The next few days were spent in solitude for Jamie. She took a long time in re-evaluating her situation, and what she was feeling. The truth be told, she was falling in love with Justin, regardless of what he was going to do. She was starting to forgive him, but it was going to be a while before it was completely out of her system.
Jamie had decided that in her time off, she wanted to do a little research. This could either back fire immensely, or it could strengthen her bond with Justin. Either way, she felt she had to do it.
Stepping out of her car she looked up at the lush apartment building and took a deep breath, it was now or never.
Finding out who Katie was wasn’t as hard a job as Jamie first thought. She had gotten her information from Joey’s brother, Steve, because he didn’t know about what happened, and he was more than willing to indulge a little information. It turns out that Katie was an old friend of Justin’s from his Mickey Mouse Club days, and that nothing had ever really happened between them. That helped to ease a few of Jamie’s fears, but she still felt that this needed to be done.
Saying a quick prayer for strength she pushed the button for Katie’s apartment and waited to be buzzed in.
A few seconds later she stood in front of apartment 237, waiting to meet the girl that tried to take away her boyfriend.
“Hey, Jamie right?” Jamie nodded her head and looked the girl over. “Come on in.” Jamie stepped inside the apartment and stood nervously.
Katie was wearing a simple pair of jeans and a white fitted tank top, a far cry from the bikini she had on the other night. Jamie thought that under different circumstances, she would have thought Katie a very pretty girl.
“Do you want anything to drink? I have water, Sprite, Coke, and lemonade if you’re thirsty.” Jamie walked over to the brown leather couch that sat in the living room and set herself down.
“Um, water if fine, thanks.”
After the niceties were exchanged, Jamie decided it was time to get down to business.
“I don’t want to sound like a bitch, so excuse me if I do, but I need to know what you were doing at Justin’s the other night. I mean, what happened?” Katie looked over at Jamie and felt sorry for her. She was a sweet girl, and she knew that this was tearing her apart.
“Jamie, to be honest, I’ve had a crush on Justin for a long time now. The other night, he called me and asked me to come over. Now, I knew something was wrong, because Justin and I haven’t spoken for a while now, and a few years back he made it very clear to me that nothing romantic could ever happen between us. Even thought I sensed that something wasn’t right, I went anyway. I mean…for a girl like me, when Justin Timberlake asks you to come over, you just go.”
She took a sip from her soda and waited for the next question.
“Did you know about me? I mean, did you know that Justin had a girlfriend, and you went anyway?” Katie looked and Jamie and nodded her head yes, slowly.
“I had heard through the grape vine that Justin was seeing someone from back home, but I wasn’t sure. I kind of sensed it when I got to his house, from the way he was acting. He seemed very nervous and jumpy…not the like smooth Justin that I’m used to. But I went anyway, yes. I was never trying to steal him, and if I known for sure I never would have gone…but he asked me over, so I thought maybe…” She trailed off and Jamie knew what she would have said anyway.
“God I’m so confused.” Jamie sighed and sat back onto the couch. Katie watched her and felt terrible about what she had tried to do.
“Jamie, I’m so sorry about what happened. I can honestly say that it shocked me when you showed up, because Justin has always been the one that said he would never cheat on any girl. He’s been burned before, and I know how sore of a subject that is with him. I feel awful for putting you through this.”
“It’s not completely your fault, I mean; he did ask you to come over. I think it was his jealous side coming out, but who’s to say he won’t do it again?” Now Katie was seeing the real reason for Jamie’s visit. It wasn’t because she wanted to hear what had happened in that hot tub, it’s because she wanted to know if Justin had ever done this before, and if risking her sanity over him was actually worth it.
“Jamie, Justin is the most loyal person I’ve ever met. But he makes mistakes. You shouldn’t hold this against him for very long, because you’ll miss out on so much. He is heard headed and stubborn and he hardly ever listens to reason…But he loves you Jamie. I saw it in his eyes and heard it in his voice when he was talking to you. If he could turn back time and change everything, he would in a heartbeat, but he can’t. Don’t miss out on a good thing because Justin decided to become human for one night.” Jamie looked at Katie for a long while before she smiled weakly.
“Thanks. I needed that.”
Jamie left Katie’s apartment with a little more of her pride intact. She had wanted to hate Katie for what happened, but she couldn’t, not after a conversation like that. No, the only person she was upset with was Justin.
He had managed to piss her off, break her heart and lose her trust all in one night. She knew that after talking to Katie, she didn’t really have anything to hold against him anymore. Saying, “I’m mad at you because of something you didn’t do.” was a little weird. She didn’t really want to be mad at him anyway, but she just didn’t know if she could ever trust him like she used to.
Jamie sighed and turned on the radio as she drove. She wasn’t quite sure where to go from here, but she’d figure that out after she ate.
Justin sat in his living room and stared at the phone, tapping his fingers and bouncing his legs. It was taking all his will power not to call Jamie and check up on her, but he was doing it. She had asked for a few days, and by God he was going to give that to her.
He stood and paced the living room; his head kept turning in the direction of the phone. She had said she’s call when she was ready and it had been three days since she said that. He needed to talk to her, needed to hear her voice and hear her tell him that everything was going to be OK.
