The world seemed brighter.
The feeling of the wind on his skin was a sensation he had never focused on much before, but now it was so relaxing. The feeling of the sun warming his skin and of the breeze in his hair were revitalizing.
Smiling out the window of the car, Justin watched as people made their way quickly down the streets on either side of him.
"What are you so happy about?" Claire smiled across at him from her place in the drivers seat.
Turning to face his grin to her, Justin shrugged. "Nothing."
"Don't give me that crap." she laughed. "Ive known you too long. I can tell the difference between your 'nothing smiles' and 'something smiles'."
Justin laughed at her logic. "You think you're so cool, don't you?"
"Oh, I don't think it, honey. I know it." she teased with a flirtatious grin.
Justin laughed louder at her before turning his eyes to look out the windshield.
He did feel bad for what he had to say to Trystan. She was probably a very nice girl, but she wasn't anyone he wanted to know. All he saw when he looked at her was a reminder of what he did. What he wanted to take back. And what he never wanted to see again.
Her reactions had surprised him, though. She had seemed so excited when he had asked her to meet with him, that he couldn't help but wonder what it was that she thought he was going to say.
The hurt in her voice when trying to explain why she was always turning up wherever he was was evident. It was like she felt as if she didn't have to explain why she was following him across the country.
But most importantly, he had been shocked by the anger he saw in her eyes when he had told her that he didn't want to see her anymore.
Surely, she had to be able to understand that. He had a girlfriend. A girlfriend that he loved more than life itself, and this was something that Trystan had been aware of since that morning in New York. She had to understand that Justin wouldn't want to be reminded of the horrible thing he had done to Erin. It was only obvious.
But still, she had been angry. Whether at him for telling her to stay away from him, or at herself for thinking that he would possibly want something more, either way she had been angry.
That part was what scared him.
She had always been so in control whenever he had seen her.
That morning in New York, he had been a nervous and frantic wreck when he had realized what he had done. And although she seemed a little confused, she didn't appear to be upset at all. As if she had no regrets.
On the phone when he had returned her phone call, again she seemed in control. As if talking to him was a frequent occurrence.
At the cafe in Cleveland, when he had been almost shaking from nerves, she still appeared calm and in control. Chatting away to him and seeming unfazed by how she had come to know him.
The same with the sound check. Always in control. Her smile on her face.
But she didn't leave today with a smile. Her cool, calm demeanor was gone, replaced by one of controlled anger. She was mad, he knew that much for sure, but there was nothing he could do about it.
He did what was best for him. He needed to make it clear that she had no reason to see him anymore, and that he had no wish or desire to see her. The sooner she realized this, the better off they both would be.
Leaning his seat back, Justin linked his hands behind his head.
"Getting comfortable?" Claire laughed beside him as she looked down at him.
"For the first time in a long time, I'm trying." he said with a grin.
Closing his eyes, Justin relaxed into the sounds of the engine, and the feel of the road.
Before he knew it, they were back at the hotel. It seemed as if he only had his eyes closed for a moment, but it must have been at least twenty minutes or more.
After being startled awake by Claire twisting his nipple, Justin slid out of the car and followed her through the back entrance to their hotel.
Using the back elevator, they climbed to the tenth floor and emerged into the cool, air conditioned floor.
Justin grinned when he noticed Dre sitting at the elevator at the other end of the hall. The big man gave a wave to the two as they stepped out and onto the carpeted hall.
Walking Claire to her room, Justin grabbed her nose, tweaking it before allowing her to go inside.
Sliding his hands in his pockets, Justin turned and walked the few doors down to his own room. Sliding his key card into the lock, he pushed the door open and entered the room.
The air conditioning inside hummed softly from across the room. The bright light poured in through the windows, illuminating everything inside with a soft white glow.
Venturing further inside, Justin sat on the edge of the bed as he removed his shoes and tossed them to the side as he tossed his jacket on the chair across from him. Standing, he quickly made his way over to the window, pulling the long, heavy curtains across to block out the sun.
Pulling his t-shirt over his head, he grinned as the cool air touched his bare chest and back.
Hopping on the bed, Justin looked over to the clock at his right. He had four hours before they were expected to go back to the venue. He had plenty of time for a nap.
Pulling a pillow out from the tightly tucked sheets, Justin placed his beneath his head, tucking his hands underneath. Rolling on his side, he snuggled his face deeper in the comforts of the pillow.
The cool air chilled his skin, and he reached back to pull a corner of the comforter over his bare back.
Smiling at his newfound comfort, Justin closed his eyes and allowed himself the first restful sleep he had had in weeks.
The sound was more irritating than anything he had ever heard before. It was almost endless. As if each shriek was blended together into one long, deafening sound.
