Mya and AJ broke apart from each other breathless. Their arms still enveloped each other in a tight embrace. Mya felt as though she could stay in his arms forever. They were so comforting. When she was in them, there was no hurt, no memories, and most of all no pain. Grasping each other�s hands tightly they sat in complacent silence watching as the brilliant stars twinkled above them. Mya nestled her head in the crook of AJ�s neck as he reached out and ran a hand delicately through her long hair.

There were so many things that AJ wanted to tell her, but for the moment he refrained from expressing his feelings. He didn�t want anything to ruin this moment. Everything was prefect. Everything except one thing � the sadness that lingered in Mya�s eyes. It was a sadness that he so desperately wished he could help erase but in his heart knew he couldn�t. Everytime he looked into her eyes it was as if he was transported to another world. A world full of loss, sadness and hurt. It was a world that AJ himself was fairly familiar with.

A few more silent minutes passed between the pair as they sat innocently squeezing each other�s hands. They grasped onto each other tightly as if they were never planning to part.

�I wish we could stay like this forever, Mya whispered breathily to AJ.

�Me too,� he murmured in her ear.

�Too bad nothing stays the same forever,� Mya mused as if to herself, her tone was bittersweet as she said the words.

Silence on AJ�s part followed. His curiosity piqued and his imagination getting the best of him, his eyes gave way to confusion. �What happened?� he asked his tone awkward yet nevertheless concerned. AJ awaited Mya�s response hoping whole-heartedly that she would finally open up to him.

�Sometimes I think about the happy times. The family excursions, picnics, impromptu gatherings,� Mya blabbed to AJ off tangent. �I remember exactly how it used to be. We used to be one of those inseparable families, especially on holidays. And then I took up painting and everything changed from then on,� Mya recalled. �I had to give up one love for another,� she whispered quietly.

He gave her a confused look beseeching her to continue. �They died after that. I never had a chance to even say goodbye,� she told him simply. She didn�t cry this time as she said this. She was too numb from the pain to cry.

AJ was completely speechless. �Who died?� he asked cautiously not understanding at all.

�My parents,� her voice was barely audible now. She pronounced the words slowly trying her level best to keep from breaking down into a fit of sobs.

AJ sat silently stunned. Of all the reasons Mya could have given him for her sadness, this was one possibility he would have never dreamt of. Her emotional state all made sense to him now. Without words, he gently pulled her into his arms cradling her against his chest. Mya�s resolve to be strong disappeared completely as she broke out into a bout of sobs, her tears falling against AJ�s chest.

�Stop!� Jessica screamed her voice cold and deadly. Justin turned slowly a deer in the headlights look upon his face. Nick slumped to the ground in agony as Justin let go of him.

The gun was pointed squarely at Justin�s chest. Jessica�s eyes were glassy as she glared at him. All the feelings of hurt and betrayal she�d been feeling for the past year poured out of her as tears streamed down her face. She wanted to hurt him; to inflict as much pain on him as he had on her in the past. This was her chance to face the demons that had consistently haunted her for the past year.

Staring at him now, she saw him for everything that he was. He was the person who had ruthlessly changed her life so drastically that it would never be the same again. He stole her innocence, shattered her trust and left her with horrid emotional wounds that were beyond repair. Her finger wavered over the trigger and the gun now began to shake in her hands. Her mind screamed at her to shoot him but her body wouldn�t co-operate. Her fingers felt numb as they repeatedly grazed the trigger.

�Don�t do this Jessica,� Justin growled his voice cutting through the silence like a knife. �Don�t you remember how good we used to be together? How much we loved each other?�

Jessica flinched at his words, tears coursing harder down her cheeks. The gun began to slip slightly in her grasp as her palms became damp with sweat. She remembered everything; how she had blindly believed him for so many years, how hopelessly infatuated with him she had been and how devastated she had felt when she saw his true colors. He�d never truly loved her. She knew that now. He couldn�t possibly have. If he did, he never would have done what he had to her.

Justin watched as Jessica stood in a daze, entranced by her thoughts. �I love you so much,� he said his voice low and husky. Cautiously he moved closer to her taking each step slowly. �Just put the gun down Jess. I�ll show you how much I love you,� he coaxed.

Jessica shook her head violently. Her mind was a haze of confusion. Shoot him! it screamed at her. Do it now! Her finger trembled relentlessly above the trigger and as Justin moved closer to her the gun shook furiously. Her eyes darted crazily from Justin to Nick as he approached her. �I love you ,� he repeated. Jessica's feet felt like rubber as she mechanically backed away from him almost tripping over herself.

�Don�t come any closer. I�ll shoot you,� Jessica threatened tearily waving the gun in the air like a mad woman.

