Broken, tired, bloody, shocked, and pissed off….were just a few words to describe how Julia and John were feeling at the moment. Julia had helped John back to the hotel along with Christy. Since he was in need of her help, she decided that he would sleep in her room tonight. She and Christy had rested him on the bed—he laid there on his stomach in pain as it was too painful to lay on his back yet. John was being stubborn about the whole thing as he only allowed the EMTs to stitch up his head. He just wanted to go back to the hotel and relax. Julia had went in search of Tylenol for him. Christy went to her room seeing that Julia had everything under control. Just as John turned his head and groaned, Julia walked into the room. She changed into a pair of pink pajama pants and a light pink tank top. She was holding two pills and a glass of water.

" John, come on. You need to take this." Julia said

" No…." John replied nearly moaning as his head started to spin

" Why?" she asked

" I hate pain killers. I can stand the pain." he replied

" Stop trying to prove something. This is me, I already know how tough you are, so take the damn pills." Julia said, John sighed and slowly turned over to take the medicine. When he was done he flipped back over and held his lower back in pain. That's when Julia had an idea. She walked over to him and climbed onto the bed, straddling John's hips

" Whoa Jay, what is this a Midnight rape or something?" John teased despite his pain

" Relax, I'm going to give you a back massage." Julia replied as she started to work her fingers into his back, " You know you should really see a doctor John."
" It's nothing," John said as she sighed and kneaded his shoulders, warming the muscles up with the palms of her hands—firm strokes from his shoulders to his lower back. Any reply John might have had was lost as he sighed, eyes sliding closed as Julia continued kneading his back.
" You okay?" she asked

" Couldn't be…..damn right there. Oh….better, couldn't be better." he purred,
Julia laughed quietly. She used her thumbs to work out all the knots in John's lower back. After twenty minutes or so, she raised off of him to his protest. John's back was feeling a lot better, to the point were he could actually stand up straight and stretch without cringing in pain.

" You are a blessing." John stated sitting down on the bed

" Thank you, just glad I could help." Julia replied walking over to her dresser, John watched as she lightly limped on her right foot

" You hurt your ankle tonight didn't you?" he asked

" When Jericho flipped me, I landed a little bad on it. I didn't break or fracture it. It just hurts a little." she replied, John put his hand out and motioned for her to come on the bed. When she sat down he carefully brought her right leg to rest on his thighs.

" What are you doing?" Julia asked

" Massaging your ankle, relax." John replied as he gently started to massage her ankle, Julia whined at the touch of his hands, then sighed as he slowly rubbed it. John started squeezing his hands around her sole and worked his way up to her toes, carefully taking time massaging each digit of flesh and the valley between each one. For the next few minutes, Julia was in heaven. John's hands were magic, she almost didn't understand how someone so rough could have hands so gentle. When John was done, her head fall back as if she had just experienced pure ecstasy.

" You okay?" John asked

" After glow." Julia teased as he chuckled

" Jay….do you want to get something to eat?" he suddenly asked

" Room service?" she asked in return

" Lets go out." John replied as she looked at him closely, Julia wondered why he had the sudden urge to go out this time at night. But, she smiled at him and nodded her head

" Where you wanna go?" she asked

" We could walk around and see what's out there." he replied

" Okay, let me just change." Julia stated as she climbed off the bed headed over to the dresser. John got up and went to his own room to change as well. After a few moments Julia grabbed her key and walked out of her room. John was already standing by the elevator. He now was dressed in a black wife-beater, light blue jeans, and black sneakers. He looked casual and relaxed, John smiled as she locked her door and walked towards him. She was wearing a yellow Cheerios tee, light blue flares, and white sneakers. John pressed for the elevator and soon the two were heading out in search of something to fill their stomachs. While in the elevator they decided to grab some snacks from the cafeteria and then take a walk around the hotel. Julia was munching on some chips when she saw John staring at her.

I caught your eye looking my way
But you seem so shy

" What?" she asked defensively

" What I can't look at you?" John asked

" No, I mean yes." Julia paused, " Just don't look at me like that."

" Like what?" he asked

" Like I'm what's for dinner." she replied as John laughed

" I Can't help it. Sometimes I just stare at you." John said

Don't be scared, I won't hurt you
And darlin' that's no lie

" John, do you want to go for a walk?" Julia asked

" Jay….we are walking." he replied sarcastically

" I mean in the park smart ass." she said

" Okay." John replied as they turned into the street and walked towards a park a few blocks away from them

Believe I can give things to you, you never ever dreamed
I won't give up till you possess, in life the finer things

They quietly walked in silence through the park as the trees shifted from the cool summer's breeze. The night seemed perfect as they were the only ones in the park, they could smell the scent of the warm night mixed with the fresh scent of blooming flowers around them. At that moment John wanted nothing more than to hold Julia as they walked. The park was so beautiful and quiet, no matter what he thought about, images of the fun times he and Julia had were passing through his mind. She was everything that he wanted in a woman, desired in a woman, and needed in a woman. But, she was just his friend.

I know, know what you do want
Honey stop the fakin'
Come on and get with me baby, drive me crazy
John didn't know how much he could take just having Julia as a friend—she was one of his best friends—she knew and understood things about him that no one else did. Having her as a friend was wonderful, but deep down he still wanted her as more than a that. And no matter how he tried to deny those feelings, he couldn't. How could he? When you love someone you can't just be friends. Love?...was John in love with Julia? He knew that today the word love was tossed around like Jennifer Lopez's ass. Everyone said it, but didn't mean it. The word was abused and he didn't want to be another abuser of it. Yet, love was the first thing that came to mind to describe what he felt for Julia. Maybe I am in love…or at least on track to it. John thought to himself as he placed his hands in his pockets.

Feel me, hold me, love me, squeeze me

Julia watched as John was deep in thought, he looked like her when she woke up that morning. She wondered what he was thinking about, but didn't want to ask as she wasn't in the mood to hear something like Jericho's ass is dead next week. She wanted him to say that he wanted her, needed her. The park opened her mind back to thoughts of her and John together. Once again she was confused and regretted ever asking John to be friends with her. He was so much more than a friend. You don't think of ripping the shirt off your friend or wonder what color boxers they have on or turn around at night wishing they were laying next to you. Julia wanted John, she just wondered if he wanted still wanted her and if he did how would that affect there friendship?

JJ

Lyrics belong to Ginuwine " I Know"