You wanted to hate Britney. She had the kind of relationship with Justin that you could never have - a public one. As much as you resented her for it, you loved her. You loved her because she made the relationship that you cherish possible.

You hated it that Britney was always there when the two of you went out. She sat between you most of the night. She touched Justin and smiled into cameras as the proud girlfriend while you watched. But you loved her because she always managed to make him smile when the reporters on the red carpet became relentless.

You hated the fact that Britney knew almost if not as much about Justin as you did. Britney knew that Justin was allergic to strawberries. You really wanted to hate her for it but that only made you love her because she quite possibly saved Justin's life when she stopped a waiter from serving him a dish with strawberries.

Britney was Justin's best friend before you became his friend. You used to sit and watch them laugh and play together. You wanted to hate her for that but you couldn't. You love her because she introduced the two of you.

You really wanted to hate her when you found out that Justin told her secrets that he never told you. Justin told her how he felt about you before he told you. You couldn't hate her for that. You loved her because she convinced him to tell you how he felt.

Britney helped Justin find a birthday gift for you and you hated that because the Miles Davis, John Coltrane, and various other records were absolutely perfect. That is until Britney gave you her gift. She gave you a silver picture frame with a picture of you and Justin together at her house. In the picture you can see the love in Justin's eyes as he looks at you. You don't remember the picture. You aren't even looking at Justin in it. But Britney saw the look and captured it for you. That is another reason why you love her.

You wanted to hate her whenever you and Justin fought and he'd go crying to her. She'd make him hot cocoa and let him cry on her shoulder. After she'd calm him down she'd call to make sure you were ok. You love her because she worried about you just as much as she worried about Justin.

You hated it that Justin ran to her instead of coming to you when his mother disowned him for being gay. She convinced him though that he'd never forgive himself if he gave you up just to make his mother happy. You loved her for that.

You hated the way she dressed. You hated it when Chris would joke that she wore those clothes trying to seduce Justin away from you. But then she'd squeeze your arm and tell you that she didn't look nearly as sexy as you and that Justin wouldn't even notice her. You really loved her then.

Management thought fans were talking too much about you being single. They told you to get a girlfriend. You found Bobbie and Justin threw a fit and went running to Britney. You hated that. Britney told Justin to grow up and that it was the same thing he was doing with her. You were pretty sure that you loved her then too.

You hated it when Justin was away from you so long making that stupid cheesy ass movie. Britney was able to get away to visit him on the set but you couldn't. She came to your house after visiting him and made you go shopping with her and ordered you all of your favorite food because Justin told her he didn't want you to be lonely. She even sat through hours of Star Wars just so you wouldn't be alone. You caught her yawning and tried to send her home but she wouldn't budge. You loved her then also.

You hated it when Justin would invite her to sit in on rehearsals. She always made sure to point out though that you and Justin were in love and just so cute together whenever Wade started getting too friendly with Justin. You decided her being there wasn't so bad and you really loved her then.

You really hated it when Justin would insist that he and Britney tag along on one of your dates with Bobbie. You hated having to sit and watch them together while Bobbie curled up to your side. They looked like the golden couple that everyone claimed they were. But then Britney would lure Bobbie away to the ladies room and wink over her shoulder at you and Justin would slide over to steal a kiss. You loved her for that.

Under no circumstances would management let you and Justin share a hotel room. But when Britney happened to be in the same town it was mandatory that she and Justin share a room. You wanted to hate her for that. Then she would sneak down to your room in the middle of the night and insist that you trade her rooms because Justin snores. You loved her then too.

Chris always made snide little comments about your relationship being nothing but a rebellion against society and what it thinks you should be. You hated that and you really wanted to hit him. Britney said he was a bitter old man that couldn't even manage a relationship based on sex with a gold digging slut and what would he know about true love.

You really wanted more than anything to hate Britney because she was in love with Justin. You couldn't though because she loved Justin enough to want him to be happy even if that meant he was with you. You didn't think if the situation were reversed you could be that magnanimous. Britney was the total opposite of what so many people saw her as. She was the most selfless person that you knew. And that was one of the biggest reasons why you loved her.

You don't even want to hate her anymore. You've come to realize that the reasons why you love her far outnumber the reasons why you don't want to.

THE END