As the two girls rode silently in Emily's car, they were already thinking of what they could say to each other. Emily had no idea how to plead with someone to help her. She wanted to appear strong in her friend's eyes, but her strength was gone. This last episode had broke her down to the lowest point of her young life. She honestly didn't know if she'd be able to bounce back, but she wouldn't give up without a fight. As the headlights of the car shown on the small house that Stephanie called home, Emily felt herself slip into some state of actually being normal.
As she walked into the small living room, she plopped down on the couch and sighed as the comfort engulfed her. "This feels so nice. I'm usually so tense after coming home from work, just wondering if Riley is gonna jump my case or not."
Stephanie walked back into the living room to join her, and before setting down held up a carton of ice cream and two spoons. After she had handed one to Em, she sat down and turned her full attention to her. "Tell me everything, Em..so I can try and understand this situation better."
Emily dug her spoon into the vanilla ice cream before beginning. "When Riley and I first started going out, I was the happiest that I believe I had ever been. He was so sweet to me..I swear to you, Steph..he never raised his voice at me. But then he started to change..it wasn't drastic at first, but he became jealous over the smallest things..but he still didn't take it out on my physically. It all began one night when Ryan and I went out to have lunch on the day I was off. Riley found us and assumed the worst. He has the pride issue, so he didn't make a big scene out in public, but as soon as I walked through the door to our house, he went off. He scremed some of the most hurtful words that I had ever heard."
She paused to get another bite of ice cream before continuing. "He grabbed me and slung me around like I was a doll that had no feeling in her at all. That was one night I wish that I was a doll. I remember the feeling of pain when he first hit me...it wasn't just the physical pain. It was the emotional pain that hit me the hardest. Here was Riley, the boy that I had teased as we had grown up together, hitting me around and calling me names that I never thought I'd ever hear come out of his mouth. That night after he had calmed down, he held me in his arms apologzing for the way he had acted."
"That night was the night I probably should have ended the relationship, but as I listened to him apologize, I kept hoping that maybe he truely was sorry. I stuck with it, but it only got worse. The one night I threatened to leave him, he went ballistic. I have never been as scared as I was that moment his angry eyes connected with mine," she said, pausing to wipe away the few tears that had managed to fall as she recalled the horrible memory. "Its so hard for most people to understand why I stay with him. Its not because I love him..which I do. God knows why he has made me love that man, but I do..but I have so much fear inside of me that I can't leave him. I fear for my life, my safety and my friends safety."
"If he gets that mad about stuff like he does, I dont even want to imagine how he would react if I left him..I don't think I'd live to see another day, Steph. It scares the living shit out of me. It also makes me mader than hell that I dont have enough courage to stand up and take charge of the things he does to me, but I'm so weak compared to him. I can't push my luck.."
Stephanie reached over and wrapped her arms around her trembling friend. "Emily, listen to me. Leave this pathetic town and start over. You can't stay here in fear of your life..you deserve the chance to be all that you can, and you're never gonna reach that goal if you're walking around here scared that you won't be alive to see the next sunrise. Girl..pack your shit up and move on."
"I can't leave this place..I grew up here and I'll probably die here..I just hope its later on. My friends and family are here.."
"We'll always be here for you to visit, but the only way you're gonna get away from this abuse is to leave, hun. I'm not saying that I want you to go, but I'm trying to make you see that you deserve a better life than waitressing tables and having an abusive relationship. Hunnie, you're not a punching bag. You're a beautiful, inteligent girl that has the potential to soar in this world."
Emily began to sob. "I want to leave so bad, Steph..but I know he'll find me. He's sick and he needs help and I want so much to help him because I know deep down he's a sweet person, because I grew up with him and saw that side..but I have to help myself first. I just have to find a way out of this town."
"Listen to me, Em. I know you'll find your break and I have a feeling it will be soon. You're going to be just fine..trust me. Once we get him away from you..you're going to see that life is so much better than experiencing it the way that you are."
"Are you sure?" she asked, her tears beginning to slow down.
Stephanie reached up and wiped the away before giving her another hug. "I know so, hun."
The door opened behind her, and she turned to see Justin smiling sheepishly. "Forgive me for being late but I had to answer everyone's questions of where I was going."
Whitney rolled her eyes. "Guys are so typical...so why did you want me to meet you here?"
He grabbed her hand and pulled her so that she would start walking. "I just wanted to talk and find out about you. I'm sorry for the way I was acting earlier, but I was just in a good mood and you happened to be my victim," he told her, his eyes looking around to see what was around in the town.
