“It’s kinda cute don’t ya think, Soph?” Scott asked. I still didn’t say anything. “Not in a talking mood huh?”
“You know you’re too stubborn for your own good,” Josh said. “Now come on.” They took me to a room in the warehouse and tied me to a bed. “We’re going to go get something to eat. Do you want anything?” I still wouldn’t talk. “Ok. Suit yourself.” They left the room and I laid there thinking. I had to find some way out of this. I thought so hard that I eventually feel asleep. I woke to someone touching my cheek. For a minute I thought it was Justin and leaned into the hand. Then I fully woke up and felt that rope on my wrists and ankles. I pulled my head away from the hand.
“I see that you’re awake,” Scott said. He touched my cheek again and this time I couldn’t move any farther away. “I missed you. I missed kissing you and touching you.” I thought I was going to puke.
“What do you want?” I asked.
“Oh so she does speak. I want you. It’s that plain and simple.”
“What does Josh want?”
“I’m not sure what your brother wants. I’m sure we’ll both find out very very soon. Now enough talk about him.” He leaned down and kissed me. I tried to pull away but my head was pressed against the bed. He forced his tongue into my mouth. I started squirming trying to get him to stop. Finally he pulled away. I thought he had gotten the hint and was leaving, but instead he climbed on top of me. “I’m finally going to get what I always wanted from you."”
Justin and Bri drove around all night. Finally they gave up and went back to Justin’s house. Everyone was still there. Everyone stood up and looked at them when they walked in. “Did you find her? Were they still there?” Jas asked. Justin shook his head. “Oh God! It’s all my fault!”
Jeff wrapped his arms around her. “Babe it’s not your fault. There is nothing you could do.”
Justin walked up to her. “Jas, he’s right. It’s not your fault. We’re going to find her.” Everyone was shocked at how strong he was being. “Right now everyone needs to get some sleep. Everyone can stay here. I’m going to go get some sleep.” With that Justin walked up to his room. As he laid down in his bed he remember just a couple hours earlier when he had held me in his arms in that exact same spot. He couldn’t take it anymore and cried into his pillow.
Two days later Jas and Justin went down to the police station to fill out a missing persons report. It took them all morning and by the time they were done it was 1:00. “I’m going to go meet Jeff for lunch. Do you want to come,” Jas said.
“No. I think I’m just going to go home. I’ll see ya later.” Justin got into his car and headed to my beach. He had been spending a lot of time there. He would sit there and think about all the memories we had shared and he would cry. Today he cried even harder because he was losing hope. Finally his tears dried up and he went home. When he got there he found Lance sitting in the living room. “Hey, Lance. What are you doing here?”
Lance could see the tear stains on his face. “I came to talk to you.”
“About what?” Justin sat down next to him. “About you. How are you doing?”
“I’m doing ok.”
“Justin, will you talk to me. We all know you’re not ok. I can see the tear stains on your face. You go off somewhere everyday and cry then come back here and act like everything’s all right. It’s ok to show emotion because everything is not alright.”
Justin broke down and started crying again. “Lance, I’m scared. I’m scared that I’ll never see her again. She’s my whole world. It feels like everything I’ve lived for is gone.”
“Justin, we will find her.”
“It’s also all my fault. I argued with her not to go. I told her to call Jas and not leave. If I would have convinced her to stay she would probably be sitting here with me today. I couldn’t protect her for him. Why couldn’t I protect her from him?”
Lance hugged him. “Justin, it’s not your fault. He is sick, very sick. You did not make him that way so it’s not your fault.” Justin didn’t say anything. He just cried on Lance’s shoulder. Finally Justin calmed down and sat up.
“Thanks for listening to me.”
“Justin, we’re all here for you. Please don’t bottle everything up inside. That’s not going to help her. Me and the rest of the guys are here whenever you need us.”
Just then Justin’s mom walked into the room. “Justin, have you eaten today?” Justin shook his head. “Justin Randall Timberlake you have to eat! We’re all worried about her, but you have to stay healthy. Now come into this kitchen and eat something. You too, Lance.” Lance laughed.
“Come on Justin. Let’s go eat.” Lance pulled him up and into the kitchen.
I laid there in pain. I couldn’t believe the situation I was in. I was giving up hope fast. It had been at least four days. I wasn’t completely sure. I knew people were looking for me but no one had any idea where I was or where to look. I knew I would have to get myself out of this. A little while later Scott came into my room like he had the last three nights. I had formed a plan. When he started kissing me and touching me I put my plan into effect. “Scott?” I said in a soft sexy voice.
He looked surprised. “Yes, babe.”
“Can you untie me? I want to touch you and feel you.” It took all my willpower not to gag at the words I had just spoken.
“I don’t know.”
“Please, babe.” I gave him my pouty look.
