Chapter 6: Chapter 6

: Voice of an Angel

6 months later

Six months later, Justin was already used to the system, he found it easy to adapt to the home for orphaned boys. Everyone was relatively easy to get along with, though they were some younger mischievous boys he had encountered.

Nothing harsh, but the usual ten to thirteen year old boys that seemed to make it their mission to produce a little mischief here and there a few times a month, last week someone had put blue dye in the water system, turned on the shower and poof! All boys had blue hair for one week, it was actually just washing off.

Justin almost felt sorry for poor Miss Janice who had a fit of the century. Long story short they had all been subjected to cleaning the bathrooms as the culprit boy had never been found.

Chris and Justin had gotten closer over the months. He had not been kidding when he said they would be brothers. Chris made it a point to tell everyone wherever they were.

Yo, Henry! Have you met my bro?

Hey, hands off my brother!

No, no, no, that's not what bros do bruh, our handshake should be sacred. Only for you and me, who the heck made Tim our brother?

You're lucky I consider you my brother, or you would be swimming with the fishes.

Bro! You snore too loudly!

Dang! Bruh you would never guess what happened with Hillary from across the street.

Yes he was fitting in just fine, even with the hectic schedule they had, since they were all homeschooled and then came chores and volunteering jobs at the sheriff’s office or any place that needed the service of quote 'Fine young men' that was according to Miss Janice.

It was never hard work just something to help them raise money and keep the orphanage running while supporting the community.

Justin woke up to someone shaking him. He slightly opened his eyes groaning before turning over only to be shaken again causing him to sigh, finally waking up, finding himself staring into the light blue eyes of Chris, " wake up bro, it's already morning, you were talking in your sleep again, something about a guy named Chad, what's that about?" Chris asked with a concerned look on his face.

Justin sat up suddenly, glancing uncomfortably at him, he looked at himself and found that he had been sweating profoundly and his heart rate had increased, " I don't know ...probably just nothing," he lied in a shaky voice.

Chris sat next to him, " I know it's something because that's the fifth time this month," he said surprising Justin, he didn't press it further though only throwing his arm around Justin in a lazy hug" I don't know what you’re running from bro, but I got your back."

Justin looked at him and saw the sincerity in his eyes, he nodded with a soft grin before Chris stood up, " come on bro, where going to be late, this month it's us cleaning the music hall down town."

Justin stood up and he smiled at his friend, who was lending him a hand up, before they both headed out.

As usual it was a shower first, Justin throwing a towel to Chris as he walked toward a shower stall, "remember to first check the water before giving in bro!" He called out to him.

"Right, " Chris muttered, "when I catch the runt that turned my golden locks blue for a week he is going to get it, " he replied causing Justin to laugh as he remembered Chris expression when he saw his beautiful golden hair the same color as his eyes. There was one thing you never did to Chris and that was mess with his hair.

After they showered they headed to breakfast, feeling very satisfied with Miss Holland's (the cooks) usual spread of a full healthy breakfast, eggs and bacon included.

It was one of the things Justin was grateful for, a good breakfast. Small but important.

After that they headed to the bus for the orphanage that would take them to the music hall.

Upon arrival at the Music hall the boys were separated in groups of two by their group overseer at the Centre, Mr. Mickelson and given portions to clean and paint.

The day passed by in a blur, in between Chris and his fanatics, his jokes and his charismatic personality, Justin had all he needed for the rest of their time there.

After the boys were finished alongside the other volunteers they were given a lunch break.

Justin finished his lunch earlier than the others and decide to explore the other side. He had never visited the Music center before but it was magnificent.

He went out the back door and up a few stairs where he met another door which read 'stage' he opened the door and walked in, finding himself on a large platform, opposite hundreds of seats. It looked like an America's got talent stage and Justin marveled at the width of the audience.

He then walked further out onto the stage and eyed a half covered up piano. Curiosity got the best of him, his fingers itching to touch the rough cover as he reached out to uncover it, a soft smile creeping onto his face as he run his fingers along the white and black keys , pressing a few lightly, causing them to make a musical noise.

