"I Will Still Love You"

Chapter 6

Flashback - January/95

Two days later...

It was almost ten o'clock and she wasn't there. He didn't know why. He began thinking she wasn't going to show up at all. He looked around him. Everybody was enjoying themselves. Except for him. He knew it was his party and he had to be happy, but he couldn't. Not without her there.

"A penny for your thoughts." a familiar voice said

"Hey, Jo. I was wondering where you were." Justin responded while turning around to face her

"I'm a little late, I know. Sorry. But I couldn't leave my sister all by herself, now could I?! By the way, Happy Birthday!" Joanna said, giving him a hug

"Thanks." he said while hugging her back "Come on, I want my friends to meet you." Justin said, taking her hand and going outside to the decorated backyard

"Guys, I'd like you to meet Joanna." he said

"Hey" Joanna said

She was greeted by all of them in union.

"Ok, that's Josh, Dale, Tony, Kerri, Steve, John, Katie, Claire, Paul, Matt, Patricia, Britney, and Jason." Justin said

"Wow! Too many names in such little time." she joked

"I'm gonna put some music on, ok? Be right back." Justin said

She just sat down, looking around her and watching all of his friends having a good time. When she was about to stand up to get a drink, she heard someone talking to her:

"Hi" the boy said

"Hey, what's up?" Joanna responded

"So you're the Joanna I've been hearing so much about for the past two weeks."

"I guess I am." she said

"By the way, I'm Josh."

"You already know who I am. Nice meeting you, Josh."

And they started talking. A very nice conversation they had, if you must know.

Meanwhile...

Justin was changing the current CD when he saw something. Something he didn't like. One of his best friends was talking to his girl. How dared he? Justin and Josh had known each other for almost two years and got along very well. They were often matched up to sing duets and act together in the show both were in. When he looked at them again, a feeling of jealousy came over him. Extreme jealousy. By the time he decided to go talk to Josh and Joanna, they were heading to the dance floor. A slow and romantic song came on. They were in each other's arms, moving to the sound of the music. Justin just stood there. Part of him despising Josh and part of him watching her. Admiring her. His angel.

A really nice and cute guy wanted to dance with her. Why not? She wasn't going to wait around for Justin. Not that she minded, but she didn't even know if he still had any feelings for her. He had two weeks to ask her out, but instead, he did nothing. So she decided to enjoy herself. And she did. She spent the night dancing and talking to Josh.

"I had a good time." Josh told her

"Yeah, me too." she said

"I gotta go now. I'll talk to you later, ok?" he said

"Sure..." she responded

He gave her a quick kiss on the cheek and left the house.

It was past midnight and everyone had left, except for Joanna. She went into the kitchen and saw Lynn cleaning up.

"Need any help, Mrs. Harless?" she asked

"No, thanks hun, I'm almost done." the older woman answered

"Do you know where Justin is?" Joanna questioned

"I think he might be in his room." Lynn said

"I'll go check." Joanna said

Inside Justin's room...

"Hey birthday boy... how does it feel to be older?" Joanna asked

"Why do you care?!" he answered with an angry tone in his voice

"Ok...what's going on?" the girl asked sitting next to him

"You tell me!" was his answer

"I have no idea what you're talking about. Fill me in." she said

"You and Josh... all over each other." he answered

"I was just talking to him while you were gone and he asked me to dance. I said yes, is that a crime? Besides, he's a really nice guy." Joanna told him

"Whatever... you almost threw yourself at him." Justin said

"Look, I had a really good time tonight and you're not gonna ruin it. I'm just gonna leave before this gets any worse. Good night, Justin." Joanna said, leaving the room

After she left, he saw the gift she had given him earlier that night. He decided to open it. He unwrapped the paper and when he was done, his heart froze. He wished that he could take all the things that he said to her back. Inside the package was a picture of them together during their vacation in the Caribbe. He was standing behind her with his arms around her waist and looking at her. His blues eyes sparkling and his face was all joy. She was looking up at him. She had her hands over his and a bright smile on her lips. There was a card beside the frame. It said:

"Happy Birthday, Curly Boy!

I wish you the best of everything.

I'll never forget you or the moments we shared.

Love always,

Baby Jo."

"How could you be so stupid, Justin?" he kept asking himself "Now she doesn't even wanna talk to you." he continued "You better fix this mess, but not tonight. Just get some rest, cool off, and talk to her in the morning." he said

Meanwhile...

Joanna got home and went up to her room. She didn't want to talk to anyone, especially her mother. She locked the door and jumped in her bed. She cried. She cried until she was asleep.