| Chapter Ten I was gone for about an hour. I didn't really feel much better about the things that had happened but I felt composed enough to talk to everyone and let them know what had happened. As the elevator reached my floor I reached into my pocket for my key. After searching everywhere I realized that I must have left it in the room in my haste to get out. I sighed and stepped off of the elevator. There, sitting in the floor leaning against the wall, sleeping, was Joey. I smiled and knelt down in front of him. Putting my hand on his face. "Joey, wake up." I whispered. "Huh? Tiff, you're back, what took so long, I was worried." "I haven't been gone long. What are you doing out here?" I asked as he got to his feet. "Waiting for you. What is wrong, you looked so sad when you left here." He said taking my hand and leading me to his room. "I didn't want to go after you because you said that you wanted to be alone." "Thank you for that. I just had to work some things out." I smiled sitting on his bed and leaning back on my arms. "Did you work them out?" He looked so concerned as he sat down next to me. "Not really but I'm ready to talk about it now." Just then the door burst open and Justin and Lance were standing there. "Oh Tiff, thank goodness, we saw that you were gone and your jacket was gone and we got worried." "Why?" I asked confused. "We heard you on the phone earlier, and we knew that you were upset, we were going to give you some time before we asked what was wrong but we must have fallen asleep." "It's fine guys, I just went out for a walk, and I forgot to take my key with me. Luckily Joey was up when I got back." I stood and hugged them both. "Thank you for being concerned." "So can we ask what was wrong or are you not ready to talk yet?" "No it's fine, I was just going to tell Joe actually." They sat down in the other bed and watched me closely as I told them everything that had happened. "I can't decide whether I should feel guilty or relieved. Relieved? Is that terrible even to think?" "No, not at all after what he did to you." "I don't think I'm cut out for relationships, everytime I get involved with someone they..." Joey cut me off and shook his head. "Don't even go there. Do NOT even compare this to other relationships that you've had. That isn't fair to you or anyone else." I started to cry and Joey wrapped his arms around me waving the other two out of the room. "Tiff, you can't blame yourself for what happened with Robbie." "But..." I said trying to interrupt. "But nothing. That was NOT your fault, this is NOT your fault. No one thinks that it is." "Not even you?" I asked crying harder. "Especially not me. How could you think that?" "You were so close and now he's gone and if I hadn't..." "It is NOT your fault hon. Please don't blame yourself." I laid out on the bed then and he laid down beside me wrapping his arms around my waist. "Just try to rest, things will look better in the morning." I fell asleep almost instantly and woke to someone shaking my shoulder softly. I pushed the hand away and curled up closer to Joey. Suddenly I realized what I was doing and where I was and sat up quickly. |