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A Christmas Carol (J.M)

Based off of ‘A Christmas Carol’

Description: Four ghosts visit Jonah after his selfishness and greed results in the end of your relationship and roughly affects his life.

Warnings: maybe a few curse words, angst

Word Count: 7.5k

---

Jonah sat on the recording studio couch as he and the guys all decided that a break from singing would do them justice. He sat with his elbows perched on his spread knees, his chin resting on his clasped hands.

“Stop being so glum,” Corbyn threw a Starburst wrapper at the curly headed boy. “It’s the holiday season,” he jokingly sang, looking at Jonah, expecting him to sing back.

Jonah merely glanced at Corbyn before lazily looking back at his phone.

“Can we hurry this up? I have to get back home,” Jonah’s sultry voice spoke up as the guys goofed around the studio.

“It’s not like you have anyone to get back to,” Daniel snaps, growing agitated with Jonah’s pissy mood that he’s been sporting for the past two weeks. The guys all come to a halt once they comprehend what had just come out of Daniel’s mouth. They cautiously look at Jonah, whose jaw is clenched as his face turns red. He abruptly stood up and stormed out of the room, slamming the door shut after his exit.

“Way to go,” Zach sarcastically drawled as Jack pat Daniel on the back. “Way to go.”

---

Jonah was silently grateful that he had driven his own car to the rehearsal. Otherwise, he’d be stranded outside of the studio. He drove home with anger fresh in his blood. When he finally arrived at his destination, he climbed out of his car and quickly headed inside.

He muttered curses along the entire way as if he was swearing at the world.

Jonah Marais has been very moody in the past four weeks, the reasons varying.

He might as well grumble ‘bah-humbug’ as he opens his front door and makes his way inside, tugging his coat off and throwing it on the ground before kicking his shoes off. He runs a hand down his face just as his phone rings. He plans to ignore it, but when he pulls his phone out, he sees that it’s his mom calling.

“Hey, Mom,” Jonah greeted, placing the call on speaker and putting his phone on the counter of his kitchen.

“Hey, Sweetie. I just wanted to call to see if you were packed. You know how you are with procrastination-”

“Packed?” Jonah furrows his eyebrows. “Packed for what?”

“What do you mean?” His mother chuckled.

“What am I supposedly packing for?”

“Please tell me you’re joking,” she sighed.

“I wish I knew what you’re talking about, but I don’t, Mom,” Jonah frowned.

“For the past three months, we’ve planned for you to come down here for Christmas!” She grew annoyed with that fact that Christmas with his family has completely left his mind. “Get your head out of the gutter! What have you been doing, lately? You haven’t called in a while.”

“I’m sorry, I forgot,” Jonah clenches his eyes shut and rubs his forehead. “I’ve been distracted lately.”

“Well get your mind back on track. Your flight is on Friday.”

“Mom, I don’t think I can make it,” Jonah quickly ripped the band-aid off before they both went silent.

“What the hell do you mean you won’t make it? You have three days!”

“A lot is going on-”

“The girls were so excited,” she exclaims. “You’re entire family was excited! Jonah, you’re getting on that flight and you’re bringing yourself down here.”

“I’m sorry, Mom. I have a lot of work to do.”

“Doing what? The rest of the boys are going home to their families!” When Jonah doesn’t respond, Kristin lets out an irritated sigh. “What about Y/N?” Jonah took a sharp inhale at your name. “You know she’s having issues with her family. She wanted to come down, too!”

“Y/N wouldn’t be coming down even if I decided to,” Jonah huffed.

“And why’s that?”

Jonah bit his bottom lip as he felt his heart wrench. “Y/N and I aren’t together, Mom,” he distressfully pulls at his hair.

His mother gasped and Jonah could imagine her placing a hand over her heart.

“What happened?” He could hear the disappointment and sadness in her voice.

“Things just didn’t work out.”

“Jonah, Sweetie, that doesn’t make sense. You two have been together since you were starting high school. Now tell me what happened.”

“I don’t feel like explaining, Mom,” Jonah groaned.

“Well then give it to me short, at least.”

Jonah stared at the wall as he nibbled at the inside of his cheek before giving in. “She left me.”

“That doesn’t sound like my Y/N-”

“She isn’t your Y/N and she isn’t mine. She’s her own person and she’s the one who walked out on me.”

She bit her bottom lip as thousands of thoughts consumed her mind. She wanted to ask so many questions, but Jonah already seemed heated and she was in the midst of persuasion.

“Jonah,” she starts, but he cuts her off before she can continue.

“I’ve gotta go.” He hung up not a second later.

---

Jonah settled himself on his couch after changing into more comfortable clothing, a sigh leaving his lips as he turns the television on. A Christmas claymation appears and he frowns before instantly changing the channel, nostalgia over the show creeping in on him.

He’s only five minutes into a random show on cable when a knock at his door takes his attention away.

