She watched him drive away towards what she knew was the studio and sighed, stretching out over her bed. She fell asleep and didn't wake up until she heard the familiar roar of JC's motorcycle. JC was Justin's best friend and a group mate.
She opened the window above her fire escape ladder, a signal to Justin that he was allowed to enter, even though she was sure he wouldn't. It had been so long since he had, she wasn't sure if he even remembered how.
She then grabbed a framed picture and sat on her bed, staring at it. It was a picture of her and Justin, before he came along. They were at the beach and it had been a sunny, but chilly, windy day.
She was wearing a pair of short denim shorts and Justin's big, black hooded sweatshirt with a dragon screen-printed on the back. He was wearing baggy jeans and a baby blue football jersey. They were sitting on a blanket with another one around them, and she was sitting between his legs.
"I'm sorry it had to be this way," Angel said quietly to the picture.
"Does it have to be this way?" A voice questioned.
Angel jumped, then turned and saw Justin standing next to her window.
"Justin..." Angel trailed off.
Justin knew from the tone of her voice what she was saying. She didn't want it that way, either, but there was nothing she could do about how she felt.
"I know he hurt you," Justin said, reaching out and tucking her blonde hair behind her ear. "But that doesn't mean I will hurt you by being your best friend again."
"Justin, there are some things you don't know..." She trailed off, knowing what his reply would be.
"So how 'bout you tell me?" He asked.
"I can't," Angel said quietly.
"God, Angel," He burst out suddenly. "Just because one loser came along, you won't trust someone you've known since you were two years old?"
Angel stared at Justin, too shocked to defend herself.
"I'm sorry, Anga," Justin held out his arms to her, and for the first time in two years, she accepted a hug from him.
"Why did it have to happen?" Angel asked into his shoulder.
"I don't know, my Anga, I don't know," Justin murmured into her hair.
She stepped back. "You're leaving, aren't you?"
Justin nodded.
"I knew it," Her voice was suddenly cold. "How long."
"Two days," He said.
"With no warning?" Angel asked.
"No warning. Angel, I've got to go. Look, girl, I know this hurts you, but I have to do it. And I can't look back, either, or I'll stay. Understand that. I'm sorry this hurts you," Justin climbed out the window and was halfway down the ladder when he heard Angel's response, even though he wasn't intended to hear it.
"You have no idea," She said quietly. "What kind of pain you cause."
Justin lowered his head and ran back to his house, past JC, into his room, slamming the door and throwing himself onto his bed..
"Justin," JC called, running after him.
"Just go away," Justin's miserable voice replied.
"Justin, what happened?" JC asked.
Justin rolled over so he was on his back on the bed. "Why can't they warn us?" Justin stared at his baby blue ceiling. "Why can't they give us more than a freaking day off a year?"
"I don't know," JC shrugged. "Because they're asses?"
"Makes sense," Justin agreed, rolling over onto his stomach.
"Wanna tell me what's wrong?" JC asked.
Justin sighed. JC really was like the father of the group in ways.
"Or no?" JC continued.
"Angel," Justin shrugged.
"What about Angel?" JC asked, looking out the window. He saw a beautiful blonde girl staring out the window at him, into Justin's room. "Is that her?"
Justin looked up and nodded miserably. "Yeah, that's my Anga."
"Damn," JC muttered. "You didn't tell me she was beautiful."
"Was it really necessary?" Justin asked.
"Guess not the way you're miserable without her," JC shrugged. "At least you know for a fact you only like her 'cause of her looks and she'll have a terrible personality."
"Who said I like her?" Justin snapped, looking up at his friend.
"Christ, Justin, you may as well have a sign over your head blinking 'I'm madly in love with Angel', you're that obvious!" JC laughed.
"I'm not madly in love with her!" Justin muttered.
"Kid, how long have I known you? Six years now?" JC said. "Give it up."
"JC! I'm full of surprises," Justin said indignantly, climbing off his best and glaring at JC, who didn't move from where he was perched on his desk.
"Of course," JC said in an I-don't-believe-you tone. "What's wrong with you and Angel's wonderful friendship, then?"
"She won't tell me anything," Justin complained. "It's like we aren't even best friends anymore."
"He did come along, y'know. She's just afraid," JC shrugged. "Keep trying and whatever you do, don't yell at her or throw a fit around her."
"It's like there's something she isn't telling me," Justin said as he pulled a black duffel bag out of his closet and threw it on the bed.
"There's something you aren't telling her, too," JC said. "Maybe she senses that." He shrugged again and reached for a box of Cap'n Crunch sitting on Justin's dresser.
"What am I not telling her?" Justin jerked a drawer open, grabbed a pile of boxers, and threw them into his bag.
"How 'bout that you love her?" JC started. "Or maybe that you can't live without her? Or how 'bout you tell her how you're always miserable over her?"
Justin let out an exasperated sigh. "You know what?" He said. He never finished those sentences, it was his way of telling someone to either back off or shut up.
JC rolled his eyes and took another bite of cereal.
"Ready," Justin pulled an Old Navy fleece out of his closet, stared at it, then put it back and pulled out his black hooded dragon sweatshirt Angel had worn.
JC, knowing Angel was the last to wear it, rolled his eyes. "Come along, young'un, Rosie awaits."
Chapter 4: Rosie's A Lifesaver