WILDFIRE
By Aysia Anderson (a.k.a. Nikki)

Chapter Thirty: Still

With blurred vision Justin stumbled into the den of his Orlando resident and dropped down onto the couch. Tilting the bottom of his beer bottle into the air he drained its contents into his mouth and then, once empty, dropped it onto the floor to join the already thick collection covering the carpeted floor. Glancing at the television screen he noticed that it was playing breaking news of his breakup with his wife. His heart began to ache all over again.

Ever since he had caught the flight out of L.A. and into Orlando he had been drowning his misery in alcohol. It was the only thing he could think of to do that would make the pain that he was feeling go away. He considered smoking as well but he had promised her that he would never light up another joint and somehow he still felt bound to his words. It was the least he could so since he had already broken one too many promises in the past.

Sorrowfully, he checked the voicemail on his cell phone for any messages that he may have missed. He had been calling and calling but she never answered the phone. When she did they would only end up arguing and hurting one another more than they already had. She would break down into tears and he would down more Jack Daniels. He didn’t know what to do anymore.

“Baby, will you please pick up the phone?” He sniffled as the answering machine kicked on. “I really need to talk to you, okay? I’m going crazy over here without you. I miss you so much.”

Camille sat in the middle of the bed in the darkness of her room as Justin’s voice came weakly over the speaker. She had been avoiding him like the plague since their last argument where more truths had come to the light. He had told her that Trace was flying out to Orlando to keep him company and somehow that lead into her past experience with him.

Justin had been furious when she had revealed that Trace had made a move on her before she had come to see him on tour. She had just completed filming her movie with George Clooney and had made a pit stop at home to drop off her belongings when he had called and then later stopped by. They had been talking about the movie and just how she would execute surprising her husband in England when he had moved in for the kill.

“Look, I’m sorry that I didn’t believe what you told me about Trace, okay? I believe you and when he gets here we’re definitely going to talk about it…” Justin began to whimper in his drunken state. “Cam, I need you so bad…”

“Why would I lie about something like that?” her voice interrupted his as she finally picked up the phone, tired of listening to his breaking down over the answering machine.

“Camille?”

“Yes, Justin?”

“I didn’t think you were going to pick up. I didn’t think…”

“You’re drunk again aren’t you?”

“No, no, baby, I didn’t drink that much today.”

Camille rolled her eyes in the darkness. “You’re starting to slur your words but you didn’t drink that much today?”

Justin sighed heavily, “I may have had a few bottles but it wasn’t anything serious. You want me to stop drinking all together?”

“Yes, actually I do because every time you drink you seem to do something to screw up our marriage.”

“Alright,” he stood up shakily from the couch and exited the room with phone in hand to locate a trash can. Once he did he returned to the den to collect the empty beer bottles on the floor and dispose of them. “I’m throwing everything away right now, baby. See?”

“Yeah,” she ran the side of her hand under her eyes to wipe away the stray tears.

“What’d…what’d the doctor say…when you went today?”

“He said that I was depressed, Justin, what was he supposed to say?”

“But you’re okay though? You’re not depressed enough that he had to prescribe you anything?”

“Valium,”

“What? No! You don’t need any fucking meds, Camille! Once we’re back together everything will be fine!” He dropped his trash can sending a few bottles back onto the floor.

“I don’t need you to be happy!”

“But I need you!” He breathed heavily before dropping back down onto the couch and leaning forward weakly. “I need you so much.”

“Justin, I have to go.” Camille announced as she felt the tears welling in her eyes again. “I’ll talk to you later.”

“Wait! Cam, just hold on a second, please?”

“What, J? Jesus!”

“Do you still love me?”

“Yeah, I still love you.”

“Then why would you ever want to be away from me? I don’t want to be away from you!” His voice was filled with so much anguish that it killed her on the inside to hear it.

“Justin, I didn’t cheat on you.”

“If you had I would still be there. I would never go away.”

////

“Camille’s friends tried their best to be there for her throughout the entire ordeal but she didn’t make it easy for them. She wanted to just be by herself for a while to set things straight inside of her mind. That made it very difficult for anyone to get close to her including me. The only time I really saw her was when she would let me or Lynn come over to take Nicole out into the fresh air.” Linda explained. “She was still in this world enough to know that having her daughter around her while she was that depressed was detrimental.”

