Chapter Four
Authors Note: I apologize for any errors that I make concerning the filming of the movie. You�ll notice that I have tweaked a few things about the characters that I did not know or for reasons of making the story flow. If any of you are big music fans you might notice in some of the chapters that I have made reference or used music that was not currently released at that time, just play along. There is a reason for it.
Part 4
Elijah sat looking out the passenger side window for a moment. He hadn�t seen Justice for years. They were once best friends, so why was he hesitating now?
�Lij, we might not have seen each other for too many damn years, but I�m still me and you�re still you. There has never been and there never will be anything that you can�t ask me or talk to me about. So c�mon spit it out,� she told him firmly with a quick look over to him.
�I know. I was just wondering, well, what�s going on with you and OB?� he managed to ask. He blushed. Next to him Justice smiled as she turned down her street.
�Do you want full details with descriptions or are you wondering if we are going to date?� she quipped, and Elijah blushed deeper.
�No details, ever!"
�Why? Are you jealous?� she asked with a big smile to let him know she was kidding. Justice turned into her driveway, threw her car into park and turned to her friend.
�Maybe,� Elijah told her with a smirk. �Just call it my inquisitive nature.�
�Always the protector,� she said as her mind flashed back to their youth. Elijah had been her protector back then. She could have used that later in life when he wasn�t around anymore. �We�re just going to do the friends thing,� she finally told him as she opened her door to get out. Elijah followed her out of the car and up to her front door. He stood behind her as she unlocked it.
�What do you mean the friends thing?�
Justice let him into her small house and shut the door behind them. Leading him into the living room, they sat down.
�You know. Friends with benefits. All the perks of a relationship and none of the hassle.�
Elijah sat there surprised as he looked at the girl sitting across from him. He never would have ever thought that Justice would have turned out to be the kind of girl who would have sex with a man without at least being in some kind of romantic relationship. She always held so much respect for that kind of a bond.
�Wow! I�ve heard some downright strange and often times crude things come out of your mouth, but I never thought I would hear you saying something like that.� Justice grinned at him.
�Yah, I guess I have been known to be a little tactless. I am who I am. Don�t let it bother you any Lij. I�m still pretty much the same girl that you knew. I�ve just grown up a little that�s all. Maybe I realized that relationships are a little overrated.� She smiled at him and put her hand on his leg.
�I�ve noticed how you�ve grown up,� Elijah told her with a mischievous smirk. He glanced down. �I don�t seem to remember you having so many curves when we were going out.� Justice threw back her head and laughed.
�I think my mom thought I was going to remain a stick forever! You should have seen the way she carried on when we finally had to start going shopping.�
�How is your family?� Elijah questioned and he noticed the shadow that passed over her green eyes.
�Fine I would think. I haven�t spoken to them in about a year I guess. Since I moved here. Last I heard though, my brother and his wife had a baby. Honestly though, I�m more interested in hearing about you and your family. Why don�t you make yourself at home and I�m going to go change clothes.� Justice said as she stood up.
�Sounds good.� Elijah replied as he took the remote for the TV from her hand.
He sat on the couch switching through the stations until Justice came back into the room. She had changed into a pair of dark blue hip hugging jeans and a different baby tee. This one was pink and had a pixie on it. Elijah smiled when he saw the pixie wearing a pair of fatigues and tank top and underneath reading : What are you looking at? Typical Justice.
�So, where are we going?� she called to him as she fetched a bottled water from the refrigerator in the kitchen.
�Well, I need to go to the mall and get my sister a present to mail home for her birthday. Then I thought we could just kinda go wherever. There�s not a lot to Wellington from what I've seen,� he told her, turning off the TV and joining her in the kitchen.
�No I guess there really isn't. But I'm game for whatever. I just want to spend some time with you.�
Together, they headed out the door. Justice reversed out of the driveway and headed towards the one mall in Wellington, if it could even be considered a mall. After all she had lived in Dallas, one of the fashion capitals of the world, as odd as that sounded for a city in Texas, though it was true. The day was pleasant and relaxed. A few people from time to time would do a double take trying to figure out where they had seen Elijah before. She would laugh and tell him some things never changed. They walked arm in arm going from store to store as he searched for the perfect gift for his sister. They even wandered into a CD store and each bought a new CD. When they got back in the car to leave the mall they fought over which CD they were going to listen to. Of course Elijah won, since Justice could never tell him no when he turned on the charm. She tried to glare at him but he saw right through her act.
"Alright, where to next?" she asked.
"Movies and pizza, how does that sound?"
"Fantastic actually. I'm starving."
"Oh really?"
"Totally. I could eat the south-bound end of a north-bound cow." She replied with a huge smile.
"Damn redneck." Elijah muttered good-naturedly as she drove down the streets with a smirk brightening her face.
He had missed her. They had a great time together, like they always had. Elijah was glad for the time alone because it allowed them to get to know one another better. By the time it started growing dark, they were acting as if they had never been separated. Even five years apart couldn�t change their friendship.