He doesn’t move for a moment, hoping that whoever it was would just go away, but they knocked again.

Jonah huffed and pulled himself to his feet before heading to the door, going to look through the peephole when another rapid knock is heard from the other side.

“I’m opening it!” He groans, opening the door hastily. He looks straight ahead of him and furrows his eyebrows before looking downward. His eyes widen when they land on the little girl that stands on his doorstep. “Em?”

“Hi, Jonah!” The seven-year-old girl pushed herself into his home dejectedly.

“Wha-?” He turns to her with wide eyes. “What are you doing here? Alone?”

“Talking to you,” she says in a ‘duh’ tone, pulling herself up onto one of the stools that were placed beside the outward counters.

“How did you get here, Em?”

“You seem worked up,” the young girl pursed her lips to the side.

Jonah stared at her with wide eyes, confused and concerned.

“Where’s… where’s your aunt?” He asked.

“You mean Y/N?” Emilia hummed, cocking her head to the side. She had her book bag on her back and she was clad in her school uniform. Jonah then remembered picking her up from school with you a few times. “She’s probably doing homework. That’s all she ever does these days.”

“Em, why are you here and how did you get here?”

“I’m not gonna answer that,” she placed her chin the palm of her hand as her feet swung back and forth.

“I’m gonna call your mom,” he reached into his pocket to feel for his phone and frowned when he couldn’t feel it. He knew it was there just a second ago.

“You don’t even have her number,” Jonah looked up to where Emilia was just sitting. He then looked towards the couch, where her voice had come from and saw her toying with his phone in her little hands.

“How did you-”

“I came here for a reason,” she said to herself, tapping her chin. “Oh yeah!” She smiles and turns to Jonah, who’s genuinely and deeply confused. “You’ve gotta get your life together, dude.”

“Excuse me?”

“You’re an asshole,” Emilia points at him and his eyes grow wide at her language. “You’ve been really mean to everybody lately, especially the guys and your family.”

“How would you know anything about-” he tries to talk but is once again interrupted by the seven-year-old.

“Not only have you been quite the Grinch, but you seriously messed Y/N up.”

“She left me,” Jonah argued.

“Because you’ve been an asshole,” Emilia says back.

“Watch your language, Em, seriously,” Jonah demands before running a hand through his hair. “Who sent you here! The guys? Y/N?”

“Nah,” she shakes her head.

Jonah begins to grow frustrated. “Give me my phone. I’m gonna call your mom, you might need a check-up.”

“With the way your heading, Jonah, your gonna end up down in the dumps,” she crossed her arms.

“What?”

“Your ego is way too bloated. You’ve become a real pain to your friends and even to your family. You might as well go steal Christmas with the Grinch, you big grouch.”

Jonah deeply frowned, staring at the girl who sat on his couch.

“With the life you’re living now, you might as well go buy three cats and get a head start on a lonely life.”

“You have no idea what you’re talking about,” Jonah scoffed.

“Ya know, there’s a chance to fix your fate before Christmas,” Emilia claims.

“I think you’ve been watching too many Christmas movies, kid.”

She ignored him. “Your attitude is messing with too many lives,” she wiggles her index finger at him. “Especially Y/N’s.”

Jonah glanced at the floor at the mention of his ex-girlfriend.

“So we’re giving you a chance of redemption.”

“One, who’s 'we’? And two, how do you even know what redemption means?”

“You’re missing the point here,” Emilia groans. “You’re hopeless.” With that being said and before Jonah could understand what was happening, she chucked his phone directly at his head.

---

Jonah jolted awake from his slumber with tired eyes. His first action was rapidly looking around him. He soon came to the conclusion that he had fallen asleep on the couch and everything that had to deal with Emilia was a dream.

Jonah ran a hand down his face as a groan left his mouth and he threw himself back into lying down on the couch.

He didn’t know how to feel about the non-existent conversation with your little sister that felt so real.

“Hey.”

A loud scream ripped from Jonah’s throat at the sound of someone beside him in his home. He frantically looked around himself and let out another yelp when his eyes landed on Zach.

“What the hell?” Jonah held a hand up to his heart. “You were not just there a second ago!”

“Yes, I was,” Zach crossed his arms.

“No, you weren’t,” Jonah argued.

“No, I wasn’t,” Zach admitted with a shrug.

“How did you get inside?”

“Kind of just thought it and boom, I’m here,” he cracked a smile.

“That’s not funny,” Jonah furrowed his eyebrows. “How did you get in? Was my door unlocked?”

“I wasn’t joking, Marais.”

“Did you just call me Marais?” Jonah asked.

“You have too many questions. Get up,” Zach ordered.

“Why?”

“Nice bracelet,” Zach randomly said. “Let me see.” In the blink of an eye, the bracelet that was just on his right wrist was no longer on him and now in Zach’s hand.

Jonah hopped onto his feet. “How in the hell did you do that?”

