It didn't seem to stop. Whenever he thought he was making some sort of progress, that his life was somehow going to work itself out and get back on track, she would find her way back into his world. Back into his mind, his days and his life.
It didn't take a lot of effort on her part to rock his world into a tidal wave. Something as simple as the phone ringing would be more than enough to make his heart beat increase, and his mind race with wonder at who was on the other end of the line.
He had changed his phone number since returning from Cleveland, and Erin had changed her cell phone number. But that hadn't stopped Trystan. Justin couldn't figure out how, but she had managed to track down his new home number. Erins cell phone number still seemed to be unreachable for her, since there had not been anymore calls to it. But Justins new home number had been tainted by her within a matter of weeks.
She never said anything when she called. Just silence, as he repeatedly asked who was on the other end of the line. Caller ID would show Unknown each time, and he knew who it was.
Erin had only answered these calls twice over the last two weeks. Both times, Trystan hung up the moment Erins voice called back through the line.
Whenever Justin would answer, Trystan would stay silent, listening to him call back at her, as if she just wanted to hear his voice on the other end of the line.
As far as he knew, she hadn't found a way back into the house since the day Erin moved in. There had been no more surprises on her part, along the lines of the photo, and Justin was finding himself growing more and more concerned with what to expect next.
The calm before the storm.
If he had learned nothing else from his experiences with Trystan, he had learned that she was not one to give up easily. Whenever he would go more than three days without hearing from her, he would begin to worry that the next time he did hear from her, that it would be from far worse than a phone call.
Erin had gone back to work a few days before, leaving Justin home alone for the majority of the day. He still had a little less than two months before he was expected to rejoin the world of NSync, and he was trying his best to enjoy the time off. He rarely got any time to himself, and since he was getting an extended vacation, he was going to try and make the best of it. It would have been a wonderful time, without the interference of Trystan Michaels in his life.
But even as he lay by his pool, stretched out relaxingly on a lounge chair, the sun beating down on his tanning skin, his muscles still tight and toned from the years of work, he found himself unable to relax. At least, not completely.
He found himself worrying about Erin. Had she made it to work alright? Had Trystan followed her? Did she know where she worked? About her family? Her life?
Justin found himself wondering how much Trystan knew about Erin more and more. It was obvious that she knew a lot about him. A lot of people did. His life was basically an open book to anyone with a computer or television. But Erin was completely the opposite, and he still found himself concerned with what Trystan knew about her.
The fact that she was at work, Justin was scared that Trystan would be there watching her.
What if she came into the office and asked to speak to Erin? What if she told her what had happened between them in New York? What if Erin found out that all this time, he had been keeping this from her?
More thoughts and questions raced through his mind on a daily basis than had over the last two years. He just couldn't seem to turn his mind off.
Whenever he and Erin would be together, Justin found himself immediately relaxing. If she was with him, then she was as safe as she could be. He was there to watch over her, and keep her protected.
He had stayed up more nights over the last little while, just watching her sleep. He didn't want to let himself close his eyes, in case in that short time, Trystan found her way into their lives. That she would somehow find a way to get to Erin. So long as he stayed awake, he could stop that from happening.
But she still found her way to his world. He had been unable to look through the photos Erin had brought with her since the day she moved in. Every time he would see the boxes of photos sitting in the far room, he would think of the picture of him and Trystan from that night.
He never wanted to see that again.
The last two weeks had been a silent struggle on his part, both to keep himself sane and block Trystan from his mind, and to keep Erin safe and unaware that she was in any sort of danger or that their lives were any different from what they had been a year ago.
Yawning loudly, Justin stretched his arms over his head. Pushing his toes as far as they could go, he extended his long body across the couch as hard as he could. Releasing the tension, he let his arms fall back to his stomach, his legs resting comfortably back on the couch.
