Say It First

Justin Bieber has spent the last few years living in a blur. Sold-out arenas, flashing cameras, a life so fast he barely remembers what it feels like to stop. When his management forces him to take a break in his hometown, the last thing he expects is to run into Soleil "Sunny" Beaumont, the girl who knew him before all of this.

She's still the same. Brilliant, stubborn, impossible to impress. And maybe that's exactly why he can't stay away.

At first, it's easy. Late-night drives, inside jokes, the kind of effortless pull that makes him forget why they ever lost touch. But the more time they spend together, the harder it is to pretend this is just a nostalgic distraction. Because Soleil isn't just a piece of home. She's the one thing that makes him feel like himself again.

And maybe, if things were different, that would be enough.

But Justin's world isn't normal, and falling for him means falling into the chaos too. He tries to keep her separate from it, to protect her from the cameras, the rumors, the version of himself the world picks apart. The closer they get, the more he realizes he's the one hurting her the most.

This was never meant to be easy. And if they're not careful, they're going to break each other's hearts before either of them has the chance to say how they really feel.

AU.

WARNINGS: COARSE LANGUAGE, MENTIONS OF ANXIETY, SUBSTANCE ABUSE.