“So she cut off all ties to her friends when she and Justin separated?” Gary inquired.

“Not intentionally. She just didn’t want to answer the phone because 90% of the time it was her and she couldn’t deal with him at that time.” The older woman began to fidget with her fingers. “They all convened as one large group at least one time, though. They tried to talk her through things.”

////

Nastassia looked on worriedly at her friend as The Committee began to convene three days after Justin had flown out to Orlando. She had never seen Camille in the condition that she was and it was scaring her. She was perfectly put together looking like a suburban mother in khakis and a form-fitting white shirt with her makeup done flawlessly and her hair pinned into a tight chignon. The only thing that let on to the fact that the woman was broken was the far away look that she had on her face. Her eyes were open but she wasn’t seeing anything.

Camille sat in her husband’s Lay-Z-Boy with her legs pulled up to her chest and arms wrapped around her knees. She didn’t remember getting up to let in Nastassia, Beyonce, Jessica, Ellie, or Nicole Ritchie. She didn’t remember much besides being in that chair and all of them surrounding her like a pack of hungry wolves. Didn’t they understand that her heart was breaking?

“You should divorce his ass, girl! What are you sitting here moping about? He isn’t worth all of that!” Nicole stated her opinion immediately. “Any guy that would do something like that is not worthy of you.”

“Nicole is right, girl.” Beyonce nodded her agreement. “Justin is a cool person or whatever and I know that there is a lot of love between the two of you but there is no going back from here.”

Jessica shook her head in disagreement. “People make mistakes, Camille. Justin really does love you and I think that the both of you should just stay together and work things out. Your love is stronger than that.”

Ellie looked over her friend empathetically and waited for her to turn to her before giving her opinion. “I don’t know Justin the way that all of these other girls do but I remember how excited you were two years ago to get off of tour to be with him. You two risked a lot to be together and from the outside looking in it appeared to be something very precious. Common sense would say to just walk away because what he did was obviously wrong but to that same effect God gave the two of you something great.”

“What’s that?” Camille asked meekly as she stared into Ellie’s eyes looking for an answer.

“He gave you one another.” She replied simply. “He gave you a beautiful daughter that reminds you every day of how far you’ve come and how far you will undoubtedly go in the future.”

Nastassia ran her hand over Camille’s back as she saw her smile lightly and take a deep breath. She didn’t need to voice her opinion because her Camille already knew how she felt. She understood the relationship between her two friends better than anyone else in the room. She had been there through the good times and the bad talking them both through it until everything was dealt with.

“The question is right now what are we going to do with this situation?” Beyonce addressed the issues strongly. “Its only going to take a second for the news to come out that you and Justin are separated so we need to know what your press release will be. What is the best route to take?”

“Take whatever route you all want to take.” Camille shrugged. “Tell my rep whatever you think is most appropriate.”

“Camille, this is your decision.” Jessica countered. “Sweetheart, we are your friends and we can offer you advice but at the end of the day it’s coming down to you and what you’re feeling.”

/-/-/

“Why are we just sitting here?” Camille wondered out loud as she kneaded the muscles in Justin’s back. He was stretched out over the floor beneath her completely relaxed as she gave him a massage. He was in heaven at the touch of her hands on his bare skin.

“What do you mean?” He asked, adjusting his shirt that he was using as a pillow beneath his head.

“We have all of these people talking for us and telling their versions of the events that have happened in our lives. Why aren’t we the ones telling our own story?”

“Because everyone still thinks that we’re separated and it would blow their minds to see us together.”

“Do we honestly care what other people think right now?”

Justin licked his lips as her massage neared the end. “You want to go to VH1?”

“I don’t know.” She shrugged. “Should we?”

“Go get dressed and I’ll pull the car around.”

/-/-/

“I’ll be at the airport to get you in like ten, man. Peace.” Justin clicked off his cellular phone and shoved it into his pocket.