“Ok. I don’t see what harm it would do.” He untied my wrists and ankles. When he climbed on top of me and leaned down to kiss me, I kicked him in a place I knew he would feel it for a while. He groaned and rolled over. I stood and fell right back down. I was so weak. I hadn’t eaten or moved from that bed for four days. I stood back up slowly and walked towards the door. I opened it cautiously and looked out. Josh was nowhere in sight. I saw my keys lying on the table. I grabbed them and slowly walked outside. I could barley see anything in the dark, but I did see Josh walking towards a small shed that sat beside the warehouse. I watched him go into the shed and close the door. I slowly walked to my jeep and got in shutting the door quietly. When I looked up I saw Scott standing at the door of the warehouse. I heard him yell for Josh and I saw Josh come to the door of the shed. Scott pointed to me in the jeep and when Josh saw me he started running towards me. I quickly started the jeep and started backing up. I finally backed onto the highway I remembered from four days ago. I threw the jeep into first and gunned it. I never looked back. I drove back to Orlando and went straight to the police department. I told them where Josh and Scott were. I didn’t know if they’d still be there or not. I didn’t think they had a car, but I wasn’t sure. The police took me to the hospital. As I walked into the hospital beside the police officer I become completely exhausted and blacked out. After the police officer that had taken me to the hospital had gotten me checked in and I was with the doctors he called Justin. “Hello?”
“May I speak to Justin Timberlake please.”
“May I ask who this is?”
“This is Officer Gomez.”
“One minute.”
“Hello? This is Justin.”
“Justin, I have great news for you. We found Sophie.”
“Oh my God! Where is she?”
“Memorial Hospital. But I don’t want you driving. You have someone else bring you down here.”
“I will.” With that Justin hung up and had JC and Bri take him to the hospital. When he got there Officer Gomez filled him on how Sophie just showed up at the police station and how they had officers going out to find Josh and Scott.
“Justin, can I talk to you in private?”
“Sure.” They walked down the hall. “What’s wrong?”
“You’re Sophie’s boyfriend right?”
“Yeah.”
“Well…I don’t exactly how to say this. Justin, she was raped.”
Justin’s eyes widened. “By…”
“Scott.”
Justin just stood there for a minute. “Ok. Thanks for telling me in private.”
“I did that for her not you. I have to be going. I’ll call you as soon as anything new comes up. You can call me if you need anything.”
Justin shook his hand. “Thanks for everything.” Justin walked back to Bri and JC and Officer Gomez left.
“What did he say?” Bri asked.
“She was raped by Scott.” His voice held no emotion and that scared JC. Bri collapsed into a nearby chair and started crying. JC sat next to her trying to comfort her.
“Justin, you should go and try to see her,” JC said.
Justin snapped back to reality. “You’re right.” He walked up to the desk. “What room is Sophie Saintjohn in?”
“Are you family?”
“No. Her family is in California and can’t make it.” That was partly the truth. The real truth was that they just didn’t care. They said to call when she was found.
“And you are what to her?”
“I’m her boyfriend.”
“Ok. I’ll take you to her room, but I’m going to worn you. She’s really weak and is sleeping right now. She is dehydrated and…” When she didn’t finish, Justin knew what she was going to say.
“I already know.”
“Well here we are.” She opened the door and Justin followed her in. Justin stopped when he saw me. The nurse took my vitals then left. Justin came up and sat down beside the bed. He took one of my hands in his and cried.
I woke up and felt something on my hand. I looked down and saw Justin’s curly hair. I smiled. I ran my other hand through his curls. He slowly woke up and looked up at me. When he realized I was awake he jumped up. “Sophie, I was so scared. I didn’t think I was every going to see you again.”
I put my finger up to his lips. “Shhh. I’m fine. Just a little tired.”
He leaned down and kissed my forehead. “I love you.”
“I love you too.” He started to lean down to kiss me, but I turned my head and he ended up kissing my cheek. All I could see was Scott all over me. I shuddered.
“Soph, it’s ok. I know what happened.” I looked at him sharply. Then I looked away. I couldn’t stand the look in his eyes. “Babe, it’s ok. You’re going to get over this and I’m going to be right here by your side every step of the way.”
“Thanks Justin.”
“JC and Bri are here.”
“Really? Where are they?”
“They’re in the waiting room. Do you want me to go get them?” I nodded my head. Justin got up and kissed me on the cheek then went to get JC and Bri. I sat up slowly and waited. A few minutes later they all walked into the room. Bri saw me sitting up and ran to the bed. She hugged me.
I pulled back when I felt her start to shake. “Bri, I’m fine. I’m going to be ok.”
“I know. I was just scared.”
“We all were,” JC said.
“Well everything is fine now.” We all sat around talking until the door opened and in walked Jas, Jeff, and Drew.
Jas broke down and started crying. “I’m so sorry. I’m so so so sorry.”
“What are you talking about?”
