| Chapter Eighteen Jade walked up to Justin after about thirty minutes of everyone leaving him alone, hoping he�d had adequate time to think about bomb Elizabeth had dropped. �You gonna be okay?� she asked. He looked at her. His eyes were blank and his face was completely expressionless. She raised her eyebrows questioningly and he looked back down his hands that were on the table where he was sitting without saying a word. Jade put her hand on his shoulder. She lowed her voice an octave. She was concerned about him, scared at what action he might feel he would be forced to take. �Hey, are you okay?� He nodded slowly and grabbed her hand. He caressed it for a moment then he pulled her down so she was sitting on his lap. He wrapped his arms around her, holding her tightly to him. He was crying again. Jade rubbed his back and said �Shh, shh� while he sobbed. He kept muttering something about the past staying in the past but sometimes it was so hard to leave it alone. Jade tried her best to comfort him. After a few minutes, Nick came up to her. �Is he alright?� he whispered. Jade nodded. Justin raised his head slowly. There was a shadow of a smile on his face. �I can�t believe it. I didn�t do those things. I�m not a monster. After five years, maybe I can sleep without wondering and thinking about what I thought I had done.� Nick nodded slowly and stood to the side. Rebecca came up to him. She looked at Justin, then at Nick, who nodded. Rebecca sighed, glad that he would be fine. �Hey, I need a ride home. Heather and Kevin left.� She looked at Nick hopefully. Nick smiled. �Well, we were just getting ready to leave also. I�m sure we can take you.� Rebecca blushed. �Okay. I can�t believe they left me here. I guess they thought that something, or someone, was going to be here to give me a ride home.� She smiled again, and then looked back at Justin. There were tears still slipping out of his eyes and down his face. �I know we just met and all, but Justin, are you sure you are going to be okay?� Jade smiled. �Thanks for asking, Rebecca. I think he�s going to be fine. He�s a strong person. We�ll get through this, won�t we Justin?� Jade asked. Justin smiled through his tears. �As long as you can help me, I can get through anything fine.� Jade kissed his forehead softly and stroked his hair again. �You got it. You got me,� she whispered, and he pulled her close and kissed her, knowing he would pull through for sure. Chapter Nineteen HOME |