Trace was finally getting into town to be at his side and help him take on all of the drama. He was a little weary about the decision of flying him out since his conversation with his wife but he had no one else to turn to. When he had questioned him about it Trace had denied the allegations adamantly but that was expected. He was going to believe his wife no matter what but it was in the past now. As far as he knew there hadn’t been anymore questionable actions on his friend’s part.

“Keys, license,” he checked his pockets once more before heading toward the front of the house and opening the door. “Oh, fuck me!”

The entire front yard of his home was littered with paparazzi ready for the kill. They were snapping thousands of photos of his shocked and confused expressions as he stood in the doorway afraid to move. Questions were being thrown left and right and all of the circus theatrics were making his head spin.

“What are your thoughts on the television mini-drama going into production about your romance and breakup with the lovely and talented Camille Henderson?” one reporter shouted out her question.

“What television mini-drama?” Justin’s jaw dropped. “What are you talking about?”

“Do you think that Ryan Phillippe is a good choice to play you in this movie or Tatiyana Ali to play your ex-wife?”

“What? Camille and I are still together! We’re not getting divorced!”

“So the reports of her being seen at her attorney’s office were false?”

“You know what?” Justin began to withdraw back into the house. “All of you need to get off of my property. I’m calling the authorities.”

////

“That’s about all I know.” Linda concluded her retelling. “The last I heard was that Justin was flying back into town and that’s about it. I haven’t heard from Camille in a few days so I figure that he’s here and they are sorting through their problems.”

“Do you think that the pair will get back on track?”

“There isn’t a doubt in my mind.”

////

“Mommy?” Nicole’s small voice asked from the doorway of the den while the moon hung high in the sky.

“Yes, baby?”

“Are you okay?”

“Yes, sweetheart, I’m fine.” Camille shifted on the couch with her blanket. “What do you need, Butterbean?”

“Um, I wanted a glass of water.”

“Can’t sleep?”

Nicole shook her head as she peered into the den at her mother. Camille smiled at her from within the dark room and forced herself to stand up though she felt weak. Her daughter’s small footsteps followed her to the kitchen and stopped at her side as she reached up into the cupboard for one of her plastic cups.

Nicole stayed put as Camille went to the refrigerator and pulled out a pitcher of water and poured it for her. She smiled gratefully as her mother handed her the cup and immediately began to suck down the cool liquid. Once she was finished she handed it back to her and accepted a kiss before scampering out of the room and back to bed.

Camille took in a deep breath and placed the cup into the sink. Her hands steadied on the countertop as her head began to swim. She felt like she was dying inside as her chest began to heave with the tears that she had been hiding in the darkness of the den. She missed Justin so much that she was getting physically sick from his absence.

Before she knew it she was on the floor with her legs drawn up to her chest. She was so tired of crying. She was so tired of taking pills that weren’t making her feel any better. The truth was that the only thing that was going to get her back to herself was him. The realization killed her. She didn’t know who she was without him anymore…

/-/-/

All eyes were on them as they entered the VH1 building hand in hand. Camille felt like a slab of meat as the staff paused in whatever actions they had been carrying out and stared at them quizzically. She should have been used to all of the attention but being out of the spotlight for so long had made her forget that she was always supposed to be on.

“We need to speak to Gary Neumann.” Justin stated plainly to the woman at the front desk whom immediately jumped up and asked the couple to follow her. Silently they trailed after her and into a studio where the camera crew was packing up and Gary was saying goodbye to someone on his cellular phone.

“Mr. Neumann?”

Gary spun around on his heels at the sound of the receptionist’s voice and his jaw dropped when he saw who was accompanying her. He barely head the sound of his cell phone clattering to the floor but when he did he quickly retrieved it and approached the couple to shake their hands.

“Justin, Camille, it’s a pleasure to see you but what are you doing here?”

“Well,” Justin cleared his throat. “We figured that it was about time that we spoke for ourselves. You’ve been going on with this interview for about a week now, correct?”

“Yes,” the graying man nodded his head in confirmation.

“Well, here’s your chance for the biggest exclusive known to man. You’ve got all of their opinions and stories so now you can get straight to the source and pick up on all of the truths and discrepancies.”

Camille smiled broadly at the speechless man that she had met a few times before in her life. “We’re about to make you a very famous man, Gary. Do you think you’re ready to enter into this lifestyle? It ignites and spreads just like wildfire.”