“She thinks it’s her fault,” Jeff said.
“Jas, come here.” She walked over to my bed and sat down beside me. “Honey, it’s not your fault. They’re sick, very very sick. I’m fine. I’m a little tired and weak, but other than that I’m fine.” I saw JC, Bri, and Justin all look at each other. Jas hugged me then Jeff came over and hugged me too. Then Drew came over. He sat down beside me. “Are you sure you’re ok?”
“I’m positive.”
“Ok. I trust you.” He hugged me just as a nurse came in.
“Ok, everyone. Visiting hours are over. Time for everyone to go home and for Sophie to get some rest.”
Everyone said goodbye and left except for Justin. He walked over to me and sat down on the bed beside me. “That nurse is going to come back here and kick you out.”
“I know. I just wanted to say goodbye in private.” I started getting nervous thinking he wanted something I didn’t know if I could give him anymore. He saw the look on my face. “Babe, don’t worry. I just want you to know that I love you very very much. I’ll be here first thing in the morning.” He kissed me on the cheek then got up and left. I laid down and fell asleep immediately only to have nightmares.
The next morning I woke up to see Bri sitting in a chair across the room. “Hey girl. What are you doing here?”
“I came to see you.”
I looked around expecting to see Justin sitting in the room somewhere. “Where’s Justin?”
“He’s at the dorm. I told him I wanted to talk to you alone for a while.”
“That’s cool. Why’s he at the dorm.”
“He stayed there. Don’t ask me why. You’d have to talk to him or Jas.”
“Ok. What do you want to talk about?” ”I want to know if you’re ok. Seriously ok?”
“Yeah, I am. I’m just glad to be back here away from them.”
She got up and walked over to the bed. “Soph, I know what Scott did. Are you completely fine?”
I knew I had to tell her the truth. “I’m fine…right now. When I’m just sitting around talking…I’m completely fine. But when Justin’s around and doing the most innocent things, like rubbing my hand or touching my cheek, I get uncomfortable. Yesterday he tried to kiss me and all I could do was picture Scott…” I put my head in my hands and started crying. Bri sat down beside me and hugged me.
“Sophie, it’s ok to feel that way. You just need to talk to Justin about it. He doesn’t want to make you uncomfortable.”
“I don’t want to hurt him.”
“He’ll understand. Give him a little credit.”
“Ok. I will tell him.”
“Ok. Now I’m going to call him and tell him he can go over before he has a heart attack or something. He had a cow when I told him he couldn’t come over this morning.” We both started laughing. Bri called him and he showed up within 15 minutes.
He came over and sat down on the bed across from Bri. “Hey, babe. How did you sleep last night?”
I decided right there and then that I was going to be completely honest with him. “Not very well actually.”
All Justin could say was “Oh.”
“I’m going to go get some coffee from Starbucks down the street. Does anyone want anything,” Bri said.
I shook my head. “Nope. I’m good,” Justin said.
When she left the room I said, “Justin, I need to talk to you.”
He took my hand and said, “What is it? I’m here for you.”
“I didn’t sleep very well last night because I had bad dreams about Scott. It’s going to take me a long time to get over what happened out there.” I looked down at my hands.
“Soph, I understand. I’m just so happy that you’re alive and safe. I’ll give you all the time you need. I’ll be here waiting when you’re ready.” I hugged him.
“You know I love you right?”
“I love you too, that’s why I want to give you whatever you need.”
Just then the door opened and the doctor walked in. Justin got up and sat in the chair across the room. “Sophie, I’m doctor Duffy.” He walked up to me and shook my hand. He looked at Justin. “And this is?”
“This is Justin.” The doctor shook his hand.
“Maybe it would be better if he waited outside?”
“It’s ok, Doctor. He knows everything.”
“Ok. Well you are a very lucky girl Sophie. Your body is responding to the nutrients it’s receiving. We took a pregnancy test that came out negative, but you will have to come back in a week to take another one just to be sure.”
“Ok.”
“Well if you want to you can go home this afternoon or you can stay here another night. It’s up to you.”
“I want to go home today.”
“Ok.” He turned to Justin. “You can take her home right?” Justin smiled and nodded his head. “Ok. I’ll have the papers ready in a couple hours.”
“Ok. That’s doctor for everything.”
He smiled. “Your welcome.”
When the door was closed behind him Justin jumped up. “I have to call my mom. She wants you to stay with us. She refuses to let you stay in the dorms.”
I didn’t have the energy to argue so I said, “Ok.”
Justin called his mom and soon the doctor came in with papers for me to sign. Justin took me to his house and I spent the next few weeks there. Justin and I were not making any progress. Everytime I would try, images of those four days would come back and haunt me. The cops had found Josh and Scott so I knew they wouldn’t hurt me anymore. I also knew I had to something about Justin. He was being so sweet about the whole thing. I called on JC and Lance to help me. “So, JC, you’ll set it all up?”
