chapter 2
840 Words
Rose's POV
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The town square was dazzling under the soft glow of Christmas lights. Snow blanketed the ground, garlands wrapped around lampposts, and the massive Christmas tree stood at the center like a beacon of holiday cheer. Families huddled together, children laughed as they sipped hot cocoa, and carolers sang in the distance.
It was idyllic, picture-perfect.
But I couldn't focus on the magic of the season. My attention was fixed on Jack Carter-the hometown hero, the soccer legend, and the man I had once loved-and broken.
He stood near the stage, commanding the crowd's attention with ease. The boy I'd known in high school was gone. In his place was a man who seemed untouchable, his presence magnetic, his movements precise and calculated. His smile for the cameras was polite but distant, and he hadn't looked in my direction once.
Not that I wanted him to.
"Rose, you good?" Ethan, my cameraman, asked as he adjusted the focus on his lens.
"Yeah," I lied, forcing a nod. My grip tightened on the microphone as I watched Jack shake hands with the mayor, his posture exuding effortless confidence.
I had spent five years avoiding this moment-telling myself I wouldn't have to face him, that he wouldn't remember me, or worse, that he wouldn't care. But now, standing here in the same square where we'd laughed and dreamed together as teenagers, I knew I'd been deluding myself.
He remembered. He cared. And judging by the coldness in his eyes earlier, he hated me.
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The ceremony began, and the mayor stepped up to the microphone, his booming voice carrying over the crowd. "Ladies and gentlemen, thank you for joining us tonight for this year's Christmas tree lighting! And what better way to celebrate than by welcoming home our very own Jack Carter?"
The applause was deafening, and Jack stepped forward, his hand raised in acknowledgment. The lights from the stage cast a golden glow over him, highlighting the sharp lines of his jaw and the way his dark eyes scanned the crowd with calculated precision.
He gave a short speech, thanking the town for their support and promising to make the charity match a success. His words were polished, his delivery flawless. But I couldn't shake the feeling that there was an invisible wall between him and the people who adored him.
"He's different, huh?" Ethan muttered, leaning closer to me.
"Yeah," I said softly, my voice barely audible over the cheers.
Different didn't even begin to describe it.
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As the countdown to the tree lighting began, I lowered my microphone, stealing glances at Jack.
"Ten... nine... eight..."
He was standing a few feet away, his expression unreadable as he stared at the massive tree. The glow of the holiday lights reflected in his dark eyes, but there was no warmth in them.
"Seven... six..."
The whispers started then, faint but unmistakable.
"Isn't that Rose Bennett?"
"She's the one who dumped him, right? At graduation?"
"Why's she even here? That's bold."
My stomach twisted as their words reached my ears. I kept my gaze forward, refusing to react, but my hands tightened around the microphone.
"Five... four..."
I dared a glance at Jack, hoping he hadn't heard. But the tension in his shoulders and the sharp set of his jaw told me otherwise.
"Three... two..."
The crowd fell silent, their anticipation palpable. The air crackled with excitement, but all I could feel was dread.
"One!"
The tree lit up in an explosion of color, the crowd erupting into applause and cheers. I turned to Ethan, signaling that the recording was done, but before I could move, a shadow loomed over me.
I froze.
"Still good at pretending, aren't you?"
The voice was low, cold, and unmistakably Jack's.
I turned slowly, my heart pounding in my chest. He stood inches away, his dark eyes boring into mine, his expression a mask of calm fury.
"Jack, I-"
"Save it." His voice was sharp enough to cut through the noise around us. "You've always been good at playing innocent, but we both know the truth, don't we?"
I opened my mouth, but no words came out. The weight of his anger hit me like a blow, knocking the air from my lungs.
He leaned in, his voice dropping to a whisper meant just for me. "You don't belong here, Rose. You never did."
And with that, he turned and walked away, leaving me rooted to the spot, the cheers of the crowd ringing hollow in my ears.
---
For a moment, I couldn't move. The lights of the tree blurred as tears pricked my eyes, but I blinked them away, my grip tightening on the microphone.
Behind me, Ethan approached cautiously. "Rose... what did he say?"
I swallowed hard, forcing my voice to steady. "Nothing. Let's wrap up."
But as we packed up the equipment, one thought echoed in my mind, louder than the cheers, louder than the carolers, louder than anything else.
Jack Carter wasn't just angry. He was declaring war.
- Writer