/-/-/

Carefully Camille stepped into the bathtub filled with bubbles and sat down to allow them to engulf her body. She closed her eyes and sunk down as far as she could go and keep her head above water. Her intention was just to soak all of the pain away. Today was going to be a good day. She was intent on being happy for once.

“God, it’s so nice to hear your voice.” She sighed into the cordless phone as her body was warmed by the water surrounding her.

“Yeah, well don’t be so distant. I know you’re going through something right now but don’t push us all away.” Nastassia replied as she peered out of the back window of her Hummer while her driver drove the vehicle.

“I never meant to push you all away. I just, you know, needed to sort things out within myself, you know?”

“I know. Are you doing okay?”

“I’d like to think so. Last night was really rough but I think I’m finally all out of tears.” Camille smiled to herself. “I’m done taking those damn Valium pills though. They’re not taking any effect anyway.”

“Obviously,” her friend agreed, “you’re only depressed because you miss your man.”

“Tell me about it. It’s killing me.”

“It will be over soon. You two can’t stay away from each other much longer.”

“I guess you just have all of the answers, don’t you?”

“Yes, actually, I do.”

Camille laughed at her friend’s words. “So where are you headed?” she asked. “Are you still going to that VH1 thing?”

“Yeah,” Nastassia rolled her eyes. “I can’t believe you have me doing this…”

////

“So, where would you like to begin?” Gary began the interview as the cameras circled around him and his guests for VH1’s Behind the Controversy.


“I don’t know,” Camille shrugged her shoulders and turned to her husband whom was running his thumb over her fingers. “I guess we should start at the beginning.”

EPILOGUE

“So, Justin, Camille, can you tell us what all has changed since the last time that we interviewed you?” Gary Neumann asked as he sat down with the entertainment industry’s most famous and successful couple. It had been a long time since he had sat down with them for an interview but it felt just as new as the first time.

“Um, it’s been, what, two years since our last interview here?” Justin asked Camille for confirmation. He had never been out of the spotlight but somehow he looked more mature with his trimmed goatee and mustache. He wasn’t the same kid making a million and one mistakes with his eyes opened to other females. You could read the dedication in his eyes that hadn’t really been there before.

“Yeah, Nikki was two the last time.” Camille nodded her head and prodded her hair which had been highlighted with ribbons of dirty blond behind he ears. She still appeared young and vibrant but she had also changed. She fit more perfectly into the role of wife and mother than a young teenager playing house with her boyfriend and baby sitting a kid sister.

“Alright then,” Justin cleared his throat before he started the run down. “Cam and I have a son now. His name is Grant and he’s about a year old now. Nicole just turned four this month. We renewed our vows a while ago and Camille hyphenated her name. Oh, and as a lot of people already know, Nastassia J. and Nelly got married last spring and she’s due to have her first baby any day now.”

“She’s still looking for Treviyon though.” Camille added. “And, drum roll, please?”

Justin began to beat-box instead ‘causing Gary to laugh. “Cam is pregnant again!”

“What? You’re kidding!” Gary couldn’t believe his ears. “Are you planning on starting your own small country?”

“I don’t know what’s going on, man.” Justin chuckled. “I just can’t keep my hands off of the woman. I mean, look at her!”

“I wonder what my dad will say when he hears you say that on TV.”

“Y’all can edit that out, right?”

“How far along are you, Camille?” Gary ignored Justin’s request and moved in for the kill.

“About a month and a half.” She answered as her husband’s hand went to her stomach. “Justin wants another little girl so we’ll see what happens. He’s already protective of Nicole.”

“This is what happened.” He started to speak for himself. “There’s this little boy in my mom’s neighborhood that comes over to play with Nikki every time she’s visiting her grandmother. Now, if there’s anything I know it’s that boys start practicing their lines back when they’re young. I mean, who was the player on the MMC? I rest my case!”

“I think he terrorized this little kid who had no idea at all what he was talking about. The poor child will be scarred for life.”