"You're forgiven. Your comments actually provided me with a moment of comedy and relief from the situation at hand. There are some things going on around here that are getting harder and harder to deal with by the moment, but I'm sure that you don't want to hear about that."
He stopped and looked at her. "If you have something that you wanna talk about, that's fine. I mean we can get something to eat and just talk.."
She shook her head, and linked her arm through his. "You're going to show me how to have fun in a small town..you've got me curious as to what you're gonna do."
He began walking again before he spoke. "I have a few ideas that are going to define fun unlike you're never imagined fun to be. See, I, Justin Timberlake know how to turn a town upside down, no matter what the size."
"Someones a little cocky," she said, leaning into him as they continued down the almost empty sidewalk.
"I just know I'm that good."
'This honestly can't be happening,' she thought silently to herself. 'Why can't he live here? Why does he have to be someone famous?' She knew that Justin could add a lot of spice to life in Macon, the small town in South Carolina where they lived. "Like I said..I can't wait."
Justin rolled his eyes. "Its not like its a dog because it would be barking right now at us."
"I don't care! If you want to know what's behind there, then go for it! Be my guest and get yourself arrested but I actually live here and I have a reputation to hold up...being arrested wouldn't look that great."
He shrugged his shoulders before muttering "chicken" under his breath. He looked up to see that her eyes had narrowed to slits and he knew that he had pushed the right button to make her climb the fence. She shrugged her jacket off her shoulders, letting it hit the ground before beginning to climb. He walked over to her and pushed on her feet helping her make it across. Once she was planted firmly on the other side, he hoisted himself over the fence with ease and stood beside her, his eyes trying to see, but having a hard time because it was dark.
"Come on," he said, grabbing her hand and pulling her further into the lawn that they were standing on. "Do you know what this place is?" he asked her, keeping his voice down.
"I have no idea, but I just proved to you that I'm not a chicken," she said, wrapping her arms around her upper body to keep warm since she had left her jacket on the other side. Justin noticed her movement, and removed his long sleeved button up shirt, handing it to her with a nod. "Here."
"Thank you," she said slipping it on before catching up with him. They continued around the lawn until they were standing infront of a small building. Justin turned to head back, but Whitney stopped him. "We've climbed a fence, and when we get to something interesting, you leave! Come on Justin, where's that side of you that is daring? I mean..we've already broke in..how about entering?" she asked him before walking over and pushing up a window. She threw one last look in his direction before pulling herself through. Justin could see her muscles tense in the dark as she hoisted herself up, and he felt himself become tingly. When her shirt rode up, he had to close his eyes to stop the thoughts that began to run through his brain. He was, after all, only 20, and it was normal for those thoughts to run through his head.
He walked over to peer into the window and saw her standing there looking around. "Are you coming in or not?"
"Fine," he said, pulling himself up and tripping as he put his legs through. He fell forward and knocked into her, sending her crashing to the floor beside him. "Shit," she mumbled, looking over at him to see that he was examining his finger. "Are you ok?"
"I cut it," he said, beginning to pout. His eyes removed themselves from his finger as she took it in her hand and examined it. "You're ok..its nothing major," she said, before gently wiping away the little bit of blood that had formed. She pulled it up to her lips and kissed it gently.
He opened his eyes and looked at her with interest building up in them. "What is a girl like you doing in a small town like this? You're the type that belongs in a big city."
She shrugged. "I had the opportunity to leave, but I guess part of me is afraid that I can't survive in a world like we have today. Plus, I couldn't leave Emily in the situation she's in."
Justin scooted closer to her, and pushed her hair back off her face. "What would it take to get you to leave?" he whispered to her, his eyes searching her face intently, pressuring her to be honest with him.
"It would take an incredible friendship or love to make me leave this place that I've called home for 19 years," she told him, pulling back and standing up. "You're turning the town upside down is starting to fizzle here, Justin."
He sighed and stood up. "Come on..the next stop will put the toppers on a night that I'm sure you won't forget."
"You know, Em. Any time you're ready to go to sleep, you know the way to the guest bedroom and the sucker is all yours," Stephanie told her, stretching her arms above her head. "In fact..I think I'm going to turn out because I'm dead tired."
"I hear ya," Emily said, moving to stand up. She waited until Stephanie had turned off all the lights before ascending the stairs and closing the door to the guest bedroom. As she laid her head down on the pillow, she sighed knowing that she was going to get a full night's sleep. Her eyes closed and with ease, she was asleep.
