𝐋𝐎𝐌𝐋², jack champion

039, 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐨𝐥𝐝 𝐟𝐚𝐦𝐢𝐥𝐢𝐚𝐫 𝐛𝐨𝐝𝐲 𝐚𝐜𝐡𝐞

039, 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐨𝐥𝐝 𝐟𝐚𝐦𝐢𝐥𝐢𝐚𝐫 𝐛𝐨𝐝𝐲 𝐚𝐜𝐡𝐞
irl
(song for this chapter is 'it's time
to go' — taylor swift)

THIRD PERSON +
december 9, 2024

Juniper's fingers tightened around the steering wheel as she sat outside Jack's house, her car idling quietly.

The soft glow of the porch light illuminated the slight fall of snow, turning the world around her into a silent, snow-dusted landscape. She let her gaze linger on the faint light spilling out from behind Jack's living room blinds, the dim glow of familiarity she hadn't seen in what felt like an eternity. It anchored her, grounding her to the reality of why she was here.

Jack was home.

Taking a deep, steadying breath, Juniper closed her eyes, willing herself to find courage. She thought of the voices of her friends, Vinnie and Jenna, their encouragement from the night before. They'd told her this didn't make her weak, that seeking answers, even just clarity, was part of the healing process. She knew they were right, but that didn't stop her heart from hammering in her chest as she reminded herself that she was doing this for herself—no one else.

This was her decision.

With a shiver, Juniper turned off the engine. The silence that followed seemed almost deafening, broken only by the soft rush of the wind outside and the occasional crunch of snow beneath her tires. Her breath puffed into the cold as she opened the door, snowflakes drifting down to cling to her hair and lashes. As she walked toward the porch, each step felt heavier than the last, carrying with it months of unspoken words and unresolved emotions.

This was it—the moment that had been hanging between them like an unfinished sentence.

Reaching the door, she lifted her hand to knock, pausing just before her knuckles touched the wood. She let herself remember the familiar rhythm she always used to signal it was her, a tiny inside joke between them. Five knocks—light, quick taps that only she would use. She hesitated for a split second, then knocked four times, feeling the sound echo through the cold night air.

Inside, Jack was curled up on the couch, his gaze glued to the TV screen where Dirty Dancing was playing.

It had been Juniper's favorite, a movie she'd insisted they watch together countless times. He hadn't meant to put it on tonight—he'd just been flipping through channels, and there it was, pulling him into memories he hadn't been able to shake. He had drifted into a sort of trance, reliving the moments when Juniper would excitedly quote lines or sing along with the songs, the image of her beside him so vivid he almost felt she was there.

Then he heard it.

The knock. A soft, rhythmic tap-tap-tap-tap-tap, just the way she used to do. His breath caught, the sound so familiar that he thought he was imagining it. It had to be in his head, right? Just the product of his longing, the ache that had settled in him since they'd been apart. But there it was again, the same five taps, clear and distinct, echoing down the hallway.

Jack bolted upright, the remote slipping from his hand onto the couch as he stared toward the door. His heart began to race, pounding so hard he could hear it in his ears. Hands trembling slightly, he ran a quick hand through his hair, fingers combing through the disheveled strands in an attempt to look even the slightest bit presentable. His mind raced, barely able to process the thought that she could actually be there, standing just on the other side of his door.