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Young girl, get out of my mind,
My love for you is way out of line,
You�re a young girl,
Much too young girl.
�Can we listen to something else?� Chris demanded.
Joey leaned forward silently and flipped the radio station
.
Justin watched his older friend from across the seat. He felt sorry for him, but also for Chloe. He had heard the whole argument that had passed between the two. It hadn�t sounded like Chris had given her much of a chance to explain.
Now, Chloe was gone. Justin and JC were the only ones who knew. They didn�t dare tell Chris, unable to predict his reaction. He may go crazy. Despite his anger he was still very much in love with her.
�Should we tell them?� Justin whispered to JC.
�After the interview, when we go back to the hotel,� JC replied in the same hushed tone.
All morning through the interview and the photo shoot Justin fidgeted. He couldn�t sit still or even pay attention. In the limo on the way back he stared out the window, wishing this had all been a dream.
When they reached the hotel he followed Chris up to his room, dimly hearing JC calling for a group meeting in ten minutes. He felt as if he should say something to his friend.
�Chris, can we talk?� he asked.
Chris turned to Justin, wondering what he could want. �Sure.�
�What made you not forgive her?�
Chris felt himself stiffen.
�She lied to us for five months! What was there to forgive?� Chris asked bitterly.
�You have to admit she couldn�t really help it,� Justin pointed out. �I�d probably have done the same in her situation.�
�What situation?� Chris hated to admit his ignorance.
Justin�s eyes widened. �You didn�t know about her father?�
�What about him?� Chris demanded.
�She ran away from home because he was beating her,� Justin explained. �She applied for this job because she figured being on the move would keep her from being discovered until her eighteenth birthday and then she would be free, didn�t she tell you this?�
I never gave her a chance, Chris realized.
�I didn�t give her a chance,� Chris repeated his thoughts dully.
It�s never so bad that it can�t be fixed, Chris remembered saying. He hopped to his feet. Running out into the hallway, he pounded on Chloe�s door. There was no answer.
He felt Justin put a hand on his shoulder.
�She�s gone,� he told him.
Chris whirled around, pinning Justin up against the wall. �What do you mean she�d gone?�
�She left last night,� Justin answered. �She left a note in our room.�
�Why didn�t she leave it in my room?� Chris demanded.
�Gee, I wonder,� Justin said, rolling his eyes.
Chris pushed Justin harder against the wall. �Don�t mess with me.�
�Okay, Okay.� Justin tried to push him back a bit, but Chris was firm.
�Where did she go?� he asked.
�I don�t know,� Justin admitted.
�What do you mean you don�t know?� Chris spat out the words.
�She said she would call JC and tell him when she finds a place,� Justin told him.
�Why isn�t she going to call me?�
Justin gave him the even you�re not that stupid look. �I don�t think she�s picking up a friendly vibe from you right now.�
Chris dropped Justin with a sigh. �I�m a fool.�
�Yes, you are,� Justin agreed.
Chris shot him another look.
�You�re gonna have to except the truth sometime,� Justin said as he headed down the hallway.
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