felt like ages.

She hurried over, embracing him in a tight hug.

"What are you doing here?" she asked, her voice filled with surprise.

"I figured you could use a friendly face," Vinnie replied, his tone casual but warm. He glanced down at her suitcases and added, "And maybe some help with these?"

Juniper chuckled, grateful for his presence. "You're a lifesaver," she admitted.

Vinnie grabbed two of her suitcases, and together they made their way out of the airport. Juniper kept her head down, cap pulled low, sunglasses on, and hoodie up. She knew the paparazzi were always lurking, waiting for any sign of her—especially after the breakup news had exploded. The last thing she wanted was for them to twist her reunion with Vinnie into some kind of scandal.