Challenges

Part VIII

*** 2015 ***

Justin rolled over in bed. He felt drained, and the moon outside was glowing bright. For the next few nights it would be bright outside as the full moon was the following night. Justin sighed as he felt his body resist the urge to sleep. He was too angry with Matt and Lori for not telling him that Nate had contacted him.  Angry, and hurt, that Matt had continued to communicate for the past year. 

"Why do you hate Matt?" a male voice came from behind him. Justin rolled quickly over to the voice. He did not hear his door open. The figure was standing in the window proving the once familiar outline. This time Justin was not scared. The sight was familiar, like seeing an old friend.

"Why shouldn't I?" Justin rolled back over. "Go away."

Justin felt the bed shift as the entity lay next to him, putting his arms around Justin and pulling him tight against his body. Justin could feel the heat from the entity's body. It calmed him, and he felt peace, and the anger evaporated.

"Who are you?" Justin asked in a calm voice. He had asked the same question hundreds of times, but the answer was always the same. 

"You saved my life." The entity whispered in his ear. "Why do you hate Matt?"

"I don't hate him." Justin sighed a bit. He resisted the urge to cry, but with this entity he could never hold back his emotions.  They flooded him. "He betrayed me. He went behind my back and talked to someone that hurt me."

"Why do you suppose he did that?" The entity kissed the back of Justin's neck, causing the familiar arches of energy course through his body. 

"He...." Justin fumbled on trying to find the words. He could not think why he was mad. "He...."

"Or are you angry with yourself?" The entity kissed the center of his neck. "Angry that you never found the closure you needed?"

"I don't...." Justin rolled over and found he was looking at a window with the first hints of light. Tears raced down his face. He had been crying in his sleep. ".... hate Matt." Justin said to himself feeling the tide of emotion wash over him as he broke down into his pillow.

*** 1997 ***

The next week of school had not gone any different for Justin. He was still in a depressed mood. His friends tried to get him to talk about it, but he just started to ignore them. He was even to the point of avoiding Nate every day at school. He went to class, and went home. This was the last week that Matt would be home, and it depressed him even more. 

After school on Wednesday, Matt pulled up to pick Justin up. He was outside with his usual gloomy self. Matt had no idea what to do, but knew he had to do something. The drive home was in silence, as it had been the week before. Justin looked out the window, with no emotion on his face. 

When they arrived at home Justin got out and walked to the house with his bag draped over his shoulder. If the past had been any indication, Justin would go up to his room and work on his homework, come down and eat, and then head back up to sleep. 

*** 

Justin finished his homework, which took a couple of hours. Math was the hardest subject as he was working on Geometry. He was good at Algebra, but Geometry was a different monster. He did just enough to make sure he passed, but didn't apply himself any further.  He put his pencil down and got up to go eat dinner. 

As he approached the kitchen, he could hear Matt and his mother arguing. He figured his father was still outside, or the argument would be over quicker than it started.