****
Peering in through the small space Justin’s partly open office door provided, April frowned as she noticed the angry and hurt expression coating his perfect features. Stepping into the room, she spoke softly, her own voice tinged with the bitterness of recent heartbreak. “Justin?”
Looking up, he mustered a half-hearted grin, but his emotion laden eyes told of his true feelings. “Hey...I didn’t expect to see you here so soon. How’d things go?”
Shaking her head solemnly as tears threatened to tumble out upon her cheeks, April plopped down lifelessly into one of the chairs in front of Justin’s sprawling desk. “I guess I could ask you the same but by the look on your face, something tells me I don‘t want to know.” she mused.
Justin sighed and ran a hand over his tear-stained face. “So are you okay?”
“Are you?” she returned, her voice trembling slightly with worry as she stared at her companion.
“No. I’m not...” he began. “And I’m worried that things won’t ever be okay again.”
Noticing for the first time, the small white receipt that lay forlornly on the edge of the wooden surface in front of her, April frowned. Reaching forward, she slipped it between her fingers and held it up as she spoke. “Does this have anything to do with that worry?” she inquired, sitting back against the chair.
Justin nodded, his eyes filling with liquid as he gazed at the receipt in the blonde woman’s hand. “Jordan...” he began, as April cut him off.
“I’m sorry J, but I really don’t want to hear anymore accusations. I can only imagine what Jordan had to say.” her lip trembled as she thought back to the confrontation she’d had earlier with her own significant other.
“So what happens now?” she asked, leaning back in her chair as she brushed aside the sprinkling of teardrops that had made their way down her bronze cheeks.
Justin shook his head, “I don’t know.. I can’t believe this is happening.”
“Me either...” she paused, “But I guess what’s done is done. I can’t go back and change things, or fix things to make them turn out differently. We both made our choices, good and bad. No one ever told me it was going to be easy...and even if they had, I probably wouldn’t have listened.” Her thoughts tangling with the echoes of her own words along with JC’s haunting accusations, April leaned forward, placing her head in her hands as the tears flowed freely from her soft blue eyes.
Rising from his chair, Justin moved next to the blonde woman, placing his arm around her in a gesture of comfort as sobs began to wrack her body. His friend’s pain as fresh as his own, Justin too allowed the tears to slowly slip down his cheeks, not bothering to brush them away.
****
Glancing at the nearby clock, Justin noted that an entire hour had passed since April had first arrived back at the studios. The pair sat silent as the minutes ticked past, each one lost in their own thoughts and drowning misery. Clearing his throat slightly, Justin’s blue eyes darted towards April as she rose quickly from her chair and began pacing the room.
“That’s not going to help...you’re just making me dizzy.” Justin stated, trying to break the thick coat of silence that had blanketed them.
April paused as her eyes met Justin’s, “Sitting here wondering what to do next isn’t helping much either J.” she reminded, “This is pointless. If we’re gonna fix things, we need to do it now before things get any worse.”
Justin frowned. “They can get worse?” he inquired doubtfully.
Shooting him a pointed look, April reached for the doorknob and swung open the door. “You coming?” she asked, arching a brow as he shook his head in response.
“No...” he said thoughtfully, Jordan‘s fury still fresh in his mind. “I need more time.”
With a nod of understanding, the blonde woman exited the office and quickly made her way out of the studios into the brilliant sunshine. Sliding into her Jeep and placing the key in the ignition, she headed out of the lot, making her way towards home.
As she drove, her mind wound it’s way through the complex situation she was facing and she frowned slightly as she remembered the conversation with Justin earlier that day. His solemn voice rang through her head, bringing a new thought to the forefront of her mind as his words haunted her.
“Our situations are very different. I’m married...”
Making a lightening quick decision, April checked her mirrors and abruptly made a very illegal u-turn on the deserted side street she had been heading towards home on. Justin was right...their situations were very different. Different not only because of the marriage, but because of the children. Determination shining in her red-rimmed baby blues, April wound her way down the series of roads that would lead her to the gated community that housed her destination.
