Part 2

Looking at the back of Josh's head, Justin was reminded of all kinds of things that he had hoped he would never have to deal with again. It was hard to avoid someone for four years when their brother was your best friend and for three of those years, your roommate, but Justin had done just that. Justin had even been to the Chasez home many times during breaks, but only when he was assured that Josh himself would be somewhere else.

He had been so goddamn naïve back then. Justin remembered the day they broke up, and how he went home to Tennessee so secure in the fact that Josh loved him and that this separation was only temporary. He didn't think that it'd take longer than the summer for Josh to come to his senses and beg to have Justin back. Well, maybe not beg, that wasn't Josh's thing, but at least to demand that Justin be back with him. Justin had been ready.

The summer had passed, and Josh had sent Justin a few letters, but they had trickled off by the end of the summer. Justin just chalked it up to the fact that Josh was getting ready to go to college. But when school started, he hardly heard from Josh at all and when he did, the conversations were rushed and stilted, and when he asked Tyler what was going on, Tyler clammed up. Justin looked over at Tyler. Poor Tyler. He had been stuck between Josh and Justin for the longest. Justin remembered the day he found out the truth. He had walked out of the bathroom to hear Tyler whispering intently into the phone. "Well, obviously, your plan isn't working, and you're going to end up fucking things up…Well, if you don't say anything I will!" He turned then and caught sight of Justin. "Hey, J, I didn't see you there," he practically shouted into the phone. Justin had felt the dread in his stomach then that something was going on that he needed to know about.

That night Chris had decided that he wanted to go to Cambridge to this new restaurant that one of his friends had been raving about. So, they all headed there in Bridget, Chris's El Camino. They got a table way in the back where they could crack jokes and be as loud as they wanted without bothering anyone. In the middle of the meal, though, Justin excused himself to go to the bathroom. The bathrooms were located in the front, so while walking out of them, Justin had a good view of the front door. He saw a really pretty brunette walk in, her manner haughty and clothes extremely expensive. Justin was about to turn around and go to the back when Josh walked in behind her.

Justin remembered opening his mouth to try to get Josh's attention, and at the next moment, finding that he could not form words as he saw Josh turn the girl around and kiss her. The thought that it took Josh eight months to kiss him, and now he was just giving kisses away in public to some random girl, did pop into Justin's mind. He knew that he looked stupid, standing there with his mouth open, but he couldn't stop staring. He was so caught up in his shock that he didn't even hear Tyler approach. "Hey, man, we were wondering when you'd get back…" His voice trailed off when he saw who Justin was staring at. At that moment, Josh looked up and spotted Justin and all the color went out of his face.

Justin never remembered leaving the restaurant, but apparently he did, because there he was at Chris's hideous car, hyperventilating while Tyler tried to get him to calm down. Before he knew it, a paper bag was being pressed to his mouth. He grabbed the bag before he realized that Josh was the one handing it to him. He took long deep breaths, willing himself to relax before he pulled the bag away from his mouth and asked, "Is she your girlfriend?"

Josh was silent for a moment before nodding his head and answering, "Yes."

Justin just narrowed his eyes and growled, "Get the fuck away from me."

And that was it. No more words had been spoken between the two until today's awkward hellos. Josh had tried to call, but Justin was always conveniently "out", and he even sent a few letters that came back with "return to sender" written in big block letters at the top. After a while, Josh had stopped trying and gave up, or so Justin thought.

He had no idea how wrong he was.

Part 3 >>>
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