𝐋𝐎𝐌𝐋², jack champion

030, 𝐫𝐨𝐜𝐤𝐥𝐚𝐧𝐝

030, 𝐫𝐨𝐜𝐤𝐥𝐚𝐧𝐝
irl
(song for this chapter is
'rockland' — gracie abrams)

THIRD PERSON +
november 16, 2024

Before Juniper could stop herself, she pressed the button. Her heart pounded in her chest as she waited for the call to ring.

One ring... two—

Her breath caught in her throat, and without thinking:

she hung up.

Panic surged through her, her hand trembling as she threw the phone onto the couch beside her, like it had burned her. What did I just do? Her chest tightened, her breath coming in short, sharp gasps. She buried her face in her hands, trying to will the anxiety away, but it only grew stronger.

The weight of everything—missing Jack, the confusion with Vinnie, the constant media speculation—crashed down on her all at once. Tears sprang to her eyes, and before she could control them, sobs wracked her body. She curled up on the couch, pulling her knees to her chest, shaking from the intensity of her emotions.

It felt like she had been holding it all in for too long, and now that she'd finally let go, it was impossible to stop. Every suppressed feeling—the heartbreak, the guilt, the longing—came pouring out in waves. The thought of Jack, his birthday, the memories they shared, all of it swirled in her mind like a storm she couldn't escape.

She cried until her throat was raw, her sobs gradually slowing as exhaustion took over. Her eyes grew heavy, the weight of her emotions draining her, and before long, she drifted off to sleep, curled up in the quiet solitude of her living room.

The phone, lying beside her on the couch, was still unlocked, Jack's name illuminated on the screen.

—

The bar was loud, filled with the hum of chatter, the clinking of glasses, and the low thrum of music. Jack sat at a high-top table, staring into his drink. He was already regretting letting the cast drag him here. Birthdays weren't something he was excited about lately, not when the one person he wanted to spend them with wasn't around.

Bailey nudged him from the side, her eyes sparkling with excitement. "Come on, Jack! Lighten up! It's your birthday. You're allowed to have fun."

Jack forced a smile, the corners of his mouth twitching as he lifted his glass. "Yeah, yeah, I'm trying."

Across the table, Jamie and Britain were already in high spirits, throwing back shots and laughing at some inside joke. Jack wasn't really paying attention. His mind kept wandering, his thoughts drifting to the one thing—the one person—he couldn't stop thinking about, no matter how hard he tried.

"Dude, seriously," Britain said, leaning in closer to Jack. "You've gotta stop looking so miserable. We're not letting you sit here and sulk all night."

"I'm not sulking," Jack mumbled, taking a half-hearted sip of his drink.

The whiskey burned down his throat, but it wasn't the kind of warmth he was looking for. It wasn't the warmth he used to feel with her. Juniper.

This wasn't his scene really. Jack wasn't a drinker if he was honest. His health meant a lot to him, he'd always prided himself on treating his body like a temple — going to the gym, eating healthy (most of the time), no alcohol (bar special occasions), do yoga, meditate etc.