...With You

Chapter 20


::Knock, Knock::
Justin fluttered open his eyes and saw Madison still laying next to him. She was out cold. It was only ten the next morning, but already the sun was shining, promising to be a beautiful day. What did the sun know? Justin rolled out of the bed, not wanting to wake Madison. He grabbed a pair of jeans and headed out to answer the door. He walked quickly to the door and swung it open without looking who was on the outside.
“Justin!” Carson exclaimed from outside the door.
“Shh!” she’s still sleeping” Justin whispered, smiling at Carson.
“Sorry” Carson smiled, lowering his voice.
“Come in” Justin said, opening the door allowing him to pass through.
“Thanks” Carson said. “You two get in late last night?”
“Yeah, pretty late” Justin said awkwardly.
The situation was a difficult one. Carson knew the situation, Justin knew that Carson knew but they’d never really talked about it. Suddenly Justin felt nervous around Carson. Knowing that he was Madison’s best friend made it interesting.
“You want coffee?” Justin asked, heading into the kitchen to start a pot.
“Sure.” Carson answered.
Carson stood in the living room waiting for Justin to return. As Justin returned walked towards him, something caught his eye.
“Holy Shit!” Carson whispered excitedly. “What the hell happened to you?”
Justin raised his hand to his bruised eye. It was still tender, but the swelling had gone down a little.
“Short version?” Justin started “JC found out about Madison and I.”
Carson stood there for a while, just shocked. He felt guilty enough for missing the party last night, now he was really sorry he missed it.
“What happened?” Carson asked.
“Well. Madison and I were talking in the back, discussing the never-ending decision of to tell people about us or not. Supposedly, JC happened to be outside the door and saw Madison and I kissing. A few minutes later I was on the ground and my face was throbbing.” Justin answered. “The guys all know now and probably aren’t speaking to me, but I’m still glad they know. I’m sick of lying to get out to see her, and it was really uncomfortable around JC.”
“It’s still going to be uncomfortable around JC” Carson replied.
“True.” Justin said.
“How’s she doing” Carson asked, looking toward the bedroom.
“You know Madison” Justin sighed. “She appears to be handling everything without a care in the world, but -- ”
“Sooner or later, she’ll crack.” Carson finished for him.
“Exactly.” Justin smiled. His smile quickly vanished and his expression turned serious. “He said some pretty harsh things last night.” Justin said.
“JC?” Carson asked surprised.
“Yeah. Don’t put it past him. Believe me, he has it in him.” Justin said, touching his eye.
“I don’t put anything past anyone” Carson said “Ever since Chase…well, you know…”
Justin smirked at Carson. He knew what Carson was going to say… ‘Ever since Chase cheated on Madison’.
“JC wouldn’t do anything to hurt Madison, deliberately anyway.” Justin said.
“I know.” Carson said.
“I would never hurt Madison. You know that right?” he asked Carson.
“I know you wouldn’t. Anyway, it’s not my choice who Madison dates. I just don’t like seeing her hurt.” Carson answered. “So as long as we agree on that, you both have my blessing.”
Justin smiled. “Ahh! I got the ‘Carson Seal Of Approval’. Now I’m definitely in!” he joked.
“Man, I think you’ve been ‘in’ long before my seal of approval.” Carson laughed. “You have her seal of approval, that’s all that matters.” He said.
Justin looked toward the bedroom. “I know.” He whispered, smiling.
::Ring, Ring::
Carson and Justin snapped their heads towards the phone. Carson reached for it automatically.
“Hello?” he answered. “Hey Man……Yeah, he’s here…….hold on.”
Carson held out the phone towards Justin. “It’s for you. It’s Joey.” He said.
Justin took the phone from Carson’s hand. ‘Suck it up, Justin. You knew this was coming’ he thought to himself.
“Hey man” he answered.
“Hey Justin” Joey replied back to him.
“What’s up?” Justin asked stupidly. In all fairness though, what the hell else could he say?
“Hm. Good question.” Joey mused.
“Funny Joey, really” Justin said sarcastically.
“Listen J, we need you back here. Group meeting.” Joey said seriously.
“Now?” Justin asked.
“Yeah, as soon as you can get here.” Joey answered.
“Alright” Justin said solemnly “Give me a little bit, I’ll be there.”
“Alright” Joey said. “See a later, buddy.”
“Yeah, I’ll see ya” Justin said, cutting the connection.
Justin returned the phone to the cradle.
“Gotta go?” Carson asked.
“Unfortunately. I guess it’s time to face reality, or at least JC.” Justin answered.
“It was bound to happen.” Carson said simply.
So much for a cup of coffee. Justin looked towards the bedroom. He couldn’t leave without saying goodbye but he also didn’t want to wake her. Sacrifices had to be made.