He pulled his hand away, a feeling of de ja vu overtaking him. A faint memory he had wanted to forget, of a father and son playing for a woman.

He sat down slowly, marveling the instrument. It seemed to be calling out to his soul, as the memory resurface, he struggled to see the woman but he couldn't. He could almost see the two fitted at the piano playing for the goddess of a woman before them.

Just one note.

Just one song.

He put his fingers on specific keys as he tried to remember, remember what? He simply did not know, trying to ignore the shake in his fingers, closing his eyes with a deep sigh.

Just one note.

His finger pressed down on the key and the rest followed like a forgotten memory, shakily at first but more sturdy as he seemed to be lost in the past.

In happier times when his father used to play the piano for him, it made him feel more relaxed out, as he felt the music flow through him, each key resounding inside him like a puzzle to a missing piece. Like a mystery he was destined to solve.

When he finished the unfamiliar song he heard a voice behind him, “Dang, you can play! Where did you learn to play from?"

He turned around to Chris standing at the end of the stage, his face full of surprise and curiosity.

“Well" Justin began dropping his hands from the keys, he managed a smile, "my dad was an underpaid football player and an aspiring musician, so I helped out where I could," he replied shrugging.

Chris approached him, "can I give you a request?"

"Uh, sure," Justin replied as Chris sat beside him on the piano seat.

"All of Me, by John Legend."

Justin laughed, “for a guy, you're kind of corny, you know," he teased.

“I’d say that I'm just romantic, FYI ladies love that," he replied giving him a playful push.

"Okay then, but don't say I didn't tell ya," Justin replied preparing himself.

He took a deep breath and started, letting the music flow threw him. He played a small introduction as the music went through his fingers, tickling them like a lost brother. The feel of the vibration exciting him, he didn't understand it when he opened his mouth and begun to sing, it was something like of a dream, his words directed the blurry memory of a woman that he once called mother, sweet and strong powerful and sleek sliding the words along painting the picture of a beautiful sunset, of a love never to be forgotten.

Chris stared at him amazed. He felt the song deep inside himself coming alive. He watched Justin's movements in awe, the perfect mixture of pain and purity of hope and regret of a story that had ended before it had really began.

He reached the chorus of the song and let his voice become soft, dripping off him like water falling off a ledge.

Chris didn't comprehend the watery substance threatening to spill over his red eyes as Justin's voice touched his inner core. He stayed speechless and drunk in the song as Justin continued singing.

Not in a million years could he have ever thought, Justin had the voice of an angel to match his good looks.

The words seemed to flow through the wind and Justin's powerful yet soothing voice seemed to gently steer them.

Perfection.

Beautiful.

Unworldly.

When Justin was finished. Chris' mouth dropped open, " what the hell just happened?!" Chris asked pinching himself to make sure he was alive then begun looking at Justin in awe.

Justin paused for a second, staring at Chris then glancing at his shaky hands in shock of himself, "I-I don't know I just felt like singing and I did," he replied looking up at Chris.

“W-Whatever the hell that was man, you got to keep doing it!" Chris blurted out looking at him with bulging eyes, “you were on fire and you killed it man! How did you feel when you sang?"

“Relieved and free, what did it sound like?"

“It sounded like well, I can't describe it, dude...your voice...your voice is just unearthly man," Chris admitted staring back at Justin with wide honest eyes. His body still recovering from whatever it was just had done to him.

“I don't know who or what you are, but music's definitely your thing!"

Justin laughed, feeling warm inside. Something inside him clicking as if something just fell into place.

He liked this feeling.

Just then Mr. Mickelson walked in with a stern look on his face,"this isn't the area you are supposed to clean boys, come on, lunch breaks over," he said motioning to them.

"Yes sir!" The boys replied in unison as they followed him out.

While on their way Chris whispered to Justin, " You better keep singing bro, that's your talent and remember when you get famous I'm your manager," he said giving him a wink.

Justin laughed heartily, "one step at time, then maybe one day we will both get there."

Neither one of them knew that the future was closer than they presumed.

***

After they had finished cleaning and painting, it was already getting dark. The Bus for the orphanage came to pick them up.

