Justin groaned again for what had to be the tenth time in the last twenty minutes. He knew that he shouldn't really be complaining, considering he wasn't exactly known for his ability to get ready for a night out very quickly, but since he was the one ready this time, it was driving him insane having to sit there and wait.
And it had only been ten minutes.
Flopping down on his couch, he placed his feet on the coffee table in front of him. Grabbing the remote control from the table beside him, he reached out and mindlessly began flipping through the channels.
Sticking his lip out as he channel surfed, he huffed when nothing looked overly interesting to him at the moment.
He couldn't quite understand why he was feeling so restless. Usually, he didn't care if he was late for something, if he had to sit and wait, or if there was nothing on TV. But right then, he was anxious, and it was driving him insane.
Pulling up the TV guide on the screen, he moved the menu down until settling on Friends. Removing the menu, he set the remote on the couch beside him and leaned back to watch the episode he had already seen at least a hundred times. Crossing his arms over his chest, he sucked his bottom lip into his mouth.
He and Erin were supposed to go to Joeys for a movie night, and they were expected to be there around seven. It was now six thirty, and Justin knew they were going to be late. Not that it mattered. Joeys movie nights never started before eight, usually because he couldn't figure out which of his thirty remote controls worked the TV, surround sound, and lighting. Why Joey spent all that money on a home theater he didn't know how to use was something Justin would never understand. He was barely home enough to enjoy using the theater.
Adjusting his position on the couch, he grumpily huffed and slid down to lay across the couch on his back, his arms still crossed firmly over his chest.
He couldn't quite understand why he was in such a mood. He felt anxious, irritated and jumpy. He rarely felt this way, and it was driving him insane that he was feeling this way now.
He had been fine for the majority of the morning. Erin had been pleased with him for going shopping with Landon the day before, and didn't even bitch at him for buying more than fifty dollars worth of things he didn't need. They had spent their morning lounging by the pool, before Erin left to go to the gym, leaving Justin to wander the house.
He liked having some time alone, but for some reason, he wasn't enjoying himself today. He sat outside for a while as he tried to get some hints of a suntan, but all he did was let his mind wander. He tried to relax and think about nothing, which was usually an easy feat, but this time it wasn't working.
After a few hours of laying there, he got up and decided a good, hard game of basketball was in order. Sure, he was by himself, but that didn't mean anything.
By the time Erin got home a few hours later, he had worked up a hard sweat.
More than once during his day, the thought of his morning at the grocery store the day before crept into his mind.
He felt embarrassed for thinking he had seen Trystan everywhere. And the fact that he had actually grabbed some strange womans arm made him want to hide. But he couldn't get rid of the feeling that he wasn't wrong. That she had been there.
He told himself repeatedly that it was stupid to think so, but he couldn't help it. He had heard her, that much was for sure. The girl at the counter as he was leaving looked quite a bit like her, and he was now kicking himself for not waiting to see her turn around.
At the time, he had told himself to let it go. That it wasn't her, and that he had to stop being so paranoid. But now, he had spent the rest of the day thinking that if he had just stayed a moment longer, he would know for sure if it had been her.
He found himself wondering if she was at home, and even contemplated tracking down her number to call and see if she was in fact at home. He could call, and when she answered, he could hang up. Sure, it was a childish way to go about solving a problem, but at least that way he would know. He knew he couldn't very well call and talk to her. After telling her that he didn't want to see her anymore, calling her out of the blue, having tracked down her number, was kind of doing the opposite of what he said he wanted.
Closing his eyes hard, Justin reopened them and tried to focus on the TV.
He knew he had to pick up his mood before going over to Joeys, or the entire gang would be on his ass. He had been able to put on a relatively good front around Erin for the majority of the day, and as far as he knew, she didn't even realize that he was feeling the way he was.
But he knew that if he got in a group situation, especially that group, he wouldn't be able to hide very long. Especially with Chris. He had a tendency to follow a person around if he thought they were upset, and eventually end up driving the person to the brink of insanity if that was what it took to get them to open up and admit that something was wrong.