“Who got you this? A special someone?” Zach analyzed the item thoroughly, twirling in between his fingers.

“Give it back,” Jonah demanded.

“Whatever.” The bracelet suddenly disappeared from Zach’s hold and appeared back around Jonah’s wrist.

“Did you slip something into my coffee, earlier?” Jonah rubbed his eyes.

“No, why would you ask that? Is there no trust in our friendship?” Zach dramatically held a hand up to his heart before all dramatics disappeared. “Good, you’re up. Now we can get the show on the road.”

“What show?” Jonah asked.

“How about we make a deal? You stop asking questions and just stick around and the quicker you’ll be back on your couch snoozing away.”

“What the fuck is going on, Zach?” Jonah’s voice rose as he grew angrier.

Zach simply rolled his eyes with a sigh.

“So no deal? Fine.” He then rubbed his hands together before quickly clapping.

Both he and Jonah stood in silence, Zach staring at his hands intensely.

“What-”

“Just be patient,” Zach grumbled. Not two seconds later, Jonah felt a wave of something he couldn’t put his finger on pass throughout his body.

“Ah,” Zach sighed. “Here we are.”

Jonah felt his stomach drop when he came to the realization that they were no longer standing in his dim lighted living room.

“Another dream,” he facepalmed. “Alright. Let’s get this over with.”

He had to admit, this was the most realistic dream he had ever been in according to his memories.

“Sure, a dream,” Zach scoffed. “If that’ll stop you from asking so many questions, then we’ll go with that.”

Jonah observed his surrounding before a light bulb went off in his head.

“This is my backyard,” he stated.

“Correct,” Zach patted Jonah on the back before walking towards the back porch. Jonah glanced down at his feet and furrowed his eyes once he noticed that he only had socks on. He shifted on his feet, confused as to why the snow didn’t feel like freezing death.

He shook his head and went to follow Zach up the porch and through the back door that leads into his home.

“Woah,” Jonah stumbled a few inches back when he saw his home. “It looks like it did when I was younger.”

“You are mighty slow, Marais,” Zach commented as he flicked a child coat sleeve that hung on one of the hooks.

“You staying for dinner, Sweetie?” Jonah could hear his mother’s voice in the living room.

“My moms making dinner tonight, but I’ll come for dinner tomorrow!”

Jonah bit his bottom lip at the sound of your voice. It was different and higher, but he knew it was yours.

“Oh, your sister’s home tonight?” Jonah’s mother asks just as he and Zach turn the corner. He gasps when he sees the figures of you, his and his mother seven years ago. He was twelve and you were eleven.

You both were so young.

“Yeah, her first day of maternity leave,” you replied ecstatically.

“That’s amazing, truly.”

“Yeah, eventually she’s gonna pop,” twelve-year-old Jonah said.

Jonah merely chuckled at his younger self. Before he knew it, the scene before him fazed away and was replaced with another.

This time, you both were older. This was two years later, the year he had begun high-school and also the year your friendship had been threatened by the distance.

Now that the both of you were in different schools, you didn’t have as much time together as you did before and both of you were so sure your relationship would cut off there and then.

But one day you had shown up at Jonah’s house crying over how you missed him. You were going through tough times in school and him not being there made it even harder.

Jonah watched as he and you lied on his couch, your head on his shoulder as he ran his hand through your hair. Dry tear stains marked your cheeks as he murmured soothing things to you to calm you down, his lips on your forehead.

Jonah felt a small blush rise on his cheeks when he remembered that this was the night you two had shared your first kiss - the first of many. He turned to Zach with a questioning look and Zach knew exactly what was to be asked.

“Can we go now?” Jonah groaned.

“But we were just getting to the good part,” Zach grins, watching you glance up Jonah.

“Zach, please,” Jonah begged.

Zach rolled his eyes with a sigh. “Fine.” He turns from the scene and walks out of the living room and makes his way up the stairs.

“What’s the point of this?” Jonah suddenly asks as he follows behind.

“Have you never seen ‘A Christmas Carol’?” Zach scoffed, heading towards Jonah’s room.

“I have, but this isn’t real. Why does it feel so real?” Jonah furrowed his eyebrows as Zach opened Jonah’s bedroom door.

“Who said it wasn’t real?” Zach cocked his head to the side. Jonah opened his mouth to respond when his eyes landed on you and himself a little over two years ago. His eyes widened as he remembered everything that had to do with the scene placed out in front of him.

“This is the night,” he mumbled to himself, watching as his past self and you both lied on his bed laughing and giggling to a YouTube video he couldn’t remember what of. By then, you both had officially been a couple for a while.

“Yup,” Zach pops his 'p’, swinging back and forth on the balls of his feet. “The night.”

“Can we go?” Jonah diverted his eyes away from the both of your past selves.