As Justin sat in the bus, his hands begun to tickle. He felt as if he was still playing the piano.

He moved his fingers as if he was still playing the instrument. Chris caught sight of him since he was sitting right beside Him

"You know, Mrs. Jenny always used to tell us that music was a safe way of releasing anger or past hurt," he said in a low voice.

“Who’s Mrs. Jenny?" Justin asked.

“Oh c'mon man! You live in her orphanage and you don't know who she is, or who she was would be a better statement," Chris replied.

Justin shook his head, trying to think if he knew this woman.

“You do know our orphanage is called Jenny's orphanage right?" Chris asked.

"Yeah, of course I do." Justin replied in an obvious tone.

"Well, Mrs. Jenny died A few months before you arrived at the orphanage. She was the founder of it, hell, she was just like a mother from the beginning," Chris continued shaking his head.

She must have been Miss Janice' grandmother. Justin thought.

“Then one day she got really sick, we took her to the hospital but the doctors couldn't find what was wrong with her. Later she was discharged and they claimed it was just probably an allergy. A week later, she had a heart attack and died."

Justin shook his head sorrowfully at this news, he had never heard if that story.

"After she died, her granddaughter Miss Janice, took over from her and as you can see, she's doing a pretty good job. Any way that's beside the point. When Mrs. Jenny was still alive we had what we called 'karaoke night,' every Friday evening. She would sit by the piano and play while we would sing along."

“Why did we stop having karaoke night then?" Justin asked.

“Oh, Miss Janice didn't know how to play and the funny thing is no one thought of learning it while Mrs. Jenny was still alive. I guess we thought since she played so beautifully, we didn't have to."

“So where's the piano now?" His curiosity peaking.

“Mmm,” Chris hummed, “either in the attic or the basement one of those two. How about we check for it when we arrive?"

Justin nodded and sat back in the chair as they went through the bumpy road.

Upon arrival. The came out of the bus and walked into the orphanage. It was only after Chris drunk a glass of water from the kitchen did he accompany Justin on his hunt for the old piano.

Justin couldn't explain the rush he had when he was singing and playing the piano back at the Music Hall but it was a feeling he wanted to feel again.

They found the piano in the basement.

Justin uncovered it and Chris saw the sparkle in his eyes as he run his fingers along the keys.

He blew the dust off the surface and sat before it. Justin felt as if he had found his long lost love.

He studied all its little details but before he could play anything, Janice called the boys up for dinner. Justin frowned staring at the keys.

"Come on Bro, you'll have plenty of time to play after dinner, I'm famished"

But after eating they all headed up to bed. As Justin lay in bed, Chris' words played in his mind,

Mrs. Jenny always used to tell us that music's is a safe way of releasing anger or past hurt.

He thought of all that had happened in the months before the orphanage. He swallowed hard when the image that haunted his dreams unfolded before his eyes the outline of a girl....on a bed.

He sat up in bed and put his head in his hands, finding himself sweating. Standing up, he, walked to the table feeling the anger inside him as he sat on the chair.

His fists were clenched and his eyes hurt. If music was a way to free him from all this hurt. He would take it with both hands.

He pulled out a paper and pen and in the next three hours of that night he had poured out his heart and soul in words disguised as a Love song that would change his life.

Chris woke up the next morning and jumped out of his top bunk. He checked for Justin and found his bed had been already made, which was weird because for the past six months Chris had been Justin's alarm clock, waking him up every day.

He looked around the room but saw no sight of Justin. Only three sheets of crumpled paper on the floor of their alcove.

He went down stairs and met Mathew, another boy who lived in the orphanage.

He was the nerdy type and had red hair and freckles he was only fourteen.

Chris asked if he had seen Justin but the boy shook his head claiming he had just woken up too.

He passed him and asked a couple other guys but no one claimed to have seen Justin.

Chris was a bit worried now and all manner of suggestions raced through his mind on the possibilities of where Justin could be.

Then the thought hit him. “Ah huh!" He said snapping his fingers and headed toward the basement.

