�Um�I�� Mark stuttered.

�Well whatever it is, it�ll have to wait.� Justin said. �Remember that thing I was supposed to tell you a few days ago?�

�Yeah��

�Well�� Justin smiled. �What do you think of Ashley?�

�What about her?� Mark asked. �She�s a girl�whom you�re obviously attracted to�so the way I see it, it doesn�t really matter what I think because it�s not going to stop you from doing what you want to do. So why are you asking?�

Justin sighed because he sounded upset. �Because�we�re getting married.�

Mark fell back on Kelly. How could so many things go wrong?

�Mike? Mike, you ok bud?� Justin asked, picking up his son from Kelly�s arms. Mark looked up at his father and he could have just blown up at him because of what he was doing.

�I�m not Mike so stop called me that!� Mark said, getting out of his father�s grip. Justin looked puzzled. Mark saw his father�s expression and sighed.

�Dad�I�m Mark.�

His eyes grew wide. �If you�re a Mark, where�s Mike?� he asked. Kelly put her hand on Mark�s shoulder.

�Mike�s in L.A. with��

�With Britney.� Justin finished his son�s sentence. He ran his hand over his face and plopped down on the couch.

�Are you mad?�

Justin smiled. �Of course I�m not. This is just a lot to take in right now.�

Mark shut his eyes. You think this is a lot.

�Dad�about mom.� He paused. �She was in an accident a few days ago.�

A look off horror fell on Justin�s face. Even though he and Britney never really kept in touch over the years, he still cared for her. She would always be important to him.

�What kind of accident?�

�Car accident. She was doing fine but��

�Thank god.�

�Dad let me finish. That�s not what I wanted to tell you though.�

�It wasn�t?�

Mark shook his head. �Mom went into an a coma yesterday.�

�What!� both Kelly and Justin exclaimed.

�That�s why I need to get there.� Mark said. Without thinking twice, Justin spoke up.

�Kelly, pack some things. We�re leaving as soon as possible.� He said as he ran to the kitchen and grabbed the phone.

�I need to call the guys and tell them what�s going on.�

Mark smiled and rushed to his room to pack. Half an hour later, they were all set to leave. Just as they were about to talk out the door, Ashley walked up to them.

�Hey, where are ya�ll going?� she asked as she gave Justin a kiss on the cheek. Justin pushed her away.

�We�re going to L.A.� he said. �You don�t need to come.�

�Why?�

�Because you�re not concerned in this.� Mark snapped.

�Whoa�what�s wrong with you?� she asked. Mark just rolled his eyes as Kelly tried to calm him down.

�Dad let�s go!� Mark whined as he pulled on his arm. �I want to see her now.� He finished.

�See who?�

�I�d tell you, but we really need to go.� Justin said as they stepped into the awaiting car.

�Fine then, I�m going with you.� She said as she got into the car with them.

�Dad! Why is she here?�

�I�m sorry bud, but that doesn�t matter right now. All that matters is that we get to L.A. as fast as we can.� Justin said as turned his head to look out the window.

�God please let her be ok. Don�t take her away from me again.�


Chapter 10