**~*~*~*~**

Madison stood next to the door, inside her room. The phone had woke her and jolted her out of bed. When she saw Justin not there she panicked at first, and then heard voices. As she got to the door she heard Carson answering the phone and Justin taking it from him. It had to be one of the guys, she knew that much. As Justin got off the phone, she prepared herself to leave the security of the room and venture into the day.

**~*~*~*~**

Justin started to walk towards the bedroom when the door opened and almost startled him.
“Morning” Madison smiled, kissing him on the lips.
“Good morning yourself” Justin said smiling, returning her kiss.
“Hmm..” Carson said from the corner.
“Oh, right, we have company” Justin said turning his head towards Carson.
“Ha! No, that’s ok. I’ll leave you two alone.” Carson said smiling, getting ready to leave.
“No, you stay. I gotta go anyway.” Justin said, turning to Madison.
“Babe, I’ll call you later, ok?” Justin asked.
“Yeah, sure. You going back to the hotel?” she asked.
“Yeah” he answered.
“You want me to go with you?” she asked.
“No. Group meeting. This should be a fun one.” Justin said cynically, rolling his eyes.
“Ah. I see.” Madison smiled. “Well, at least your eye looks better.” She said.
“Better?” Carson argued.
“You should have seen it last night!” Madison said.
Justin ran to the bedroom to gather things together and returned back to the living room.
“Alright. I’ll call you later.” He said to Madison.
Madison opened the door to her apartment to let Justin out.
“I love you.” He smiled, kissing her on the mouth.
“I love you, too” she smiled back and watched him as he made his way down to catch a cab back to the hotel. She closed the door and leaned against it.
“Are you still talking to me?” Carson asked.
Madison closed her eyes and smiled.
“And why wouldn’t I be talking to you? Because you ditched me last night?” she asked. “Hey -- ” he started.
“I know, I know. It’s ok.” She smiled. “Hey, some things are just more important than your best friend… I get it.” She said.
“Madd, now you know that’s not true” Carson said simply.
“I know, I’m just gonna make you feel guilty for awhile” Madison smiled.
“Ah. I see.” Carson said smiling. “So, this party was interesting, huh?” he said.
Madison looked at Carson from the corner of her eye. “Yeah. You could say that.” She said.
“You wanna talk about it?” Carson asked gently, not wanting to push the issue.
Madison walked into the kitchen and grabbed two cups of coffee for Carson and herself, headed back into the living room and took a seat on the couch next to Carson.
“JC was pretty cruel last night but I know he was hurting at the time.” She said.
“Justin said he got pretty bad. What did he say?” he asked.
“Well, he managed to make me feel guilty, yet again, by screaming at me how I broke his heart. Then the kicker was when he made me out to be a whore.” Madison said calmly.
“He what!” Carson said, standing up.
“Well, not in so many words.” She sighed. “He asked Justin if he was just with me for the sex.” She said.
“What did Justin do?” he asked softly, sitting back down.
“Tried to hit him.” Madison said. “But I stepped in between it. I couldn’t take it anymore. I never wanted a night to be over as much as last night.”
“I can imagine” Carson said, rubbing her back.
“I can’t lose him, Carson. I can’t.” she said softly.
Tears began to fall down her face and she quickly wiped them away.
“Madd, you’re allowed to cry. Stop trying to be strong. No one expects that in this situation.” He said.
“Carson, I love him so much. Never have I once doubted what J and I have, and now because of JC, I can’t shake that I’ve done something horrible.” Madison said.
“By falling in love? Come on Madison, listen to yourself” he said.
“I am listening to myself, and I know I sound fanatical, but in all honesty to myself I know the group comes first.” She said. “JC and Justin have been friends for seven years, I’ve known Justin for seven months.”
“And you doubt that? Madison, a friendship that lasts for seven years isn’t going to be torn apart by a girl. Even one as extraordinary as you.” Carson smiled.
“Well, that’s what I’m afraid of.” She said “If they can’t work this out with me in the picture, then I’m out of the picture, in love or not.”
“Madison, Justin’s not going to let that happen” Carson assured.
Madison looked towards Carson and smiled. “You like him don’t you” she asked.
“Madd, the man’s willing to take a punch for you from his best friend, that’s gotta mean something.” He smiled back.
“But seriously, you don’t think I’m a horrible person for being with him?” she asked. “Would it matter?” Carson asked.
Madison smiled. “No. Not really. But your approval means a lot to me, you know that.” She said.
“Madison, you’ve told me time after time that you can’t choose who you love. I don’t think you set out to hurt JC and fall in love with his best friend. It doesn’t make you a bad person and it certainly doesn’t make you a whore. If Justin is who you want, then you deserve to be with him, end of story.” He said.
Madison thought about what Carson said. “You’re right” she said.
“Of course I’m right! Carson smiled. “What would you do without me?”
“I don’t know, babe.” She smiled. “I don’t know.”

