𝐋𝐎𝐌𝐋², jack champion

047, '𝐭𝐢𝐬 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐬𝐞𝐚𝐬𝐨𝐧 𝐢 𝐠𝐮𝐞𝐬𝐬

047, '𝐭𝐢𝐬 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐬𝐞𝐚𝐬𝐨𝐧 𝐢 𝐠𝐮𝐞𝐬𝐬
irl + social media
(you might be mad at juni
in this chapter, but i want to
write her with her own flaws
too. she's genuinely awful at
communication, but we love
her😝)

THIRD PERSON +
december 15, 2024

Juniper sat alone in the living room, her phone resting on her lap as she stared at it, feeling the weight of everything that had happened over the last twenty-four hours.

Her mind was swirling with emotions, a mix of confusion, frustration, and the aching sense of betrayal. Seeing Jack with Zara on The Tea Room's Instagram post had felt like a punch to the gut. She'd been trying to tell herself that it was nothing, that Jack wouldn't just move on like that, but the nagging doubts wouldn't go away.

Part of her was still reeling from the realisation that Jack hadn't even returned to New Zealand. All this time, she'd thought he was halfway across the world, filming and moving forward with his life while they were both trying to process the fallout from their breakup. But he was here, in the same country, and they could have been spending time together, working things out.

Instead, he'd been out with Zara, laughing, looking... happy.

Juniper clenched her hands in her lap, feeling the prickle of tears but refusing to let them fall. She'd been hurt enough, but she couldn't let herself spiral. Not again. Vinnie and Jenna had been the only source grounding her, offering a steady presence that she desperately needed. This morning, Vinnie had suggested she reach out to Jack, to clear the air. He'd reminded her that she deserved answers, that neither of them should be left in the dark, feeding off rumors and assumptions. She knew he was right.

Vinnie had given her a supportive squeeze on her shoulder before disappearing upstairs to her room, giving her the privacy she needed. She was grateful for his understanding; he seemed to know exactly when to push and when to step back. Now, she was alone, staring at her phone screen, trying to summon the courage to do what she knew she had to.

With a shaky breath, Juniper typed out a quick text to Jack.

juni🤍
can we call?
we need to talk

She watched the screen, her heart pounding as she waited for his response. It didn't take long. His reply was almost immediate, a simple, curt yeah. No emojis, no warmth, just that single word. She could almost hear the tension in his voice through the text alone, and it made her stomach twist.

The phone was heavy in her hand as she prepared to make the call, her mind racing with everything she wanted to say, everything she needed to hear from him. She felt that familiar pang of vulnerability, the fear of exposing herself, of opening up and potentially facing the hurt head-on. But she couldn't back out now. She pressed the call button, the ringing filling the silent room, each ring echoing in her chest like a heartbeat.

Before he answered, her mind flashed back to the last time they'd spoken in person, the laughter they'd shared, the softness of his touch when he'd patched her up after the fall, the way they slipped back into familiarity with takeout and movies. She'd thought they were on the same page, thought they were both committed to making things work despite the distance, despite the complications. She'd never imagined things would end up like this, with her feeling like she was teetering on the edge of losing him completely.

Again.

She waited, holding her breath, preparing herself for whatever was about to come. Each ring felt like an eternity, stretching the tension in her chest tighter and tighter until she thought she'd snap. Just as she was about to lose her nerve, the call connected.