And he couldn't very well tell them what was bothering him.
Smiling as Chandler and Joey tried to have a race between the chick and the duck, Justin rubbed his feet together.
Suddenly, the phone rang above him, and Justin reached up blindly to snatch it from the stand, his eyes never leaving the TV.
Looking at the caller ID, he grinned to himself.
"Hello," he called through the line as he pressed the phone to his ear. "You have reached the Justin is Great hot line. If you want to discuss how amazing Justin is, press one. If you want to confess your feelings of love and admiration for Justin, press two--"
"If you want to kick Justins egotistical ass, press three." a voice responded before a steady tone sounded through the phone.
Justin laughed. "Let me guess? You pressed three?"
"Wow, not just a pretty face, are ya?"
Again, Justin laughed.
"What's up, man?"
"Nothing," Landon replied. "I'm bored shitless sitting here, so I thought I would call you."
"Gee, thanks, man. You only call me when you're bored." Justin sighed, faking hurt.
"Yeah." Landon relied sharply. "Why the hell else would I want to call you?"
Justin grinned at his friends comments.
He had been best friends with Landon since he had moved to Orlando when he was eleven. When Justins mom had been looking for a house in the area, Landons mother had been the real estate agent she had met with. After moving to the area, the two women became friends. It was a pleasant surprise for them to find out that they both a sons around the same age.
Justin and Landon would spend hours playing in the fort in Landons back yard while their mothers would chat.
Landon never once treated Justin differently for doing what he did. At that young age, it was hard to explain to other kids the job that Justin had. Some were jealous, others more understanding. Justin had told Landon once that he was on the MMC, and Landon accepted it easily. He never once brought it up again, unless to ask how it was going or if he had met anyone famous. It never occurred to him that Justin was becoming famous.
Their friendship had been through a lot. Through the early years of NSync when Justin was trying to make his dreams come true. To the phenomenon that it was today; Landon was always there to support him.
He wasn't just his best friend, he was like his brother.
Well, his really annoying, sarcastic brother.
"So, what are you doing tonight?" Landon asked.
"Waiting for Erin to get dressed." Justin responded as he grabbed the remote from his side and muted the TV. The audience laughter was immediately silenced, leaving the room in an eeire quiet.
"Whoa, if ya'll had a romp, I don't need to hear about it." he teased.
"Fuck off, dude!" Justin groaned. "I mean I'm waiting for her to change so we can go to Joeys for a movie night."
Landon laughed. "So you're leaving me here to be bored on my own? Some friend you are."
Justin rolled his eyes. "Oh bite my ass."
"Which acre?"
Justins jaw dropped, but he was unable to come up with a good comeback.
"Nice comeback." Landon smirked through the phone.
Justin closed his mouth, a pout immediately overtaking his features.
Just as Justin was about to say something in response, a soft tone sounded through the phone signaling another call.
"Hang on, I got another call." Justin said.
"Okay. But don't leave me waiting here all night. I'm an important man, and youre--"
Justin didn't bother waiting to let Landon finish his ramble. Instead, he pulled the phone from his ear, looking at the caller ID.
Unknown.
Justins grin immediately dropped to a frown, his stomach tightening. Maybe it wasn't the same person? Maybe this was just a coincidence?
Placing the phone back to his ear, Justin almost rolled his eyes when he found Landon still talking.
"Dude, shut up long enough for me to check this call."
Landon was quiet for a moment, before speaking. "Fine."
Pulling the phone back, Justin looked at the flash button for a moment.
He was apprehensive about checking the call. The chances of it being the same person were slim. They hadn't received another call like this since that day, and there was nothing to indicate that this was happening again. There was nothing to indicate that the first group of calls were anything to be overly concerned about, but he still had an uneasy feeling.
His mouth suddenly felt dry, and as he reached his thumb around the phone to press the button, he noticed a slight tremble in the movement.
Sighing to himself angrily for being so stupid, he quickly pushed the button and returned the phone to his ear.