“I’m enjoying myself,” Zach shrugged. “Watch.” His eyes narrow at Jonah as he points his finger at the both of your past selves on the bed. Jonah refuses to look But has no choice when the feeling of some force makes his head turn back and his eyes land on the sight in front of him.

Jonah watched as the seventeen-year-old version of himself stared down at you with adoration in his eyes. Past Jonah’s eyes didn’t leave your figure as you giggled, your attention on the video playing on the laptop screen.

He watches as your lips pursed when the video buffers because of the connection.

“Why are you looking at me like that?” You slightly tilt your head. Past Jonah furrows his eyebrows as if questioning how she knew. “I see you through the screen, you nut.”

He chuckles, trying to avoid answering the question when you turn around to face him. You raise your eyebrows when he suddenly leans in and places a lingering kiss on your lips. You don’t hesitate to respond, but before you could fully kiss back, he pulls away.

“I think I love you,” he whispers. Your entire body froze as you stared at him with wide eyes. “I mean, I don’t think. I know. I love you.”

He grows anxious as you sit there in awe, but his anxiety soon comes to an end when you begin beaming at him, your smile large and genuine.

“I love you, too!”

Jonah’s heart clenched as he watched his past self and your past self kiss once again.

“This is just too cute,” Zach holds a hand up to his heart, a pout on his lips. “Okay, now we can go. One more stop.”

“Why are you doing this?” Jonah asks just before Zach claps his hands, the sound echoing around them.

“Because it’s kind of my job,” Zach scoffs as what felt like a wave of air brushed past them.

Jonah immediately knew where they were. It was the studio he and the boys recorded at. As he looked at himself sitting in one of the swivel chairs, he instantly knew the scene that would take place in just a few moments.

“This one is more recent,” Zach says.

“I’m not watching this,” he objects.

Zach let out a laugh. “You say that as if you have a choice.” He points a finger at the two weeks prior version of Jonah, and Jonah was influenced by some force to watch.

He felt his heart beat increase when a soft tap hit the door.

Past Jonah got up with a groan and trudged to the door, opening it to reveal you.

“Hey,” he merely greeted before going back to his seat.

“What are you still doing here? It’s late,” you frown, slowly walking in.

“How’d you know I was here?”

“The boys told me you never left the studio,” you sighed. “Why are you doing this?”

“Doing what?” He scoffed. “Working? It’s kind of my job, Y/N.”

You rolled your eyes. “It’s the boys’ job, too, and they aren’t here trying to perfect everything at eleven in the evening.”

“Obviously, they don’t care as much as I do,” Jonah hummed.

“Could you just look at me for two seconds?” You frown, staring at the back of his head. He lets out a deep sigh and turns to you reluctantly. “Jonah this is getting out of hand.”

“What is?”

“This!” You gesture to the studio you’re in. “You, becoming a workaholic.”

“I have responsibilities, Y/N. I’m sorry if that comes in the way of me kissing you good night.”

You clench your teeth with agitation.

“I’m just trying to get shit done,” he snaps, turning back to the computer.

“Well if getting work done means that you become more of an asshole every day, then leave me out of it,” you argue.

“You know where the door is,” he responded heartlessly. You stared at the back of his head as your eyes become glossy with oncoming tears.

“Seriously?” You huff.

“Yes, seriously,” Jonah shrugged. “If you can’t deal with my life, then you can’t deal with me.”

“I’m not asking you to choose, Jonah!” You shout. “I’m asking you to take a break for one fucking second to look at me! I haven’t seen you in days and you never answer my calls or texts!”

“Because I’m always busy!” Jonah shouts back, turning to you and rising to his feet. “You were the one who told me to go forward with my dreams, and now that I’m where I want to be you want me to choose you over it? That’s not happening. So if that means we’re done, then we’re over.”

You stare at him as if he was a stranger.

“I came here for you,” you muttered, mentioning the fact that you moving to L.A was entirely because of him.

“That was your choice,” he huffed.

With a shake of the head, you quickly make your way to the door, tears falling down your face. Before you leave, you turn to him.

“I hope you accomplish everything you’ve ever wanted. Maybe it’ll be easier without me being apart of it.”

With that said, you walk out and slam the door behind you.

Past Jonah doesn’t say a thing as he stared at the door as random emotions passed through him.

Zach watched the events unfold with risen eyebrows, an amused look on his face. Jonah stared at himself with a puzzled expression, his jaw clenched as he felt his stomach drop.

“I should’ve gone after her,” he murmured to himself. “I should’ve done something. Anything.”

“But you didn’t,” Zach chuckled. Jonah quickly went from solemn to anger as he whipped his head towards Zach.

“You think it’s funny? Is my losing the love of my life entertaining to you?” He grew aggressive.

“I do, actually,” Zach shrugged. “Cliche story. Guy falls in love - guy grows in either wealth or fame - guy leaves everything good he has and deals with consequences. It’s nothing but on you, Marais.”