It was mid afternoon, and he had done less than nothing all day long. It was the first day in awhile that he had not had anything to do. Usually, he would get together with Landon or one of the other guys during the day when Erin was at work. When she got home, they would spend time together. He was rarely alone, so he had designated today as a Justin Day.
He was surrounded by chips, pop and other treats while he watched a basketball game in TV. He was wearing his favorite pair of old jeans, the ones that were so worn they were hanging on by a thread. An old white tshirt hung loosely around his body, with the word 'Crunk' written on the front in black marker that he had made years ago with Chris. His feet were bare, his toes tapping together as he starred at the television.
It had taken a lot on his part, but he had managed to keep himself from worrying or letting his thoughts drift to anything Trystan related for the last two hours. He was finally in a Justin Zone, where nothing around him was in his attention zone. Other than the TV across from him, there was nothing in his mind.
Suddenly, the phone began to ring above his head. His heart jumped a little at the noise, and he reached up to grab the phone from its stand. Bringing it to his ear, he called through, hesitance in his voice.
"Hello?"
"Afternoon, fugly." a familiar voice greeted him. Justin smiled.
"Greetings focker."
"Whatcha doing?"
"Watching a basketball game." Justin replied as he brought a foot up within reaching distance and began to pick at a piece of skin on his big toe. "You?"
"Same."
Justin nodded in response, as if the caller could actually see him.
"What are you and Erin doing tonight?"
"Nothing. Why?"
"Want to come over? My mom is making this huge dinner, for reasons known only by her, and she asked if you guys wanted to come over."
"So, you're only inviting me over because your mom told you to?" Justin asked, humor thick in his voice.
"Pretty much." Landon teased. "You thought I actually wanted to see you?"
"Yeah." Justin smiled.
"You're one of those retarded people, aren't you?" Landon asked, taunting in his tone.
Justin had to laugh. Landon came up with some of the stupidest things in the world, but they still made him laugh. No matter what kind of mood he was in, Landon was always able to make him laugh.
"Yeah, fine. We'll come over. What time?"
"About six. Earlier if you want to. Doesn't matter too much."
"Okay. We'll be over whenever. Erin gets home a little before four, so we'll be over around five thirty or so."
Landon sighed dramatically. "Must be nice having a woman taking care of you like that, dude. Working, cleaning, and taking care of your lazy ass must be one hell of a job. I wish my woman supported me like that."
"Fuck off. You don't even have a woman." Justin paused, then laughed to himself. "Oh wait. Yeah you do. Your mom."
"Fuck off." Landon said, before bursting out in laughter. "You're not even one to talk about being a mamas boy, Timerlake."
The two men laughed for a long while, before Landon finally settled.
"Okay, I better let you go. I'm supposed to go and pick up some stuff at the store for my dad. Ill see you tonight."
"See ya later." Justin said as he turned off the phone and tossed it on the couch beside him.
Turning his attention back to the TV, Justin found a grin still on his face.
Landon just had that effect on people. Not just Justin, either. He didn't know a single person that could resist Landons sense of humor, and he was thankful to have him in his life. He was just what he needed to brighten his mood.
Again, the phone rang at his side, and Justin rolled his eyes. The grin still solid on his face.
Bringing it to his ear, he sighed loudly as he turned it on.
"Dude, I told you already, I cant set you up with Jennifer Lopez. I don't even know her." he teased.
Silence greeted him on the other end.
Justins smile faded as his eyes narrowed in confusion. Pulling the phone back, he looked at the caller ID, presuming to see Landons number.
Unknown.
Justins breath caught in his throat. He stared at the phone for a moment, before reluctantly placing it back to his ear.
"Hello?" he called through, his voice almost inaudible.
Silence.
He listened closely, trying to hear anything on the other end of the line. Breathing. A noise in the background. But he was met with nothing.
Finally, he felt his composure slip. He had had enough of this. He was tired of the game, and the childish attempts at control from this woman.
He had once heard someone say that no one could make you feel trapped without your consent. And he would be damned if he was going to let Trystan Michaels make him feel trapped.
