AN: Okay. This chapter is small since it's an interlude and has just 2 confessions. It's to kickstart the new volume. In the next chapter, we'll see Jack and what he has done in 2 years. Also, I've taken some suggestions related to the books MC is writing. You'll get that in the next ch.
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[Year: 2011]
//Phil's Confession//
Phil sat forward in his chair, hands clasped together like he was about to pitch the most important deal of his life. His expression carried a mix of excitement and caution, like someone who had learned lessons the hard way but was still hopeful.
"Okay, so… we're going back to Miami," he began, nodding slowly as if confirming it to himself.
"For Jack's nineteenth birthday."
He let that sit for a second, then smiled.
"And yes, before you ask, Haley and Jack are still together. I know. I know. Everyone thought it was going to be one of those teenage relationships that burns bright and then… poof."
He made a small explosion gesture with his hands.
"Nope. Two years later, still going strong. Like… suspiciously strong."
Phil leaned in slightly, lowering his voice like he was sharing classified information.
"They don't even fight properly. It's always like, 'let's communicate' and 'I understand your perspective' and I'm just sitting there like… where is the drama? Where is the door slamming?"
He shook his head, half amused, and half impressed.
"Claire was convinced they'd break up. She had timelines, predictions, and charts. Okay, maybe not charts, but she had her doubts."
A small grin slipped through.
"She was wrong. I was right."
He cleared his throat and straightened up.
"Anyway, Miami."
His expression shifted slightly, a little more cautious now.
"Now, technically, this is our third attempt at this trip."
He held up three fingers, then slowly lowered one.
"Last year, we had everything ready. Bags packed. Spirits high. And then…"
He paused, looking off like he was reliving it.
"Tornado."
…
[Flashback]
Phil stood at the airport, staring at the giant departure board as the word CANCELLED blinked back at him like it had personal issues with his happiness.
"Cancelled?" he repeated, turning to Claire with disbelief. "By weather? That's not even… our weather."
Claire crossed her arms, already annoyed. "Apparently tornadoes don't care about your vacation schedule."
Phil looked out through the glass windows, as if expecting to see a tornado personally apologizing.
"I had a whole vibe planned," he muttered. "Sunglasses, beach walk, casual father-in-law bonding…"
Luke leaned over. "You were going to wear socks with sandals again, weren't you?"
Phil didn't answer.
He just slowly put his sunglasses back into his pocket.
[Flashback End]
…
[Present time]
Phil shook his head and sighed. "Last year, nature really didn't help us." He raised another finger. "And the year before that…" His expression became tense, as if he already regretted remembering.
"I decided to make an impression."
A pause.
"A magic show."
…
[Flashback]
The beach was packed. Music, lights, people everywhere. Jack's birthday party was in full swing, and Phil stood near the center, dressed in his magician clothes, and he was holding a deck of cards with his usual confidence. He thought this was his chance to shine and impress everyone... Jack, his parents, and celebrities.
"Ladies and gentlemen," he announced, raising his voice over the crowd, "prepare to be amazed."
Haley covered her face immediately.
Claire whispered, "Oh no."
Phil ignored both of them and launched into his trick, shuffling the cards with dramatic flair.
"Pick a card, any card," he said, offering the deck to one of the guests.
The guest picked one.
Phil nodded, completely in control.
"Now, watch closely…"
Before he could continue, a loud squawk cut through the air.
Then another.
Phil froze.
A group of seagulls descended like they had been personally invited to ruin his career. One of them swooped down and grabbed a card straight out of his hand. Another went for the snacks. A third one landed way too close for comfort.
"Hey! No! That's part of the trick!" Phil shouted, trying to wave them away while still holding onto whatever dignity he had left. "Go away! Suchhhhh!"
One seagull flapped right in front of his face.
Phil ducked. "HEYYY!"
The crowd burst into laughter.
Jack stood off to the side, trying very hard not to laugh, failing completely.
Claire pinched the bridge of her nose.
Haley whispered, "I don't know him."
Phil attempted one last recovery, holding up a single remaining card.
"And for my final trick…"
Another seagull snatched it mid-sentence, then the other one pooped on his hat.
Phil stood there, empty-handed, staring at the sky like it had betrayed him personally.
