Chapter
16
Like always when Justin begins to feel happy and content, the old
doubts resurface. After all, hadn't he been told all his life that he
was nothing and that he deserved even less. When he starts to think
everything will be okay, hasn't he always been let down? Suddenly the
doubt crushes him that Jason is even dead. His blues widen with fear,
his panic freezing him, and his mouth becomes dry. Even Andrew's weight
against his body does nothing to reassure him the way it usually does.
Silently Justin tells himself that Jason has to be dead. I shot him, I
watched him die! I checked his pulse twice, and the cops assured me
that he was indeed dead. There's no possible way that he can still be
alive.
Instinctively
Andrew knows what Justin is thinking. Shifting so he can peer into the
blonde's blues, his fingers stroke the older teen's neck and his hazels
shine with concern. "Baby, what's wrong," his voice is hushed, the
words barely reaching Justin's ears, but the blond shakes his head and
his blues become clear again. "Just thinking," Justin says with a
shrug, but Andrew's eyes narrow as he interlaces their fingers stating,
"Tell me what's bothering you." "I'm just waiting for everything to
turn bad again," Justin admits softly knowing he sounds stupid, but
Andrew rolls his eyes saying, "It wont. I love you, babe." "Love you,
too"
Rubbing the sleep from his eyes, Justin smiles as sunlight
glitters across the water like diamonds. His smile widens as Andrew
innocently kisses his neck before laying his cheek against his chest.
"Do you want to go home," Andrew inquires, and playing with the teen's
hair Justin says, "Sure, in a little while. It's relaxing here"
Giggling
Angelina gazes out the window as Andrew pulls into the driveway.
Flipping through a magazine, Marianne rolls her eyes when her
girlfriend squeals in delight and races to the door. Dave and Kyle
glance at the bubbly blond in amusement before sharing a look of
what-is-she-doing, and Kyle grins as the door opens revealing Justin
and Andrew. Immediately Angelina hugs the teens, and asks giddily, "How
was the date?" Standing Dave wraps an arm around Kyle's shoulders
chuckling, then says, "Angelina, leave them alone." Her blues look at
him with false disappointment, and a pout forms on her lips.
Smiling
Andrew leads Justin upstairs to his room, and locks the door behind
them. "Is she always that hyper?" Nodding the blond male scoots his
brunette boyfriend back until his knees hit the bed. Smirking Andrew
lays back on the bed tugging Justin on top of himself saying,
"Everyone's busy downstairs." The blue eyed teen distracts him briefly
with gentle kisses along his throat saying, "I know"
With the bet
long forgotten, Justin succumbs to the temptation to touch and kiss
Andrew all over. His skilled hands, still familiar with the boy's body
even after so long, brings the brunette to whimpering and reaching out
for more. Finally, they become one. This time, there's no fight for
dominance as Justin enters Andrew. Though their love making is fast
bringing release too quickly, they both realize all the love being
poured into each movement. For once, it feels like more than just sex.
Breathlessly
Andrew leans against the blond, and says, "That was amazing." Justin
makes a sound of agreement, tightens his hold on him, and closes. "It's
all over, isn't it?" Nodding Justin dresses Andrew then himself
stating, "I still want to see his grave just to make sure." Andrew
smiles following Justin downstairs, and stares at the unusual crowd.
Andrew's
mother sits prim and proper while Angelina lays on her stomach kicking
her feet and reading a magazine. Sitting cross legged beside her
girlfriend, Marianne chats with Lynette. Dave's talking business with
Tom while Kyle frets over Gabrielle's hair as she sits sipping her tea.
Tilting her head, Justin asks, "Where's Jason buried?" Marianne looks
startled, but says, "New York, but why do you want to know?" Glancing
away, Justin tightens his grasp on Andrew's hand and states, "I just
need to see it"
Marianne
watches with concerned greens as Justin gnaws on his fingernails, and
says, "Honey, are you sure you want to do this?" Nodding the blond male
paces across the floor, and glances up when he hears the floor creak
with the added weight of someone else. "Baby, are you ready?" Taking a
deep breath, Justin hugs Marianne quickly before following Andrew down
stairs. "Okay, so I'll drop you two off at Justin's so he can pack then
Marianne and Angelina are going to the parents, while Kyle and I
housesit for Justin," Dave says making sure he has everything ready.
Nodding the teen's cram into Marianne's car, laughing as they scramble
onto each other's laps. Finally, they pull away from Mrs. Van de Kamp's
house.
Nervously Justin packs his suit case and carry on bag. His
hands shaking with each article he adds. A startled gasp escapes him
when his cell phone rings, and carefully he answers, "Hello?"
"Sweetheart, how are you feeling?" Disbelief rushes through him, a mix
of cold shock and heated anger, and he states, "I'm fine, Laura Anne.
I'm leaving for a few days, if not more, to go on a trip." "Are you
sure it's safe for you to go so soon? I really think that you should
come stay with us," she says, her tone light yet caring, but Justin
rolls his eyes responding, "No, Laura Anne. I'm sorry, but this is
something that I really have to do." Ending the call, Justin barely
hears her last words. "But I want you here." Those words echo through
his head. The plane takes off after making sure all passengers have
boarded. Pressing his face against the window, Justin watches the
landscape grow smaller and smaller. Finally, he slips on headphones and
lets the music soothe him to sleep. Watching Justin sleep, Andrew
smiles and takes the teen's hand in his own.
Swallowing
hard, Justin gazes at New York with a sense of dread. The city is just
too fast paced for his liking. After a good twenty minutes, they
finally hail a taxi. The driver barely glances at them before taking
off. Seeing the apartment complex ahead, Justin's eyes grow hard and
distant. Paying the driver, the blond nods at the apartment's local
prostitute as she smokes on her brief break.
"Hey, Justin. Heard
'bout your ol' man," a man says, and the blond teen glares at him. The
man shivers, visibly afraid, and says, "See ya 'round, kid." Shocked,
all Andrew can do is follow Justin to his apartment. The older teen
knows that this place can harden a person. The apartment is pristine,
no sign of the death that occurred in the bedroom or the abuse he
suffered. To a stranger the place would seem nice despite the outside
appearance of the place. The furniture is practically brand new, the
paint is fresh, and the place seems almost homey. However, Justin knows
what happened here. Finding the cemetery had been the easy part, but
actually going up to the tombstone is a different story. Shaking Justin
kneels before the stone and traces Jason's name. Actually seeing his
grave makes Justin feel better. A little safer, even. Finally, he knows
for sure that it's over. Taking Andrew's hand in his, Justin is ready
for a new beginning. He's finally ready to cave in to his addiction
completely.
The End