Back at the guys� house, Elijah opened the door and carried the pizza inside. Justice followed right behind him with the bag of movies. Dom, Billy and Orlando were sprawled out in different positions in the living room watching TV. They turned when they heard the door open and Elijah laughing.
�That wasn�t even my fault!� they heard Justice say.
�It was too. You started that fight,� Elijah countered as he set the pizza on the counter in the kitchen.
�I did not! That guy behind us started it. Then even after the movie he had to come over and start on us again. He couldn�t just leave it alone.�
The other three guys joined the friends in the kitchen.
�Jus, just admit it, it was your fault.�
�I admit nothing,� she responded resolutely.
�What�re you guys talking about?� Dom finally asked as Justice and Elijah stood smiling at each other.
�Oh just how it was Justice�s fault that we got banned from the movie theater.�
�It was not!� she huffed indignantly, then moved away to find herself a nice carbonated drink in the form of Dr. Pepper.
�Okay, so she and I were at the theater and behind us there was this couple making out,� Elijah started.
�No, more like pawing at each other. Acting as if they were in heat is more accurate,� she added.
�Fine! They were going at it pretty hot and heavy. So, it was about time for the movie to start, so Justice in her oh so subtle way started talking about rude people and all that. I guess they didn�t appreciate it, so Justice and the girl ended up starting an argument. After a theater full of people were yelling at them to shut up they both sat down and we watched the movie. As soon as it was over the couple behind us left. We were some of the last ones out of the theater and out in the lobby the couple was waiting for us. The guy walked up to us and started shouting at Justice and calling her all kinds of names.�
�See! He started it!� Justice added with a smirk. The other guys laughed at Elijah�s sigh.
�But you pushed him first!�
�Ohhh I so didn�t push him! I told you I tripped and fell into him.� Justice tried to hide her smile and Elijah laughed.
�Then what happened?� Billy asked, through his giggles. �How did you end up getting banned?�
�Oh well this guy, what an ass he was. He grabbed Justice by her arms and made some comment about her being a stupid bitch or something. Then he pushed her away. Then she punched him right in his jaw.�
�Damn right I did!� she announced proudly. All of the guys except for Elijah then looked at her in shock. They took in her small 5'3" frame and couldn�t imagine her hitting anyone.
�What did the guy do?� Dom asked.
�Oh he tried to hit her back. Justice ducked and hit him in the gut then kicked him in the nuts.� Elijah announced proudly. That was his Justice. �The guy�s girlfriend went and got management and they had Justice and me escorted out of the building by security and told us not to come back.�
�Remind me not to piss you off,� Orlando said looking her amusedly. She was feisty.
�Darn skippy,� she said. �Now see it so wasn�t my fault. He tried to hit me.�
�Okay Justice just keep telling yourself that,� Elijah said, and turned to get some plates down from the cabinet for the pizza.
�We brought pizza if you guys want any,� Justice told the others as she and Elijah filled their plates, �and movies.�
A few minutes later they all sat around the living room full and ready for movies.
�So, what did you get?� Billy asked. Justice grabbed the bag and pulled out three movies.
�Let�s see. American Pie, Braveheart, and Mel Brooks� History of the World Part 1.�
After a few minutes of trying to decide who would be commander of the remote, it was decided that they would watch American Pie first, with Dom playing remote jockey for the evening. Elijah put the DVD in the player and went to turn off the lights. Orlando took the opportunity to pull Justice over to the love seat to sit with him. Dom and Billy took up the couch and Elijah kicked back on the recliner. Orlando stretched out against the back of the couch and pulled Justice to lie down in front of him so that he was spooning her from behind. Justice smiled when he draped his arm over her middle. Throughout the movie they lay cuddled together. Occasionally Orlando would kiss her neck or she would bring their intertwined hands up to place a kiss to the top of his hand. Elijah couldn't help thinking, as his eyes would glance over at Justice and Orlando curled up on the couch together, that they sure did look at ease with each other. He knew that Justice was a very tactile and cuddly person from past experience and she looked very comfortable with Orlando spooned up behind her. They sure didn't act like they had only met the day before. Could there be more between them than what she was letting on? Throughout the movie he tried to concentrate on it, but instead kept watching the two on the couch out of the corner of his eye. When the movie finished everyone stretched and they flipped the lights back on.
�Hey Lij, did you know that Shannon Elizabeth is from Texas too?� Justice asked as they settled back in to watch Braveheart.
�From around Houston, right? I met her at a party once. Pretty nice girl.� He said as the opening credits came on. The room was once again silent.
About halfway through the second cd of the movie a soft musical tone came from behind the love seat. It took Justice a second before she realized it was her cell phone. Jumping up, she went to see who was calling her. Immediately noticing the number as her best friend in the states, she answered in a whisper.
