“What are you doing?” Justin yelled as he pulled away from her with a stunned look on his face.
“Oh my god, I’m so sorry.” Sam was horrified. “I don’t know what came over me. You were just sitting there, and I just…I don’t know. I’ve never done anything like that before.”
She moved up onto the bed. Justin sat next to her.
“Sami, it’s okay,” he said as he cupped her hands in his. “You just kind of surprised me I guess.”
Sam smiled at him; “I surprised myself too. I really am sor…”
“Shhh” he said, placing his finger on her lips. “Stop apologizing. I didn’t say it wasn’t enjoyable.”
He smiled at her as he brushed her hair back from her face. It was Sami's turn to be surprised as he leaned in and kissed her gently. The kisses got more intense as he continued and Sam welcomed his hands as they caressed her body. He was now unbuttoning her shirt. Samantha was unsure she wanted this to go any further.
“Sami are you okay?” Justin asked, sensing her uneasiness.
“I’m fine.” She said, partly trying to convince herself.
“Are you sure? I’ll stop if you want me to, I don’t want to do anything you’re not comfortable with.”
Sam was reassured by his tenderness. “No really, I’m okay. I don’t want you to stop.” She said as she helped him get his shirt off.
He was lying on top of her kissing her neck and had started moving down to her shoulders when he suddenly stopped.
“Justin what’s wrong?” Sam asked as they both sat up.
“As much as I hate to say this Samantha, we can’t do this.” He looked at her with his warm eyes; he wanted to make her understand. “Don’t get me wrong Sami, I’m very attracted to you and if the situation were different, well frankly I’d be on you like white on rice.” Sam chuckled at his attempt to lighten the mood.
He smiled as he continued, “But if we did this, it’d be for the wrong reasons.”
“Justin I told you, I want to do this. I want you.” She knew as much as he did that the words coming out of her mouth weren’t true, but she was tired of being alone and being in his arms made her feel desirable.
“No Sami, what you want is to be held and you’re lonely. I know because I feel the same way, but if we do this it’s only going to make it worse in the morning. Not to mention screw up this wonderful friendship we have.”
“Justin are you reading my mind or something?” She smiled warmly at the attractive man sitting in front of her in a wife beater.
“No. I’ve been here before. It comes with the territory.” He explained.
“Oh I see. So you do this often huh? Get girls all hot and bothered and then stop without warning.” Sam smiled at him. “You’re such a tease.”
Justin laughed as he started to speak. “I know, I know. Could you do me a favor though?”
“Oh now you want favors after you leave me all unsatisfied. Geez!” she joked with him. “Alright, what is it?”
“Could you please put your shirt back on before I change my mind?”
“Hello! My eyes are up here you pervert.”
“I know,” he said with a sly grin on his face.
Sam pushed him over as she got up to look for her shirt. He was smiling lying back on the bed. She looked at him and still couldn’t believe how attractive he was, but he was right, it wasn’t him she wanted to be with.
“What the hell did you do with my shirt you mad woman?” He said interrupting her thoughts.
“What are you talking about? It’s right there on the bed. Mine on the other hand ended up all the way over here on the other side of the room. So who is the mad person here?” Sam asked with her hands resting on her hips.
“Sorry.” He said as he hung his head in mock shame.
“Why do you have to be so adorable?” she asked.
“It’s a gift I suppose.” He smiled. “You’re not so bad yourself lady.”
“Whatever. You don’t want me though.” She teased him.
“Right, and you don’t want me either so we’re even.” He got up and grabbed his shirt. “I really should go now though.”
“No please don’t.” Sam said quickly. “I really don’t want to be alone and after this I doubt I’ll sleep much anyway.”
“Yeah I won’t sleep a whole lot either. So are you asking me to spend the night with you Sami?”
“Yes Justin, that’s exactly what I’m doing. You think you can handle that?” she asked sarcastically.
“If you can, I can baby. Maybe we should both go take cold showers first though” he joked.
“Ooh together?” Sam asked mischievously.
Justin just shook his head and smiled at her. “You nasty little girl you.”
“I try.” Sam said winking at him.
***
Joey was sitting in the VIP section of the club. There were only a few other people back there with him. Dre was keeping most of the admirers away. Joey had tried to sneak off without a bodyguard but he wasn’t successful. He was trying to enjoy himself but his thoughts kept drifting to Samantha and all of the rest of his problems. He felt like his life was spinning out of control and nobody noticed or even worse cared. Chris and Dani were too busy being sickeningly happy. JC had his own problems to deal with and Justin and Lance were too busy fawning over Sam to notice anything else. Joey was amazed at how quickly she had gotten them both wrapped around her little fingers.
“Why is that nobody gives a damn about me?” Joey said, not realizing that he was now thinking out loud.
“I give a damn about you baby,” an attractive blonde next to him said while moving closer.
Joey smiled at her. “You do? I’m glad to hear that. So what’s your name sweetie?”
“It’s Anne. So where are the rest of the guys?” she asked while moving even closer.
“Don’t you mean where’s Justin and can I meet him?” Joey said as he got up and signaled to Dre to get the car.
Joey spent the rest of the night riding around town. His thoughts once again replaying that night over and over as he had so many times before. If only he would have handled it differently.
*****
“How can you do this to me? We had an agreement,” he said.
“I’m sorry this isn’t a business deal. There are feelings involved. I’m not going to apologize for that Joey.”
“This is ridiculous. I can’t deal with this right now. I’m leaving.”
“You better be sure about that this time,” she said wiping the tears from her eyes.
“What are trying to say?”
“If you walk again it’ll be the last time. Don’t plan on coming back to me.”
“Fine. If that’s the way you want it,” he said as he slammed the door behind him.
*****
He hadn’t heard from her since then. There wasn’t a minute that went by when he wasn’t thinking of her or what she said that night. He didn’t know how to fix it this time, or if it was even fixable.
***