****
Jordan snapped out of her anger driven thoughts as the doorbell rang impatiently for the second time. Hurrying through the entryway, figuring it was Chris or Mo bringing back the boys, she didn’t bother looking through the glass before flinging open the door.
Jordan froze as April stared back at her from the front steps, her blue eyes bloodshot and tired looking, her face etched with worry and sadness. Her gaze hardening at the sight of the blonde woman she had once considered her best friend, Jordan spoke. “What do you want?”
April cringed at the bitterness coating Jordan’s usually friendly voice. “I just want to talk to you Jordan...please?” she pleaded, stepping forward.
“Whatever it is that you have to say, I’m sure I don’t want to hear it.” Jordan snapped coldly, preparing to shut the door before hearing April’s reply.
As Jordan began shutting the front door, April moved forward with newfound aggression, placing her hand firmly on the cool surface. “You might not want to hear it but you need to.” she said firmly, her eyes piercing as she stared into Jordan’s now bewildered expression.
Her gaze firmly locked with April’s, Jordan paused before stepping away from the doorway to allow the blonde woman to enter. Turning to walk into the family room, she responded, her voice laced with hurt. “April...there’s nothing you could say that will take back what you’ve already destroyed.”
Biting back tears, April followed Jordan into the living room where she perched tentatively across from the brunette, fidgeting slightly. Before she could speak, Jordan locked eyes with her once more, this time with tears falling forlornly, forming shiny trails upon her golden face .
“April...how could you do this to me? How could you do this to my family? The boys?” she inquired, her voice high and unfamiliar as she struggled to understand. “Didn’t you know...couldn’t you see how much I love him? Every shred of my happiness, the boys’ happiness...is wrapped up in him. He’s their everything. My everything. My entire world.”
April’s own tears spilled over as she witnessed Jordan’s outpouring of raw, unbridled emotion. Biting her lip, she hung her head slightly, “Jordan...please. Just listen and I promise...I’ll explain everything...”
****
“Loony bin, Mo speaking,” the female voice stated in a spirited tone as she picked up the phone.
JC barely cracked a smile as his manager and friend’s voice filtered over the line, “Hey Mo…”
“JC?” she inquired uncertainly.
“Yeah…it’s me.” he sighed. “I just wanted to call you and let you know I’m heading back to New York. I know you aren’t ready to leave yet, what with it only being Friday and all, so I just booked a flight for myself.”
“What are you talking about?!” Mo questioned.
“I’m finishing out the weekend at home.” he stated simply, running a hand through his dark hair as he surveyed the pile of clothing he still had to pack before his flight.
Sighing, Mo spoke again, “Can I ask WHY?” she prodded.
Bitterness coated his tone as he quickly explained, “Oh you haven’t heard?” he began, “April and I just broke up because she’s cheating on me with Justin.”
An audible gasp could be heard through the phone line as Mo collected herself, “What? Since WHEN?” She paused, “Does Jordan know?!?”
JC spoke quietly, “I guess for awhile now…and yes, she knows.”
Mo wasn’t listening however, as JC heard her booming voice addressing Chris, “DID YOU KNOW ABOUT THIS?!?!?” she screeched, obviously flustered.
“Know about what?” Chris’ confused vocals echoed in the background along with the audible giggles of the Timberlake children.
“Oh never mind, I can’t talk about it now.” she stated firmly, turning her attention back to JC. “So how did this all happen? Good lord, I knew something was up with Jordan when she dropped the boys off earlier…” Mo trailed off as JC interrupted.
“Listen I’m really not in the mood to relive this all right now…we’ll talk more about it on Monday okay? I just…I need to go pack and get everything ready before my flight.”
“No. No, no, no.” Mo stated obstinately. “I don’t care if you’re in the mood for this right now mister…you are not a quitter. My JC is NOT a quitter. You can’t just leave me hanging until Monday either, what do you think I am? Patient? Uh…Hello?” Frowning, Mo held the phone away from her ear after being met with the sound of the dial tone. “I can’t believe he hung up on me…how rude.”