[Flashback End]
...
[Present time]
Phil slowly leaned back in his chair, letting out a long breath.
"I got attacked by seagulls," he said, deadpan.
A small pause.
"In front of everyone."
Another pause.
"Jack, his parents, celebrities, and important people who probably went home and said, 'great party, weird magician.'"
He rubbed his face briefly.
"I couldn't even finish the trick. The seagulls finished it for me."
Phil sat there for a moment, letting the embarrassment settle before straightening up again.
"But this year…"
His tone shifted as he looked more focused and determined.
"This year is different."
He leaned forward again, eyes narrowing slightly like a man with a mission.
"I have a plan."
A small smile formed.
"No outdoor magic tricks."
He nodded firmly.
"I've learned."
Another beat.
"I'm going in prepared, calm, and… low-risk impressive."
He pointed at himself.
"This is my redemption trip."
Phil paused, then added quietly,
"I will not be remembered as the seagull guy."
A beat.
"…again."
He nodded once, sealing it like a promise.
"Miami, round three."
//Phil's confession END//
..
..
//Haley's Confession//
Haley sat forward on the couch, both hands gripping a pillow that she wasn't really using, more like she needed something to hold onto because her energy had nowhere else to go. Her foot tapped lightly against the floor, faster than usual, like she couldn't slow herself down even if she tried.
"Okay… so today is going to be very special," she said, her voice already carrying that mix of excitement and nerves.
She nodded to herself, like she was confirming it out loud.
"Like… really special. Not just 'oh cute date, we'll take pictures and eat cake' special. I mean… actual memory-core special."
A small smile slipped through as she looked off for a second.
"Jack's coming home today."
That alone changed her expression. Softer, warmer.
"He's been gone for months," she continued, her voice lowering just a little as she leaned back. "Yeah, actual months. Not the 'I'll see you tomorrow' kind. The 'different time zones, weird schedules, falling asleep on calls' kind."
She tilted her head slightly, thinking.
"Vancouver, San Francisco, Hawaii…" she counted on her fingers, then paused. "What's that movie's name again… oh yeah. Planets of the Apes."
She nodded once like that settled it.
"Anyway, he's been everywhere. And I've been… here. Working. Which, by the way, I got promoted."
That part came with a small spark of pride.
"Assistant designer. Which sounds fancy, but also means I do everything. I love it. Also, I get to order around six people under me."
She adjusted her position slightly, pulling the pillow closer now.
"So yeah… we've both been busy. Like… really busy."
A brief pause.
"And people always say long-distance is hard. That it doesn't work. That you drift, or you forget, or someone loses interest."
She shook her head immediately.
"Not us."
There was no hesitation in that.
"We talk. Like all the time. Video calls, texts, voice notes, random 'I miss you' messages in the middle of the day. And whenever we do get time…"
Her smile softened.
"We actually show up."
She looked down for a second, then back up.
"So yeah… we're good."
A small pause settled before her expression shifted again, something a little more nervous slipping in under the excitement.
"But today…" she said quietly, then inhaled once like she was about to say something bigger. "Today is his birthday."
She nodded slowly.
"And I got him something."
Another pause.
"Not like… a thing. Not a watch or a jacket or something safe."
Her fingers tightened slightly around the pillow.
"Something… more."
She hesitated for just a second, then looked straight ahead again, a small, nervous smile forming.
"Me."
The word came out softer, but it stayed there.
She nodded once, like she had already decided and there was no going back.
"We're going to do it tonight."
A quiet beat followed.
Her cheeks flushed just a little, but she didn't look away.
"I mean… we've been together for like three years. It's not like it's rushed or anything. And I trust him completely."
She let out a small breath, half laugh, half nerves.
"And yeah, I'm a little scared. Obviously. I'm not… completely calm about it."
Another small pause.
"But I also… want this."
She nodded again, slower this time.
"I want it to be with him and I want it to be right."
Her expression softened again, something more grounded settling in.
"So yeah… today is special."
A small smile returned, lighter now.
"Birthday, reunion, and…"
She exhaled once, then nodded with a quiet certainty.
"…a really big step."
She looked down for a second, then back up with a soft, steady smile.
"I just hope everything goes right."
//Haley's Confession End//
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