Chapter Eight


    "That was so much fun," Misty said with excitement as the limo pulled away from the parking lot of the studio.
    "I could tell you enjoyed it," he said with a grin. "I don't think you ever stopped smiling."
    She laughed and shruged. "It was fun to play pretend, I guess you never grow out of it."
    "It doesn't have to be pretend," he blurted.
    She looked at him funny. "What do you mean?"
    "I mean, that you have a great voice, and I think you could make it, lord knows you got the stubborness for it."
    She shooked her head. "It's not for me."
    He let out a laugh. "Misty, you were ALIVE in there," he told her. "You belong in a studio."
    She sighed. "People will only sign me because I'm Gavin's niece, and I would rather not get in the business at all, than allow that to happen."
    "Misty, you want this," he said. "Don't lie to me and tell me you don't want this."
    "Justin, just because you've spent the last.....hell, whatever hours with me, doesn't make you an expert."
    "I know that, Mist," he said softly. "But when I looked at you today in the studio, I was looking at myself. The same passion in my eyes, hell in JC's eyes! That man lives for music. And you've got just as much passion."
    "It's not that easy," she said as she looked out the window. "I have school to think about and....."
    "Misty...."
    "I don't to talk about this anymore," she snapped. "Please....can we just drop it?"
    He studied her, wanting to reach over and shake some kind of sense into her. But he knew it was worstless, she had that stubborn look on her face. "Fine," he sighed. "I'm sorry I pushed."
    She glanced at him, and watched him glance out the window. "It's okay, I know you were just trying to be nice."
    "I wasn't TRYING to be nice, Mist," he said and then looked her in the eye. "I was BEING honest."
    She tried to look away from those blue eyes, but she couldn't. They held her attention every time they peirced into her. They were captivating. HE was captivating. "I know," she finally said and then made herself look away.
    He sighed. She was in such a good mood five minutes ago, and now he took that away from her. He wanted that girl back, he wanted to hear her laugh and see her smile. That was the Misty he wanted to be with for....well for the rest of the twenty-four hours. What will happen after the 24 hours is up? he wondered. Will they talk to each other again? Or will they shake hands and move on with their lives. He looked back at her and felt his stomach turn at the thought of never seeing her again.
    Justin cursed softly and pushed the thought away. Of course he could go on without seeing her. She's a pain in the ass, remember? Not to mention stubborn as a mule, maybe even more. She's a complete wimp at scary movies, the whole time she was biting her lip so hard he expected her to draw blood. She can never sit still, she's always moving something....like now! She won't stop bouncing her leg, what is up with that? Oh, and she smacks! She is the worst smacker when she eats. She never wears make up. Of course, she doesn't need it, her face is so natural. Her lips are so soft and full, that lipstick would ruin the impact they have on him. Her skin? Her skin is like velvet, and felt as smooth as satin when he ran his knuckles along her cheek. Her long jet black hair was as soft as silk, remembering how it felt when the wind rubbed a silky strand over his lips. Her eyes...her eyes were.....
    What the hell? When did he start thinking positive things?? How did he go from her being stubborn, to the way her hair felt against his skin. The nerve of that woman! I could just ring her neck. Her long slender neck that.....dammit! He cursed to himself as he looked at her. She was beautiful. Dammit, dammit dammit. Dammit all to hell, he was in trouble.
    "So what next?" Misty finally asked, not wanting to ruin the friendship they were finally making.
    He looked over at her and smiled. "Another surprise."
    "Aw, hell," she said. "Justin, I can handle so many surprises in one day, you know."
    He chuckled. "Don't worry, nothing big. We are going back to your place."
    "For what?"
    "For you to change," he said. "You have a nice dress?"
    She groaned. "Justin, I don't want anything fancy and...."
    "Too bad," he said as the corner of his mouth lifted.
    She sighed. "How nice are we talking about?"
    He shrugged. "Not like oscar material, but....nice."
