Chapter 51: Chapter 51

: Bitter

Justin found Clair at a coffee shop down town. Not an expensive one or anything. Just a middle class coffee shop, one  that strangely allowed Justin to feel more comfortable.

He spotted her at one of the tables at the end, walking over towards her. His eyes begun sparkle when he saw her. Something about Clair gave him a warm relaxing, feeling.

"Hello," he greeted, as she stood up and hugged him, engulfing him in her raspberry scent that made him purr, kissing both his cheeks majestically.

"Hey," she replied sitting down across from him, " I took the liberty of ordering for us, How have you been?" She asked.

Justin shrugged as he was slowly dragged back to reality.

"My life's boring, I should ask you that question. I expected your call much sooner," he said, leaning in.

Clair smiled. Her smile seem see to light up the whole shop.

"Well, I was in Rome for a fashion show, then we had an emergency meeting at one of my companies  so I was pretty swamped." She said, chuckling.

Justin watched her closely. He was glad to see that at least someone had  their life going good.

"Maybe one time I'll come and watch you," he said.

"Watch me? Trust me the meetings are boring. Just a bunch of greedy cunning people either trying to steal money from you or trying to win your loyalty, it's dirty, "

Justin smiled, laughing a little, "I meant maybe, one time I could come and watch you model at one of your fashion shows," he said.

Clair blushed, "I don't think that's a good Idea," she said

"Why?" Justin frowned, raising an eyebrow.

"I'll probably trip if you were watching me, I'd be so nervous, " she replied, a hint of a blush outlining her rosy cheeks.

Justin looked at her surprised, yet an equally warm feeling flooded him at those words.

"But maybe I'll come and watch you perform," she said.

Justin shook his head

"What's wrong?" She asked, it was her turn to frown.

"Well I can't perform with you watching me, so that's also probably not a good idea," he replied

Clair pushed him back as he laughed, "alright fine, I'll allow you to watch me perform if only you allow me too,"

She smiled, "you got a deal," she said

Clair stared at him for a moment as Justin sipped his coffee.

"What's going on?" She asked finally.

Justin looked up suddenly. His heart thumped deeply, almost burning his tongue

"Nothing," he said forcing a smile, "why ask that?"

Clair shrugged, "I felt it when you walked in."

"Felt what?"

"Pain, "

He breathed out, his grip on the mug tightening, "I'm okay," he said.

"I don't believe you," Clair replied ,with a soft sigh.

Justin looked at her, "why don't you?"

"I can see how happy you were when you saw me and how you smiled a lot and laughed, " Clair began.

"Well of course, I just met an old friend, found lost family ," he defended sipping his coffee desperately, wishing she could just drop it.

Clair shook her head, "that happiness was not from meeting me it was as if you were glad to be away from something. Happy to just relax be far away."

Justin swallowed hard, "I need to go," he said looking at his watch.

Clair frowned but quickly hid it, smiling as they both stood up, leaving the money on the table for the bill.

Justin looked at her, "I really missed you, and I hope we can get as close as we used to be," he said, softly.

She looked him straight in the eye, "I hope so too, "

He nodded and proceeded to walk away but Clair stopped him, touching his shoulder, "Justin," she said softly.

Her saying his name seemed to raise the very hairs on his neck. He turned around, his eyes meeting her clear blue eyes.

"If you ever really need someone to talk too, You know I've always been there for you, no matter what," she said.

As he looked into her eyes he felt her reading his mind and searching his heart for a minute. He nodded and hugged her kissing her cheek then left her alone.

******

When Justin arrived home much later, it already dark. He had stopped by a bar and had drunk his worries away.

Everyone at home was worried. Robin was doing a lot better but he was still confined at home till the end of the week.

Justin staggered into the house,

"Oh my god!" Bree shouted rushing to him.

She was the first one to see him as she was in the kitchen at the time.

Justin dropped to the floor, trying to focus so he could walk.

She tried to lift him up but Justin pushed her away, "Stay the hell away from me! Why can't you just listen?! See what you've done to me!"

He yelled at her as she fell to the ground.

Chris and Robin rushed to the scene seeing Bree lying on the floor.

Chris rushed to lift her up as Robin stared at Justin who was struggling to get up, "Justin, have you been drinking?" He asked, a sourness in his tone.

Justin sighed as he leaned against the door frame. He shook his head," no I'm perfectly fine," he said trying to walk but tripping and almost falling losing his balance.

Robin came and supported him. Justin rolled his head around, "I'm

Fine, I'm alright," he said breathing heavily, a smile wedged on his face, "I like this, I'm happy."

Bree looked at him in horror. Her heart beating.

"Chris, c'mon, lets take your brother up," Robin requested. Chris took Justin's other arm and together they managed to get him up the stairs.

Bree watched as she remembered how angry he had been with her. She was lucky no one had seen or heard what he had actually said.

She went back to cooking, but her hands were still trembling.

Chris and Robin lay Justin in  bed.

Justin rolled to his back, unable to see much, much less understand anything last the glorious haze he was in.

Robin looked at him and shook his head, as he left the room. Chris stayed behind, "bro, what is going on with you?" He asked.

Justin closed his eyes, feeling himself slipping.

"Man, you're not usually like this, bad tempered, easily angered and now you show up drunk, you said you hated drinking," Chris replied.

Justin didn't reply.

Chris shook his head, "you need to man up bro, whatever it is," he huffed out.

Still no reply

Chris sighed, "your stronger than this Justin, " he said then he stood up and switched of the lights as he walked out of Justin's room.

He sighed closing the door behind him

"You got anything out of him?" Robin asked who had been waiting outside the door.

Chris shook his head, "I don't know what's going in with him," he said sadly.