| Misunderstanding |
| �Hey Josh,� Justin said cheerfully, plopping down on the couch next to his friend. �Hmm?� �What�s up?� Justin asked, looking over Josh�s shoulder and trying to see what he was writing in his notebook. �Nothing,� Josh snapped, closing the notebook and glaring at Justin. �Woah, sorry. What is wrong with you?� �Nothing�s wrong with me, I just don�t want to be bothered right now,� Josh replied, looking away. �Oh, so now I *bother* you?� Justin said, pouting. �Why are you pouting? I should be the one pouting. You�re the one that won�t leave me alone.� �So you want me to leave you alone?� Justin asked, trying to hold back the tears that threatened to fall. Josh just nodded without looking up. He couldn�t help but feel alone when he felt Justin leave his side, and his heart broke when he heard Justin sniffle as he left the room. **** Justin fled to his own hotel room, trying to understand what had just happened with Josh. Josh had never said that he bothered him. Justin just hoped that Josh was moody. He wanted to know what was going on. His best friend didn�t want him around, and he knew something had to be wrong. Justin went to the person that he often confided in. Chris did joke a lot, but he could be serious when he needed to be. Justin found that Chris was able to help him understand the situation better, and then cheer him up a little. When Justin told Chris his problem, Chris rolled his eyes. �No, I�m serious. I think he hates me, Chris,� Justin replied sadly. �Justin, Josh probably just didn�t get enough sleep. You know how he is. Just wait a little while and then go back and talk to him again,� Chris suggested. �But, what am I going to do if he hates me?� Justin whispered, tears welling in his eyes. �Trust me, Justin, he doesn�t hate you.� �How do you know?� �I�m older than you, J, I can just tell.� �The �older than you� excuse isn�t going to work this time, Chris, something is really wrong.� �Trust me.� �Fine.� Justin sighed. �I�ll go talk to him if you want.� �No, it�s ok. I�ll wait and talk to him later. Thanks Chris,� Justin replied, trying to smile. �Hey, don�t think you�re getting away from here without letting me cheer you up.� Justin smiled. He knew he could count on Chris. **** Justin was sharing a room with Joey that night, and he just hoped that Joey wouldn�t notice that anything was wrong. But, of course, Joey noticed right away. �What�s wrong. Justin?� �Nothing.� �Bullshit. Just tell me.� Damn Joey, he was so hard to lie to. �It�s Josh.� �What about him?� �He hates me.� Joey laughed. Justin was confused. Joey noticed the look on Justin�s face and explained. �He doesn�t hate you, Justin. So far from that.� �What do you mean?� �I can�t say much more, Justin, but I�m completely sure that he was just in a mood. Wait a little and then go talk to him,� Joey told him. �Ok,� Justin mumbled, wanting to know what Joey had meant, but knowing that pushing Joey wouldn�t help. When Joey was done talking, he was done talking. �Thanks, Joe.� �No problem.� **** Once Justin left, Josh didn�t know what to do. He felt so horrible for brushing his best friend off. He didn�t even know why he�d done that. He�d been writing a song for Justin, about Justin. He didn�t want Justin to see it until it was done. He figured he would just sit around and be miserable until someone found him and made him get up. Lance came in a little while later, to find Josh curled up on the couch, crying. Lance knelt next to Josh, rubbing his back. �What�s wrong, Josh?� �Justin hates me,� Josh sobbed. �No he doesn�t Josh, you�re his best friend.� �But he does. I just completely brushed him off and told him he was bothering me. And I don�t even know why.� �Josh, I can tell you for a fact that he doesn�t hate you. Joey and Chris told me that he was just really upset. You hurt him, Josh, but he doesn�t hate you.� �Why did I do that?� �I can�t tell you that. You�ll have to figure that out yourself.� �How?� �Think about him, think about how you�re feeling about him. Just write it all down, Josh. That�s what you do best,� Lance told him, handing him a tissue. �Thanks, Lance. I think I�ll do that,� Josh replied, sniffling. �Are you ok now?� �Not yet, but I will be.� **** The next morning, there was a knock at Justin and Joey�s door. Joey was in the shower, and Justin was still in bed. Justin stumbled out of bed to get the door. His eyes widened when he saw who was behind it. �Josh?� �Hey, Justin, can we talk?� �Yeah, come in.� �I want to let you know that I didn�t mean what I said yesterday. You don�t bother me. I was irritated because the song I was trying to write wasn�t working out and I took that out on you. I�m sorry,� Josh apologized. �I forgive you Josh, but that really hurt. I thought you hated me or something.� �I could never hate you. You�re my best friend, Justin. I love you so much.� �I love you too Josh.� Justin stared into his friend�s eyes and felt himself leaning forward. Their lips touched, and Justin�s heart soared. But Josh pulled away, and Justin got nervous. �Oh, God, Josh, I�m sorry. I really shouldn�t have done that. I just, well, I don�t know. It felt right,� Justin rambled, tears coming to his eyes again. �Hey, Justin, don�t cry, ok? Please. It�s ok, come here,� Josh assured him, pulling Justin into his arms. �It is?� Justin whispered. �On one condition.� �What?� �Kiss me again.� �Huh? Um, oh, ok. Really?� �Yes,� Josh replied, smiling over at Justin. Justin kissed him again, and they were both smiling when they pulled away. THE END |