Chapter Eleven
Justin looked with shock at his friends. "No, she doesn't."
"Yeah, she does," Lance said. "Look." He pointed to the picture. "Same colour hair, eyes, skin. Same dimple. Same features. Justin, she does."
Justin looked at the picture again. He still couldn't see it. "Whatever. You guys are just jealous. You're jealous that I could have two girls and you can't have any. Screw off, okay? Just screw off." He got off of the couch and walked out of the room, slamming the door behind him.
What the hell? Justin thought to himself. Madeline and Eryn? Nah... He looked closer at the picture. Lance was right, same features. The dimple was the same, too. So was the hair colour.
The longer he looked, the more he saw it.
"Oh, God," he said out loud. "They're right. They do look exactly alike." He put down the picture and started to cry. First softly, and then the tears turned into a continuous flow. He knew what was wrong. He only felt something for Eryn because she reminded him of Madeline, his first and only love. Justin cried himself to sleep.
***
Justin awoke to the sounds of banging and music in the living room of the hotel room.
It's tearin' up my heart when I'm with you,
And when we are apart I feel it too,
And no matter what I do, I feel the pain,
With or without you.
"You messed up man!" Justin heard Joey shout when the music was turned down. "It goes like this." Justin heard a bang. "Well, you know what I mean." Joey said.
"Whatever, you suck!" Lance shouted. "Screw up!" Justin heard a series of bangs. He realized they were rehearsing and probably started play fighting.
Justin sighed and took the picture of him and Eryn from the bedside table. The door opened.
"JC?" Justin put the picture down. "What do you want?"
"Just wondering if you are doing okay. Are you?" JC asked him, full of concern.
"Not really," Justin said. "But you can leave. I don't need pity."
"No," JC agreed. "You don't. But you do need a friend."
"Thanks, man," Justin said. JC sat on the bed, and Justin sat up.
"What are you going to do?" JC asked him.
"I guess go to Eryn's and tell her I can't see her anymore," Justin's eyes filled with tears. "I'm such a wuss."
"No, you aren't," JC said. "I would cry, too."
"Well, the thing is, I thought Eryn was the one I wanted to spend my life with. I went out with Madeline for three and a half years. That's a lot, you know. I loved her. But I know she can't come back, and well, I feel a lot for Eryn, too," Justin said. "But I think that I am living Madeline's life through Eryn."
"Well, make the right choice," JC said. "And go before it's too late."
Justin thanked JC, and went into the shower. About a half an hour later, he was ready.
He walked over to the apartment, and knocked on the door. Sasha answered.
"Justin! Hey," she said. "How are you? How's JC?"
"Um, he's good," Justin said. "Is Eryn home?"
"Yeah," she turned and yelled for Eryn.
"Hey, Justin," Eryn said. She hugged him. "How are you?"
"Listen, Eryn, I have to make this short, okay? As much as this hurts me, I can't see you anymore. No more emails, no more phone calls, and definitely no tour." Justin let out a deep breath. "I know this seems sudden and stuff, but…"
"Sudden? It seems 'sudden'?'" Eryn shook her head. "Thanks for breaking my heart. I hate you." She slammed the doors before Justin could see the tears running down her face.
***
Justin walked down the hall in silence, wondering if he made the right decision. She had took it hard, but that was expected. But he will never have to see her again.
***
Eryn walked to Sasha's room. "Did you hear that?"
Sasha got up and hugged her. "I'm sorry."
"It's not your fault, it's his," Eryn sighed. "What an asshole."
Sasha continued hugging her friend.
***
Justin walked into the hotel room.
"What happened?" JC asked him. Lance was behind him.
"It's over," Justin said simply.
"How is she?" Lance asked.
"Pissed, upset, sad," Justin said. "Whatever. I don't want to talk about it, okay? No more mention of Eryn, or Madeline when I am around." He walked away.
The truth was, he really did miss her. He already did. No more getting online and receiving emails… no more chatting… no more phone calls…
Justin laid on his bed, tears welling up in his eyes. I think I have made a horrible mistake, he thought.