Stephanie wasn't one to drift right off to sleep, so she laid in bed, processing everything that Emily had told her. She still found it hard to believe that one of her friends could treat another like a thing that didn't matter in life. The longer she thought about it, the angrier she became. Riley had no right to take his anger out on Emily the way he did, and it was time that someone sat him down and talked to him about his problem. The only problem with that idea was that it could bring harm to Emily.
She didn't want to admit it to herself at first, but this situation was more complicated than she had first thought. She didn't want to admit that to Emily, but Stephanie knew that there were curves to every action that could bring harm. If only there was a way to get Emily out of the town and away from Riley, then her problems would be solved.
That's when it hit her...maybe there was a way to solve this problem.
He laughed at her, his eyes sparkling with joy at seeing her reaction. "Come on! You know..if you don't do this you are a definate chicken."
"Then wring my neck and fry me up because there's no way in hell that I'm going skinny dipping with you. Its too damn cold out here and I don't want hypothermia."
Justin shrugged at her answer before reaching up and pulling his shirt over his head. He watched as her eyes widened in shock and she continued to stare at him if he had lost all stability. "Are you crazy? Justin, you can't honestly be serious about getting in that water!"
His hands reached down and started to unbuckle his belt. "I'm not a wimp like you..I can take pain."
She rolled her eyes. "Just like you took that SMALL cut on your finger," she said, her eyes following his fingers as he reached down to unzip his pants. She reached out and touched his bared shoulder. "Please, Justin. I don't want you to get sick."
He leaned forward causing her to suck in her breath. "I can take care of myself. I'm a big boy, mom."
"I bet you certainly are," she mumbled under her breath before turning away and plopping down on the sand of the lake. "If you want to do this, be my guest."
He dropped his pants and stood there before her, clad in a pair of hunter green boxers. "Turn around..you know its not polite to stare," he told her before winking.
She huffed, but didn't move. "No..if you're gonna do this..I wanna see to make sure you don't cheat and go in there with your boxers on."
His mouth dropped open in shock. "There's the girl that I met earlier! I was beginning that the spunk you posessed had retreated. But there's no way in hell..turn around," he instructed once again.
She licked her lips at the images that were flowing through her mind and she shook her head stubbornly. "No."
"Then there's only one way for you to get to see this. Lose your clothes and join me," he said, rubbing his hands down his arms to keep them warm.
"Hell no! Just do it if you're gonna do it! If not put your clothes on and lets go!"
"I'll go as soon as you turn around!"
Whitney knew there was no way she was closing her eyes in this situation. She stood up and pulled her shirt over her head, causing his eyes to open wide with shock. She undid her pants and slid them off, kicking them to where they joined her shirt and jacket on the ground. She stood there before him, hands on her hips, challenging him to make the next move.
"So.." he said, standing there in an uncomfortable position. One of them was going to have to make the next move so that the other one could follow, and Justin was finding it hard to concentrate when his eyes were practically glued to her standing there in her underwear.
"Why Justin..are you becoming shy on me now?" she asked him, walking up to stand directly in front of him to make him even more uncomfortable.
He shook his head and swallowed deeply. "Never..so..here we'll make a deal. We'll go to opposite ends and just get in and meet in the middle. That seems fair enough."
She shivered as a breeze began to blow, and he naturally reached out and pulled her close. She didn't move once her bare skin touched his. Once he realized what he had done, he pulled away and looked at her sheepishly. "I'm just use to doing that.."
"Yeah..ok your idea sounds fine..I'm going over there," she said pointing to the right. "And you can go over there," she said pointing to the left.
He watched her walk away before walking to his designated side. He pulled his boxers off, and jumped into the water, knowing that was going to be the only way to get adjusted to the water temperature. He didn't turn around until he heard a splash behind him. He swam over to where she was and laughed when he saw the look she was giving him.
"Its not THAT cold," he stressed to her.
"I..I can't feel my legs.."
"You're just a wimp," he said, trying not to show the fact that the water was affecting him just as much as it was her.
"Justin..I'm serious..it hurts," she whimpered to him. He for once noticed the pain in her voice. His arms reached out and he brought her body into contact with his. Her eyes locked onto his and she felt that water begin to heat up. "Justin.." she whispered to him.
He tightened his hold on her before smiling slightly. "Yes, Whit?"
"What..what are you doing? I am like pressed up against you.."
"I can very much see and FEEL that."
Their lips met half way in a kiss of savage and desperation. As the pressure of their lips increased, so did the pressure of their bodies. This was a pure act of savagery that both of them wanted. They knew since they were just meeting each other, it would have no effect on either of them, which made it right in their book.