Jonah glares at Zach with pure hatred, irritation flooding his body. Without a second thought, he went to swing at the boy, but Zach caught his fist before it could hit his face.

“What? Did I piss you off with the truth?” Zach tilted his head to the side with a mocking grin on his face. Jonah didn’t reply, his glare being the only response. Zach let out a sigh. “Anyway, we’re done here.” Without a warning, Zach uses his free hand to slap Jonah in the face.

---

Jonah let’s out a loud grunt as he abruptly sits up from his lying position on the couch.

His eyes are wide as he looks around himself, his breathing a little heavier than normal.

After a few moments, he closes his eyes and lets out a small sigh, relieved that the dream was over.

“Let’s get this show on the road!”

Jonah let out a scream, quickly opening his eyes to reveal Jack and Daniel standing at the foot of his couch.

“You know the drill,” Jack grins as Jonah lets out a groan and falls back onto to couch.

“Let’s get to it,” Daniel then claps.

Jonah’s eyes are closed but he still feels the ripples surround his body. Before he knew it the couch beneath his body was gone and he fell to the ground harshly.

A grunt left his lips as he opened his eyes, staring at the ceiling of wherever they had just arrived.

Daniel lightly kicks Jonah’s side, causing him to huff and rise to his feet before he took a look around.

“Why are we here, again?” He asked as he came to the conclusion that they were in his living room again.

“Zach was right, you do ask a lot of questions,” Jack nudged Daniel, who nodded, with his elbow. Jonah rolled his eyes just before Svea, his younger sister, came running into the room. Her snow coat, hat, gloves and scarf covered most of her body as he sat on the couch. Esther, Jonah’s teenage sister, walked into the room while taking off her coat.

Jonah watched as his mother entered right after them, running a hand through her hair as she sighed.

“What’s the bad news?” Esther sighed, leaning back into her seat with her arms folded. Svea furrowed her eyebrows while glancing between her older sister and mother.

“What? Bad news?”

“With the way you’re acting, it can’t be good news,” Esther observed. “Unless you’re completely throwing me off here.”

“I’m sorry, girls,” Jonah’s mother frowned. “Jonah won’t be able to make it this Christmas.”

“What?!” Both girls cried out, their faces full of disappointment and sadness. “Why not?” Svea whined.

“He’s busy.”

“That’s such bull,” Esther scoffed.

“Esther!”

“What’s keeping him so busy that he can’t come down for Christmas?”

“His career.”

“The other guys are going home to their families,” Svea replied, her tone glum.

“Jonah decided to stay behind and continue working on their upcoming music.”

Jonah frowned as he saw his sisters sulk because of his absence.

“I can’t believe he’s doing this,” Esther rose from her seat and hastily walked out of the room.

“What about Y/N? Can she still come down?” Svea asked hopefully. “She’s spent every Christmas with us.”

“I’m not sure she can, Hun.”

Jonah’s eyes fell to the ground.

“What a disappointment,” Jack countered. “Can’t even spend time with your own family.”

Daniel clapped as Jonah kept quiet, deciding to ignore the provoking comments. Waves enveloped the three boys and in the blink of an eye, they stood in your current apartment hallway.

“If you haven’t caught up by now, we’re Present,” Daniel grinned as he leaned against the wall, his hands in his jean pockets.

Jonah glanced between the two and let out a snort.

“I was most definitely drugged,” he ran a hand down his face and kept it there. A chill ran through his bones as the sound of footsteps and the jingle of keys echo through the hallway.

“I can’t come in tonight, you know that,” your voice sounded foreign to his ears as you turned the corner of the hall and came into Jonah’s sight. “You gave me the next two weeks off because of how much I’ve been working.”

You were balancing your phone between your ear and shoulder as you held your keys, along with a coffee, in one hand, your laptop in another, mail underneath your arm and your bag dangling off of your shoulder. You looked stressed and sleep deprived, bags showing under your eyes that you tried to cover with makeup. You wore jeans and a sweatshirt, your hair pulled back into a braid as a pair of reading glasses sat on top of your nose.

“I have things to do,” you said into the phone as you reached your door. You then balance the coffee between your chin and left forearm as you try to open the door, attempting twice before finally achieving. You then kicked the door open with your foot and hurried inside.

The three boys quickly followed after you, Jonah’s eyes never leaving your body.

This entire experience, he had denied the probability of anything going on had been truly happening. Seeing you with his own eyes now had a part of him believe that what was going on wasn’t a dream.

“Sorry, Kai. It’s not happening,” you huff into the phone as you place your things on your living room table. “I have two essays don’t by tonight and not only that but I have to pick up my niece soon.” You stood up and placed a hand on your hip. “Call Nora. Maybe she’ll work… okay, bye.”

Jonah held a deep frown on his face when you hung up, a loud breath leaving your lips as she falls onto your couch. When you and he had been together, he would always make you relax before all of the working and school work took such a toll on you. It’s then that he feels hypocrisy seep into him.