He found Justin there, playing the piano. Justin was trying to compose the melody for his song but didn't seem to quite get it right, “there you are bro! You know you could have at least left me a note so I would know where to find you. I had to look all over kingdom come for you," he said coming down the stairs then sitting next to Justin.

Justin put his hand over his heart and gasped in a mocking tone, “I’m honored that you care so much about me," he smiled amused.

Chris hit the back of his head a little bit hard, “don’t take it the wrong way, I just have to make sure you’re ok so I don't end up doing the chores alone," he replied laughing.

They sat there and laughed a bit more, "so what are you doing here?" Chris asked touching the music sheet before him,

“Composing the tune to my song," Justin replied.

"Darling," Chris read aloud,” that's the title am I right?"

Justin nodded watching as Chris scanned over the song,

“You say you're going to stay when the nights are cold.

I got no love to keep you warm

Got no heart to keep your soul

Do you love me, Darling?

You should know that deep inside

There's less to give and more to hide

Heart so dark it turned to ice

Don't love me, Darling."

He read the chorus out loud

"Eish! This is deep man!" He exclaimed looking at Justin,

“Well, it’s how I feel,"

"Sounds like you need fixing then," he replied grinning.

Before Justin could reply they heard a bell ring, "well that's breakfast," Chris said standing up, “are you coming or are you too broken to eat?" He asked mockingly,

"You kidding man? I will eat weather I'm fixed, broken or half dead!" Justin said standing up and following Chris up the stairs, "hunger is killer," he continued.

Chris laughed and put a hand around Justin's shoulder, “and we’re too young to die," and they both laughed.

**

For the whole of that week Justin used all the free time he had to finish his song.

Chris would come by time after time to see where he had gotten. He was both supportive and a huge distraction.

One day Justin flung the door of his room open and found Chris on top of the bed listening to music.

“I’m done! I've finally finished!" He said laughing, he knelt down on the floor raising his hands in the air, “I did it!"

Chris sat up, " well then what are you waiting for? Let's go and play it for me," he jumped out of bed and followed Justin down to the basement.

Justin sat in front of the piano taking a deep breath in and beginning

His voice blending with the music perfectly. The piano was in tune and Chris had stopped breathing for a moment as Justin's rich voice filled the air.

One could actually feel the hurt and the pain as the lyrics were sung.

Each word coated in unimaginable pain then stretched out so it sounded sweet like a beautiful lullaby.

The basement was filled with this music and from nowhere people were drawn to it.

Some of the boys had followed the music down to the basement and sat down around the piano listening in awe mesmerized.

All the pain from their past for each one of them had a story came oozing back and the voice touched their inner core.

Without any one of them knowing tears begun to flow down their faces.

Each embracing their own past.

Miss Janice was shocked when she found no one in the rooms. Her face rose into a panic before she heard the subtle music come rolling into her ear. She knew there was only one piano in the house so

She headed down to the basement. Here she found her boys traumatized by the music being played for them.

She drew nearer and the lyrics filled her ears and became one with her.

She sat on the stairs and lay her head by the wall watching as Justin played.

She remembered her grandmother and tears run down her cheeks too. They fell to the ground silently as Justin played his heart out even as his audience had increased all of a sudden.

When he finished he was given a round of applause as the boys wiped the tears from their eyes.

Justin looked at Chris whose eyes were also wet with tears. He was smiling sadly. “Perfect!" He said.

The boys drew around him giving him a pat on the back and complementing him.

From the corner of his eye Justin eyed Miss Janice still sitting by the stairs with tear filled eyes.

He made his way to her and the boys gave him space. He took her hand and she stood up, looking into her eyes for a second before giving her a hug which was accepted gratefully.

“You keep playing," she said sniffing, "you hear me don't you never stop playing, don’t." She smiled at him, slowly wiping her tears.

Those words would one day take pillar in Justin's heart.

She took a few seconds re-gaining her composure then looked at the rest of her boys, “ok boys, lunches ready,"

The boys started filing out of the basement one by one after Miss Janice, till it was only Justin and Chris left like before.