The doorbell rand and Justin threw one last glance at the phone before moving to answer the door. He was surprised to see Luke standing there.
“Hey.” A wave of guilt passed over Justin but he shook it off. “Come on in.” Luke stepped inside and looked at Justin for a minute before speaking.
“Oh, I’m just going to come right out and say it. You are one STUPID asshole.” Justin was taken aback but Luke’s bluntness, he hardly knew the man and all he seemed to do was insult him.
“I guess I deserved that.”
“I wasn’t done….You’re one stupid ass, and I can’t figure out for the life of me what Jamie sees in you, but she sees something. If I were her I would have left you before you could have muttered a word, but Jamie’s a little more forgiving that I am.” He followed Justin into the living room and waited for him to say something.
“You have no idea how hard I’ve been kicking myself. I regret everything that went on that night, and I know that I’m a very lucky person…but I can’t take it back, any of it. I wish I could, just so I didn’t have to keep seeing that look of betrayal cross Jamie’s face every time I close my eyes.”
“Do you love her?” Justin looked up at Luke and thought about the question, but he didn’t have to think about the answer.
“More than anything. I can’t get over the fact that someone as special as her picked a guy like me, and I realize that I have probably ruined the most precious thing I’ve ever been given.”
“Why did you do it?” Luke had figure he’d come in here and pound Justin in, all the while reminding him how stupid he was, but he didn’t need to do that. Justin knew it already.
“I don’t know. Jealousy mostly, I was green with envy when I thought about you and Jamie together. I had no idea that…well…”
“That I was gay, get on with it.”
“I only wanted to see that you made Jamie so comfortable and that you knew her inside and out. How was I supposed to compete with years of friendship and a level of comfort like that?”
“Justin, you didn’t have to compete. You had won Jamie over from the moment she laid eyes on you.”
“I know that now, but a few nights ago I didn’t see that. All I saw was the fact that my girlfriend wasn’t with me. I was a selfish prick.”
“You still are, but at least you understand it now.” Justin chuckled a bit and Luke joined him. “Well, I came here to beat your ass in, but I don’t think I need to. She’s going to come back to you Justin, and I swear if you ever hurt her again I’m not going to be so forgiving. I told this to Jamie, and I’ll tell it to you. Be careful with her heart, it’s a precious thing and it’s been broken before. She’s in love with you Justin, she may not have told you yet, but she is and she wants to trust you, but you’re going to have to earn that trust back.” Justin nodded in agreement and watched as Luke walked to the door. “Show her how much she means Justin, don’t just tell her. She needs to SEE it more than she wants to hear it.” He closed the door softly behind him and left Justin standing in the living room.
Today was the first day of preparation for everyone involved in the wedding. All tour practice was stopped, and the focus was on Johnny and Erika, and getting this thing to work. Everyone sat in Johnny’s living room, talking amongst themselves.
Justin’s eyes watched the stairs. He knew that Jamie was here, and he wanted to see her…very badly. His need for her had grown so strong that he was driving everyone around him crazy. They all hoped that the two got back together really soon, because there was about to be one sore pop-star if Justin didn’t shut up.
No one really knew what was going to happen between Justin and Jamie. While they all agreed that the two were great for each other, they also agreed with Jamie’s apprehension about jumping back into things. After all, Justin screwed up, BIG time.
A few minutes after the meeting ended, Jamie came down the stairs, and into the living room. Justin’s eyes found her almost before she appeared, and he watched her every move carefully. She wore a pair of jeans and a tank top, and Justin thought she was a sight for sore eyes. She looked over at him once, but showed no emotion, good, bad or otherwise. He watched as she walked over to JC, whispered something is his ears and then smiled as he said something to make her laugh. He reminded himself that the jealousy he was feeling was what got him in trouble in the first place, so he took a deep breath and calmed himself down.
JC made his way over to Justin and sat down.
“Hey man. Jamie wanted me to tell you that she wants to talk to you outside…on the basketball court.” Justin gave JC a questioning look, and JC held up his hands. “She didn’t say anything about what she wanted to talk to you about…you’re going to have to find that out for yourself. But J, don’t kill yourself too much.” He patted his shoulder and got up to go mingle with some other people. Justin took a deep breath and made his way outside, to face something he wasn’t very sure of.
Jamie was bouncing a ball around, taking a shot here and there. Justin smiled as he watched her move. Somewhat ungraceful but enchanting all the same. He watched as she took a shot, and when it went it, he clapped and whistled.
Jamie turned sharply and when she spotted Justin she smiled a bowed.
“Thank you, thank you…there will be autographs after the game.” Justin laughed and walked up to her, stopping only a foot away.
“Hey James.” His voice was low and husky and it gave Jamie chills. He was the only one that called her James regularly.
“Hi.” She bounced the ball a few times before throwing it across the court and watching as it rolled onto the grass and then stopped. “Justin, we need to talk.”
She led him over to the picnic table that sat between the basketball court and the volleyball court and motioned for him to sit down. She straddled the bench and faced him, taking a deep breath before she started talking.