She pulled back from him and licked her lips. "Lets go some place else..like either your hotel room or my pathetic house."
"Your house works better because the guys will question us," Justin said, already beginning to swim back to shore. The two of them quickly dressed, and hurried back to her house. When they reached the small house that was located in the middle of town, they saw a person sitting on her steps, and she groaned when she realized who it was. "Riley..what the hell are you doing here?" she asked him, becoming pissed that he would actually come and try to find Emily.
Before Riley answered, his eyes took in Justin. "Well..well.. you have a new boy toy to play with? You've always been the girl that liked fresh meat."
"Bite me, Riley. Now get the hell off my property before I kick your ass personally off," she threatened.
"I just want to know where Em is and then I'll leave."
"I'm not telling you so you can go and beat up on her again. Leave her alone. You need help, Riley," Whitney said, reaching out to touch his shoulder lightly.
He grabbed her hand and twisted her arm. "Let her go," Justin said, stepping up to challenge him. Riley immediately released her arm, and she stepped back into Justin. "I suggest that you leave like she told you to."
Riley snickered. "I'm leavin..he seems like your type, Whit. Fiesty..too bad you wont' give me a try..when you get bored with him you know where I'll be."
She wrinkled her nose in disgust and watched as he walked away. "I can't believe how he turned out," she said, walking to the front door and pushing it open. Justin stepped in beside her, and rocked back and forth on his heels, not knowing what to say.
"The bedroom is this way," Whitney said, pulling her shirt over her head and beginning to walk up the stairs. He licked his lips and followed without having to be told twice. There was something about her that eased his mind, and he was ready to experience the whole package...every inch of that package to be precise.
Emily rolled out of bed and smiled when she realized at how rested she was. She walked downstairs and laughed when she saw Stephanie eating a bagel, not looking like the happiest person. "Not a morning person I see," she chuckled.
Stephanie rolled her eyes. "I'm not..so bite me."
"How about I bite that gorgeous thing JC?"
"How about you be the nice friend an introduce me to the blond with spiky hair? That boy looks like he knows a thing or two about some things that I NEED TO BE TAUGHT!"
"You've not had a guy in a while and the deprivation of sex is getting to you!" Emily told her laughing friend.
Stephanie shrugged. "You just spoke the truth so I'm not even going to argue. We have the day off, so what do you want to do?"
"I probably should go back to Riley.."
"No..you're not going back. When he leaves for work, girl go get some things that you'll need to stay here for a few days. I don't want you alone in that house with him, and I know Whitney will kick my ass if I let you go back."
"Speaking of Whit..I wonder how things went last night," she said, before breaking out into a smile as she saw Stephanie reach for the phone. Emily started laughing at the look on her face as she started talking. "Umm..hi, Justin..right?"
To Stephanie, hearing Justin's voice made her sprout horns because she knew that there would be blackmail from this. "Yeah, this is Justin."
"Where is Whit, by they way. You didn't..ahem wear her out last night, did you?" Stephanie said, an evil tint flashing through her eyes. Emily was just waiting for music to start playing so that this really would sound like a movie.
"She's asleep right now..do you want me to tell her that you called?"
"Yes please..and tell her to return this call as soon as she can. By the way, Justin. I bet you look rather yummy laying naked under those sheets," she said before hanging up the phone. Emily had to sit down because she was laughing so hard. "Ohmigod..you are evil."
Stephanie shrugged her shoulders. "The door was open and I shook through it. I can't wait to bug her ass about this..oh hell yes!"
"I think your friend Stephanie. I would be prepared when you called her back. Maybe me answering the phone wasn't the best idea," he said, reaching his hand down to pull back the sheet.
"Justin..its cold!" she shrieked.
"Your body is beautiful," he said, bending down to kiss her stomach.
She groaned as she felt his tongue dip down into her bellybutton. "I don't know if I have enough energy for this," she told him, running her hands through his mass of curls.
"I'm sure you can find the energy," he told her, kissing his way back up to her mouth. When their lips connected, all chances of fighting him were dismissed. His tongue licked on her lips requesting entrance into her mouth. She obliged and opened her mouth wider, allowing his tongue to explore her mouth. When he pulled back, she groaned in protest. "Why did you stop?"
He shook his head, before grabbing her arm and pulling her out of bed. He pulled her into the bathroom and turned on the shower. "This is why...we need a change of scenery."
"Have I told you I like the way you think?"