"Agh well, let's go,” Chris said as he stood up and started walking up the stairs, he reached the door before noticing that Justin who had followed close by him had suddenly stopped midway the stairs and was staring at the small window at the top corner of the basement.

Justin squinted his eyes watching the widow, trying to make out something that looked like blue eyes peaking in.

“I’m famished! Aren't you coming Justin?" Chris asked wiping the last trace of tears from his cheek.

Justin turned around, “oh I thought I saw something in that window, it’s probably nothing, let’s go eat," he said as he passed by Chris and left him standing on the door way.

Chris laughed and closed the door behind them heading for the dining room.

***

The next day was Saturday and Justin woke up very early in the morning but just sat in bed thinking about all he was going to do that day.

After some time Chris woke up too and yawned.

He sat up in bed then uncovered himself, jumping out of bed and proceeding to wake Justin as he had apparently become Justin's alarm clock.

However today he was shocked to see Justin already awake.

“it’s either you've gotten a lot smarter or I have gotten a lot lazier," he said scratching his head.

Justin grinned. "What are you planning to do today?" He asked.

"I don't know, maybe I'll just do a sleep in, or whatever works," Chris replied, "c'mon bro, let's go take a shower," Chris continued, grabbing his towel and tooth brush.

Justin stood up running a hand through his dark locks, got his towel and toothbrush then followed Chris to the bathroom area.

After they showered, they changed and headed up for breakfast. A good breakfast later, Chris went to their room and covered himself up to his neck, curling up to a soft sleep.

Justin was still eating by then. When he finally finished he looked for Chris only to find him in bed.

He took his pillow and hit Chris on the head, “I’m awake!" Chris shouted at no one in particular when he sat up in bed suddenly, before collapsing again like a sack of tired potatoes when he saw Justin, "oh it's only you," he grumbled, snuggling back in bed.

Justin walked up to him, poking him, "hey, you remember the question you asked before?" He asked,

"Yeah" Chris muttered from underneath his bed sheets.

"Well the answer is, it's you who has grown a LOT lazier," he said.

Chris groaned mockingly in an ‘if that's your opinion’ way.

"Suit yourself, if you want to stay in all day that's your decision, I'm going to the music hall down town," Justin announces.

"Have fun!" Chris retorted,

"Yeah but if anything happens to me, you’re going to do all the chores alone," Justin added slyly before slowly heading toward the door making his footsteps sound louder than normal,

"Wait,” Chris groaned lifting his head up, "I'm coming,"

Justin turned round sharply smiling from ear to ear and sat on his bed, "dress up, then were off."

**

"I don't get you," Chris commented as they boarded a public bus, “why would you want to go to the music hall when there's a piano at home?"

"I want to imagine playing in front of a wider audience," Justin replied,

"Oh that explains it..... That you’re complicated!" He retorted,

"Shhhhhhh! I didn't force you to come with me," Justin fired back.

"Nah, you just gave me no choice," Chris replied.

"I did give a choice,"

"No you didn't. You said if anything happened to you I'd do the chores alone,"

“True, but I did give you a choice then and a possibility,"

"Pfft! What am I? Three? It clearly wasn't a choice it was a threat!" Chris and Justin argued back and forth.

“Shhhhhhh! Shut your mouths!" An old lady in front of them screamed, she looked at the pair of them sternly, her grey hair tied up in a neat bun as she pushed her glasses back up her nose " young man, you're already on the bus headed to wherever he's going so just sit and be quiet!" She scolded Chris.

Justin let out a small laugh. The old woman looked at him with a stern look, “Let me not start with you pretty boy!" She warned.

Justin immediately clamped his mouth shut shaking his head and it was now Chris turn to laugh.

They reached their stop and got off the bus, before making their way over to the Music hall only to find the door closed.

“Oh well, would you look at that, I guess we just got to go home," Chris said turning around.

Justin pulled the door and it opened, “it’s closed not locked," he said grinning to his friend before he slipped inside.

"Justin I think were trespassing," Chris called out.

"Justin?" Chris followed the sound of Justin's footsteps until they reached the stage.

Justin had already found the switch for the lights and was sitting by the piano.