You fall on your couch just as your phone rang. You instantly answered and placed the call on speaker before putting the device on the seat beside you.

“Hey, Ronnie,” you greet your sister after seeing the caller ID.

“Hey, guess who I saw at the mall earlier,” Veronica hummed.

“Santa?” You raise a single eyebrow.

“Yeah, him too, but I also saw the guys.”

Jonah watched as your eyes fell to the floor, immediately knowing who she was talking about.

“He wasn’t there,” Veronica added, the fact that 'he’ was Jonah being clear to everyone.

“Why are you telling me this?” You sit up and lean forward, grabbing your laptop from the table and pulling it onto your lap.

“They said that they miss you,” Veronica informs you.

“That’s nice,” you purse your lips to the side.

“I mean, they didn’t do anything. And it’s not fair to cut them off because of what he did.”

“I’m not cutting them off,” you reply. “I’m just taking a break. Seeing them would do nothing but remind me of everything.”

“Yeah,” Veronica sighed. You both went quiet for a few seconds before she hesitantly began once again. “They said he’s more of a douche bag than ever.”

“Why am I not surprised,” you murmured. “Why is it that every time you call you must bring up Jonah?”

“You say you’re moving on, but all you do is sulk in your room, work, eat and sleep.”

“It’s been two weeks, Ronnie,” you frown. “Jonah and I have been together four years. Not only did I lose the love of my life, but I lost my best friend.” Your eyes grew hazy as you stared at your blank television. “I thought he was the one.”

Jonah felt his heart clench at your words and he walked up to you hastily. He nearly forgot that you couldn’t see him and took a seat beside you, placing his hand on top of yours.

“I still love you,” he whispered, knowing that you couldn’t hear him. “I wish I could take everything back. I’m so sorry.”

“I know, I’m sorry,” Veronica’s voice took Jonah out of his daze. “I thought you guys would end up getting married.”

“The only thing he’s marrying is his career,” you murmured quietly to yourself, but Jonah and Veronica both heard. “I’ve got work to do, Ronnie. I’ll see you later when I come to pick up Emmie.”

“Okay, love you.”

“Love you, too, bye.”

Jonah furrows his eyebrows as you begin to fade from his sight. He looks to where Jack and Daniel had just been standing, only to see that they were gone.

He stood up as everything around him turned grey and he was standing in what seemed to be an endless hallway.

He looked around himself, turning in circles, trying to find whoever was here to explain what was going on.

“Hello?” His voice echoed throughout the hallway. Eventually, he gave up, letting out a sigh while running a hand down his face.

When his hand fell back to his side, he looked at the ground beneath him when the sound of typing was heard. He looked around himself once again, eyes widening at the sight of Corbyn.

Corbyn leaned up against one of the gray walls, the heel of his foot against the wall while he stared down at his phone, his fingers tapping away at some keyboard.

“I’m gonna take a guess and say that you’re gonna show me the Future,” Jonah cautiously spoke, but it didn’t grab Corbyn’s attention. “Hello?”

Corbyn briefly glanced up at Jonah before looking back down at his phone. Jonah furrowed his eyebrows as Corbyn shoved his phone into his pocket and clapped his hands once.

Jonah stayed still as the waves rolled in. He oddly stared at Corbyn, who went back to his phone, before observing where the two of them had arrived.

It was his Stillwater home living room once again. Christmas decorations were everywhere and everything was different - as if more things were added and many things were changed.

This was most definitely the future.

“Did you even invite him this year?”

Jonah turned at the sound of a foreign voice. His eyes almost popped out of his head at the sight of Svea. She looked about sixteen, and he didn’t like it one bit.

Her hair was in a long ponytail as she was clad in clothes that he would never agree with her wearing. She had makeup on and he felt his heart ache at the sight of his baby sister not being his baby sister.

He then saw his mother. She looked like she had aged a few years but she was still as healthy as could be.

“Why invite him when we know he’ll just be too busy?” Esther than walked in and Jonah felt the exact same way he had when he saw Svea.

“Because he’s our big brother and we haven’t seen him in a year,” Svea frowned.

“The last time we saw him, we just went to one of his shows and he didn’t even have time for us,” Esther scoffed, pulling on her winter coat.

“I invited him,” their mother sighed, taking a seat on the couch. “He has yet to respond, though.”

“Christmas is tomorrow, Mom,” Esther deadpanned. “He isn’t coming. Just like last time and the time before that and the time before that.”

Mother Marais let out a sigh, glancing down at her fingers which fiddled with one another in her lap.

“He’s successful,” she murmured. “That’s all he’s ever wanted in life, and that’s what he is now. We have to support him.”

“How could he be satisfied if, in the making of being successful, he loses his family?” Svea leaned her head into her mother’s shoulder.

Jonah stared at the three woman with solemn.

“This can’t be true,” he told himself. “I would never do anything to hurt my family. They mean the world to me.”

