034, 𝐠𝐨𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐬𝐨𝐦𝐞𝐰𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐞, 𝐬𝐚𝐦𝐞 irl + social media (there's a few gracie references in this chapter and bonus points to anyone who picks them up! also bonus points to someone who guesses a future juni song of sabrina's that i hinted at one point!)
THIRD PERSON + december 3, 2024
The airport was a blur of voices and faces as Jack made his way through LAX during his layover.
He had realised he had been running away for long enough, it was time to run towards what he wanted. Juniper. After a quick call to Jenna, who confirmed Juniper would be back in New York for the VMAs, he had gone to the producers to beg for a few days off, pulling every possible favour he could. They had given him a week off, saying that he deserved the break. And minutes later he had booked his flights, ready to go back home.
His thoughts were a chaotic mess, and his heart hammered with each passing minute as he thought about what lay ahead. New York. Juniper. He hadn't been able to stop thinking about her since the breakup. No matter how many miles were between them, no matter how many long nights he'd spent staring at his phone with a thousand unsent messages. The only way to get any peace was to go to her, to look her in the eyes and tell her everything.
He found himself wandering near the departure gate, his fingers wrapped around a small, battered photo in his hand. It was a picture of him and Juniper in Paris, taken on a whim one sunny afternoon. He'd kept this photo with him everywhere, even after they broke up.
Lost in the memory, he felt a strange sensation tug at him—equal parts warmth and regret. It was so vivid that, for a second, he could almost hear her laugh again.
"Jack?"
He turned, startled, as the barista placed his oat milk latte down on the counter. Blinking, he looked back down at the photo, the image blurring slightly as emotions surged. He let out a long sigh, slipping the photo back into his jacket pocket before grabbing his drink, muttering a quiet 'thanks.'
He'd spent the past several months without Juniper, trying to convince himself he could live with his decision, but it had become painfully clear that he was wrong.
He couldn't let things stay this way.
A voice crackled over the loudspeaker, announcing that his flight to New York was set to board soon. He took a seat, tapping his foot nervously as he thought about what he'd say to her when he finally saw her. Would he apologise first? Should he tell her everything that had been weighing on his heart—the regret, the loneliness, the sleepless nights spent replaying every moment, every word of their last conversation?
He shook his head slightly, running a hand through his hair. "Come on, Jack," he muttered to himself. "Get it together. You've got one shot at this. Don't mess it up."
The boarding line began to form, and he joined it, heart racing. Once he was seated on the plane, he found himself pulling the photo out again, staring down at it. He let his fingers trace the lines of her smile, the carefree glint in her eyes.
Why'd I ever let this go? he thought to himself, leaning his head back against the seat.
The plane began to taxi, and he felt a pang of guilt as he imagined the hurt look on her face when he told her it was better to let go, that they couldn't make it work. He had told himself it was for the best, that he couldn't give her the stability she deserved, especially with his career pulling him in a million directions. But now, the thought of her not being in his life was unbearable.
During the flight, he found himself going over the words he would say, rehearsing them in his mind. He wanted to tell her that he was sorry—sorry for his cowardice, for running instead of staying and fighting for them. He wanted to tell her that the nights he'd spent without her were hollow, that no amount of work or distance could change the way he felt. And he wanted to beg for another chance, even if he didn't deserve one.
He closed his eyes, resting his head against the seat. The hum of the plane became a steady rhythm, and his mind drifted back to those last few days before they'd broken up. Late-night conversations on her couch, her laugh ringing out as they watched reruns of her favorite shows. The way she'd curl up against him, her head resting on his chest, her heartbeat in perfect rhythm with his. And then the silence that had followed—weeks of it, broken only by the sound of his own regret.
As the plane began its descent into New York, he clutched the photo again, his grip tightening. He couldn't turn back now.
He didn't want to.
Once the plane touched down, he pulled out his phone, checking his messages. His fingers hovered over Juniper's contact, and for a moment, he considered calling her right then and there. But he hesitated, a wave of uncertainty washing over him.
What if she doesn't want to see me? The question hung heavy in his mind. She hadn't responded to the voicemail he'd left on his birthday. Granted, he could barely remember what he'd said in it, but her silence had spoken volumes. He wouldn't blame her if she'd decided to move on, if she'd found comfort in someone else's arms.
The thought stung, but he forced himself to push it aside.
With a deep breath, he slipped the photo back into his pocket and started walking through the airport, his mind set on one thing. He didn't know what awaited him, but he was determined to face it.
Juniper was worth every risk, every unanswered question, every mile he'd traveled.
She was the risk he was willing to take.
—
juniperwren posted to their story!
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-redwinesupernova speaks!!
ooooo any guesses for what's going to happen?
who else thought when someone said "jack" at the airport it was juni?😭
jack and this photo is the cutest thing ever :') keep an eye out for more moments with this!!
as always, please vote and comment all your thoughts and theories as i'd LOVE to hear them!!
