Chapter 42: Chapter 42

: The call

"Yeah I just arrived, " Chris replied eyeing the mess, "what's going on here?" he asked wading through the broken pieces.

Justin turned around sharply trying to hide his tears as he wiped them and focused his shaking hands, "I'm just clumsy, "he finally said," I'm going to dress up," he finished with his back toward Chris as he got some clothes and entered the bathroom again.

"okay.." Chris trailed off his eyebrows furrowing at the weird behavior, "I'll just be here," Chris called out, taking a seat.

Justin was in the bathroom. He washed his face again, trying to regulate his breathing before  he begun putting his clothes on.

When he was done he paused for a minute, thinking things over.

He had to tell Chris, he was the only one who might believe him and maybe even defend him and support him,  but Justin wasn't even so sure about the whole story. How could he explain suddenly teleporting from the gym to his bedroom?

Yet, he had to give it a shot. He gathered up his last bit of courage and walked out the door, careful of the pieces of broken glass.

"Chris I need to-" he stopped as he looked at Chris who was sitting at the side of the bed sniffing.

Justin sat by him, a concerned look over taking his features "Chris? Are you alright?"

Chris clenched his jaw, hissing softly as he started back at the balcony, trying to avoid eyes contact with his brother as he shook his head, " it's all gone to shit bro."

"What happened? " Justin asked now fully invested, a little relieved it had shifted away from guilt to concern, "did she refuse to fix things?"

Justin was full of questions.

Chris shook his head again, sighing deeply, "Nah, that's not it"

"So? What happened man?"

Chris lifted his face toward the veiling breathing out, before turning to face his brother with red eyes, "I met up with Anna first, " he began, his eyes shifting the floor, " and she told me she had made a video, and sent it to Britney."

"What? A video? Like a sex tape?" justin asked, leaning in.

Chris nodded, "I don't know what Britney's thinking now. I saw the video and it was horrible. I can't help but think that if  it was Ted and Britney in that video I would murder the guy, but it's not.

It's me and another woman and I can't help but worry. She's probably already seen it. What if she doesn't want to talk to me ever again? I was a jerk to her and now it's me that's really cheating and.." He trailed off looking up at his brother, his voice a soft whisper, "what If I lose her? what will I do?"

Justin felt his heart drop at those words, seeing the raw pain that danced through Chris' eyes.

"why do problems always seem to haunt me? I-I don't know what to do, " Chris growled out staring at the floor once more.

"So you didn't see her?" Justin asked surprised as hell too, glancing at Chris' veins that twisted around his arms.

"I did, but they weren't at home, " Chris replied standing up, he groaned pacing back and forth, running a hands through his blond locks in frustration, " it's killing me, bro.  I'm afraid we will never have it all again. What if I'm miserable like this for the rest of my life?"

"don't think like that, " Justin tried to ease, but he was less than convincing when he thought of his own situation, his eyes skipping to the floor.

"it's how I feel, Justin, " Chris grunted have, pacing. " god I was a fool to let her go at the start of it all," Chris confessed as he sat back on the bed, "now it's over, the end."

"no it isn't," Justin said patting his shoulder, " I will personally escort you tomorrow, and we will both talk to her. You have nothing left to lose, bro.  Try again don't stop. If she's worth this much to you, don't you think you should try harder? It seems like you've found the one for you, don't give up so easily, believe me I  would kill to be as happy as you are with her, trust me."

Chris looked at his brother, with tears threatening to spill in his eyes, "you really think so?" He asked, his voice low and sour.

"no, bro, I know so," Justin replied, offering him an encouraging grin.

Chris smiled, "thank you, " he replied pulling Justin in a bro hug.

When they pulled away, Chris still seemed down but Justin could tell he was trying to mask the pain, "how bout you?" Chris asked

"What about me?" Justin asked still reading the pain in his eyes.

"it looked as if you wanted to tell me something,"

Justin mouth hang open a little, raising both eyebrows before looking back at Chris.

He realised Chris already had  enough on his plate to deal with. Justin couldn't be selfish anymore. This was his problem, "Nah.." He trailed of shaking his head. He swallowed nervously trying to give him a smile, "it was nothing."

"Are you sure bro?" Chris asked, raising eyebrow.

"yeah" Justin nodded, hitting his bottom lip, as he hid his shaking hands, "don't worry, it's fine," Justin said forcing a smile.

"Alright," Chris replied standing up, "I'll just check up on mom," he said as he left, paying Justin shoulder.

Justin sunk back in bed feeling even worse off than before.

***********

a few minutes later Chris found Bree in the kitchen preparing dinner, she was singing to herself.

Chris smiled as he came down stairs, "someone happy today, what did I miss?" Chris asked relieved that at least someone was having a good day.

"Uhm.. nothing much, " she trailed off glancing back at Chris, " cooking just makes me happy," Bree replied.

"oh really? then I must try it out someday," Chris joked sitting by the counter as  Justin passed by them.

"Hey yo Justin!" Chris called out to him as he passed by. Justin stopped in his tracks

"where you off to man?" Chris asked.

Bree turned around and saw him,

"nothing, " Justin replied momentarily glancing at Bre, " I'm just..uh..I'm going for a walk."

"Nonsense! This time? Come on over, it's time we had a family chat, "Chris replied, drumming on the counter tops.

"Family chat?" Justin repeated, his eyes straying back to Bree.

"you know, the how your day went conversation," Bree pitched in, throwing him a sly smirk.

"that's right," Chris supported. Justin threw an angry look in Brees way but Bree only smiled back, showing her perfect teeth.

"Come on bro!" Chris called him over.

Justin nodded, walking back to them.

but before they could start their conversation the house phone rang.

"I'll get it," Chris said standing up and walking to the sitting room.

Bree and Justin remained alone together,  Justin fidgeting in his seat, very uncomfortable.

"I hope you've thought about it," Bree said smiling as she set some plates down.

"There's nothing to think about, I'm not doing it your way. It was a mistake, " Justin gritted out through his teeth.

Bree sighed "well then I guess robins going to have a tough night."

"Well I have nothing to hide Bree so go ahead!" Justin spat, slamming his fists in the  table.

Bree looked at him a bit shocked, "don't you?" she asked a scowl edged on features, "we will see about that tonight." She hissed.

Chris walked back in and Bree went back to cooking, giving Justin one last glare.

Justin gazed at her momentarily,  before looking back to Chris, borrowing his eyebrows at Chris' sudden expression.

He looked serious as hell.

"what's wrong?" Justin asked, "who was that?"

Chris shook his head, "it was from the hospital, "

Bree paused and turned around to look at Chris full in the face, "Dad had a heart attack."