    "Fine," she said as she pouted.
    "Don't sound TOO excited," he teased.
    "Okay," she said and then stuck out her tongue like a playfull girl.
    "Aww, and to think I actually thought we were getting a long," he said.
    She let out a laugh. "Actually, we are....scary huh?" His eyes twinkled.
    "Very."
    They both exchanged smiles and then were silent the rest of the way to Misty's house. Justin's bag was still in the guestroom, so they both walked up stairs, and then parted at their rooms. Justin rummaged his bag and pulled out a pair of neatly folded kahki's and a baby blue collared button down. He pulled the pants on and tugged them over his hips and then tucked in his shirt as he walked to the bathroom. He brushed his teeth, and applied a little bit of hair gel in his short trimmed curls, before heading out. He glanced at his watch to see that it was almost seven, and then walked out of the room.
    He walked to her door and knocked. "Mist, you ready?"
    "Are you kidding!" her voice muffled through the door. "Not even close."
    He sighed. "Of course, what was I thinking," he mumbled. "Okay, I'll be downstairs, but we have to leave here by 7:30."
    "That's a lot to ask for, Justin, but I'll try."
    He rolled his eyes as he left her door. "Women. Takes them FOREVER to get ready."
    "Misty, normally is quick about things."
    Justin jumped at the sound of the older man's voice. He turned to see their butler, the man who open the door earlier today. Wow, that seemed like forever, he thought. "Al, right?"
    The man with thinning hair grinned. "Alfred, actualy. But Miss...er...Misty calls me Al."
    Justin smiled and then followed Al down the stairs. "Would you like a drink, sir?"
    "No thank you," he said and then stopped him at the foot of the stairs. "What were you saying about Misty?"
    Al glanced upstairs and smiled. "That she usually doesn't take long to get ready," he said and then chuckled as he leaned toward him. "She's only like this when she's nervous."
    Justin's brows arched in surprise and then Al gave him a wink and a pat on the shoulder. "Good day, sir, take care of my girl."
    "Um, yeah I will," he said as he watched the man walk away, and then glanced up the stairs. "Good, I'm not the only one then," he said quietly as he placed a hand on his stomach. Maybe he could use that drink, after all. "Hey, Al..wait up!"

    Misty closed her bedroom door behind her and placed her trembling hand on her silk covered stomach that wouldn't stop doing flip flops to save her life. "This is ridiculous," she breathed and then shook it off. "It's just Justin. Just beautiful blue eyed Justin, that has a smile that can make any woman swoon." She groaned softly as she walked down the hallway. She lifted her crimson red silk dress, as she walked down the stairs.
    She didn't see Justin anywhere, but she heard his laughter and Al's combined from the kitchen. "Great," she mumbled as she walked toward's the kitchen. "Even Al is struck by his charm." She swung open the door to see the older and younger man laughing it up, while the sipped on their totties.
    Justin let out a laugh and was about to take another sip, but his glass froze inches away from his lips as he stared at her. My God, she was beautiful. She had her long black hair pulled halfway up, except for a few silky strands that rested against the sides of her face. Her makeup was flawless, she didn't over do it, but she put enough on to make her shine. Her scent invaded him, hitting him like a gut to his fist. And the dress. The dress was stunning. The rose colored silk, snugged her curves like a second skin, and it flowed down her slim legs. A slit rode up, revealing her right leg to the world.
    Al looked at him and chuckled. The man was in deep, he thought. He glanced at Misty, and she was staring into him, almost in a trance. And she was in just as deep. "Ahem...Misty, you look beautiful," Al said as he walked to her and grabbed her hand.
    Misty managed to look away from Justin, and smiled up at Al. "You think so?"
    He smiled and placed both his wrinkled hands on her shoulders. "You look like your mother."
    Misty's eyes soften and she took a deep breath, to avoid from crying as she hugged him. "Thank you, Al."
