Jamie cautiously made her way through the house, not really sure of where things were yet. She knew there was a balcony over looking the lake somewhere around here. She wanted to be outside, but she didn’t want to have to deal with people right now. She had a few thoughts that she needed to get out, and she decided that now was as good of time as any to write.
She stopped by her room and grabbed her note book and a pen and then resumed her search for the balcony. After taking a few wrong turns, she finally located it, and stepped out onto its smooth white surface. She took a seep breath and turned around, and was startled when she saw Justin sitting there looking out over the lake.
“Oh, I’m sorry. I didn’t know you were here. I’ll just leave you alone…” She turned to go back inside but his voice stopped her.
“Don’t leave just because of me. It’s a big balcony.” She looked back to see him smiling, and wondered what was wrong. He hadn’t spoken more than three words to her this whole time, and she wondered why now was different. “I don’t know what the others have told you, but I don’t bite.” Again he smiled and Jamie felt her knees get weak.
“They never said anything of the sort.” Justin closed his eyes when she spoke, taking in her sweet voice and the accent that reminded him of so much.
“Where in Tennessee are you from?” He asked, keeping his eyes closed.
“Ashland, it’s about an hour away from Nashville. Why do you ask?” Jamie had deserted her spot by the door and had taken up a seat across from Justin.
“I used to live in Memphis. My family still lives there now.” His eyelids slowly opened to reveal his mysterious cerulean eyes, sending Jamie chills.
“You don’t sound like you’re from Tennessee…I sound like a hick.” She joked, covering up her unease with the situation.
“Well…years in this business will make you lose a lot of things.” His look was almost bitter when he spoke and Jamie cringed at the sadness in his eyes. She didn’t know what it was about this man that made her feel so different, but it was there. She couldn’t put her finger on it, but there was something about Justin that made her want to get to know him. She only wished she knew what he was thinking, and if his thoughts were along the same lines as hers.
“Well…I’ll leave you alone now, sorry to have bothered you.” Justin didn’t say anything as he watched her leave. He didn’t want her to go, but he didn’t want her to stay. That thought made him angry. Jamie was making him a walking contradiction and he couldn’t figure out why.
Jamie went to her room and on a bench near the huge window. She figured this was the next best thing to the balcony, and it would have to do. She opened her note book, and glanced over a few past writings, and then she opened to a new page. She wrote down all the thoughts and feelings that had been plaguing her lately. Then she started to work on a song that she had started a few days ago.
After writing for about half an hour, and not getting much done on her song, she headed down stairs. She found Joey and Steve, minus their gang from earlier. They were getting some hamburgers and hot dogs out of the freezer.
“Hey James! We’re going to fire up the grill; do you want to join us?” Joey’s voice was muffled from behind the refrigerator door and Jamie giggled a bit.
“Sure.” She watched Steve struggle to hold all the food Joey was giving him. “Here, let me help you.” She grabbed a few things and headed outside. Lance and JC were lounging in chairs, each nursing a beer, and Justin and Chris were sitting on the steps leading down to the pool, looking over a magazine.
“No need to get up guys, we can handle everything.” Joey’s sarcasm was hard to miss, but no one seemed to notice that he spoke.
“That’s good; I didn’t feel like helping anyway.” Jamie had to laugh at JC’s dry sense of humor. He was usually a very laid back person, but he could be funny just like the rest of them. That seemed to be something that was true through out the group.
She went and grabbed the other lounge chair next to Lance and sat down. Joey said something about having to do everything himself and received a few laughs from everyone else. He threw a package of hamburger buns at Lance and ordered him to “get cracking’ ” but Lance threw them over to JC instead. JC looked at the bag as if it had rabies and threw it across the deck to Chris, who in turn chucked it at Justin. Jamie laughed, and was expecting the throw from Justin but he threw them all a dirty look and got up. He huffily made his way to the table and he set out the buns on a plate, and then the hot dog rolls too. Everyone threw each other curious glances, but no one said anything.
Jamie stood and decided to help, not wanting to wear out her welcome. When she reached the table, however, Justin cast a nasty glance her way and roughly grabbed some napkins.
“I’ve got it covered, thanks.” He told her slowly, with a hint of malice lacing his words.
“All right then. I was just trying to help. Maybe Joey needs some help at the grill.” She answered, more to herself than to him, but he heard it anyway.
“I think Joey’s doing fine by himself. Why don’t you just go sit back down, OK? We don’t need you’re help right now, but thanks for the offer. If we need a lap dance we’ll call for you.” Jamie stumbled backwards in shock when she heard his statement. The blood had drained from her face, and her mouth had suddenly gone dry. Her throat fought for clearance as she tried to work her vocal chords. Nothing seemed to come out when she opened her mouth, so she ran inside, and up stairs to her room.
The other guys all sat in shock, a look of horror clearly etched in their faces. No one dared speak, for fear of losing a limb. Justin threw down the paper plates he was holding and he stormed off in another direction.
“Ouch.” Lance’s voice was soft when he finally managed to speak. “That was uncalled for.” He glanced at his friends and received a nod of agreement from them all.
“I’m going to go talk to Jamie.” Chris stood up quickly and disappeared into the house in the direction Jamie had gone. He found her sitting on the bench at her window, her face set in a stony glare.
“I’m sorry for that, it was uncalled for.” He slowly made his way towards her, not sure of how dangerous her anger was. She looked as if she could blow any second, and Chris didn’t feel like being there when it happened. Jamie turned her head slowly, and calmly looked at Chris.
“Is Justin bipolar?” Her words were straight, and serious. Chris fought back a laugh at the absurdity of the statement, but he bit his tongue when he realized she was serious.
“Um…no, I uh…don’t think so.” He managed to get out with only a small chuckle.
“He sure seems like it. The boy can’t make up his mind, and it’s driving me crazy. One minute he’s hot, the next he’s colder than ice in Antarctica.” Chris grabbed a chair and sat down next to Jamie, waiting for her to explain her comment. “The first time we met, he was very cool, and he hardly said a word to me. Then, I meet up with him on the balcony and he’s asking me all these questions and being somewhat friendly. I thought maybe he was feeling more comfortable, but then he pulls this. Am I that annoying?” She asked, unshed tears slowly filling her eyes.
“Oh James…It’s not you. Justin’s just a very complex person. He takes a while to warm up to people. I don’t know why he said what he did tonight…probably PMS.” He was graced with a small chuckle from Jamie, and it helped to know he was getting through. “Justin’s going through some tough times right now. I don’t think he knows what he wants. You’ll just have to try and stay away from him. Come one, Joey’s finished grilling, why don’t we go get some food.” He offered his hand and she gratefully took it, following him downstairs.
