Last time on Love Interest :
"Justin, what's wrong?" Standing she took a seat next to him, waiting for an answer. Instead she got a very sad pair of blue eyes, tears almost in them.
"I don't know Britt, I just really don't know."
"You were fine when you came down. Was it something some one said?" Brittany knew what she was trying to get at.
"I don't know, I was fine. But, well...I really don't know Britt."
"It's okay Just, was it something JC said?"
"It's not Josh's fault that he's got a date, I know that. He can't go on loving me forever, it wouldn't be fair to him. I could never return that love, but I guess I'm just a little bit jealous. Almost like whoever he gets will take him away from me." Justin managed to get out what he was thinking, but was surprised by the still happy looking face of Brittany.
"Are you sure you aren't jealous for another reason Justin? I know you say you can't love him like that. But why not? I think you can Justin, I think you do. I just think you aren't seeing it." Brittany finally let out her opinion, hoping not to offend Justin, but at the same time make him think about what she was saying.
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Justin's face lost the sadness and emotion it was holding. Not with happiness or disgust, but with nothing. It was almost like he had no idea he was alive. Nothing to say, nothing to do, no one to turn to. He put his head down, hoping that Brittany would get the picture and then just leave.
"Justin, I'm sorry. I didn't mean to say that. Forget it, please." But it was too late, she knew that Justin wasn't going to say anything. Instead, she watched sadly as Justin stood and ran from the room. He oddly didn't run into the living room, nor upstairs, but out the patio door, and into the backyard. Brittany didn't know whether to chase after him, or just sit there and wait for Lance to return. Choosing the latter option, knowing that Justin would want to blow off some steam, she sat still. When the kitchen door opened she expected to see Lance, but she found JC instead.
"Where is everybody?" He questioned, now in the right apparel to be heading out on a date. He was wearing a nice pair of khaki pants, and a tight black sweater.
"Well, Christina is probably doing her makeup and hair. Joey and Dani were fighting over the shower. But I am pretty sure Joey is in there now, and Dani is probably waking Chris. As for Lance he went to get my sweats, so I could be more comfortable before my shower. And Justin ran off out back." She didn't want to tell JC that something was wrong with Justin, but she knew JC would question him running off immidiately.
"Why'd he run off? Never mind, I'm sure he'll be okay." JC dismissed it right away, must to Brittany's disbelief. "I gotta get going. Tell everybody I'll be back around 5, so we can all go out to dinner together. And I might bring my date." JC smiled, and rushed from the kitchen. Lance squeezed through the door after him, carrying the sweats Brittany had requested.
"Here babe." He tossed them to her.
"Never mind, I don't want these. I just needed to talk to Justin by myself for a little bit. Thanks though." Lance's look of displease dropped when Brittany applied a quick kiss to his cheek.
"Where is he anyways?"
"He went out back crying. I said something to upset him." Brittany moped.
"What?"
"I don't want to say, but I'm sure you will find out later. By the way, JC wants us all to be ready by 5 for dinner, he and his date are going to swing by so we can go to a restaraunt or something." Brittany chimed in, as they stood. "Now, let's go see about getting our turns in the shower."
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"Did Justin come back yet?" Lance questioned after getting out of the shower. He had let every one else get theres before him, although he came before them on the list. He didn't really mind, and plus he wanted to wait around to catch what was on Justin's mind.
"Nope, not yet." Brittany answered, everyone else stopped what they were doing. They were waiting to be informed of why they were worried about Justin. And in fact where he had went.
"Where did he go?" Dani asked, wrapping an arm around Chris's neck. Everyone was sitting around the living room, relaxing and waiting. It was now 3, and they knew if Justin didn't get back soon he wouldn't have time to get ready for the always early JC and his date.
"He ran off earlier, I said something and he didn't like it. So he took off running out the door and he didn't come back." Brittany answered, and was scared by the looks she recieved from Dani and Christina. They both had a feeling that she had told Justin what she felt about him and JC, and Brittany's fear gave them the right indication.
"You didn't say anything about what you told us last night did you?" Dani questioned harshly, Brittany's shoulders shrugged apologetically. "Brittany, how could you?"
"How could she what?" Chris asked, startled by the fight that was ensuing.
"Nothing, lets just drop it. It's too late now." Christina broke in, she was upset too, but it was too late. "Did you tell Josh?"
"I did, but he was in a rush for his date, and said that Justin would probably just wanna calm down." Brittany answered, and although during the conversation that was going down so far, there were plenty of times for being to be confused, it was now time for everyone to be confused. It was never like JC to just ignore Justin's pain.
"Ya mean he knew Justin ran off and he didn't do anything?" Joey asked, breaking the silence.
"Yep." She replied, but was cut off when they heard the door. "I bet that's him."
"I'm home guys, sorry I'm early, but my date wanted to meet you before dinner." It was only JC though, as they heard his voice holler through the house.