Stephanie had finally talked Emily into going shopping, and the two of them were now walking down the sidewalk, making chit chat. Stephanie knew that Emily wasn't paying any attention to where they were going, but she was on a mission and she was in search of someone.
When Emily finally looked up and realized where they were, all Stephanie could do was laugh. "Why the hell did you bring me to the hotel?"
Stephanie shrugged innocently. "I have no clue. I wasn't paying ANY attention to where we were going. I just made sure we kinda ended up here in hopes of seeing some hot guys.."
"You honestly do need to get laid," Emily said, her eyes landing on four guys shooting basketball. "Look..your wish came true. Hot guys right in front of you."
Stephanie whistled which got their attention, and Emily tried her best to hide her reddened face. "Why did you have to do that?" she whispered.
Stephanie began walking before shrugging. "You gotta do what you gotta do."
The two girls stopped infront of the guys and introductions were made. JC pulled Emily and side and looked at her with curiosity. "Are things ok?"
She nodded her head. "I stayed with Steph last night and I think I'm being forced to stay with her for a while," she joked. "By the way..is umm the one with spiky hair single?"
"The spiky hair guy is Lance and he happens to be single at the moment.. why?" he asked before throwing a look over in his direction and laughing when he saw Stephanie glued right beside him. "Let me guess..she thinks he's hot. All the girls either fall for Justin or Lance. Its just because they are blondes. Speaking of Justin..your friend kidnapped him because he never came back to the hotel last night. Security was worried that he had skipped town or something."
Emily laughed. "Trust me..she didn't kidnap him because according to Steph, who talked to them this morning, Justin was in a cheerful mood at Whit's..so you can pretty much figure out what happened from there."
JC laughed. "That's Justin for you. I just hope that your friend Whitney isn't one to get attached because Justin isn't looking for a relationship right now..I can tell you that. He just wants to have fun and be with different people."
"Whitney's the same way. I honestly think she's scared of commitement. But who knows..maybe they might settle down!"
"You never know. I think Justin needs a small town girl to make him see the things in life that actually mean something..and that was corny as hell."
Emily laughed and studied his face. "You're something, JC. You have a quality about you that not many guys have...any girl that has you is lucky to be able to experience that quality."
"You wanna go get something to drink?" he asked her, suddenly wanting to ask her questions about her life.
She looked at Stephanie, who showed no signs of giving up on her flirting game with Lance. "You know what..that sounds really nice," she said, walking beside him towards the diner.
JC returned the smile. He was about to find out some things about this small town girl that was probably going to add up to a big city life. JC needed to help someone else with their problems so that he could put his out of his mind. Last night, his dreams had taunted him of Wendy and how close they had been. He had cried in his sleep because he couldn't get the part of their phone conversation, of where she had said it was over, out of his head. When they sat down, he cleared his mind and turned his attention to the helpless girl in front of him.
He needed someone that he could call up and get a good laugh with, as long as the physical aspect if he needed that. He wasn't saying that he wanted her to be one to drop and do anything that he wanted, but he knew that they were going to be friends without boundaries.
When they reached the hotel, Whitney laughed when she saw Stephanie talking to Lance. She was fliting with him, and she could tell he was eating it up. Stephanie was the "normal" one of the three girls, but when she saw something she wanted, she went after it without a second thought. Emily, on the otherhand, waited for a guy to make the first move. She was more reserved and was afraid of being hurt. She was definately being hurt in the relationship she was in right now, and Whitney was determined to find a guy that would treat her best friend like the woman she was, and not as a punching bag.
"Well.. maybe we'll slip though here without being hounded with questions," Justin told her, bringing her thoughts back to the present, and forgetting Emily's situation.
She reached up and trailed her fingers over a hickie that was on his neck. "Make sure you're on the left side," she told him, winking at him to clarify her point.
Before they reached the door to enter the hotel, Justin held her back and looked into her eyes. "Can I see you tonight? I think that we are leaving tomorrow morning, but I'd love to spend one more night with you."
The way his blue eyes were blazing with intense want, produced her answer. "I need to see you tonight before you go," she whispered, standing on her tip toes and kissing his lips roughly, causing him to pull her closer to him.
"PDA alert!" Chris yelled, bringing the two of them out of their moment of affection.
"Grow up, old man," Justin said, before hugging Whitney. "I'll see you tonight," he whispered in her ear.
She nodded her head, before pulling away and grabbing Stephanie's arm. "Leave Lance alone, girl. You're probably scaring him," she said to embarass her.