"Hello?" he said quickly.
"Still me, dumbass." Landons sarcastic voice greeted.
"Ugh!" Justin groaned before pushing the button again.
"Hello?!" he called through again, his annoyance and unsettling nerves clear in his voice.
Silence.
Pulling the phone back, he looked at the caller ID again.
Unknown.
He frowned as he replaced the phone to his ear.
"Hello?" he repeated.
Again, no response.
Justin listened carefully for any indication that there was in fact someone on the other end of the line. Breathing? A noise in the background? Anything to show that someone was in fact there, trying to talk to him.
"Hello?" he repeated again, firmly, his voice angry.
Still no response. Not even an intake of breath was heard.
Justin had had enough of this. A stupid phone call was not going to invade any more of his thoughts as the first few had, and he refused to let himself be a victim to his overactive imagination anymore.
"Okay, listen." he said, his voice strong and firm. "I don't know who you are, but don't call here again. Do you understand me? Don't call here again."
He waited for a moment to see if any sound could be heard, or if the person on the other end of the line would respond in any way.
There was nothing. Not a sound, with the exception of Justins own angry breathing.
Angrily, he pulled the phone from his ear, hanging up.
Clutching the phone in his hand, he was tempted to throw it across the room.
He hated how his emotions reacted as such a stupid thing. Nothing. A phone call that wasn't able to show an ID? He was getting this worked up over?
Suddenly, the phone rang again, and Justin quickly turned it on and placed it to his ear.
"Did you not hear me? Fuck off!"
"Geez, sor-ry!" Landons voice responded with shock. "See if I ever call you again."
Justin closed his eyes, sighing as he ran a hand over his face. "Landon," he said quietly. "Sorry man, I thought you were someone else."
"Well, remind me not to be someone else next time I call here." he joked. "Who did you think it was?"
Justin was quiet, his eyes fixated on his knees. The bottoms of his feet pressed tightly together, he sighed.
"Nevermind."
Before Landon had the chance to question Justin, Erin emerged in the doorway of the living room.
"You ready to go, J?"
Looking up at her, a smile immediately came to his face.
She wasn't dress up at all. She wasn't even wearing any makeup, but to him she still looked amazing.
In her low riding blue jeans and one of his t-shirts, she looked almost tom boyish. Her hair was pulled up loosely into a pony tail, fringes falling around her face.
"Dude?" Landons voice broke Justin from his gaze.
"Sorry, man." he apologized. "Erin's ready. Listen, Ill call you tomorrow and we can do something before I gotta go to my moms for dinner, okay?"
"Sure." he replied. "I talk to you tomorrow. Tell Erin I said hi."
"Okay. Later."
"Later."
Turning off the phone, Justin set it on the coffee table as he pushed himself up from the couch. Reaching down, he grabbed the remote and turned off the TV.
Looking over at Erin, he grinned at her. "Landon says hey."
"Hey to Landon." she smiled as he turned and walked towards the door. "Oh, shit!" she said, turning back around quickly. "I forgot that CD JC wanted to borrow." Rushing back towards the stairs, Erin raced up the flight. "Go and start the car. Ill be right out."
Justin laughed at her retreating back as he slid on his shoes, grabbed his keys and exited the house.
The night air was warm and refreshing. A soft breeze ruffled the leaves in the trees, sending a gently sound through the air.
Approaching his car, Justin reached out and unlocked the doors with his automatic lock on the key chain. Climbing in behind the steering wheel, Justin reached up and slid the key in the ignition.
From the corner of his eyes, he saw something sitting on the passenger seat beside him. Turning his head, he looked down, a look of confusion coming to his face.
Reaching over, he grabbed the small rectangular object and brought it to his face.
The moment his eyes focused on the image, his breath caught in his throat. His eyes widened and his heart beat increased rapidly. Covering his mouth with one hand, Justin felt a sense of panic overtake him.
In his hand was a picture. And not just any picture.
It was a picture of him, at the grocery store yesterday.