Oooh, ooh, ooh
Yeah, oh, oh
Yeah, oh, oh, oh

The fans were screaming excitedly as the number two video in the country came to end. It had been a fun-filled day at MTV with all of the celebrities dropping in just to say hello and make comments on the videos on the countdown. The fans had already been graced with the presence of LL Cool J, Da Band, and Rachel Leigh Cook and now they were getting the chance for a one-on-one phone conversation with one of music’s biggest female stars.

“Wow, you guys! I wish I could be there but I’m so busy right now.” Camille spoke gently into the phone as the fans cheered on the opposite side of the country.

“What exactly are you doing right now?” Quddus asked while staring into the camera lens.

“Justin and I actually just got back from the recording studio because he’s recording for his new album which should be out very soon. We took Nikki and Grant with us and they’re all tuckered out so we’re putting them to bed.”

“Now,” Hillary began. “I bet you never thought that you would go from sitting in Wisconsin to being the highest selling female artist of all time.”

“You know, I’m a lot more shocked about my personal life than I am about my career simply because I’ve always been a very determined person.” Camille explained. “If you talk to anyone that has known me before the release of my first album you would see that I was always running around telling people that I was going to be the greatest. I’ve got that Ali complex going on when it comes to my career.”

“You certainly have proved yourself to be the best.” Damien smiled. “We know you’re busy so we’re going to let you go now but when do you think you’ll be able to get to the studio here in New York?”

“Hopefully I’ll be there very soon. I hope to be in town within a month or two.” She answered.

The crowd immediately began to howl as Camille said goodbye to the VJ’s and fans before hanging up the phone and turning to Justin. He rolled his eyes at her as she mouthed the words ‘fuck MTV’. She still had the same attitude about them that she had had back when she had first started though she did have a soft spot for their young trio.

“Who would have ever expected this relationship to survive all of the dramas that it has? Justin and Camille have survived all of the media exposure, the supposed infidelity, and more.” Hillary marveled as she stood before the cameras with Quddus and Damien.

“She’s just had a baby boy about a year ago and is pregnant again, right? They’re going for three!” Damien asked.

“Yeah, she and Justin already have another one in the works!”

“Well, proving that their relationship is here to last a lifetime is Camille Henderson-Timberlake debuting at number one on the countdown with her latest video called ‘Still’.” Quddus announced. “Check it out.”

The crowd of teenagers and young adults cheered and applauded as the opening bars of Camille’s song began to play throughout the studio. The view of the cameras faded from the TRL studio and into the video. The songstress was immediately captured in brilliant lights as she moved in the Couture dress that her husband had gotten her years earlier.

Usually when two people are together
For a long time things seem to change
It’s been said that nothing good last forever
But this love it’s better everyday
We get all exited inside
Every time that we get alone
He’s still got love in his eyes
And I’ve still got love in my soul

“Oh, look at this!” Nastassia stressed under her breath as Camille trailed after her into the den. When Camille’s eyes fell on the scene that her friend was seeing she smiled widely and began to rummage through her purse. Pulling out her digital camera she moved around the couch for the perfect shot.

Justin was dead asleep along with his two children. Nicole was lying on his chest closer to the back of the couch and Grant was secured in her father’s arm on the other side. Camille and Nastassia weren’t sure how long the trio had been sleeping their lives away but they couldn’t pass up snapping photos. It was too adorable.

“Do you have Nikki?” Nastassia asked as she lifted Grant from his father’s arm and headed out of the room not waiting on an answer. She loved being a godmother. She ran off with Grant every chance that she got. She had to get ready to have her own soon.

“Yeah,” Camille replied and lifted her sleeping daughter who locked her small arms around her shoulders by reflex. Feeling the sudden weight change Justin’s eyes opened slowly and stared up at his wife. “Hey.”

“Hey,” his voice was barely above a whisper as he forced himself up and off of the couch. “You’re done shopping already?”

“Yeah, why don’t you go upstairs and get into bed? It looks like the kids wore you out.”

“No, I wore them out. Nikki and I played a mean game of basketball out back and Grant and I did a tremendous amount of crawling.” He reported proudly before yawning. “Pay no attention to that. I’m not tired.”

“I guess not.” Camille winked and started to leave the room to go upstairs and put their daughter to bed when Justin coerced her back in front of him. “What’s up?”

