Chapter 15

Pascal then sauntered down the stairs. She was wearing jeans, a navy and white striped undershir, and a navy cardigan over it. Her hair was tied up in her infamous lazy bun. She saw the group and they saw her. Everyone was shocked. The boys all leaped out of their seats to hug her. She looked surprised, but the tired, drained look had not escaped her. She hugged each of them, but when she got to Justin, all of the old feelings they had for one another resurfaced. He was concerned for she was not entirely the same. She still had that self-confidant, non-chalant air, but something was missing. They all sat back down with Pascal in between Justin and J.C. They were thrilled to see her.

"What are you doing here?! I never thought we would see you in Orlando!" Justin exclaimed. The DeBauviers exchanged worried glances. The boys had not heard. Pascal took a deep breath and spoke slowly. "My grandfather died a month ago. Aunt Jenelle and Uncle Louis wanted me to come live with them as my circumstances have changed," Justin put his arm around her comfortingly. Everyone said how utterly sorry they were. Justin mentally beat himself up. "What a fool I am! I am too wrapped up in my career that I can't even write just to say, 'How are you? Are you doing alright?'"

"Why don't you 'kids' go upstairs and get reaquainted," Louis interjected.

"It was a pleasure meeting you all," Pacal said gracefully to the Fatones. Then, the group went up to Solange's room.

"I feel so bad that we have not kept in touch. It was our fault...." Justin insisted.

"No, it was a mutual thing. Things such as this happen daily. Do not worry."

"I wish we would have known about...." Lance began.

"Well, I should have written, but I guess I just...."

"We understand," Joey said comfortingly. The group moved on to happier topics, and little by little, they could all see the old Pascal coming back to life. As they were all leaving, Justin hugged Pascal. "I want to talk to you, one on one, you know? When?"

"How about tomorrow?"

"Sounds perfect. Let's spend the day together, just you and me," Justin smiled. "I will pick you at eleven in the morning, okay?

"I will look forward to it. You will have to decide where we will go because I still do not know my way around," she laughed.

"Stick with me, and you will." he stuck his tounge out at her. She smiled her half-smile and slowly went back inside. Back upstairs, she layed down on her bed. "What am I doing?" she asked Solange.

"Pascal, you and Justin did not make it for one reason and one reason alone: distance. That is it. Now, that you are here, there is no reason for you not to be together. The two of you acted like you had never been apart. That shows how much the two of you care about each other. You mesh well," Solange lectured. Pascal nodded in agreement. She soon fell asleep.