�Hey, chica. Hang on a second.� She held the phone to her chest as she went out the back door to sit on the steps leading down to the small yard. �Sorry about that. We were watching a movie. What�s up? How are you? Kinda early in the morning there isn't it?�
Inside Orlando and Elijah watched as she slipped out the back door to go sit on the steps of the porch. Shrugging Elijah turned his attention back to the movie. Across the room Orlando was trying to concentrate on the action but found it nearly impossible. Getting up from his position on the couch he walked outside to see if she was alright. He could see the tension in her body and the way she had wrapped her arms around herself to fight off the chill of the night. Sitting down behind her he slid a leg on either side of her body and wrapped his arms around her to keep her warm with his body heat. Justice turned and smiled to him in thanks and then returned her attention back to the person on the phone.
�Cami, sweety, I�m so sorry,� she comforted and Orlando could tell that she was upset for whoever Cami was. �Do you think that this is the first time that anything like this has happened?�
�It�s okay, I know Jake and Matt still hang out. I don�t expect anyone to hate him, Cam, that�s my job. You guys were all friends with Jake long before I came into the picture. Just tell me what he did.� Orlando tightened his arms around her when he felt her body stiffen at the mention of this Jake person.
�Fuck!� she sighed under her breath, then her tone turned angry. �Fuckin� X? Don�t they ever learn? Guess not a lot has changed in the last year then,� she continued after taking a deep breath to calm herself. �How much did he take Cami?� Orlando didn�t know what was happening but he could tell that the whole conversation was upsetting Justice.
�I can�t tell you what to do. You know what I would do, what I did do. If it was me I�d beat the shit out of him and call it a night. This isn�t about me though, this is about you and Matt and you aren�t like me. You�ll do the adult thing and sleep on it. It�s extremely early there, so take a hot bath and then go to bed. Take a few days to think about what this means to your relationship and then go talk to him,� Justice paused a few moments to listen to the person on the other line.
�Okay sweetie, try to sleep at least a little. I know you hurt and I�m sorry. If I could make it all better I would. Would it make you feel any better if I flew back to Dallas and beat the shit outta Matt?� Justice paused and smiled when the other girl laughed slightly. �You laugh, but you know I would do it for you. Anyways I love you and you can call me anytime. I expect to hear from you tomorrow.�
�You too.� With that Justice disconnected the call and set her phone down on the steps beside her. Her hands were shaking as she raised them up to run them over her face. How dare Jake take his destructive behavior and ruin another relationship? If she were there she would have gone straight over to his house and given him another good beating. She felt Orlando�s hands come around her own shaking ones.
�Why are you shaking?� His voice was low and concerned.
�I�m just a little upset right now. God what an asshole!�
�Want to talk about it?� Orlando asked and moved his hands down her arms to rub over her back in a calming fashion. Justice allowed some of the anger to leave her body.
�I�m not really a violent person. I know the story earlier and what you just heard might make you think so, but I�m not.� She didn't want him to think she was like that.
�I don�t think you are. From what I can put together someone has done something to your friend. It�s a protective instinct. Tell me about it.� Orlando murmured soothingly. Justice let his voice calm her; it was like satin caressing her skin. "Cami and I have been friends since I moved to Dallas. She was dating Matt when I met her, that�s how I met Jake. Jake and I hooked up and from then on we were always together, the four of us. The three of them and some other friends went to a club tonight and Jake must have given Matt some ecstacy. Cami caught Matt making out pretty heavily with another woman at the club. Six years of a fantastic relationship ruined in one night with those fucking drugs,� Justice exhaled.
�Doesn�t seem worth it,� Orlando added and together they sat in silence. When she had calmed down she turned to Orlando and thanked him. Standing up they walked back into the house and saw the guys watching the third movie. It had just begun and Justice allowed herself to smile, she loved anything by Mel Brooks. Elijah caught her eye and she smiled letting him know that she was okay. Orlando pulled her back over to the love seat and they settled back in laying on their sides. He continued to run soothing strokes over her back and arms, to calm her. By the end of the movie Justice was asleep in Orlando�s arms. He crawled over her to stand next to the couch, and bending down scooped the sleeping girl into his arms, turning and carrying her to his room.
Back in the living room the others just watched. Standing up they all shuffled to their rooms with goodnights and see you in the mornings.
Across the house Orlando was laying Justice down on his bed. She stirred a little and sat up. With a drowsy smile she unlaced her boots and removed them, throwing her socks to the floor next to them. Still mostly asleep she removed her jeans next and slid under the covers wearing her t-shirt and panties only.
�Night Orli,� she sighed and fell back to sleep.
He slipped into his bed beside her and smiled when she turned over and cuddled into his side. Before he knew it his eyes drifted shut and he fell asleep .
The next morning the group all sat around eating breakfast and talking until it was time for Justice to head home to get ready for work . Justice had a hard time leaving Elijah and she made him program in her numbers as she watched him. She didn�t want there to be any way that she lost contact with him again. She exchanged numbers with the others as well and made them promise to keep in touch. With a smile and a wave she walked out the door and went home. For the first time in a year, Justice didn�t feel lonely anymore.