**~*~*~*~**

Justin walked into the hotel room and looked around, no one seemed to be around.
“Hello?” he screamed out.
Lance came walking out from the back.
“Hey man” Lance said.
“Hey” Justin said flatly.
Joey and Chris walked out from where Lance did a few minutes before and took seats in the living room where Justin was standing.
“Well, should we start?” Joey asked, looking up at Justin and Lance.
“Well…we’re not all here. Where’s JC?” Justin asked.
Joey looked at Chris.
“He’s not coming.” Chris said.
“He’s what!?” Justin yelled.
“Justin, don’t start anything” Joey said.
“I’m not starting anything! This is a group meeting right?” Justin yelled, starting towards JC’s door.
“He’s right” Lance said, looking towards the other two guys.
“I’m not saying he’s not” Joey said, looking at Lance “but JC isn’t exactly in the best shape right now. Do you want an instant replay of last night?” he said.
“Of course not, but we gotta talk about this, and seeing as how JC is a key player in the situation he has to be here.” Lance said.

**~*~*~*~**
Meanwhile…

::Knock, Knock, Knock::
“Joey, give up, I’m not coming out” JC screamed from inside.
“It’s not Joey, and yeah, you are.” Justin yelled back.
JC opened the door to face Justin, eye to swollen eye.
“Justin, I have no desire to rehash this. I’m not coming out, and that’s final.” JC said sternly.
“JC, get your ass out of this room. If we’re going to work this out, I can’t be the only one here.” Justin said.
“You have the other guys” JC said simply.
“You know what I mean” Justin answered him.
JC looked down at the floor and then back at Justin. The last thing he wanted to do was talk about this, but he knew Justin was right.
“I’ll be right out” JC said softly, giving in.
Justin walked away from the door and back out to where the others were still sitting.
“He’s on his way” Justin said, sitting down.
A few minutes passed and JC came strolling out and took a seat across from Justin.
“Well…” Joey started. “…Lance, you wanna start?”
Lance’s head shot to attention. “Alright. Well, obviously we have a problem here.” He said.
JC glared at Justin. Justin saw him out of the corner of his eye, but refused to make eye contact.
“Look, guys. Bottom line here is that we can’t deal with this as a group if you two aren’t willing to talk to each other. Now, we’ve never let any one person come between the five of us before, we shouldn’t let any girl do it either.” Joey said.
Justin shook his head. “Don’t put Madison in the middle of this” he said sternly.
“Ha! That’s hilarious Justin! She’s the middle of this!” JC screamed.
“No she’s not! This is between me and you, not Madison!” he yelled back.
“Funny, cause I tried talking to you last night and she stood right in the middle!” JC yelled.
Justin laughed. “You didn’t try to talk to me. You hit me!” he yelled.
Maybe a group discussion wasn't what these guys needed. The other three guys got up, deciding to leave the two to work out their problem by themselves.
JC kept his mouth closed and looked straight at Justin, looking particularly at his eye. ‘What got into me?’ JC thought to himself.
“I really can’t say that I regret that” JC said glaring at him.
“JC, what the hell do you want me to do?” Justin said laughing cynically. “Break up with her?!”
“Yeah! That seems like a good idea!” JC yelled.
Justin shook his head. “JC, I can’t do that! I love her!” he said.
“Well, then there’s our problem, because I love her too.” JC said softly.
“JC, with all do respect. You two broke up.” Justin said.
“So that gives you the right to steal her away?” JC asked.
“I didn’t steal anything JC, and you know that.” Justin reasoned.
“What do you expect me to do, J. Roll over and take this?” JC asked.
“I expect nothing, JC! I know how hard this has to be for you…” he started.
“Justin, let’s get one thing straight. You will never know how hard this is for me. I just found out that my best friend and my ex-girlfriend…… well, whatever…” JC said. “Just out of curiosity, how long has this been going on?” he asked.
Justin looked to the floor and then directly at JC. “About a month I guess.” He answered. “But I guess it sort of started at the beach.”
“I thought you didn’t really see her while you were there?” JC said.
“That wasn’t exactly the truth” Justin admitted.
“So you’ve been lying to me for two months?” JC said, more hurt than angry.
Justin looked at the floor. “JC, would you rather I had told you from the beginning?” Justin asked seriously.
JC sighed. “I don’t know.” He said. “But really, how did you expect me to react, Justin?”
“I don’t know” Justin admitted, shaking his head.
The two sat in silence for a few minutes just thinking about what the other had said, and what else had to be said.
“J, I’m sorry for hitting you. I was just so pissed…” JC apologized.
“I appreciate the apology, JC. But I’m not the only one that deserves one.” He said, looking directly at him. “You know as well as I do, that she did not deserve half the things you said to her.”
JC lowered his head. “I know.” He said softly.
JC wished he had never said those things to Madison. No matter how angry he was and no matter what he had wanted to say, yelling at Madison was the last thing he’d ever want to do.

