don’t mean it
Description: JuJu and Rian have an argument after JuJu is seen getting too close with someone else. It turns into something neither of them actually means—and almost breaks them before they realize what they really feel.
It starts with a picture.
That’s always how it starts now.
A blurry one.
Someone posted it.
JuJu laughing.
Leaning in.
Close.
Too close.
Rian sees it while she’s mid-edit.
And something in her chest just drops.
She doesn’t text right away.
Doesn’t call.
She just stares at it for a long time.
Then she shows up.
Knock on JuJu’s door.
Fast.
Sharp.
JuJu opens it, confused.
“Rian?”
Rian doesn’t step inside.
Not yet.
“Who is that?”
JuJu blinks.
“What?”
“The girl in the picture.”
Silence.
JuJu exhales.
“Oh my God.”
“It’s a simple question.”
“It’s a teammate.”
Rian laughs once.
Cold.
“Right.”
JuJu frowns now.
“What is that supposed to mean?”
“It means you were pretty comfortable.”
JuJu steps closer to the doorframe.
“So what, I’m not allowed to talk to people now?”
“That’s not what I said.”
“Then what are you saying?”
Rian’s voice rises slightly.
“I’m saying it doesn’t look like nothing.”
JuJu goes quiet for half a second.
Then:
“You don’t trust me.”
That lands.
Rian’s jaw tightens.
“I don’t know what to trust.”
That makes it worse.
JuJu shakes her head slowly.
“So that’s it?”
Rian finally looks at her fully.
“I just don’t get how you can act like that with her and then look at me like I’m crazy for noticing.”
JuJu’s voice drops.
“I didn’t do anything.”
“Yeah, okay.”
That snaps something.
JuJu steps out of the doorway now.
“You think I’m what? Cheating on you?”
“I didn’t say that.”
“You didn’t have to.”
Silence.
Heavy.
Then Rian says it.
“I think you’d be fine without me anyway.”
JuJu freezes.
“What?”
Rian looks away immediately.
Because she didn’t mean to say it.
But it’s out.
JuJu’s voice changes.
“…wow.”
“No—”
“So that’s what this is about?”
Rian shakes her head fast.
“JuJu—”
“You think I don’t care about you.”
Rian’s breathing gets uneven.
“I think I care more than you do.”
That does it.
JuJu laughs once.
Except it’s not funny.
“You don’t even know what I feel.”
Rian snaps.
“Then tell me!”
JuJu steps forward.
“I shouldn’t have to prove it!”
Rian’s eyes are glassy now.
“Then why does it feel like I’m the only one trying?”
JuJu shakes her head.
“That’s not true.”
“It feels true!”
And then—
quiet.
Too quiet.
Both of them breathing hard.
Both of them shaking slightly now.
JuJu’s voice breaks first.
“You really think I don’t love you?”
Rian doesn’t answer fast enough.
That’s the problem.
JuJu nods slowly.
“…wow.”
Rian panics immediately.
“No, I—”
“You know what?” JuJu says, voice cracking. “Maybe you’re right.”
Rian freezes.
JuJu continues, softer now but worse.
“Maybe I don’t know how to love people properly.”
Rian shakes her head.
“No. Stop.”
“I don’t think you love me either,” JuJu says quietly.
That hits like a punch.
Rian’s face breaks instantly.
“That’s not—”
But she can’t finish it.
Because JuJu’s already crying now.
And suddenly neither of them is standing strong anymore.
Just two people who said too much too fast.
Rian steps forward carefully.
“Ju—”
“I didn’t mean it,” JuJu whispers immediately.
Rian stops.
JuJu wipes her face quickly, embarrassed.
“I didn’t mean any of it.”
Rian’s voice is shaky now.
“Me neither.”
Silence again.
But different.
Empty.
Regretful.
Rian reaches out slowly.
“Can I—?”
JuJu nods immediately.
And Rian pulls her in.
Careful this time.
Not angry.
Just holding her.
JuJu grips her hoodie like she’s scared she’ll disappear.
“I hate fighting with you,” JuJu whispers.
Rian shakes her head.
“Me too.”
JuJu pulls back just enough to look at her.
“I was jealous too,” she admits quietly.
Rian blinks.
“…you were?”
JuJu nods.
“Yeah.”
Rian exhales a laugh through tears.
“That would’ve been helpful information earlier.”
JuJu lets out a weak smile.
“Yeah.”
Rian brushes her thumb under JuJu’s eye.
“I don’t want anyone else.”
JuJu nods.
“I know.”
A pause.
Then Rian whispers:
“I just get scared.”
JuJu leans forward slightly.
“Me too.”
And this time—
it doesn’t break them.
It fixes them.
Rian kisses her forehead softly.
JuJu closes her eyes.
And for the first time since the argument started
they finally stop falling apart.