“I forgot to give you something.” He kissed her gently on the lips and then smoothed a few loose strands of hair behind her ear. “There’s more where that came from.”

“Oh, is there?”

“A lot more,” he assured her and kissed her once more.

(Still) and still
Feels like the first time we met
That I kissed and I told you I love you
We still run around like teenagers
Even though we’re grown and married with kids
And we still talk on the phone for hours when I’m away
He still writes letter and sends me flowers every other day
The question everybody asks
Is how we make it last
I tell them I still, he still, we still

“Is that a gray hair?” Camille asked as she ravaged Justin’s hair with her fingertips while they lay in bed together.

“No! Don’t say things like that!” He squeaked and threw the sheets over his head in a panic.

“It’s not like you can’t dye it but it isn’t that visible, sweetheart.”

“Dying it would be admitting defeat! I’m getting old!”

“You’re only in your thirties, Justin, so grow up!” Camille laughed as he pulled her beneath the sheets with him. “What is the meaning of this?”

“Why aren’t you graying?” he twirled his fingers through her long hair adoringly and dropped kisses all over her face.

“I’m younger than you. I married and old coot, remember?”

“You’re like four years younger than me, woman.”

She shrugged as his lips met with hers. “I have good genes…oh, my God! Is that a bald spot or a receding hairline?”

“Ah! No!!!”

“You’re too easy!” Camille laughed loudly as Justin smacked her thigh. “Don’t worry, old man, I still love you.”

“Yeah, you better.” He lay down on his side and propped his head up in the palm of his hand while watching her.

“What?” she asked.

“What?”

“Why are you staring at me?”

He shrugged his shoulders coyly, “I just never thought all of my dreams would come true but here you are.”

“I can be your nightmare too.” She shifted over, forcing him onto his back as she lay over him, and placed her arms on either side of his head.

“You make nightmares wonderful.” Justin moved his hands to massage her lower back as he stared up into her eyes. Her hair fell down around him as if someone had pulled down great velvet drapes. “I’m so happy that you married me all over again.”

“Thank you for asking the first time…and the second time…and…”

“Kiss me.”

“What? No!”

“Sugar bear?” He wined with a grin playing on his lips.

“I won’t do it!”

“Come on!”

“I want ice cream.” Camille burst out with a random demand.

“Deal,” Justin smirked as her lips met with his. His eyes closed slowly and the fingers of his right hand disappeared into her hair. He could never get enough.

Now I still smile in the morning
When I realize I’m still in his arms
We know everything about each other
But we still keep holding on, yeah
We’re never gonna break up
We’ll be always there to make up
As long as we stick together
We’ll climb higher
I’m gonna ride with him to the wire
Our love is never gonna end
We on fire

“It’s been a long time since we’ve heard from the Queen of R&B but she’s back and better than ever!” Free announced excitedly to the audience and cameras on 106 & Park. “Her current album and single proclaiming the unending love between her and her husband, Justin Timberlake, has been number one on the Billboard charts since it debuted. The video for the first single, Still, has been at the top of our charts and unshakable as well.”

“Here with us today, performing her blazing new single, Still, is Camille Henderson-Timberlake!” AJ gestured with his hands toward the stage where the gorgeous wife and mother of two immediately began to sing her heart out to her ecstatic fans in the audience.

Still feels like the first time we met
That I kissed and I told you I love you
We still run around like teenagers
Even though we’re grown and married with kids
And we still talk on the phone for hours when I’m away
He still writes letter and sends me flowers every other day
The question everybody asks
Is how we make it last
I tell them I still, he still, we still

“Mommy!” Nicole exclaimed as Justin unlocked the front door and pushed it open for her to run inside. She dashed off straight toward the kitchen where her brother sat in a high chair and her mother stood before the stove. “Mommy!”

“Hey, toots, how was dance class?” Camille paused in her cooking to lift her daughter up into her arms, holding her at her side.

“Mrs. Blanchard says I can dance the lead in the spring recital!”

“Oh, did she?”

“Yeah,” she nodded her head of curly hair excitedly as Justin moseyed into the room.

“You should have seen her, babe. She’s the youngest in the class yet she’s so much better than like ninety percent of those girls” He beamed proudly.

