𝐋𝐎𝐌𝐋², jack champion

014, 𝐬𝐨 𝐚𝐦𝐞𝐫𝐢𝐜𝐚𝐧

014, 𝐬𝐨 𝐚𝐦𝐞𝐫𝐢𝐜𝐚𝐧
irl + social media

THIRD PERSON +
august 15, 2024

The fifteenth had finally arrived—opening night for the final five Eras Tour shows at Wembley.

Juniper sat backstage, her hands shaking slightly as she ran through her setlist for what felt like the hundredth time. The buzzing energy in the stadium was palpable, even from here, and she could feel the weight of the moment settling on her chest. She had performed at Wembley before, back in June, but this time was different.

Five back-to-back shows, sold-out crowds of ninety-thousand people, and, most daunting of all, this was her first official appearance since her very public breakup with Jack.

Everything felt like it had been building up to this night. The tabloids had been relentless, dissecting every detail of their relationship, every Instagram post, every comment. Juniper knew people would be watching her, waiting to see how she'd handle the spotlight again, wondering if she'd crumble under the pressure. But she had to prove them wrong. She had to prove to herself that she could still do this, still thrive in the face of heartbreak.

The door to her dressing room creaked open, and Caleb, her longtime guitarist, stepped in. His presence immediately calmed her nerves. He'd been with her since the beginning, from her first small gigs in dingy bars to now, Wembley Stadium. His laid-back demeanor and steady presence were exactly what she needed.

"You ready?" he asked, sitting down next to her and tuning his guitar.

Juniper let out a shaky breath. "As ready as I'll ever be."

Caleb gave her a knowing look, his hands pausing over the strings. "You've got this, Juni. You've done it before, and you'll do it again. The crowd's going to love you—just like they always do."

She managed a small smile. "Thanks, C. It's just... everything that's happened, it feels like there's this weight on me tonight. Like I have something to prove."

"You don't have anything to prove to anyone," Caleb said firmly. "You're here because you're talented as hell and because people love your music. The rest? The noise? It doesn't matter. What matters is you, the music, and that crowd out there. That's it."

His words settled deep into her chest, grounding her. Caleb had always had this way of cutting through her spiraling thoughts with blunt but kind honesty. It was why he'd been by her side for so long.

"Thanks," she said softly, feeling a little more centered. "I just need to get through this."

"And you will," he assured her, standing up and slinging his guitar over his shoulder. "Now, come on. Let's go make some noise."

With a final nod, Juniper stood up, the jitters in her stomach still there but manageable. She could do this.

She had to.

As she walked towards the stage, she caught a glimpse of the VIP tent where Jenna and Louis were seated, cheering her on from the best seats in the house. Knowing they were there gave her an extra boost of confidence. Jenna had flown in from LA just for the show, and Louis had rearranged his schedule to make sure he could be there too. They had both been her rocks during the chaos of the breakup, especially Louis, whose quiet support had kept her grounded.

She planned on giving them a little shout-out during her set, as a small thank you for sticking by her through it all.

The lights dimmed as the opening beats of her intro track started to play. Juniper's heart raced as she stepped onto the stage, greeted by an eruption of cheers from the massive crowd. The sheer size of it was overwhelming—ninety-thousand people, all there for her and Taylor. She could feel their energy washing over her like a tidal wave.