He turned to Corbyn, expecting a response, but is met with silence. Corbyn now has his hands tucked into his pockets as he stared and Corbyn quietly. Not a second passed before he pulled his hands out of his pants and clapped before placing them back into their pockets.

Jonah turned back around and is met with a sight that made him wish he could claw his eyes out.

On your bed lied you and a man Jonah didn’t know. You both lied naked under the covers as a condom wrapper along with both of your clothes were spread out across the floor.

Jonah flinched at the sound of your alarm clock going off. The random guy instantly wakes up while you stay fast asleep.

Jonah watched with a clenched heart as the random guy climbed out of bed and began to retrieve his clothing before putting it on. Just as he was putting on his belt, you let out a small groan, pushing your hair out of your face and sitting up, pulling the blanket up to cover your bare chest.

“You’re still here?” You yawned, cocking your head to the side with somewhat narrowed eyes as you try to get used to the sun that came into your room through the window.

“Just leaving,” he flashed you a smile.

“Mkay,” you let out a yawn before going to lie back down.

Jonah felt like he needed to throw up.

“You know, maybe next time we can go get something to eat,” the guy suggested.

You let out a chuckle. “Dylan, you know the arrangement. No strings attached. Plus, you’ve got a girlfriend.”

Jonah let out a small gasp.

“We could go somewhere out of town,” Dylan shrugged.

“You’re not getting the point here, babe,” you toss his watch that you felt underneath you to him. “No strings. No emotions. The only feeling between us is you inside of me.”

Jonah felt sick to his stomach.

“Why can’t we start something. We’ve been fuck buddies for about a year now,” Dylan pointed out.

“Honey, you know you’re one of many,” You sat up, climbing out of bed. “I’ve told you there are four others.”

“I know,” he sighed. “I just can’t help it.” He walks over to you with a lazy grin before bending forwards and placing a kiss on your lips. “You’re breathtaking.”

You smile and give him a look. “That’s not the first time I’ve heard that.” You grab a random shirt off of your dresser and pull a pair of shorts on.

Dylan let out a sigh before shrugging.

“You do this every time, Dyl,” you pat his cheek.

“Worth a shot. See you next time.”

“Mhm,” you giggle, following him out of your bedroom. Jonah walks after the both of you, his feet feeling heavy - as if he wore boulders as shoes.

As you open the door for Dylan, who was buttoning up the top of his shirt, your eyes widen at the reveal of Veronica and Emilia on the other side of your door.

Veronica gives you a look as Dylan passes them with an awkward smile.

“Hey, guys,” you push your messy hair behind your ear and make room for them to enter.

“Another hookup?” Emilia asked, walking in and making her way straight to your kitchen counter. Jonah observed how much older she appeared to be, either five or six years older to be exact.

“Do you ever get tired of all the guys?” Veronica asks as she places her purse on your kitchen counter. You follow her into the kitchen with a shrug.

“Not really. It’d be more tiring to be in a relationship. With my guys, I screw then loose. It’s easier that way.”

“No, it’s not,” Veronica said, more-so to her daughter who let out a small chuckle.

“When was your last relationship, again?” Emilia asked.

“His name was Connor. Or Clarke. No, I think I dated both of them. And then they both cheated on me,” you tap your chin.

“You always found wrong ones,” Veronica noted.

“They weren’t all bad,” you laugh. “Mike was a nice guy.”

“Before he ghosted you and to this day you don’t know if he’s dead or he just ran away,” Emilia countered.

“And now you see why I do what I do,” you tap your niece’s head. “Guys are all pigs that only have one thing going for them.”

“What’s that?”

“Their bodies.”

“Every time we come here I regret it,” Veronica hums. You roll your shoulders as you turn to your cupboard to grab a cup. “Don’t listen to your aunt, Em. She’s bitter.”

“And it all started with Jonah,” Emilia mindlessly mentioned, not realizing the effect that name had on you. “He’s like super famous now.”

You stand with your back towards them, a shiver running through your bones before you played it off and turned to face them again.

“Yeah, but I’m sure he’s still an asshole,” you huffed. “His mom called me the other day.”

“Seriously? Why?” Veronica furrowed her eyebrows.

“How did she even get your number?” Emilia cocked her head to the side.

“I don’t know. She said she missed me and I told her that I missed her, too. That was my second family growing up.”

“You guys talk about Jonah?” Veronica asked.

“She said that he’s been distant with the family,” you said in a tone to show how little you cared. “He’s apparently never been the same since our breakup.”

“That was six years ago. Dude needs to get over it,” Veronica rolled her eyes.

“I don’t even think it has to do with me,” you honestly say. “Towards the end of our relationship, it seemed like he was dating the studio more than me. I guess he’s still the workaholic I knew.”

"Either way, what he did was douchey,” Emilia concludes. You nod at her, pursing your lips.

