It was a Thursday afternoon and Justin had no
classes. He was tired and he didn’t feel like doing anything. Usually he’d be
out with his friends, shooting some hoops or going to the movies but it all
didn’t seem too appealing to him right now. He lay on the couch, an arm over
his tired eyes. He knew Chris was somewhere but he ignored him, he didn’t want
to hear his excuses, or the excuses he made up for Josh. Justin knew Chris
meant well but it wasn’t making him feel better. Nothing was.
A
knock on the door startled him, he let the arm drop to his side, staring at the
door before he decided to ignore it. Whoever was at the door wouldn’t let
himself be ignored however. He knocked again and again, louder and it almost
sounded frantic. Justin still ignored it, till he heard his name.
“Justin?”
“Josh?”
Justin shot up from the couch and opened the door in one go. Josh was leaning
with his hand against the doorway, panting severely.
“Josh?”
Justin questioned. “What are you doing here?”
“Can…
I… come in?” Josh breathed, trying to catch his breath, he’d run all the way
over here in one go, not daring to stop once.
Justin
forgot his anger and nodded his head; this was strange, just as strange as the
past year. He opened the door wider and allowed him in. Chris stumbled in,
rubbing his eyes, obviously he’d been asleep and the noise had his curiosity
peeked. He saw Josh and his eyes widened.
“Josh!”
Chris exclaimed, happy Josh was finally here, he hoped he could take away his
brother’s anger and fear. Josh spun towards the voice.
“Chris?”
Josh asked as if he wasn’t real.
“What
are you doing here man?” he asked but Chris waved him off.
“Long
story, you two better talk” he told them, it was important to Justin and Chris
knew it so he went to the sink and got Josh a glass of water while Justin and
Josh sat down on the couch.
“I…
don’t have… a lot… of time” Josh told them, accepting the drink with a grateful
smile. He drank the water greedily as Chris took a seat as well.
“Where
have you been Josh?” Justin asked when Josh had finally caught his breath and
had stopped panting. Josh swallowed, dropping his gaze.
“I’ve
been with… Louisa” he answered truthfully, he could hear the hurt tone in his
brother’s voice.
“You’ve
been with her the whole time?” Justin asked, fighting to stay calm.
Josh
nodded.
“And
you never bothered to call me? To visit me?” Justin asked, the hurt making way
for the anger.
“Justin
I…”
“You
weren’t here when I got beat up” he said in monotone and it was starting to
scare Josh. He knew Justin would be angry but he’d hoped that as soon as he
would explain it would all be okay but Justin didn’t let him explain.
“Where
were you when I got kidnapped and was scared to death?!” he continued. Josh
knew Justin felt abandoned and that caused the anger but Justin didn’t know how
he had begged Dan to let him go see him.
“Justin
you don’t understand…” Josh tried to explain once again but Justin didn’t want
to hear it.
“Yeah
I think I do!” Justin cut him off.
“They
love you don’t they? They’re your family? They want to take care of you?”
Justin ranted angrily.
“Justin
give me a chance to explain” Josh almost begged, Justin was so angry and it
hurt him.
“No!
You totally got sucked in your little rich world and forgot about your real
family. You weren’t even here when I got kidnapped! You didn’t even pick up the
fucking phone! How could you ignore me like that?! How could you?!” Justin’s
eyes were like fire, fury burning inside of him.
“Justin
please it wasn’t my choice. I swear, I wanted to call you and visit you so
fucking bad but they wouldn’t let me. I swear I wanted to come by. I swear! I
would never ignore you, you’re my little brother I love you” Josh told him
desperately.
Justin
was so angry and Josh needed help so bad, if Justin hated him and would send
him away he knew he’d kill himself. He knew that if Justin didn’t help him,
hated him, there was no point in living anymore. He would not spend the rest of
his life with Louisa, he’d rather die and Justin was his only hope. The anger slowly
dissipated and Justin looked at his brother, he was near tears, almost begging
him to believe him.
“What…
what do you mean they wouldn’t let you?” Justin asked, a little calmer. Josh
looked up at him, shocked for a moment before he realized that this was his
chance and he needed to take it.
“You
were right all along” Josh started finally after a deep breath. Justin frowned
but listened in silence, so did Chris.
“I
wasn’t with Louisa voluntarily, when… when I went over there to break it off
last year they… threatened me”
“They
did what?” Justin gasped.
“They
threatened… to… to hurt you if I hurt her. I thought a few weeks couldn’t hurt
but…”
“But…?”
Justin asked, his eyes growing wider by the second.
“It
didn’t stop, it only got worse, more and more weeks passed. They told me not to
go to the police but after a while I had to go. I thought… it couldn’t hurt so…
I went. But they knew me at the police station and they called for Dan and
then… they hurt you” Josh rattled but ended in a whisper.
“They
what?” Justin’s eyebrows furrowed.
“Dan
said he’d beat you up” Josh confessed shamefully.
“Oh
my God” Justin gasped, his hand coming up to cover his mouth in shock.