Camille smiled, remember back to when their daughter used to cancel out the world and dance in the backyard. It was just something that was within her. She didn’t have aspirations to do the same things that her parents had done. She wanted to dance solely.

“I am so proud of you, honey.” She kissed her and Nicole giggled with excitement.

We go through problems (Just like everybody else)
But I really don’t mind (but I don’t mind)
‘Cause it makes us keep it fresh
Now what’s sadder than arguing
Is the part we may have never been
He is my lover, my baby’s father, my lifetime partner
And my friend

Justin closed his eyes and smiled as he leaned back into his wife’s arms as they sat on the couch together in their home. It amazed him that they could come through such a rough time to complete and utter bliss. She had made him a father twice now with another on the way and the happiest man on the face of the planet.

Still the man of my dreams
He’s still, still the man for me
And I’m still in love with him
So deeply, I think I’ll sing it again

His heart seemed to fill as she sang into his ear softly as her song played on the radio in the background. Her voice carried so much strength in it that it hadn’t had when he had first met her. She had grown from a naïve little girl into a stunning woman with all of her priorities straight. She knew what she wanted out of life and had made enough mistakes to know the right and wrong ways of getting to it. How could he ever not be in love with her? She was all around and within him.

He’s still, still the man of my dreams
He’s still, still the man for me
And I’m still in love with him
Deeply, deeply

“If you would just sing to me every day for the rest of my life,” he moved her legs from his sides and wrapped them around his middle as they remained on the couch.

“You like my singing, huh?”

“Who doesn’t? You’re the queen of the world.”

Camille smiled and kissed his cheek. “I thought you just liked my words.”

“I like the whole package.”

Still feels like the first time we met
That I kissed and I told you I love you
We still run around like teenagers
Even though we’re grown and married with kids
And we still talk on the phone for hours when I’m away
He still writes letter and sends me flowers every other day
The question everybody asks
Is how we make it last
I tell them I still, he still, we still

////

“It’s still so strange to think that there is actually a movie out about us.” Camille laughed as she sat with Justin before the cameras of VH1. “It’s like the ultimate violation in the name of entertainment yet it’s a damn good movie!”

“It’s kind of hard to see some of the things that happened between us playing out onscreen for the world to see but at the same time it puts a lot of things into perspective. It shows us how far we’ve really come.” Justin explained with his arm around her as he spoke. “The actors did a damn good job with the script though.”

“Halle Berry is one of my closest friends and is an amazing actor but I swear to God she makes a better me than I do!”

“She does blow you away.” He cracked.

“That’s fine because I’d take Ryan Phillippe over you any day.” Camille stuck her tongue out at him.

“Do you feel the love in this room?”

Gary chuckled at the two young love bird that he was interviewing as a follow up to his Emmy Award winning show that had first probed into their lives so many years before and had made him one of the top journalists in the industry. “The two of you have lived so much of your lives very candidly and publicly. Are there any regrets that you may have when you look back?”

“Of course I regret the actions that lead to our separation before Grant was born but at the same time I don’t know if we would be able to really appreciate the depth of the love that we share for one another at this point.” Justin spoke up immediately. “Without all of the bad times how can you really appreciate what you have that is so good?”

“If you had it all to do again would you do things the same way?”

Camille smiled as she and Justin turned to look into one another’s eyes. “The only thing that I think I would have changed about our relationship would be the very beginning. I should have been more honest and upfront about the way I felt the second that I met him. We spent a lot of time avoiding the way that we were feeling.”

“Yeah,” Justin agreed. “I wouldn’t have given her the chance to date Usher. I didn’t like that shit.”

Camille stole a kiss from him quickly before turning back to Gary with a chuckle. “We wouldn’t change anything at all.”

And we still
Feels like the first time we met
That I kissed and I told you I love you
We still run around like teenagers
Even though we’re grown and married with kids
We still talk on the phone for hours when I’m away
He still writes letter and sends me flowers every other day
The question everybody asks
Is how we make it last
I tell him I still, he still, we still


--- Still, Tamia from the album More ©2004

-- THE END --
(Not satisfied? Then read the sequel! The link is above in navigation!)