"Trystan." he said. His voice was shaky, but stronger than he had even expected of himself.
Nothing.
Moments later, he was greeted with a dial tone.
She had hung up.
Pulling the phone back, Justin frowned.
He had had enough of this bullshit. Pushing himself up from the couch, Justin rushed upstairs to his office to find his phone book. Locating Madisons number, he called her quickly. She answered on the third ring.
He had kept in touch with her since leaving Cleveland, talking to her at least once a week. Erin didn't know about her, but he figured he would find some way to introduce her into the picture at some point. Once things with Trystan were over, he still wanted to be friends with Madison. She had become a great comfort and support to him throughout the entire ordeal.
Asking for Trystans number, Justin quickly wrote it down. Madison asked what he needed it for, but he simply said he would explain later. Saying their good byes, he hung up.
Sitting on the edge of the small couch in the corner of his office, Justin stared at the phone for a long while before turning it back on. He could faintly hear the dial tone as the phone sat in his lap.
Quickly, before he had the chance to lose his nerve, Justin dialed the number Madison had given him. Placing the phone to his ear, he listened to the ringing on the other end.
Was he ready to confront her like this? He was more than certain that she wouldn't be expecting him to call her back. She wouldn't even expect him to have her number. But he was tired of this. He had no idea what to say to her if she answered, but he wasn't going to let her have all the control anymore.
On the fourth ring, a nervous voice answered. It surprised Justin.
"Hello?"
He recognized the voice immediately.
"This is what you wanted, isn't it?" he asked, anger clear in his tone. "You keep calling here, but never have the nerve to speak. So, I'm calling you. Say what you have to say, and get it over with Trystan, because I'm tired of playing your games."
There was a short silence on the other end, but Justin could almost see her smiling. He didn't know how, but he knew she was smiling.
"Why Justin," she said, mock surprise in her voice. "What a pleasant surprise."
"Don't fuck with me!" he yelled. "What do you want?"
"I already told you." she said plainly. "You."
"Well, I'm not yours for the having. Now please, just let it go. Let me have my life back." He hated that he let a hint of desperation show in his voice, but he couldn't help it. It snuck in there before he could stop it.
"But Justin, you called me."
"Because you keep calling me!" he yelled again. "Because you are constantly calling here. You are constantly trying to keep yourself in my mind, my thoughts and my life!"
"And its working, isn't it." The tone in her voice made him physically ill. "With every call, you think of me."
"Stop calling Trystan. Let it go. Let me go."
"But like I said. You called me. You are the one who called me just now, and you are the reason we are speaking right now."
"You called here! You keep calling here..."
"Prove it." she said plainly. "Prove that it was me calling you. You cant. So, really, you are the one making this contact. If I did call, I said nothing. You are the one instigating the conversation here, Justin, not me."
Justin felt his head begin to hurt. What kind of logic was this? What the fuck went on in her mind?
"Justin, I would love to chat, but I have to run." she said, a strange tone in her voice still. As if it was commonplace for her to be speaking with him this way. "I love that you cared enough to call, but Ill have to talk to you later."
"Wait.."
"Bye, Justin."
Before he had the chance to stop her, she hung up.
Pulling the phone back from his ear, Justin stared blankly ahead. The dial tone still screaming from the phone, he set it beside him, still in his grasp.
What was she thinking? She made it seem as if he had been the one contacting her. That he had been seeking her out. But that was not the case. He knew it wasn't. But at the same time, what she had said had been true. Never once had she said a word when she called. But he had called, and instigated a conversation. He knew it was moronic logic, but it was truth nevertheless.
Turning the phone off with his thumb, Justin pulled his legs to his chest as he sat on the couch. Wrapping his arms around his knees, he rested his forehead against them.
He had been happy moments before. Watching a basketball game, talking with Landon.
And within a matter of minutes, his world was yet again turned upside down.
