| Chapter Four "We grew up together, attached at the hip. When our careers started taking off we didn't have time to see each other it seemed like." "So you're Tiffany, he has talked about you a lot, we just never made the connection." "What connection?" Joey asked coming back into the room with some ice in a towel. "We didn't know that you Tiff was our Tiffany." Justin said laughing. "You guys know each other?" Joey said looking confused as he handed me the towel. "Years ago we did, when they were still on MMC." I said pulling away from the ice slightly. "Dad was working with the show for a while so I hung out with the cast. We lost touch after that unfortunately. But who knew that I'd been listening to them all this time?" I said smiling as JC squeezed my hand. "So Tiff, what now? How long are you in town? What are your plans? I think you should take some time off." Joey finished crossing his arms over his chest and glaring at me. "Whoa slow down Joe, I'm here for a couple of days working. I have been trying to avoid time off since Robbie..." I could have slapped myself right then for letting that slip. The look on Joey's face was almost too much for me. "You mean to tell me that you havent taken any time off since Robbie died?" He asked me angrily. "It's too hard to take time off Joe, I can't go back to that house, those rooms, that life. It's too damn hard." I could feel the tears running down my cheeks but I didn't care. "Tiffany you have to take care of you. You need to rest, you need to take a break." He was kneeling in front of me pleading me with his eyes. "I'm scared Joe, What will I do by myself? I don't know how to take care of me, I don't know how to be alone. Mark was the first person that I thought I loved since Robbie and look what happened. I finally let my guard down enough to go out and meet someone and I get screwed. I'm just so scared Joey." He wrapped his arms around me and we cried together. For all of the things we had lost, innocence, love, and each other most of all. "I have missed you so much Joe. Everyday I wanted to pick up the phone and call but I was so afraid." "You aren't going to be afraid anymore Tiff. I will take care of you. I love you." He whispered pulling back and looking me in the eye. "I love you too." Joey may have been upset with me for not taking care of myself. But I was more upset with myself for betraying Robbie's memory. I had tried for so long to be strong and independant that I didnt realize all I was doing was looking for someone else to lean on. Someone else to take away the pain. Because of my weakness my life had been destroyed. Now I had to rebuild it. We sat up most of the night talking and getting to know each other again. I had missed so much in their lives that I knew it would take more than one night to get it all back, but I was ready. I don't think any of the guys really understood my connection to Robbie, but I wasn't ready to explain it yet. It was such a personal and heartbreaking thing, even thinking about it made me want to cry. "So Tiff, what now?" Joey asked plopping down beside me with some soda and popcorn. "Well I have a lot of fences to mend. This relationship with Mark has torn apart some other much more important relationships. I said some things that I didn't mean and hurt some people that I think the world of." I sighed hugging a pillow to my chest and taking a sip of my soda. "Sounds like you have your work cut out for you." Joey grinned and patted my leg. "It will work out, don't worry." Next to me Justin was yawning and put his head on my shoulder, his eyes closing quickly. Joey and I talked for a while longer and at some point I fell asleep. I slept better than I had in months. Peacefully, with no dreams. When I woke up I tried to stretch but found that both of my arms were occupied. Justin was still on my shoulder sleeping soundly. Joey was in my lap with my hand resting under his head. I slowly wiggled my way out without waking them and crept to the door. "Sneaking out huh?" A voice called quietly from behind me. I jumped and turned quickly to see Chris grinning at me. "Sorry didn't mean to scare you." |