**~*~*~*~**

::Knock, Knock::
Madison looked at the clock. 12:00. Carson had left a half hour. It felt nice to have him there to comfort her. These next few days, weeks, months… were going to be hard, to say the least. She dreaded the next time she had to see JC. As she walked to the door she was grateful that she had the day off. She couldn’t imagine working today.
She yanked open the door and found Lance standing outside.
“Lance!” she exclaimed, surprised.
“Hey Madison” he smiled. “Can we talk?”
Madison first smiled and then her face turned serious. “Sure.” She answered, letting him in.
“I’m sorry for just coming over” Lance said, walking in.
“Don’t mention it. I’m not getting too much done around here anyway” she smirked.
“How are you doing?” Lance asked concerned.
Madison sighed. “I’m ok” she managed.
“Really?” Lance questioned.
“Well, as well as can be expected.” She answered.
“Madison, I don’t know exactly why I’m here. Mainly, I was worried about you, but also because I’m worried about JC and Justin.” He said.
Madison lowered her gaze to the floor.
“I mean, I don’t really have a problem with you and Justin, but it is really killing JC.” Lance said.
“Lance, I know how much JC is hurting. I get it, really, I do. But I can not continue to hide my feelings, especially since this is all out now.” Madison said. “I also know that nothing is going to come between you guys, and that includes me.” She said lowering her head.
“Madison, Justin loves you, you know that. What you might not know is that JC still loves you, more than you’ll ever know. It hurt him to see you with anyone else, let alone Justin.” Lance said.
“Lance, honestly, it absolutely kills me to see JC hurt. What JC and I had was special, and I can not deny that I had feelings for him. But to be completely honest with you, I never felt the way for JC the way I feel with Justin.” She said.
“I can see that” Lance smiled.
Madison smiled back at him. “Where are they now?” she asked.
“Having it out it the hotel.” Lance answered.
“That sounds like fun” Madison said, rolling her eyes.
“Tell me about it. We left as soon as they actually started to talk. I hope they didn’t kill each other yet.” Lance laughed.
Madison laughed at his comment and then turned serious. “Lance, I hope you know that I never wanted to come between those two. I tried really hard to push away my feelings for Justin. He approached me with his feelings first. I don’t know if I would’ve ever admitted my feelings otherwise so I thank him for what he did.” She said.
“I know Madd” Lance answered. “We don’t blame you for anything, know that for sure, ok?”
“I’m glad you told me that” Madison smiled.
“Just always know that you’re a friend of all of ours. We care about you too.” He said. Madison smiled at the thought of the friends she had made in the guys. Even when her relationship with JC had ended, they had all still remained friends. And now, with Justin, she couldn’t help but know that her life would never be the same.

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