“Why are we even talking about him? That was my past and this is my present,” you open your fridge and grab a bottle of juice. “It’s not the life I saw myself in but it’s one I’m not unhappy with.”

Jonah couldn’t shake the feeling of discomfort and regret. He looked back at Corbyn just as the blonde clapped his hands.

Jonah kept quiet as the process that he had repeated countlessly throughout the night happened yet again.

This time, they ended up in a room Jonah has yet to see. He furrowed his eyebrows at the foreign scene just as an older version of him walked in.

He appeared to be at least in his mid-30’s.

Future Jonah ran his fingers through his hair and took a seat at the desk that occupied the corner of his room. He turned his laptop on and music began to flow through the room, the melody low.

Jonah left Corbyn’s side and walked up behind his older self, looking over his shoulder to see what he was looking at, only to see that he had opened tabs of social media articles on his screen.

'Jonah Marais Doing Fine on His Own’ marked the one he was currently reading.

“What?” Jonah rhetorically asked as he looked down and began to quickly read the article. “Jonah Marais, a previous member of world-known band Why Don’t We, seems to be doing fine all on his own… said nobody ever. Just as when he left the band, which is still successful to this day, he appears to be the same passive-aggressive stud we all know him as. Every time the thirty-year-old is spotted, he’s alone and always in a bad mood. If we’re taking a guess, it’d have to do with his crappy ice that only spiraled downwards after his breakup with the four-year girlfriend, Y/N Y/L/N eleven years ago. Marais has been cooped up in his huge home for the past week. Will he spend Christmas alone again? Maybe. Probably. Most likely… Most definitely…”

Jonah takes a step back, staggering a bit. He watches as Future Jonah shuts the computer off and buried his face in his hands.

“I-I won’t let this happen,” he shook his head. “This hasn’t happened already, right? I can change this.”

Corbyn stays quiet before clapping his hands together once. Jonah instantly saw pitch black before opening his eyes.

He sat up, taking deep and harsh breaths, his eyes instantly scanning his surroundings. He let out a large sigh when seeing that he was in his living room, exactly where he started.

Jonah instantly got up and went to grab his keys before rushing out of his home and to his car. He had three goals on his mind, and you were one of his main priorities.

It didn’t take long for him to reach your apartment and it also didn’t take long for him to rush upstairs and to your door.

His heart was beating with anxiety as he hesitantly knocked on your door with his knuckles. He had no clue what he’d say or how he’d convince you to forgive him, but he knew he had to do it.

When your door slowly opened, Jonah felt everything physically, mentally and visually slow down. The second he saw you, he nearly fainted.

“Jonah,” you murmured, shocked with his appearance. Your voice was soft and music to his ears.

“I love you,” he mustered up. “I love you so much, Y/N, it hurts.”

You stared at him with sadness in your eyes.

“I’m so sorry, baby,” he shook his head. “I don’t know what was wrong with me and I don’t know why it took me two weeks to finally realize that you are one of the most important things in my life and letting you walk away was the stupidest thing I’ve ever done, besides not give you the attention and affection you deserve.”

Tears rolled down your cheeks as a load of emotion just hit you.

“Why now?” You cried, wrapping your arms around yourself.

“Because I was scared and afraid that you’d never look at me again or take me back. But then today, all the courage I needed piled within me and I realized that I would never get a second chance by avoiding you.”

You cried more when you saw the tears brimming in his eyes as well.

“Four years, Y/N. Four years we spent together and I don’t regret a second of it. I should’ve gone after you.”

“You were the one who suggested we break up, Jonah,” you shake your head. “You chose your music over me.”

“That was a mistake,” he declared. “A mistake I’ll never make again. Please, just forgive me. I love you so fucking much and another day without you would be hell, just like every day we’ve gone without one another.”

You were silent for a moment, reaching your hand up to wipe the tears from your cheeks away.

"I love you more than anything, Jonah,” you finally say. His entire face brightens and he instantaneously pulled you into his arm. He repeatedly kissed the top of your head as he hugged him back. “Please don’t ever do that to me again.”

“I’m never leaving your side,” he closed his eyes. “I’d be nothing without you,” he murmured into your hair. Little did you know how accurate that was.

---

Svea and Esther helped set up the dining room table as Christmas music played in the background. Their parents worked in the kitchen as spirits were neutral.

They were all missing Jonah, but there was nothing to do about it. Christmas just wouldn’t be the same without him.

Esther was placing the plates where they belonged and Svea was setting out the glasses and silverware when the doorbell rang.

“I’ll get it,” Esther called out before making her way to the door, dusting her hands against her pants. She opened it quickly and that was the moment a scream left her throat.

There, on the front porch, stood you and Jonah, both in winter wear and suitcases by your sides.

“What is it!” Her mother rushed to see who was at the door, along with Svea and her husband.

It was then that the shouts and screams escalated.

---

Crappy ending but I need to post this before Christmas is over

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