“Yeah, but I’m not going to get into trouble for being on private property or something will I?” I shook my head. “No everything will be fine. Lance, you’ll have him there?”
“Yup he’ll be there.” I hugged them.
“Thanks.”
“No prob. That’s what friends are for.”
I went shopping for the perfect outfit. I finally found it, form-fitting black pants and a lime green spaghetti strap tank top. I went to my dorm room to get ready. I was going to tell Justin tonight that I was moving back into the dorm. It was time. At 9:00 I headed to the beach. Justin and the guys minus JC had gone to a movie. I looked at what JC had done. It was beautiful. He had laid out a blanket with a CD player, a chilled bottle of wine, strawberries, and whip cream on it. Also on his own accord he had left a couple candles and matches. “Always the romantic,” I said to myself. I had come early to have some peace and quiet for a while. I sat and stared at the ocean until 9:30. Then I lit the candles and poured the wine into the glasses that were sitting there. About 10 minutes later I heard a car pull up. Then I heard one car door open. As I heard the footsteps approaching I also heard someone talking.
“Lance, what are we doing out here? I want to get home and see…” He stopped when he saw me sitting there. I heard Lance drive away.
”Why don’t you have a seat?” I said patting the spot next to me on the blanket.
Justin slowly sat down. “Soph, what is all this?”
“It’s a thank you for all that you’ve done for me in the last couple of weeks.”
“Babe, I don’t need a thank you.”
”I know, but you deserve one. Want a strawberry?”
He smiled. “Sure.” He started to reach for one, but I swatted his hand away. I picked up a strawberry and dipped it into the whip cream and then raised it to his lips. I saw Justin lips his lips just before the strawberry touched them. He took a bit and started to chew.
“Is it good?” He nodded his head. I dipped the strawberry in the whip cream again and took a bite my self. “Mmmm…they are good.” Justin just smiled at me. I stuck my finger into the whip cream and wiped it all over his nose. His eyes widened and he looked shocked. Then he got a gleam in his eyes and stuck his finger into the whip cream. I knew what was coming and tried to get up, but I wasn’t fast enough. He grabbed my arm and pulled me back down beside him. He ran his finger all over my face. We both started laughing. Justin licked his finger. As I reached for a napkin Justin cupped my face in his had. Without thinking he leaned forward and licked the whip cream off my nose. As soon as he realized what he was doing, he dropped his hand and pulled away. I grabbed a couple and napkins and handed one to Justin. When I got all the whip cream wiped off my face, I looked at Justin. He had his head down staring at his hands in his lap. I reached over to the CD player and turned it on. Then I reached over and grabbed one of Justin’s hands. I stood up and he looked up at me. As the music started playing I said, “Dance with me?” He looked at me skeptically. I tried to pull him up, but only succeeded in practically ripping his arm off. “Please?” He gave in and stood up. He put his hands on my waist and started swaying back and forth. I looked up at him. “What? Are we back in junior high?” I wrapped my arms around his neck and pulled him close to me. When his hands didn’t move from my sides, I reached down and took his hands and wrapped his arms around my waist. He started to say something, but I silenced him by putting a finger to his lips. I wrapped my arms around his neck, laid my head on his shoulder, and closed my eyes. When my eyes closed a picture of Scott flashed through my mind. I fought it off and soon it was gone. I was just enjoying being in Justin’s arms. We danced for three more songs not once letting each other go. After the third song, I pulled back and looked up at him. Instinctively my fingers started playing with the curly hair at the base of his neck. I looked into his amazing blue eyes and felt myself getting lost. I stood on my tiptoes and leaned up towards him until our lips touch. The first kiss was sweet and innocent. Then I deepened the kiss by slipping my tongue into his mouth. The kiss soon became passionate and lustful. I slide my hands down Justin’s arms to his stomach. Then I slipped my hands up under his shirt feeling his amazing abs. Suddenly Justin loosened his grip on my waist and pulled away. I looked up at him and was completely shocked when he let me go and walked away from me to the water’s edge. I stood there for a few seconds walking away. Then I walked after him. I stood beside him staring out into the ocean before speaking. “Justin, what’s wrong?”
“I don’t want to push things.”
I turned to him and put my hand on his arm. “Justin, you weren’t pushing. I was the one…”
“I don’t think you’re ready.”
“What?”
“I think the only reason you’re doing this is because you feel bad. I don’t want that to be the reason.”
I turned so I was in front of him. “Justin, I have been giving this a lot of thought in the past couple of days. I miss you and our relationship. I don’t want this friends thing we have going on. I want us back. I am ready for this.”
He looked down at me. “Are you sure?”
“I’m positive.” He picked me up and carried me back to the blanket where the music was still playing. He laid me down and kissed me…
To Be Continued…