“I was so confused and hurt that I didn’t have any idea what to think first, never mind what to do. You took all my insecurities about losing you and you made them a reality right before my eyes, and that scared me. For the first time Justin, you scared me.
“I-” She put a finger to his lips to stop him before she lost her nerve.
“Let me finish. I wanted to hate you, but I couldn’t. As much as you hurt me, I couldn’t let go of the fact that you also mean so much to me. You’ve managed to become more important to me in these last few weeks than anyone else has ever been. I’m falling in love with you Justin, and what you did made me see just how important that love is, how fragile. I also know that relationships are built on trust…and forgiveness. In order for us to trust, we need to give each other a chance, and in your case, a second one. I don’t want to lose what we have, but I can’t just forget what you did either, so I have an idea.”
Justin was in too much shock from hearing her confession so he stayed silent and let her finish.
“I want to take another shot at this…but I want to start from the beginning. We never started this like a normal relationship. We went from fighting to making out on a couch, and I want to start this like a normal couple.” Justin chuckled a bit and looked up at Jamie.
“James, I’m far from a normal person.” She smiled a little and it made Justin’s heart sore to know that it was meant for him.
“You’re more normal than you give yourself credit for. Anyway…you, Mr. Timberlake, are going to take me out on a date.” Justin’s eyebrows rose in surprise and he gave Jamie a funny look.
“I’m going to take you out on a date? Is this like a, trial basis type thing? I don’t get it.” Jamie laughed and wiped away an eyelash from Justin’s cheek.
“A date, as is a DATE. You’re going to take me out to some place, and we’re going to talk, and get to know each other…and we’re going to take our time, and get this thing right. I want to KNOW you Justin…and I want you to know me.” He stared at her with an amused look, but it was filled with admiration.
“OK, a date. What time shall I pick you up, Miss Tanning?”
“Don’t be a dork, or I might not go out with you.” He put a hand to his chest and looked hurt. “You’re being a dork. I don’t know, it depends on what we’re doing, and you’re going too decided. Surprise me.”
“So, is this like, punishment?” He laughed when she threw him a dirty look.
“This is serious Justin…” He held up a hand and stopped her.
“I know, I was just teasing you…that is OK, isn’t it?” She raised an eyebrow at him and thought about it.
“You’re not earning yourself any brownie points, but if you feel the need…”
“OK, I’ll pick you up at 7, dress casual. How does that sound?”
“Sounds like a plan. I’ll see you then.” They stood there for a few moments, and Justin wanted to kiss her, but he didn’t know if that was a good idea. Instead, he ignored the devil on his shoulder and winked at her before turning to go back inside.
“I’ll see you at 7.”
There were very few times in his lifetime that Justin had been REALLY nervous; when he was on Star Search, when he auditioned for MMC and a few others along the way. Tonight was another night to add to that list.
He had dated girls before, and this was nothing new, but for some reason, he felt very strange. He already knew James, he knew he was falling for her, and yet he had to start from the beginning. He supposed it was his own fault but it still felt strange. He was nervous because Jamie already had expectations. In a way, this was like a test for Justin, and he was never good at tests.
He fixed his shirt before going inside to get Jamie. She was sitting on the couch in Johnny’s living room, talking to Erika, Johnny’s fiancée.
“Hey James…are you ready?” She stood and wiped her hands down her pants, she looked a bit nervous too.
“Sure, let’s go.” Justin took in the corduroys she was wearing and the t-shirt that advertised bullfighting it Tijuana. She looked beautiful, and he was afraid that he was starting to drool. “So…where are you taking me?” Justin opened Jamie’s door for her and ran around to the driver’s side before answering.
“Well…I’m going to take you out for ice cream, and then I have a surprise for you.” He smiled slyly and Jamie wondered what she was in for.
Sitting at a picnic table outside of a little ice cream stand, Justin watched as Jamie ate her ice cream and talked about her life and childhood.
“My mother died when I was three, she had a rare form of cancer that we didn’t discover until too late. It hit my father really hard, and for a while things were out of control. He lost his job and we lived in different places; hotels, friend’s houses, anywhere that was cheep. I’ve even slept in a cardboard box before. When he realized what he was doing, he cleaned himself up, and that’s when he ran into your Dad. Randy helped him get a job, and an apartment across the street from you guys.” She played with her ice cream and calmed her nerves before continuing.
“I remember seeing you once when I was around eleven. You were leaving for Orlando, and there was a big party at your house. I thought you looked funny with your hair the way it was, but I was so jealous because I wanted a family like yours. I was so mad because not only did you have a loving mother, you had two sets of loving parents.
“Then I remember your mother and Lisa coming over and offering to take me out shopping. I hated most of the clothes they picked out for me, because I had been raised by my father, but I felt so special to be treated like a princess. For once I felt like a little girl, and I felt like I had a mother.”
Justin tried to hide the shock that had to have been clearly written on his face, but he couldn’t help it. “I’m so sorry James. I had no idea.”
She smiled bitterly at his comment. “No, no one did. But that’s over now…it’s in the past, and we’re not going to dwell.” She looked up and Justin and knew that the worst of what they were going through was over. She could see it in his eyes, and she knew then that no matter what happened he would always hold her heart.