Chapter 17


"What's this?" he asked while picking the paper up.

JC went and looked over Justin's shoulder. "Like it?"

"This is beutiful! Did you write it?"

"I wish I could take the credit, but I didnt. That was sent to us by Richard Marx."

"For real?"

"Yeah."

"This has got to go on the new album."

"That's exactly what we were thinking." Lance said. "But we wanted you to see it first before we made any big decisions."

Justin stared at the lyrics again for a few minutes and then started going through some more songs that were laying around the table



"I think I'm gonna stay here with you all for awhile and go through some of these songs and then go home. I think I just need a break from that hospital."

"A good night's rest in your own bed will do you a lot of good Justin." JC said. "Just try not to worry yourself."

"Im not. You know...I think everything is going to be ok." He said smiling.

"That's good. Im glad you feel that way."

"Me too. Ok so...Where's the demo to this song? I wanna hear it!"

Justin stayed a Johnny's for a few more hours before he decided to go home and get some rest. It was nice to just sit around with the other guys for awhile. He had been staying at the hospital for so long and a change of scenery was exactly what he needed. He wasnt upset anymore about Travis' decision. He knew everything was going to turn out just fine.

When he got to the door, he was greeted by his Mom, who he had called from Johnny's and told that he was coming home. Lynn was exceptionally glad to see her baby home after all this time.



"Hi Momma"

"Hey sweetie...are you hungry?"

"Nah, I ate over at Johnny's. I think I'm just going to go lie down for awhile."

"How's Dani?"

Justin stopped walking up the stairs to his room and turned around. "She's gonna be ok."

"I hope so. She's a sweet girl...Well Im going to fix myself something to eat. You sure you don't want anything?"

"Yeah Im sure. Thanks anyway."

Justin went up to his room and threw his jacket on the chair by the desk and lay down on his bed. He started to close his eyes when he saw that his wallet had fell out of the side pocket of his jacket and everything had fallen out of it.



"Great." he mumbled while getting back up.

He was putting his money and liscense back in his wallet when he saw two pictures laying in the floor and picked them up.

In his right hand he had a picture of of him and Dani on the tour bus. It was probably taken a few days before they went to Vegas. Justin had his arm around her neck, pretending to choke her, while Dani had her head leaned over to the side with her tounge sticking out. Justin smiled to himself as he stared at the picture. Then he looked at the one he was holding in his left hand.

It was a picture of him and Ellie that was taken at an club one night during an afterparty. It was the only picture he had of the two of them together. the club was dimly lit which made the picture not turn out good...and also the fact that they were sitting about two feet away from each other and Ellie was looking in the other direction didnt help it much.

Justin put the pictures back in his wallet and sat back on the bed. he looked over at his phone and slowly began dialing the numbers. No matter how much he hated doing it. He knew he had to. It just wasnt right.





"Hello?"

"Ellie..Hey its Justin."

"Oh. Hey.."

"Look..theres something we need to talk about and.."

"Are you at home?"

"Umm..yea."

"Can I call you back later?"

"Well, No Ellie...no we need to talk about this right now. I have to do this now."

"But I can't talk right now, I....Im gonna have to call you back."

Justin sat there holding the phone. He knew something had to be up. He could tell by the way Ellie was acting and by the sound of her voice. She was trying to hide something.



"But Ellie I need to talk to you right now."

"Well Im sorry! I can't! I'll call you back."

"NO Don't hang up."

"LOOK! I have to go.."

"Hang up the phone." a voice in the background whispered.

Justin's eyes grew wider as he got up and began pacing around his room
"Who was that?"

"Justin I told you..I can't talk."

"Who is he Ellie?"

"Just a friend."

"A friend? A friend telling you to hang up the phone I don't think so."

"Justin.."

"No..I knew you were hiding something, I knew something was up. How long has this been going on?"

Ellie sighed on the other end of the phone and wouldnt say a word.

"Answer me!"

"Since March."

Justin stopped walking around his room and stood there in disbelief.
"March? March?!? Uh...WE STARTED DATING IN SEPTEMBER!"

"I know."

"You cheated on this guy with me?!?"

"Yes but, He cheated on me too!"

"Oh that makes me feel better. Not only was I the 'other guy' I was being USED!"

"Oh like you werent using me to get back at Dani."

"Dani and I were never together."

"Whatever Justin.'

"Well believe what you want. Actually things worked out for the best because I was actually worried about calling you, I didnt want to be the bad guy. But now you leave me with no choice. We're through Ellie."

"Fine. Don't come calling me when you get lonely."

"Oh I wont."

"Good."

"Oh and Ellie?"

"What?"

"You may hate me but it ain't no lie...Baby Bye, bye, bye." 'click'

"Well.." Justin said while placing the phone back on the receiver and laying back down on the bed.
"Maybe now I can get some sleep."


Chapter 18