“Wow! Is that bright!" Chris complained trying to shield his eyes from the spotlights.

Justin played a note on the piano, “well that's the queue," Chris muttered making himself comfortable in one of the one thousand seats in the hall.

He put some ear plugs on in one ear, but before he could put on the other Justin called out to him, “what are those for?" Justin asked as he stopped playing.

“Well in case you haven't noticed, every time you play that thing and open that mouth of yours, I end up crying.

Grown men aren't supposed to cry man! You make me look weak!" He said putting on the other ear plug.

Justin laughed shaking his head. Then he began playing his beloved piano and began to sing.

He sang just as beautifully as before.

Annunciating each word carefully so they filled the hall with a gentle breeze. They grazed softly along with the music. The lyrics so clear and sweet. When Justin finished he heard someone clapping. He looked at Chris but it wasn't him.

“That’s one hell of a fine voice you got their son," a voice called out from behind him.

He turned around sharply and saw a Caucasian man with brown hair sprinkled sparsely with white hairs that reached down to his shoulder, his face was clear and without a mustache that gave out the fact that he was well in his fifties.

He wore an expensive white suit with the finest material. His shoes were white too with a strip of gold passing through the middle.

In his left jacket pocket was a red handkerchief sticking out. He had a pair of shades in one hand and a Rolex on his right wrist.

Behind him were to buff guys who looked like bodyguards all wearing black suits and shoes. “The man came closer and smiled at Justin,

“Good voice and strikingly handsome," he commented eyeing Justin's attractive features.

His dark brown eyes. His coal hair and his dimples when he smiled like he was currently.

"Yeah, your quite handsome son, and you got talent, the full package,” he said more to himself than anyone else really.

"Oh my God, Mr. Ryder!" Chris screamed as he looked up, pulling the headsets out of his ears, running on stage but he was stopped by Mr Ryder's body guards,

"You know him?" He asked Justin.

"Yeah he's my friend," Justin replied.

Mr Ryder motioned to his body guards and they let Chris pass,

" Mr Ryder, it's such an honor to meet you!" he exclaimed, so thrilled, giving him a firm hand shake, the man smiled but before he could say anything he had a phone call and one of his body guards brought him his phone. It was the latest version of iPhone, Justin noted.

“Excuse me," he said to them. They nodded and he picked up the call. He talked to some guy named Bob ending their talk with “I’ll be there in ten minutes."

He hang up and the body guard took his phone and went back to take his previous position.

“I have to go," he said to the two boys before him,

“But I like you, I like you a lot." He said turning to Justin, he laughed, “I loved you!" he confessed.

He called out to one of the bodyguards and he came carrying a business card in his hand, giving it to Justin.

"You come by there tomorrow, and we'll see what we can do for you," he said grinning before he walked away. Then he suddenly turned back his face in a confused motion, “did you see a blond girl running here?" He asked.

“no, not that we know of," Chris replied confused as to why he was a king them such.

Mr. Ryder paused as if in deep thought “ok," he said nodding, "I'll see you boys tomorrow, stay alive!" He yelled over his shoulder, walking away as his body guards followed him.

“What just happened?!!" Chris screeched shaking Justin's arm, "do you know who that was?" Justin took the card and flipped it over, “judging by this he is some sort of producer, manager type thing,” he replied, not having a clue of who the man actually was.

"Correction, he's the producer! The manager! That's Mr. Robin Ryder! One of the greatest talent scouts, managers in America and the absolute best in Chicago. Man he's managed Chris brown, usher, and even Beyoncé! And now he wants to manage you!" He said almost jumping,

“My man, this could be a big push to your career! Tomorrow were definitely going together," He said pushing Justin toward the door, "oh now you want to come along?" Justin scoffed before Chris hit the back of his head playfully,

"Dude stop messing with me, we got to go home so I can recover from this. Tomorrow were going to Capital Records baby!" He yelled excitedly patting Justin on the back and slamming the door after them.

“You forgot to switch off the lights," Justin reminded still dazed. He did not understand what had just happened.

It seemed like a dream.

“Oh," he opened the door and switched off the lights.