Stephanie's cheeks turned a slight pink before she laughed it off. "He seemed to be enjoying himself, if you ask me," she said, sending a wink in his direction.
"Actually..would you like to go see a movie tonight with me?" Lance asked.
Whitney spoke up before Stephanie had the chance. "I would love to Lance, but Justin already made plans with me."
"Excuse her," Stephanie said. "Her lack of oxygen from last nights events have severly messed with her brain. I'd love to go see a movie with you. I'll meet you here at seven..see you then, Lance," she said, turning to ensure that she would have the last word said.
Whitney threw a wave in his direction before hurring to catch up with Stephanie. "Where's Emily? You didn't let her go back to Riley, did you?"
"Chill..she was talking to JC..and I guess they went somewhere together....by the way, nice hickie on your lower left side, sweetie."
Whitney's hand flew to her neck, and she couldn't stop smiling. "I told him not to give me one! What's up with you and Lance?" she said in an attempt to avoid the subject of what fully happened last night.
"He's dreamy, isn't he? Those green eyes and that blond hair..."
"You're so freakin horny! What have you gathered about his personality? You need to know something about him before you go and screw him! I know that's what you're after, Steph."
"You certinaly didn't take that much time to figure out anything about Justin's personality because you hopped in the sack with him within knowing him a few hours...I'd say I'm going to know Lance longer than you knew Justin."
Whitney blushed and pushed her hair behind her ears. "That was different," she said, defending her actions. "Justin and I are the same type of person..do you know if you and Lance are that way?"
She shrugged. "Who cares? You certinaly just lied through your teeth and your not going to believe one word that I say...so what's the point?"
"Steph..I know the thoughts that you're thinking right now. I don't want you to think that I'm doing this with Justin as a way to 'get him'..we're just gonna be friends that have no boundaries. Just open with each other about what we need."
"That's not a bad idea..I wonder if Lance would be up to something like that.."
"You are so hopeless," Whitney exclaimed before walking ahead of her rambling friend.
Stephanie laughed and caught up. "You know you love me because of it."
She nodded her head. "I want to ask you something, Josh. From a guy's persepective, why do some guys abuse women? Do we get on your nerves that much?"
"I honestly couldn't tell you why some guys do that, Em. Me...I could never do that to someone that I claimed to love. I could never do that to a woman period. But I guess some guys do it in a way of scaring a woman so that they will stick with them. I guess they build up a fear inside of you that bonds you to them...that's my philosophy on it."
Emily nodded her head, before cocking it to the side. "In a way...I think Riley does it to show that he dominates in power..but what you said makes sense. I want to talk to him about it so much, but I know he'd get mad and go off and I wouldn't accomplish anything."
JC nodded his head in understandment. "Just stay away from him for a while..let him think about what he's doing. Maybe that will make him see that you mean too much to him for him to be abusing you the way he does. Maybe he just needs to worry if you're coming back."
"I thought that too, but you'd be surprised and the faults you can find in a thought. He'd come looking for me, and he'd find me. This is a small town, JC..and he'd hurt my friends and me. I would never bring harm to those two girls that have given me the strength to fight."
JC touched her outstretched hand. "Things are going to work out. You are a very deep person, Em. I've gathered that from just talking to you. If you have that strong of emotion, use it to fight to overcome this challenge in your life. What's something that you love?"
"I love listening to music.."
"Then let music help you through this. Listen to all the songs that you love and let that emotion pull at you..you can find strength in the simply things but one thing you can not do is lay down and go out without a fight. If you do that, you're letting your friends down, you're giving him the satisfactory of knowing that you gave up, and you're letting yourself lose all pride and self respect. You are a beautiful woman..make him see that you DESERVE respect.. not abuse," JC said firmly.
She nodded her head. "I see what you're saying. I am trying so hard..people offer advice, but they don't understand how hard it is to actually try and fight against something much larger than you."
"I understand what you're saying. I can't personally say that you are going to be able to remain strong throughout this because I don't know. I've never been in something like the situation you are in, and I don't know if I could do it..but I have faith in you, Em."
"Whitney and Stephanie help me so much, but having a male to talk to helps alot. I don't know what I'll do when you leave," she said as her eyes began to study her hands.
He reached out and gently touched her cheek, causing her eyes to slowly move up to look at him. "We're going to keep in touch, and any time that you need to talk, you can call me up and I'll talk to you."
She smiled. "That means a lot to me, JC."
He shrugged as if it were an everyday thing. "That's what friends are for," he said to her. The whole time that they were talking, they never noticed the pair of angry eyes watching them.