Chapter 1: Wishful Thinking
"Why are you doing this? I love you."
Justin sat up in his bunk, the tears stinging the back of his eyes as he listened to the voice on the other side of the line.
"There's�" he swalloed hard, unable to even fathom the thought, "someone else?"
A lone tear rolled down his cheek as the words repeated constantly in his mind.
"Sorry? You're sorry? You know what? I see how it is. If that's what you want, then fine! I hope you & your little boy toy are happy together!"
He hung up on her. He couldn't bear to listen to her response. He pout his face in his hands & let his tears go.
~*~*~*~*~*~
JC watched Justin from his bunk. The sight broke his heart. When Justin was upset, JC was upset. He wanted to kill the bitch that would dare hurt his boy. His boy...if only. If only that were true. JC dreamt of it every night & ached for it everyday. It pained him to see Justin this way.
JC climbed down from his bunk & quietly climbed into Justin's bunk. He wrapped his arms around Justin & held him close, hoping to comfort him.
Justin buried his head in JC's chest & began to sob. "She dumped me."
"I heard. I'm sorry."
"Why would she do this to me? I loved her. I did everything she wanted me to. She left me for another man, Jace." Justin clung to JC's wifebeater as his sobs increased. JC was the one guy he knew he could trust. He knew he could seek out comfort from him & that he would never be let down. JC was truly his best friend. He had no doubts about that. It was times like these thatmade Justin wonder where he'd be without JC.
"I'm not sure, Justin." JC wished he had an answer to that. He wished he could find a way to rid Justin of his pain. All JC could think of that moment was 'I'm better for you'. He knew that he could never let those words slip past his lips. Even so, he wished one day...he could.
"I should've spent more time with her. I should've called her more often. I should've..." Justin's rambling was interrupted by JC.
"Justin, this is not your fault. You did everything right. Britney is in the same boat as you are, so she knew about your hectic schedule from the beginning. There's no excuse for what she did. You deserve better." JC ached to kiss Justin right then. It took ever fiber of his being to resist the urge.
Justin released his grip on JC & sat back up, wiping away his tears. "You're right. She was the one who cheated in the relationship. I was always faithful to her." He sighed. "It still hurts Josh."
"I know it does. It will hurt for quite a while, but you'll be fine. Now, get some sleep. We have a photo shoot tomorrow," JC said as he began to climb his way down.
Justin nodded slightly. "OK, thanks, Jace."
"No, problem, man. Don't mention it." JC climbed up into his own bunk & lay down upon his side, turning to face Justin.
"Goodngith, Jace. Love ya, man," Justin said as he lay down on his side, facing JC. He let out a slight yawn as his eyes began to droop closed.
"I love you too, Justin." JC watched Justin for a short whil, taking in the angelic sight before him. He smiled at how Justin's eyelashes would flutter slightly as he slept, or the way his face look so serene, or at the way his soft, pouty lips were parted ever so slightly. JC would kill to have those lips on his, even if only once. He craved this boy that occupied his thoughts for most of everday. He wanted him so much, it hurt. But, Justin eas the one thing JC couldn't have. He knew that. That just made JC want Justin even more.
"I love you, Justin," JC whispered. "More than you know."
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