A loud groan suddenly emitted from Nick�s sore body as he lay hunched against the wall. Jessica�s attention was immediately diverted towards Nick, giving Justin ample time to make his move. At lightening speed, he sprung forward taking advantage of Jessica�s lack of attention on his front. He seized the gun wrenching it easily out of her hands. The force of the impact of Justin�s body sent Jessica immediately tumbling to the ground.

Jessica lay on the ground her world as she knew it falling to shambles. There was no escaping him now.

Nick groaned slightly again and Jessica could feel her body gravitate towards him. She slowly crawled towards him, her own body aching from the fall. The room spun mercilessly around her as she concentrated desperately on getting over to Nick. �Stay away from him!� Justin seethed angrily as he stalked towards her. �Don�t ever go near him again!� he screamed his face looming in front of hers as he grabbed her arm. It was then that Jessica knew it was over. Not even a miracle could save her from his wrath now.

Brian watched as Lila tossed fitfully in her sleep. She moved restlessly unable to attain a comfortable position. Brian watched unnerved by Lila�s discomfort. He had fallen asleep while impatiently waiting for her only to be woken up a few minutes later by her constant movements.

He knew she was worried sick about Jessica. Neither Jessica nor Nick had called yet. After numerous unanswered calls to both the beach house and Nick�s cell Lila had somehow miraculously managed to slip into a troubled sleep. Brian himself was worried but logically deduced that Nick�s not calling with information was a good sign. He and Jessica were probably talking. If he hadn�t found her, he surely would have called to alert them.

Brian gazed down at Lila as she tossed and turned. Even in her state of insomnia, she looked like an angel. Her brown hair was spread against the pillow framing her creamy smooth skin beautifully. Impulsively, Brian reached out and ran a hand delicately through her thick chestnut hair. Lila stirred but didn�t wake.

Leaning back against his headboard he closed his eyes. He remembered the first time he�d seen her. She was then and still now a stark beauty. What captured his heart right away though was her smile. It could light up an entire room. Even now, that smile of hers got to him each and every time she flashed it at him.

Opening his eyes he noticed Lila had finally stopped her incessant tossing. She was now sleeping somewhat peacefully farther away than usual from Brian.

He noticed this immediately. Recently he�d been noticing a lot about Lila. For a few days now, he�d noticed a definite change in her attitude. She seemed distant and even uncomfortable at times around him. He couldn�t quite figure out why. He had a couple of ideas, but they all seemed so absurd now as he thought about them.

Hoping to forget any of his seemingly ludicrous notions he shifted his weight and inched closer to Lila. Wrapping his arms around her, he gently pulled her towards him. As he did this he immediately felt her body tense up against him. She shivered slightly beneath his grasp. Brian felt Lila wriggle uncomfortably as she shifted away from him.

All thoughts that he�d considered to be absurdities now suddenly didn�t seem so far-fetched to him.

Jessica cried openly now. Her face was overwrought with panic as she watched an enraged Justin pace the length of the room. She ached to be by Nick�s side. The whole ordeal would seem less terrifying just having him close. She didn�t even dare glance at him though. She was too scared of the consequences she would face. They would certainly be tremendous � for both of them.

Jessica�s baby blues followed Justin�s every move. She tried in desperation to read his facial expressions but couldn�t decipher any of them. It was no use even bothering to try and anticipate his next move. He was a mad man, ready to blow with even the slightest provocation.

�She loved me. We were in love. So in love,� Justin began rambling to himself. His words soon became jumbled as he spoke faster and louder.

Suddenly Justin stopped his pacing. �You!� he shouted pointing an accusing finger in Nick�s direction. �You ruined everything!� he ranted brandishing the gun in the air. Nick sat stonily watching Justin with no expression upon his face.

Jessica watched, horrified by Justin�s demeanor. �Why are you doing this?� she questioned him tearily. She caught his attention, and for a moment, Justin actually seemed as if he were carefully contemplating her question. �You were so different. What happened to the Justin I used to know?� Jessica whispered. She was attempting to buy time and so far it was working.

Justin smiled in spite of himself as memories of the past flooded his memory. His momentary happiness soon ended though as his face clouded over again with anger. �You want to know what happened? he questioned, his tone blazing. �You stopped loving me,� he said his voice low. The pain in his eyes was so great that for a second Jessica almost felt sorry for him. Almost until she remembered all the hurt he�d inflicted on her.

Jessica looked at him through her tears. She wanted so badly to tell him that she�d only stopped loving him when she found out that he didn�t love her and never truly had. She didn�t dare say a word though, it would just make him more volatile.

Justin�s gaze suddenly shifted from Jessica to Nick. �You couldn�t just leave her alone could you?� he spat. �You had to interrupt. You�ve ruined everything!� he repeated stalking over to Nick. In one quick decisive motion, he raised the gun in the air. �Now you�re gonna pay,� he threatened evilly as he pressed the gun to Nick�s forehead. [Next Chapter].[Table of Contents].