    Al walked over to Justin and yanked him off the stool and slightly pushed him towards her. Justin stumbled a bit, but froze right when they were inches away. "Um....ahem....you look very nice, Misty."
    Her heart dropped. The sound of his voice was almost professional, as if he didn't mean it. She sighed. "Thank you, so do you. Are we ready now?"
    "Yeah, sure," he said softly and then followed her out the kitchen.
    Al placed a hand on his shoulder to stop him. "Justin, forget why your here, and treat her like a woman tonight, instead of a bargain."
    He looked at him, and then at Misty who was on her way to the front door. "I never thought of her as a bargain, Al."
    "Then start acting like it," he mumbled. " 'You look very nice?' Please, you can do better then that."
    "I...I got nervous, and I...."
    "Don't give me the details," he said and then turned him to face her. "Just do what feels right." He then gave him a shove and Justin stumbled a little before straightening. His heart began to quicken the closer he got to her, and when he stood in front of her, his heart was ready to burst.
    Misty gave him a quick smile, before reaching over to open the door. Justin stopped her by grabbing her wrist lightly. She looked up at him in confusion, to see him really looking into her, almost piercing her with his eyes. "Ju...."
    "You look absolutely amazing," he said with his voice cracked with emotion.
    Her heart skipped at his words and she froze when his head started to come down on hers. She closed her eyes and her breath caught as his warm lips touched the corner of her's. Even though it was quick, and gentle, chills still shot through her body. "Thank you, Justin."
    He smiled and then opened the door for her as he held out his left arm. She slipped her arm through his and side by side they walked to the limo. And at that moment, maybe for only a second...she felt like she was where she was suppose to be. At Justin's side.
    "I got it George," Justin said as he quickened his step to open the limo door himself. He smiled at her, and she returned it, before slipped inside.
    "Whew," George whistled. "Well done, Curly."
    He grinned. "Thank you, George. Remember where we are going?"
    "Yup, sure do," he said. "I'll have you there in no time."
    Justin patted him on the sholder. "Thanks," he said and then made his way in the limo, and froze when he saw that she was no longer in her designated seat...but sitting right beside the place he always sat.
    She had her legs crossed, which exposed her long legs and a devilish grin. She arched her brows in questioning. "Are you coming?"
    He cleared his throat. "Um, yeah," he said and then sat next to her on the plush leather seat. "Got tired of your spot?"
    She grinned. "Yeah," she said and shrugged. "I got lonely over there."
    He knew he shouldn't have, but he couldn't help it so he did it anyway. He lifted his hand and reached over and grabbed her's. He linked his fingers with hers and squeezed it lightly. "Are you lonely now?"
    She tightned the grip. "No," she said softly. "For the first time since last year I don't feel alone."
    His eyes softened and he turned his body toward her. "I'm sorry for your loss, Misty."
    She let out a shaky breath and managed a small smile. "Thank you, Justin."
    "I mean it," he said as he gripped her hand with both of his. "No one should go through what you have gone through....it must have been so hard."
    She nodded and swallowed the lump in her throat. "It was hell, Justin. Are you close to your parents?"
    "Very," he said as he reached up and tucked a strand of hair behind her ear. "I don't think I could have handled losing them."
    "And I pray you don't lose them anytime soon, cause it's the worst feeling in the world." Justin cupped her soft cheek and waited until her watery blue eyes looked at him. "I've been so lonely, Justin."
    "I know," he said softly. "But you won't be anymore. I'm going to do my best to make you happy for the rest of the twenty-four hours."
    She let out a laugh as the limo pulled to a stop. "This day has been great so far, Justin....I know I was a bitch at first but....."
    "Don't aplogize," he said as George opened the door. He lifted their joint hands and kissed her fingers. "Come on," he said as he gave her a tug and helped her out the window.
    She stepped out on the gravel and took Justin's hand. He led her around the limo and she gasped when she saw the view in front of her.



Chapter Nine