“They
were the reason… you… you got arrested and they were behind…” Josh told him but
he couldn’t continue, however Justin already knew the answer,
“The
kidnapping”
“Yes”
Josh answered sadly, dropping his head. Chris watched and listened, shock
himself.
“Nothing
I did was because I wanted to, I had to, they forced me, telling me they would
hurt you if I didn’t corporate. I had to move in with her and I had to quit my
job. I had to do what they wanted or you’d be in danger” Josh confessed
brokenly.
“And
you never told me?!” Justin exclaimed suddenly.
“I
know I should have told you sooner but I couldn’t! I was so afraid they would
hurt you” he said gently but ashamed.
“They
did hurt me” Justin countered angrily.
“It
could have been worse” Josh told him honestly; it could have been far worse.
But Justin didn’t listen.
“You
let me believe everything was okay but in fact those guys were after me the
whole time!”
“Justin
I’m…”
“No
save it! I don’t want to hear it” Justin denied, he was going to say he was
sorry? What the hell was that good for?! He should have told me.
“Justin
please, I’m so sorry that I didn’t tell you about this but I thought I made the
right decision by not saying anything. I didn’t want to include you in my mess”
“But
I was already included!” he yelled.
“I
know,” he said brokenly, ducking his head as the first real tears escaped.
“I’m
really sorry, I only wanted to protect you” Josh sniffled, he was crying now
Justin could see the tears falling from his eyes. Justin had never seen Josh
cry, not recently, he hardly ever cried and this was a good sign as any that
Josh was heartbroken. Justin pushed away his anger and scooted closer to his
brother, hugging him suddenly. Josh quickly fell into the hug and hugged him
back.
“You
should have told me Josh” Justin whispered in his ear.
“I
couldn’t,” Josh whispered back. “I’m sorry”
“It’s
okay” Justin told him finally before pulling back.
“I
love you Justin” he told his brother.
“I
love you too” Justin replied with a small reassuring smile.
“Are
you safe now?” Justin asked suddenly, wondering why he could even be here.
“No,
they’re probably looking for me already”
“Oh
no” Justin gasped.
Josh
nodded.
“I
need your help Justin” he told him finally, the reason why he’d come here.
“With
what?” Justin asked eager to help his brother from this miserable situation.
“Dan
wants me to marry Louisa, he’s already got a date” Josh told Justin the latest
news.
“He
what?”
“I
have to marry her and they already know when” Josh repeated sadly.
“But
you haven’t asked her!” Justin panicked. “And you don’t have to, do you?”
“Yes
I do have to and she’s not going to say no, I have to propose”
“You
what?” Justin was really starting to panic.
“Let’s
stay calm” Chris intervened for the first time, situations where in people
often panicked where his specialty, taken care of it calmly.
“When
is the wedding?” he asked Josh calmly.
“In
four weeks” Josh answered miserably.
“What?”
Justin exclaimed.
“I
know, it’s so soon!” Josh cried, facing Justin.
“I
can’t marry her or I’ll be stuck forever. I have to find a way, please help me
Justin, I’m so trapped I don’t see a way out I need your help” Josh begged
again, he needed help so bad.
“What
do you want me to do?” Justin cried helplessly; he wanted to help of course!
But how? It sounded like Dan had all his basics covered.
“Stop
the wedding. Any way you can. And don’t go to the cops. Just stop the wedding.
I beg you, please. I know you hate me for not telling you but please hate me
later. I can’t do this without your help, please” Josh begged, seriously
begged. Justin’s anger had surpassed completely now, he just couldn’t be mad.
“I
will. I don’t hate you Josh, I’ll help you. I swear I’ll try” Justin reassured.
“Thank
you” Josh cried, hugging his little brother tight. He wiped away his tears and
pulled back. He kissed his brother on the forehead before pulling back
completely.
“I
got to get back” he said suddenly as he got up.
“No
you can’t!” Justin protested, jumping up as well.
“I
have to or they’ll come after you. Chris keep him safe for me?” Josh pleaded
with the man he’d known for years.
“Will
do” Chris reassured.
“Thanks
for being here for him” Josh expressed his gratitude.
“It’s
okay Josh. It’ll work out we’ll do everything we can” Chris reassured once
more.
“Thank
you” Josh said sincerely, hugging him too.
“Don’t
worry Josh, we’ll figure something out” Justin reassured. Josh smiled, despite
the moist in his eyes, his kid brother wasn’t as young and dependant as Josh
had thought; he was very grateful for that.
“Just
be careful. I love you Justin” Josh said meaningful, hugging him once more.
He’d never meant the words I love you as much as today.
“I
love you too” Justin whispered, watching him go.
***
Justin
plumped on the couch, he buried his face in his hands and the tears fell.
“Why
didn’t he tell me?” he whispered through his tears.
“He
wanted to protect you” Chris said gently, wrapping Justin in a hug as the young
boy cried.
“How
are we ever going to get him out of this?” he asked desperately, he’d reassured
Josh it would be okay but he wasn’t sure at all.
“I
don’t know but we’ll think of something. We’ll do whatever it takes. I swear”