Opening one eye, Justin looked over to the night stand in front of him.
He was surprised to find that he had only been asleep for a little over an hour. To him, it had felt like years.
Rolling onto his back, he rubbed a hand over his face as he yawned.
Again, the sound screamed through the room.
Frowning at the noise, Justin reached out and grabbed the cell phone on the stand beside him. Fumbling in the dark, he placed it to his ear. "Hello?" he called groggily through the line.
"Well hello, Mr. Timberlake." A sensual voice responded. "This is your wake up call."
Justin smiled at the sound of the voice. "Hey, baby."
Erin giggled through the phone. "Hey. How are you?"
"Good." he said as he stretched his long body across the bed. "Much better now that I'm talking to you."
Again, Erin laughed. "You sound tired."
"I'm okay. I was just having a nap before the concert tonight." he explained. Looking back to the clock again, Justin frowned. With all the drama with Trystan, he had completely forgotten about Erin coming to the show that night. "Where are you? I thought you were supposed to be at the sound check?"
"I was, but I got busy at work." she explained. "I tried to go, but I just couldn't."
Justin nodded to himself. "I understand. No biggie." Yawning again, Justin moved the phone to his other ear. "So when are you getting here?"
Erin was quiet for a moment before speaking. "I don't know if I can."
Justins eyes widened. "What? What do you mean you don't know if you can?"
"I mean I'm stuck here at work, and I don't know if I'm going to be able to get away in time for the show tonight." she replied, regret thick in her voice.
Justins frown deepened. "But you have to come!" he insisted. "Its our last show, and I haven't seen you in ages."
"I know, but there's nothing I can do." Erin sighed. "I'm going to try my best, but I cant make any promises."
Justin pushed himself up into a sitting position, folding his left leg under his right. Looking down, he began to pick at the comforter beneath him.
"I'm sorry, baby." Erin said when Justin didn't say anything.
"I know." he responded, his disappointment evident.
"Listen, I start my holiday tomorrow, so Ill be home when you get home. I'm promise, for the next month, I'm all yours." she said, trying her best to lighten his mood.
Justin nodded, but didn't respond.
How could this be happening? He hadn't seen Erin in over a month, and had thought of almost nothing but her since he last saw her. The highlight of his day was her phone calls, and he wanted nothing more than to be at home with her again.
Now, after waiting all this time, thinking he was going to see her again in a matter of moments, she wasn't coming.
A knock sounded at his hotel room door, and Justin looked up in the direction of the noise.
"What was that?" Erin asked.
"Someone's at the door." he replied as he reached across to turn on the lamp at his bedside.
"You want me to call you back later?" Erin asked.
"No, just hang on a second." Justin insisted, pulling the phone from his ear.
Sliding off the bed, Justin slowly sluffed his way across the plush carpet towards the door.
Looking through the peep hole, Justin furrowed his forehead when he couldn't see anyone standing on the other side of the door.
Stepping back, Justin pulled the door open and peered outside.
His eyes widened immediately, his heart racing at the sight of the person in front of him. His jaw dropped and his stomach jumped.
The woman smiled. "Miss me?"
Justin dropped his phone, reaching out and pulled Erin into his arms. Laughing over his shoulder, Erin wrapped her arms around him tightly.
"You suck." he said, holding her closer to his body.
"I know. But it was more fun this way." she said.
Pulling back, Erin closed her cell phone. Justin reached down and picked his up from the floor, before pulling Erin into his room.
Tossing his phone on the bed, he turned to pull her into his arms again.
It had been so long since he had seen her, he had almost forgotten how beautiful she was. Her green eyes shining back at him. Her long brown hair pulled messily up into a clip. Her small frame seemed to fit so well in his arms, as if she was build to be held by him.
Erin smiled at him as she reached up and ran her hand over his cheek. "You look so tired." she said, concern in her voice.
"You look beautiful." he said softly.
Erin grinned at him, before reaching her arms behind his head. "So, you happy I'm here?"
Justin didn't respond. He only stared at her, smiling like a fool.
Leaning down, Justin placed his lips to hers, pulling her even closer to him. Erin tightened her arms around his neck, allowing him to hold her so tightly, she thought she was going to pass out.
He had been dreaming of this moment for longer than he wanted to. With each day, he was closer and closer to seeing her again. But somehow it seemed to make it feel as if it were making the time longer and longer until they were together again.
Every thought of Trystan. The night in New York. Every horrible thought that had been plaguing him over the last few weeks seemed to disappear with the mere sight of her.
He had waited for this for longer than he wanted to, and now he was finally happy.
Now, she was here. In his arms. Where she belonged.
And he wasn't going to let her go.
