𝐋𝐎𝐌𝐋², jack champion

041, 𝐢𝐭'𝐬 𝐜𝐨𝐥𝐝𝐞𝐫 𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐞 𝐢𝐧𝐬𝐢𝐝𝐞 𝐢𝐧 𝐬𝐢𝐥𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐞

041, 𝐢𝐭'𝐬 𝐜𝐨𝐥𝐝𝐞𝐫 𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐞 𝐢𝐧𝐬𝐢𝐝𝐞 𝐢𝐧 𝐬𝐢𝐥𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐞
irl + social media
(song for this chapter is 'come
out and play' — billie eilish.

also i lowkey teared up writing
this with the music in the back,
i miss them so much </3 this
chapter and the next are direct
continuations, i just split it in
two so it wasn't too long!)

THIRD PERSON +
december 10, 2024

Juniper nestled deeper into her blanket, watching Kevin McCallister outwit burglars on her TV as snow drifted lazily outside her window.

The apartment was still, her little sanctuary warmed with cinnamon-scented candles and scattered decorations she'd thrown up in an attempt to make it feel like Christmas. But the quiet felt heavy, and despite the holiday cheer, she couldn't shake the restlessness that had tugged at her since she left Jack's apartment the day before.

Clearing the air with him had been freeing, but she hadn't been able to stop replaying their conversation over and over, hearing his voice echo in her mind. That vulnerability he'd shown her, the way he'd held back even when it must have taken everything in him to stay silent, waiting for her to make the first move. He was respecting her boundaries, and that alone made her heart ache a little.

Should I go see him before he leaves? The thought had been lingering all morning, but something held her back from pulling out her phone and sending that text. Maybe it was the part of her that still needed to sort out where she stood, what she truly wanted. Or maybe it was just the lingering fear of stepping too close too soon, of opening up wounds she was only just starting to let heal.

With a sigh, she tossed off the blanket and decided that she couldn't spend the day wallowing in thoughts of what-ifs. She needed a change of scenery, a break from the four walls of her apartment that had started to feel too small.

After pulling on a pair of baggy jeans, a cozy sweater, and her long black coat, she rummaged around for her scarf and hat. Wrapped up and nearly unrecognisable under layers of winter clothes, she slipped on her boots, grabbed her AirPods, and headed out the door. Outside, the air was crisp, carrying with it the faint sounds of Christmas music from a nearby street vendor and the smell of roasted chestnuts.

As she tucked her AirPods in and let a Christmas playlist fill her ears, she grabbed a hot chocolate from the café just next to her apartment. Juniper savored the warmth in her hands, taking a sip as she made her way down the bustling, snow-covered sidewalks of New York City. Snowflakes fell gently around her, dusting her coat and settling on the brim of her hat as she walked, blending into the crowd but feeling strangely detached, her thoughts drifting as she took in the scenes around her.

She made her way through the streets of Manhattan, passing shop windows dressed up for the season, filled with holiday lights and festive displays. The energy of the city was comforting, somehow—a vibrant pulse of life that contrasted with the quiet contemplation weighing down her mind. New York in December had always felt magical to her, the city transformed into a winter wonderland where everything seemed possible, even second chances.

Juniper reached Central Park, letting her feet carry her to the place that always felt like her own little oasis within the city.

The park was crowded with families and couples bundled up in layers, laughing as they built snowmen or attempted to sled down even the tiniest hills. She watched them with a soft smile, reminded of why she loved this place so much. Los Angeles had its charm, but there was something grounding about New York in the winter—the cold biting against her cheeks, the city wrapped up in scarves and coats, huddled against the cold but alive with warmth in other ways.