"Shit, what do we tell him about Justin?" Chris asked quickly, as JC came closer to the room.
"Nothing, we just tell him that he went out to the store or something." Dani answered, as JC walked in the room.
"Good thing you guys are all ready, I was hoping we could go out early." JC smiled, as he date walked in behind him. "Everybody this is Jim. Jim that's Chris, Dani, Brittany, Joey, Lance, and Christina." JC introduced everybody, looking around for the missing piece. "And I'm sure Justin is some where around here." He smiled, and then turned waiting for an explanation to where Justin was.
"He isn't here right now, he went to the store." Christina answered quickly.
"Alright, well I guess we can wait for awhile." JC smiled, and led Jim into the living room to sit. Everyone else took there seats again, and the clock ticked away as they waited.
"Where do you think he is?" Chris and Lance were in the kitchen getting drinks for every body. It was already 4, and if Justin didn't return home soon, they would have to tell Josh.
"I don't know, maybe we should send Brittany and Christina out to look for him." Chris suggested, grabbing his car keys. "They can take my car, and just drive up and down the streets." Lance smiled, it was a good idea coming out of Chris for once.
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"I think I see somebody. Over there by that bench." Christina was right, Brittany pulled to the side of the road, and there was Justin sitting on a park bench, looking into space.
"Justin what are you doing?" Brittany was the first to speak out of the three.
"I was thinking, about what you said. And about everything else." Justin answered nonchalantly.
"I'm sorry about what I said Justin. I didn't mean to hurt you." Brittany replied quickly.
"It's okay, I'm over it. Could we just go home. I wanna get a shower and relax." Justin answered, still shocking Brittany by his complete 180 of feelings.
"Sure, but you aren't going to have time to relax. Josh is waiting for us. He wants us to go out to dinner with Jim." Christina spoke the words softly, hoping Justin wouldn't pay attention to what she was saying.
"Oh" Now Brittany was back at ease, as Justin returned to moping. Just the metnion of the person JC was seeing, changed his mood, maybe she was right after all.
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The car ride back to the house, and the hour Justin spent getting ready was relatively quiet. No one questioned where he was, not even the protective JC. The car ride to the restaruant was mixed, Justin, Brittany, Lance, and Joey rode in one car. Dani and Chris in another with Christina, and JC and Jim rode in JC's car.
Once at the restaraunt, they took there seats. But they were not the regular order. Instead of Justin sitting by JC, he sat by Brittany and Lance, giving Joey a change of seating, him by JC this time. JC didn't question that either, and the food was ordered with small talk around the table. JC and Jim were able to sneak quick kisses, since the group was put towards the back because of there status. Each time, Justin cringed at the sight, his face dropping more and more.
"So, where did you meet Jim at Josh?" Joey asked, keeping up the small talk.
"Um, we met at the mall." Jim answered first, trying to keep himself involved in the conversation.
"Did you guys have fun at lunch today?" Chris joined into the conversation as well.
"Actually yeah, Josh is so romantic, he took me to a nice restaruant, and then we hung out at my place." Jim smiled at the mention of hung, and continued to eat his meal. It was the last straw for Justin, he began to sniffle, tears obviously coming from his eyes.
"Excuse me." Justin managed to mutter, as he took off from the table. Brittany followed quickly, and watched him run from the door of the restaruant. She caught him running into Lance's car, and knew he would just sit there and wait. Returning to the table, she found them all in a loss of words, as they waited for her.
"What's his problem?" JC was the first to speak, hoping some one else knew what was wrong.
"Not much Josh, not much." Christina answered, a bit harshly too.
"What's that suppose to mean?" JC asked taking offense to it.
"Nothing." She replied back. "Maybe I should take him home. Me and Joey can handle it. If you can take Lance and Britt home with you Chris." She suggested, Joey agreeing with a nod.
"Sure, here." Lance handed over the keys.
"See ya at home guys, nice meeting you Jon." Christina knew his name was Jim, she said Jon just to be rude. Turning her and Joey didn't wait for him or JC to react to the insult, and exited the restaruant. Inside the car, Joey slid in the back with Justin, letting the youngest NSYNC member rest his head on his shoulder and cry. Christina started the car, and pulled out of the parking lot.
"What's wrong Curly?" Joey asked, stroking his back.
"Nothing, nothing."
"Come on, you can tell us. Where all friends." He continued, hoping to get him to talk about what was upsetting him.
"I don't know, Brittany said I liked Josh, and that I should just admit it. And I got upset, and left, but then the more I thought about it, maybe I do. When he was with Jim, I knew for sure."
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TBC.....
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Did Justin just admit his feelings for JC? or did he just deny them? Next time it will become clearer. Will JC have to make a decision on he dates or will he have no choice? All these questions will be answered in the next chapter of Love Interest.